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Terry Mason's Family History Site38,383 names. Major lines: Allen, Beck, Borden, Buck, Burden, Carpenter, Carper, Cobb, Cook, Cornell, Cowan, Daffron, Davis, Downing, Faubion, Fauntleroy, Fenter, Fishback, Foulks, Gray, Harris, Heimbach, Henn, Holland, Holtzclaw, Jackson, Jameson, Johnson, Jones, King, Lewis, Mason, Massengill, McAnnally, Moore, Morgan, Overstreet, Price, Peck, Rice, Richardson, Rogers, Samuel, Smith, Taylor, Thomas, Wade, Warren, Weeks, Webb, Wodell, Yeiser. |
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RESEARCHER: Information sent to T.Mason on 4 Apr 2002 by Myrna <hawaiilady@msn.com>. Indicates his birth was 29 Nov and death 23 Apr.
WILL: Greene county, Tennessee Will, 1783-1890 ,Compiled by Goldene Fillers Burgner
THOMAS LOVE- 23 April 1810
Wife, Dorothea (insane). Children: Mary, wife of George Gordon, William Love, Ann Cravens, Lucy Evens, Frances Evans, 2nd son William, and daughter, Lucy Evans, $400 each. To son, Charles, and daughter Marth, a portion each. To son, John, land near the Big Springs, adjoining Sheffey. To Ann Cravens, $100. To grandson, Thomas Evans who is weakly, a Negro girl 3 years old. I have confidence in son-in-law, Robert Evans, husband of Lucy, and give Lucy 5 slaves. George Gordon owes me and I have his 5 slaves as security, them to go to his wife, my daughter May. Son, Phillip left the state ten years ago, if he shows up he gets an equal part. Pay all my debts. Executors: Sons, William and Charles. Written: April 9, 1810. Witnesses Merryman Payne, Samuel McKenney, John Sheffer. Signed: Thomas Love.
TOMBSTONE-HYPERLINK: [ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GScid=55979&GSln=Fenter ]
BIOGRAPHY: Christian Fenter was born in 1760 to Bastian Fenter and his wife Barbara while his parents resided in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As an infant he was brought to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia where he grew to young manhood among the frontier settlements. According to family tradition, Christian Fenter was an Indian Scout during the Revolutionary War, having served primarily in the Ohio River Valley. After the war, he came back to Virginia for a while until his family along with many others joined the tide of immigrants headed for the fertile Yadkins River Region of North Carolina. During the 1780's many of the Fenter relatives and friends from Carolina. During the 1780's many of the Fenter relatives and friends from Virginia had already settled in North Carolina before Christian Fenter came according to state tax and census records. The first United States Census was taken in 1790 and in it Christian Fenter is listed as a free white male over 16 years old, living in Stokes County, North Carolina. It is not recorded when the census was taken but from later Census records we know that Christan Fenter was married in 1790 for his first child is born that year. The name of Christian Fenter's wife or wives has failed to turn up in any record or document so far examined. Most family members seem to agree, however, that Mrs. Christian Fenter was a full blood Chickasaw Indian Maiden. Indians were not enumerated in early federal census records since they were considered wards of the state and not citizens. Perhaps this is the reason that no woman is enumerated in the households of Christian Fenter except for the 1830 one. It does seem curious, however that Christian would marry an Indian girl if indeed he was an indian fighter as is believed in family tradition.
The early census records of the United States indicate that Christian Fenter was a restless man and one who moved his family from place to place quite frequently. By 1800 Christian had moved from Stokes County to Lincoln County in North Carolina's Western Regions. The 1800 Census States that Christian was between 26 and 45 years of age. His actual age would have been 40. The rest of the census is rather contusing and leans to some speculation. There are three males listed in his household as being under the age of 10. These children from later Census records have been identified as John, David, and Andrew Fenter. The rest of the record is confusing. There is a female in the household listed as being between 10 and 16 years of age. The 1790 census had listed Christian as single, so this child could not have been born any earlier than 1790 and actually no later. This child from other sources seems to have been Sarah who married James Martin. Two other people are enumerated in this household. A man and a woman over the age of 45 who were probably Bastian and Barbara Fenter. However, the same census lists Bastian Fenter as living in Bascombe County, which leads one to speculate as to whether Bastian and Barbara are enumerated twice. If Bastian and Barbara are not the couple over the age of 45 listed in the Christian Fenter household, it becomes very confusing for the census does state that Christian was between 26 - 45 years of age. Still no wife is mentioned.
In 1804, Christian Fenter and other members of his family left North Carolina, returning to Virginia to meet other relatives who made up a party of immigrants heading West to the newly formed Louisiana Purchase. Traveling along the Ohio River, Christian Fenter eventually settled in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Family history says that upon arriving in Missouri, Christian Fenter had very little money to get a start in the new territory. At that time, the government was recruiting men to join an expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase and Christian Fenter went along. According to the story, he was paid in advance and this money enabled his family to get a farm in the Bois Bruile River Bottom District of Ste. Genevieve County. The company Christian Fenter joined was the Lewis and Clark Expedition which took several years to explore the region between the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers.
Records in Missouri showed that Christian Fenter was a large land owner in the territory, having bought 300 acres from a James Hunter for $300 in Ste. Genevieve County situated on the Mississippi River in March of 1805. In 1808 Christian Fenter filed a claim for 600 arpents of land situated on the Bois Bruile River Bottom. An arpent was the French land measurement equivalent to about .85 acre. Testimonies sworn by Alexander McCoushoe and John Smith, Sen. Both stated that Christian Fenter had cultivated the land since 1805, but in 1810 a board of commissioners gave a decision that the claim should not be granted. It is not known what prompted this decision, but perhaps, Christian Fenter did not cultivate the land himself while he was away with the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
In the records of Missouri Territory's Court of Common Pleas, a suit was filed by Christian Fenter against John Smith, Sen. For certain damages, showing Christian's location in 1810. In 1812 Christian Fenter recovered $104.07 from a suit against William Girty and in August of 1816, Christian was granted administration over the Estate of Reba Bluis of Ste. Genevieve. The value of these records are important in dating Christian Fenter's stay in Missouri from between 1806 and 1816. Other records state that Christian Fenter was in Arkansas in 1815, but it is unlikely that he would have traveled that distance, only to move again. Christian Fenter's family were true frontiers people in Missouri, having settled on the Mississippi River even before Missouri was organized as a territory. It became a territory in 1812. At that time, there were only about 20,000 people in the entire territory.
All of the rest of Christian Fenter's children were born in Missouri, his youngest child was born in 1815. His older children grew to adulthood in Missouri and some even married before moving south to Arkansas. Christian's oldest son, John Fenter was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was in the Battle of New Orleans.
In those early frontier days, Indian raids constantly plagued the Missouri settlers in severe plundering raids, however, according to family tradition, the Fenter family was protected from these raids by their Indian blood. It was not until 1815 that these Indian raids were halted thru peace treaties with various tribes within the Territory.
While living in Missouri, Christian Fenter's family lived thru the greatest earthquake to hit North America in recorded history. Between the 17th of December 1811 and the 7th of January 1812, earthquakes rocked the New Madrid region of Missouri, sending all but two families from the area. On the 17th of February 1812 an earthquake severe enough to change the course of the Mississippi River struck the frontier communities. A 150 mile long lake was formed from the rise of hills until the waters drained off into the new water course. According to history books, no one knows how many flatboat men perished, but eye-witnesses reported that there were lots of bodies and debris floating on the river. On land, cabins and settlements were leveled, valleys arose and hills sank. Great trees were torn in half. The fact that the country was so sparsely settled was the only reason relatively few deaths were reported.
Whether the New Madrid Earthquake was responsible or not, Christian Fenter moved from Missouri in 1816 along the Old Southwest Trail and settled where it crossed the Washita River at a trading post known as Rockport. According to tradition belonging to the Methodist Rockport congregation, it began as a Church as early as 1815 in the home of Christian Fenter. This record refutes the idea that Christian Fenter was in Missouri in 1816, however, a court record is more credible than tradition. But it is extremely interesting to note that the Rockport Methodists believe that they were started in Christian Fenter s home! Another source stated that his home was used by Circuit Riders for services for the Methodist's Church. In a book on the early pioneers of Arkansas, it is stated that the Fish, Fenters, Scarboroughs, and Deans entered Clarke County, Arkansas in 1818. However, deed records for the Dean families show that they were in Arkansas as early as 1815, but none can be found to show that the Fenters were in Clarke County any earlier than 1820.
The 1820 Census of Arkansas Territory records 14,276 people in the entire territory. Christian Fenter settled his family near Rockport, Caddo Township, Clark County. A deed record conveying property from Harrell Cain to David Fenter and a document recording Christian Fenter as administrator of the Estate of Isaac Patton, both dated 1820, are the first conclusive evidence of the Fenters in an area which was to be the home of Christian Fenter and his descendants until this day.
In the mid-1820's, the Federal Government ceded parts of Clarke County to the Indians, which upset the local settlers. Many of the settlers, including Christian s son David Fenter, left Arkansas and moved to Texas with Sam Austin. The 1926 Texas Census of the Austin Colony stated that David Fenter was a farmer and stock raiser and one of the first 300 American families who settled in Texas. David Fenter lived in Texas for 13 years, having fought in Texas War of Independence from Mexico. He returned to Arkansas after his older brother, John Fenter (of the Battle of New Orleans), was killed by the Indians. David brought back news of a rich land, full of new opportunities despite the constant danger of hostile Indians in the Texas Republic.
Although not quite as threatening as Texas, Arkansas was every bit as wild and woolly as any part of the American frontier in the 1820's. But as waves of pioneers entered the rich forest and meadow lands of Clarke County, it grew and prospered until in 1829 it was split to form Hot Springs County. An Act of November 1829 appointed three commissioners to locate a permanent seat for the new county. The three commissioners were John Willis, Thomas Nolan and Christian Fenter. They decided in favor of the town of Hot Springs where the county seat was located until 1846.
In the 1830 U. S. Census of Arkansas, Christian Fenter is listed as being between the ages of 60 and 70. This would be correct, since he was 70 years old. Also in his household is a woman, age 50-60, a male, age 30-40, a male age 20-30, a male age 15-20. Only this last male can be positively identified. William Henry Fenter who was 19 years old. The woman is most likely Mrs. Christian Fenter, born between 1770 and 1780. The two other males are probably Christian Fenter's sons, James and Martin.
After 1830, there are no other census records in which Christian Fenter is listed as a head of a household. However, there are legal documents showing that Christian Fenter was alive in 1842 and family tradition holds that he died at the age of 90 years which would be 1850. A Guardian Bond record of Hot Springs County dated 4th of April 1842 stated that Christian Fenter was an Administrator over minor heirs. The contents of the bond had not been examined, but the fact that Christian Fenter was appointed by a court at the age of 82 to be guardian seems to indicate that he was an alert and clear individual.
A thorough search of the 1850 U.S. Census of Hot Springs County, Arkansas failed to show Christian Fenter as living in any of the households of the county and it can be assumed that he died at the first of the year before the census was taken.
John Fenter of Grant County, Arkansas, Christian Fenter's grandson wrote an account that his grandfather was of German nativity who came to America at an early date. He further recalled that while sojourning awhile in Pennsylvania, Christian Fenter moved to Ohio then to Cape Girardeau, being that country's first inhabitant. About 1815, Christian Fenter moved to Hot Springs County, Arkansas where he died at the age of 90. Christian Fenter was a farmer and a blacksmith.
The above account was the remembrances of John Fenter who was 10 years old when his grandfather died. All references of the Fenter's southern heritage is left out of the account and a Northern one put in its place. This seemed strange at first until it is remembered that John Fenter was a Union Army Civil War veteran. Perhaps thru selective perception, John Fenter only remembered those things that did not bind his loyalties to the South. But it is documented that the Fenter family while originally settling in the German communities of Pennsylvania, eventually migrating thru Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri and finally settling in Arkansas. Christian Fenter was born in Pennsylvania, but it was his grandfather, Johan (Hans) Michael Finter who was of German nativity. Christian Fenter certainly spent time in Ohio during the Revolutionary War and was also surely one of the first inhabitants of the Cape Girardeau Country.
Christian Fenter was a true American Frontiersman. From fighting Indians in the Ohio River Valley to exploring with the Lewis and Clark Expedition to pioneering in Arkansas, his hand was in the civilizing of the Trans-Mississippian Wilderness. But most of all, Christian Fenter was a Christian family man who cleared forest lands, planted crops with a rifle in one hand and a plow in the other. He left a large posterity scattered through out the United States, many of whom were pioneers themselves in later generations. Christian Fenter was a literate man and copies of his handwriting can be found in the Archives of Missouri and Arkansas. His personal integrity and keenness of mind made him a personal favorite in the communities where he lived in dealing with legal matters. Documents show that he was asked to be either guardian or administrator for several estates as well as being chosen to select the county seat of Hot Springs County, Arkansas. In both Hot Springs and Grant Counties, there are townships named Fenter, after this pioneering family.
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The following letter was found in a book entitled, "Lorenzo Dow's Journal," Published By Joshua Martin, Printed By John B. Wolff, 1849, on pages 344 - 346. New Madrid, Territory of Missouri, March 22, 1816Dear Sir,
In compliance with your request, I will now give you a history, as full in detail as the limits of the letter will permit, of the late awful visitation of Providence in this place and vicinity.
On the 16th of December, 1811, about two o'clock, A.M., we were visited by a violent shock of an earthquake, accompanied by a very awful noise resembling loud but distant thunder, but more hoarse and vibrating, which was followed in a few minutes by the complete saturation of the atmosphere, with sulphurious vapor, causing total darkness. The screams of the affrighted inhabitants running to and fro, not knowing where to go, or what to do - the cries of the fowls and beasts of every species - the cracking of trees falling, and the roaring of the Mississippi - the current of which was retrogade for a few minutes, owing as is supposed, to an irruption in its bed -- formed a scene truly horrible.From that time until about sunrise, a number of lighter shocks occurred; at which time one still more violent than the first took place, with the same accompaniments as the first, and the terror which had been excited in everyone, and indeed in all animal nature, was now, if possible doubled. The inhabitants fled in every direction to the country, supposing (if it can be admitted that their minds can be exercised at all) that there was less danger at a distance from, than near to the river. In one person, a female, the alarm was so great that she fainted, and could not be recovered.
There were several shocks of a day, but lighter than those already mentioned until the 23d of January, 1812, when one occurred as violent as the severest of the former ones, accompanied by the same phenomena as the former. From this time until the 4th of February the earth was in continual agitation, visibly waving as a gentle sea. On that day there was another shock, nearly as hard as the proceeding ones. Next day four such, and on the 7th about 4 o'clock A.M., a concussion took place so much more violent than those that had proceeded it, that it was dominated the hard shock. The awful darkness of the atmosphere, which was formerly saturated with sulphurious vapor, and the violence of the tempestuous thundering noise that accompanied it, together with all of the other phenomena mentioned as attending the former ones, formed a scene, the description of which would require the most sublimely fanciful imagination.
At first the Mississippi seemed to recede from its banks, and its waters gathering up like a mountain, leaving for the moment many boats, which were here on their way to New Orleans, on bare sand, in which time the poor sailors made their escape from them. It then rising fifteen to twenty feet perpendicularly, and expanding, as it were, at the same moment, the banks were overflowed with the retrogade current, rapid as a torrent - the boats which before had been left on the sand were now torn from their moorings, and suddenly driven up a little creek, at the mouth of which they laid, to the distance in some instances, of nearly a quarter of a mile. The river falling immediately, as rapid as it had risen, receded in its banks again with such violence, that it took with it whole groves of young cotton-wood trees, which ledged its borders. They were broken off which such regularity, in some instances, that persons who had not witnessed the fact, would be difficultly persuaded, that is has not been the work of art. A great many fish were left on the banks, being unable to keep pace with the water. The river was literally covered with the wrecks of boats, and 'tis said that one was wrecked in which there was a lady and six children, all of whom were lost.
In all the hard shocks mentioned, the earth was horribly torn to pieces - the surface of hundreds of acres, was, from time to time, covered over, in various depths, by the sand which issued from the fissures, which were made in great numbers all over this country, some of which closed up immediately after they had vomited forth their sand and water, which it must be remarked, was the matter generally thrown up. In some places, however, there was a substance somewhat resembling coal, or impure stone coal, thrown up with the sand. It is impossible to say what the depths of the fissures or irregular breaks were; we have reason to believe that some of them are very deep.
The site of this town was evidently settled down at least fifteen feet, and not more than a half a mile below the town there does not appear to be any alteration on the bank of the river, but back from the river a small distance, the numerous large ponds or lakes, as they are called, which covered a great part of the country were nearly dried up. The beds of some of them are elevated above their former banks several feet, producing an alteration of ten, fifteen to twenty feet, from their original state. And lately it has been discovered that a lake was formed on the opposite side of the Mississippi, in the Indian country, upwards of one hundred miles in length, and from one to six miles in width, of the depth of ten to fifty feet. It has communication with the river at both ends, and it is conjectured that it will not be many years before the principal part, if not the whole of the Mississippi, will pass that way.
We were constrained by the fear of our houses falling to live twelve or eighteen months, after the first shocks, in little light camps made of boards; but we gradually became callous, and returned to our houses again. Most of those who fled from the country in the time of the hard shocks have since returned home. We have, since the commencement in 1811, and still continue to feel, slight shocks occasionally. It is seldom indeed that we are more than a week without feeling one, and sometimes three of four in a day. There were two this winter past much harder than we had felt them for two years before; but since then they appear to be lighter than they have ever been, and we begin to hope that ere long they will entirely cease.
I have now, sir, finished my promised description of the earthquake - imperfect it is true, but just as it occurred to my memory; many of, and most of the truly awful scenes, having occurred three or four years ago. They of course are not related with that precision which would entitle it to the character of a full and accurate picture. But such as it is, it is given with pleasure - in the full confidence that it is given to a friend. And now, sir, wishing you all good, I must bid you adieu.
Your humble servant,
Eliza BryanThere is one circumstance which I think worthy of remark. This country was formerly subject to very hard thunder; but for more than twelve months before the commencement of the earthquake there was none at all, and but very little since, a great part of which resembles subterraneous thunder. The shocks still continue, but are growing more light, and less frequent. -E.B.
WILL: "The Will of Christian Fender" In the Name of God Amen August 30th 1793. I, Christian Fender, of the County of Surry and State of North Carolina, Farmer, Being Weak of Body but perfect mind and Memory, thanks be to God for the same, Therefor Calling to mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, Do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is to Say Principally and first of all I Recommend my Soul unto the Hands of God that gave it, Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection with my Body which I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like and Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executor I shall receive the Same by the mighty power of God And as Touching such Worldly Estate where with it has pleases Almighty God to Help me with in my Life, I Give, Devise and Dispose of in the following manner and Form. Imprimis, It is my Will and I do Order that all my Just Debts, and Funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied. Item, I Give and Bequeath Unto Mary Fender my well Beloved Wife, my Whole Personal Estate of Land, Household Goods and Movables, Horses, Cows, Hogs. During her Natural Life, Only upon my Decease. It is my Will and I Do Order that my Son Michael Fender, My Son Henry and my Son John Fender, Each of them receive a Horse Creature and a Cow, when They Arrive to the age of Twenty-One years. Item, I give also to my Two Daughters, Sarah and Catherine Fender at or on the Day of Marriage, One Cow and Calf and One Bed Each. And at the Decease of my Said Wife Mary Fender, all of my Whole and personal Estate to be Equally Divided as She shall see Cause Between my Sons Gabriel, Nimrod, Michael, Henry and John Fender And my Daughter Mary Hoppis, Sarah Fender and Catherine Fender. I also Ordain, Constitute, appoint my well Beloved Wife, Mary Fender and my well Beloved Son, Gabriel Fender, my whole and Sole Execatria and Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly Disallow, Revoke and Disannul, all and Every Form and Testament, Wills, Legacies and Executrias and Executors By me and any wise before Named Willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Conforming this and no Other to be my Last Will and Testament. Whereof, I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal, The Day and Year First above Written. Signed Sealed Published pronounced and Declared by the said Christian Fender. In the Presence of us the Subscribers his Christian [X] Fender (Seal) mark Jn. Castevens Henry Hamrick.
Described as "A beautiful Chickasaw Indian Princess".
BIOGRAPHY: George Fenter worked most all his early life as a cowboy and a farm laborer on the local cattle ranches however at the age of 32 he settled down and married the step-daughter of his sister, Mary Jane Howard. Martha Emiline Peterson was born at Ft. Griffin in Shackleford County, Texas where her parents took refuge during the Indian depredation of 1857. Her mother died when she was about 16 and she was raised by her step-mother, Mary Jane to young womanhood. At the age of 19 she married George Fenter on the 10th of January 1877 at Jacksboro. George Fenter's sister, Mary Jane was opposed to the marriage however for a long tine but eventually she became reconciled to it even though this marriage made George, Mary Jane's son-in-law.
In the 1880 census of Jack County, George is listed as living ten households from his brother Andy Fenter and was the neighbor of Albert Crawford, Andy's wife s brother or cousin. The census lists George and Martha Fenter as farming near Jacksboro with a six month old baby girl at home. Their first child a daughter died at the age of eight months. Also living with George and Martha according to this census was Martha's brother Jake Peterson who was helping on the farm
After Andy FenterÆs first wife died, George and Martha took in Andy's baby daughter to raise but the baby failed and soon followed her mother into the grave.In the 1890's when the rest of the Fenter clan was moving on to Oklahoma, George Fenter and his brother Mark stayed behind in the county and lived out the rest of their lives there. George and Martha Fenter were the parents of nine children all born at Jacksboro, several of them still living as of 1978. George Fenter was an old time resident of Jack County and can be called one of its first settlers having come there In 1860. He lived the next 57 years of his life in Jack County having died on the 29th of July 1917 at the age of 72 years. His widow Martha Fenter remained in Jacksboro after her husband's death and lived some 15 years more dying on the 8th of February 1932 at the age of 74 years. George Washington Fenter was described by his daughter Mrs. Ruby Francis of Abilene, Texas as heavy-set and fleshy. Mrs. Francis was the second youngest daughter of George and Martha Fenter having first married J. Thomas Barr who died 18 Oct 1933 in Texas. Mr. Barr and his wife had a son Vernon Barr born the 21 Jan 1922 and who died young at the age of 17 on the 2nd of February 1939. Mrs. Barr remarried O.L. Francls on the 1 Aug 19~4 and was a gospel song writer in the Church of Christ. In a biography published in his music book "Songs of Hope" it states the following about Mr. Francis:
Onie Lee Francis was the last of eight children born in 1891 to his parents R.B. Francis and his wife Mandy Darter Francis. His father passed away when 0.L. was about 5 years old. The other six boys who did not marry left home at about the age of 21 years, in search of an opportunity, to make their own way, leaving the widowed mother with a daughter Etta, and the youngest son, O..L. The daughter four years older than O.L., and mother were left to take care of the farm and themselves. When O.L. was 13 years old, being the only man on the place, he dropped out of school, (typical school in those times, one room, one teacher).
Needless to mention, the hardships followed for a widowed mother with a 17 rear old daughter and a 13 yrear old son. But they made good, especially after O.L. had prepared to teach singing schools (on borrowed money). He attended some 10 week sessions in Waco, Texas, 100 miles from their home in Madison County, where many students learned to teach others how to do most anything about gospel singing, from rudiments to teaching and writing.
At the age of 29, O. L. was married to Viola Lewis. They lived happily together until she passed away from a cerebral hemorrage in 1943. Suffice it to say, it was grief at its heights. A year later he was married to another good lady, Ruby Fenter Barr, his present wife. He can truly say that he has been fortunate in that he had two good wives, when some men seem unable to find just one. O. L. Francis died the 22 of June 1973 at Abilene, Texas.
