EUGENIA HENRIETTA GREGORY (1 May 1886), third child of Joseph Franklin and Eliza, married William Jesse Fincher on 17 March 1901. They reside near Union. Their children (all still live near Union with the exception of Mary Louise): Jesse Wallace; Annie Mae; James Furman; Arthur Edward; Ernest Farr; Robert Emerson; Mary Louise; and William Charles.

Jesse Wallace Fincher (28 October 1905), first child of Eugenia and William, married Julia Elizabeth Faucette, 25 December 1924.

Annie Mae Fincher (30 May 1902), second child of Eugenia and William, married Dewitt Talmadge Garner on 15 August 1927. Their children: Dewitt Franklin, 30 July 1929; and Zalie Mae, 24 July 1934.

James Furman Fincher (14 July 1909), the third child, was a Corporal in the United States Army Air Corps in World War 11. He married Jessie Mae McCluney at Charlotte, N.C., on 19 August 1950.

Arthur Edward Fincher (4 March 1912), the fourth child, married Lillie Mae Fowler on 27 June 1939. Their children: Geanine Laverne, 30 June 1948; and Marylin Runnette, 20 March 1951.

Ernest Farr Fincher (8 November 1915), the fifth child, married Beulah Madrid Smith on 14 November 1936. Their child: Hazel, 24 May 1940.

Robert Emerson Fincher (24 August 1917), the sixth child, married Mary Frances Bobo on 22 January 1943. They have a daughter: Barbara Kaye, 13 February 1945.

Mary Louise Fincher (24 November 1921), the seventh child, married Essie Clifford Jines on 24 March 1946. They live in Barnwell, S.C. E.C. served four years in the United States Army infantry during World War II.

William Charles Fincher (30 March 1926), the eighth child of Eugenia and William, married Thelma Jean McCannon on 10 December 1943. Their children: Charles Michael, 24 June 1945; and Wilma Frances, 8 September 1948.

CURTIS FRANKLIN GREGORY (27 December 1889 -22 March 1960), fourth child of Jospeh Franklin and Eliza, lived near Union. He married Letha Kingsmore (24 October 1889-6 December 1960) on 3 February 1907. Both are buried at Putnam Baptist Church. Their children (all born in Union County): Matrel, 16 January 1908 (died in infancy); Marie Elizabeth; Jeannette Lelia; Verlie Agatha, 20 March 1916; Mildred Eliza, 23 April 1919 (died in infancy); Curtis Lynell; Lewis Ladson; Letha Lucille; and Margaret Eulalia.

Marie Elizabeth Gregory (23 February 1910), second child of Curtis Franklin and Letha, married A.G. Scott on 25 February 1928. They live in Buffalo. Their children: Mary Nell, 9 April 1934 (deceased); Curtis Samuel; and Janie Margaret.

Curtis Samuel Scott (9 February 1929), second child of Marie Elizabeth and A.G., married Eleanor Virginia Miller, daughter of Stewart N. and Virginia M. Miller, on 22 June 1949. They live in Buffalo. Their children: Richard Wayne, 11 April 1954; Curtis Samuel, 7 May 1956; and Pamela Glyn, 9 June 1957.

Janie Margaret Scott (24 August 1936), the youngest child, married James Ralph Childers, a Sergeant in the United States Air Force, on 6 August 1956. Their children: Ralph Scott, 20 June 1957; and Samuel Glynn, 18 August 1959.

Jeanette Lelia Gregory (11 August 1913-16 January 1941), the third child of Curtis Franklin and Letha, is buried at Putnam Baptist Church. She married Carl Martin Lawson (now residing in Orlando, Fla.). They had no issue.

Curtis Lynell Gregory (23 April 1920), sixth child of Curtis Franklin and Letha, is a veteran of World War II with four years of service in the United States Army, including the European Theater of Operations. He married Mozelle Lottie Metz, daughter of Jefferson K. and Lottie S. Metz, on 16 May 1946. Their issue: Margie Dianne, 6 August 1953; and Curtis Lynell, 6 July 1955.

Lewis Ladson Gregory (4 May 1923), seventh child, is a veteran of World War II with three years of service in the United States Army, including the Pacific Theater of Operations. He married Ruby Etolia Riddle, daughter of Faber and Millie S. Riddle, on 11 June 1942. Their issue: Harold Ladson, 6 February 1943; Dale Etolia, 3 March 1950; and Joseph Franklin, 9 September 1952.

Letha Lucille Gregory (7 August 1926), the eighth child, married Leslie Eugene Godshall on 4 March 1947. Their issue: Stephen Eugene, 2 October 1947; Lauren Marie, 13 August 1955; and Sheree Lynn, 21 August 1956.

Margaret Eulalia Gregory (12 December 1930), the youngest child, married Hilliard McKitrick Harvey on 10 February 1949. They reside in Aiken, S.C. Their issue: Gregory Hilliard, 14 March 1952; Ruth Ann, 22 April 1954; and Glenn Taylor, 27 June 1955.

VERA ELIZABETH GREGORY (21 April 1895-20 February 1965), the fifth child of Joseph Franklin and Eliza, married James Monroe Kingsmore (16 July 1890 -6 January 1961). They are buried at Putnam Baptist Church. Their children: James Claridge, 16 December 1912 - 1 September 1977; Lillie Eliza (Parks), 4 December 1914; Joseph Paul, 14 June 1916; Carl Eivert, 10 May 1918; Vera Katherine (Spence), 24 February 1920; Willis Franklin, 3 July 1921; and Audrey Lucile (Harmon), 7 June 1928.

Simpson Wilkes Gregory (15 July 1859-9 September 1880), eighth child of Benjamin Franklin and Leah, died unmarried. He resided with the T. Edward Hawkins family (sister Mary Eugenia's family) in 1880. He died only three months after the census was taken.

John Hazel (Hasill) Gregory (30 January 1864 -18 February 1871), the youngest child of Benjamin Franklin and Leah, died at age seven.

John J.E. Gregory (ca. 1824, Union County - November 1879), fifth son of Benjamin J. and Elizabeth Crosby Jeter Gregory, was the "mystery man" of the Gregory family. He married Mary Smith before 1847, the birth year of their eldest daughter, Harriet.

Mary, the daughter of John and Harriet Drusilla Mobley Smith, could have been married prior to her marriage to John. She listed herself as 22 years of age at the 1850 census of Union County, and she was already the mother of three children at that time. This possibility is put forth, however, because she always signed her dower as "Mary J. Boyd Gregory."

A Deed of Gift from John Smith of Chester County, S.C., to Harrison Gregory, John J.E.'s brother, verifies her as a Smith. The deed (Book W16, p. 256, executed 20 January 1853) reads in part: "Know all men by these presents that I, John Smith, due to the natural love and affection I bear my daughter, Mary J. Gregory, wife of John J.E. Gregory of Union, and in consideration of $1.00 to me paid by William Harrison Gregory, give to Mary J. Gregory the following Negro slaves: Tom, Caroline, and her children Bill, Taylor, Mary (Nancy) and Victoria . . ." This deed, witnessed by Andrew Jackson Gregory, was recorded 16 August 1853 and delivered to W.H. Gregory.

Their issue, as described in The Mobley's and Their Connections: Harriet, ca, 1847 (married Lee Darby); Elmira, ca. 1848 (married Samuel Harlem); Benjamin; Harrison (married Elmira Bennett); Bothwell Jeter (died young); and Emily (married Ob Cornwell).

John listed himself as a planter in the 1850 census. His real estate value was listed at $1,470. He moved to Mississippi, probably in early 1854. This time frame is calculated because he sold his land in December 1853 and January 1854. He does not show up on the 1860 Union County census, but he served in Company G, Holcombe's Legion, a South Carolina infantry brigade, during the War Between the States. He was discharged for being "over-aged."

The 1870 census shows John living with Benjamin Franklin and Leah Gregory (p. 521) in South Carolina. His occupation is listed as teacher and he is the Head of Household. John's wife and children are not with him. It is suspected that John had left his wife and children in Mississippi when he returned.

Union County Probate Court Records (Box 58, Package 7) indicate that he asked his brother, B. Adolphus, be appointed executor of the trust fund left to him by David S. Jeter.

James Munro, relationship to the family unknown, petitioned for Letter of Administration on John's estate in 1880 (Box 7, Package 5). It is stated within this petition that John J.E. Gregory left a wife and several children unknown to the petitioner.

John died in Mississippi in November 1879. His place of burial is not known, though probably Winston County, Mississippi.

Andrew Jackson Gregory (20 September 1825 -20 September 1890), sixth son of Benjamin J. and Elizabeth C. Jeter Gregory, married (ca. 1846) Levicia Wilkes (1830-1904). Their issue: Benjamin Simpson, Andrew Eusebus, William Harrison, States Rights, Sarah and Hostletine.

Levicia (Levitia) was the eldest daughter of Abner Wilkes (10 December 1801-16 November 1884), who lived in Chester County, South Carolina. His first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of William and Levicia Cornwell, died, leaving Levicia, two younger brothers and a sister. Abner married again and had seven more children by Lucinda Hardwick (see History of Thomas Wilkes, p. 361).

A family story is related by Polly Wirtz Johnson, granddaughter of Simpson and Mary Skinner Gregory.

Levicia and her brothers attended a school out in the woods and she spoke of crossing a small stream of water enroute to school. On one occasion, a very handsome young man on horseback crossed her path. He nodded and spoke. She wondered who he was. Another morning the young man crossed again; this time lifting his hat and smiling. She still wondered who he was.

Levicia was getting older and at that time rich men sent their daughters to finishing school after they completed school at home. She was sent to Charleston to stay with an aunt who ran a boarding house. A little while later she was seen in town by a sheriff of that city. He was attracted to this charming young lady. It was the custom for men wishing to call upon a girl to send a slave with a calling card and candy or flowers; which he did, but all was returned with a "no." Then a Methodist minister spotted her and he, too, sent a card and flowers. Again, a "no," he could not see her - but she kept the flowers.

Then a Mr. Andrew Jackson Gregory sent his card, an old family friend (only a small strip of land separated the two home places). "Yes," he was welcome to call. When she saw him, she realized he was the handsome young man she had seen at the crossing on two occasions before. The friendship bloomed, and she and A.J. were wed.

Simpson and Eusebus were born in South Carolina. Harrison and States Rights were born in Mississippi, followed by Sarah and Hostletine (who both died young). The 1850 census of Union County, S.C. (#108) shows Andrew Jackson to be 24 years old; Levicia, 20; Simpson, 3; and Eusebus, 1. The 1860 census in Chickasaw County, Mississippi (p. 92) shows Andrew Jackson, 35; Levicia, 30; Simpson, 13; Eusebus, 11; and Harrison, 3. Levicia is listed as "Levitia" and their post office was Redland.

Andrew Jackson left South Carolina in 1857 for Mississippi to settle new farmland. The family journeyed by covered wagon, carrying a maid, a Negro man, and Simpson and Eusebus. Both Levicia and the maid wept to leave.

A three year drought in South Carolina, plus the obvious over-population prompted the move by Andrew Jackson and three of his brothers.

They settled on land that was almost identical to Union County, South Carolina, both in appearance and soil composition. They felt comfortable with hill land. There are family accounts of trials with heavy Chuquatonchee bottomland farms that were abandoned because they did not know how to cope successfully with the different soil conditions. Also, mosquitoes and malaria were more prevalent in the bottoms, though they did not know of the connection at the time. The soil type and crop failures due to water overflow were primary reasons for their return to the hills and branch bottoms.

Later information by Hortense Smith and Lillian Renshaw, granddaughters, stated that Andrew and Levicia originally settled in an area called Redland in Chickasaw County, close to the Natchez Trace, before moving to Okolona. This was just south of Pontotoc, Mississippi, one of the first settlements in that country and close to the site of the Indian treaty signing with the Chickasaw Indian Nation in which they sold their homeland to the United States.

William Harrison Gregory, brother of Andrew Jackson, owned several hundred acres in the same area, now part of the Natchez Trace Game Preserve. Hortense and Lillian were told by Harrison Gregory, their father, that his little sister, Hostletine, was buried in Redland. This must be Shiloh Church, close to Van Vleet, Mississippi. Harrison stated that she was just a baby when she died. Her marker has not been found. Sarah, age 6 years, is buried at Friendship Church, three miles northwest of Van Vleet.

Andrew Jackson signed up during the first year of the War Between the States. During the second year, Benjamin Simpson wanted to take his father's place, even though he was only sixteen years old at the time. Andrew Jackson disagreed, but Simps said, "I will go anyway if you do not consent for me to go." Simps took a slave along to make his bed and fires, etc. In an old tintype, Simps was very handsome in his Confederate uniform.

Another "family lore" story is that Andrew Jackson had $60,000 worth of baled cotton confiscated by Union troops during the War for which he was never compensated. Cotton was worth one dollar a pound in silver in those days. Needless to say, in family accounts, the Northerners were "damn Yankees!"

One of Andrew Jackson's nieces from Texas has written of family stories of Andrew Jackson's concern for his former slaves after the Civil War. Many slaves stayed on at the farms of their former owners as "sharecroppers" because of a sense of security with people they knew and understood. A paternalistic sense of responsibility often existed in these owners.

One story was about Andrew Jackson repeatedly getting his Negroes out of jail on Saturday night after their arrests for drunkenness. As was the custom - even up to World War II - the farm Negroes, after a full week of toil in the fields, borrowed a wagon and team of mules to go five miles to town for relaxation, food buying, etc. Saturday night on Main Street in Okolona in those days was a mass of black humanity (75% of the population) smelling of fresh starched overalls and cotton dresses and dime store talcum powder and pungent food.

Corn whiskey, "white lightening," was cheap and provided escape from a dull life. Some of the blacks, after several hours of socializing, drinking moonshine whiskey, eating cheese and crackers, bologna sausage, and nickel cans of sardines, would become quite drunk and not infrequently get into knife or razor fights.

The local Constable and Chief of Police would occupy themselves for several hours carting the hapless ones off to the jail drunk tank. Their "black jacks," properly applied (often with scalp lacerations that were not sewed up), discouraged arguments as to the necessity of the trip. The more severe knife wounds were attended to by local doctors, who would have preferred being home.

Needless to say, the landowner was called upon to pay their fines and could then send the remorseful ones home in the company of the remainder of his "hands." Their aching heads usually had recovered sufficiently by early Monday morning to allow a return to the cotton fields.

Another story of Andrew Jackson: His wife Levicia had a dream shortly before a scheduled trip back to South Carolina on business. She dreamed she saw him in his coffin and deemed it a premonition. She did not tell him of the dream, but prevailed on him to delay his trip, which he did. Shortly thereafter, he died of apparent natural causes.

Andrew Jackson's farms were divided among his four sons, Ben Simpson, Eusebus, William Harrison and States Rights. Andrew Jackson and Levicia are buried in the Grange Hall Cemetery (now abandoned) about 3.5 miles west of Okolona. Apparently Andrew Jackson was a gentleman, good citizen and substantial member of the community.

The accounts of the four sons of Andrew Jackson and their descendants which follow have been prepared by a member of each branch, who has gathered as much information as is available - family lore, fact ... and, possibly, a word or two of fiction.