William Gresham

William Gresham
1809 — 1864

William Gresham–-the paternal head of this family--was buried with his second wife Martha A. Henderson (1827-1892), and lists his first wife Mary Eleanor Stroud (1820-1850) on the tombstone.

William Gresham (dates on the tombstone 1809 – 1864) but the birth date on an 1860 census record indicates 1812 in Kentucky. When his parents (Phillip and Mary Gresham) died in 1814 from cholera, his grandparents, Job and Mary Gresham raised him until Job’s death in 1821. His father’s brother, Edmund Gresham brought William to Georgia and gave him his start in life. Edmund Gresham is listed in the 1830 census for Walton County.

Although Mary Eleanor Stroud's name is on the tombstone it is thought that she was buried in the Stroud family cemetery. (*no evidence of a listing for her at that cemetery). In the Walton County Georgia Cemetery (West), there is an attempt to document the Stroud cemetery. That research indicated that the marker for Orion and Milcah Stroud was moved to the Rest Haven Cemetery in Monroe but that the graves were not moved. They are the only two listed for that cemetery. There is further information about land being given by O.L. Stroud (this is likely Orion L Stroud the brother of Mary Eleanor) giving land to the Liberty Hill Church to create a cemetery there (deed from him to the church on 27 Nov 1872). There are only two documented graves for that cemetery, W. W. Upshaw and Jack Robertson. It does indicate that there are approximately 100 unmarked graves.

Children of William Gresham and Mary Eleanor Stroud:
Edmund, James Monroe, Mary A, Samantha Eleanor, Martha, and Eleanor

Martha A. Henderson and William Gresham were married 30 Sep 1852.

Children of William Gresham and Martha A. Henderson:
William Henderson, Nannie, Thomas F, Fannie Lou and Elisha

Photographs and information courtesy of Ms. Annette Wade