Henry Cullen Vinson -- Prominent Farmer

 

Henry Cullen Vinson is assumed to be the man in the center of this photo surrounded by his four sons

Henry Cullen Vinson was born on April 10, 1847 in Stewart County, Tennessee.  He was the first of three children born to Thomas Allison Vinson and Emeline Thomas Vinson.  His sister, Mary Elizabeth Vinson was born May 28, 1850 and his brother, James J. Vinson, was born in 1851 and died at the age of 1 on November 1, 1852.

The young Vinson family moved to Trigg County when Henry was very small.  His mother died in 1852 at the age of 24.  As a result, Henry and his sister were raised by his grandparents, Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.

Soon after the Civil War erupted, Henry enlisted in the Confederate Army.  He was about 15 years old at the time he enlisted and was assigned to Company D, of the Second Kentucky Calvary. He was captured shortly thereafter by the Union soldiers and was sent to a prison camp in the north.  He subsequently told the story of eating rats to survive while a prisoner. 

After the war, Henry returned to Trigg County where on November 8, 1865, he married Mary Catherine Sumner who was born on April 20, 1850 in Trigg County.  She was the daughter of John Thomas Sumner and Terese Olive Coleman Sumner.  According to family legend, they started their marriage with a mule and a three-legged iron skillet which was used on the coals and was called a spider.

After the birth of their first two children, Alfred Thomas, on November 21, 1866 and Alice Lula, on April 3, 1869, Henry and Mary Catherine moved to Searcy County, Arkansas.  His father, Thomas also moved to Arkansas along with the family.  While in Arkansas, Henry and Mary Catherine had two more children, John Robert, born on December 5, 1871 and Jesse Monroe, born on October 21, 1874.  In 1877 the family left Arkansas and moved back to Trigg County where they spent the remainder of their lives. After they moved back to Trigg County, their last son, Clyde Herman was born on February 7, 1882.

Back in Kentucky, Henry and Mary Catherine lived for several years on what was known as the Greenwade farm near Roaring Springs, Kentucky, In 1886 he bought the farm that was owned by his father in the small community of Warrenton which was located about three miles south of Cadiz.  He and his family moved to this new farm on January 13, 1887. 

 On their farm property, Henry and his sons built a Victorian farm house which had porches on three sides, a house that still stands today.  They raised their family in this new home and became prominent citizens of the community and Henry was recognized as one of the leading farmers of the county. He donated the land and helped to start the Warrenton School in the local community. Many friends were entertained at the Vinson home where hospitability was bountifully dispensed. Henry and Mary Catherine delighted in the company of their friends and enjoyed having their visitors.

Henry never forgot his war years and regularly attended the national confederate reunions.  He proudly wore his uniform which has been preserved by the family.

Mary Catherine died on January 26, 1920 after a long illness.  She was buried in the Vinson Cemetery which Henry had founded and was located on their land.  Henry died five years later on July 15, 1925 at the home of his son on Main Street in Cadiz. He was 78 years old.  He was buried in the family cemetery next to his wife.

 

Tombstone of Henry and Mary Catherine Vinson

LINEAGE:  (Henry Cullen Vinson was the son of Thomas Allison and Emeline Thomas Vinson and grandson of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James Thomas and Mary Standley Thomas.)