In a letter written between two of his sons (Martin and John) in 1854, Martin described his father by writing:
"Father minds me of the little boy that went in the field to move stones and notwithstanding the ground was covered with as such he could easily move he went to a rock which mite be a spur of some neighboring mountain there heaved and set till exhausted all his energies without being able to afffect anything [.] In like manner father suffers his mind to be troubled about things he cannot help and had consequently better let alone...." 10 July 1854
Possibly the pragmatic words of a son about a dreamer father too often frustrated by the elusiveness of personal vision. As such it may be taken with a grain of salt but might also provide a clear and thought provoking epitaph to the life of a man who always seemed to be headed toward the next hill and the new horizon.
Chronology of the Life of William Terry:
1785- born in Hawkins Co. area of Old Sullivan Co., TN (area then known as the State of Franklin by many and covered several nearby state lands); parents John and Esther Brown Terry
1795 - 10 year of age
1805 - 20 years of age and possibly living in Kentucky
1807 - Marries Barbara Ennis, probably in Kentucky ; she has a brother John Ennis and her sister Nancy marries a brother of William's, John Terry and they settle in Indiana
1808 - first born child
1812 - start the move to Indiana
1814- son Martin (some think Francis Martin Terry) born in Gibson Co., Ind
1819 - William listed on land entries for Gibson Co.
1830 - William and John Terry listed with a John Ennis on census in Gibson Co.
1832 - Arrives in Arkansas
1840 - Wm Terry listed in Madison Co., Ark
1850 - Wm Terry on Madison Co., Ark census
1854 - Moved to 12 miles west of Fayettevile, Ark
1860 - Visits son John Terry in Red River Co., TX is enumerated on census there
1861 - Visting in SW Missouri, move to Barry Co., Mo
1863 - Visiting with married children in Mo.
1869 - Visiting with children in Greene Co., Mo; dies and is buried on that land; location unknown.
A heritage of music flows through some of the Hudson-Ray family. Effie actually wrote a few songs (and an old 78 record bears witness to the work!). Her first husband was a musician and weather that was an interest they shared, or she picked it up in the marriage is unknown. Curtis played the guitar. Curtis and Virginia's daughter plays the piano, accordion, and some guitar one son plays the bass, but has been known to play the piano occasionally under extreme duress! At least one grandchild of Curtis also plays the guitar. 
David was pretty small when he attended his aunt's wedding; but I think he saw himself as pretty evenly matched with the cake.
I was not really all that much shorter than my oldest sister, her hair just always made it seem that way! Too bad certain photographic processes did not age as well as others. Carol, like Helen, was always such a sharp fashion plate; I was, well, shorter, wore glasses....do I really need to say more?
Aunt Elva played the organ and the piano, and had been the instrumentalist at her church for many years. As a girl, she had starred in what she called 'operetta's' at her school in Hutchinson, Kansas. I often sang in church. So here in the late 1960's, as a young teen in her "Mama Cass" phase, we are going over a song. Believe it or not there were white boots to go with that outfit - which may account for the look on my aunt's face.
Taken ca. 1968, Delaware, Rehobeth Beach. Left to right: Louis, Denise, Marilyn, Velma, Toni, and Terri...
Their headstone in Barry Co., Missouri.
generations in order. So, between the Ennis, the Riddle, the Ray, the Reed, the Kirkpatrick, the Boyd, and all the others....is it any wonder we are dancing? As my father showed me more than once, there is nothing like a barefoot kitchen jug. 'Tis grand!
flect this new and daring streak of individualism. Buttonhooks made possible the lacing of high and elegant ladies shoes something anyone - with or without a servant - could accomplish with finesse. Shown here is an ad reflecting the type of shoes common in the 1870-1920 time period. The one is a drawing of a buttonhook owned by Effie A. Ray Conner Hudson and given to the bride of her grandson as a wedding present.
This one is especially for the grandkids; they love photos of us that seem a little strange (and most of them do for some reason I cannot fathom!). This is from a camping trip down into Texas to do some fossil hunting in the early 1980's. We had just finished a semester of geology and were deeply smitten as 'rock hounds'.
Curtis was just recovering from ulcer surgery (the latest medical approach to the problem) and had several removed from his stomach.
In the 1970's the country was excited about its bicentennial and a fad for all things old-fashioned erupted. One of those trends was the "Old Fashioned Sunday" were people worshipped under old fashioned brush arbors, had gospel singing dinners on the grounds, dressed up in clothes and styles from an earlier day, pastors arrived on horseback like an old circuit rider, and folks generally had some fun with history.
Taken at Roy's funeral, the image shows: (LtoR) Velma Terry, Lou Priest (behind Velma), Elva Merry, Dennis Terry, Marilyn Terry Hudson, Pearl Terry Garrett (blue), Ada Terry Norwood (shorter woman in front), Lola Terry Horner (white suit) , Claude and Barbara Terry, last one is Ruby (d/o Pearl Terry Garrett).
