AGED MAN ELOPES WITH SCHOOL GIRL

Outwits Parents of His Sixteen-Year-Old Sweetheart.

GLASGOW, Ky., Feb. 12. 1911 -That age cannot break Dan Cupid's hold on human nature is shown in the elopement of Octave Poynter, aged sixty, with Gertrude Cook, aged fifteen, a pretty school girl in Monroe county. The couple were married at Jeffersonville, Ind.

Because of the disparity in the ages of the couple the parents of the bride opposed the marriage bitterly.

The persistence of the old man caused the girl's parents to lock her in the house, and the venerable lover left the county. After his departure the girl was given her freedom.

A few days ago Poynter came back, secreting himself in the woods near the Cook home. Later, when Gertrude was sent to the spring to get water Poynter met her and persuaded her to elope.

The couple spent the evening at Boyd's Creek, near here, leaving on an eleven-mile walk to the home of relatives.

The Washington Times, Washington, District of Columbia, Sunday, February 12, 1911, Page 5, column 5

Home in 1880: Tracy, Barren, Kentucky
Octavus C. T. Poynter 27
Isabell W. Poynter 22
James L. Poynter 6
Kitty A. Poynter 4
William H. Poynter 2
Yetman Poynter 7m

Home in 1900: Tracy, Barren, Kentucky
Poyner 50 [Jan 1850]
Isabelle W Poyner 43 [Dec 1856; 12 of 14 children living]
Allice B Poyner 17 [Mar 1883]
Nathan W Poyner 15 [Mar 1885]
Johnnie R Poyner 13 [Mar 1887]
Lillie D Poyner 11 [Dec 1888]
Nettie L Poyner 9 [Jan 1891]
Hattie J Poyner 6 [Jun 1893]
Guss M Poyner 4 [Jun 1895]
Louie Poyner 6/12 [Mar 1899]

Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000
Name: Octova Pointer
Death Date: 19 Jan 1917
Death Place: Barren
Age: 62
Volume: 1
Certificate: 105

[Incorrectly transcribed as Oetooa Painter.]
Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1963
Name: Octova Pointer
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 62
Birth Date: 10 Jan 1855*
Birth Place: Kentucky
Death Date: 19 Jan 1917
Death Place: Barren, Kentucky, USA
Father: John Painter
Mother: Sarah J Jones
Informant: Hattie Pointer
[I believe the parents are listed incorrectly. Census records show his parents as Nathan and Martha Poynter.]
*[1860 census lists his age as 8; 1870 census lists his age as 18]

2nd wife's parents:
James K Cook
Julia A Cook

Children with his 1st wife:
James Luther Poynter
Kittie A Poynter Francis
William H. Poynter
Yetmon T Poynter
Alice B. Poynter Cook
Nathan "Woody" Poynter
John R. Poynter, Sr
Lillie Daisy Poynter Hope
Nettie Ellen Poynter Hope
Hattie Jane Poynter Mayes
Gus Morris Poynter
Louie Arnold Poynter

Children with his 2nd wife:
Cecil C Poynter
Floyd B Poynter
James D. "Jimmy" Poynter [Death certificate has Jimmie D Pointer.]