Margaret Malinda (Seuell) SEWELL
Margaret was a member of the First Baptist Church, Trimble, Clay Co., MO.
He died at 6 weeks of age.
From Lois Werline, 22 June 2005 by email, Larry Anderson
The following was found filed away amongst Pleasant's papers and was published by the Kansas City Star, February 19, 1904:
I, Pleasant Gentry, was born in Madison Co., KY, in the year 1820, December 15th. The family remained on the same farm until 1832, when fatgher sold out and came to Clay Co., MO the 25th of September, and landed near Liberty, Clay Co., November 27. (this would have been the time that John Hiatt would have died, also in Liberty, Clay Co., MO, April 1832, he was the father of Esther Hiatt who had married Peter Estes, keeping relationships close. LA)
Our outfit consisted of one four horse wagon and an ox cart. We stored our bedding and clothing in the wagon, and the cart was our commisary store. his is how we boarded enroute. Father drove the horse team and I the oxen. It was a new country -- from the Ohio river to where we stopped. We were out no expenses, except ferryage and feed for our teams.
Father rented near Liberty tghe first season, selected and entered land where Paradise now is, built a house and moved home n 1833 (1834? Lois Werline). I remained in MO until 1847 when I started to Oregon over land with the ox team. Went by way of Ft. Kearney, Ft. Hall, Columbia River, thence over the Cascade mountains to Oregon City until the Spring of 1849. I then went to the California mines, remained there untilt he next Fall and then started home by water. Took passage on an ocean steamer on the 15th of December; cameby way of te isthmus; arrived at home in Paradise, MO, Feb. 20. (1850).
I spoke of the common roads in IN, IL and MO, but you will thinkt hey were uncommon when I tell you I saw fourteen yoke of oxen hithced to one wagon to enable them to climb the mountain, and in going down the other side we had to hitch a large log behind the wagon as a drag to assist the team in holding back, when the load only averaged about six hundred or eight hundred pounds. I have lived in Missouri since I arrived at home in 1850.
Both Pleasant and his wife, Martha (West) Gemtry died at the home of their son, James Madison Gentry, grandfather of Gene Werline.
Martha J. West came to Clay Co., MO, with her brother, Richard West. They both moved to Clinton Co., MO near Plattsburg, and Richard is found living close to Martha (West0 Gentry in the 188 Clinton Co., MO census.
Martha's death certificate was actually signed by her brother, Richard, even though the certificate states that the siner was her father.