HomeMy WebLinkAbout1845-1909 - William R Terry - Civil War VeteranWi_tli_am 8= Terry
Representing: Union
Unit History
6th Indiana Cavalry B
William.R.Terry.Pension.card.7oe3.NB
William.R.Terry.marriage.to.Phebe.McPherson.70€ .NB
William.R.Terry.Pension.pay.card.7CBQWA
William R. Terry was born on August 18, 1845. His place of birth as Morgan County, IN.
Parenting William were Joseph (b. 1810 NC) and Mary Ann (nee Boyd b. 1812 NC) Terry. The Terry family
was a farm family.
As best as can be determined William was the youngest of only two Terry children. Older than he was
Mary Ann Terry (b. September 28, 1839).
During the U.S. Census of 1850 Joseph and family were residing in or near the community of Marion
located in Putnam County, IN. A decade later, in 1860, they were still in Indiana, but then farming in the
Morgan County's Monroe.
William.R.Terry.Death.record.7c6QWA
In April, 1863 William departed his parents' farm and enlisted in the U.S. Army. His unit was the
6th Indiana Cavalry. Without access to his military records all we can safety say about his service tenure is
that he survived The War and returned to civilian life.
On August 20, 1890 our former cavalry private would applied for and was later granted a U.S. Government
disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. It appears that monthly stipend may have
grown to $12 by March of 1907. Acquiring his pension files wilt do much more to clarify this matter.
The census of 1870 found William and residing and employed as a laborer on the Union Dallas County, IA
farm of his married sister, her husband and children. Also in the home were Joseph and Mary Terry.
On January 15, 1874 in Filtmore, Nebraska, William married. His bride was Phoebe/Phebe E. McPherson
(b. November 7, 1849 Keokuk, IA).After being wed the couple set up their farm home in Geneva Fitlmore
County, NB.
During their years together the union of William and Phebe would produce eight children, seven of whom
were living at the dawn of the twentieth Century. The seven identified Terry children were: Ulysses
Simpson Terry (10/11/74 Geneva Fitlmore County, NB), Elmer E. Terry (b. 5/14/76 Filtmore County, NB),
Joseph John Terry (b. 1/1/79 Fitlmore County, NB), Alvina "Evie" Terry (b.1883 Mitchell County, KS) Mary
"Mamie" S.(b. 4/84 Glen Elder Mitchell County, KS), Benjamin M. (b. 7/18/88 Fitlmore County, NB) and
Franklin (b. 10/12/90 Filtmore County, NB).
As noted by the birth states of the Terry children, William and Phoebe/Phebe started growing their family
in Nebraska, but by 1883 had removed to Glen Elder Mitchell County, KS. They remained there at least
beyond 3/1/85 when they returned to Nebraska's Fitlmore County. The why of this Kansas excursion is an
unknown.
In 1900 the Terrys were still in Nebraska. By 1909, however, they had quitted that state and removed to
the Puget Sound region of western Washington State. What had drawn them to this area of the Pacific
Northwest is not known. Also, not known is when the family arrived here. In Washington their residential
community was Tukwila just south of Seattle in King County.
Farmer William R. Terry died of stomach cancer on in Tukwila King County, WA on November 24, 1909.
Apparently he had been made aware of the disease some three months earlier. Burial was/is in the
Riverton Crest Cemetery located in Tukwila.
After William's death Phoebe/Phebe remained in the Seattle area. Interestingly, based on available
documents it does not appear she applied to continue receiving at least a portion of her late husband's
pension stipend.
In 1910 the widow Terry was still living in Tukwila. Residing in her home were a number of her children and
grandchildren.
Phoebe/Phebe McPherson Terry died on March 10, 1919 in Tukwila. She was/is buried beside William in
the Rivercrest Cemetery.
6th INDIANA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: February, 1863 Indianapolis, IN
Mustered In: 2/23/63 Indianapolis, IN
Mustered Out: 9/15/65 Murfreesboro, TN
Residence: Inf. Not Avail. Age: 18.7 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 4/6/63 Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 4/6/63
Mustered Out: 9/15/65 Murfreesboro, TN
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
' 8680.Civit.War.Veterans.Buried.In.Washington.Statef.Alt.Rights.Reservedi