Jerry Cantrell
Cantrell in 2009, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Jerry Fulton Cantrell, Jr.
Place of Birth: Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Date of Birth: March 18, 1966
Ethnicity:
*father – English, French, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, Welsh, 3/32 Choctaw Native American, distant Dutch and Irish
*mother – Bohemian Czech, Norwegian
Jerry Cantrell is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and main songwriter of rock band Alice in Chains. William DuVall, Mike Inez, Sean Kinney, Layne Staley, and Mike Starr also are/have been members of the band.
He is the son of Gloria and Jerry Cantrell, Sr. His father was from Atoka, Oklahoma.
Jerry’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his twenty-first great-grandfather, John Cantrell.
Jerry’s paternal grandfather was Herbert Franklin Cantrell (the son of Fred Carl Cantrell and Delphia Blanche Campbell). Herbert was born in Thayer, Missouri. Fred was the son of Charles Franklin “Cass” Cantrell and Charlotte Temple “Lottie” Risner. Delphia was the daughter of John Wesley Campbell and Dora Anise Compton.
Jerry’s paternal grandmother was Opal Harriett Lain (the daughter of Elijah Houston “Lige” Lain and Sarah Harriet “Babe” Tomlinson). Opal was born in Atoka, Oklahoma. Lige was the son of Braddock Harris Lain and Josephine Greer. Sarah was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Tomlinson and Harriet/Harriett Gardner, who was of three quarters Choctaw descent. A picture of Opal can be seen here.
Jerry’s maternal grandfather was Elmer James Krumpos (the son of Matey “Matthew/Mike” Krumpos and Barbara Zdeneková). Elmer was born in Lankin, North Dakota, to Czech emigrants, from Bohemia. Matey was the son of Gabriel Krumpos and Marie Kadlecová, and was likely from Plzeň. Barbara was from Tabor, and was the daughter of Václav “James/Wencelsaus” Zdeněk and Anna Barešová.
Jerry’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy Elizabeth Aus (the daughter of Johannes “John” Pettersen, later Sandaas, Aus, and Anna Kristine Olsdatter Skjæggeby). Dorothy was born in Eatonville, Washington. Johannes was a Norwegian emigrant, from Skjeberg (now part of Halden), and was the son of Petter Anton Johannesen Hornas Østre and Elisabet Hansdatter Aagento. Anna was also a Norwegian emigrant, from Borge (now part of Fredrikstad), and was the daughter of Ole Christian Andreasen Rødroen and Anette Christine Hedwig Christiansdatter Steengaden.
Sources: Marriage record of Jerry’s parents – http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov
Jerry’s father on the 1950 U.S. census – https://1950census.archives.gov
Genealogy of Jerry’s paternal grandfather, Herbert Franklin Cantrell – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Jerry’s paternal grandmother, Opal Harriett (Lain) Jack – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Jerry Cantrell (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Jerry’s maternal grandfather, Elmer James Krumpos, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Jerry’s maternal great-grandfather, Johannes “John” Pettersen Aus – http://www.arkivverket.no
Baptismal record of Jerry’s maternal great-grandmother, Anna Kristine Olsdatter – http://www.arkivverket.no
Because of the release of the 1950 U.S. census, I was able to identify Jerry Sr.’s parents, even though he was at his maternal grandparents’ house at that time.
Jerry Sr. has English, French, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, Welsh, and 3/32 Choctaw Native American, as well as distant Dutch and Irish ancestry.
Jerry’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his twenty-first great-grandfather, John Cantrell
Jerry’s paternal grandfather was Herbert Franklin Cantrell (the son of Fred Carl Cantrell and Delphia Blanche Campbell). Herbert was born in Thayer, Missouri. Fred was the son of Charles Franklin “Cass” Campbell and Charlotte Temple “Lottie” Risner. Delphia was the daughter of John Wesley Campbell and Dora Anise Compton.
Jerry’s paternal grandmother was Opal Harriett Lain (the daughter of Elijah Houston “Lige” Lain and Sarah Harriet “Babe” Tomlinson). Opal was born in Atoka, Oklahoma. Lige was the son of Braddock Harris Lain and Josephine Greer. Sarah was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Tomlinson and Harriet Gardner, who was 3/4 Choctaw.
Elmer was born in Lankin, North Dakota.
Dorothy was born in Eatonville, Washington.
Jerry’s father on the 1950 U.S. census – https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Atoka&name=cantrell&page=1&state=OK
Genealogy of Jerry’s paternal grandfather, Herbert Franklin Cantrell – https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LY7N-3RL
Genealogy of Jerry’s paternal grandmother, Opal Harriett (Lain) Jack – https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LC5Q-W7B
Which line is Choktaw?
See the description and sources here: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LHR4-99T
She is listed as Indian, meaning 3/8 Choctaw. Her father was white, while her mother was 3/4 Choctaw.
I see it.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLQ8-NZ5?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=KZGC-96G
This is a cool find.
Here’s a pic of his paternal grandmother, Opal: https://ibb.co/Y8XVVdy
link to: https://ethnicelebs.com/layne-staley
is someone able to trace his father’s ancestry?
I think that:
His paternal grandfather was David Felix Cantrell (the son of Voorhis/Voorhes Cleveland Cantrell and Sophia C.). Sophia’s parents were German.
His paternal grandmother was Lola Mae Ditmore (the daughter of John Henry Ditmore and Lora/Laura Jane Ayers). John was the son of Henry M. Ditmore, whose father was English, and Elizabeth Hampton. Lora was likely the daughter of Moses Ayers and Sarah.
Unfortunately, not. It appears that Felix and Lola abode in Hydro, Oklahoma, which is far away from Atoka, Oklahoma, and they do not share the same county. One of Felix and Lola’s sons is also named Jerry, but his middle name is Ray.
One of the only ways to identify Jerry Sr.’s parents is to wait for 3 years to have the 1950 U.S. Census released for public inspection. I exhausted everything on Google for now.