THE SHROAT GENEALOGY
by way of
JOHN THOMAS SHROAT

b. 20-Dec-1834 Jefferson County, Kentucky

d. 26-Oct-1910 Big Sandy, Tennessee

PETER SHROTE, JR. and AMERICA WISEHEART who were married December 20, 1834, in Jefferson County, Ky. had two children, both born in the Louisville area of Jefferson Co. (supposedly in the Fisherville-Jeffersontown vicinity). Their son, John Thomas, was born October 1, 1838, and their daughter, Rebecca Ann, May 4, 1844.

JOHN THOMAS SHROAT (here the name changes again) married SARA ELIZABETH BAILEY, born October 12, 1838, on September 28, 1858. They lived on a farm in Calloway County, Ky. and later moved to Big Sandy, Tenn. John Thomas died Oct. 26, 1910, and his wife, Elizabeth Bailey Shroat, in Sept., 1926. Both are buried at Big Sandy, Tenn.

JOHN THOMAS SHROAT was a Civil War veteran, Pension No. 3-4-4-7. He went into service in 1862 with Co. A 46th Tennessee Infantry under Col. Charles Tappan Weldon. He was wounded in the right arm at the Battle of Nashville in December, 1864. He was captured and in an Army Prison camp for six months. A story about this camp is: There was so little food he was forced to live on grasshoppers for a time. He and another prisoner delivered bread by horse and wagon. The bread was in bags. After a time they noticed they no longer heard shots or saw any activity, so one day each took a bag of bread, slung it over their shoulders and just started off. Gradually they ran out of bread and eventually they walked the soles off their shoes. Finally they met a friendly person who gave them food and new shoes and they continued on and finally made their way back to their outfit. John Thomas had been wounded and had a tip of a finger missing.

On Sept. 3, 1968, while visiting the public library of Paris,Tenn., Era M. Sroat found the following book giving an account of theHenry County Commands:

THE HISTORY OF THE HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS by Lieut. Edwin H. Rennolds of Co. "K" 5th Tenn. Int.

Published by Sun Publishing Co., Jacksonville, Florida 1904

History of the 46th Regiment, Tenn. Infantry

During the summer of 1861 plans were made to enlist another infantry regiment in Henry County as the continual increase of the Federal armies by heavy levies showed conclusively that the Confederate forces must be reinforced to meet them, and our grand old County never lagged behind when men and means were needed.

Nov. 29, 1861, the companies were assembled at Paris, Tenn. and the regiment organized by the election of field officers. On Monday, Dec. 16, the regiment rendezvoused at Paris, and was then ordered to go into camp at Union City, whither they were transported by rail. On reaching this point they were set to work building winter quarters. Shortly afterward Capt. John W. Harris' Co. "C" was detached to guard the Mobile and Ohio Railroad bridge over the Obion River south of Union City. Before the winter quarters were completed the regiment was ordered to Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River, whence they were moved Jan. 10, 1862, going by rail to Hickman, Ky. where Co. "E" under Capt. Tharpe, and Co. "F" under Capt. Poyner, both under command of Major Brown, were left as provost guard for the town. The seven other companies were transported on the steamer "Winchester" and landedon the Tennessee shore of the Mississippi River opposite Island No.10.

Pitching their tents, it was necessary to floor them with rails and carpet them with cornstalks to elevate their blankets above the water, with which the rains had covered the river bottom. Stick and mud chimneys were built in the tents to keep them warm.

Only a short while elapsed before the measles, that great scourge of new levies, broke out in camp, and soon many of the poor fellows were prostrated upon their rough beds in the middle of the winter, without mother, wife or sister to care for them, and Surgeon S. H. Caldwell and his assistant, Dr. T. J. Taliaferro, had their hands and brains and hearts full of duties. But they did all that human skill could do with the very limited means at their command. No houses suitable for hospital purposes were to be found nearer than Hickman, Ky., whither many of them were sent. The ladies of this patriotic town exhibited that kindness of heart so characteristic of Southern womanhood, and to this day the mean who were so tenderly cared for and supplied with delicacies are full of gratitude to these noble ladies.

Only a part of the regiment was armed and these only with shotguns, squirrel rifles and old muskets. One company had only seven guns. They were employed throwing up fortifications, being drilled very little. Co. "D" volunteered to man the floating station and were drilled in artillery tactics. There were about 40 pieces of heavy ordnance on the island and on the mainland opposite.

General Polk evacuated Columbus, Ky., March 9, 1862, retiring first to New Madrid, Mo., and on the 12th crossed to the Tennessee side, marched to Tiptonville and moved down the river on steamers. On the 13th the Federal gunboats appeared and bombarded the Confederates night and day for 23 days. The infantry for the most part were kept out of range and suffered few casualities. Two of the 46th, Co. "F" and Co. "A" were killed by the explosion of a shell. They were marched and counter marched from point to point to meet expected attacks, the enemy having passed the island at night with part of their gunboats and landed infantry forces below them. Reelfoot Lake, running parallel with the river, barring their retreat in that direction, they were formed in two lines about 100 yards apart facing outwardly, and kept in line all night of April 7. On the 8th, there being no way of escape they were surrendered to the Federal forces. The two companies from Hickman having rejoinedthe regiment, were included.

Many who were unarmed, while those with arms were absent, built rude rafts of logs and loose lumber and escaped across Reelfoot Lake, through the high water and returned to their homes. Most of these rejoined the regiment after its exchange or enlisted in cavalry.

The account goes on to record the many skirmishes and battles and then ends with:

"The 46th took part in the disastrous Battle of Nashville, and had the honor of forming part of the rear-guard on the retreat from Tennessee. When the other West Tennessee troops were furloughed at Corinth in Jan., 1865, the 46th was not granted this coveted boon, but was sent with the shattered columns of the once proud Army of Tennessee to North Caroline, to meet once more Sherman's hosts, and there fought their last battle at Bentonville, laid down the arms they had used so well, and came back to their loved State and County to tell the widows and orphans of their dead comrades, how their loved and honored kinsmen had freely shed their precious blood for the "Lost Cause" and to prove themselves by their after lives that brave men are worthy of trust and confidence as well in peace as war."

On Page 199 of this book is noted: "JOHN SROOT (Shroat): escaped at Island 10; returned to the regiment; served through the war."

Old Bible records. of the Kentucky branch of the family have the name spelled SROAT, SHROAT, SHROATT. It has always been assumed that George Washington Sroat changed his name when he left Kentucky to settle in the Territory of Nebraska. But now.... did he? It is just possible that it was Sroat and the Kentucky branch changed it to Shroat. Very interesting to speculate about!

JOHN THOMAS SHROAT and SARA ELIZABETH BAILEY SHROAT had the following ten children;

George Francis	b. 09-17-1859	d.
Mary Davis	b. 11-12-1861	d.
John Henry	b. 12-22-1863	d. 04-01-1910
Thomas Warrie	b. 04-18-1867	d.
Willie Ann	b. 07-16-1870	d.
Julia	b.	d. 07-15-1898
Louisa A.	b.	d.
Sara	b.	d. 05-09-1875
Arrie	b.	d. 11-15-1885
Santhra or Cynthra	b. 08-09-????	d. 08-13-1870

GEORGE FRANCIS married LAURA ALLBRITTEN and had two children: Vida Lee and Charles Thomas. Vida Lee married Henry Randolph Campbell and their five children are: Lottie B. (Moore), Robert Belmont, Hazel (Vaught), Noma Alma (McKnight), Rose Frances (ORR). GEORGE FRANCIS also had a second wife and their two children were Irene and Myrtis.

MARY DAVIS married WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY and they had four daughters: Edna Beatrice, Minnie Bell, Georgie Mae, Lela Pearl, and four sons, Arthur Lee, Ernest, Flynoy and Elestridge.

JOHN HENRY married EPPIE STUBBLEFIELD, the daughter of Payton and Elizabeth Stubblefield. Eppie was a first cousin of Nathan Stubblefield, the acknowledged inventor of "radio". Eppie was 16 years old when she eloped with John Henry. Their 10 children were: Charles Thomas, Jefferson Davis, Lonnie Curtis, John Gilbert, Eric, Mary Elizabeth (Farley), Eula (Allbritten), Zola (Mitchell), Muncie (Geurin), Rose Lena (Weeks).

THOMAS WARRIE married SARAH ELIZABETH MELTON and their children were: Hubert, Marvin, Guy, Freida (Smith) and Nina Lee (Russell).

It is most unfortunate we cannot record the six remaining children but we have no information concerning them. We do know, however, there are descendants.

The home seat of the Kentucky SHROAT clan today is the lovely city of Murray in Calloway Country, seven miles north of the Tennessee border. Living there today are the following children of JOHN HENRY and EPPIE STUBBLEFIELD:

CHARLES THOMAS m. ANNA BELL WALKER (dec.). Their six children: Harry (dec.) m. Melba Milner, one daughter, Diana (Harris). John m. Helen Tibbs. Their six children: Joy Deen, Jerry, James L., Judy M. Joseph, Jill. Jack m. Josephine Dyer. Their two children: Jacqueline (Lobo) and Nelson. Mary Virginia m. Clatus Dodd. Their three children: Charles Logan, Delmer Lee, Ronald Clatus. Betty m. Vernon Riley. Their three children: Elizabeth Anne, John Neil, Charles Thomas. Ann Shroat Tobias has two children: Terry and Tamara.

JEFFERSON DAVIS m. VERA PAGE. Their six children: Jefferson Davis, Jr. (dec.), Bertha Neill (dec.). Marjorie m. Robert Wilson Huie. Edward Mason m. Veronica Kolinski, their daughter is Charlotte. Dr. Carl Everett m. Jacqueline Gardner. Their four daughters are: Carol, Debra, Sandra and Jacqueline Sue. Franklin Eric is unmarried.

LONNIE CURTIS m. IRENE HENDRICKS. Their two daughters are Jo Anne (Pace) and Peggy Sue.

MARY ELIZABETH m. OTLEY FARLEY. Their daughter Sara Elizabeth m. Ray Sinclair.

EULA (dec.) m. JAMES RUDY ALBRITTEN, SR. Their eight children: James Rudy, Jr., B. C., Eugene G., George Robert, Eddie, Charlene, Dorothy and Joe Henry,

MUNCIE m. EUGENE GEURIN, Their two children: Eugene and Shirley (Johnson).

JOHN GILBERT m. HAZEL HAYNES (dec.). He lives in Santee, Calif. Their three children: Beatrice, John Gilbert, Jr., Betty Jo.

ZOLA m. LON MITCHELL. She lives in Washington, Mo. heir children: Geraldine and Helen.

ROSE LENA (dec.) m. Lurt Weeks. Their children: Agatha and Leron.

JAMES A. SHROAT, son of HUBERT, grandson of THOMAS WARRIE, lives in Racine, Wisconsin. He is married to Lucille Edna Buse and their six children are: Terri Lee, Timothy Michael, Linda Dianne, Nina Leslie, Patrick Hailey and James Arthur.

The following infomation was compiled and sent by Albateen Burton McCord (Mrs. Joseph Albert McCord) of Paducah, Ky. We are very grateful to her for supplying this material covering this branch of the Shroat family.

MARY DAVIS SHROAT who married WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY had eight children: Edna Beatrice, Minnie Bell, George Mae, Lela Pearl, Arthur Lee, Ernest, Flynoy and Elestridge.

EDNA BEATRICE m. JOSEPH PHILLIPS. Two children: Flora Mae and Herbert. Flora Mae m. Edmond Herbert Gibbs. Their children: Joe, Edd, Harold, Anna Eva, Lou Ella, Kathleen. Edna Beatrice's second husband was James Franklin Willoughby. Their daughter was Uldine.

MINNE m. LEMIS FREDRICK BURTON. Their children: Albateen, Laurine, Fred Adair.

GEORGIE MAE m. GAULIS ADAMS. Their children: A son, G. B., four daughters: Pauline, Thelma, Hortense, Billie Mae.

LELA PEARL m. EEMOND HERBERT GIBBS. No children.

ARTHUR LEE m. ONA PITTMAN, Their son: Arthur Lee, Jr.

ERNEST m. POLLY CAIN. Their son: William Adair.

FLYNOY died in infancy.

ELESTRIDGE, deceased.

Living today throughout the United States are numerous descendants of JOHN THOMAS and ELIZABETH BAILEY SHROAT who are not mentioned in this genealogy.

When REBECCA ANN SHROVE was 29 years of age she married HENRY CLARK BAILEY who was born Dec. 1, 1832. They were married in New Concord where Henry farmed most of his life. They had four children:

PETER NICKLOS known as "Staver" b. Jan. 22, 1874. m. ELNORA ELKINS. Their two children were Lizzie Brown and Gaylon Ploma. "Coonie" Cook said that "Staver" was so tiny when he was born" that a silver dollar would cover his head and that he could have been put in a small coffee pot. He was o tiny that for safety's sake he was pinned through his clothing to the bed pillow."

MOLLY THOMAS, b. Sept. 18, 1876, m. JOHN BELL DARNELL. Their two children died in infancy.

AMERICA ELIZABETH known as "Coonie" b. Oct. 12, 1880, m. WESLEY CURTIS COOK on Dec, 31, 1899 -- "last day of week, last day of month, last day of year."" He was born Nov. 5, 1871, died July 10, 1940, at age of 69, and buried in New Concord Cemetery, He was a farmer, could cut and haul logs as well as lay brick. They had the following children:

CLARICE BROWN, b. Dec. 27, 1900, m. GILBERT PARKS from Abeline, Kansas. They have no children,

HALLIE THOMAS, b. May 3, 19021 m. HOY CALLEY. They had five sons: Wesley Gordon, Clarence Ray, Thomas Brown, Jack Ray and Joe Hoy.

HOUSTON CORNELIUS, b. Jan. 16, 1904, m. GLADYS HUTCHENS. They had no children. He died on Sept. 10, 1966.

JENNIE WILSON, b. Nov. 19, 1905. Deceased.

LOYAL DURWARD, b. Mar. 8, 1907, m. ROSIE LEE GREGORY. They had four children: Lagena Fay, Donald Keith, Bettie Marie, Ronnie Dee.

OPAL ANN, b. Feb. 10, 1910, m. FRED VERNON BLAIR from Wyoming. They have four boys and two girls: Wesley Thomas, John Hart, Cyrus Clinton, Huston Boyd, Mary Treasa, Ruth Ann.

CULISTA ELIZABETH, b. Oct. 1, 1919, m. EDDIE BRUCE EVANS. They had three boys: Joe Bruce and twins, Eddie and Teddie, Teddie lived but a few hours.

CULISTA LESLIE, the last child of REBECCA and HENRY BAILEY, was born Jan. 31, 1890, m. THAD EUWARDS. Their two children were Durward and Goldie Mable who died when about five years old.

"COONIE" COOK who is now 90 years old and lives on the outskirts of Murray, Ky. with her oldest child says, "My Mother, Rebecca, always spoke of 'coming from old Kentucky' ".