Mary Elizabeth Gregory (1839-1912) was the daughter of Claiborn Gregory
and Polly Decker. She lived in the Rocky Branch, KY area most of her
adult life. Her name is found on several land deeds in that area
(including the Emberson Gregory farm where my mother was raised.)
Elizabeth's first husband was George W. Anderson whom she married in 1854.
I'm not certain, but he may have been the son of Pleasant Anderson and
Dicey Burk. George met his early demise shortly thereafter from a fall
from a horse (I'm told).
Elizabeth then married Phillip Franklin Decker in 1860, a cousin from
Missouri. His parents were John Decker (died on way to California
gold fields) and Mary Nance (from Indiana, settled in Denton Co, Texas).
Frank and Elizabeth had one child whom they named after his father
John Decker. Frank was killed in 1861 at Wild Cat Mountain in Laurel
County, KY at the beginning of the Civil War. John is the only child
born to Elizabeth that we are aware of.
Elizabeth married her third husband Thomas Guinsford Smith in 1867. He
was originally from Hawkins County, Tennessee. Previously Thomas Smith
had been married to Elizabeth (Denny) Bell, widow of William Bell.
Elizabeth (Denny) Bell was also the mother-in-law of Mary Elizabeth's
older brother Sidney Goddard Gregory.
In the 1880 census Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Gregory) Smith are living
near her son John Decker and her brother Claiborn H. Gregory. Also living
with them is her sister Angeletta Gregory who was recently divorced from
Joshua S. Bell.
By the 1900 census, Elizabeth is again widowed and living with her
granddaughter Jemima Decker Rednour (daughter of John Decker and wife
of Harvey Rednour.) Elizabeth died in 1912 and is buried near her son
John in the Grant Roberts Cemtery at Rocky Branch, KY. A grave marker
was recently placed on Elizabeth's grave by E & M Books.
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