Abraham "Abel or Able" FIELDS was born on 6 Mar 1818 in Santa Fe, Maury County, TN, USA. He was the second child of John FIELDS and his wife whose name is unknown. He died on 1 Mar 1872 in Osage Twp, Benton County, AR, USA. Abraham married Louisa Virginia THURMOND, dau of Thomas THURMOND and Mary "Polly" Spencer JOHNSON on 27 Nov 1824 in Albemarle County, VA, USA. She died on 29 May 1892 in Norman, Cleveland County, OK, USA.
After the death of his father, John FIELDS, in 1845, Abraham and his brother took possession of their father's lands in Fields Hollow, Santa Fe, TN, USA. This inheritance allows Abraham to marry the next year in 1846. By 1850, he is residing in Fields Hollow with his wife, two children and his two half-brothers, William and Richard.
But the population was skyrocketing, and along with it land and commodity prices, making it difficult to support a growing family and the children of his father's 2nd marriage. When William REVIER brought the law suit in Chancery Court against Abraham and his brother in 1857, relating to the support of those children, I believe Abraham and his brother (while they prevailed at trial) considered alternatives. The following from that time:
"In 1857, Able Fields, Richard Fields, and W. H. Fields were making purchases in the Santa Fe stores. Mrs Shenk told me a little story about Novie Lee Fields (who married Paul Allen) and Era McKee. These two girls came to school one day wearing new spring suits with split skirts and irridescent slips showing. Mr. Church, who was the teacher at the time, sent them home to change clothes. I suppose these well-dressed young ladies kept the other students from concentrating on their work! Essey Fields married Coleman Pigg. John Fields and Sarah Fields settled on Snow Creek. Sarah was a second wife. Her step-sons were Able and William H. Fields. John Fields died in 1844, leaving a large family. One daughter married Nathaniel Fitzgerald and one married William Fitzgerald. The above children were over twenty one in 1844. The minors were James, Edmund (died), Matilda (died), Louisa, Peter, Bill, Ned, Richard. Richard was a minor in 1857. Source: Historic Maury, pg 47-48, Jill Garrett Collection, Tennessee Library and Archives, Nashville, TN
Sometime between 1857 and 1860, Abraham removed to Missouri where cheap land had recently become available. There, in the 1860 census, is found an "Able FEALS" living in the Sarcoxie Twp., Jasper County with the correct family members.
Nothing is known of the family during the Civil War years. There is a gap of 5 1/2 years between the birth of his last two daughters. Daughter, Laura Fields, is born in May 1867 at Osage Twp, Washington County (now Benton County), AR, USA. Thus, between Dec 1861 and May 1867, the family removes to Arkansas. Abraham is to live only five more years.
No land record pertaining to Abraham can be found in Arkansas. It is presumed that either 1) his health was failing and he bought no land in AR; or 2) he disposed of his AR (or MO) land prior to death
The transfer of Abraham's interest in the John Fields tract of land was settled with brother William Henry Harrison FIELDS in October 1869 for $250. While Abraham was now landless, the family was not poor. His son Green Washington FIELDS was financially setup well enough to marry in 1870, remove to Dallas County, TX by 1871, and secure extensive land holdings in Dallas and on the still untamed frontier of north central Texas near Fort Belnap. One family history chapter closed in Arkansas while another chapter had opened in Texas.
Abraham died intestate in 1872 at the age of 54 years. His widow, Louisa Virginia THURMOND, requested, of the Court, and was granted the possession of the estate which was comprised of personal property to the value of $220.
A story handed down in the family about Abraham FIELDS and the Civil War has become as vague as a wisp of smoke. Family lore has it that the family, living in Missouri, fled from the dreaded "Yankees" across a river only to look back and see their house in flames. Over time the details have been lost and there has been nothing to substantiate the story.
Until 2006 (some 140 years later) there was no proof that Abraham was ever located in Missouri let alone fled the Union Army. Then I found his 1860 Missouri census record. It was mis-enumerated under the wrong surname and the record could not be found previously in the indexes under FIELDS or soundex. Now, the family story seems real. I, for one, am a believer. I am not sure if Abraham and his wife and children were together or separated during that time.
What happened to Abraham during the Civil War? Was he in the army, prisoner or wounded? No record can be found. How did the family manage through those years? Were there relatives on the THURMOND side in Arkansas with whom they were sheltered?
Whatever happened during that time, Abraham's health was broken by the end of the war. He died at the age of 54.
Note: Abraham always appears in the records as "Able" or "Abel". We know his name to be Abraham from one source only: his marriage record.