The Gilliams Move on to Northwest Arkansas
In this post we will explore the Gilliams in our direct line and their migration from Tennessee to Arkansas. Hinchea Gilliam (1775-1858) arrived in Marion County, Tennessee in 1832 with most of his family joining him. Hinchea's tenth child (and eighth son) Hardy Gilliam would move
on to Arkansas as would several of Hardy's siblings and cousins.
According to the oral family history that was compiled and typed by Margie Gilliam Callahan, Hardy Gilliam (1818-1879) moved his family to Arkansas in 1852. There are several clues available that confirm her research.
The earliest direct record we have of Hardy's move to Arkansas is found in US Department of the Interior documents that are cataloged as part of the First Landowner's Project (historygeo.com). Those records show that on November 15, 1854, Hardy became the original owner of two 40 acre parcels of property in what was then Crooked Creek Township, Carroll County Arkansas. Copies of those records are shown here:
The earliest direct record we have of Hardy's move to Arkansas is found in US Department of the Interior documents that are cataloged as part of the First Landowner's Project (historygeo.com). Those records show that on November 15, 1854, Hardy became the original owner of two 40 acre parcels of property in what was then Crooked Creek Township, Carroll County Arkansas. Copies of those records are shown here:
This partial map (also from historygeo.com) shows the location of his property on the township and range grid:
Note that one of his neighbors is his brother-in-law, John Nixon, brother of Hardy's wife, Jane Nixon Gilliam. John Nixon had also been a neighbor of Hardy's in Marion County and likely moved his family to Arkansas with Hardy. John Nixon received his land from the government at the same time Hardy acquired his property.
Here is a satellite view from Google maps of the property Hardy obtained in 1854 as it exists today:
We are able to further pinpoint the time of the move to Arkansas by examining the census records. In the 1850 census, Hardy and his family are still in Marion County, Tennessee. In the 1860 census, they appear in the census for Crooked Creek Township, Carroll County, Arkansas (Crooked Creek Township no longer exists as a political subdivision and the area is now part of Boone County, in northwestern Arkansas). According to the census, his household includes wife, Jane and sons John Tillman, Thomas Jefferson, Lemuel and Alexander Hamilton, and daughters Margaret, Mary, Alvira Parolee, and Sarah. Alexander (then 9 years old) and the older children are all identified with Tennessee birthplaces; Mary (7), Alvira Parolee (6) and Sarah (2) all have Arkansas birthplaces. This proof supports the oral family history that Hardy and Jane arrived in Arkansas in 1852 with their children.
In the 1860 census, Hardy is identified as a farmer, owning real estate worth $800 and personal property totaling $878. Hardy’s father-in-law, John Nixon, is also living in their household and also likely moved with Hardy's family to Arkansas.
Perhaps the most interesting piece of information in the 1860 Crooked Creek Township census (found at page 15 of the census) is the record for the household of John Nixon. To reiterate, John Nixon was the son of Hardy’s father-in-law, also named John Nixon, and brother to Hardy’s wife, Jane Nixon Gilliam. After their move to Arkansas, Hardy and John lived practically "next door" on adjoining farm properties. The census indicates John is recently widowed by the death of his second wife and is a single parent to his six children, aged 1 to 17. In addition to his six children, he shares his household with three “Fawland” sisters, Martha (age 11), Jane (9) and Josephine (7). Martha Fallen would become the wife of Hardy’s son Thomas Jefferson Gilliam and Jane Fallen would become the wife of Hardy’s son Lemuel just a decade or so later.
What we don’t know is why and how these three sisters came to live with Hardy’s brother-in-law, John Nixon. It appears that Martha and her sisters have either been orphaned or otherwise abandoned by their parents. John Nixon's second wife, Mary Forbus Nixon, died in in 1858 or 1859, soon after their son John Ezekiel Nixon was born. It is possible she died in childbirth. Perhaps the sisters were living in the Nixon household as household help?
Another theory is that John Nixon may have been acting as a legal guardian or foster parent of the sisters. Court records from Marion County indicate that Hardy and Jane Nixon Gilliam were appointed guardians for an orphaned girl that would become their daughter, Margaret. It is possible that the Marion County court asked John Nixon to do the same for Martha and her younger sisters. All of the girls are listed in the census as having Tennessee birthplaces, which is a small piece of evidence supporting that theory. If anyone has any better information, I'd love to hear from you.
In 1860, Hardy acquired another 115+ acre parcel from the government located about five miles straight north of the property he acquired in 1854. Here is a copy of the land grant:
Here is the location of the property on the township grid:
Here is a current Google satellite view of the property Hardy acquired in 1860:
Here is a satellite view from Google maps of the property Hardy obtained in 1854 as it exists today:
We are able to further pinpoint the time of the move to Arkansas by examining the census records. In the 1850 census, Hardy and his family are still in Marion County, Tennessee. In the 1860 census, they appear in the census for Crooked Creek Township, Carroll County, Arkansas (Crooked Creek Township no longer exists as a political subdivision and the area is now part of Boone County, in northwestern Arkansas). According to the census, his household includes wife, Jane and sons John Tillman, Thomas Jefferson, Lemuel and Alexander Hamilton, and daughters Margaret, Mary, Alvira Parolee, and Sarah. Alexander (then 9 years old) and the older children are all identified with Tennessee birthplaces; Mary (7), Alvira Parolee (6) and Sarah (2) all have Arkansas birthplaces. This proof supports the oral family history that Hardy and Jane arrived in Arkansas in 1852 with their children.
In the 1860 census, Hardy is identified as a farmer, owning real estate worth $800 and personal property totaling $878. Hardy’s father-in-law, John Nixon, is also living in their household and also likely moved with Hardy's family to Arkansas.
Perhaps the most interesting piece of information in the 1860 Crooked Creek Township census (found at page 15 of the census) is the record for the household of John Nixon. To reiterate, John Nixon was the son of Hardy’s father-in-law, also named John Nixon, and brother to Hardy’s wife, Jane Nixon Gilliam. After their move to Arkansas, Hardy and John lived practically "next door" on adjoining farm properties. The census indicates John is recently widowed by the death of his second wife and is a single parent to his six children, aged 1 to 17. In addition to his six children, he shares his household with three “Fawland” sisters, Martha (age 11), Jane (9) and Josephine (7). Martha Fallen would become the wife of Hardy’s son Thomas Jefferson Gilliam and Jane Fallen would become the wife of Hardy’s son Lemuel just a decade or so later.
What we don’t know is why and how these three sisters came to live with Hardy’s brother-in-law, John Nixon. It appears that Martha and her sisters have either been orphaned or otherwise abandoned by their parents. John Nixon's second wife, Mary Forbus Nixon, died in in 1858 or 1859, soon after their son John Ezekiel Nixon was born. It is possible she died in childbirth. Perhaps the sisters were living in the Nixon household as household help?
Another theory is that John Nixon may have been acting as a legal guardian or foster parent of the sisters. Court records from Marion County indicate that Hardy and Jane Nixon Gilliam were appointed guardians for an orphaned girl that would become their daughter, Margaret. It is possible that the Marion County court asked John Nixon to do the same for Martha and her younger sisters. All of the girls are listed in the census as having Tennessee birthplaces, which is a small piece of evidence supporting that theory. If anyone has any better information, I'd love to hear from you.
In 1860, Hardy acquired another 115+ acre parcel from the government located about five miles straight north of the property he acquired in 1854. Here is a copy of the land grant:
Here is the location of the property on the township grid:
Here is a current Google satellite view of the property Hardy acquired in 1860:
By 1870, Hardy has apparently moved about ten miles to the south, as he is listed in the census for Mill Creek Township, Jasper Post Office, Newton County, Arkansas. He is a farmer with real estate valued at $4200 and personal property of $ 105. His household consists of wife, Jane Nixon Gilliam and the five youngest children, Lemuel, Alexander, Mary, Alvira and Sarah.
In the 1870 census, Hardy’s son, Thomas Jefferson Gilliam and wife Martha (the census record misidentifies her as “Margaret”) are listed in the census for Clark Township, Dover Post Office, Pope County Arkansas. This is about 60 miles south of where Hardy is living. Thomas is a laborer. With their daughter Sarah Jane, Thomas and Jane are listed living in a household shared by William and Mary Frances Pruitt (and their two children). Martha's two sisters, Josephine and Jane “Fawlen” are also listed as sharing the household.
Hardy’s daughter Margaret passed away in 1869. Her burial place is unknown. In 1875, Hardy’s son Alexander Hamilton Gilliam died in Arkansas. His burial place is also unknown.
Hardy and Jane would leave Arkansas after 25 years and move to Texas in 1877 with all of their surviving children and the families of their adult children.
Other Gilliams in Arkansas
An examination of the extended family tree indicates Hardy was not the first in the family to get the itch to move west from Tennessee. Those branches of the family would put down some roots in Arkansas that remain to this day.
Hardy's aunt, Mary “Polly” Gilliam Turney (1779-1845) and her sons may have been the first to arrive in Arkansas. Polly was Hinchea’s younger sister. Hinchea and Polly were children of John (1745-1825). Like her siblings, Polly was born in Sussex County, Virginia. She married Isaac Turney and moved to Smith County, Tennessee before 1820. Polly’s son, Pleasant Turney, was the first member of the family who moved from there to the Arkansas Territory. Pleasant relocated to Independence County (north and east of Little Rock), sometime prior to the 1830 census (Arkansas became a state in 1836). After Polly was widowed sometime prior to 1830, she and her son Lemuel moved to Searcy County, Arkansas (located in NW corner of the state).
In the 1870 census, Hardy’s son, Thomas Jefferson Gilliam and wife Martha (the census record misidentifies her as “Margaret”) are listed in the census for Clark Township, Dover Post Office, Pope County Arkansas. This is about 60 miles south of where Hardy is living. Thomas is a laborer. With their daughter Sarah Jane, Thomas and Jane are listed living in a household shared by William and Mary Frances Pruitt (and their two children). Martha's two sisters, Josephine and Jane “Fawlen” are also listed as sharing the household.
Hardy’s daughter Margaret passed away in 1869. Her burial place is unknown. In 1875, Hardy’s son Alexander Hamilton Gilliam died in Arkansas. His burial place is also unknown.
Hardy and Jane would leave Arkansas after 25 years and move to Texas in 1877 with all of their surviving children and the families of their adult children.
Other Gilliams in Arkansas
An examination of the extended family tree indicates Hardy was not the first in the family to get the itch to move west from Tennessee. Those branches of the family would put down some roots in Arkansas that remain to this day.
Hardy's aunt, Mary “Polly” Gilliam Turney (1779-1845) and her sons may have been the first to arrive in Arkansas. Polly was Hinchea’s younger sister. Hinchea and Polly were children of John (1745-1825). Like her siblings, Polly was born in Sussex County, Virginia. She married Isaac Turney and moved to Smith County, Tennessee before 1820. Polly’s son, Pleasant Turney, was the first member of the family who moved from there to the Arkansas Territory. Pleasant relocated to Independence County (north and east of Little Rock), sometime prior to the 1830 census (Arkansas became a state in 1836). After Polly was widowed sometime prior to 1830, she and her son Lemuel moved to Searcy County, Arkansas (located in NW corner of the state).
Another of Hardy’s cousins, Rebecca Klepper, also moved to Arkansas
before Hardy. Rebecca was one of the children of Nancy Gilliam Turney (c.1769 – c.1850). Nancy was Hinchea’s older sister, and married Jacob Turney
(Jacob Turney and Isaac Turney were brothers). Like Polly, Nancy
moved with Jacob to Tennessee prior to 1820, but she died in Lincoln County,
Tennessee in 1849. After he was widowed, her husband Jacob joined the household of daughter
Rebecca and her husband John Klepper (Clepper) prior to 1850 in Jefferson
Township, Carroll County Arkansas (Jefferson Township is now located in Boone
County, Arkansas). The Klepper farms were less than ten miles from Hardy's properties.
Two households below John and
Rebecca Klepper’s entry in the 1850 census for Carroll County, Arkansas, you
will find Wiley Blount Gilliam’s census entry. Wiley Blount Gilliam (1817-1884)
was the seventh son of Hinchea Gilliam, one year older than Hardy. Wiley shows up in the 1850 census for Carroll County, so he preceded Hardy's arrival in Arkansas by a few years. However, Wiley received his land grant at approximately the same time as Hardy. His property was about five miles east of Hardy's property.This map shows the proximity of the brothers' farms just south of present day Harrison, Arkansas:
Both Kleppers and Turneys are listed in the First Landowner's Project as being among the first property owners in Carroll County, where Wiley and Hardy settled.
In 1884, Wiley died in Capps, Arkansas, (a small village just west of Harrison) and is buried in Speer Cemetery in Harrison. Most of his children remained in Arkansas for their lives:
Samuel Mead Gilliam remained in Arkansas until his death in Boone County after 1910.
Sarah Ann Gilliam married Thomas F. Allbright in Boone County and died there in 1947.
Dorcas Byrne Gilliam Jones married John Jones in Boone County and except for a brief period around 1910 when she lived in Oklahoma, stayed in Arkansas until her death in 1928.
Brice Hinchea Gilliam moved to Ellis County Texas just before 1900; to Tillman County Oklahoma before 1910; to Greer County Oklahoma before 1920 and died there in 1925.
Mary Jane Gilliam married John Gray in Boone County and died there in 1880.
Miriam M. Gilliam married Lysander Cooper Roark in Boone County and died there in 1880.
Martha Elizabeth Gilliam married Kirby Vanzandt and lived in various locations in Texas until her death in 1944.
Wiley and Hardy’s sister Elizabeth
Jane Gilliam Ferguson (1819-1870) may have arrived to Arkansas before both
Wiley and Hardy by a few years. Elizabeth Jane was the eleventh child and third
daughter of Hinchea Gilliam, one year younger than Hardy. Based on her children’s
ages and birthplaces in 1860 census, Elizabeth Jane moved with her husband to Alabama
and then to Arkansas between 1842 and 1846. Her family lived in Barry County, Missouri between 1851 and 1853, but returned to Kings River Township, Carroll County Arkansas the year before the 1860 Census. Her husband, David T. Ferguson is also listed as one of the original property owners of farm property in Carroll County. She died after 1870 and is buried in Grandview Cemetery between present-day Eureka Springs and Berryville, about 50 miles west and north of Harrison, near the Missouri border. Her children largely remained in Arkansas and surrounding states:
Daughter Mary married and moved to Washington state.
Daughter Susan – unknown
Son William Webb Ferguson died in Carroll County Arkansas in 1929.
Son Alva J. Ferguson moved to Oklahoma Territory before 1888 and lived there until his death in 1937.
Son Warrick “Pete” Ferguson moved to Oklahoma before 1900 and remained in Hughes County Oklahoma until his death in 1940.
Daughter Delilah – unknown
Daughter Eliza married and remained in Carroll County Arkansas until her death in 1943.
Son Richard moved to Barry County Missouri in 1920.
Son Alexander moved to southern California before 1940 and died there in 1948.
Son Thomas – unknown
Son Sterling moved to Oklahoma before 1910 and died in Washington state in 1948.
Daughter Mary married and moved to Washington state.
Daughter Susan – unknown
Son William Webb Ferguson died in Carroll County Arkansas in 1929.
Son Alva J. Ferguson moved to Oklahoma Territory before 1888 and lived there until his death in 1937.
Son Warrick “Pete” Ferguson moved to Oklahoma before 1900 and remained in Hughes County Oklahoma until his death in 1940.
Daughter Delilah – unknown
Daughter Eliza married and remained in Carroll County Arkansas until her death in 1943.
Son Richard moved to Barry County Missouri in 1920.
Son Alexander moved to southern California before 1940 and died there in 1948.
Son Thomas – unknown
Son Sterling moved to Oklahoma before 1910 and died in Washington state in 1948.
Before we follow Hardy Gilliam to Texas, in our next post, the Gilliams fight in the the Civil War.
Comments
Post a Comment