My GGGF Thomas Henley (Henly) was born in North Carolina around 1798/1799 and at some later point migrated into Tennessee. The first record that I can locate is his marriage to Zilpha Nolen in Maury County, Tennessee on Sept. 26, 1832 (Joseph McMurray, J.P., page 145, Marriage Book 1). Since he is fairly old for a first marriage, I imagine that this was a second for him, though I can find no earlier record of his existence. My great uncle did an amateur family tree in the 1950s when a great many people born in the 1800s were still alive, and he had the birth year at 1798. Census data indicates that it may have been 1799. He appears in the 1840 census of Montgomery County, TN and the 1850 census of Lewis County, TN, and is back in Montgomery County for the 1860 census. I believe he died in 1878 in Montgomery County, where my GGGM Zilpha had died in 1868. Oral family history (from my great uncle who reared me, and my now-87-year-old cousin, whom he also partially reared) has it that Thomas' son William (my GGF) left Tennessee sometime after the Civil War headed west because of some problems encountered at a whiskey distillery. He most certainly ended up in Sedalia, Graves County, Kentucky where he stopped to work and met my GGM Malinda Kesterson, whom he married, though I have been unable to ascertain the exact date.
The couple left, after a few years, headed on west, but got no further than directly across the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, where the entire family came down with what has been reported in our oral history as yellow fever. The baby died, and two other of the small children also almost died, as did the parents. My GGM Malinda is reported to have decided to return to Graves County, Kentucky where she had a small farm, inherited from her father who had reportedly died in the Civil War. My GGF, apparently deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, decided to return with her.
My GGM Malinda's grandfather, George Kesterson Jr., migrated into Graves County, KY from Caldwell County, KY in the early 1830s, and by the 1841 Graves County Tax List publication had accumulated 1450 acres and a town lot in Sedalia, KY. Her father B. J. Kesterson, along with his wife, son G. W.(b. 1853), and Malinda disappeared from Graves County sometime prior to the 1860 census. Malinda reappears for the 1870 census, but is living with her grandmother Malinda, and her uncle Jesse James Kesterson, in Sedalia. What happened to ther father, mother, and older brother remains a family mystery. Jesse James Kesterson had served in the Confederate Cavalry in a unit known as "King's Hell Hounds," riding out of Camp Beauregard in the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky. He is mentioned in Union dispatches as "...the notorious Jim Kesterson."
At some point my GGF William became a Methodist minister, and served small country churches around Crossland, Calloway County, Kentucky in the late 1800s. Around 1899 he was serving Story's Chapel Methodist Church in Calloway County, KY and purchased a farm of about 80 acres, built a house on it, living there until his death in 1932.
My GF Walter Henley became a building contractor, with a crew consisting of two younger brothers and a brother-in-law of one of the younger siblings. He was fairly successful, but felt called to the ministry, which did not particularly please my GM Verdie Cagle Henley, who had seen the poor condition of the finances of his father, my GGF William. It is reported that when GF Walter came home one Friday night and announced that he felt called to the ministry, GM Virdie fell to the floor crying, saying "We will never have anything ever again." However, she eventually cooperated and he had a very successful ministry, serving churches principally around the Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee area until his death in 1967.
My father also became a Methodist minister, though I question the validity of his "call".
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- 8x37 House Trailer - Home During My College Years (8 KB)
The "House Trailer", 8 x 37, parked at Wiswell, KY. This is where I lived with a wife and three children while attending college at Murray State University from 1958-1961. My majors were physics, math and chemistry.
- Calvin Wesley Henley and Wife Lula (8 KB)
Calvin Wesley Henley ("Wes"), son of William Henley, grandson of Thomas Henley with wife Lula Holden Henley. Wes was killed in an automobile accident in 1937. Lula died in 1911 or 1912, and Wes married Lula's sister Mae.
- William and Malinda Henley Jul 6, 1912 (18 KB)
My great grandfather and great grandmother at home near Edge Hill school and Mount Pleasant Church Jul 6, 1912.
- Melvin Henley Greeting KY. Gov. Paul Patton - 1999 (5 KB)
Melvin Henley greeting Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton at a reception in 1999. Paul Patton is the first person to succeed himself as governor in Kentucky. A constitutional amendment in 1992 allows one succession by a sitting governor, beginning with the individual elected in 1994.
- The "New" Wiswell Store Under Construction (10 KB)
The "new" Wiswell store during construction in 1952. This store was built on the Northeast corner of the Wiswell Road - Crossland Road intersection. The "old" store was on the Northwest corner. Both buildings are long since gone.
- Melvin Henley - December 1954 (13 KB)
Home on leave from the U.S. Air Force, December, 1954
- Bank Building on Virignia St. Reno, NV 1955 (8 KB)
This building is now a Casino and Club, but was the largest bank in Reno in 1955.
- Grandfather Walter Henley's Construction Crew (44 KB)
My grandfather Walter Henley's construction crew about 1910. L to R: Jesse Henley, Will James (married to Lucy Holden, sister of Codie Crawford Henley's mother Lula Holden, and a sister to Codie's stepmother, Nae Holden), Walter Henley, Wes Henley.
- Codie C. and Jesse Henley at Checkers 1955 (4 KB)
Codie Crawford Henley, son of Calvin Wesley Henley, grandson of William Henley, and great-grandson of Thomas Henley, playing checkers with his uncle Jesse Henley in 1955. This was in the living quarters on the second floor of the "new" Wiswell store.
- Edge Hill School - 1901 (80 KB)
A two-room country school called Edge Hill School. Located near Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and my great grandfather William Henley's home. My grandparents and father attended this school, as did many great uncles and great aunts.
- Melvin Henley Homeplace Near Paschall School-1936 (3 KB)
Taken in early spring at the homeplace near Paschall School and Edge Hill. Had to be early spring, 1936, as there appear to be no leaves on trees.
- Harris Grove, KY School - 1920 (180 KB)
The country school at Harris Grove, KY. My mother, Cloteil McReynolds, is in the top row, 3rd from the right. She was 15 in 1920.
- Sonny Henley's School Picture Oxford, MS 1963 (3 KB)
Oldest son's school picture at Oxford Elementary for 4th grade, 1963-64.
- Jesse, Effie, and Melvin Henley 1942 (13 KB)
My great uncle and aunt, Jesse and Effie Henley. They adopted me in 1935, when my mother died in childbirth. This was taken in 1942 at Love Studio in Murray, KY. Jesse was home on a visit from his job in Detroit, Michigan. My great aunt, myself, and my great grandmother Malinda Kesterson Henley lived at the corner of 4th and Poplar Streets in Murray while my great uncle worked in Detroit. Jobs in west Kentucky were very scarce, even during the war. We lived at this location for a little over one year, until I set the house on fire while experimenting with fire, matches, and candle wax in the bathroom.
- Murray Mayor Melvin Henley with UDAG Sign - 1981 (8 KB)
Taken on the Urban Development Action Grant site at the Fisher Price plant in Murray, KY.
- Murray Mayor Melvin Henley on Melvin Henley Drive (8 KB)
The UDAG construction site at the Fisher Price plant in Murray, KY. The road constructed here was later named Melvin Henley Drive.
- Melvin Henley in "Uniform" - 1942 (4 KB)
This was a 1942 Christmas gift from my great uncle Jesse Henley, who adopted me after my mother died at my birth. He was working in Detroit, Michigan, and my great aunt Effie and my great grandmother, Malinda Kesterson Henley, were living at 4th and Poplar Streets in Murray, KY while he was away.
- Sonny Henley in West St. Apartment, Reno, NV 1956 (3 KB)
Taken looking toward the "gunbarrel" kitchen of the West Street attic apartment in Reno, Nevada in 1956.
- 1st Grade at Murray Training School - 1942 (14 KB)
The 1st Grade at the laboratory school of Murray State Teacher's College in 1942. Taken in the lunchroom at noon. I am in the middle row, 2nd from the right, holding a glass of milk and looking away from the camera.
- 5th Grade at Murray Training School - 1946 (20 KB)
Taken by a "practice" teacher on the jungle gym of the playground. A "practice" teacher, as we called them, was a student taking their final 1/2 semester of a practical teaching course by student-teaching at the Training School. Most laboratory schools in Colleges of Education across the United States have been phased out and closed, as they were something of an artifical environment in which the student teacher was to learn the practicalities of teaching.
- The Old Wiswell, KY Country Store - 1947 (84 KB)
Taken looking toward the front (North) of the old country store. The gas pumps are in the foreground, and the kerosene pump and holding tank can be seen to the right on the portch of the building. The propritor was a Mr. Ray, who sold out to Tilghman Windsor, who sold to my great uncle Jesse Henley in September, 1950.
- Pete Henley Working on the "New" Wiswell Store (13 KB)
Jesse (Pete) Henley shown working on the new store that he built on the Northeast corner of the Wiswell Road - Crossland Road intersection in 1952. We moved into the upstairs living quarters the last part of December, 1952. Still no running water or indoor plumbing, but we had electricity. W. P. (Dub) Hurt and I began to dig a well at the northeast corner of the building, but ran into hardpan. Because it was close to the building we could not use dynamite, so we widened it out, plastered the walls, and made it into a cistern.
- Sonny Henley in Kitchen of Reno, NV Apartment 1956 (3 KB)
Taken in the "gunbarrel" kitchen of the West Street attic apartment in Reno, NV, 1956.
- Home of Glascow Penny West of the Wiswell Store (6 KB)
Shown is the home of Glascow Penny who owned the old store building at Wiswell. He refused to renew the lease to my great uncle Jesse Henley because of my depraditions in the neighborhood. When a friend and I went on a two week hitch- hiking trip in the summer of 1952, he informed my uncle that it was so quiet when I was gone that he wanted us to move out when the lease was up 31 Dec 1952. Rather than moving, my uncle built a store across the street. The old wooden store burned in 1956 while I was in the military. This photo was taken in September, 1956 when I came home on leave. If the store building were standing when this picture was taken, it would have been between the camera and Penny's house. The photo was taken from the front of the "new" store building, which was, at the time, 4 years old.
- Melvin and Steve Henley - Steve's HS Grada'tn 1982 (6 KB)
Taken on the campus of Murray State University in May, 1982 at the Murray High School graduation of Steven Ray Henley.
- Alley Behind Harold's Club, Reno, NV - 1955 (8 KB)
Taken in the alley between Harold's Club and other casinos. Photo taken in 1955.
- Stan Henley During Navy Basic Training 1977 (5 KB)
Stan Henley standing at attention beside his locker during Navy Basic Training at Great Lakes Naval Training Base, north of Chicago, IL in 1977.
- Bowers Mansion in State Park Near Reno, NV - 1956 (6 KB)
Photo of the home of one of the Comstock Load Silver Barons. The home is part of a Nevada State Park near Reno, NV. Taken in 1956.
- Sonny Henley in Front of Wiswell Store Gas Pumps (4 KB)
Taken by the gas pumps at the "new" Wiswell Store in 1956. Not the stump in the area which had not been removed. The store was built in a wooded area, which had been cleared, and some of the stumps were left to decay naturally for a great many years.
- Harold's Club in Reno, Nevada - 1955 (7 KB)
Photo of Harold's Club, Reno, Nevada taken from across Virginia Street in 1955. Harold's Club was been demolished by implosion in 1999.
- Sonny, Stan and Jesse Henley at 12th St Home 1960 (5 KB)
Taken on the steps of Jesse Henley's home at 316 North 12th Street, Murray, KY in 1960. He purchased this home and mioved here in the fall of 1958 after selling the "new" Wiswell Store.
- July 4, 1955 Parade in Reno, Nevada (5 KB)
Photo taken from across Virginia Street, looking west. The Reno Arch is visible to the left.
- Effie Henley Leaving Wiswell Store Living Quarters (4 KB)
Effie Henley at the door of the living quarters of the old Wiswell Store in 1952. The living quarters were at the rear of the building.
- Effie Henley and Her Twin on Birthday Jan 1, 1957 (5 KB)
Photo of twins Effie Mosley Henley and Ethel Mosley Ensco taken at Wiswell Store living quarters on their birthday Jan 1, 1957. They were 62.
- Stan, Stuart, Steve and Shane Henley 1969 (3 KB)
Four of the five Henley brothers (Sonny is missing) taken in 1969.
- Gf Walter, Sonny and Melvin Henley - Oct 1956 (7 KB)
Taken near Jackson, TN at grandfather Walter henley's home. Melvin Henley was home on leave from Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada during part of September and October, 1956.
- Steve Holding Up Shane's Cast - Oct 1977 (4 KB)
Shane had a broken arm, and Steve is holding it up for the picture. Taken on the parking lot of the Fox Meadows Mobile Home Park Office.
- Malinda Kesterson Henley Around 1946 (age 89) (23 KB)
My GGM, Malinda Kesterson Henley at Gibbs' Store (near Murray, KY) community in 1946. She died the following year.
- Jesse Curtis (Sonny) Henley with Effie Henley 1956 (11 KB)
Jesse (Sonny) Henley, son of melvin B. Henley, with Melvin's adoptive mother (and great aunt- married to Jesse Henley, brother of Walter Henley) at the Wiswell, KY country store in 1956.
- Jesse (Sonny) Henley with Jesse Henley XMas 1957 (14 KB)
Jesse (Sonny) Henley with his great-great uncle and adoptive grandfather at Wiswell, KY store living quarters. Photo taken Christmas, 1957.
- Melvin Henley / Adoptive Mother Effie Henley 1936 (20 KB)
Photo taken at home near Paschall School, and not far from Edge Hill in the southwest corner of Calloway County, KY. Taken in early summer, 1936. Effie was wife of Jesse Henley, brother of Walter Henley, son of William Henley, grandson of Thomas Henley.
- Melvin Henley 1998 (4 KB)
Photo taken for use in political campaign, 1998.
- Melvin Henley's 1st Car - 1934 Plymouth Coupe (10 KB)
Photo taken at Wiswell, KY Country Store in 1952. The car to the right is the family auto- a 1936 Chevrolet 2-door sedan.
- Rev. William Walter (W.W.) Henley (My Grandfather) (4 KB)
My grandfather, Walter Henley, son of Rev. William (Bill) Henley, grandson of Thomas Henley.
- Riverside Hotel, Reno, Nevada - 1955 (7 KB)
Photo of the Riverside Hotel in Reno, Nevada. Photo taken in 1955 when the Riverside and Mapes hotels were at the epitome of their status and popularity.
- Jesse Henley in His Army National Guard Uniform (19 KB)
Jess Henley, brother of Walter Henley, son of William (Bill) Henley, grandson of Thomas Henley, and my adoptive father. He was serving in the KY Army National Guard and was called to active duty in WW I. He went to France, but the Armistice was signed while his troop ship was enroute, so he never saw battle while in France.
- Melvin and Rita Henley - 1985 (3 KB)
Portrait of Melvin and Rita Henley taken in 1985.
- My Father Brent Henley on Bicycle Around 1912 (20 KB)
My father gave me up for adoption to my great uncle, Jesse Henley, when my mother, Cloteil McReynolds Henley, died at my birth on Aug 25, 1935. My grandfather, Walter Henley, reared my two sisters, Jo Ann and Mary Francis.
- House Trailer 316 N. 12th St., Murray, KY - 1960 (6 KB)
This is where Melvin Henley lived with a wife and three children during three years of college at Murray State University (1958 - 1961). The trailer was an 8 x 37.
- Stan's Truck, Park Home, Park Office - 1977 (3 KB)
Stan had purchased the truck shown while he was home on leave from basic training. He was going back to Great Lakes Naval Training Base for Nuclear Electronics School. We had moved from 9th Street into the mobile home by the office in Fox Meadows.
- My Sisters Mary Francis and Jo Ann Henley (12 KB)
My sisters were reared by my grandfather, Rev. Walter Henley. This photo must have been taken around 1933 or 1934.
- The Trukee River, Reno, NV - 1956 (5 KB)
Photo of the Trukee River in Reno, taken in 1956.
- Wiswell Store Interior Under Construction (6 KB)
Photo of the "new" Wiswell Store being constructed in 1952. This is looking down into what would be the interior of the first floor of the 2-story building.
- Virginia City, Nevada - 1955 (3 KB)
Photo shows St. Mary's Catholic Church and other buildings in Virginia City, Nevada.
- Virginia City, Nevada - 1930s (11 KB)
A rather unsuccessful scan of an old postcard showing Virginia City during the 1930s.
- C Street Scene, Virginia City NV - 1955 (4 KB)
Photo taken in "downtown" Virginia City, NV looking across C Street. 1955.
- Paschall School, Calloway Co., KY 1933 (141 KB)
Paschall School was bordered the farm (and was located about 100 yards from the farm home) on which my great uncle and aunt, Jesse and Effie Henley lived in 1935 when they took me in after my mother died in childbirth. I was 3 days old, and extremely lucky not to have ended up in an orphanage.
- Great Grandfather William Henley With Brothers (8 KB)
Photo of William Henley and brothers (perhaps one is a brother-in-law). Photo probably taken in the late 1920s on a trip when his son, Jesse Henley, took him to visit them somewhere near Clarksville, TN.
- Willie and Della Henley Baker (105 KB)
Della Henley Baker was a sister to my grandfather, Walter W. Henley. She married Willie Baker, and the couple traded a farm to my great uncle Jesse Henley, and this was where he and Efffie were living in 1935 when they adopted me. The farm that Jesse traded was left to him by my great grandfather, William Henley, in return for Jesse's caring for him, and the continuation of care for his wife, and Jesse's mother, Malinda Kesterson Henley until her death.
- Tobacco Barn on Wiswell Road (284 KB)
Tobacco barn on marginal subsistance farm at the corner of what is now "Wiswell Road" and "Johnny Robertson Road" where I spent some miserable time from the age of 12 to the age of 15.
- James Henry and Rebecca Pairlee Henley (76 KB)
James Henry Henley was First Son of Thomas Henley Sr.
- Home Built by William Henley at Edge Hill in 1899 (173 KB)
When my ggf William Henley was moved to the Story's Chapel Church in 1899 he and a former brother-in-law, Wickliff Melvin Cagle, bought adjoining farms at Edge Hill and he built this house there in 1899. Walter Henley, my gf, later married Edna Cagle, my gm, daughter of "Wick" Cagle.
- Story's ChapelChurch Were William Henley Preached (115 KB)
Calloway County, KY country church where my GGF William Henley preached around 1899.
- Melvin Henley's 3rd Auto - 1947 Ford 2-Door (6 KB)
Photo taken at Wiswell Country Store about 1954.
- Melvin Henley About 1954 (4 KB)
Photo taken during my High School Senior Year in 1954.
- Three Residents of Wiswell, KY in 1952 (10 KB)
Bobby Hopper, Jackie Cooper and Melvin Henley in front of new Wiswell Store under construction in Fall, 1952.
- My Sisters and I at Gibbs' Store Home about 1939 (13 KB)
We moved from the homeplace near Paschall School and Edge Hill around 1938. This was taken at our new home near Gibbs' Store, probably in 1939.
- Uncle Hafford (Shine) McReynolds with His Mule (42 KB)
My mother's brother Hafford (Shine) McReynolds holding his favorite mule. Guess why hick nickname was "shine".
- Henley Boys in Orlando, FL Dec 31, 1977 (4 KB)
The 5 Henley boys in the motorhome visiting just prior to the departure of the younger 3 for return to Murray, KY. The older 2, Sonny and Stanley, were stationed at the Orlando Naval Base,in the Nuclear Power School.
- Melvin and Rita at Home Christmas 1997 (43 KB)
Melvin and wife Rita by the fireplace Christmas of 1997.
- Henley Clan Summer 1975 (7 KB)
Photo taken just prior to Sonny leaving for Navy Basic Training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, north of Chicago.
- Jesse Henley's McNess Products Auto (9 KB)
Jess Henley peddled McNess products in Calloway County, KY during 1936 - 1939.
- Edge Hill - Home of Melvin and Rita Henley (19 KB)
Edge Hill, home of Melvin and Rita Henley in Murray, Kentucky.
- Jesse, Effie, and Melvin Henley on Trip About 1949 (5 KB)
Do not remember where this was taken, but the year is probably 1949.
- Jesse and Effie Henley at Camp Shelby, MS - 1917 (171 KB)
Jesse Henley beloned to a National Guard unit n Murray, KY which was called up for duty during WW I. This is he and his wife Efie at Camp Shely, Mississippi (near Hattisburg) in 1917. He was a"Waggoneer" which had evolved into driving an amunition truck by the time WW I began.
- Courtyard Scene at Edge Hill (23 KB)
Scene of the courtyard at Edge Hill, home of Melvin and Rita Henley in Murray, KY.
- Malinda Henley With 5 of Her 6 Cildren (70 KB)
Malinda Kesterson Henley with her 5 living children (Calvin Wesley died in an auto wreck in 1937). Top Row: Jesse Henley, Addie Henley Lassiter, Walter Henley.
Bottom Row: Laonia Henley, Malinda Kesterson Henley, and Della Baker.
Picture taken in early 1940s.
- Behind the Barn at Edge Hill (31 KB)
Scene taken from behind the barn at Edge Hill.
- My Sisters Jo Ann and Mary Francis by Auto - 1937 (5 KB)
Photo taken during a visit by my two sisters, who were being raised near Jackson, TN by Grandfather Walter Henley. My great uincle, Walter's brother, was raising me near Murray, KY. The year was likely 1937.
- Outhouse at Site of Story's Chapel ME Church (1926 KB)
Outhouse still standing at site of Story's Chapel Methodist Church where William Cager Henley preached in early 1900s.
- Jul 4th Parade in Reno, NV 1955 (5 KB)
Taken on Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada, looking east toward the Reno arch.
- Tobacco Barn Where Many Miserable Hours Were Spent (913 KB)
Each November and December we stripped tobacco in this barn sitting in cane bottom chairs on the dirt foor without heat. A tedious, gloomy and cold job at best.
- Lee, Beverly and Sonny Henley About 1990 (3 KB)
Oldest son, Jesse Curtis (Sonny) Henley with wife Beverly and child Lee, probably 1990.
- Rita and Melvin Christmas 2000 (607 KB)
Taken at Edge Hill Christmas, 2000.
- Faulkner's Gravesite, Oxford, Mississippi 1995 (14 KB)
Melvin Henley with Brian Tilker visiting William Faulkner's gravesite in Oxford, Mississippi 1995.
- Tobacco Barn on the Farm Where Jess Henley Lived (1734 KB)
This tobacco barn still stands on the farm where Jessie and Effie Henley were living in 1935 when they took in Melvin at the age of 3 days.
- Old Homeplace Near Paschall Schoolhouse (1871 KB)
A friend of Jessie and Effie Henley lived here until May, 2001 when she died in her 90s.
- View of Fox Meadows Drive North (91 KB)
North entrance to Fox Meadows Mobile Home Park.
- Old Barn Along Edge Hill Trail (1904 KB)
An old barn in the neighborhood where William (Bill) Henley lived, and where Jessie and Effie Henley took the orphaned Melvin in to raise.
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