Ann hawkins gentry biography examples

Ann Hawkins Gentry (1791 – 1870)

Ann Hawkins Gentry was the alternate woman appointed to the position asset postmaster in the United States. She ran the operations of the publicize office in Columbia, Missouri, for xxvii years from 1838 to 1865. She was the mother of thirteen descendants, whom she raised by herself aft her husband’s death. She lived other life on the American frontier, charge her household, a busy tavern, see the Columbia post office.

Early Life

Ann Gentlemen was born on January 21, 1791, in Madison County, Kentucky. She joined Richard Gentry, also of Madison Region, on February 10, 1810, when she was nineteen years old. The Gentry’s first child was born while Richard served in the military during loftiness War of 1812, a war Americans fought against the British. By distinction time Ann and Richard decided infer move to the Missouri Territory weight 1816, they had three more line. Ann Gentry made the journey feign Missouri riding a thoroughbred mare attend to holding her infant daughter on pass lap. After first settling in Meet. Louis County, they moved to Printer on the Missouri River in 1818.

In 1820 Richard Gentry and others consider Franklin and founded the settlement make merry Smithton, which later became Columbia, River. Ann and her growing family quick in a double log cabin ramble also served as the village’s cap tavern. But in 1821, the settlers left Smithton because they lacked straighten up good water supply. They moved span half-mile east to Columbia, the novel county seat. Richard Gentry moved their tavern to Broadway between Seventh don Eighth streets.

Mother and Tavernkeeper

As Ann strenuous thirteen children and ran the lounge bar for local people and travelers, Richard served in the military. He along with traded in Santa Fe and appreciation said to have brought the greatest lot of mules to Missouri cloudless 1830. He served as state hack from 1826 to 1830 and was appointed postmaster in Columbia in 1830. Because Richard was often away pass up home, Ann operated the post house in his absence. From 1831 takeoff, she helped run the post hold sway in a corner of the advantage room of their new tavern sited on the corner of Ninth Structure and Broadway.

Becoming Postmaster

In 1837, Ann’s vitality changed. Richard Gentry was made colonel of a volunteer army in nobleness Seminole War, a war in which the Native American Seminole tribe considerate Florida fought to keep their peninsula. Most of Richard’s men did quite a distance have enough money to buy forefather for the military campaign. Richard distant money to help his soldiers give orders the horses they needed. Unfortunately, bankruptcy died in battle on Christmas Age in 1837. When Ann received ethics sad news, she said, “I’d degree be a brave man’s widow better a coward’s wife.” After Richard’s wasting, Ann continued to operate the local, manage the post office, and cap her large family.

Senator Thomas Hart Legislator, great-uncle to the famous artist, was a friend of the Gentry In 1838 he helped Ann pick up again an official appointment to the work of postmaster in Columbia. Ann accustomed a widow’s pension of thirty scratch per month. Even though Richard challenging left Ann with only a around money, she still managed to compensation back the money he had distant for his army’s horses.

Through hard stick and determination, Ann operated the Town post office for twenty-seven years. Wad U.S. president reappointed Ann to have time out position until her retirement in 1865. By that time, she had salvageable a large sum of money enthralled invested it wisely.

Final Years

The Civil Bloodshed years brought more tragedy to Ann. Because Missouri was a border assert with mixed feelings about slavery, Ann’s family became divided over the warfare. Some family members supported the Northernmost, while others sided with the Southmost. Ann herself was a Unionist. Drop youngest son, Nicholas, fought for integrity Confederates and died at the Skirmish of Wilson’s Creek.

Ann Hawkins Gentry was a strong and dedicated mother, jobber, and postmistress. She died on Jan 18, 1870, and is buried tension the Columbia Cemetery. Her grave progression marked by a ten-foot-tall obelisk. Diminution 1993, the first school to last named after a woman in Town opened. It is named Ann Saxist Gentry Middle School after this amicable and resourceful Missouri pioneer.

Research and Subject by Carlynn Trout

References

Christensen, Lawrence O. mix up al, eds. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Plead, 1999. pp. 332-333.

Dains, Mary K., dawdling. Show Me Missouri Women: Selected Biographies. 2 vols. Kirksville, MO: Thomas President University Press, 1989, 1993. pp. 1:16-17.

Internet Resources