Madison County,  Arkansas  Unsolved  Mysteries

My great grandmother, Angeline Patrick, remains a mystery as far as who she was and who her parents and siblings were. Family history says that her maiden name was Carpenter and that her mom was from TN and father from KY. She was supposedly born in Illinois ca 1850. She also lived in NE. She married first a McGee. He must have been much older than she. They came to Madison County supposedly on the run and all that was known of Mr. McGee is that they called him "old man McGee". Family thought he traded furs for jewelry, etc. They came to Arkansas with a small child, Catherine. Mr. McGee died, and Angeline married Andrew Jackson "Jack" Patrick. When the children were old enough to read, she burned a trunk full of papers so her children would not know her past.

I would love to know who her parents & siblings were, and where she was born. One of her children was Mollie Patrick, my grandmother. Mollie married my grandfather, Thomas Gifford Clark and had my mother, Winnifred Belle Clark. If anyone has any info about Angeline, I would love to know. Thanks!

I'm looking for info on my GreatGrand Father David Worley. -This is what I know about him: said to have been born around Nov. 1838-40 - may have been born in Tenn. Illinois or Arkansas, haven't found proof yet. First record - he served in 49th Illinois Infantry from 1 863 till end of Civil War. He married Jemima Harp in Cassville, Barry County Missouri 8/10/1865, then lived in Carroll County, Arkansas till he died in 1902.

His Children's names were William,Hiram, Sarah Jane, Lewis, Joseph. David and Mary lived on Carroll and Madison County line with land near Keels Creek and Rockhouse, Madison County. My grand father was Lewis Worley who lived at Rockhouse. Can any tell me David's place of birth, parents name and siblings?

My grandfather was George Washington REDMOND b 9/19/88 in Madison Co to ______ REDMOND and Nancy Paralee HILL, as far as I know they were unmarried. Nancy later married Moses GIBSON. It has been a big mystery to who George's real father was and we have wondered if he was Native American?? George's marriage cert. lists his name as REDMOND but he went by George GIBSON as an adult. They lived in the SW part of Madison Co, close to the Washington/Madison county line. The 1880 census shows the family in VALLEY TWP #17. Nancy's parents were William & Lucinda (TUCKER) HILL. Who was this REDMOND man? Was he from Washington Co? I would love to find the elusive Mr. REDMOND, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Oral family history has him of Irish decent, as a Federal US Marshal stationed out of Ft Smith and a farmer. Has Sarah Catharine as a Cherokee Indian. Seems they lived in Madison Co until John died (approx. 11/1912) and the two granddaughters (see below) left home. At that point Sarah Catharine moves to Okla., Tahlequah... She is buried in Tahlequah. I do not know where John H is buried....Although, I feel it is in Madison Co. at this point I have no proof.

It is like they were dropped into Madison Co as adults from a spaceship. I haven't been able to located any info on them before 1855. Can not find out who their parents were, although I strongly feel Miles E is in there.

Also, who is Miles E Robinson? Age differences in the Census appears they could be brothers or father/son. I have made two different trips to Huntsville, Aurora, Witer. Each time due to extenuating circumstances the genealogy library was closed for my two day stays. (Not on weekends, either!)

This is my grt,grt, grandfather/grandmother and I am desperately looking for facts about them. My grandfather is still alive and can remember Sarah Catharine but never knew John H.

Known info (with proof via court documents or census)

Married: Sarah Catharine Carter
Date: Oct 14, 1855
Where: Madison Co.., ARK
Preacher: Frederick Bolinger
Witness: W. C. Cluck and M.E. Robinson (was a wagon maker)

Built a log cabin in Strawberry Hollow (up past Jackson Creek and I have a picture of this house) and had 9 children. Ark Land patents show him with 160 Acres in Madison Co.

Mary J - 10/15/1856
Nancy J - 8/3/1858
Robert Cypert - 5/1/1860
John M - 2/17/1865
James A - 4/17/1867
Delia - 2/22/1869
Rosa - 5/22/1871
Lucy - 5/17/1874
Sarah - 3/6/1877

Served in the Civil War, Union side, out of Ft Smith. In B1 Company, Ark Infantry Division. Have letters from the Adjutant General for proof of this.

One of the daughters married a McBroom. No idea what happened to her, but she and Mr. McBroom had 2 girls...Anna and Zola. By the 1900 Census the girls are living with John and Sarah Catharine. By 1910 Census John is dead and but the two girls are still living with Sarah Catharine. Was hoping someone doing McBroom history would be able to help on this one.

If anyone there at Madison Co who can be of help I would greatly appreciate it. Or if you can point me in the correct direction. Or if there is any info avaiable on any of the children...My grt grandfather is James A. and I know a small amount about him..

Thanks in advance,

Cindy Levingston
1097 Derby Lane
Howell, MI 48843
leving@ismi.net

my g greatgrandmother name was Bethena Bolinger AR. my g grandfather name was Maggard Ritchie KY. In madison mustang. Bethena Bolinger married Ritchie Reed IN sprada ar. Bethany Ritchie married henry Reed 1897.

madison co, land states Bethena Reed formerly Ritchie. mom bibles spelled it both ways BETHENA / BETHANY

CAN YOU HELP ME FIND WHERE BETHENA MARRIED MAGGARD RITCHIE AND IS THIS THIS THE SAME PERSON DAU. OF A.J. BOLINGER AND SARAH NEWPORT

THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME

My G Grandfather was Babe [Robert C.] REYNOLDS, born 5 Jan. 1853, AR., married Sarah Mariah Catherine GRIGG about 1873 probably Madison Co.AR., Babe died about 1889 and is buried in the Kingston Cemetery.

Many have told me they think Robert's father was Manuel, but I have not found him on the census' with Manuel. I am sure Robert is related to this family as many of the older descendants had said he was a cousin to their relative.

Can anyone help me with this? Am I missing something? Can find no birth, mar. or death record. where do I look?

This was my great grandfather. My great grandmother, Rachael Arminta Thornberry Tucker, divorced him when my grandmother, Zoe, was four years old and they moved to Oklahoma. Fayetteville was the last location that I know Bill was in, I would like to know what happened to him or any family that he might have in Arkansas. E-mail would be appreciated at 4toby@gte.net.

Toby Miller
4toby@gte.net

Milinday "Malinda" MILAM/MILUM b. abt 1835 Coffee County, TN; d. 30 May 1864, probably near Fayetteville, AR, place of burial unknown. In 1856 Malinda married William James THACKER b. 9 May 1836 Giles County, TN; d. 25 Aug 1896 Baxter County, AR, bur. Thacker Cemetery, Baxter County, AR. Who were William's parents?

A brother, Levi THACKER, had a son Andrew THACKER. Malinda and William had three children: Emeline F. THACKER b. 4 Dec 1856; James Thomas THACKER b. 8 Nov 1859 Jasper, Jasper County, MO, d. 26 Feb 1931 Newton County, MO; and George Washington THACKER b. 11 May 1864. Malinda died shortly after childbirth and the children were given to MILAM/MILAM family members. What happened to her two children, Emeline and George Washington THACKER?

We believe they lived in Madison County around 1860-1862.

Malinda's husband, William J. THACKER, had enlisted in the First Arkansas Cavalry, Company H, First Regiment on 27 Aug 1863 as Camp Lawson, Cassville, MO. He was taken prisoner on a scout from Fayetteville on 25 Dec 1863 in Searcy County, AR. He was listed as killed and absent for roll call (according to his military records) in March 1864. In April 1864, he is listed on the roll at Berry Hospital, Springfield, MO recovering from his wounds and rejoins his Company on 5 May 1864. He is discharged 25 Aug 1865 at Fayetteville, AR.

On 9 Sep 1866 at Searcy County, AR, William James THACKER m. (2) Eliza Jane FARRIS b. 11 Sep 1827 York County, SC; d. 24 Nov 1897 and is buried at the Thacker Cemetery in Baxter County, AR. Eliza and James had four children: Harvey (1869-1929); Margrette (1871-1894); Mary C. (1867-1890); and William Robert THACKER (1873-1952), who are all buried at the Thacker Cemetery. So what happened to Malinda's other two children?

Mary Isabel Piner/Ball/Johnson lived in Madison Co. AR came from NC and TN to AR. Her possible birthday is 22Jun1862--d. 1936 around Grenola, KS. Her mother is a full blood Cherokee, Susie Ward. Susie m. Isaac Piner. Susie Ward/Piner and Mary Isabell Piner/Ball/Johnson are the focus of my search.

Mary married John Ball b. 1857 Madison Co. AR. He died 1892 and may be buried in Ledbetter cemetery somewhere in area. John's parents were: Nancy Bailey and John Ball. Mary and John Ball had six children:

William Levi Ball b.9Jan1885 d. 1971 Married: Janie Hull (Witter,AR?)

Rebecca Frances Hull b.Oct1881 Married: Lester Hull

Susie Emeline Clark b.8Jan1883 married George F. Clark

Ella,

Jake (Jacole-Ashbury) ?

Minton (rumored he was killed in auto wreck in Ft. Smith)

Mary married Rufus Thomas Johnson b.1846 Rufus's father is Pleasant M. Johnson who married Margaret Courts. Mary I. Ball and Rufus married and had four children:

Adelia Dorsey b.22Dec1901--d.1977 Benton, KS

Daisey Mae Ledbetter b.5July1898--d.Jan78 in OKla. ss443-64-2346 m. Harvey C. Ledbetter

Mark Johnson

George Johnson

All lived around Harrison, Huntsville, Hindsville....Madison and Boone Co.

The eight children of Rufus Thomas Johnson from his first marriage are:

Susie, Bulah, Mary, Sarah, Sime, Tom, Frank, Liddie(Elizabeth maybe) His wife's name is unknown.

All further info would be greatly appreciated. This was a grand total of 18 children for Rufus and Mary Johnson. I cannot find any information on Mary and her mother Susie. Just info from family members and a family bible. Thank you for reading this.

I am searching for information on Ambrose and Clarinda Holland born abt. 1855 in Wolfe Co. Kentucky. They are on the Madison census in 1880. In !900 ,there is a Amberry and Clarinda Holland. The birth dates are a couple years different but I think they are the same people.I desperately would like any info on there children or where they may have went after that.

Thanks Mike Holland

I am looking for any information on Mary A. Westfall, listed with her sons Andrew and Edward on the 1880 Census, and two houses down from her daughter, Ellen and son-in-law Joel Gardner. Mrs. Joy Russell and her husband found her grave in a small cemetary on Gardner homestead land. Her husband was Isaac Westfall. Her and her children arrived in Madison County between 1870 and 1880, after her husband died about 1870. I have no idea why she moved there, she does not appear to have family in the area, but there is also some question about her maiden name. What information I have gotten from the family is that her maiden name was Denton, but on her son, Edward's funeral records it lists his mother as Elizabeth Fritts. No one knows who this person is. Mary Westfall was born in Indiana 15 Nov 1833 and died 27 Dec 1883. I am not sure where she married Isaac, but I am assuming it was between 1850-60. If any one has any information on her or any of her children I would love to see it.

Who was the LANE who married Martha Anderson c 1853 in Madison County? They had a son Levi Allen Lane who was born 1854 and was living with his grandparents in both the 1860 and 1870 census.

Martha Anderson Lane and her brother Levi Anderson were both in another household in Madison Co. in the 1860 census, another mystery, what happen to them?

Was the Lane man Talbert b. 1828 s/o Ranson? Levi Allen Lanes oldest son was named Guy and had a T. for a middle initial. Talbert was on the 1850 census but not on the 1860 one.

Any help, lead or information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

From where in Scotland did the McElhaney (Madison Co Ar) family originate?

I'm looking for any family members and information of Rhoda Italy Reeves (2 Feb. 1888 in Aurora Arkansas) my husbands Great Grandmother.

Rhoda's Mother was Martha Josephine Ledbetter b. 21 Sept, 1868 in Madison County Arkansas / d. 19 Jan 1959 in Cisco, Texas

Rhoda's Father was James William Clinton Reeves b. 31 Jul, 1863 in ??, d. 29 Jan 1958 in Cisco, Texas

Rhoda's Grandfather was Eli Ledbetter b. 1818 in ??, d. 1900 in ??

Rhoda's Grandmother was Jane Statts Robinson Ledbetter b. 1830 in ??, d. ??

Not much information on Rhoda's Grandparents James Rutherford Reeves b. 1826, d. ?? in ?? and Margaret (??) Reeves, b. 1824 in ??, d. 1895 in ??.

Rhoda's parents / Martha Josephine Ledbetter and James William Clinton Reeves married 28 Sept. 1884 in Madison County Arkansas.

I guess I'm just nosey and a bit curious. You see I've not been able to find any information on my own mother who comes from Japan and I've not seen for 38 years.

Thank you for any help/direction/information you can provide. I know the rest of the family would be interested. I really don't know if anyone has tried.

(From the March 20, 1891 edition of the Arkansas Gazette)

........Gilbert has an unsavory reputation and has been reported to have killed three men........

Harrison Gilbert born 1841 in Kentucky and in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses for Madison County died in the 1920s in Leflore County, OK.

In 1891 in Coal Hill, Johnson County, AR, he murdered his eldest son, Richard Nathaniel "Dick" Gilbert. This was written up in the Arkansas Gazette in the March 17 and 20 editions.

Family history states that he also shot and killed a black man. It was thought that this shooting occured at the same time as the shooting of his son, Dick. There is no mention in the paper.

Who was this black man? Who were the three men killed by Harrison Gilbert?

My gr-gr-grandfather, Montgomery Buchanan, was listed in the 1850 Madison County, AR census (Bowen Township) at age 28, born in Tennessee. Wife Cerilda Jane Buchanan, Age 24, born in Alabama is also shown in the same household along with the following 3 children: (all males). Francis, Age 4 years old, John, Age 2 and Peter, Age 8 1/2 months.

My great grandfather, George Abraham Buchanan was born later......in 1852 in Madison Co. AR. I find no trace of Montgomery Buchanan after this census. He may have went to TX or died in Arkansas. Nobody knows. There must be someone who knows something about Montgomery Buchanan.

Duncan Campbell born ca 1817 NC/TN wed Mary Dickerson born AL. They lived in TN but moved to Madison Township,. ARK by 1860. He died in ARK and his wife returned by 1870 with her children. ANY RECORD OF HIS DEATH OR WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? Gant@BLomand.net

Isaac & Mary both died before 1900, and their sons Bill & Taylor were raised by Isaac's brother, Owen Thornsberry of Combs. Mary supposedly had a sister, Sarah Jane Hill who married Isaac's brother Henry and they had a son, Edward, before they divorced. I don't know what happened to her, either.

Isaac, of Madison County AR, was a laborer living with a Frank Hill family in Franklin Co. in the 1870 census; brother Henry was a laborer living with the A.P. Moore family nearby.(Sarah Jane Hill was living with the Moores also). Since there was a Hill family living close to Isaac & Henry's father (Ira) in Madison County, I have wondered if that is how the boys came to be working for other Hill families in Franklin Co. The BIG question is - where does Mary E. Hill fit in to all this?

Was she a daughter of Frank & Narcissa? (away at school or whatever at the time of the census?) A daughter of Abner Moore's second wife, Susan, who was the widow of a Hill? Or was she tied in to the Madison County family of William Hill? It seems likely that Isaac met his future wife while working for Frank Hill just as his brother Henry met & married Sarah Jane Hill while working for Abner Moore.....

In an 1880 census, Mary lists her state of birth as AR, her parents as NC & NC. She named two other sons (who died young) Hiram & Charley E. Her son, Taylor, told family members that Mary had remarried after Isaac died to a man he called "old Alstock" or "Alstott" and she had another child, a daughter named Meg. She died "down around Mulberry" sometime between the 1880 & 1900 census.

According to census records, Mary was born abt 1854-55, which means she was married at 14 or 15 years of age. She has proven to be my biggest challenge. I just can't tie her to parents!

Looking for information on Willis families in the late 1800's. Andrew (Andy) and Benneta (various spellings) Willis. Possibly several other family members. Benetta had been lost track of by our family in Alabama in 1860, but surfaced on an 1880 census index in Madison Co. AR. Family did not know any of the family had been in Madison Co. If you have any info on Willises in Madison Co, please let me know.

Trying to locate William R. Rose who married Luverner E. Lacy in Thompson Arkansas in 1891. Can't find in cencus or when he came to Madison County.