[100]
According to William Luther Brown, "Served in the Cherokee
Expedition, under Colonel William Christian and Major Evan Shelby, in
the campaign starting in August, 1776."
[26]
In The Kentucky Land Grants, Book 93, page 149, Thomas C. is
recorded to have been granted 8 acres on Peters Creek, Barren, Ky on 8
Apr 1873.
The following newspaper clipping was received from Mary D.
(Gillenwaters) Stevens. She cut it from the 50th anniversary issue of
the Tompkinsville News of Monroe, KY. The article was extracted from
[UL:
Kentucky Genealogy and Biography :UL] , Volume II, page 56.
Thomas C. Gillenwaters was born November 11, 1839 in Hawkins
County, Tenn., and
is the youngest of six sons and seven daughters (eleven lived to
be grown).,
born to David and Keziah (Wilson) Gillenwaters. David was born
and reared in
Hawkins County, Tenn.; was a farmer; immigrated to Monroe County,
Ky., about
1856; purchased a farm of 200 acres, on which he remained until
his death in
April, 1867, aged about eighty years. He was a son of Joel
Gillenwaters, who was
born and reared in Hawkins County, Tenn., and whose father was
one of the first
settlers of Tennessee; was also a slave owner. Mrs. Keziah
Gillenwaters was born
and reared in Hawkins County, Tenn., daughter of Samuel Wilson,
who was a soldier
of the war of 1812. Mr. Wilson was sheriff of his county for
several terms; was
a slave owner and farmer; immigrated to Arkansas at an early day,
where he died
about 1855, at quite an advanced age; was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal
church. Thomas C. Gillenwaters was reared on a farm and received
a fair English
education. At the age of seventeen he lost his mother and for
six or seven years
after made his home with his cousin; in the meantime he attended
school, and at
twenty years commenced teaching, at which at which he has been
engaged ever
since. He served as deputy county clerk several terms in Monroe
county. In 1867
he moved to Barren County; ten years later returned to Monroe
county and settled
near Flippin, where he has been engaged in teaching; carries on
farming during
summer. He owns 104 acres just east of Fountain Run, and a house
and lot in
Flippin, also the school house and lot. He and professor Taylor
erected the
school house in 1882 and established a good school. Mr.
Gillenaters married
August 10, 1865, Helen M. Watson, of Barren county, a daughter of
Levin and Sarah
(Morrison) Watson. Mr. Watson, a son of William Watson, was born
in Virginia and
reared in Perry County, Tenn.; moved to Barren county, where he
married his wif
who was born and reared in that county. To Mr. and Mrs. G. were
born eight
children, five living: Levie E., Bettie Cora, Thomas Marian,
Mollie Bell, and
Ettie Agnes. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He is
a member of the Masonic Fraternity, was also a member of the
Grange. Mr. G. is
a self-made man and is a persevering student. In politics he is
a Democrat, and
cast his first presidential vote for Bell and Everett.