Life History

Notes

• A grave marker for one Miles Terry in the Ft Douglas Cemetery reports his birth date was 8 October 1880.  This is the same cemetery where William and Jane are buried, and other children we know from the censuses and other sources are also linked to their profile.
  
  The memorial for Miles in Find a Grave has the name James Miles Terry, while the monument marker on his grave has only the name Miles.  Being born in October 1880, he would not have been reported in the 1880 census, when the only child there was Mason Terry, age 2.  On 29 february 2016 I submitted informaoitn clarifying and documenting Marion Miles and James Mason Terry, and this was graciously added to the FAG profile for Miles by the memorial manager.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 5 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 88, page 6A (scan 260A), Hse #45, Fam #54
  Terry, William W M 25  Farmer Cannot read or write AR KY KY
  Terry, Jane W F 25 Wife Keeping House Cannot read or write AR AR AR
  Terry, Mason W M 2 Son AR AR AR
  Self, Betty W F 20 (Cannot read relationship) Cannot read or write AR AR AR
  
  In the 1900 and 1910 census, the child matching Mason is listed as James M.  His age matches, at age 22 in 1900, and birth date reported as December 1877.  This is almost 3 years before the reported birth of Miles Terry.  This James M, however, is apparently where the original creator of Miles' FAG memorial got the name James.  But we now see that James M is James Mason and Miles is a different child, born about 3 years after James M.  Family sources also report this name James and descent to the current generation.
  
  "Sam Terry is my uncle.  He is the son of Mason Terry [and the] grandson of William Terry, and the great-grandson of Isom Terry.  The Gus Terry who wrote the letter is also the son of William Terry."
  --  Barbara Nelson, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 4 February 2016
  
  But in 1900 a child matching Miles Terry is also reported, as the next-born child after James M(ason).  This is Marion M.  The M matches the name Miles on the grave.  The birth date for this Marion M Terry is October 1880, a perfect match for the date of birth of Miles Terry in the Ft Douglas Cemetery.  Thus James' middle name is Mason, and Miles' first name is Marion.  There is no James Miles.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 15 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 42, page 6A,  Hse #80, Fam #82
  Terry, William Head  W M Mar 1856 44 Married 23 year KY KY KY Farmer Owns
  Terry, Ursula J Wife W F Dec 1854 45 Married 23 year 8 children/6 living AR TN MO
  Terry, James M Son W M Dec 1877 22 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  Terry, Marion M Son W M Oct 1880 19 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  Terry, Levanda Dau W M May 1884 14 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  Terry, Riah [Rier, name on his grave] Son W M Oct 1886 13 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  Terry, Gus Son W M May 1889 11 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  Terry, Captain Son W M May 1895 5 Single AR KY AR
  
  In 1905, Miles married.
  
  Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
  Maggie Howard
  Age 20, Birth Year abt 1885
  Residence Treat, Johnson, Arkansas
  Spouse's Name Miles Terry
  Spouse's Age 25
  Spouse's Residence Ft Douglas, Johnson, Arkansas
  Marriage 26 Nov 1905 Johnson County
  Marriage License Date 24 Nov 1905
  
  In the 1910 census Miles' brother James Mason Terry ws living next door to their parents.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 3 May, Pilot Point Township, District 63, page 7A, Ft Douglas and Local Rd, Hse #108, Fam #111
  Terry, James M Head M W 33 Marriage 1 Married 8 yrs [abt 1902] AR AR AR Farmer Rents [b abt 1877]
  Terry, Alie Wife F W 24 Marriage 1 Married 8 yrs [abt 1902] 5 children/4 living AR AR TX [b abt 1886]
  Terry, Samuel Son M W 6 Single AR AR AR [b abt 1904]
  Terry, Jefferson Son M W 4 Single AR AR AR [b abt 1906]
  Terry, Dorothy Dau F W 3 Single AR AR AR [b abt 1907]
  Terry, Annie Dau F W 7mos Single AR AR AR [b abt Sept 1909]
  
  In his profile on Find a Grave, Miles is named James Miles.  As discussed above, it appears the creator of the profile has linked Miles to James M in the censuses.  But in the census James M's age in the censuses match the child reported in the 1880 census as Mason Terry, age 2 in the June 1880 census.  This is before Miles was born, if the date on his grave is correct.  Census ages would make James Mason Terry born in about 1877.
  
  ------------------
  Marion Miles Terry
  Birth Oct 8, 1880 Arkansas
  Death Jul 3, 1912 Johnson County, Arkansas
  
  [Following note provided by Orville Body Jenkins 29 February 2016]
  Note on Terry children: The child named James M in the 1900 and later censuses is James Mason, matching the first and only child in the 1880 census for William and Jane Terry. James Mason Terry was reported born in December 1877, while Miles' birth date on his grave is 8 Oct 1880, after the 1880 census. The name Mason is also attested in family sources, matching the 1880 census for Mason Terry, age 2.
  
  Miles is listed in the 1900 census as Marion M, with birth date Oct 1880.
  
  Both James M(ason) and Marion M(iles) are listed in the 1900 census.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 15 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 42, page 6A, Hse #80, Fam #82
  Terry, William Head W M Mar 1856 44 Married 23 year KY KY KY Farmer Owns
  Terry, Ursula J Wife W F Dec 1854 45 Married 23 year 8 children/6 living AR TN MO
  Terry, James M Son W M Dec 1877 22 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  Terry, Marion M Son W M Oct 1880 19 Single AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  
  Parents:
  William Terry (1855 - 1933)
  Ursula Jane Self Terry (1854 - 1938)
  
  Spouse Maggie Howard Terry Phillips (1885 - 1956)
  
  Siblings:
  Mattie Rose Terry (1879 - 1879)
  Rier Terry (1888 - 1958)
  Gus Terry (1890 - 1973)
  Cap Terry (1895 - 1978)
  
  Inscription Meet me in heaven
  
  Burial Fort Douglas Cemetery, Fort Douglas, Johnson County, Arkansas, USA
  
  Maintained by L Despain, Originally Created by Lynne S Jul 05, 2008
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #28066560, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31171790
  ------------------
  

Sources

• 1. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 2. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 3. 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 15 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 42, page 6A,  Hse #80, Fam #82