The Silas Isaacs Homepage
Elizabeth G. Isaacs Wife of Hartwell S. Reynolds
Photo submitted by Gloria( Biehl) Sterling 2nd. great-granddaughter of Elizabeth
New Book by Robert Reynolds-Into The Mouth of The Cannon Click link
Additional information on Isaacs, McGuire, Stockton, and Reynolds Families contained in the book Into the Mouth of The Cannon
(A must for those researching these family trees)
Silas Isaac's first introduces himself to my research in land records located in
Pickens County, Alabama. Silas purchased two parcels of land containing 40 acres
each in Pickens, County on February 2, 1836, and December 30, 1836. We find
these records in the book, Early Settlers of Pickens County, Alabama, written by
James Dalphus Johnson Jr. One the parcels of land was located south
of Pickers Alabama. The description reads T19, R14, S34, purchased on
December 30. The other parcel of land is located south of Carrollton, Alabama.
The description reads T21, R15, and S2 and was purchased on February 2.
A study of the records and other documents that
Silas left behind on his journey to Arkansas reveal a pattern of moving often.
This was not uncommon especially for early settlers to move frequently. Silas'
journey west begins in North Carolina where he was born and traverses Alabama,
Mississippi, and ends in Saline County, Arkansas. The early settlers moved west,
attracted to the frontier by the prospects of productive land that was waiting
to produce a bountiful harvest. The optimism that they shared with one another
produced an intoxicating stimulant that compelled them to move. Pointing to the
fulfillment of their dreams the early morning sunrise would beckon them to
follow it, to a hope and new destiny beyond the western horizon. Their
enthusiasm was born of faith, knowing they were participants in a new beginning.
Freshness lay ahead where they could build communities to educate their
children, and have the freedom to give thanks, and worship God in churches that
were just waiting to be built. Enterprisers would dream of gristmills to be
built on waterways that would grind the grains produced from fields ripe for the
harvest. Blacksmiths would hope for the opportunity to fire their forge's, to
beat and shape new farm implements that would be needed to bring in the
overflowing harvests.
Ministers of the gospel would become the
circuit riders on the frontier, bringing in the ingathering of souls.
Unrestricted by the eastern establishments they would spawn a revival on the
Kentucky frontier that would usher in the brush arbor meeting and would echo the
praises of the Lord throughout the frontier.
Out of this revival, unique to the
western frontier the shouting Methodist's movement continued to blossom and
grow. It has been reported that their services could be heard for up to a mile.
I can well understand this because they didn't have the distractions of our
modern life like noise created from a constant flow of traffic bumper to bumper
on our modern freeways. We have grown accustomed to background noises that has
dulled our senses. I havalked to old-timers that
lived during the period when the first Model T Fords were produced in mass by
Henry Ford's assembly lines. Mr. Crabtree a neighbor of mine who grew up in this
time told me, "That you could hear a car coming miles away before it got there
and the exhaust fumes would linger on for hours after it passed."
True to the spirit of this revival,
numerous Methodist Churches would appear throughout the wilderness and many
cemeteries would be establish near them. Elizabeth Isaacs is buried
at one of these church cemetery. New Hope Cemetery was an early pioneer cemetery
located in the Cherry Grove Community, now present day Crossroads, which is
located in Grant County, Arkansas. The cemetery is located near New Hope
Methodist Church and possible Silas and Sarah are buried there, but their
tombstones, which would prove they are buried there must have long ago vanished,
because there are several graves to the right of Elizabeth's that have no
markers.
The New Hope
Methodist Church propelled by the holiness movement appeared in Saline County,
Arkansas some time between 1850 and 1851. In the book "Our Timber Home", by
Elwin L. Goosy, page 108, the Reverend Elijah L. Crowson who preached in homes
before the church was built, gives a colorful account of the first revival he
preach "My father, Seth Atchley, and my material grandfather, Edward Calvert,
settled on what is now the old Dr. Richard C. Rhodes' place in the fall of 1838.
Calvert Township is named for Edward. In my early boyhood days, society in the
neighborhood containing a considerable element that was rough and wicked. The
doggery and the dance rained. My parents hated these things.
We had no Methodist preaching in the
neighborhood except at long intervals till about the year 1851 or 1852. There
was a Baptist Church (Shiloh) within one mile of my father house at which I
attended a Union Sundays School for several years. I think it was in 1851 we
heard that a boy preacher was at "Possum Walk Church" about eight miles from our
home. Father went over to hear him and invited him to the neighborhood. The
boy's name was H. R. Withers. He made careful inquiry about the neighborhood and
told my father that if he and his neighbors would build a house for a Methodist
church, he would take us into the circuit and preach for us regularly. Father
came home and reported to his neighbors. All were pleased. Before the month
closed a split and hewn log was up, floored, and sealed, in the old-fashioned
board pulpit was ready for the preacher.
Father went to Possum Walk and reported the
house ready. Said the preacher, "Tell your neighbors I will preached in the new
house on Friday night before my next appointment at this place." He came and
preached at the appointed time. "One month from tomorrow," he said, " I will
begin a protracted meeting here if the Lord wills it."
The time came, and meeting was begun, with the
services at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and at night. The meeting continued for nine days.
At the close they're had been 39 conversions and 41 accessions to the church.
This was the beginning of New Hope Church. I was one of the converts of the
meeting and join the church. Father and Mother also joined.
The earliest record I have of the Silas
Isaacs family presence in Saline County dates back to May 26, 1855. It contains
the minutes of the Quitman Masonic Lodge, which was located in the county. The
documented names Dr. James L. Isaacs as one of the presiding officer's of the
lodge. I was fortunate to find this rare manuscript in The Grant County Museum.
Grant County was created from Saline County, which took place in 1869 after the
Civil War.
If we closely examined the 1850 Census Record of Marshall County, Mississippi
will be able to determined when the Isaac family moved from Pickens County,
Alabama. to Itawamba County, Mississippi.
George W. Isaacs was born in 1839 in Pickens County and his sister RoseAltha was
born in Mississippi in 1841 according to the census record. Some time between
the two dates he had to have moved. This was after the removal of the Indian
peoples in 1836 to the Indian Territories. Itawamba County tax records dated
1846 list Silas as residing in the county. Some time between 1846 and 1850 the
family must have moved to Marshall County. It might be interesting to speculate
why he moved from Alabama to Mississippi and later Arkansas.
By examining the paper trail and the areas
he moved into, a clearer picture of his intentions begin to emerge. Silas
Isaacs' family was educated; his oldest son James L. Isaacs was a physician, and
his youngest son George W. Isaacs was a teacher and studying for the law in 1860
in Arkansas. His youngest daughter RoseAltha Isaacs was a schoolteacher.
Margaret Isaacs married a Doctor, William C. Gillespie. Silas married Sarah
Isaacs in 1824 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The University of Alabama was endowed by
the United States Congress in 1819 and established by the state constitution the
same year. The University was well established at the time of they married in
Alabama. The
Family is listed in 1850 census of Marshall County, Mississippi. Holly Springs
is the county seat, and was a center of culture and learning, having at that time
four colleges. It is obvious that the family must their received their education
at one or more of these universities on their track to Arkansas. I have not
unearthed any certificates of graduation for any of the above persons that I
mentioned, but I can safely assume that they were educated somewhere along their
journey west.
Silas died during the Civil War. According
to the Saline County tax records his property was assessed in 1861 and he pay
taxes on his assets. The Saline County records are incomplete for the years 1862
through 1864, because of disruptions caused by the war. Record keeping was
resumed in 1865. Sarah was assessed for the value of Silas property in1865 and
paid taxes on his estate that year. It is clear that Silas' death occurred
during the period between 1861 and the resumption of taxes paid by Sarah in 1865
at the war end.
Part of this information is excerpts from a book I wrote, Into the Mouth of the Cannon. The books deals with the hardships the Isaacs family endure during the Civil War. The book followers the track of their two sons Lieutenant James L and Lieutenant George W. Isaacs, C. S. A. who enlisted in the 18th Arkansas Infantry. Written and researched by Robert Reynolds 3rd Grandson of Silas Isaacs.
Descendants of Silas Isaacs
Generation No. 1
1. SILAS ISAACS was born 1802 in North Carolina, and died Bet. 1861 - 1864 in Saline County, Arkansas. He married SARAH G. ISAACS. She was born 1810 in Tennessee.
More About SILAS ISAACS
Census: 1850, Marshall County, Mississippi
Fact1: Isaack spelling used in early records in Pickens County
Occupation: Silas was a farmer
Record 1: 1860, Census Saline County, Arkansas
Record 3: 1840, Pickens County, Alabama Page 350
More About SARAH G. ISAACS:
Census: 1850, Marshall County, Mississippi
Children of SILAS ISAACS and SARAH ISAACS are: DR. JAMES L. ISAACS, b. May 19, 1826, Tuscaloosa, Co., Alabama; d. February 21, 1917, Handley, Texas, Tarrant County; m. AMELIA C. CARVER, December 03, 1868, Saline Co. Arkansas; b. April 12, 1828, Richmond Co, North Carolina; d. April 12, 1888, Handley, Texas, Tarrant County.
1. DR. JAMES L. ISAACS:
Burial: 1917, Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Texas
Census: 1850, Census Marshall Co., Mississippi
Obituary: Arkansas Methodist, June 30, 1888
Occupation: James was a physician.
Record 1: 1860, Census Saline Co., Calvert Township
Record 3: 1870, Census Saline Co., Calvert Township
Record 4: 1900, Census Tarrant Co., Texas, Sheet 14 E. D. 80 Line 11
Record 5: 1910, Census Tarrant Co., Texas, Sheet 400 E. D. 91 Line 61
Military
Record
Name: Silas Isaacs
Gender: Male
Rank: Ensign
Commission Date: 24 May 1828
Commission Place: Alabama, USA
Division: 2nd
Brigade: 5th
Regiment: 17th
More About AMELIA C. CARVER:
Burial: 1888, Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Texas
Individual Note: Arkansas Methodist. June 30,1888
Obituary: Arkansas Methodist June 23, 1897
More About DR. ISAACS and AMELIA CARVER:
Marriage: December 03, 1868, Saline Co. Arkansas
Marriage license: Married by Cadesman Pope, Elder, Book C-167
2. ELIZABETH E. ISAACS, b. 1828, Alabama; d. April 09, 1894, Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas; m. (1) HARTWELL STAIN REYNOLDS; b. 1832, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1863, Franklin County, Arkansas; m. (2) HORACE M. KNOWLES, February 03, 1870, Bradley Co. Arkansas; b. Georgia.
More About ELIZABETH E. ISAACS:
Burial: 1894, New Hope Cemetery, Grant County, Arkansas.
Census: 1850, Source 1850 Census Marshall Co. Miss.
Record 1: 1880, Source 1880 Census Bradley Co. Hurricane T. S.
More About HARTWELL STAIN REYNOLDS:
Burial: A Soldier Grave
Census: Source: 1860 Census Bradley Co.
Individual Note: Living in Hurricane Township in June 9, 1860
Military service: CSA Monroe's Arkansas First Cavalry, CO., G
Property: Purchased land at Champagnolle land office in July 1857. Source: AR
Land Records
More About HORACE KNOWLES and ELIZABETH
ISAACS:
Marriage: February 03, 1870, Bradley Co. Arkansas
Marriage Fact: Married In Methodist Episcopal Church
3. NAOMI J. ISAACS, b. 1830, Alabama; m. GRANVILLE M. MCGUIRE, June 22, 1852, Marshall Co. Mississippi; b. 1830, Tennessee.
More About NAOMI J. ISAACS:
Census: 1850, 1850 Census Marshall Co. Ms.
Record 1: 1860, Census Saline Co., Calvert Township
Religion: Methodist Faith in Christ
More About GRANVILLE MCGUIRE and NAOMI
ISAACS:
Applied for license: June 19, 1852, G. Wait, County Clark
Marriage: June 22, 1852, Marshall Co. Mississippi
4. ADDISON J. ISAACS, b. 1831, Alabama.
5. MARTHA L. ISAACS, b. 1834, Alabama; d. Bet. 1857-1880, Grant County, Arkansas; m. RICHARD THOMAS STOCKTON, September 05, 1860, Saline Co. Arkansas; b. September 11, 1836, Alabama; d. March 23, 1897, Grant Co. Arkansas.
More About MARTHA L. ISAACS:
Census: 1870, Census Grant Co., Calvert Township
Obituary: September 01, 1888, Arkansas Methodist
Record 1: 1880, Census Grant Co., Calvert Township
More About RICHARD THOMAS STOCKTON:
Burial: 1897, By the Member Masonic Lodge
Fact 2: Held the Rank of Sergeant. <RBR> Military service: CSA 18th. Arkansas
Infantry Co., H
Obituary: May 26, 1897, Arkansas Methodist
Record 1: 1860, Census Saline Co., Saline Township
Record 3: 1870, Census Grant Co., Calvert Township
More About RICHARD STOCKTON and MARTHA ISAACS: Marriage: September 05, 1860, Saline Co. Arkansas
6. SARAH LUCETTA ISAACS, b. 1838, Alabama. died September 19, 1851 in Marshall County, Mississippi
More About SARAH LUCETTA ISAACS; Obituary
appeared in The Nashville Christian Advocate 1850-1851, page 43
7. LIEUT. GEORGE W. ISAACS, b. 1839, Pickens Co, Alabama; d. October 10, 1862, Holly Springs, Mississippi.
More About LIEUT. GEORGE W. ISAACS:
Census: 1850, Source 1850 census Marshall Co. Ms.
Obituary: True Democrat March 4, 1863
Record 1: 1860, Census Saline Co., Calvert Township
(
Note Obituary from Into The Mouth of The Cannon) Article taken from the True Democrat, March 4,
1863, Arkansas History Commission.
Died near Corinth, Miss., October 10th, 1862, Lieut. George W. Isaacs, aged 23
years. Prior to our national difficulties, he had just finished a classical
education, and had commenced the study of law, with brilliant prospects for the
future, but as one of the sons of Arkansas, he responded at an early day to his
country's call. He received a severe wound from a grape shot at the battle of
Oak Hills, but so soon as he had partially recovered, he raised a company and
rushed again to his country's rescue. In a charge on the federal fortifications
at Corinth, on the 4th of Oct., he received a wound in the right hand, three of
his fingers were shot off and his sword knocked out of his hand; he picked it up
with his left hand and rushed on in the charge, when terminated his mortal
existence on the 10th. Amidst his severe sufferings he was not heard to utter
one word of complaint and died as the truly brave alone can die. He was a member
of the Methodist E. Church, and we trust that he has gone to that land where
there shall be no more wars, sickness, pain and death. To his aged parent, I
would say, weep not for your devoted son, he will not be forgotten, and when the
night of death is past you will see him again in that Heaven, "where friends
shall meet again who have loved," and meeting shall part no more.
Constantine C. Gillespie.
8. MARGARET Y. ISAACS, b. Abt. 1845, Marshall County, Mississippi; m. DR. WILLIAM C. GILLESPIE, December 17, 1868, Saline County, Arkansas; b. Abt. 1845, Marshall County, Mississippi. died 1873, Little Rock, Arkansas
More About MARGARET Y. ISAACS:
Caste: 1870, Pulaski County, Big Rock Township, Page34. Census: 1850,
Marshall County, Mississippi, Page 263.
Census 2: 1860, Saline County, Arkansas, Saline Township
Record 1: Married in Methodist Episcopal Church South
Record 2: Buried; Oakland Cemetery, Lot 9, Little Rock
More About DR. WILLIAM C. GILLESPIE
Census: 1870, Pulaski County, Big Rock Township, Page34
Census 2: 1850, Marshall County, Mississippi, Page 229
Occupation: Physician
Record1: Married in Methodist Church Episcopal South
More About DR. GILLESPIE and MARGARET
ISAACS:
Marriage: December 17, 1868, Saline County, Arkansas
Marriage license: Married by Cadesman Pope, Elder Book C-167
9. MARY GLASS ISAACS, b. 1846, Marshall County, Mississippi. died: August 17,1858 Saline County
More About MARY GLASS ISAACS
Record 1: Obituary submitted by her uncle E. H. Gillespie: Published in The Nashville Christian Advocate,1857-1860, page 40
10. ROSALTHA D. ISAACS, b. 1850, Marshall County, Mississippi.
More About ROSALTHA D. ISAACS:
Census: 1870, Page 189 Grant Co., Calvert Township
Occupation: 1870, Listed as school teacher
Posted by Robert Reynolds
E-mail address boreyed@yahoo.com
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