FATHERS OF THE RIDGE, Vol. I by George W. Rowland. Copyright 1978 by George
W. Rowland. Printed by College Bookstore and Press, Route 4, Box 196,
Paragould, Arkansas 72450. [Excerpted here with permission of author.]
GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES
Andrews
Philip Andrews was born in Kentucky in 1811. His wife, Rebecca, was born
in the same state in 1812. The Andrews moved to Arkansas in about 1840.
This places them among the very early settlers of the area. They made their
home in what was then Big Creek Township. In 1850 their children were:
John, 1830; William, 1832; Martha; 1836; Mildred, 1838; Samuel, 1840;
Berry, 1842; Nancy J., 1844; Rebecca, 1846; and Eliza, 1849. The first
three children were born in Kentucky and the rest, in Arkansas. By 1860 two
more children had been added: P.N. (a son), 1851; and Sarah E., 1854. In
1860 a man named Willoughby Rogers was living with Philip and Rebecca.
Willoughby was born in North Carolina in 1790.
Philip Andrews died during the 1860's. In 1870 Rebecca was the head of
the household and by this time another child had been added: Isabell.
In about 1866 John Andrews married a woman named Catherine. By 1870 they
had one child, Rebecca E., born in 1868. At this time Marien Vaughn, John's
mother-in-law, was living in the household. Marien Vaughn was born in
Missouri in 1810. The family lived in Cache Township at this time.
In 1880 John and Catherine were living in Jones Township and John's
occupation was that of "ferryman." John's mother, Rebecca, was living with
the family at this time. Their nearest neighbors were the families of
Arthur Gardner, William Compton, Sarah Eubanks, and Benjamin Pitcher.
Arnold
Absolam Arnold was born in North Carolina in 1803. His wife, Mary, was
born in Tennessee in 1812. In 1830 Absolam Arnold was living in Bedford
County, Tennessee. In about 1858 the family moved to Greene County and
resided in Cache Township. As of 1860 their children were: Robert A., 1839;
Margaret C., 1840; Mary E., 1842; Alsey J. (a son), 1843; Richard F., 1845;
Harriet, 1847; Frances, 1849; Sally A., 1851; and Martha M., 1853. All
these children were born in Tennessee.
Robert Arnold married a woman named Lucy, born in Mississippi in 1843.
Their children in 1880 were: Frances, 1868; Catherine, 1870; Robert Jr.,
1872; Caldonia, 1874; and Richard, 1876. Robert Arnold's mother, Mary, was
living with the family at this time and she was, evidently, a widow. Ann
Webb, a step-daughter born in 1867, was also a part of the Arnold
household. This family lived in Poland Township and their neighbors were
the families of Thomas Honey, G. W. Hyde, F. H. Ward, and John Fletcher.
Austin
The patriarchs of the Austin family in Greene County were Stephen and
Ransom Austin both natives of South Carolina. Stephen was born in that
state in 1797 and Ransom was born there in 1805. Both of these men were in
Greene County by 1840; this places them among the very early settlers of
the County. In their long journey from South Carolina, Stephen and Ransom
paused for some years in McNairy County, Tennessee where records show their
presence in 1830. They arrived in Greene County sometime during the 1830's.
Both Stephen and Ransom settled in that part of the County then known as
St. Francis Township. As time passed their descendants scattered to other
parts of the County.
Stephen Austin's wife was named Martha and she was born in Tennessee in
1810. Their known children were: Joe, 1830; Sarah, 1832; Ransom, 1833;
Margaret, 1835; Robert, 1840; Stephen, 1843; Lucinda, 1845; and George W.,
1849. Of these children Joseph, the oldest, was born in Tennessee; all of
the others were born after the family's arrival in Arkansas.
In a limited space, it is impossible to trace all of the Austin
descendants down to the present day. However, Joseph Austin married in
Greene County and his wife was Roda M. Roda was a native of Alabama born in
1833. Their known children were: John W., 1858; William H., 1861; Charles
N., 1863; Stephen C., 1865; and E. J. C., 1869.
Stephen C. Austin, son of Joseph, was known to the writer and was
commonly addressed by his middle name, Carroll. Carroll was married three
times. He had one son, Ezra, by his first wife. There were no children born
of the second marriage. By his third wife, Janie Robinson Austin, he had
three daughters: Mary Lee, Edna and Hazel. Of the four children only one,
Hazel, survives at the present time.
During the 1930's Carroll Austin lived for several years near Shiloh
Church in the Center Hill Community. He and Janie moved to West Court
Street in Paragould where they spent the last few years of their lives.
Carroll died first and both are buried, side by side, at the Center Hill
Cemetery.
Mary Lee Austin, daughter of Carroll, married Brad Curry and they had two
children, Pauline and Ronald. Both Pauline and Ronald were born during the
1920's. Mary Lee died when Ronald and Pauline were children. From the time
of Mary Lee's death Ronald and Pauline lived with their grandparents,
Carroll and Janie Austin. After the grandparent died, Ronald lived with his
sister Pauline.
Ransom Austin, born 1805, married a woman by the name of Martha who, like
himself, was a native of South Carolina. This Martha is not to be confused
with the wife of Stephen Austin who was also named Martha. Both these women
had the same name and were of the same age; however, Stephen's wife was
born in Tennessee while Ransom's wife was born in South Carolina.
Ransom and Martha Austin had eight known children: Elizabeth, born 1834;
Thomas, 1836; Stephen, 1838; Wesley. 1839; Martha A., 1841; Nancy, 1846;
Robert C., 1848; and Smith, 1850.
Awtrey
The Awtrey family in Greene County begins with George W. Awtrey, born in
Georgia in 1844. The Awtrey family came to Greene County during the 1850's
and settled in Cache Township.
There is some controversy as to the correct spelling of this name. It
appears in various forms in the records. However, the name is consistently
spelled "Awtrey" on the tombstones of members of this family buried at
Mountain Home Cemetery; therefore, the writer assumes that this is the
preferred spelling.
The children of the Awtrey family in 1870 were: Arminda, 1860; Joseph
W., 1862; and Louisa J., 1865. All were born after the family arrived in
Arkansas. At this time Ben F. Wilkerson (born in Kentucky in 1860), M. D.
Wilkerson (born in Arkansas in 1862, and William W. Bowlind (born in
Mississippi in 1852) were also living with this family.
By 1880 George W. Awtrey had married a second time. His second wife was
named Sarah, born in Kentucky in 1839. Their children living at home at
this time were: Washington, 1862; Caledonia, 1872; Elizabeth, 1874;
Victoria,
1876; and William, 1879. All of these children were born in Arkansas. A
stepdaughter, Dora Wilkerson, born in 1862, was living with the family at
this time. George W. Awtrey and his two wives are buried at the Mountain
Home Cemetery in western Greene County. His marker shows a birth date of
Oct. 12, 1834 and a death date of May 9, 1915. The marker for Senia shows
a birth date of Oct. 11, 1844 and a death date of Feb. 22, 1869. The stone
for Sarah (Sallie) shows a birth date of March, 1839 (day of month not
given) and a death date of June 19, 1898.
Cepheus Lee Awtrey is also buried at Mountain Home Cemetery and his
marker shows a birth date of 1882 and a death date of 1954. Cepheus Awtrey
was once a teacher at the Jackson Commissary School in the early part of
the twentieth century and some of his pupils were: Ted Cline, John Taylor,
Ted Dearin, John Goins, Ruth Bone, Jean McKenzie, George Pillow, Russel
Chadwick, Robert Garner, Lonnie Roswell, Osmer Garner, Bessie Knopp, Gladys
Futrell, Beaulah Morrow, Lora Rowe, Gracie Garner, Pearl Goins, and Zack
Garner.
In 1880 the nearest neighbors of George and Sarah Awtrey were the
families of James Owens, Willis Owens, William Welch, and John Johnson.
Barnhill
The history of the Barnhill family begins with Robert Barnhill, a soldier
in the American Revolution. He entered military service in about 1776 at
Philadelphia. He took part in the battles of Long Island, New York, White
Plains, Harlem, Morristown, Monmouth Courthouse, Trenton, and Princeton.
After the Revolution he left Bucks County, Pennsylvania and went to
Kentucky where he stayed for about two years. He next went to Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina where he remained until his death on May 25, 1849.
His children were: William, 1778; Margaret (Peggy), 1789; Rachel, 1793;
John, 1795; Betsy, 1797; Mary, 1799; and Robert Jr., 1802.
William Barnhill, son of Robert, married Elizabeth Connor in 1810. At
some time prior to 1820 the family moved to Blount County, Tennessee. Their
known children were: Matthew, 1824; and Caswell Hall, 1828. In 1850 Caswell
Hall Barnhill was living in the household of his brother and sister-in-law,
Matthew and Nancy Barnhill.
Caswell H. Barnhill married Sarah Jane McDoughon, Jan. 12, 1853 in
Knoxville, Tennessee. The family moved to Greene County in about 1859 and
took up residence in St. Francis Township. At this time their children were:
George, 1855; and Ada Josephine, 1857. Both children were born in Tennessee.
After the death of his first wife in 1868, Caswell H. Barnhill married
Epsy Jane Jones, born in Bibb County, Alabama in 1841. Epsy was the daughter
of Jonathan and Bethany Jones, both born in Alabama in 1820. The Jones
family moved to Greene County in about 1857.
The children of Caswell and Epsy Barnhill were: Arminta Elizabeth, 1861;
Leer A., 1867; Sara J., 1869; William Caswell, 1872; Jonathan C., 1875;
David K., 1877; and Joseph Hall, 1880. Arminta Barnhill married Thomas C.
Spain, born in Tennessee in 1851. Their first child was named Ella, born in
1878.
William Caswell Barnhill married Maud L. Kirby.
They had three sons: Carl A., Floyd R., and Donald. Carl lives in Paragould
on Barnhill Road near the former home of William C. and Maud Barnhill. Floyd
Barnhill now lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Donald died in 1938. Jonathan C.
Barnhill, son of Caswell and Epsy, died when he was still a child. David
Barnhill, son of Caswell and Epsy, married Cora Dela Mae Johnson. Their
children were: Ynonie, Gelette, George C., Larrabee Lawson, Beatrice Mae,
and Helen. David Barnhill died in 1960 and Cora died in 1954. Both are
buried at the Brown's Chapel Cemetery. Joseph Hall Barnhill, son of Caswell
and Epsy, married Virgie Ida Mae Spence. Their children were: Clarence F.,
Bertie Mae, Olive Marie, Woodrow Frederick, Charles Thomas, and Joseph
Leonard. Joseph Hall Barnhill died in 1970 and his wife, Virgie, died in
1960. (Most of the information for this sketch was provided by Mr. Floyd R.
Barnhill of Jonesboro, Arkansas.)
Barton
The history of the Barton family in Greene County begins with John T.,
and Elizabeth Barton. John T. was born in South Carolina in about 1820 and
Elizabeth was born in North Carolina in about 1821.
The Barton family lived in Tennessee for a number of years and their
first children were born there. There is some reason to believe that they
lived in Marion County, Tennessee at one time. The Barton family came to
Greene County in about 1870 and took up residence in Hurricane Township in
the general vicinity of Marmaduke. James B. Barton, son of John T. and
Elizabeth, married Julia A. Morgan in Greene County of Feb. 7, 1881. Julia
A. was the daughter of Henry and Martha Morgan, who came to Greene County in
about 1879 after having lived in Illinois for many years. Henry Morgan and
John T. Barton were nearby neighbors in Hurricane Township. F. Geno Barton
married Missouri Shelton in Greene County on Dec. 17, 1884.
Blackwood
The patriarch of the Blackwood family in Greene County was Them Blackwood
born in South Carolina in 1822. Them's wife, Mary C., was also a native of
South Carolina, having been born there in 1826. The family moved to Georgia
sometime between 1849 and 1854. They came to Arkansas in about 1857 and
settled in Salem Township. Their known children were: William P., 1846;
Butler, 1849; Mary E., 1854; Martha T., 1856; and Dovey C., 1858. William
and Butler were born in South Carolina. Mary and Martha were born in Georgia
and Dovey C. was born after the family arrived in Arkansas.
William P. Blackwood's wife was named Mary C. and she was born in South
Carolina in 1848. Their known children were: Joseph R., 1868; Robert, 1869;
John, 1871; Mary, 1873; and Lula, 1877. All were born in Arkansas.
Butler Blackwood's wife was named Nancy and she was born in Alabama in
1853. Their known children were: John, 1872; Thomas, 1875; Albert, 1877; and
Robert, 1880. All were born in Greene County.
A number of Blackwood people were buried at the Blackwood family cemetery
south of Mt. Zion Church on Highway 141. Butler Blackwood, along with other
members of the family, is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery.
In 1880 the nearest neighbors of Butler Blackwood were the families of
Christopher Grayson, James Mitchell, James Wilcockson, and John Bowling.
Bobo
A. P. Bobo was born in South Carolina in 1814. His wife, E. R., was born
in the same state in 1816. In 1850 the vast majority of the Bobo families
in South Carolina lived in Union County, however, it is not known with
certainty that A. P. Bobo came from that county.
A. P. Bobo and his family came to Greene County in about 1857 and settled
in St. Francis Township. In 1860 his children at home were E. M. (a son),
1840; L. L. (a son), 1849; M. C., (a daughter), 1853; and S. P. (a
daughter), 1858. The first three children were born in South Carolina and
the youngest one, in Arkansas. At this time a physician named W. C. Barnes,
born in Kentucky in 1834, was living with the family. Two other persons were
also in the household: V. E. Barnes, a young lady born in South Carolina in
1842; and Marion Owen, born in Missouri in 1838.
E. M. Bobo married a woman named Elizabeth, born in Arkansas in 1843. In
1880 they lived in Poland Township and their children at home were:
Middleton, 1862; Ellah, 1866; Granville, 1867; Olive, 1868; Victoria, 1870;
Arthur, 1871; Jacob, 1873; Alice, 1875; and Ida, 1878. All these children
were born in Arkansas. At this time the nearest neighbors of E. M. and
Elizabeth were in the families of Henry Fletcher, J. J. Pankey, James Davis,
and William Cone.
By 1870 A. P. Bobo had died and his widow, E. R., was living in the
household of her son, L. L., in Salem Township.
Boozer
Frederick Boozer was born in Georgia in 1826. In 1850 he was living in
Benton County, Alabama (renamed Calhoun County in 1858). In 1850 Peter,
John, and Carter Boozer were slave owners in Benton County, Alabama. It is
suspected that they were related to Frederick and to each other, but there
is no positive evidence on this point.
In about 1869 Frederick moved his family to Greene County and took up
residence in Cache Township. By 1880 Frederick was apparently a widower. At
this time his children at home were: David, 1857; Emily, 1862; John, 1865;
Samuel, 1868; Robert, 1870; and Margaret, 1873. The four older children were
born in Alabama and the younger ones, in Arkansas.
David Boozer married Fredonia Hillman in Greene County on Jan. 23, 1885.
John Boozer married M. E. Mack on July 31, 1884.
In 1880 the nearest neighbors of Frederick Boozer were the families of
Rube Say, Robert Lovely, William Manning, and James Akin. A number of the
members of the Boozer family are buried at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in western
Greene County.
Bowlin
The Bowlin family in Greene County begins with John and Lucid, born in
South Carolina in 1818 and 1821 respectively. While still in South Carolina
they had twin daughters, Adeline and Angolan, born on March 20, 1846. By
1850 the Bowlin family had moved to Walker County, Georgia and lived in what
was then known as East Armuchee. A young man by the names of Miles Whitened,
born in South Carolina in 1836, was living with them at that time.
While living in Georgia, the Bowlins had three more children: James,
1850; Mary J., 1852; and John Morgan, 1854.
In about 1856 the Bowlins moved to Greene County, Arkansas and resided in
Cache Township. Their first child born in Arkansas was B. F., born in 1857.
Their next child was born in 1860 and was named William P. Their last child,
Sarah E., was born in 1862.
According to tradition, John Bowlin joined the Confederate Army during
the Civil War period and was later killed in the battle of Pea Ridge in
Northwest Arkansas.
In 1870 Ben F., William P., and Sarah E. were still living at home with
their widowed mother. By 1870 James W. Bowlin had married Sinia L.
Wilcockson.
Angeline Bowlin married Nimrod Hampton, son of Isaiah and Jalley McDaniel
Hampton. They had five children: Mary Ann, Ella, Eva, Tom and John.
Angeline and Nimrod later moved from the Mt. Zion area to a farm which was
located just east of the point where Crowley's Ridge Academy now stands.
This farm later became known as the Silas Gay farm. Nimrod Hampton died on
Nov. 2, 1906 and was buried at Center Hill Cemetery. "Aunt Angie" lived with
various members of the family until her death on April 7, 1922. She was
buried at Center Hill Cemetery beside her husband, Nimrod Hampton.
Adaline Bowlin married James H. Wilcockson and they lived in the Mt. Zion
area. Their known children were: Anna Lee, 1869; William C., 1870; Carroll,
1871; Robert, 1873; and Jefferson, 1875. Adaline died on March 12, 1903.
Lucinda Bowlin, mother of Angeline and Adaline, died on March 23, 1890
and is also buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery.
James W. Bowlin, son of John, married Sinie L. Wilcockson and their known
children were: William, 1874; Laura, 1876; and Jackson, 1878. James and
Sinie are buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery. James' tombstone shows a birthdate of
March 31, 1850 and a death date of Nov. 7, 1896. Sinie's stone shows a
birthdate of July 4, 1850 and a death date of Sept. 29, 1918.
Mary Jane Bowlin, daughter of John and Lucinda, married Thomas Riley
Wilcockson and their known children were: Callie, Lucy, Mildred, Mike,
Sudie, Nannie, Holland, Myrtle, Idella, and Charley. Thomas R. and Mary Jane
Wilcockson are buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery. The stone for Thomas R. shows a
birthdate of Aug. 10, 1848 and a death date of July 5, 1925. The stone for
Mary Jane shows a birthdate of May 8, 1852 and a death date of Dec. 14,
1938. John M. Bowlin married Mary Hutchins and their known children were:
Cora, 1875; and Robert, 1877. In 1880 the nearest neighbors of John and Mary
were the families of Butler Blackwood, James Wilcockson, James Jackson, and
Elizabeth Carmack.
B. F. Bowlin, son of John and Lucinda, married A. E. Walden on Oct. 21,
1886. W. P. Bowlin, son of John and Lucinda, is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery
and his tombstone shows a birthdate of Aug. 31, 1860 and a death date of
July 5, 1926. Sarah E. Bowlin married A. J. Wilcockson on Feb. 10, 1881.
Sarah was commonly known as "Aunt Sade." They are buried at Mt. Zion. A. J.
was born on Jan. 10, 1855 and died on March 11, 1894. Sarah was born on
April 26, 1862 and died on May 16, 1943.
The children of Angeline Bowlin Hampton and Nimrod Hampton who survived
to adulthood have been mentioned previously. However, Angeline and Nimrod
had several children who died as infants or children. They were Ida E.,
Laura J., Emma L., Benjamin F., and Bertie. All of these children were born
and died in the late 1860's or early 1870's, They are buried at Mt. Zion
Cemetery near their grandmother, Jalley McDaniel Hampton, wife of Isaiah
Hampton.
Bradley
W. N. Bradley was born in Alabama in 1812. His wife, Elizabeth, was born
in the same state in 1821.
The Bradley family came to Greene County in about 1854 and took up
residence in Salem Township. Their children at this time were: Elisha M.,
1841; Daniel J., 1842; Mary, 1844; Delana C., 1846; Isaac T., 1848; Ann,
1850; Milton, 1852; Deborah, 1855; and John W., 1857. Elisha was born in
Tennessee. Daniel, Mary, Delana, Isaac, Ann, and Milton were born in
Alabama. Deborah and John W. were born after the family arrived in Arkansas.
Daniel Bradley married a woman named Mary, born in Arkansas in 1849. In
1880 Daniel and Mary lived in Salem Township and their children at home at
this time were: Tabitha, 1870; Araminta, 1872; Anna, 1874; Daniel Guilford,
1877; and Cary Eveline, 1877. Daniel and Carey were twins.
Isaac Bradley married a woman named Lucinda, born in Arkansas in 1852.
They lived in Salem Township and in 1880 their children were: Dora, 1874;
William, 1875; Samuel, 1878; and Ella and Della. Ella and Della were twins,
born in March of 1880.
Milton Bradley was also living in Salem Township in 1880 but apparently
his wife had died. His children at this time were: Ida V., 1875; and Jesse
C., 1877. Milton's younger brother, John, was living in the household at
this time. Maggie Self, born 1855, and Willie Self, born 1874, were also
present.
Bramlet
Louis Bramlet was born in Kentucky in 1812. His wife, Ellen, was born in
the same state in 1816.
By 1850 this family had arrived in Arkansas and settled in the Union
Township of Greene County. At this time, their children at home were: Emily,
1834; Sarephta, 1837; John, 1839; William, 1842; Peggy A., 1845; and Henry,
1849. Emily and Sarephta were born in Indiana. John and William were born in
Missouri and Henry was born after the family arrived in Arkansas. In 1860
Louis Bramlet was still living in Union Township and one more child, Lydia,
born in 1851 had been added to the family. John, William, and Henry were
still at home at this time.
John Bramlet, son of Louis, married Matilda Hampton in about 1860.
Matilda was born in Arkansas in 1844. She was the daughter of Isaiah and
Jalley McDaniel Hampton (see HAMPTON and McDANIEL). In 1870 John and Matilda
Bramlet were living in Clark Township of Greene County. Their children at
home at this time were: Mary J., 1862; John, 1863; Louis, 1865; Sarah A.,
1866; Susan, 1868; and James M., 1869.
Henry Bramlet, son of Louis, married a woman named Susan C., born in
Tennessee in 1844. In 1870 they lived in Clark Township and their children
at this time were: James, 1868; and Joseph J., 1869. By 1880 three more
children had been added to this family: Hattie, 1871; Lonnie (a daughter),
1877; and Maggie L., 1879.
By 1880 Louis Bramlet had died and his wife, Ellen, was living alone in
her household in Clark Township.
A number of the members of the Bramlet family are buried at the Bramlet
Cemetery located about one mile north of Reynolds Park in Greene County.
This cemetery [which] is now grown up in bushes is almost inaccessible. The
Bramlet people for whom there are markers are:
John B. Bramlet, April 30, 1840 to Dec. 19, 1887
Matilda J., wife of J. B. Bramlet, May 2, 1843 to Feb. 9, 1893
Joseph, son of H. L. and S. C. Bramlet, 1873 to 1875
George W., son of H. L. and S. C. Bramlet, 1873 to 1875
Minnie B., daughter of H. L. and S. C. Bramlet, 1875 to 1876
Benjamin, son of H. L. and S. C. Bramlet, 1882 to 1883
Maggie L., Nov. 5, 1879 to Sept. 16, 1892
Susan C., wife of H. L. Bramlet, Jan 30, 1845 to Aug. 4, 1895
Some of the members of the Spence, Agee, Brown, Copeland, and Beck
families are also buried here.
It will be noted that the name, Bramlet, has been spelled with one "t"
throughout this sketch. However, it should be pointed out that the name is
spelled with two "t's" on all the markers at the Bramlet Cemetery.
Brashares
Wily P. Brashares, Sr. was born in Tennessee in 1829. His wife, Delila,
was born in the same state in 1825.
In 1850 the Brashares family was living in Decatur County, Tennessee in
Civil District 1. At this time their children were: John C., 1847; Aramelia,
1849; and Rebecca, 1849. In 1858, while the family was still in Tennessee,
a son, Samuel, was born. In 1860 their nearest neighbors were the families
of Samuel Carter, John O. Long, and Frank Marr.
Wily Brashares, Jr. married Lucy Eveline Brashares in Greene County on
Jan. 28, 1880. Lucy was born in Arkansas in 1864. In 1880 Wily's brother,
Samuel, was living with the family.
Census records indicate that Wily P. Brashares' parents, as well as the
parents of his wife, were born in South Carolina.
Bratton
Edward Bratton was born in Kentucky in 1809. His wife, Lucinda, was a
native of Tennessee, born there in 1812. The family arrived in Arkansas in
about 1843. Their known children as of 1850 were: James, 1840; Elizabeth,
1842; Mary, 1845; Edward Jr., 1847; Andrew J., 1846; and Susannah, 1849.
James and Elizabeth were born in Kentucky. The other children were born
after the family had arrived in Arkansas. The Brattons took up residence in
Union Township.
At one time, Edward Bratton Jr. was engaged in the stockraising business
with William Welch in Cache Township. Edward Jr. married a woman named
Martha, born in Tennessee in 1849. Their known children were: Sarah, 1877;
Mary, 1878; and David, 1880.
In 1880 the nearest neighbors of Edward Bratton Jr. were the families of
Malinda Massengil, H. F. Faulkner, John Fielder, and Benjamin Johnson.
Bray
The history of the Bray family begins with Henry Bray, born in North
Carolina in 1788. His wife, Sarah, was born in the same state in 1790.
In 1850 Henry and Sarah were living in Henry County, Tennessee in Civil
District 14. Their children at this time were: Isabell, 1826; James, 1828;
Henry C., 1831; Josiah, 1833; Elly Jane, 1836; Matthew, 1839; Sarah C.,
1840; Hardy, 1842; and Willey, 1845.
There is no evidence that Henry and Sarah ever came to Greene County,
Arkansas, but it is known that at least three of their children came. These
were Henry, Josiah, and Matthew.
Henry C. Bray married a woman named Mary A., born in Tennessee in 1839.
By 1860 they had moved to Greene County and settled in Union Township. Their
children at this time were: Mary J., 1857; and Amanda E., 1860. Mary J. was
born in Kentucky and Amanda E. was born in Arkansas.
Josiah Bray married a woman whose name was M. L. T., born in Kentucky in
1841. By 1860 the family had moved to Greene County and settled in Union
Township. They had one child at this time, James H., born in Arkansas in
1859.
Matthew Bray married a woman named Mary A., born in Tennessee in 1833.
In 1880 their children at home were: Amanda A., 1860; Elisha C. H., 1862;
and Rhoda F. I., 1871. At this time the nearest neighbors of Matthew and
Mary A. were the families of Charles T. Spence, George W. Barr, Eliza
Phillips, and George H. Swindle.
Breckenridge
James W. Breckenridge was born in South Carolina in 1820. His first
wife, Susan, was born in Missouri in 1823.
James and Susan came to Greene County in about 1843 and took up residence
in Union Township. In 1850 their children were: William B., 1843; Abraham,
1845; Levi, 1847; and Nancy, 1849. William B. was born in Missouri and all
the other children were born after the family arrived in Arkansas.
In 1860 this family was still living in Union Township and several more
children had been added: James F., 1853; Frances, 1858; Martha A., 1859; and
Daniel, 1860. James' first wife, Susan, apparently died sometime during the
1850's and some of the younger children in the family may have been born of
the union with his second wife, Mary A., born in Kentucky in 1835.
In 1880 James W. and Mary A. Breckenridge were living in Friendship
Township and six more children had been added to the family: Mary A., 1864;
George Thomas, 1857; John B., 1869; David Ezra, 1871; Altha E., 1877; and
Sarah E., 1879. The 1880 census indicates that James W. Breckenridge's
father was born in Ireland and his mother was born in South Carolina.
William B. Breckenridge married a woman named Sarah E., born in Tennessee
in 1844. In 1880 they lived in Union Township and their children at home
were: William L., 1866; Mary J., 1868; Sarah, 1870; Minnie A., 1875; Edward
J., 1878; and Eli B., 1880. The nearest neighbors of William and Sarah E. at
this time were the families of John Roberts, Joseph Lovelady, John C. Horn,
and James H. McCastlin.
Abraham G. Breckenridge married a woman named Annie, born in Arkansas in
1850. They lived in Union Township in 1880 and their children at this time
were: Dovie, 1874; and Callie, 1877.
James F. (Frank) Breckenridge married a woman named Mary, born in
Arkansas in 1855. They lived in Union Township in 1880 and their children at
this time were: Amelia, 1873; and Ida, 1875.
Daniel Breckenridge married Mrs. Mariah Breckenridge in Greene County on
March 28, 1878. The first child born of this union was named Walker, born in
1879. Three step-children also lived with this family in 1880. They were:
James Branch, 1867; Amanda Branch, 1869; and John Branch, 1871. James and
Amanda were born in Tennessee and John was born in Arkansas. Daniel's half
sister and half brother were also living with the family at this time. They
were: Parthenia Breckenridge, 1867; and Elisha Breckenridge, 1872.
The nearest neighbors of Daniel and Mariah Breckenridge in 1880 were the
families of Nathan Meadows, Frank Breckenridge, John Taylor, and George
Williams. A boy named Paris Breckenridge, born in Arkansas in 1873, was
boarding with the John Taylor family at this time.
Burton
G. M. Burton was born in Tennessee in 1831. The name of his wife is not
known. In 1860 he was living in Salem Township with three of his sons: John,
1855; Isaac N., 1857; and William T., 1859. These children were born in
Tennessee.
John Burton married Margaret A. Rogers in Greene County on Feb. 13, 1877.
As of 1880 they had one child, Jessie, born in 1879.
Isaac Burton married Mrs. Elizabeth Mounts, born in Arkansas in 1850. In
1880 four of Elizabeth's children were living in the household: Mary, 1871;
Nancy, 1873; William, 1875; and Mattie, 1879. Adaline Willis, an orphan born
in Tennessee in 1865, was living with the family at this time.
William Burton married a woman named Susan, born in Tennessee in 1863.
They lived in Salem Township at this time and their nearest neighbors were
the families of Lemuel Gatlin, John Burton, Felix Craven, and Alex Meiler.
Camp
Thomas Camp was born in Virginia in 1808. His wife Eliza was born in
North Carolina in 1818.
In 1850 the Camp family was living in Hardeman County, Tennessee. Their
children at this time were: Ann, 1835; James, 1838; William, 1841; Mary,
1844; Pitser, 1847; and Robert, 1849. Ann was born in North Carolina, but all
the other children were born in Tennessee.
Pitser Camp married a woman named Sarah J., born in Tennessee in 1850.
Their known children in 1880 were: Robert L., 1871; Benjamin, 1875; and
Alice, 1878. Robert and Benjamin were born in Tennessee and Alice was born in
Arkansas. Their nearest neighbors at this time were the families of Asa
Herren, Joseph McClure, M. V. Cleavland, and Sophia Russell.
Cavitt
Josiah Cavitt was born in Tennessee in 1815. His wife, Margaret, was
born in the same state in 1822.
In 1850 the Cavitt family was living in Henry County, Tennessee. At this
time their children were: Sally (Sarah), 1843; Bennet, 1844; Martha, 1848;
and Robert C., 1849. In 1850 there were two Cavitt families living in Weakley
County, Tennessee, a county which joins Henry County on the west. Because of
their proximity, it is suspected that these families were related, but there
is no positive evidence on this.
Robert C. Cavitt became a physician and married Nancy E. Jones in Greene
County on Oct. 30, 1878. They resided in Hurricane Township. They had two
known children who were born during the 1880's: Vera and Iler.
In 1880 the neighbors of Dr. Cavitt were William J. McBride, Samuel J.
Utley, William B. Neville, and Edward Manning.
Dr. Cavitt is buried at the Harvey's Chapel Cemetery near Marmaduke in
Greene County.
Childers
The patriarch of the Childers family (not to be confused with
"Childress") was Nicholas Childers, born in North Carolina in about 1808. His
wife, Catherine, was born in Tennessee in 1810.
In 1850 this family was living in McNairy County, Tennessee in Civil
District 12. Their children at this time were: Elizabeth, 1830; Martha,
1832; Robert, 1833; Nancy, 1836; William Wilson, 1838; Sally, 1840; Catherine,
1844; Julia, 1846; and James, 1850. All these children were born in
Tennessee.
By 1860 the Childers family had moved to Greene County and resided in
Union Township.
On April 3, 1879 James N. A. Childers married Charlotte Ragsdale.
Charlotte was 18 years of age at this time. It is believed that James had
been previously married and that one son, Nicholas, born in 1875, had been
born of this union. James and Charlotte's first child was named Martha. She
was born in May of 1880.
The nearest neighbors of James and Charlotte Childers, in 1880, were the
families of Robert Drafton, Robert J. Arnold, John H. Hampton, and John Clark.
Clark
The head of the Clark family in Greene County was Joseph Clark, born in
North Carolina in 1795. His wife, Biddey, was born in the same state in about
1801.
By 1850 the Clark family was living in Gibson County, Tennessee. At this
time their children were: Salina, 1831; Christopher, 1832; Susan, 1835;
Elizabeth, 1838; Sarah (Sally), 1840; James, 1844; and Nancy A., 1845. Salina
was born in North Carolina, but all the other children were born in Tennessee.
By 1860 the family had moved to Greene County and taken up residence in
St. Francis Township.
By 1870 Joseph and Biddey Clark were living in Cache Township. At this
time Tennessee, John, and Elihu Clark, orphaned relatives, were living with
the family.
By 1880 Biddey Clark, now a widow, was living with her daughter and son-
in-law, Ann and Whitfield Boyd, in Poland Township. Their nearest neighbors
at this time were the families of James Foster, W. J. Jernigan, Burgess Bolin,
and John H. Bolin.
The first two children of Ann and Whitfield Boyd were: Ida, 1872; and
Arthur; 1874.
Since Joseph Clark was born in 1795, he was one of the oldest residents
of Greene County. Only Reuben Gramling, born in 1791, is known to have been
older. Joseph and Biddey Clark are buried at the Clark's Chapel Cemetery in
south-central Greene County. There is some reason to believe that Clark's
Chapel Church and Cemetery were named after this pioneer family.
Cobbs
The history of the Cobbs family in Greene County starts with Erasmus W.
Cobbs, born in Virginia in about 1825. His wife, Nancy, was born in North
Carolina in 1823.
In 1850 the Cobbs family was living in Henderson County, Tennessee in
Civil District 1. At this time their children were: Elizabeth, 1846;
Benjamin F., 1848; and David, 1850. These children were born in Tennessee.
In about 1858 the family moved to Greene County and took up residence in
St. Francis Township. By this time three more children had been added to the
family: M. N. (a son), 1852; M. J. (a daughter), 1855; and John N., 1857.
David Cobbs married a woman named Salina who was born in South Carolina
in 1846. In 1880 there were two children in this family: L. Bell, 1877; and
William H., 1879. Both children were born in Arkansas. A niece, Luler Bird,
born in 1868 in South Carolina, was living with the family at this time.
On Oct. 10, 1877 John N. Cobbs married Margaret Gibbs in Greene County.
Maragaret was 16 years of age at the time. Benjamin F. Cobbs married
Charlotte Osburn on Aug. 5, 1870. Charlotte was 28 years of age at the time.
By 1880 Erasmus W. Cobbs and his wife, Nancy, was living in Poland
Township of Greene County and the youngest daughter, Maranda, born in Arkansas
in 1866, was living with them.
At various times this name has been spelled "Cobb" and "Cobbs." The
latter spelling has occurred more frequently than the former. For this reason
"Cobbs is assumed to be the correct spelling.
Cole I
The patriarch of the Cole family in Greene County was Dennis Cole, born
in North Carolina in 1800. In 1830 the Cole family was in Wake County, North
Carolina. Eight children were born in the Cole family while they were still
in North Carolina: Oscar, 1831; Dennis Jr., 1835; Ransom, 1839; Mary, 1841;
Henry H., 1842; Sidney, 1844; and Carey T., 1846.
The family moved to Henderson County, Tennessee in about 1847 and several
more children were born there: N. C., 1848; Calvin, 1850; Mary C., 1852;
Patrie Dowd, 1854; Louis W., 1856; and Edna L., 1857.
The family moved to Greene County in about 1857 and took up residence in
Cache Township. More children were born here: Permelia N., 1858; Clara A.,
1859; and Robert H., 1866.
While the Dennis Cole family was still in Henderson County, Tennessee, a
John T. and Elizabeth Cole were living next to them. John was born in North
Carolina in 1827 and Elizabeth was born in Tennessee in 1829. It seems likely
that Dennis and John T. were related. The John T. Cole family came to Greene
County in about 1870 and they lived in Union Township. In 1880 their children
at home were: Zilpha, 1854; John, 1855; Edward, 1862; Vicy, 1864; Sarah E.,
1866; and Caledonia, 1871. The five older children were born in Tennessee and
Caledonia was born in Arkansas.
Cole II
The founder of one branch of the Cole family in Greene County was Ruffin
H. Cole, born in Tennessee in 1830. He was the son of William and Ann Cole.
William Cole was born in North Carolina in 1796 and Ann was born in South
Carolina in 1808. Ruffin's brothers were: Dennis, 1828; Mark, 1835; John,
1837; William, 1839; and Greene, 1843. All these children were born in
Tennessee.
Ruffin H. Cole married a woman named Lucy, born in Tennessee in 1832.
The family came to Greene County during the 1850's and settled in Union
Township. Their known children were: William T., 1861; Ruffin Jr., 1862;
James, 1864; John, 1867; Martha, 1870; and Emma, 1872. All were born in
Arkansas.
William T. Cole, commonly known as "Dude," was the father of Roger Cole.
Roger and his family lived for many years just north of Fairview Church.
Roger's son, Norman, now lives in Paragould.
William T. Cole died in 1947 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery. His
tombstone shows a birthdate of Feb. 16, 1861 and a death date of March 28,
1947. The stone for his wife, Lena, shows a birthdate of Dec. 13, 1871 and a
death date of Feb. 13, 1934.
In 1880 the nearest neighbors of Ruffin H. Cole were the families of Joel
Jackson Cole, William Thomason, Henry H. Cole, and William Strickland.
Cribbs
Daniel P. Cribbs was born in Tennessee in 1825. His wife, Martha J., was
born in South Carolina in 1826.
In 1850 the Cribbs family lived in Carroll County, Tennessee in Civil
District 2. At this time their children were Letha, 1845; Treecy E., 1846;
Elijah, 1848; and Myrtle, 1849.
By 1880 the Cribbs family had moved to Greene County and taken up
residence in Hurricane Township. By this time three more children had been
added: James, 1860; William, 1864; and Thomas, 1866.
James Cribbs married Martha E. Swindle on Dec. 21, 1885 in Greene County.
In 1850 another Cribbs family was living in Bedford County, Tennessee.
This was the family of Thomas G. and Mary Cribbs. Thomas G. was born in
Georgia in 1806 and Mary was born in North Carolina in 1810. Their children
at this time were: Calvin, 1834; Sarah A., 1839; James K. Polk, 1844; Sidney
Jane, 1845; and David A. B., 1848. There is no evidence that Thomas and Mary
Cribbs came to Greene County, but it is known that their son, James K. P.
Cribbs, came.
James K. P. Cribbs married a woman named Sarah J. in Greene County.
Sarah J. was born in Tennessee in 1854. In 1880 they lived in Hurricane
Township and their children were: Thomas, 1869; Addie B., 1871; Armitty F.,
1873; Leonidas, 1876; Colorado (a daughter), 1877; and Edley Green, 1879. The
neighbors of James and Sarah J. at this time were the families of Lydia B.
Jackson, Sarah F. Wright, Joseph Hartsoe, and Emaline Freeman.
A number of the members of the Cribbs family are buried at the Harvey's
Chapel Cemetery near Marmaduke, Arkansas.
Croft
George B. Croft, physician, was born in South Carolina in 1806. His
wife, Sarah was born in Virginia in 1807.
By 1850 the Croft family had moved to Greene County and taken up
residence in Cache Township. At this time there were no children living in
the household.
Tradition has it that George and Sarah Croft left Arkansas during the
Civil War period. However, by 1870 they had returned and again lived in Cache
Township. At this time George's brother and sister-in-law, Logan and Mary J.
Croft, were living in the same household. Logan was born in Kentucky in 1818
and Mary J. was born in the same state in 1817. The following children were
also living in the household at this time: Thomas S., 1847; Almira (or
Elmira), 1850; Sarah C., 1853; William G., 1855; and Margaret A., 1858. It is
suspected that these children belonged to Logan and Mary J., but there is no
evidence from the records that all of them were theirs.
Logan and Sarah Croft were living in Crittenden County, Kentucky in
District one (family number 346) in 1850. At this time their children were:
Frances, 1842; Susan J., 1843; Thomas, 1846; Jeremiah, 1848; Elvira, 1848; and
Catherine, 1850. All these children were born in Kentucky.
In 1850 four other Croft families were living in the same neighborhood
with Logan and Mary J. (family numbers 343, 345, 349, 350):
(1) Hullet and Mary Croft, born in Kentucky in 1805 and 1806
respectively.
Their children at this time were: Margaret J., 1838; Nancy C.,
1840; Thomas, 1841; George, 1843; Samuel, 1846; and Mary C., 1849.
(2) John and Lanna Croft, born in South Carolina and Tennessee in 1810
and 1812 respectively. Their children at this time were: John,
1837; Granderson L., 1843; Anna B., 1844; and Mary E., 1850. All these
children were born in Kentucky.
(3) Jacob N. and Sally (Sarah) Croft, born in Kentucky in 1818 and 1819
respectively. They had one child at this time, Daniel, born in
Kentucky in 1849.
(4) Thomas and Elmira Croft, born in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1821 and
1829 respectively. They had one child, Chalilda, born in Kentucky in
1848.
Because of their proximity, it is suspected that these four families were
related to Logan Croft and to each other but this point remains to be
researched.
Logan and Mary Croft and their children, William and Margaret, were still
living in Greene County in Cache Township in 1880. Their nearest neighbors
were the families of John Norwood, George W. Austin, William Thomas, and James
Johnson.
In 1880 Sarah Croft, widow of George B., was also living near Logan Croft
in Cache Township. At this time there were several other persons living in
the same household: Milton and Safona Beaty, born in Tennessee and Arkansas
in 1856 and 1863 respectively. Safona was the niece of Sarah Croft. Another
niece, Sarah Harris, born in Arkansas in 1865, was also present. Two black
servants, Sarah Dickerson and Oliver Boyd, born in South Carolina and Alabama
in 1820 and 1835 respectively were also part of the household.
Thomas Croft, son of Logan, also lived in Cache Township in 1880. He had
married a woman named Josephine, born in Tennessee in 1848. Their children at
this time were: Henry, 1871; Benjamin, 1872; Mary, 1876; Elizabeth, 1878; and
Thomas, April 1880. The nearest neighbors of Thomas and Josephine at this
time were the families of James Glisson, Lucinda Wood, John McLaughlin, and
Carroll Hunt.
Some of the members of the Croft family are buried at the Croft Cemetery
in western Greene County just east of Stanford.
Crowley
No collection of genealogical sketches for Greene County could be
complete without including the name of Crowley.
The Crowleys were the first settlers of the County. They arrived soon
after Arkansas became a territory in 1819 and before Greene County was formed
in 1833. It has been said they arrived in Lawrence County in 1821 and settled
near Walcott in what is now Greene County.
A territorial census for Arkansas was taken in 1830 and Benjamin Crowley
was listed as a resident of Lawrence County. The 1840 census for Greene
County lists both a Benjamin and a Wiley Crowley.
The 1850 census for Greene County shows a Catherine Crowley, born in
Virginia in 1776. It also shows the following Crowley children living with
Thomas J. Mellon and his wife, Lucy: John, 1837; William, 1839; Jane, 1839;
Cynthia, 1842; and Jefferson, 1845. A young man named Albert Shane, born in
Tennessee in 1831, was also present in the household at this time.
Jefferson Crowley married a woman named Nancy, born in Arkansas in 1849.
In 1880 they were living in Cache Township and their children at home were:
William, 1869; Wiley, 1871; John, 1873; James, 1875; and Virginia, born in
Oct. of 1879. Their nearest neighbors at this time were the families of W. P.
Peevyhouse, Harvey Spain, G. W. Swindle, and J. R. Gramling.
Benjamin H. Crowley, son of Samuel and Sally Hutchins Crowley, was born
in Arkansas in 1837. During the 1850's Benjamin married Elizabeth J. Crowley,
daughter of Wiley Crowley. In 1860 they had two children: W. H., 1858; and
Lucy J., 1860.
By 1870 four more children had been added to the household: Ann M.,
1863; Victoria V., 1867; John F., and Cintha H., 1870. By 1880 four other
children had been born to the family: Nancy, 1871; Lucian (a son), 1876;
Belle, 1878; and Benjamin, born in Feb. of 1880. Benjamin H. Crowley's first
wife, Elizabeth, apparently died in 1880. On June 24, 1881 Benjamin married
Rhoda H. Fielder, born in Tennessee in about 1845. Rhoda was the daughter of
William D. and Sarah Fielder, born in Tennessee in 1802 and 1800 respectively.
In 1850 the Fielders were living in Hickman County, Tennessee and William
followed the blacksmith trade.
In tracing the original Crowley settlers of Greene County, it has been
found that a Benjamin "Croly" lived in Christian County, Kentucky in 1810.
This Benjamin Croly was more than 45 years of age at the time and his wife was
between 26 and 45. They were the owners of four slaves at the time. No
Benjamin Crowley (by any spelling) is found in the 1820 census for Kentucky.
Therefore it seems that the family may have left Kentucky prior to 1820.
Cupp
Warner Cupp, patriarch of the Cupp family in Greene County, was born in
Georgia in 1804. Warner's wife, Ann, was born in South Carolina in 1810.
Their known children were: William, 1829; John, 1830; Jacob, 1832; Nancy,
1837; Henry, 1840; Eliza, 1845; and Sarah, 1849. The five older children were
born in Georgia; Eliza and Sarah were born in Arkansas. The Cupp family
settled in St. Francis Township.
William Cupp's first wife was Mary J., born in Tennessee in 1830. Their
children were: G. W., 1849; John, 1851; Lucinda, 1853; Martha A., 1856; and
Monroe, 1858.
John Cupp's wife was Elizabeth, born in Tennessee in 1842. Their
children were: John H., 1864; James, 1866; Sarah A., 1870; Elsberry, 1872;
Robert, 1874; and George, 1876.
Apparently Jacob Cupp married twice. His first wife was S. A. E., born
in Tennessee in 1832. His second wife was named Margaret, born in Mississippi
in 1837. His known children were: E. P., 1853; Warner, 1854; Nancy E., 1857;
Sarah S., 1859; Monroe, 1861; Ida, 1866; Cornelia, 1870; Charles, 1872; and
Martha, 1876.
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