Robert Y. H. Terry

Robert Y. H. Terry Family South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee

1861-65 During the Civil War, R. Y. H. Terry enlisted in the Confederate Army, he worked his way up to 1st Sargent, Company A, 37th Arkansas Infantry. He was captured in the Battle of Helena in 1863. He was imprisoned first in Alton, Illinois and later at Delaware Bay, Delaware. He was never wounded but his stay in the northern prisons almost killed him by disease and starvation.

1871- May 30 - Robert Y. H. Terry and Sarah Pryor were married at the residence of Rev. John Pryor by Rev. James R. Harvey of Little Rock Conference. Rev. Pryor was a Methodist preacher. [bible record of R. Y. H. Terry, records of Mary Vance Norfleet]

1880- Census records of Ashley Co., Arkansas show R. Y. H. Terry (40) miller from S. C., his wife is S. A. Terry (35) S. C., he has a son W. I. Terry (6), and had a baby daughter born on May who died in this year. He apparently has a couple of female servants living with him as well as having two men, J. J. Jenkins (26) a preacher, and J. D. Akins (m32) a laborer as boarders. [Carter Township, Ashley Co., ed. 114, p. 12]

1890- The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas: Clark, Miller, Sevier, Howard, Pike, Lafayette, Hempstead, Columbia, Little River, Nevada, Cleveland, Quchita, Dallas, Bradley, Calhoun, Union, Ashley, Drew, Lincoln, Desha and Chicot Counties. By Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis. 1890 Republished by Rev. S. Emmett Lucas, Jr., P.O. Box 738 Easley, S. C. 29640, Southern Historical Press 1978.

ROBERT Y. H. TERRY is the proprietor of the Hamburg Planing Mills and was born in South Carolina on March 27, 1837, to John M. and Mary (Graydon) Terry, also natives of the Palmetto State. The Terrys are of English extraction and came to the United States shortly after the Revolution, but the Graydons and Camps, the mother's relatives, were soldiers in that war under Gens. Green, Sumter and Marion, and were in the battles of Cowpens and King's Mountain. John M. Terry lived and died in South Carolina, a leading member of the Methodist Church, and served in some official capacity most of the time after reaching manhood. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Terry, as well as his wife were members of the Methodist Church in England under Wesley. John M. Terry died in 1853, and in 1858 Robert Y. H. Terry left South Carolina for Mississippi, in which State he remained for one year, then came to Arkansas, which State he reached in December, 1859, his mother coming thither with him. He received the education and rearing which is usually given the farmer's boy , and the time of his father's death he prepared to enter college, but gave up this plan to take charge of the farm. After coming to Arkansas he opened up a woodland farm in Ashley County, near Marie Saline on the Quachita River, and on this farm remained until the war came up, when he enlisted in Company A, First Trans-Mississippi Regiment, and on Junly 4, 1863, was captured at Helena and was kept a prisoner at Alton, Ill., for eight months, Fort Delaware Twelve months and was paroled three weeks before Lee's surrender. He then came home, remained on the farm one year, and 1867 moved to Hamburg, here he has been since March,1867. He first opened a furniture store and cabinet shop, but in 1871 built and operated with his brother and nephew, Dr. A. W. Terry, a saw and grist mill. Mary Terry died at her home in Hamburg, Ark., in 1879, in her seventy-ninth year. In 1887 the brother, William S. Terry, moved the saw mill to a location five miles south of Hamburg, after which Robert Terry engaged in his present business, at which he is doing well. His mill and machinery are valued at about $2,000, and although his trade is already large, it is rapidly increasing. In 1871 he married to Miss Sarah A. Pryor, a daughter of Rev. John Pryor, and to them two children have been born: William Trigg and Annie E. Mr. Terry and his wife belong to the Methodist Church, and he is a member of the K. of H., and his political views is a Democrat.
[History of Arkansas, p. 921.]

1900- Walter R. Terry and Dr. Alonze Terry are near each other in Ashley Co, Carter Twp. Arkansas/. [vol. 1, enum dist. 10, sheet 10] Walter Terry is operating a sawmill w/ wife Nellie and children.

Robert Y. H. Terry (W. S. 's brother ) is listed as a boarder to Alonze W. Terry, dentist, son of T. O. P. Terry. Robt. is a "drummer" or salesman. A. W. Terry , the son of T. O. P. Terry of 1880 Ashley/ [Ashley Co. , Carter Twp. enum dist. 10, sheet 10 and 7]

1907, 8 January -

The Terry-Graydon Family History as written in a letter by Robert Y. H. Terry to his daughter Anne Elcybeth “Elsie” Terry on 8 January 1907. These documents were generously provided by Mary Vance Norfleet,

1908, Mar 26 -

"Mr. R. Y. H. Terry, for many years a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of this community, died at the home of his son, W. T. Terry, in Lebanon, Tenn. , yesterday morning. He leaves one son, W. T., and one daughter, Miss Elsie, both of whom were raised in Hamburg. He also has two nephews her: Walter Terry and Dr. A. W. Terry. He was about 72 years of age." [Lee. p148]

US census records.
Terry Family Historian, March 1983, Greenville County, South Carolina Probate records, .p. 26.
Memorial & Biographical History of Dallas County Texas. Chicago. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1892,. Wetherford Publick Library. pg. 673-74
Norfleet, Mary Vance. thanks for her vast collection of records and history as recorded by her grandmother, Anne Elcybeth "Elsie" Terry Vance. 63090 Opossum Lane, Montrose CO 81401-9603. 3/5/03 - email- mvn471@montrose.net

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