Bridgeton in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Mary Lee Payne Gentry

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 18, 2021

1. Mary Lee Payne Gentry Marker

Inscription.
Born May 30, 1869 daughter of Elbridge G. and Mary E. Long Payne. She lived here most of her life. She taught the one-room Fee Fee School in Pattonville, 1893-1896. She married William R. Gentry, of Columbia, Missouri, who moved here and became a prominent lawyer. She died April 6, 1901, a young woman of talent and outstanding character, she held the respect and admiration of all who knew her.

This land, which was owned in turn by her grandmother, Sally Post Long, her mother and herself, is given to the people of St. Louis County by her son William R. Gentry Jr., his wife, Elizabeth Estes Gentry and their daughter, Elizabeth Foster Gentry Sayad.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1901.

Location. 38° 44.912′ N, 90° 23.989′ W. Marker is in Bridgeton, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is on Fee Fee Road 0.3 miles south of Natural Bridge Road (State Highway B), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4201 Fee Fee Rd, Bridgeton MO 63044, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Charles Rock Road (approx. 1.8 miles away); Knobbe House (approx. 2.7 miles away); Utz-Teson House (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Little Red Schoolhouse (approx. 2.8 miles away); Project Gemini (approx. 2.9 miles away); Mercury Spacecraft MA-6, 1962 (approx. 2.9 miles away); All Gave Some, Some Gave All (approx. 3 miles away); Creve Coeur Lake Streetcar (approx. 3.1 miles away).

Additional commentary.
1. Location
Just a quick note about the location of this marker — it is on the other side of a playground that is adjacent to the Payne-Gentry House. You can’t see the house from the

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 18, 2021

2. Mary Lee Payne Gentry Marker

marker. A bit confusing if you’re looking for both together!

— Submitted June 8, 2025, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.

Mary Lee Payne Gentry House - marker is 100 yards north on other side of playground. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Garrett Koch, May 22, 2025

3. Mary Lee Payne Gentry House - marker is 100 yards north on other side of playground.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 433 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on July 7, 2025, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.