GENERATION #7: George Washington Owsley and Mary Ann Shoffner

 

George Washington Owsley (Housley) born 30-Aug-1860, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (1) ABT 1881, in Union County, Tennessee, Mary Ann Shoffner, born 5-Dec-1865, Union County, Tennessee, (daughter of Berry Shoffner and Sarah Ann Shelby) died 23-Jun-1904, Union County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee, married (2) 8-Nov-1896, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Martha A. (Mattie) Heatherly, born 12-Jul-1876, Campbell County, Tennessee, (daughter of John Jackson Heatherly and Louisa Gray) died 17-Mar-1949, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Campbell County, Tennessee. George died 2-Apr-1924, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Campbell County, Tennessee.


George Washington Housley was the oldest son of John Housley and Margaret E. Taylor. He was raised in Sugar Hollow in Campbell County, Tennessee, until the death of his father in 1868. A few years later, his mother moved the family to the Lead Mine Bend area of Union County, Tennessee near her brother, James Taylor. The last name of the family was spelled Ousley in the Union County records.  


In 1881, George married Mary Ann Shoffner in Union County. George and Mary Ann had four children, three of whom died in infancy. They were buried at the Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery. (Henry Berry Owsley, son of George and Mary Ann, lived in Union County, Tennessee and was the father of eleven children.) By 1896, George had left Mary Ann and married a younger lady named Martha (Mattie) Heatherly in Campbell County, Tennessee. Mary Ann died in 1904.  


George and Mattie lived for a short period of time in Middlesboro, Kentucky.  


George and his son, Berry, served in the Spanish American War in 1898 and 1899. On July 15, 1898, George and Berry were mustered into service at Knoxville, Tennessee. George was assigned as a Private in Company F, Sixth Regiment United States Volunteer Infantry, while his son, Berry, was assigned as a Private in Company I, Sixth Regiment United States Volunteer Infantry. On July 17, 1898, both were transferred to Company D of the same Regiment and were under the command of Captain W. D. Henderson.


They were first stationed at Camp Wilder in Knoxville, Tennessee. On July 30, 1898, they were ordered to proceed to Camp Thomas, which was located on the old Civil War Chickamauga battlefield site in Chickamauga, Georgia. While the Sixth Regiment was at Camp Thomas, on August 12, 1898, an armistice was reached between the United States and Spain, ending the war’s fighting. (NOTE: The United States gained temporary control of Cuba, and was ceded ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipine Islands.)


The Sixth Regiment was encamped at Camp Thomas until October 6, 1898, when it was ordered to proceed to New York to embark for San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Sixth Regiment was to serve as an occupation force on the island and relieve the Sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.


The ship "Mississippi" sailed with the Sixth Regiment from New York on Sunday afternoon, October 9, 1898, at and by was well out to sea. The transport was an old cattle ship of the Atlantic steamship line until purchased as a transport by the United States. It had not been fitted out for a transport and was in no way equipped for such travel. The officers were packed three to a room only 8x6 feet. Officers were quartered according to rank and a number of the Second Lieutenants were unable to get bunks, consequently they slept anywhere they could find a place to lay their heads.


Eight hundred (800) enlisted men were aboard the ship, and of this number about seven hundred and fifty (750) were sea sick during the trip.


The Sixth Regiment arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday morning, October 15, 1898. While in Puerto Rico, Company D was encamped at the town of Dorado. In January of 1899, Henry Berry Owsley, suffered from malaria fever and had to be hospitalized for a short period of time.


The Sixth Regiment’s commanding officer, Colonel Lawrence D. Tyson, served as Military Governor of Puerto Rico, as the Spanish troops were forced to leave the island. The Sixth United States Volunteers served in Puerto Rico from October 15, 1898, until February 12, 1899, when they were ordered back to the continental United States. The Sixth Regiment returned to the United States on February 18, 1899, aboard the transport ship "Chester" and went into camp at Savannah, Georgia. 


The Sixth Regiment, including George and Berry, was mustered out on March 15, 1899, at Savannah, Georgia.  


After the war, George and Mattie, along with Berry Owsley, lived in the city of Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee. According to the 1900 Hamilton County, Tennessee Census, they were residing at #1 Arcadia Street, near Cedar Street. This address was located in the historic Cameron Hill district of Chattanooga, which no longer exists. It was not a good year for the Owsley family. While in Chattanooga, Mattie gave birth to a daughter, Manda Owsley, who died in infancy. Manda was buried at the King's Point Cemetery in Chattanooga. George and Mattie had no more children. Berry Owsley suffered the loss of his right arm in an accident at the Loomis and Hart Furniture Company in Chattanooga.  


During the 1890's, George chose to start spelling his last name Owsley. It is my belief that he came in contact with the book, The Owsley Family in England and America, which was written by Harry Bryan Owsley in 1890. George obviously believed Owsley was the correct spelling of the name. George's brothers kept the spelling of their name as Housley. Owsley is the spelling used by all descendants of George Washington Owsley.  


In 1901, George and Mattie moved back to Campbell County, Tennessee to the new town of LaFollette. George became a very successful businessman in LaFollette, Tennessee, where he built three houses on South Tennessee Avenue. The houses are still standing today. His first cousin, J. Will Taylor, became Mayor of LaFollette and later served as United States Congressman. The J. Will Taylor family resided at 312 South Tennessee Avenue, while George and Mattie resided at 314 South Tennessee Avenue. Both houses were built by George Owsley. In the 1910 Campbell County, Tennessee Census, George was listed as a Merchant of a Dry Goods Store. 


In 1915, George and Mattie adopted a baby named Charles LaFayette Stooksbury. He was known as Charles LaFayette Owsley.  


A few years later, George became ill with lung disease. It was recommended he move west. George, Mattie and Charles were residing at 431 Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado, according to the 1920 El Paso County, Colorado Census. Mattie was listed as the Proprietor of a lodging house. In the 1921 Colorado Springs City Directory, George and Mattie were listed as residing at 412 East Colorado Avenue. In the 1924 Colorado Springs City Directory, George and Mattie were listed as residing at 26 South Wahsatch Avenue. George died in Colorado Springs in 1924. His body was returned to LaFollette, Tennessee by train.  


George left a will in Campbell County, Tennessee. In his will, his heirs were listed as his wife, Mattie Owsley and his adopted son, Charles L. Owsley. He also named his grandchildren, who were the children of his oldest son, Berry Owsley. Berry had died earlier in 1919. George also named his sister, Sarah Ousley Sharp in the will. George's brother, Joseph Housley, was listed as executor of the will.  


After George's death, Mattie married Henry F. (Harry) Ross on August 6, 1926, in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. According to the 1930 census records, Mattie and Harry were living in Riverside, Riverside County, California. Charles, age 14, was living with his aunt and uncle (Elizabeth Heatherly Bolinger and Charles Emerson Bolinger) in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. The Bolingers had previously resided in Colorado Springs next door to the Owsley family in 1920.


According to the 1940 census records, Mattie and Harry were living again in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. It appears they may have been divorced but still living in the same residence. In the census, Mattie was listed as Mattie A. Owsley and head of the household. Harry Ross was noted as a lodger. Also in 1940, Charles Owsley was listed as a state prisoner in the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City, Fremont County, Colorado. By 1946, Charles was residing again in Colorado Springs.   

 

It has been related by family members that Mr. Ross went on a hunting trip and was never heard from again. Mattie and Charles moved back to Colorado from California. Mattie died in Colorado Springs in 1949. Her body was returned to LaFollette where she was buried beside of George in the Woodlawn Cemetery.  


Charles Owsley lived in Colorado Springs until his death in 1967. He was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.  


CHILDREN OF GEORGE WASHINGTON OWSLEY:  


I. Henry Berry Owsley (son of George Washington Owsley and Mary Ann Shoffner) born 21-Aug-1882, Union County, Tennessee, married 30-Nov-1901, in Union County, Tennessee, Susan Harriet Rogers, born 9-May-1881, Union County, Tennessee, (daughter of Henry Harrison Rogers and Mary Ann Frankie Rucker) died 1-Oct-1945, Mascot, Knox County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. Henry died 30-Jan-1919, Union County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee.

 

II. Infant Owsley (infant of George Washington Owsley and Mary Ann Shoffner) born 15-Mar-1884, Union County, Tennessee, died 15-Mar-1884, Union County, Tennessee,  buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. 

 

III. Infant Owsley (infant of George Washington Owsley and Mary Ann Shoffner) born 06-Jun-1885, Union County, Tennessee, died 07-Jun-1885, Union County, Tennessee,  buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. 

 

IV. Infant Owsley (infant of George Washington Owsley and Mary Ann Shoffner) born 15-May-1893, Union County, Tennessee, died 15-May-1893, Union County, Tennessee,  buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. 


V. Manda Owsley (daughter of George Washington Owsley and Martha "Mattie" Heatherly) born 17-Mar-1900, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, died 17-Mar-1900, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, buried: King's Point Cemetery, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.  


VI. Charles LaFayette Owsley (son of George Washington Owsley and Martha "Mattie" Heatherly) born 14-May-1915, died 5-Dec-1967, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. 


Charles was the adopted son of George and Mattie Owsley. Charles was originally born to a family named Stooksbury. Charles fought in World War II (PFC 1322 Service Unit TENNESSEE).



 

1860 Campbell County, Tennessee Census 
(Page 457, District #5, Fincastle, Tennessee, Family 278/272) 
John Housley - age 21 - born in Tennessee (Occupation: Farm Hand) 
Margaret - age 22 - born in Tennessee 
Annis - age 2 - born in Tennessee 
Sarah - age 1 - born in Tennessee 

1870 Campbell County, Tennessee Census 
(Page 9, District #1, Jacksboro, Tennessee Post Office, Family 65/59) 
Margret Housley - age 32 - born in Tennessee (Occupation: Keeping House) 
Anna - age 12 - born in Tennessee 
Sarah - age 11 - born in Tennessee 
George - age 9 - born in Tennessee 
James - age 7 - born in Tennessee 
Joseph - age 5 - born in Tennessee 
William - age 3 - born in Tennessee 
John - age 1 - born in Tennessee 

1880 Union County, Tennessee Census 
(Page 228, District #11, Family 164/179) 
James Taylor - age 39 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (Occupation: Farmer and Merchant) 
Sarah E. - age 32 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
George N. - age 12 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
Anise E. - age 9 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
John F. - age 6 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
Margaret M. - age 5 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
Frances S.T. - age 3 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
Joseph Ousley (nephew) - age 15 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
William Ousley (nephew) - age 13 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
John Ousley (nephew) - age 12 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 

1900 Hamilton County, Tennessee Census 
(Page 62B, District #14, Chattanooga City, Family 101/119) 
George W. Owsley - age 37 - born August 1862 in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (Occupation: Riverman-Logger) 
Mattie - age 23 - born June 1877 in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (wife) 
Pearl Heatherly - age 5 - born August 1894 in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (sister-in-law) 
Andy Wilder - age 22 - born April 1878 in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (boarder) (Occupation: Riverman-Logger) 
Rufus Jones - age 55 - born May 1855 in Alabama, father born in AL, mother born in AL (boarder) (Occupation: Laborer-Sawmill) 
Henry B. Owsley - age 17 - born August 1882 in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (son) (Occupation: Laborer-Sawmill) 

1910 Campbell County, Tennessee Census 
(Page 62B, Lafollette, Tennessee, Family 217/217) (April 22, 1910) 
George Ousley - age 49 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (Occupation: Merchant-Dry Goods Store) 
Mattie - age 33 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (wife) 
Pearl Heatherly - age 16 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (sister-in-law) 

1920 El Paso County, Colorado Census 
(Page 168B, City of Colorado Springs, Precinct #20, Family 431/65/85) 
George W. Owsley - age 58 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN 
Mattie - age 43 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (wife)(Occupation: Proprietor-Lodging House) 
Charles - age 5 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (son)


1930 Riverside County, California Census

(Page 212, Dwelling 7, Family 8)

Harry Ross - age 54 - born in West Virginia, father born in WV, mother born in WV (Occupation: Carpenter) 

Mattie - age 54 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (Occupation: Houseworker)


1930 Los Angeles County, California Census

(Page 250B, Long Beach, Family #703)

Charles E. Bolinger - age 51 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (Occupation - pipe fitter)

Elizabeth - age 43 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (wife)

Charles E. Jr. - age 9 - born in Colorado, father born in TN, mother born in TN (son)

Earnest W. Matherly - age 28 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (Occupation: Mechanic) (nephew)

Charles L. Ousley - age 16 - born in Tennessee, father born in TN, mother born in TN (nephew)


1940 El Paso County, Colorado Census

(Page 254, City of Colorado Springs, Family #224)

Mattie A. Owsley - age 63, born in Tennessee (head of household)

Harry F. Ross - age 67, born in Kentucky (lodger)

 

 




 

The Will of George Washinton Owsley (1860-1924)






George Washington Owsley and his second wife, Martha A. (Mattie) Heatherly, 

with adopted son, Charles Lafayette Owsley





George Washington Owsley and his second wife, Martha A. (Mattie) Heatherly,  

with adopted son, Charles Lafayette Owsley





George Washington Owsley Gravestone

Woodlawn Cemetery

LaFollette, Campbell County, Tennessee 




Mary Ann Shoffner Owsley





George Washington Owsley and a man believed to be his cousin, J. Will Taylor





George Washington Owsley (on the right) with a man (name unknown)





Henry Berry Owsley





Henry Berry Owsley with his wife, Susan Harriet Rogers Owsley,

and their children (left to right): George, John, Linda, Sallie, Mamie, and Mary. 





Heatherly sisters: 

(left to right) Pearl Mae Heatherly Mills, Sarah Catherine 

Heatherly Heatherly, and Martha A. "Mattie" Owsley Ross





Heatherly family photograph

(left to right): Myrtle Haller Heatherly and husband, John Heatherly, Laura Hatfield Heatherly, Victoria Shown Heatherly and husband, Alexander (Alex) Heatherly, Martha (Mattie) Heatherly Owsley Ross. This picture was taken in the spring of 1947 at the home of John and Myrtle Heatherly in Parsons, Kansas.

 




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GENERATION #8: Henry Berry Owsley and Susan Harriet Rogers