The following is taken verbatim from the newspaper column by
James A. Dillon of McMinnville, Tennesse dated January 19, 1982.
"Once Upon A Time"

"Phillip G. Hoodenpyl, Jr., who in later years was known as Phillip, Sr., was born in
Hot Springs, North Carolina, on March 16, 1795, and moved with his family as a
young man to Bledsoe County, Tennessee.  He was educated at the "Old Field
School, apparently in Bledsoe County, and apprenticed himself in order to learn
the carpenter trade, a skill he became most adept at.  Apparently the Marbury
family also moved to Bledsoe County at the same time.  From Phillip Marbury's
biography, it appears both families resided in Greene County for a time, since
Benjamin Marbury married Polly (Mary) in Greenville, Tennessee in 1808.  It was
the usual procedure for those moving from North Carolina to our area to generally
stop for several months in Greene or Hawkins County, most likely to break up the
strenuous trip and to visit and stay with relatives along the way.
   When the War of 1812 erupted, Phillip joined Andrew Jackson's army and
served as the future President's orderly at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.  The
war over, he returned to Sequatchie Valley where he followed the carpenter trade
and farmed.  His brother-in-law Benjamin Marbury, a close friend of General
Jackson, was also apparently at New Orleans during the historic battle.
   About the year 1816, Benjamin and Mary Hoodenpyl Marbury along with their
six-year-old son, Phillip, moved to McMinnville.  Benjamin bought the large log
house situated on Lot 26 at the corner of East Main Street and Spring Street and
operated it as a hotel for some years.  During the years 1820 to 1827, their son
Phillip Marbury, lived in Rhea County and upon his return to Warren County, it
seems likely that his Uncle Phillip Hoodenpyl accompanied him.  Still a bachelor
at age 32, he was evidently lured to this area by the great influx of  people.
Already a builder of some renown, Phillip became Warren County's leading
builder, and during the period 1827 to 1842 was responsible for the erection of
most of the better homes and buildings built in and around McMinnville.   His
building partners were brothers William and Edmond North and his brother-in-law,
Salmon J. Mitchell.
   On October 13, 1829, Hoodenpyl married Phoebe Smith, daughter of Ericus
Smith, thus allying himself with this prominent and well-liked Warren County
family.
   Phoebe was born April 1, 1810 and lived on Hickory Creek with her parents,
Ericus and Rosanna Puckett Smith.  Her father was the second in the Smith lineage
to be called Ericus.  The original Ericus was a Swedish priest who emigrated to
Virginia and died there in 1757.  Ericus Smith II was born about the time of his
father's death in 1757 and died in Warren County sometime after 1830.  He married
Rosanna Puckett of Washington County, Virginia, and sometime before 1820 settled
on Hickory Creek in Warren County.  He had several children of which Phoebe was
one.  Another daughter, Bettie, married Salmon J. Mitchell, a carpenter from
Pennsylvania and a partner of Hoodenpyl's, along with the North brothers, in the
construction business.
   Hoodenpyl's renown as a contractor became widespread, and he was much sought
after as a builder.  In 1836 he built the first Court House for Cannon County in the
newly renamed county seat of Woodbury.  This structure stood 98 years, until
destroyed by a fire set by an arsonist in 1934.  An avid Jacksonian Democrat
during these years, we find his name frequently in court records as a juror.  In 1844
he voted to sell the school lands in the 9th District which included McMinnville at
that time.  In 1846 he was elected Sheriff of Warren County and served two years.
Announcing for re-election in 1848.  He was defeated by Sam E. Higgenbotham by
only three votes.  The record shows he was a farmer living on Sparta Road in 1850.
 From 1852 - 1858 he was a Justice of the Peace and served as chairman of the
County Court during a portion of this time.
   But tragedy had been a part of Phillip's life also.  Phoebe Smith Hoodenpyl died on
October 2, 1834, and was buried in Liberty Church Cemetery.  Before her death,
she had borne three children: Phillip Gysberti Hoodenpyl, IV (III), known in Warren
County as Phillip, Jr. and born November 13, 1830.  He married Emaline Biles and
became a prominent farmer, sawmill operator and distiller, operating a large farm
in what is now known as Safley Hollow and raised six children.  Jane Hoodenpyl,
born December 25, 1831, married Robert Randolph and moved to Texas, near Dallas.
She had four children.  George Washington Hoodenpyl was born in McMinnville at
6 a.m. on the morning of March 25, 1833.  He first married Louisa Stroud of
Manchester and had three children.  After Louisa's death in 1870, George married
Elizabeth Willington Hopkins by whom he had one son, George Leslie Hoodepyl, who
became a prominent lawyer in McMinnville as a partner of the late Robert W.
Smartt, and later, the city attorney of Long Beach, California, from 1914 - 1924.
   Thirteen months after Phoebe's death, Phillip married "Hixie" McGregor, the
twin daughter of Ezekial and Sarah Ware McGregor, and by this union produced
seven daughters and a son. One daughter, Adelaide, and the son, Willis, died in
infancy.  By his marriage to Hixie, Phillip allied himself with the ubiquitous and
industrious McGregor Clan.  Ezekial McGregor, Hixie's father, was a twin brother
of Willia McGregor.  Both brothers had moved to Warren County before 1807 and
married twin sisters.  Ezekial married Sarah and Willis married Susan.
   Hixie's twin sister, "Hinie," married Logan Dietz, a well-known McMinnville
tailor during this period.  Incredibly, it seems from an examination of census
records that "Hixie" and "Hinie" were contractions for the proper names
Ahixoam and Ahinoam (Biblical names.)
   Phillip's daughters by Hixie McGregor were Christina, who married the Rev.
Robert Lewis Bond and moved first to Alabama, thence to California; Nancy Paine,
who married Leon Stubblefield and moved to Garland, Texas; Myra, who married
Isham Martin; Susan, who married Washington Allen and moved to Georgia; Sarah
Ann, who married William Gardner and lived three miles east of McMinnville; and
Missouri Polk, who married John Peter Gartner, a German immigrant and
prominent carriage maker in McMinnville.
   Always a farmer in connection with his other enterprises and activities, Phillip
was a breeder of fine race horses and engaged in racing on four-mile tracks
throughout the Middle Tennessee area.  To say he was a "Rebel" was an
understatement.  Too old to serve his state in the Civil War, he had to hide out in the
Cumberland Mountains when the Federals occupied McMinnville on a
somewhat permanent basis in 1863.  Like Judge Andrew J. Marchbanks, the leading
citizen were arrested for their refusal to take the oath of allegiance and docketed for
imprisonment in a Northern prison.  During the latter stages of the conflict,
intercession was made for him with Federal officials, and he was permitted to return
home.  He never took the oath of allegiance, retaining his Rebel feelings until his
death.  He died on June 15, 1872, at his homeplace one mile east of McMinnville on
the Old Beersheba Road, and was buried in the Smyrna Cemetery.
   A study of Phillip Hoodenpyl and his descendants truly gives the student a great
insight into the history of our county along with their politics, family connections
and influences.  Life was uncertain, hard, and full of tragedy, but they endured, loved
life and looked to the future.  The Hoodenpyl family has had a profound influence on
our county.  George Washington Hoodenpyl, a son, was a member of the McMinnville
Board of Aldermen for 30 years beginning in 1859.  A prominent merchant, livery
stable owner and blacksmith, he was a noted Confederate gunsmith and highly
respected ordinance expert with the Army of Tennessee and various gun shops and
factories during the war.  Incredibly, he was a Republican by politics.
   Walter Wade Hoodenpyl, a son of George Washington, was a prominent Woodbury
merchant.  Moving to Nashville, he was a merchant there until moving to
California where he operated a ranch and orange grove.  He died in 1934.
   Flora Louise Hoodenpyl Quarles was a granddaughter of Phillip, who married
Robert Quarles of Nashville.  Robert was state archivist of Tennessee for many
years and his son, Robert Quarles, Jr., followed his father in this most responsible
position.  Several members of the family became prominent educators, military men
and businessmen.
   Starting out at the hotel on the corner of Spring and Main streets, operated by his
brother-in-law Benjamin Marbury, in 1827, Phillip moved to his first home in 1829
on Sparta Street just outside the city.  In 1842 he purchased the land on Beersheba
Road just east of the old Court House.  In 1845 he purchased the Old Court tract,
the Tanyard Springs and most of the land in the hollow then known as Frazier
Hollow.  He died at this Beersheba Road place in 1872.
   So ends the fascinating story of Phillip Gysberti Hoodenpyl, Jr.  Part Dutch, part
Hugenot, he was all Rebel, all Tennessean, and all American.  He was a kind,
stubborn man who liked his friends, loved his family, and lived and loved life to its
fullest and contributed immeasurable to the development of our wonderful county.
   Hoodenpyl's story is no different from hundreds of other rugged settlers to our
area who overcame unbelievable hardships and obstacles to raise their families,
improve their status in life, and develop our county into its present position of
beauty, prosperity and genuineness as a great place to live and raise your family.
 Note:  I am endebted to Mrs. Mary Hoodenpyl Anderson, a great-granddaughter of
Phillip Hoodenpyl, and her daughter Virginia Cadwalader, both of Redwood City,
California, for much of the information presented herein.  Mrs. Anderson, 85 years
young, was a childhood friend of my mother's in Woodbury...once upon a time. 

A. G. "Gentry" & Fannie Hoodenpyl McGee
Another wonderful photo contribution!

A. G. "Gentry" & Fannie Hoodenpyl McGee
(I tried to eliminate the scratches across the faces.)

Joseph Petway & sister Fannie Hoodenpyl McGee

Older couple (middle) are A. G. & Fannie.  To Fannie's left is her
brother Joseph "Joe" Petway Hoodenpyl.

* Excerpt from letter dated January 3, 1966
written by Mina E. Hoodenpyl 

"I was born in Woodbury, Tenn and lived there until we moved
to Nashville when I was sixteen.  We came to Long Beach (CA)
in 1914 moved to Riverside after more than a year where our
father bought an orange grove which he very much enjoyed until
he died in 1934.  My sister Mary and I came back to L. B. in
1953.  I am seventy six years old and an old maid.  I am the only
Hoodenpyl left of our immediate family.  You see I had to be an
old maid in order to perpetuate the name.  ha."
                                 ~ Mina E. Hoodenpyl 

See below transcript of an entire letter written by
Mina,  March 14, 1958