My gr-grandfather, Isham Gurley, was the son of Willis and Eliza Gurley -- he was from North Carolina, and she was full Cherokee. Willis was the son of Pvt. Isham Gurley, a Revolutionary War veteran, My gr-grandfather was born in Massac County, Illinois and grew up in Carroll and Tallahatchie Counties in MS. He served in the 2nd MS Cavalry during the War Between the States, and his unit saw action in Tennessee under the command of Gen. N. B. Forrest; Battle of Thompson's Station, being one such encounter. There were originally 200 men in his outfit; he was one of 17 still alive at the end of the War.

The War over, he returned to Mississippi and married a Mrs. M. E. Davis who was, I assume, a war widow. He had served in the War with Robert Kennedy from Henderson County, Doe Creek area, so he and M. E. came to Doe Creek. The family story is, (not verified) that he traded his overcoat to Kennedy for 40 acres of Doe Creek bottom land. M. E. died within a year after their arrival in the area, and Isham married Nancy C. Kennedy, sister of Robert Kennedy. Isham and both wives are buried in Doe Creek Cemetery. M. E. has a sandstone marker. Isham and Nancy C. originally had only sandstone markers; a granite marker with the UDC brass cross were added in the 1990's.

Isham was big of stature and an excellent horseman. He is known to have ridden a big gray horse. As a source of income, in addition to farming, Isham sought and "brought in," bond violator--in essence a bounty hunter.. it is said that he always, "got his man." There were family reports that he was a U. S. Marshall, but this cannot be verified. There is one story that he was bringing a prisoner back to Henderson County, and they had to make camp for the night. The prisoner said to him, "I get nervous some times and thrash around during my sleep, so don't be surprised if I hit you." Isham replied, patting his gun, "I get nervous too, so don't be surprised if this goes off and hits you."

Isham and Nancy C. had Jo Ralles (m Ada Singleton & moved to AR, was kicked in the head by a mule); Robert W. (m. Fannie(?) Vandiver and moved to AL, they had two daughters; according to family stories, he drowned); Sylvester (m. Nancy Vandiver & moved to Cooter, MO both died within the same year and are buried in the cemetery at Steele--children were brought back to Doe Creek area); William, (m. Janie Flora Tubbs; raised Sylvester's minor children, both are buried in the Holiness Temple Cemetery in Scotts Hill); Jess (m. Lucy Kennedy, they lived on the old Gurley place near the cemetery and are buried there); Fannie, (m. Andrew Jackson Kennedy; he died in Hardin County when the children were young and she never remarried, she is buried in the Doe Creek Cemetery); and Nannie (m. Lester Scott & lived in the Scotts Hill area, both are buried in the Scotts Hill Cemetery). James and Sintha, also children of Isham & Nancy, both died in childhood and are buried in the Doe Creek Cemetery.

The Gurleys of Doe Creek Excerpt from the History of Decatur County

Isham Gurley, son of Willis and Eliza Gurley, was born in Illinois and grewup in Mississippi. He served in the 2nd Mississippi Cavalry, CSA, in the War Between the States, during which time he saw a great deal of action in Tennessee, much of the time fightingunder the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. When the was was over, he was one of 19 survivors from a company which originally numbered over 200.

After the war he returned to Charleston, MS and married a widow, Mrs. M.E. Barnes, Jan. 5, 1866. They came to Decatur County and settled in the Doe Creek Community. His first wife died shortly after their arrival and is buried in the Doe Creek Cemetery. Isham then married Nannie Kennedy, daughter of Hugh Kennedy. A deed, recorded in 1868, indicates that he purchased 40 acres of land from Robert Kennedy. The story is told that he traded his overcoat inpartial payment for the land.

One common thread among the family stories of Isham is that he was an expert horseman, and he alays rode a "Big gray horse - some times for great distances." Isham was a farmer, but he found it necessary to supplement his income; to do this, he used those skills which had served him so well during the war. Some say that he was a US Marshall, but no records have been found to verify this; in reality, he may have been a bounty hunter. Whatever the correct title for his avocation, it is said that, "He always grought his man in."

The Gurleys were all reported to have been tall, robust, very strong men, and Isham was no exception. This tall, black-haired, mustached ex-cavalryman must have cut quite a dashing figure on his gray horse. In contract Nannie was a petite, dar-skinned lady with black hair and brown eyes. Isham died in 1911 and Nannie in 1923 and they are buried in the Doe Creek Cemetery. Isham is buried between his two wives. He and Nannie were the paretns of the following children; Joralles, Robert Willis, Fannie Elizabeth, Sylvester, Isham Alton, William, Jesse, Nannie, Ida Ether, Synthia E. and James L. Ida, Synthia and James died in childhood and they are also buried in the Doe Creek Cemetery.

GURLEYS of Decatur County

Excerpt from the History of Decatur County

The Gurleys of Decatur County and all of the US are from the Scottish House of Gorelay. In Decatur County "Gurley" is the spelling used. The Decatur County clan descended from the Gurleys of N.C. William Gurley, son of Nicholas Gurley of Southampton County, VA, settled in Johnston County N.C. in early 1700's. He had a son also named William. They will of the son's widow, Mary Gurley, mentions the following children; William, Jacob Isom, Rebecca Austin, Lidia Pool, Mary Bostwick, John and Polly. The Gurleys of the Doe Creek Community (Henderson and Scott Counties in TN) are descendants of her son, Isom.

Isom/Isham was born in Johnston County NC Jan. 13, 1759. Served int he Revolution and after the war he lived in several N.C. counties before moving to S.C. He later moved to Pickens County AL, where he died and is buried. Isom and his wife, Sally Smith, had the following children: William, Jacob, John, Willis, James, Isom/Isham Jr, with whom Isom Sr. resided at the time of his death, Lewis, Henry, Rebecca and Lydia. The 1830 census lists four Gurleys' in that portionof Henderson County which later became a part of Decatur County; Joel, Lewis, Jesse C and John. The 1840 shows a younger Willis Gurley and whis wife with no children, as well as an older Willis Gurley and wife with several children, both living near Lewis Gurley in the Doe Creek area.

Some time between 1840 and 1844, these families moved to Massac County IL. Records indicate that the older Willis remained there, while Lewis and his son, the younger of the two Willises, moved to Carroll County MS. The 1850 census lists this Willis as a farmer in the township of Jefferson. Between 1860 and 1870, Willis and his wife Eliza, moved to Charleston, Tallahatchie County MS. Willis and Eliza were the parents of the following: Henrietta; Nancy; M.E. (Martha); Isham; George Wyndham; Eliza Jr; Willis Jr; John and J.L. Martha married a Tapley; Willis married Sallie Teague; J.L. married Lear Jenkins and John married Ann Carpenter.