Nelley and John farmed in the 3rd Civil District of McMinn County,Tenn. in 1900, 1910 and 1920. They bought land from Bradley Kimbrough in November of 1904 and then from Mary Ann Kimbrough and John Duke Kimbrough in 1906. In 1910 , John L.'s brother Earl R. Gentry, born cir. 1893, in Tenn., lived with them in their household.