Patrick D. Henry

By Louann Snider Anderson
Great Grand Niece
Patrick Henry was born 28 March 1835 in Henrysville Alabama to Hugh Jr. and Ann Claunch Henry. Ann was ¼ Cherokee Indian. Patrick’s father Hugh Jr. was born 1796 in Henry’s Crossroad, Sevier County, Tennessee to Major Hugh and Mary Long- Henry. Major Hugh Henry served in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the revolutionary War. Hugh Henry Jr. and his son, Albert G. Henry of Tennessee were the first white merchants at Gunter’s Landing. The Henrys came to Gunter’s Landing in 1829 and started the first real mercantile business in what later became Marshall County. Needless to say, the majority of their customers were Indians for many years. Hugh’s second wife, Martha (Patsy) Gunter was a Cherokee Indian half-breed daughter of John Gunter (Guntersville AL is named for John). Martha is a sister of Will Rogers Great Grandmother. John Gunter’s will stated that Patsy was not to receive any inheritance as long as she was married to Hugh Henry.
Hugh married Ann Claunch, a ¼ Indian about 1833 to this marriage were born Patrick and Thomas Benton Henry. On April 23, 1864, during the United States Civil War, at the age of 27, Thomas Benton Henry was killed. The family of Thomas recalled that he was sick and in bed when Union sympathizers came, took him outside and either shot or hanged him in front of his wife Elizabeth. Ann was first married to Dempsy Fields. To this union was born a daughter Mary Catherine. Dempsy died 10 July 1831.

Patrick stated on his Indian application that his grandmother on his mother’s was Diana Campbell. Patrick was reared on his father’s farm; received a common school education; and took a two years course at Cumberland University, Lebanon, TN. He entered his father’s mercantile establishment at Henryville, in a clerical position, and at his father’s death he was given an interest in the business with his younger brother, Thomas Benton.
Quoted from Blunt county Confederate (Volume 3) – 194 “ Henry. Patrick, Henry. Microfilmed Confederate Service Records Reported Henry enlisted in Captain Gilbreath’s Company E (Marshall County) of the 49th Alabama Infantry at the age of 26 at Guntersville on 2 Jan. 1862, appointed Captain of the Commissary on 8 May 1862 and also associated with the 31st Alabama Infantry, captured at port Hudson, Louisiana on 9 Jul 1863; sent North on the steamer Planet on 16 Jul 1863; imprisoned at Johnson”s Island, Ohio, forwarded to Point Lookout, Maryland for exchange on 21 Mar 1865 sent to Fort Delaware 28 Apr 1865, Patrick Henry’s home in Alabama in 1888 took the oath of allegiance at Fort Delaware and was released 12 Jun 1865, described as five feet 10 inches tall, light complexion, light hair, hazel eyes, residence: Marshall County”.

Upon returning home he merchandised until 1876, when he retired, in 1884 he formed a partnership with his brother A. G. Henry, and in 1887, he withdrew and went into business with his sons, He held a large landed interest in Indian Territory. In 1886 he went to Indian Territory (after the death of his third wife) and married there for the fourth time. His fifth marriage took place in Texas. Patrick first married Sarah Steams, to this union were born 5 Children, Hugh B., Mary Catherine, Patrick Decater Jr., Thomas Benton and Myra. After Sarah’s death he married Allie Alford, She lived just 2 or three months after this marriage. Next he married Laura Allen Gibbs, to this union were born 3 children, Wallace Gibbs, Albert Gallatin, and Marie. After Laura’s death he came to Chelsea Indian Territory. The home in Alabama was left to Patrick and his brother Thomas Benton in their fathers will. Patrick in listed on the 1883 Henderson roll as those wishing to come to Indian Territory. After coming to Chelsea Indian Territory in 1886 he married Stella Ann Strange, to this union were born 5 children, Bessie L., Clarence Roy, unnamed child, Catharine and Ada Bell

Quoted from the interview of Lenora Alpha Henry by M. J. Stockman June 24 1937, Field Worker
“In Chelsea Cherokee Nation he built a frame building which housed his General Merchandise business (though to be on the corner across from the old bank building on 6tth and Olive) and a small two room house on a farm he selected one and ½ mile east of Bushyhead Cherokee nation Indian Territory. This Must have extended more than 6 mile east according to his Daughter in Law, Lenora Alpha Ross Henry, the wife of Albert., who helped his father in the store and rode the range with him to round up the cattle. He also made (or rather) tried to make the Run 1n 1889. He got thrown out. They were too much for him. It was awful.”
“Albert Henry was later in Life a road builder. While blasting out a piece of ground for a new road which was to be built near Sequoyah, he was instantly killed. He was the overseer. That was in 1919.”

Patrick and children, Gibbs, Albert, Marie and Patrick Jr. received Cherokee citizenship 30 September 1887, according to a certificate of admission, dated 30 September 1877. He stated on the application for the Dawes roll that he came to the Cherokee nation in 1888.

Quoted from the Cherokee Advocate book three, page 170 dated 8 September 1882.
“Since our last issue Prof. J. L. Smith and family, accompanied by Mr. Patrick Henry all of Guntersville, Alabama, have come and for the present are with relatives in Tahlequah. Mrs. Smith’s father was the late Dempsey, not Rider Fields as stated in the last week’s Advocate. Mr. Henry, her half-brother is a son of the late Hugh Henry, who for many years was a leading merchant in North Alabama. After the death of Dempsey Fields, the widow Mrs. Annie Claunch Fields married the young merchant Hugh Henry, who had lost his wife. To this union Mr. Patrick Henry readily traces his Cherokee blood—which, as in the case of his sister Mrs. Mary Fields Smith , will insure for him a place with us as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation provided he locates permanently with us. Mr. Henry and his sister Mrs. Smith were before our “Commission on Citizenship” Tuesday last, and furnished conclusive evidence of their Cherokee descent and purpose to become a part of us.” Patrick must have returned back to Alabama to dispose of his business, before returning in to the Cherokee nation in 1886.

Quoted from an Editorial on J. B. Mayes in the Cherokee Capital dated July 1888 Vol. 1 No. 6.
“Right or wrong Chief Mayes and the fourteen or fifteen members who stood by him raised the bid from $125,000 to $185,000 for grazing privileges West 96.” The commission rejected the bid of Mr., P. Henry and Company, awarding it to Kansas Lobbyists Live Stock Association. “The National Council did not accord generous treatment to our fellow citizen Mr. P Henry in passing by his bid of $175,000, per annum for the grazing privileges of the Cherokee strip.”

Patrick Henry is listed among the prominent Chelsea citizens who gave their time and money to care for the unfortunate people who lost their homes and all their possessions in the tornado that destroyed the town of David located a mile south of Chelsea on 2 June 1898.

At least one son Wallace Gibbs Henry stayed in Chelsea, he married Myrtle Barnes. To this union were born Dewitt Clinton. Roy W. and Myra Henry. Dewitt lived in Chelsea, he married Lou Lindley. Born to this union were Dewitt Clinton JR., Dorothy Jean, and Mary Irene. Dewitt and Lou were a part of the Chelsea’s first graduation class from the 12th class in 1911. All the children graduated from Chelsea High School. Dewitt started working at the Bank of Chelsea (The first Bank in Cherokee nation established in 1896) as a book keeper later becoming Ex-vice president. Their daughter Mary Irene married Robert Lee Merriott, a Rancher and a partner in Harrell and Merriott Motor Company.

Patrick moved to San Antonio Texas after 1900, he is listed on the 1900 census as living in Chelsea, Cherokee Nation, and in San Antonio on 7 Aug 1906 where Stella died in San Antonio Texas. Patrick died 17 September 1925 in San Diego California.
Patrick Henry is the 1st cousin 3 times removed of Patrick Henry Governor of Virginia for 5 terms and is well known for his statement
“Give me liberty or give me death!”.

Quoted from the Interview by M. J. Stockton of Lenora Alpha Henry
“Bushyhead was just a wide place I the road, nothing there but a section house and a train switch. There was no Tulsa then. Claremore was very small, just a few shacks; about four stores, one of being F. A. Nielson’s store and a post office.

Quoted from the Interview by M. J. Stockton of Lenora Alpha Henry (wife of Albert Henry, Patrick’s son)
“A true story about Panthers.
The very first night we moved into our new log cabin (located about 6 miles east of Bushyhead on the Henry claim) we
were frightened almost out of our wits. I don’t know who screamed the loudest the panther or I. My father had butchered
and brought us a nice ham. We laid it up on a shelf just below just below the window. Imagine our surprise when just as
we dozed off to sleep we awaken by a noise of prowling. When we sat up in bed and took notice, there was a big
panther reaching his paws reaching down for the ham. He was right in the window. My husband grabbed his 45 and shot
but when the panther saw him move for the gun, he tore out of all the screaming a person ever heard. In my fancy I can still hear that awful crying. The animal ran and got on our shed and disturbed us most of the night, just kept on screaming.

The next day my father had a battle with it. It jumped upon one of his young yearlings and killed it. The folks finally made it so hot for it that it beat it on down to Pryor Creek and some down there shot it. We were frightened by panthers and coyotes many times in our young married life. I was only seventeen years old then.”