Harry C. Boatner was born in Louisiana in about 1851, the son of James W. Boatner of Mississippi and Courtney Ann McKay of Louisiana. He grew up in Morehouse Parish, but came to Texas after the Civil War and may have lived in Nachadoches, Texas for a while with his father who died ca 1877. He and his father both served in the CSA Army during the war. There is a land sales record in Nachadoches County, Texas relating to his father's estate. Land sold by his mother. He and his mother, and sister may have lived in Galveston, Texas for a while before moving to Dallas where he worked as a stone cutter. It is believed that he lived for a brief period in Anderson County, Texas where his sister got married. His mother and sister lived for a few years in Dallas with him. He worked as a stone cutter. In 1884 he married Carry Ann Eaton from Massachusetts and they soon had two children. James William Boatner 1885-1965 and Gertrude Boatner 1886-1886. Both the baby girl and her mother died soon after the birth likely due to complications during the birth. It is unknown what happened to Harry C. Boatner after this time, but his surviving son was raised by his wife's family, the Eatons, in Dallas and later Massachusetts. No further record has been located relating to Harry C Boatner after the death of his daughter and wife except for his listing in the city directory of Jacksonville, FL for the years 1892-95 working as a stone cutter. His father in law filed a law suit against him in early 1887 for repayment of room and board for Harry and his son, and for doctor bills associated with his deceased wife and child. The petition stated that he was living out of Texas, but did not indicate where. No further information found. It is believed that he died before the turn of the century. There are no cemetery records [records are sparse during this period] to verify that he is actually buried at Greenwood Cemetery, but records verify that a burial space is listed in his name in the family plot and it is assumed he is buried in the grave next to his wife and daughter.