Person:John Senter (8)

Pages from an old family bible have the following entry: "John R. Senter was Borned January 9, 1853". This is the most reliable reference available to date. The date of birth is supported but not the place of birth in "My Senter Branches" by Lorane SENTER Sutphin who has him as having been born 9 Jan 1853 in Wayne County, Illinois. At least two lists by other family members specify Flora, Clay County, IL as his place of birth. Clay County is the next county north of Wayne which may be the reason for the Sutphin error. The year of birth is supported within one year by the Wayne County, Illinois US Census for 1860, taken on 13 August 1860, where his age is given as 6 (1860 minus 6=1854 for his birth year).

John Raven died of pneumonia and was buried in the Hampton Cemetery at Edhube, once known as Bentonville, Texas. According to published obituaries, he died on Saturday, March 14, 1908 and was buried the next day, Sunday, March 15, 1908. An undated clipping, probably from a Bonham, Texas newspaper obituary column, includes the following information: "John R. Senter died at his home near Edhube, Saturday, March 14, 1908." His tombstone, however, is engraved 8 July 1853 - 17 March 1908. 17 March was a Tuesday but two published obituaries give March 15th as the date of burial. Additionally, my mother, Florence Della SENTER, John's youngest daughter, has the March 14th date written in her diaries and other written recollections. Lacking any formal records pertaining to his death, I will continue to use the 14 March date.

1.   Wayne County, IL, SENTER, in US Census Records 1860
   Pages 141 and 142, Blue Point PO, Indian PrairieTownship, Wayne County, Illinois), Page 142, Dwelling 1003, Family 935,, 1860.

   Page 142, Dwelling 1003, Family 935, John Raven Senter, age 6 (1860-6=1854 year of birth) a difference of one year which is not unusual in US Census reports. Born in Illinois.

2.   Senter Family Bible, in Family Bible
   Loose pages, Unk.

   Pages removed from a Senter family Bible handed down from John R. and Emma E. to one of their houngest children, Florence Della Senter (my mother) sometime prior to the death of Emma Ellen. One of the pages reads: "John R. Senter was Borned January 9, 1853.