Eliza Dell Hughes Gentry -- Farmer's Wife

 

Eliza Hughes Gentry

Eliza Dell Hughes was born on August 31, 1904 in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the oldest of three children born to Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. and Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes. Mason was a farmer, and a “horse trader.”  Mason and Pearl were both natives of Trigg County.  Pearl was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Eliza;s siblings were Hazie Irbell Hughes, born in 1911 and married John Clayton Light and Twyman Mason Hughes, born in 1914 and married Eldo Myra Boyd and later married Nora Ambie Bridges.

Eliza grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the local schools.  On December 25, 1924 Eliza married Thomas Perry Gentry in a ceremony in Hopkinsville, Kentucky officiated by Rev. John T. Cunningham. Their marriage was on the  22nd anniversary of her parents wedding which was also officiated by Rev. Cunningham in 1902.  Thomas was born on May 5, 1894 and was the son of Robert Henry Gentry and Lillian Hicks Jefferson Gentry. Robert was a native of Dover, Tennessee and Lillian was a native of Trigg County. Robert was a farmer and had served as a deputy sheriff in Cadiz.

Thomas was a veteran of World War I.  He was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 25, 1918 and received his initial training at Fort Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. He was assigned to Company D, of the First Pioneer Infantry where he served for his entire tour of duty.  He served overseas in Germany and France from July 9, 1918 to July 7. 1919.  He was stationed on the Rhine River when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Thomas received an honorable discharge with a rank of corporal.

After Eliza and Thomas were married, they purchased a farm from Eliza’s parents which had been part of the original Stanley Thomas property.  They were engaged in farming on this property in the Oak Grove community for their entire lives.

Eliza and Thomas were the parents of five children.  They were Thomas Hughes Gentry, born in 1925 and married Nellie Evelyn Thomas; Lillian Pearl Gentry, born in 1927 and died at birth; Rachel Louise Gentry, born in 1931 and married Robert William Erath; Clara Dell Gentry, born in 1937 and married Ernest Ronald Lawrence; and Mary Jo Gentry, born in 1939 and married Carol Wayne Whitmer and later married Eugene Carrol Riley.

Thomas died on September 9, 1980 at the age of 86 at the Jennie Stuart Medica Center in Hopkinsville.  He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County.  Eliza died on January 19, 1986 at the age of 81 at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery next to her husband.

 Thomas Perry Gentry

 

Eliza and Thomas tombstone

 

Thomas military tombstone

 

Eliza foot tombstone

LINEAGE: (Eliza Dell Hughes was the daughter of Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. and Mattie Pearl Thomas Hughes.  Pearl was the first child of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas.  Wesley was the sixth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)