Biographies - D-F, Vol 1 - Greene Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: George W Rowland Date: 17 Apr 1999 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** FATHERS OF THE RIDGE, Vol. I by George W. Rowland. Copyright 1978 by George W. Rowland. Printed by College Bookstore and Press, Route 4, Box 196, Paragould, Arkansas 72450. [Excerpted here with permission of author.] GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES Duffel George Washington Duffel was born in Tennessee in 1816. His wife, Abagail, was born in the same state in about 1824. G. Washington Duffel was one of the very early settlers of Greene County, having arrived before 1840. In 1850 the Duffel family lived in Union Township and their children at this time were: Thomas T., 1843; Nancy, 1845; and John C., 1850. In 1860 this family lived in Concord Township and by this time two more children had been added to the household: George W., 1852; and Robert M., 1854. George W. Duffel Jr., married Jane Duncan in Greene County on June 29, 1878. Jane was born in Missouri in 1861. In 1880 Thomas and Jane lived in Hurricane Township and at this time they had one child, Robert, born in 1879. In 1870 Robert Duffel, son of G. W. and Abagail, was living with the Robert Vowell family in Concord Township. By 1880 Robert Duffel was living in Hurricane Township. The 1880 census does not list a wife for Robert Duffel. However, several other persons were in his household at this time: Abagail Duffel (Robert's mother); Elizabeth Duffel (Robert's sister- in-law); William, Mary, and Abby J. Duffel, nephew and nieces of Robert. Thomas Duffel, son of G. W. and Abagail, first married a woman named Susan, born in Kentucky in 1843. In 1870 they lived in Concord Township and their children at this time were: William G., 1861; Robert P., 1862; James M., 1863; Mary, 1866; and Thomas J., 1868. Three other children were also present in the household: Annie, John and Mary J. Patton, born in 1861, 1865, and 1866 respectively. Apparently Thomas' wife, Susan, died and by 1880 he had married a woman named Elizabeth, born in Tennessee in 1844. By this time, three more children had been added to the family: Lula, 1875; Julia, 1877; and Peter, 1880. The step-children, John and Molly (Mary) Patton were also present. In 1880 the nearest neighbors of Thomas and Elizabeth Duffel were the families of his brothers, Robert and George, Calvin Marcum, and George W. Reynolds. Eastep The history of the Eastep family in Greene County begins with James Eastep, born in North Carolina in 1814. His wife, Winney, was born in Alabama in 1819. James moved to Lauderdale County, Alabama in about 1840 and it seems likely that he married there. At one time there was a community called "Eastep" in that County. The Eastep family came to Greene County during the 1850's and settled in Union Township. Their children in 1860 were: Solomon, 1842; Abraham, 1844; Isaac, 1845; Martha, 1847; and Thomas J., 1849. James later lived in Hurricane Township. Thomas J. Eastep married a woman named Isabella, born in Tennessee in 1841. In 1880 Thomas J. and Isabella were living in the household of Thomas' father, James. Thomas' mother, Winney, had apparently died during the 1870's. At this time, the children of Thomas and Isabella were: John, 1873; Perueta A., 1877; and Margaret, 1880. In 1880 the nearest neighbors of Thomas J. and Isabella Eastep were the families of Andrew Williams, David S. Baxter, Marshall Starnes, and James Dawson. Isabella Eastep apparently died during the early 1880's and Thomas J. married Cozela F. Huckabay on Oct. 18, 1884. Ellington The founder of the Ellington families in Greene County was Winston Ellington born in Virginia in about 1820. As a young man, Winston came to what was then Madison County, Tennessee (later Crockett County) and settled in the general vicinity of Bells and Gadsden. Winston had six known children: John, Billy, Paris Green, France, James, and Walter. John was born in 1844; Paris in 1854; and James in 1860. The exact years of birth of the other children are not known. All were born in Tennessee. At least three of these children later came to Greene County and arrived during the 1870's. Their descendants are so numerous that it is not possible to deal with all of them in a limited space. John Ellington's known children who were born in Greene County were: Ida A., 1878; Walter, 1882; Elmer, 1886; Sam, 1889; Myrtle, 1891; Ethel, 1894; Marvin, 1896; and Ollie, 1899. Paris G. Ellington married Ann Eliza Williams, daughter of [Newton and Sofrona Williams], while still in Crockett County in Tennessee. Their known children who reached adulthood were: Lee, 1876; Edgar, 1881; Docia, 1886; Tynie A., 1887; Bertie, 1890; Osbourne, 1892; Gus, 1894; and Winston, 1898. Osbourne Ellington died in Batesville, Arkansas, where he had made his home for many years, in 1977; he was the last remaining child of Paris G. Ellington. All of the other children are buried at Clark's Chapel Cemetery in the south part of Greene County. James Ellington was married after coming to Greene County to Louvenia Lenderman on Oct. 13, 1884. Their known children were: Bertha, about 1885; Hervey, about 1886; Marion, 1888; Sylvanus, 1890; Herdle, 1892; Mary, 1894; Lawson, 1897; Jessie, 1899; Lola, about 1903; and Edith, about 1904. Edgar Ellington, son of Paris, married Mary Tennsion on July 17, 1910 and was a physician practicing in Lake City, Arkansas for many years; he died in 1949. Marvin Ellington, son of John, married Cleo Hicks on Jan. 3, 1920. Lee Ellington, son of Paris, married Emily Moss on Nov. 21, 1900. Osbourne, son of Paris, married Nellie Coffman on Jan. 18, 1914; after Nellie's death, he married Myrtle Wood on Sept. 12, 1920. Lawson Ellington, son of James, married Minnie Skaggs on Aug. 12, 1917. Tynie Ellington, daughter of Paris, married Edward W. Pegg on Jan. 7, 1906. Docia, daughter of Paris, married W. A. Campbell on Oct. 10, 1910. Bertie, daughter of Paris, married G. W. Wallace on Aug. 17, 1914. Most of the Ellington descendants are buried at Clark's Chapel Cemetery. Some are buried at the Liberty Cemetery north of Clark's Chapel. Still others are buried in the Linwood Cemetery in Paragould. For those interested in tracing the Ellington people in Tennessee, it is said that many of the Ellingtons are buried in Crockett County, Tennessee at Walnut Hill Cemetery, east of Bells and at Holly Grove Cemetery located on Highway 79 a few miles southwest of Bells. Approximately one fourth to one half-mile southeast of Walnut Hill Cemetery in Crockett County, Tennessee there is located a small, family- type cemetery. It is on private property about 500 feet behind a farmhouse in a cultivated field. This cemetery is situated on a knoll slightly elevated above the surrounding land. It is small in size and is about 60 feet square. It is enclosed by an iron fence which is about two and one- half feet high. Because of its possible historic interest to the Ellington and Williams families, the writer has listed here the persons buried there for whom there were markers. This list was made in 1975. Ellington, James E. 1843-1908 Ida May 1859-1952 Ellington, F. W. 1848-1923 Ida L. 1858-1944 Ellington, Alice Medlin July 3, 1888-Dec. 24, 1920 Horton, Mary Dee, died on June 12, 1912, aged 68 years Williams, D. T. 1857-1931 Mandy 1863- Williams, Temple 1907-1927 Williams, Eunice 1892-1893 Williams, Mamie 1888-1890 Williams, Marshall D. 1912-1912 Williams, Lida May 1906-1918 Williams, Peter Dec. 7, 1826-Aug. 31, 1915 Williams, Dilly Ann July 12, 1785-April 4, 1858 Williams, Lida Pearce, mother of D. J. Williams, no dates Williams, Lizzie 1889-1909 Williams, Thomas May 22, 1792-June 17, 1859 Jackson, Louisa Jane, no dates Elisha 1823-1908 Jackson, Dr. M. N. May 18, 1850-Dec. 22, 1884 Missouri 1849-1878 Williams, Harriet 1822-1875 Richards, J. N. 1836-1917 Sarah, no dates Weems, George 1804-1881 Farmer Balam Farmer was born in Tennessee in 1806. His wife, Nancy, was born in that state in 1817. In the 1830's the family moved to Kentucky and remained there until about 1845. Their known children were: James, 1832; Henry, 1834; Seth, 1839; William, 1842; Florilla, 1843; Mary, 1848; Jonathan, 1853; and John G., 1858. The five older children were born in Kentucky while the rest were born after the family arrived in Arkansas. The family came to Greene County in about 1845 and resided in Union Township. James, son of Balam, married a woman named Arminta and their oldest son, J. W. H., was born in 1855. Henry, son of Balam, married a woman named Lucy, born in Arkansas in 1830. They had two known children: Cynthia, 1854; and Nancy A., born in 1856. Faulkner The history of the Faulkner family in Greene County begins with John Faulkner, born in North Carolina in 1814. His wife, Sarah, was born in the same state in 1818. The Faulkner family moved from North Carolina to Tennessee during the late 1840's and settled in Tipton County. At this time their children were: Govenor H., 1838; John, 1841; Mary, 1844; Martha, 1846; and Sally (Sarah), 1850. The four older children were born in North Carolina, but Sally was born in Tennessee. It is not known whether John and Sarah Faulkner moved to Mississippi or not, but it is known that their son, Govenor H., moved to that state. Govenor married a woman named Frances (Fannie) who was born in North Carolina in 1842. Some time before 1860 Govenor and Frances moved from Tennessee to Pancla County, Mississippi where they remained until about 1876. At this time they moved to Greene County and took up residence in Cache Township. In 1880 their children were: David, 1861; Hilliard, 1864; Thomas, 1867; Sarah, 1871; Joseph, 1872; Mary, 1875; Lawrence, 1877; and Ezra, 1879. The six older children were born in the state of Mississippi and the younger two were born after the family arrived in Arkansas. Govenor Faulkner was a Baptist minister and at one time was the pastor of Mt. Zion Church in the western part of Greene County. David Faulkner married Emma F. Thorn in Greene County on Sept. 7, 1881. Emma died within a few months after the marriage. About three years later, on Oct. 28, 1884, David married Texas A. Weatherly, born in Arkansas in 1868. She was the daughter of S. H. and Martha A. Weatherly, born in Tennessee in 1837 and 1838 respectively. Several children were born of this union: Texas died in 1902. David married a third time and more children were born of this marriage. Like his father, David was a Baptist minister and at one time was the pastor of the Union Grove Church in western Greene County. Fletcher Reuben Fletcher was born in North Carolina in 1811. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in the same state in 1813. In 1850 the Fletcher family was living in Gibson County, Tennessee in Civil District 9. At this time their children were: Caroline, 1832; William, 1835; James, 1838; George, 1839; Melinda, 1842; John, 1844; Mary, 1846; and Zachariah T., 1848. By 1870 the Fletchers had moved to Greene County and taken up residence in St. Francis Township. Apparently Reuben had died by this time since Elizabeth was now the head of the household. In 1870 only two children were still living at home with their mother: Zachariah and Reuben Fletcher Jr. Reuben Fletcher Jr. was born in 1854. In the late 1860's John Fletcher married a woman named Harriet A., born in Tennessee in 1847. In 1880 their known children were: Martha, 1869; William, 1871; Reuben A., 1873; Thomas, 1874; James, 1876; and David, 1879. Reuben Fletcher Jr. married Aleidora Payne and their known children were: Jesse, 1871; Hubbard, 1872; Flory, 1874; Matty, 1878; and William, 1879. Zachariah T. Fletcher married a woman named Sarah, born in Arkansas is 1858, and their children in 1880 were: Thomas, 1875; and Mary E., 1877. Zachariah and Sarah, lived in Poland Township at this time and their nearest neighbors were the families of James Davis, William Cone, Asa Herren, and Joseph McClure. Futrell It is known that a Daniel and a Littleberry Futrell were in Greene County in 1840. This makes them some of the very early settlers of Greene County. In 1850 Elizabeth Tadlock, born in North Carolina in 1815, was living in Greene County, Arkansas in Union Township. In the same household were three Futrell children: Jonathan, 1834; Jeptha, 1838; and Charity, 1841. Jonathan and Jeptha were born in Kentucky and Charity was born in Arkansas. The relation between Elizabeth Tadlock and the Futrell children is not definitely known, but it seems possible that she was related to them in some way. Jeptha Futrell married Armina Eubanks and two of their sons were Daniel and Junius Marion Futrell. Junius Marion Futrell married Tera Ann Smith in Independence County, Arkansas in 1893. Junius Marion was later to become the Governor of Arkansas. Jeptha's wife, Armina Eubanks, was the daughter of James and Frances, born in South Carolina in 1800 and 1810 respectively. Armina had an older brother, Charles, born in Georgia in 1841. She had at least one younger brother, J. J. born in Georgia in 1844. It is known that many, if not all, of the Greene County Futrells came from Kentucky. The exact county is not known with certainty. However, it is known that all of the Futrell people who lived in Kentucky in 1850 were residents of Trigg County. For the reader who may be interested in researching Trigg County, Kentucky further, the following information regarding the Futrells of this County is presented: Cemetery records of Trigg County show the burial place of Nathan and Charity Futrell. Nathan Futrell settled on Ford Creek near Laura Furnace. The marker for Nathan Futrell show[s] dates of Sept. 10, 1773 and Aug. 31, 1831. The marker for Charity shows only a death date, Aug. 5, 1872. Trigg County marriage records show the following Futrell marriages: (1) Winborn Futrell and Charity Colston, 1809 (2) Shadrack Futrell and Polly Cohoon, Jan. 5, 1829 (3) Hansel Futrell and Jane Rogers, July 24, 1830 (4) Joel Futrell and Teletha Bridges, Nov. 9, 1831 (5) John Futrell and Elizabeth Colson (Colston), March 28, 1836 (6) Thomas Futrell and Elsee Futrell, Nov. 3, 1838 (7) Solomon D. Futrell and Clarissa Futrell, March 9, 1846 (8) Joel Futrell and Clarissa Jones, May 17, 1847 (9) Winburn Futrell and Susan Downs, Sept. 21, 1847 (10) Shadrack Futrell Jr. and Lonnie Jane Cook, Oct. 3, 1848 (11) William Futrell and Bashba Colson, June 1, 1849 It will be noted that all these marriage[s] occur[r]ed prior [to] 1850. No attempt has been made to list marriages after that time. The 1840 poll book at Canton in Trigg County contains these Futrell names: Cullen, Dallium, Joel, John, Perry, Ricks, Shadrack, Thomas, Sr., William, Winburn, and Winborn. The 1820 census for Trigg County shows Nathan, Daniel, John, Thomas, and Winburn Futrell as owning from one to four slaves each (see "slaves schedule" for the 1820 Trigg County census). A number of the Futrells lived in Trigg County in the Canton and Golden Pond area; this is today known as the "Land between the Lakes."