Tennessee to Arkansas The Quest to push West. By Brian Walker 6th grandson from Capt. George Walker 1745 VA 1833 TN From the rich farm lands of the Sequatchie Valley in Tennessee to the rolling hills of Arkansas the quest to push west and follow your dreams in America ’s early history is nothing new. This short biographical sketch is being written in hopes of helping other researchers find their family members who left the Sequatchie Valley in Tennessee to migrate to Arkansas The areas covered here will be some of the residents of early Knox, Roane, Rhea, Bledsoe, Marion, and Sequatchie counties in Tennessee who migrated to the Jefferson County Arkansas area in 1849-1850. This information comes from my early research while tracing my Walker family back to their roots in Tennessee and the Sequatchie valley. It should be stated here first that this is only an outline of the families that migrated and will not include all of the family members. It is a base for others to further their own research, and only covers a few of the families that left in 1849-50. As a rule most bands that migrated were in groups of about 40 or more persons and this was done for safety sake and shows us a glimpse of a sign of the times. In 1849-50 a band of adventurer’s and farmers set out and left the Sequatchie Valley in Tennessee a place that many called home for generations to stake their claims and find their fortunes in a new and strange place known as Arkansas. Among those to venture out to this new land were John Walker and brother George, with sister Bashaba Walker Johnson, Isaac, Daniel, and William Johnson who are all brothers as well as their sister Nancy Johnson Jones, James and William Jones ( brothers,) and Isaac B Easterly and Wife Sarah Unknown and James Hicks (or Hix) It is unknown who had the idea to trek west to Arkansas or even who led the drive, what is known is that these families were tied together thru marriage and friendship that lasted their life times, and with some went back many generations. The Walker family included John Walker b. May 1820 in Marion County Tennessee, his wife Margaret Hicks or Hix (last name not proven) b.1820 TN, their daughter Elizabeth ( Betsey ) Ann Walker b. 1841 TN. George W Walker b.1842 TN, Andrew J Walker b. 1844 TN. James B. B. P. Walker b.1845 TN, Richard Archibald Van Buren Walker b. 1846 TN. Isaac Jefferson Walker b. Mar. 1847 TN, and Philip Archibald Walker b. 1849 TN, this is my gg grandfather. Isaac Johnson b.1821 in Roane County Tennessee, his wife who was the sister of John Walker, Bashaba Walker Johnson, b 1825 TN, and their three small daughters, Anna b.1845 TN, Rebecca b.1848 TN, and Charlotta Sally b.1849 AR. Daniel Johnson b May 9 1824 in Roane County, TN, his wife Elizabeth Hixson b 07 Oct 1827 TN, their daughter Nancy Jane b 1847 TN, and their two sons James and William D Johnson both born about 1850 in AR, brother William Johnson b 1816 in either TN, or NC,( he switches his place of birth.) is found living with Daniel in 1850 and is single. James Jones b 1816 in Bledsoe County TN , his Wife Nancy Johnson Jones sister of Daniel and Isaac listed above. Nancy was b 09 Feb 1814 in Roane County TN, their children are Caroline b 1838 TN, William b 1839 TN, Isaac b 1843 TN, Daniel b 1845 TN, Emma b 1848 TN, John b 1849 TN, William Jones b 1826 Bledsoe TN, in the 1850 census of Arkansas is living with George Walker Jr. b 24 Oct 1828 Bledsoe TN, he is the younger brother of my ggg grandfather John Walker who is listed above. It is this George Walker Jr. who is listed in the Sequatchie County Court minutes that is the executor, of his father’s estate and divides his father George Walker Sr.’s land into eight lots and names his siblings. December 6, 1869 Sequatchie County Court Minutes………….. Page 342 George Walker heirs...confirmation of report of Comm appt to divide lands of George Walker, decd...map...Valley tract includes mansion and farm containing 133 A and 30 poles,...valued at $1127.36 7/8...divided into 8 lots...descriptions Lot No. 1 to Polly Ann Davis, formerly Polly Ann Walker Lot No. 2 to Bashaba Johnson, formerly Bashaba Walker’s, heirs Lot No. 3 to West Walker Lot No. 4 to Rebecca Ann Phelps, formerly Rebecca Ann Walker Lot No. 5 to Susan Walker Lot No. 6 to George W. Walker Lot No. 7 to Charlotte Heard, formerly Charlotte Walker Lot No. 8 to John Walker ...there being a tract on side of Cumberland Mountain adjoining Elliott's land of 150 A, which is set apart for all the lots in the valley tract, except No. 5 and 6...s/ Byram Heard, William Rankin, Co..; Isaac B Easterly was born 1826 TN. his Wife was Sarah Unknown born 1827 TN, His children listed on the 1850 Jefferson County, Arkansas census are, George Easterly 1846 TN, Martha Easterly 1846 TN, Moses Easterly 1848 TN, James Hicks (Hix) b.1831 in Roane County Tennessee, I suspect to be the brother of Margaret who married John Walker. The reason for this is due to the fact that he is found living with John and Margaret Walker in the 1850 census for Jefferson County Arkansas. There are no marriage records to support this due to fire in Bledsoe County in 1909 so as stated above this is not proven and is, just an educated guess, using proximity and probability as my basis for this conclusion. It is these families that I owe a debt of gratitude to as they held the keys to my finding my own roots and for this reason I am sharing some of my research notes. I will not go on here with long lines of genealogical data that tends to bore most of us but will list some of the notes I have, to make it easier for others to connect the dots. Jefferson County Arkansas in 1850 was a rather large body of land , and for this reason I will hone in here to help the researcher on a much smaller scale, and that is the township of Darysaw, the families listed above first came to this area and in later times fanned out to include the town of Sheridan which is the county seat in Grant county. Grant county was formed around 1868 ( not an exact Date) from Jefferson County, the reason that this is important is that all the county records for Grant county before 1878 were lost and destroyed by fire, Like many other states Arkansas was not immune to the loss of it records due to fire or other natural disasters, so if you are looking for wills or marriage records before 1878 good luck. It should be noted that some early records can still be found in Jefferson County . The people in Sheridan at the county court and archives are very helpful and do a great job with what they have for records, so please drop them a note of thanks when ever you use their services. John Walker who’s father was George Walker b.1800 in Knox County Tennessee his Mother Anna Ruth Butler b 1798 in Georgia, purchased 280 acres of land in 1857 near the town of Junet, here he raised his family and farmed in what later became the County of Grant in Arkansas, he died in 1910 and was married 4 times. His Father George Walker was a Justice of the peace and is said to have been a Baptist minister, his Mother Anna was a mid wife, George died in 1868 and Anna in 1869, they both are buried in the Thans Chapel Cemetery Formally Known As Kell Cemetery Dunlap, Sequatchie County, Tennessee, They are mentioned in the County court minutes of the same county as well as a list of their children in the settlement of George‘s estate. The only child not mentioned in this list is their son Philip A Walker who died 27 Feb 1858 in Sequatchie County from a self inflicted gun shot wound. He was but 21 years old. The Coroners inquest report can be found in the Sequatchie county court minutes as well. My Walker Family roots date back to the early formation of Tennessee when Capt. George Walker came to Knox County in 1796 after the Revolutionary war, from Burke County North Carolina. He was born in Virginia in 1745 and died in Bledsoe county in 1833. Capt George Walker is well documented in Tennessee history and from his own words on his pension records from 1832. He states that he moved to Bledsoe County in 1807 from Knox County . I have many serious questions as to who Capt. George Walker’s father was, and this I’m sure will be the subject of much debate in the future. I am related to Capt. George thru his son Jesse Walker b.1770 in Rowan County North Carolina, (Note parts of Rowan later became Burke in 1777,) and his wife Delila West b 1774 in North Carolina , Their son George Walker b.1800 is my direct line.. Our next subjects on our quest west to Arkansas is the Johnson Family, they were a very pivotal part of my early research this includes Daniel Johnson who’s father was Isaac Johnson b 01 Feb 1783 in North Carolina and mother Nancy Hunter Johnson b 13 Dec 1784 in Virginia. Isaac Johnson Sr. died in 1844 in Marion County Tennessee and is mentioned with Daniel Johnson in Goodspeed’s biographical sketches of Grant County Arkansas. Isaac and Nancy Hunter Johnson from their union had six boy’s and three girls. Daniel Johnson’s mother Nancy is recorded as being decd, by 1849 and I find this to be untrue as she is very much alive and well in the 1850 census records for Marion County, Tennessee and living with her son Hiram Hunter Johnson who was b. 07 May 1803 in TN. Daniel Johnson is reported to have made a trek to California in 1853 from Arkansas that took him some six months to complete. There he stayed for three years before returning to Jefferson County in 1856, he than turned his sights on farming. Daniel Johnson purchased 80 acres deed # 9202 in Jefferson County (later to become Grant,) listed as the East half of the Northeast quarter, of section thirty six, in township five South of range thirteen, West in the district of lands subject to sale at Little Rock, Arkansas, and dated June 1, 1859.This was near the town of Junet. Daniel farmed here up until the time that his first wife Elizabeth Hixson died in 1876. She was the daughter of Timothy and Nancy Hixson of the Sequatchie valley area, Daniel later moved to the town of Sheridan where he became the County Treasurer, He held this position for many years being elected and well beloved in the area. He later turned his attention to the prospects of business and opened a store of general merchandise, as well as opening a Hotel. That he ran for some six years. Daniel later remarried in 1878 to Rachel Glover (nee) Walker who was from East Tennessee , she is the reason for my research of the Johnson Family. Isaac Johnson, brother to Daniel and William Johnson, Married John Walker’s sister Bashaba, she died sometime in the early 1850’s after her daughter Charlotta Sally was born in Arkansas as listed in the 1850 census. Isaac Johnson later returned to the Sequatchie valley in Tennessee with George Walker Jr. and brother William Johnson, and James Hicks (or Hix) and possibly William Jones. Isaac Johnson can be found recorded in the records of the Sequatchie County court minutes as well as the census records of Tennessee after he left the state of Arkansas. He later married a Nancy Unknown who was born in 1816 in TN. He then had three more children with his new wife as found in the 1860 census District 4, Sequatchie , Tennessee . The Jones Family as the others listed here were all very closely related I don’t have a lot of information on them due to the fact that in my research I had proven my Walker line before I had the need to proceed any further on this line. James Jones married Nancy Johnson who was the sister to the Johnson brothers listed above. James and Nancy Johnson Jones moved to Saline County Arkansas shortly after they arrived in Jefferson County . James died in Saline County in Sept. 1860. Nancy Jones moved back to the Darysaw township area in the newly formed Grant County to be near family. She is found living in that area in the 1870 census, and by 1880 she is presumed decd. They had eight children together. William Jones brother to James no research has been done on him past the 1850 census of Jefferson County Arkansas. I did a quick search for him in Arkansas for the year 1860 and came up with nothing concrete to show that this was him. Isaac B Easterly with no real ties that I found to these other families other than friendship came to this area in 1849-50 he as the others had big dreams of staking his claim in this new, fertile farm land in Jefferson county. His father was Moses E Easterly b.1788 in Virginia and his mothers name was Charlotte b 1792 in South Carolina . This is per the 1850 census in Marion county Tennessee. Moses Easterly was a Baptist Clergyman, and farmer. At the time of his death in mid 1860’s he had a sizeable estate. This information can be found in the Sequatchie County Court Minutes page 291. His children found listed in 1850 living with him were his son George W Easterly b 1829 Marion county TN, and daughter Elizabeth b 1834 in Marion county. Directly below him on the same page of the 1850 census is another presumed son Joseph Easterly b 1825 TN, his wife Elizabeth b.1823 TN, and two daughters Isabel b 1846 TN, and Charlotte b 1848 TN. By the 1860 census Charlotte Easterly is gone and presumed to be decd. Moses Easterly now states his place of birth to be Tennessee . I believe that the 1850 census has the correct place of birth due to the fact that in 1788 Tennessee had not even gained statehood as yet, and was considered to be a part of North Carolina . I did not search out all of the children of Moses Easterly and this information is only a guide. Isaac B Easterly purchased 160 acres on June 1, 1859 deed # 9079 listed as the SE quarter, of the SE quarter of section Thirty one and the East half of the SW quarter and the SW quarter of section thirty two in township five, south of range twelve west in the district of lands subject to the sale at Little Rock Arkansas.(near the town of Junet) He later purchased another tract of land that was 160 Acres. July 2, 1860 deed # 11912 listed as the North half of the SE quarter and the South half on the NE quarter of section thirty one in township five south of range twelve west in the district of lands subject to sale at Little Rock Arkansas.( near the town of Junet.) Isaac B Easterly was now living his dream as he now has 320 acres of farm land and by 1860 he has added to his brood two more children, Mary E Easterly b. 1853 in Jefferson County AR , and Absolum S. Easterly b 1857 Jefferson County, AR. By now sons George S. is age 15 and son Moses E is 12 and for the times these boys are more then able to help their father keep up with the crops and chores. Isaac’s real estate is listed in 1860 to be worth $1,000.00 and his estate is valued at $500.00 not bad for a man who started with little or nothing just ten years earlier. He has also enlisted the help of a hired man by the name of Harvey Hamilton b 1839 TN, Isaac at this time is still a young man of only 34 years of age. By the 1870 census Isaac Easterly is decd. We know this because the Sequatchie county court minutes for the estate of Isaac’s father Moses Easterly lists Isaac as decd. And his children are living with a Sarah Castleberry b 1826 TN, I presume that this is Sarah Easterly who has remarried after Isaac’s death and has once again become a widow as there is no husband Castleberry in the household. A quick look at the court minutes will show that this is the same family. See minutes listed below. Sequatchie County , Court Minutes ca. 1868 Page 291 George S. Easterly,) Petition Martha Waddell, formerly Martha Easterly,) ...Isaac B. Easterly, decd, was one of and Moses Easterly, heirs at law of ) the heirs at law of Moses Easterly, Isaac B. Easterly, decd, of the State of Arkansas ) decd...since appointment of guardian, the heirs have become of lawful age...asking that James M. Stewart, Sequatchie County ,) Lands of said Easterly appointed to guardian of minor heirs of Isaac B Easterly, decd that the lands held be sold Martha Easterly, Absolom Easterly, and) Margaret Easterly, all of State of Arkansas ) Children listed living with Sarah Castleberry in 1870 in Grant county Arkansas are Moses E. age 25, Mary E. who is 14, Absolom who is 12 and Margaret C. who is 7. (Notes) for the Sequatchie county court minutes listed above Martha Easterly married Elam Waddell who was born 1846 in Mississippi. No marriage records are available for this marriage due to the fire in the Grant county court house. One other Note for this Isaac B Easterly that needs to be pointed out and that further shows that the Easterly family were long time friends with my Walker family, When John Walker in 1899 Married Susan Brown his fourth wife in Grant County Arkansas it was Moses Easterly that Married them and he is found signing their Marriage License. This same Moses Easterly is the son of Isaac B Easterly who is listed above in the Sequatchie County Court Minutes . ============================================================= State of Arkansas Bond for Marriage License County of Grant KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we______JOHN WALKER___________as principal and ____________R.L. JONES____________as security,are held and firmly bound unto the State of Arkansas , for the use and benifit of the Common School Fund of Grant County,in the penal sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, for the payment of which well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents. Signed this ______14th________Day of __________April_______1899 THE CONDITION OF THE ABOVE OBLIGATION IS SUCH,that whereas, the above bounden___JOHN WALKER___________ has this day applied to the Clerk of the County Court of Grant County for a License authorizing the solemnization of the rites of matrimony between the said ____JOHN WALKER__ and ___Mrs. SUSAN BROWN_______ NOW , If the said parties applying for the said License have lawful right to the same ,and if they shall faithfully carry into effect and comply with the provisions thereof, and shall within sixty days from the date hereof, return the said License to the office of the Clerk of the County Court of said County, duly executed and officially signed by some one authorized by law to solemnize the right of matrimony, then this obligation shall be void, but otherwise to remain in full force and virtue his Witness our signatures the day above written JOHN X Walker_________________ mark principal E F Messinger R. L. JONES_____________________ security =========================================================== STATE OF ARKANSAS MARRIAGE LICENSE COUNTY OF GRANT TO ANY PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE--- GREETING : You are hereby commanded to solemnize the rights and publish the bans of matrimony between Mr. __JOHN WALKER____ of ___JUNET__in the County of ___Grant __ and the State of_____ Arkansas____,Aged ____78___years, and Mrs.___Susan Brown_______of ____JUNET___ in the County of ____Grant____ and State of ___Arkansas____, Aged___52____years, according to law; and do you officially sign and return the License to the parties herein named. Witness my hand this____14th___day of____ April _____ A.D. 1899 ___________E.F. Messinger______________ County Clerk ============================================================ STATE OF ARKANSAS CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE COUNTY OF GRANT I _______Moses Easterly_______, do hereby certify that on the ___16th___day of _____April_______A.D. 1899_, I did duly and according to law , as commanded in the foregoing License, solemnize the rite and publish the bans of matrimony between the parties therein named. Witness my hand this ___16th ___day of ___April____A.D. 1899 ________________________________ ____Moses Easterly_____JP.__________ Filed May 15th 1899 Recorded May 15th 1899 E.F. Messinger_________Clerk_________ ============================================================ John Walker's Wife Margaret Hix or Hicks ( note This is not proven to be her last name due to lack of marriage records in Tennessee because of fire) the name is taken from James Hicks who is found living with John and Margaret in the 1850 census for Jefferson county, Darysaw township Arkansas, who is believed to be her brother. Margaret died in I believe about Aug 1868 while giving birth to their daughter Laura M Walker. James Hicks later returned to the Sequatchie Valley in Tennessee with George Walker who was Johns brother and Isaac Johnson who married John Walker's sister Bashaba Walker. this I believe was in the mid 1850s . His second wife was a widow twice before John married her. Her maiden name is unknown, she was Mrs. Ajesta Norris b.1822 in Mississippi when she married James Wardlaw in 1849 in Lauderdale county Tennessee they later moved to Jefferson county Arkansas about 1856 where her husband James Wardlaw died, and John Walker married her before the 1870 census in Grant county Arkansas ( part of old Jefferson county) Ajesta aka Agusten Norris, Wardlaw Walker died before the 1880 census in Grant county Arkansas John Walker's third Wife was Mary Harrison McClung wife of David L McClung who died in about 1864 in the civil war, she was born in 1825 in Alabama and married John Walker about 1878 in Grant County.( note here !) her daughter Martha A McClung from her previous marriage to David L McClung, later married my gg grandfather Philip Archibald Walker. in 1879 I have the marriage records, some Walker researchers dispute this because they find it revolting but facts are facts and you can't pick your family members, And they were not blood related ! Mary Harrison McClung died sometime before 1899 in Grant County Arkansas in the town of Junet . John Walker's fourth wife was Mrs. Susannah Susan Davis, Anderson , Brown b. July 1847 in Alabama . She had been widowed twice before she married John Walker. Her first husband was Doc, Andrew G Anderson b. 1848 in Georgia they were married in May 1869 in Decalb County Alabama, Her second Husband was William R Brown b. 1847 in Georgia or Alabama , they were married March 1873 in Jackson County Alabama he died in Grant county Arkansas between 1873 and 1898. John married Susan Brown in Grant county Arkansas April 16 1899 he died 11 years later. Tennessee to Arkansas The Quest to Push West, Part II By Brian Walker I have had several replies after I had written the first article on The Quest to Push West. One of these replies gave me a unique insight into the reason why these young farmers chose to pull up their roots to push westward after decades of settling in the Sequatchie valley and the fertile lands of Tennessee . My family having such deep roots in Tennessee , and Arkansas , from an early time made me ask questions that I could never seem to find the answer to. One such question is how, did they learn of this new place known as Arkansas . Why would they leave the security of the lands that they grew up in to push west to a place that was unknown. Could this have been just an adventurous spirit, or was there more to the story than what meets the eye. Yes we know that in the late 1830’s the Cherokee Indians were pushed west to what later became the state of Oklahoma . Yes we know that the Arkansas , land’s opened to new settlement and was selling for around $1.50 per acre. But still what sparked the dreams to push westward and risk life and limb to go to Arkansas . Much could be written and has about the romantic dreams and aspirations of the early adventurers and settlers who migrated to all parts of the United States . Most of these men were single, with few ties to one certain place some were pure land speculators looking to make their fortunes. But for the most part we are dealing with the regular farmer and his young family, males between the ages of twenty to early thirty, married with one or two children who braved the trek to Arkansas and a land that was unknown to them, or was it?. A very nice lady named Amy shared with me a letter that she had in her possession from a family member Dated, January 11, 1850 from a man named James McClain (McLain) her email was in response to my first article. The following is a copy of her email to me with regards to James McClain. Keep in mind that she transcribed the parts of the letter as it originally appeared. Brian, Thanks for the great info- interesting! I think I have something more I can add! My family was probably pretty close with your Walkers. I am related to Hicks and Easterly, but I am referring mainly to the Barkers and Deakins.(Thans Chapel Cemetery is their burying ground). I have a letter (original)dated January 11,1850 from a James McLain to some of my Barkers and Kells (cousins). The letter is from "Darysaw Arkansas" and says, "when you rite Direct your letter to Dary saw PO Jefferson County". One of the Barker girls' brother was also with the party that went to Jefferson County, Arkansas. He is also mentioned in the letter (Howell Barker) and both boys were working for, and living with a man named "Meaclung". (I wonder if it is David McClung?) The letter states "we are working four months and then we are gowing to work on our lands howel and myself has got us a good pease of land which we do expect to improve and live on with us we are a bout 6 miles a part we tennesseans have all settled all in the same neighborhood" Howell came back to Sequatchie County, but I don't know what became of James McLain. Maybe you have seen his name in Arkansas? Amy This letter at first glance appears to be just a letter home to let friends and family know that they arrived and were all well. A peak of what life was like in the early days. But to me it was a treasure trove of information as to why the settlers came to the area. How they knew that this land, Could be the answer to their dreams of starting a new life full of possibilities. Being forced to research the early families of Jefferson County Arkansas, as a way to find my own family roots in Tennessee, I learned a great deal about many other families from the Sequatchie valley and just how close many of them are tied together. Among these settlers that came to Jefferson County Arkansas, in 1849-50 were James and John Bennett from Marion County, George W Brown Marion County, James McClain Roane County, The Hayden, Martin, Burk, and Raider families. All the above can be found in the 1850 census for Jefferson County, Arkansas, Darysaw, township. I will attempt to tie all this together and I ask that the reader bear with me as I cover some of those who I have named, and where they settled with relation to Darysaw, township. Darysaw being the nearest post office, is used in the census to mark the location of these early settlers, in fact in 1850 Darysaw, township had a population of only 399. The Tennessean’s as mentioned above in the letter home, actually settled near the town of Junet. Searching the land deeds and maps will prove this to any researcher who is interested. To show the relationship of these families I will go to the 1850 census of Darrysaw, in Jefferson County to show just how these families are tied together. Amy; had asked the question about James McClain and this is where I will start as it relates to the letter home. Note 1850 Census taken in Jefferson County, September 8, 1850 Family #504 James A McClain b. 1827 TN, living with James is John Bennett b.1825 TN, wife Harriet b.1823 TN, sons James b.1842 and Joseph b.1847 TN. James Bennett’s father is John Bennett born about 1800 in Tennessee. He is found in Marion County in 1840 and is not to be confused with the John Bennett who is in Roane County and born in South Carolina. Household #505 is brother to John Bennett above, James S. Bennett b.1827 TN wife Thursday b.1826 TN, son Leroy (or Larry hard to read) b.1847 daughter Mary E b. June, 1850 AR. (Note I believe that Washington Martin may be the brother to Thursday Bennett. This is based on proximity and my experience with genealogy you must draw your own conclusions. James Bennett purchased 40 acres near Clarksville in Johnson County, Arkansas on May 1, 1860. Deed #5711. Household #506 is Washington Martin b. 1820 TN, he is single. Research note there is another Washington Martin living in Darysaw, township who is born in 1824 with an unknown place of birth. The Washington Martin listed above comes from the family from Marion County, Tennessee. They are both listed on the 1850 Census and most likely are cousins. Listed as family #507 is Isaac B Easterly b.1826 TN, whom has close ties to my Walker family wife Sarah b.1824 TN son George S. b.1845 TN Martha J. b.1846 TN, and Moses E. b.1848 TN. Land and information on the Easterly family can be found in part one of this series. Family # 508 is George W Brown b.1820 TN. George is from Marion County, and I believe that his wife is the sister to Isaac B Easterly. (This is not confirmed) I have written to some of the Easterly family for confirmation and as yet have not received a reply. George’s wife is Rebecca b.1820 son William H. b.1841 TN, Isaac J. b.1842 TN, daughter Barbary B. b.1845 TN, sons Samuel B. b.1847 and John b.1849 both in Tennessee. George W Brown purchased 122.12 acres in Jefferson County, on July 1, 1857 this being near the town of Junet. Deed #7136 Now the tie in to all this banter comes with the help of the letter above and becomes very clear as to what drew these young farmers and their families to this area in 1849-50. The letter speaks of a Mr. McClung who James mcLain and Howell Barker are working for. Listed as household #503 is one Joseph McClung b.1812 in Tennessee, and wife Jane Wilson McClung b.1819 in KY, and their four children. This is most likely the McClung that was written about. Above Joseph McClung in household #502 is William McClung b.1822 AL, wife Matilda M Black McClung and their four children. In Household #500 is David L McClung b.1825 in the Limestone County, Alabama, area with his wife Mary Harrison McClung b.1825 Alabama and their three children. These three McClung’s are brothers. Joseph and William came to Arkansas around 1845 brother David arrived about 1850 from Alabama, most likely after receiving a letter much like the one mentioned above these McClung’s are a part of my family. David L McClung was my 3rd great grandfather. Their father was James A McClung and mother was Phoebe Hubbert. James McClung left the Sequatchie valley for Alabama early in about 1815, his wife Phoebe’s father was Col. James Hubbert AKA Hubbard who is of Revolutionary war fame and also served in the Indian wars. He died in 1824 in Warren County Tennessee. Now what could have driven the Walker party to Arkansas is this, John Walker had a cousin Green H Walker who’s family was also from the Sequatchie valley area, Green Walker left Tennessee about 1839 for Desoto County, Mississippi where he stayed for only a few years before leaving to Arkansas, and in particular Darysaw, township Jefferson County about 1846,it seems to me that with family already in the area letters home flowed in to tell the good news of this new promised land that held the keys to a new and exciting frontier for all who would come. Dreams flowed with the good news of free or cheap land only limited by a supply of working hands to till the fertile soil, and so it was the quest to push west. Not as romantic as some may hope but like most everything else the truth is always less dramatic than fiction. By the 1860 Darysaw, township in Jefferson County, had grown to a population of 536 persons. By 1860 James McClain is gone from all the census records, no trace to date has been found of him. The Barkers as stated by Amy returned to the Sequatchie valley. This would have been before the 1850 census was taken. Note the letter dated January 1850 the census was taken in September of 1850. No land deeds exist for any of the Bakers or for James McClain. Isaac B Easterly continued on in Jefferson County and by 1860 had two more children Mary E. b.1853 and Absolum S. b.1857. John Bennett by 1860 moved to Shoal Creek, Johnson County, Arkansas. And has four more children in the home, they are Mary b.1853, Moses b. 1856, John b. 1858, and Sarah b.1860 (Note Harriet wife to John may be an Easterly) John’s brother, James Bennett, moved to Clarke, Pope County, Arkansas, and has four more children to add to the brood. They are John b.1850, Floriene b.1852, Isabell b.1855, and Joseph b.1857 all born in Arkansas. (Note it is unknown why James Bennett Moved to Pope County, no record of the sale of his lands have been found, and yet his brother is in Johnson County on his land. Also no deed has been found for a new land purchase in Pope County. Both of the Washington Martin’s listed on the 1850 census are gone from Jefferson County by 1860 and nothing more is known of them. George W Brown is still in Darysaw, and is listed in 1860 as G W Brown he now has four more children but wife Rebecca is presumed dead as she is not listed in the census. It is possible that she died during child birth from their last child. The four new children listed are, Nancy J. b. 1852, James J. b.1855, Moses E. b.1857 and Franklin J. b. 1859. Now I made a statement that I believed that Rebecca wife of George was possibly the sister of Isaac B Easterly, and here is why. When lack of records are available one must resort to other means of research this includes proximity and name combinations. It is likely that Isaac, son of George Brown was named