Henry Grady Fentress Sr. (1891 - 1969)

Born 31 May 1891 in Bumpus Mills, Stewart, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Daisy May (Murkin) Fentress — married 19 Nov 1913 (to 16 May 1925) in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Elsie Rae (Owens) Fentress — married about 1939 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 24 Jan 1969 at age 77 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Fentress [send private message]

Biography

Henry Grady Fentress^[1][2][3], known as Grady^[4], was born 31 May 1891^[5] in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee, USA ^[1][2][6] to Andrew Ewing Fentress and Blanche Howard Fentress^[7].  Henry Grady was the middle child of nine siblings^[7].

Childhood

Mother Blanche died when Henry was 10½.  Father Andrew died when Henry was 15.  Henry's younger siblings then went to live with the oldest brother Edison Talmadge Fentress.  It is probable (though unconfirmed) that Henry did so as well.

Marriage and family

Henry, at 22 years of age, married Daisy May Murkin on 19 Nov 1913^[3] in Nashville, Tennessee (see also the attached newspaper report of the wedding).  They had three children.  Henry abandoned Daisy in the early 1920s. Daisy filed for divorce in Davidson County, Tennessee and this was granted on 16 May 1925^[8], Daisy accusing Henry Grady of just about every possible grievance that could be used to obtain a divorce.  Daisy and the three children had almost no further contact with Henry Grady after that^[9].  In 1939^[9], he married again in California to Rae Owen (see research note) who preceded him in death^[10]. No issue.

Residences and career

Henry's childhood was spent in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee.  In April of 1910 he was single and boarding with a Mrs. Mercer in Nashville, Tennessee^[11].  He was at that time a stenographer with a railroad.  In June 1917 he was living at 1624 10th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee, USA with a wife and a child^[2].  In January 1920 he was living in rented accommodation at 401  N. 16th Street in Nashville with a wife and two children^[12].  His occupation at this time was advertising agent for a printing company (possibly already working at Addressograph-Multigraph but that was too long to write on the census form).  In 1924, "Grady" and "Daisy M." (and presumably the three children) were living at 1414 Greenwood Avenue and his occupation was listed as salesman^[13]. After leaving Daisy, Henry lived in Georgia^[9], Cleveland, Ohio^[14] and many years in California^[10].  Henry worked for most of his career as a salesman for Addressograph-Multigraph, first in Nashville, then at the the head office in Cleveland, Ohio and then in California when the head office was moved there.  He retired as sales manager for the company^[10].  Addressograph-Multigraph manufactured and sold office duplicating and addressing machinery, later (1978) renamed AM Corporation and it went bankrupt in 1982.  After retirement and after the death of his second wife, Henry moved back to Tennessee in about 1963.

Retirement and Death

In retirement, Henry worked at a series of odd jobs and lived in various places in Kentucky and Tennessee^[10].  Date of death 24 Jan 1969, probably in Nashville, Tennessee^[10][6][14] but possibly in Springfield, Tennessee (see research note).

Research notes

1. In the 1900 census^[7] spelling of oldest son is unreadable - Ederson or Edisson or Edison?  Edison is almost certainly correct.  Further, the age of Andrew is misindexed.  In the image of the census page Andrew is listed as age 44 but the indexer has listed him as 45.  Given a Nov 1855 date of birth, age 44 would be correct.  Further Maybel's middle initial was poorly indexed and should be "L".
2. After the death of Grady's father in 1906, the younger children went to live with the oldest brother Edison.  It is probable that 15 year old Henry also went to live with his oldest brother but by the time of the 1910 census^[11] he was no longer in Edison's household but rather working and boarding in Nashville.
3. Details about the second wife ("Rae Owen") are still being investigated. There is a mention Rae Owen in one of Henry Grady's obituaries^[10] and a mention of the marriage in 1939 in a letter from Grady Sr.'s daughter to her brother^[9].
4. No trace could be found of Henry G. Fentress in the 1930 or 1940 census.  There is little documentary evidence about Grady's time in California except that he got a social security card there pre-1951 and he applied for his birth certificate from there in 1957.
5. Grady's place of death is uncertain.  The findAGrave source^[6] says that he died in Nashville, Tennessee and the family history document^[14] says that he died in Baptist Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee.  Regrettably, neither of those sources are properly documented but he probably died in Baptist Hospital, Nashville.  The newspaper obituaries^[10] could probably be trusted as a source but it is unknown in which newspapers they were published.  One says that he lived in Springfield (Tennessee) and died at a "local" infirmary (one assumes that 'local to the newspaper' is meant).  The other says that he lived in Springfield and died in Baptist Hospital.  According to Wikipedia there was, at the time of Grady's death, a Baptist Hospital in both Nashville and in Springfield so possibly he died in Springfield.

References

Family History Document^[14]

1881 Birth^[1]

1900 Census^[7]

1910 Census^[11]

1913 Marriage^[3]

1917 WWI Draft Registration^[2]

1920 Census^[12]

1924 Directory^[13]

1925 Divorce^[8]

1969 Death^[5]

1969 Burial^[6]

1969 Obituary^[10]

1984 Letter from Grady's Daughter^[9]

2018 Email from a Niece of Grady^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} A copy of a "Delayed certificate of Birth" (File no. 497906 - Dept. of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee) is in the possession of David Fentress.  This has not been added to the source pictures as the copyright issues are unclear.  It shows that H G Fentress as registrant applied for a delayed Tennessee birth certificate on 4 October, 1957 in front of a Notary Public in California.  Three pieces of evidence for the birth details were provided :  1) an original birth certificate of a child born 15 November, 1918 [that would be Helen (Fentress) Cromer], 2) an old affidavit of a cousin dated 20 April, 1944 and 3) an old affidavit of a non-relative.  The delayed certificate was accepted by the Director of Vital Statistics in Nashville, Tennessee on 8 October, 1957.  The certificate shows that Henry Grady Fentress was born on 31 May 1881 in Bumpus Mills, Stewart County, Tennessee to Andrew Ewing Fentress (born Tennessee) and Blanche Howard Bumpus (maiden name) (born Tennessee).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database with images, FamilySearch (12 December 2014), Henry Grady Fentress, 1917-1918; citing Nashville City no 1, Tennessee, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,877,598.  This shows that Grady was of "medium" height with brown eyes and dark brown hair, living at 1624 10th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee, USA with a wife and a child and working as an advertising agent for the "N.C. and St. L. Railroad".  He registered on 9 June 1917 in Nashville.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950 database with images, FamilySearch (3 November 2017), Henry G Fentress and Daisy M Murkin, 19 Nov 1913; citing Davidson, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. 6815, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 2,073,831.  This shows that "Henry G Fentress" married "Daisy M Murkin" on 19 Nov 1913.  The celebrant was S. P. De Vault, Minister Third Baptist Church.  In the preceding image on the film, the marriage license is shown with the full names of the couple namely "Henry Grady Fentress" and "Daisy May Murkin".
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Preferred name was "Grady" according to an email dated 4 Dec 2018 from M. Joy (Fentress) Sandlin who writes "... Yes I met your grandfather when he moved to Hopkinsville in the 60’s.  I was in college then and can’t remember exactly when I met him.  Yes he went by Grady.  I just went and looked at my wedding album and he was at my wedding.  I couldn’t remember who was there – it has been 52 years. Uncle Grady signed the register Henry G Fentress.  But I go by Joy and sign documents Margaret J Sandlin. ..."
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} United States Social Security Death Index database, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Henry Fentress, Jan 1969; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).  This shows that "Henry Fentress" (age 78, born 31 May 1891, last residence in Springfield, Robertson, Tennessee) died in Jan 1969.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Find A Grave: Memorial #162504585 for Henry Grady Fentress, Sr (accessed 21 May 2020).
   The gravestone is depicted and reads "H. GRADY FENTRESS, 1891-1969".
   The entry says "Henry Grady Fentress, Sr, Birth 31 May 1891, Bumpus Mills, Stewart County, Tennessee, Death 24 Jan 1969 (aged 77), Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, Burial Spring Hill Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA".
   Links to memorials for both parents, first wife, four siblings and 1 child are provided.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} United States Census, 1900 database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 11 August 2017), Henry G Fentress in household of Andrew E Fentress, Civil District 4, Stewart, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district 62, sheet 11A, family 188, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,600.  This was enumerated on 19 June 1900 and shows :

   "Andrew E. Fentress" (head of household, age 45, married 18 years, born Nov 1855 in Tennessee, occupation dry goods merchant)

   "Blanche H. Fentress" (wife, age 34, married 18 years, born Nov 1866 in Tennessee)

   "Ederson(?) T(?) Fentress" (Son, age 17, born Oct 1883 in Tennessee)

   "Samuel J Fentress" (son, age 14, born Apr 1886 in Tennessee)

   "Maybel D Fentress" (daughter, age 11, born May 1889 in Tennessee)

   "Henry G Fentress (son, age 9, born May 1891 in Tennessee)

   "William E Fentress" (Son, age 7, born March 1893 in Tennessee)

   "Cora B Fentress" (Daughter, age 4, born Sep 1896 in Tennessee)

   "Irelene E Fentress" (daughter, age 0, born Jan 1900 in Tennessee).
   

   Also in household a white, female, age 19 live-in domestic servant named Morgan Clifton.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Minutes of the Third Circuit Court, Davidson County, Tennessee Book 13, page 243.  These can be seen on image 481 of the film strip.  This shows that a divorce was granted to Daisy Fentress by the County Court of Davidson County, Tennessee on 16 May 1925.  A transcript of the relevant judgement is with Marilyn (Fentress) Morrow, Tekamah, Nebraska and a copy is in the possession of David Fentress.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} A letter from H. G. Fentress Sr.'s daughter Helen (Fentress) Cromer to her younger brother George Fentress dated 10 Apr 1984 in which various family matters were discussed.  Original with Marilyn Morrow, Tekamah, NE.  Copy with David Fentress.  Excerpts :  "Yes, Grady lived with Dad in Georgia for a while and and visited with Dad on several occasions until Mother found out that Dad was living with another woman upon which discovery she declared to us he was dead, and until he came back into our lives years later, we didn't know of his existence."  "Yes, he married his 'Beloved Rae', as he always called her, in 1939."
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7} Copies of H. G. Fentress Sr.'s obituaries from two different (unnamed) Tennessee newspapers. Copies are in possession of David Fentress and originals are with Kenneth Fentress (grandson of H. G. Fentress Sr.). Date of death (24 Jan 1969), name of second wife (Miss Rae Owen) and mother's middle name (Howard) confirmed.  Also mentioned was that "Mr. Fentress resided in Los Angeles most of his life" and was "general sales manager for Addressograph-Multigraph Corp. in Los Angeles".  Henry Grady was survived by "Mrs. Helen Louise Cromer" of Winston Salem, NC (daughter), "George H. Fentress" of Denver, CO (son), "Henry G. Fentress Jr." of Casper, WY (son), "Mrs. Irlene Acree" of Jacksonville, FL (sister), "Mrs. Mable Ezell" of Nashville (sister), "William E. Fentress" of Brentwood, TN (brother) and eight Grandchildren.  Honorary pallbearers were "Ervin Slotchiver", "Dr. Tom Grizzard", "Harry Smith", "Russell Wittenmeier", "Oscar Bumpus", "Bill Ezell" and "E. A. Bergstrom". Active pallbearers were "Lennis Ezell", "John Puckett", "Irl Fentress", "Edwin Fentress", "Elmer Fentress" and "Charles Fentress".
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} United States Census, 1910 database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 22 November 2017), Henry G Fentress in household of Ida E Mercer, Nashville Ward 7, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district 31, sheet 9A, family 192, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1495; FHL microfilm 1,375,508.  Enumerated on 23 Apr 1910, this shows "Henry G Fenntress", age 19, single, boarding with a Mrs. Ida E Mercer at 122 8th Avenue North, Nashville.  His occupation at the time was as a stenographer with a railroad.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} United States Census, 1920 database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 10 August 2017), Henry G Fentress, Nashville Ward 23, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing ED 89, sheet 16B, line 57, family 368, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1735; FHL microfilm 1,821,735.  This was enumerated on 14 Jan 1920 and shows the family living in rented accommodation at 401 North sixteenth Street in Nashville.  Members :

    "Henry G. Fentress" (head, male, age 28, occupation advertising agent for a printing company, born Tennessee, parents born Tennessee)

    "Daisy Fentress" (wife, age 27, born in Tennessee, parents born Tennessee)

    "Henry G. Fentress" (son, age 4 years and 5 months, born in Tennessee.)

    "Helen L. Fentress" (daughter, age 1 year and 2 months, born in Tennessee).

13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Image copy of the 1924 "Nashville City Directory" in possession of David Fentress.  Not attached as a source image because of uncertainty where on the web it was found and of the copyright status.  The listing says "Fentress, Grady (Daisy M) slsmn r 1414 Greenwood Av".
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3} According to the document "A Fentress Genealogy" by Cecil Acree Jr. (as amended Feb. 1985).  This document is basically unsourced (it is just a collection of family recollections of varying quality) but has proven reliable in the past.  A copy is in the possession of David Fentress.  The sections on Henry Grady and his offspring starts on page 41.