THE HENSLEY FAMILY

written by
Barbara Jean (Hensley) Deaton
Daughter of
Clarence and Pauline Back Hensley

Great-great-great-grandfather Lewis Hensley, Sr. b. ca 1781-82, came to Kentucky from Buncombe County, North Carolina with his wife Nancy Howard Hensley b. ca 1789-90. They settled in what is now Harlan County about 1800. They had several children among which were: William, Samuel, John, Lewis Jr., Elizabeth, and Nance.

Two of their sons, John b. ca 1828 and Great-great-grandfather Lewis Jr. b. ca 1830, came to Breathitt County, probably together, shortly before 1850. Both married about this time. John married Betty Ann Howard and lived on Hunting Creek. G-g-grandfather Lewis Jr. married Fanny Howard, the daughter of Dryden/Dred and Juliann Napier Howard. Fanny was born ca. 1829.

The Census of 1850 shows both these brothers living side by side with their respective spouses. John and his wife apparently took in boarders. Lewis and Fanny had a small son, John b. 1849. Mining was the occupation listed for both.

G-g-grandfather Lewis Hensley Jr. and Fanny lived on Quicksand with Judge James Back. Lewis died May 29, 1858 of an unknown cause. He was buried in the Patsy Back Cemetery (Hagins Cemetery) on Quicksand. He was the first person buried on that graveyard. The grave is unmarked. One time Great-aunt Nerve Hensley Lewis took Fanny and other ofher children and pointed out to them the grave location.

At G-g-grandfather Lewis's death, Fanny was left with six small children: G-grandfather John, Mac/Macajah, Edward/Ned, Priscilla/CilIer, Susan, and Lewis. The 1860 Census shows Fanny and her children living near the brother, John. Later Fanny married Sam Mays and had at least three children with him: Spice, Jane and Bill.

As these children matured, Spice Mays, b. November 1859, married Ben McIntosh. Jane Mays, b. March 1868, married James/Jim Combs. Bill is untraced.

As the children of G-g-grandfather Lewis and Fanny Hensley grew up and married, an unusual thing occurred. Their four, oldest children married children of Sebum and Margaret/Peggy Combs Combs. Great-grandfather John married Mary Ellen Combs. Mac/Macajah married Cassie Combs. Edward/Ned married Armina Combs. Priscilla/CiIler married Lafayette Combs. This is the beginning of our Hensley-Combs family connection.

As a young man Great-grandfather John Hensley, b.1849, worked on river rafts. That was the only way to get to towns along the river where timber and produce were sold. These items were usually traded for supplies needed for farming, material for clothing, and staple foods which couldn't be raised on the land.

When the Civil War broke out, G-grandfather John joined the Army at the tender age of 16. He fought on the side of the North. He believed in freedom and the preservation ofthe Union.

In preparing to leave and go to war, he went by the neighbor's, Sebum Combs, house to bid them farewell. These families had been friends for years. John placed baby Mary Ellen, b. ca 1862, on his knee and said, "When I come back. I'm going to marry you. "

After the Civil War John and a Crawford man spent some time in Texas. They worked on a ranch and herded cattle on the Chisholm Trail. The railtown was Sweetwater, just west of Abilene. Sweetwater had sprung up during the War with the building of the railroad.

John liked Texas but he longed for the mountains of Kentucky. He left Texas and returned to Breathitt County. In May 1878, near the age of 29, G-grandfather John married little Mary Ellen Combs.

She was now 16 years old. John owned land in the Stray Branch area. He wanted to sen out, take Mary Ellen and go back to Texas. Her brother, Sam Combs, prevailed upon her not to go. She didn't. Soon afterwards John got rid of all his holdings vowing never to own land again. He didn't.

G-grandfather John Hensley and G-grandmother Mary Ellen had seven children. Four lived to reach maturity: Grandfather Jay Cooke, Mize, Goodlow, and Minerva/Nerve Hensley. Little Brack Hensley died at about age one year. Their unnamed, twin sons died at birth. They lived in the Shoulderblade/Juan area., perhaps on Porter Fork, near their Combs kinfolks. G-uncIe Goodlow remembered playing there as a child.

When G-grandma Mary Ellen took sick to die, she was taken into the home of Jay C. and Sarah. She died there, on Shoulderblade, of bloody flux in 1911.

There is a record of G-grandfather John's having taught Sunday School class at the Shoulderblade Presbyterian Church. He had the mens' and boys' class. In 1918 there were about 25-30 in the class. John's son, Jay c., was also a leader in the church. Jay served as Sunday School superintendent.

The 1920 Census shows G-grandfather John, age 70, living in the household ofGrandfather Jay C. and Sarah Hen~ley. Tilden Hensley remembered his elderly grandfather. As a young lad, Tilden often took walks with him. Once G-grandpa John gave little Tilden a silver dollar minted in the year ofhis birth, 1849. Consequently, Tilden could always remember exactly when his granddad was born.

In his later years, G-grandfather John usually wore clean, bibbed overalls-with a long-sleeved shirt and a hat. He dressed up in a dark, three-piece suit. He had a full head of hair. Late in life it was completely snow-white, as was his moustache and his short beard. He was rather tall, probably less than six feet, and lean.

John helped take the census several times. He was a great fiddle player. He was called on to play for square dances all around the area. Those who knew him described him as being one of the kindest and most gentle people they had ever known.

G-grandfather John died in 1931 of old age and probably ofa stroke. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, are buried together in the Halsey Combs Cemetery on Greasy Fork of Shoulderblade.

In July 1897, Grandfather Jay C. Hensley b. 1880 married Sarah Vires b. 1883. Sarah was 14 years old at the time. Her parents were Richard and Mary Fletcher Vires. Jay was a rather tall, lean, handsome man with black hair and olive complexion. Together Jay C. and Sarah had eleven children:
Bandon, Tilden, Edna. Scott, Ardella. Clarence. John Langley, Charles, ElizabethINeal, Mize, and Fred Hensley.

They lived in the Shoulderblade section of Breathitt County on Old House Branch. All the children were born there. The house was a two-room, wooden structure. A dog-trot separated the rooms. They slept and lived in the two rooms. Most, if not all, of the cooking was done outside in all seasons.

Sometime during the 1920's Jay moved his family to Jackson. They moved, in a wagon, to a house on the right side ofthe road about half-way up Town Hill. Jay and Sarah never owned property.

In 1932, at the age of 52, Grandfather Jay C. Hensley died as the result of a gunshot wound. It seems Charlie, Walker Hollon, and others were drinking and playing cards up in the hill near the home. Jay went up there to persuade Charlie to come to the house. Charlie had a gun. A scuffle ensued, the gun discharged, and Jay was struck in the thigh/groin. ·He bled to death before they could get him into town for medical attention.

Great-uncle Mize Hensley b. 1884, was a city policeman when this episode occurred. He was involved in the investigation that followed. He was most aggressive in pushing for justice. He wanted a swift trial and severe punishment. (In August 1936, in an unrelated incident, G-uncle Mize was shot and killed in the line ofduty. His assailant was Mr. __Tyra of Frozen.)

Charlie and Walker Hollon were indicted for murder. Reportedly, some money exchanged hands. Granny Sarah Hensley, however, was now a widow with no cash, no property, and no money in the bank.

She had no means with which to help her son. Therefore, when the case came to trial, Charlie was tried alone. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years in prison.

After serving 6-7 years in the State Prison at Frankfort, Charlie returned to Jackson and met Lillie Bene Howes, a student at Lees College. In 1939 they married and went to live in Magoffin County, Lillie Belle's home. Charlie worked with the engineers on the State Highway.

In December 1953, tormented by the painful, tragic events of his past, Charlie committed suicide by shooting himself. He was found in the barn at his home. His brothers, Mize and Clarence, never accepted the facts concerning Charlie's death. Lillie Belle was pregnant at the time ofhis death and later miscarried. She is still living today in Magoffin County as are their five surviving children: Marcella, Jerry Mize, Linda Esther, and the twins, Ronald and Donald.

At the time of Jay Hensley's death, Mize b. December 1918, was the last child left at home. With little or no means ofsupport, Sarah had a difficult time getting him through schooL Mize was sick and had to stay out of school for awhile. His health improved and he went back to finish at Jackson High School. In 1939, he was the first and only one of Sarah's children to graduate high schooL

Mize was a veteran of World War 11 He served in the Philippines. In 1943, while still in service. he married Virginia Frazier. After the war ended, they lived in Jackson. Mize was recalled to active duty when the Korean War broke out. After that tour of duty, they settled in Jackson, again, where they worked and raised their family: Larry Mize and Leslie.

When not in service, Mize worked many years at the old A & P Store in Jackson. About 1960 he purchased and began operating the Texaco Service Station on Brown Street. Mize died in 1966 with stomach cancer. Virginia resides in Jackson today.

Scott Hensley b. April 1906 died as a young man, the result of a logging accident. Bandon b. September 1900 also died young, perhaps from a toe infection. Fred b. October 1920 died in infancy. He had flux. Edna often tended to this little one. She always said he was a sweet little baby.

Ardella Hensley, b. March 1908, was an extremely pretty girl with a very bad temper. One particular day she and her dad had a serious disagreement. She wanted to do something and he wouldn't allow it. Her cousin, Mae Gabbard, remembers as they sat talking, under an apple tree, Ardella remarked that some day she was going to kill herself.

Ardella worked at the old Bach HospitaL She was keeping company with a local fellow, Courtney/Red Hays. He was about five years older than Ardella. It seems he had promised to marry her and backed out. At age 18, Ardella committed suicide by taking five tablets of an extremely deadly poison. She had gotten the tablets at the hospital. She lay sick and dying for about three weeks during which time she suffered horrific bouts of vomiting. Courtney did not come around then nor later when she died.

Ardella had a small box. It was about the size of our shoe boxes. She kept it tied and near her all the time. She cautioned everyone not to bother her box nor to look in it. No one did. Granny Sarah looked after the box and, presumably, saw that it was buried with Ardella. This adds some credence to the belief she had been pregnant.

Tilden, b. July 1901, and Daliah Combs Hensley took their family and left Breathitt County in the early 1940's. Tilden and Daliah were third cousins. They went to Bradford, Pennsylvania where they lived and worked in the factories. They came back to visit only infrequently. They had five children: Buster; the twins, Eugene and Christine; Delmar Ray; and Jay C. Hensley. Little Christine died when about one year of age. The youngest, Jay C., b. 1935, is still living in Pennsylvania.

Daliah died in the mid-70's and was buried in Pennsylvania. Tilden later moved back to Jackson and lived with his sister, Edna, for awhile. He was married again to Lizzie Turner. He had black lung and heart problems. He died in 1988 and was buried in the Jackson Cemetery near Clarence and Mize.

Edna Hensley, b. February 1905, married Ance Johnson. They lived on Porter Fork of Shoulderblade. Their son, Frank, was handicapped and died ofpneumonia when he was 11 years old. Minta is still living and resides in West Virginia.

Edna enjoyed doing things with her hands. She like to sew and quilt. She had an inclination for music. She could play the accordion, the banjo, and the organ. Minta recalls, at about age 4, how she mutilated Edna's accordion with her little scissors. Edna was heartbroken.

Edna always had a good voice. Late in life she took piano lessons and learned to play rather well. She then began taking a much more active part in the musical portion ofher church's services. Edna gave many years of service to the Presbyterian Church and its ministry.

As her age advanced and her health declined, Edna sold out in Breathitt County and went to live near Minta and her family. She had heart problems and was a diabetic. Edna was active throughout her last days. She set out cabbage plants the day before she died in April 1991. She was brought back here to be buried in the Johnson Cemetery on Shoulderblade with Ance and little Frank. She was the last of Jay C. and Sarah V. Hensley's children.

Clarence Hensley, b...: April 1910. was married three times. He and his first wife, Alberta Russell, had one daughter. This child, b. April 1931, went by the name of Ina Lee Walk.

Clarence and his second wife, Flossie Miller, had two children: Kirby Clarence b. July 1933 and Geraldine b. November 1934. Clarence never acknowledged paternity of these two children, although Kirby looked much like the Hensleys. A divorce ended this brief marriage.

Kirby was a veteran ofthe Korean War. In 1952 he married Grace Childers. They had two sons: Kirby Jr. and Randy. He and Grace later divorced.

Kirby died in June 1958 near Carlsbad, New Mexico of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was oppressed and remorseful over the break-up of his marriage and the loss of his two sons. His employer found his body in a lonely, ranch cabin, the gun still in his hands. Kirby left a five-page suicide note in which he referred to himself as a "sinner" and a "mean man". The note also alluded to his having killed three men: one in Amarillo, one in Kentucky, and one in Oklahoma.

Clarence had the body returned to Breathitt County. Kirby was buried at Clayhole near his mother's people.

Clarence married his third wife, Pauline Back, in 1936. They had two daughters: Wanda Lee b. 1937 and Barbara Jean b. 1938. They lived in Breathitt County until 1955 when they moved to Dayton, Ohio.

During his lifetime, Clarence held various jobs: truck driver, timekeeper for WPA, worked on the railroad with the section crew, short-order cook in several local restaurants, night watchman/security work, Chief ofPolice in Jackson, deputy sheriff and two stints on the Kentucky State Highway_ He had retired just shortly before he died. .

Pauline taught school in Dayton and eventually retired there. Clarence was back and forth from Ohio to Kentucky. They were divorced in 1964. Clarence returned to Jackson where he lived at the Jefferson Hotel owned by his cousin, Margaret and her husband, Dr. F. C. Lewis.

Clarence died, suddenly and unexpectedly, at the Hotel ofa cerebral hemorrhage in December 1972. He maintained his regular lifestyle and activities right up until the last day of his life. His daughter, Wanda Lee, died in Dayton in February 1981 of a brain aneurysm. She was 44 years old. They lie near each other in the Jackson Cemetery. Pauline lives in Jackson today.

John Langley Hensley, b. May 1912, was a handsome man with light, olive complexion. He had a good turn. John married Opal Howlett. They had at least two children: Betty Sue Hensley b. May 1934 and Roger b. December 1932. John was gored by a steer which probably contributed to his death. He also had TB of the bowels/flux. He died on 1 October 1934. It snowed that night.

John Langley, Ardella, Grandpa Jay C. and Granny Sarah V Hensley are all buried, side by side, at the Kings Branch Cemetery in South Jackson. Jay and Sarah's graves are marked. John and Ardella's will have markers in the very near future.

Our family's connection to Kings Branch goes back many years. Felix King was the first man to live in Kings Branch. He was married to America Barnett. Felix was also the first person to be buried on the graveyard located on top ofthe hilL Both the branch and the graveyard are named for Felix. His daughter, Elizabeth I Betty King, married G-uncle Goodlow Hensley.

Neal Hensley, b. May 1916, had an interesting life. Her given name was actually Elizabeth. She seldom ever used it except to sign important papers and legal documents. Ms. Neal was a missionary lady in the Shoulderblade community about 1915-20. It was from her that Neal got her new name.

Neal was married three times and had at least two children. She and Walker Hollon were married in June 1933. Betty Sue Hollon was bomin September 1934 and raised by Granny Hensley. Betty Sue called her "Mommy". Neal was "Mother". Betty Sue Hollon Carpenter Holbrook was a diabetic. She died in her sleep at her home in Florida in August 1995. Her husband, 1. B. Holbrook, brought her body back to Magoffin County for burial.

Neal had a son, Nolan Gross, by Mr. __ Cole. She gave Nolan to her first cousin, a daughter ofher Aunt Evaline Vires Gross.

Neal's second husband was Sisco Newton. They were divorced.

In the mid-1940's, Dr. and Mrs. Joe Potter came to Jackson. He had previously worked somewhere in the TB hospitals but his license had been suspended/revoked. He came to Jackson and went into general practice. Mrs. Potter was a refined woman, played bridge, and did the club membership routine. Before too long, they divorced. Mrs. Potter reportedly said she was glad to be rid of him. Now she wouldn't have to cover up for him anymore.

About this time, Neal began to keep company with Dr. Potter. He was 24 years her senior. She probably was a factor in his divorce. They married in October 1946.

One night in late 1946 early 1947, a young woman, __Large, died under mysterious circumstances at a local beer joint, the Rock House at Haddix. It appears she was killed then placed in the road and run over by a car, perhaps in an effort to make it seem like an accident.

Neal and Dr. Potter were arrested and brought to the Court House. From his vantage point across the street in the A & P Store, Mize observed all this activity. He went to the back of the store and cried. Mize was always fearful that Neal had driven the aforementioned car.

In February 1947 six people, including Neal and Dr. Potter, were indicted for murder. In June charges against Neal and Dr. Potter were dropped. Later the case came to trial before a jury brought in from Owsley County. A jury from Breathitt County had been dismissed.

The particulars of this case were kept very hush-hush around town. It was not discussed openly in the home of this writer. Information was very sketchy. Rumor has it that some money exchanged hands. That would not have been unusual according to Breathitt County's standard of justice. Neal and Dr. Potter left Jackson shortly thereafter. They went to Pennsylvania where he again worked in the TB hospital, they apparently did well. Neal died in 1959 with cancer of the female organs. Both she and Dr. Potter are buried in Pennsylvania.

Sarah V. Hensley was short in stature, about five feet or less. She was stocky like many mountain women of her time. Her long, dark hair probably was never cut. She wore it in a roll around the back of her head or sometimes in a bun. She was never completely gray, only about half-so when she died. She had the hereditary skin condition, eczema. Today it is still evident even unto the third generation. This writer remembers her nicely-shaped legs. Aunt Edna's and Wanda Lee's legs were much like Sarah's.

Granny Hensley was a good woman who worked hard all her life. She was poor and didn't have many material possessions. She was an humble person, good-hearted, soft-spoken, and slow to anger.

When Great-uncle Goodlow became ill with TB Jay and Sarah took him into their home. Goodlow's wife, Betty, had died a few years earlier. Sarah took care of Goodlow for about six months until he died in March 1926. She carried out all the doctor's orders using the carbolic acid just as they advised. No one else got sick.

Later Jay and Sarah did the same for Goodlow's son, Hager, who also fell ill with TB. He died about 1931 at the age of 21. Hager is remembered as being a great harmonica player. Goodlow, Betty, and Hager are buried at the Kings Branch Cemetery.

After the death of her husband in 1932, Sarah Hensley had a hard time making ends meet. She did washing and sewing for people. She pieced and made quilts. She began cooking, cleaning, and taking care of an older, divorced man, William "Bill" Campbell. After several years of caring for him, they married in December 1940. Life then became easier for Sarah.· She now felt more secure. Bill ran a store in South Jackson. The store was located directly across the street from the old railroad depot.

As a pre-school age child, this writer recalls staying at the store with Granny Sarah Hensley and Bill Campbell during the day, while my parents worked. Many, many times Granny would ask me about lunch. At my request, she would then prepare my favorite dish, macaroni and tomatoes.
Bill Campbell was a divorced man when he married Sarah. His first wife was still alive. After a time, that began to prey on his mind. He got it in his head that he and Sarah were living in adultery. They divorced in the late 1940's. At the age of 8-1 0 years, this writer recalls going with my sister on Decoration Day to help Granny Sarah Hensley decorate the three graves at the Kings Branch Cemetery. We took along tools to cut weeds and tend the graves. Fresh dirt had to be raked upon each one to form a mound. For decoration we had fresh, cut flowers from our yards as well as the crepe paper ones Granny had made herself We accompanied her several times.

About 1950 or so, Sarah Hensley married Anderson Johnson. He was from Helen's in Lee County. He lived on Long Shoal. This writer recalls riding the train from Jackson to Helen's. Granny met Wanda Lee and me there. We walked up Long Shoal about three miles to their house. It was a simple country home with 3-4 rooms and outdoor plumbing. They had fruit trees, a garden, and the usual hogs and chickens. It was located in a very remote section with no near neighbors. We would visit a week and ride the train back to Jackson.

Granny Hensley never ventured far from the location where she and Jay last resided. She nearly always lived within a 1-1 1/2 mile radius of that house. Her roots in South Jackson were deep and strong. Her time in Lee County was the only exception.

Granny didn't stay in Lee County very long. She was living back in South Jackson around 1954-55. Anderson was around much of the time. Her house was located up on the hillside immediately through, and directly above, the railroad underpass. Her street/road/path has just recently been named Jackson Street. We went there to visit her. Sometimes she would serve her specialty: dried apple stack cake, seven layers high! She made great biscuits, too.

Granny continued to live at this place until she became ill and had to go live with Aunt Edna. Anderson wasn't around much after she took sick. They were, however, still married at the time ofher death. She died of abdominal cancer in January 1960. She was laid to rest in the Kings Branch Cemetery beside the three graves she tended so faithfully in her lifetime.