My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. HENRY P. POINTER is a son of Henry and Wilmoth (Boyd) Pointer. The father was born in the “Old Dominion” and emigrated to Tennessee in 1827, settling near Spring Hill, Maury County. He was a farmer, and eventually became the possessor of a fine farm in Williamson County. In the earlier part of his life he wedded a Miss Ragland, and three children were born to their union: Martha, Mary (deceased), and Elizabeth. Mrs. (Ragland) Pointer died and Mr. Pointer then married Wilmoth Boyd, of Virginia, who bore him eight children: William, Susan, Henry P., Thomas G., Sammie, Ellen, Harriet and one who died in infancy. Henry Pointer, Sr., died in the year 1863. His wife died several years previously. Our subject, Henry P. Pointer, was born May 5, 1822, in Halifax County, Va., and came to Tennessee with his parents when a small lad. He was educated in Jackson College, Maury County, and was reared on a farm, and in 1858 was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Caldwell, who died shortly afterward; and he then wedded Miss Virginia Brown, and one child was born to their union, named Henry Strange. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Pointer enlisted in the Third Regiment Tennessee Infantry under John C. Brown, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Fort Donelson and carried to Camp Chase, where he was kept two or three months, when he was taken to Johnson’s Island, and at the end of two or three years was exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss., and went on Gen. Forrest’s staff and remained with him until the close of the war. In 1861 he was made captain of Company E (Infantry), and was wounded near Memphis. After the close of the war he came home and has since been engaged in farming on his 200-acre farm, and is one of the principal stock raisers in the county.