GENERATION #8: Henry Berry Owsley and Susan Harriet Rogers

  

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.


Henry Berry Owsley was the oldest child of George Washington Owsley and Mary Ann Shoffner. He was always known as Berry Owsley. Berry's mother, Mary Ann, gave birth to three more children. All three died in infancy and were buried at the Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery in Union County, Tennessee.  


Berry was named after his grandfather, Berry Shoffner. Berry Owsley was raised in the Lead Mine Bend area of Union County, Tennessee. By 1896, Berry's father had left Mary Ann and married a younger lady named Martha (Mattie) Heatherly in neighboring Campbell County, Tennessee.  


Berry and his father, George, served in the Spanish American War in 1898 and 1899. On July 15, 1898, Berry and George were mustered into service at KnoxvilleTennessee. Berry was assigned as a Private in Company I, Sixth Regiment United States Volunteer Infantry, while his father, George, was assigned as a Private in Company F, 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.


Berry was only fifteen years old when he joined the Army, but claimed to be eighteen years old to be able to serve his country. Upon enrollment in the Army, Berry was listed as having dark hair, brown eyes and fair complexion. His height was five feet and four inches.


They were first stationed at Camp Wilder in KnoxvilleTennessee. On July 30, 1898, they were ordered to proceed to Camp Thomas, which was located on the old Civil War Chickamauga battlefield site in ChickamaugaGeorgia. 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 RicoGuam, 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 JuanPuerto 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 4 P.M., and by 8:00 P.M. 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 JuanPuerto 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, 899, aboard the transport ship "Chester" and went into camp at SavannahGeorgia


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


After the war, Berry Owsley, along with his father and stepmother lived for about a year 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 working at the Loomis and Hart Furniture Company in Chattanooga, Berry suffered the loss of an arm in an accident. Berry's stepmother, Mattie, gave birth to a daughter, Manda Owsley, who died in infancy. Manda was buried at the King's Point Cemetery in Chattanooga. Mattie was unable to give birth to any more children. George and Mattie later adopted a boy in 1915. He was known as Charles Lafayette Owsley.  


In 1901, Berry moved back to Lead Mine Bend in Union County, Tennessee near his mother. Berry's father and stepmother moved to the new town of LaFollette in neighboring Campbell County, Tennessee. In 1901, Berry married Susan Rogers. Susan's parents objected to the marriage. They warned Susan she would starve. They were very doubtful Berry could provide for a family, being a one-armed man. Even with just one arm, Berry provided well for his family. He was a farmer and also worked as a "miller" in a corn mill. Susan's parents were known to visit Berry and Susan very often. Susan would always prepare a big meal for them. When Susan's father would acknowledge the good meal, Berry always made it a point to say, "yeah, it's nice to have plenty to eat." Berry never forgot the warnings they gave to Susan.  


Berry and Susan had eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. In 1919, Berry became ill and died at the young age of thirty-six years old.  


On April 6, 1934, in Union County, Tennessee, Susan married Tilman D. (Tim) Minton. Susan died in 1945.  


CHILDREN OF HENRY BERRY OWSLEY AND SUSAN HARRIET ROGERS:  


I. George Washington Owsley born 27-Feb-1903, Union County, Tennessee, married 22-Feb-1923, in Tennessee, Oma Jane Munsey, born 17-May-1902, Union or Claiborne County, Tennessee, (daughter of Albert Munsey and Zora Jane Loop) died 2-Sep-1987, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, buried: Roseberry Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. George died 12-Apr-1994, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, buried: Roseberry Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. George and Oma Owsley had three sons. All three died in infancy.  


II. Mary Ann Owsley born 12-Oct-1904, Union County, Tennessee, married 27-Dec-1920, in Tennessee, George Paris Walker, born 25-Jul-1897, Union County, Tennessee, (son of Horace Maynard Walker and Rachel Florence Mayes) died 4-Apr-1982, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, buried: Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee. Mary died 30-Aug-1982, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, buried: Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee. 


III. Sallie Tennessee Owsley born 24-Feb-1906, Union County, Tennessee, married 5-Apr-1925, in Tennessee, Hughie A. Cox, born 24-May-1899, Tennessee, (son of John Cox and Cordelia Beason) died 31-Oct-1983, Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee, buried: Brantley's Chapel Cemetery, Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee. Sallie died 6-Jun-1933, Union County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. 


IV. John Henry Owsley born 23-Aug-1907, Union County, Tennessee, married 30-Jul-1927, in Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee, Lillie Bell Sylar, born 12-Jun-1908, Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia, (daughter of William Luther Sylar and Callie Fryar) died 28-Jun-1992, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, buried: Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee. John died 15-Jan-1947, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee, buried: Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee.  


V. Linda Effie Owsley born 31-May-1909, Union County, Tennessee, married (1) Charles McCulley, married (2) Charles Roach. Linda died 6-Nov-1942, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee, buried: Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee.  


VI. Mamie L. Owsley born 18-Dec-1910, Union County, Tennessee, married 1927, Willard Lee Suttles, born 27-Mar-1905, Tennessee, (son of James Suttles and Mary Ann Leach) died -Dec-1972, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. Mamie died 21-Jul-1948, Middlesboro, Bell County, Kentucky, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee.  


VII. Mattie Owsley born 12-Jul-1912, Union County, Tennessee, died 16-Jan-1913, Union County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee.  


VIII. Harrison Lonnie Owsley born 10-Oct-1913, Union County, Tennessee, married 22-Oct-1932, in Tazewell, Claiborne County, Tennessee, Genina Alice Arnwine, born 18-Feb-1912, Claiborne County, Tennessee, (daughter of Fielden Arnwine and Ollie Walker) died 28-May-1993, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, buried: Memorial Park Cemetery, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana. Harrison died 16-Oct-1988, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, buried: Memorial Park Cemetery, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana.


IX. Levenia Lassiefee (Lassie) Owsley born 4-Nov-1915, Union County, Tennessee, married 3-Jan-1931, Cornelius (Neil) Dossett, born 5-Jan-1907, Tennessee, (son of John Dossett and Martha Alice Graves) died 14-Jul-1991, Indiana, buried: Albright Cemetery, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana. Levenia died 16-Apr-2000, Indiana, buried: Albright Cemetery, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana.  


X. Lizzie Owsley born 10-Apr-1917, Union County, Tennessee, died 16-Dec-1918, Union County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee.  


XI. Henry B. Owsley born 2-Jun-1919, Union County, Tennessee, died 2-Oct-1919, Union County, Tennessee, buried: Taylor's Grove (Taylor's) Cemetery, Union County, Tennessee. 


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

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




Henry Berry Owsley




Berry and Susan




ROGERS AND OWSLEY FAMILY GROUP PHOTOGRAPH 
Henry Berry Owsley is standing on the first step of the porch at the far right. His sons, 

George Owsley and John Owsley are to the right of him. Susan Rogers Owsley

 is standing at the far left on the porch holding her daughter, Mamie Owsley.




CHILDREN OF HENRY BERRY OWSLEY AND SUSAN HARRIET ROGERS:

George, Sallie, and John




George Owsley, son of Berry Owsley and Susan Rogers




George and Oma Munsey Owsley




George Paris Walker and Mary Owsley Walker


 


Paris and Mary "Owsley" Walker with children: (left to right) Bruce, Winefred, Edith, and Willis




Lassie Owsley Dossett and Mary Owsley Walker, daughters of Berry Owsley and Susan Rogers




Linda "Owsley" McCulley, daughter of Berry Owsley and Susan Rogers




Linda "Owsley" McCulley, daughter of Berry Owsley and Susan Rogers




John, Harrison, and George (sons of Berry Owsley and Susan Rogers)




Willard Lee Suttles and Mamie "Owsley" Suttles, with child James Berry Suttles




Mamie "Owsley" Suttles (far left), with two friends (names unknown)




Lassie Suttles Smelser

(daughter of Williard Lee Suttles and Mamie Owsley Suttles)

with her husband, Robert "Bob" Smelser




Randy Lee Williams with his mother Lassie Suttles Smelser




Harrison Owsley, son of Berry Owsley and Susan Rogers




Lassie "Owsley" Dossett with husband, Neil Dossett, and children




Neil Dossett with daughters





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GENERATION #9: John Henry Owsley and Lillie Bell Sylar