OBIT: "Tennessee's oldest man" celebrated his 112th birthday last Saturday, died tonight at the home of his son, Jeptha E. Cantrell.
Born in NC six years before Andrew Jackson became president, Mr Cantrell moved to TN at the close of the Civil war and resided in the Revilo community where he died.
He enjoyed talking of the old days - the days when he fought under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, when he talked to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, and before that, the days when he was a "bearcat" as a young man.
Mr. Cantrell was with Lee when he began his retreat from Richmond. But he was captured by Grant's men before Appomattox was reached. He was lined up with all the other prisoners there when Grant and Lee met. He recalled that "General Grant reached down and took Lee's sword and looked at it and handed it back to him. And then he took his pistol, looked at it and handed it back to him."
Mr. Cantrell was married twice. Seven children survive, five daughters by the first marriage, who reside in North Carolina. Two sons by the second marriage, Jeptha E. Cantrell of Lawrence Co., TN and Alex Cantrell of Lowhorn, Texas.
A.E. was married to Arry E. Hendricks Cantrell, mother of his two sons. She is buried beside him.
Update (1/9/2015): The birth date of Alexander may be 1842. VC-C
Born in NC six years before Andrew Jackson became president, Mr Cantrell moved to TN at the close of the Civil war and resided in the Revilo community where he died.
He enjoyed talking of the old days - the days when he fought under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, when he talked to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, and before that, the days when he was a "bearcat" as a young man.
Mr. Cantrell was with Lee when he began his retreat from Richmond. But he was captured by Grant's men before Appomattox was reached. He was lined up with all the other prisoners there when Grant and Lee met. He recalled that "General Grant reached down and took Lee's sword and looked at it and handed it back to him. And then he took his pistol, looked at it and handed it back to him."
Mr. Cantrell was married twice. Seven children survive, five daughters by the first marriage, who reside in North Carolina. Two sons by the second marriage, Jeptha E. Cantrell of Lawrence Co., TN and Alex Cantrell of Lowhorn, Texas.
A.E. was married to Arry E. Hendricks Cantrell, mother of his two sons. She is buried beside him.
Update (1/9/2015): The birth date of Alexander may be 1842. VC-C
OBIT: "Tennessee's oldest man" celebrated his 112th birthday last Saturday, died tonight at the home of his son, Jeptha E. Cantrell.
Born in NC six years before Andrew Jackson became president, Mr Cantrell moved to TN at the close of the Civil war and resided in the Revilo community where he died.
He enjoyed talking of the old days - the days when he fought under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, when he talked to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, and before that, the days when he was a "bearcat" as a young man.
Mr. Cantrell was with Lee when he began his retreat from Richmond. But he was captured by Grant's men before Appomattox was reached. He was lined up with all the other prisoners there when Grant and Lee met. He recalled that "General Grant reached down and took Lee's sword and looked at it and handed it back to him. And then he took his pistol, looked at it and handed it back to him."
Mr. Cantrell was married twice. Seven children survive, five daughters by the first marriage, who reside in North Carolina. Two sons by the second marriage, Jeptha E. Cantrell of Lawrence Co., TN and Alex Cantrell of Lowhorn, Texas.
A.E. was married to Arry E. Hendricks Cantrell, mother of his two sons. She is buried beside him.
Update (1/9/2015): The birth date of Alexander may be 1842. VC-C
Born in NC six years before Andrew Jackson became president, Mr Cantrell moved to TN at the close of the Civil war and resided in the Revilo community where he died.
He enjoyed talking of the old days - the days when he fought under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, when he talked to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, and before that, the days when he was a "bearcat" as a young man.
Mr. Cantrell was with Lee when he began his retreat from Richmond. But he was captured by Grant's men before Appomattox was reached. He was lined up with all the other prisoners there when Grant and Lee met. He recalled that "General Grant reached down and took Lee's sword and looked at it and handed it back to him. And then he took his pistol, looked at it and handed it back to him."
Mr. Cantrell was married twice. Seven children survive, five daughters by the first marriage, who reside in North Carolina. Two sons by the second marriage, Jeptha E. Cantrell of Lawrence Co., TN and Alex Cantrell of Lowhorn, Texas.
A.E. was married to Arry E. Hendricks Cantrell, mother of his two sons. She is buried beside him.
Update (1/9/2015): The birth date of Alexander may be 1842. VC-C
