Chattooga-Murray-Greene County GaArchives Biographies.....O'Rear, Benjamin 1789 - 1855 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: T. Brad Willis http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007638 September 5, 2012, 9:58 am Source: Family Records, Census Records, Books Author: T. Bradford Willis, compiler Benjamin O'Rear was born circa 1789 in North Carolina and died in 1855 in Chattooga County, Georgia. Benjamin O'Rear, a veteran of the War of 1812, and his father, Daniel O'Rear, a veteran of the American Revolution, are buried in the Macedonia Churchyard in Chattooga County. Benjamin and his first wife, whose name is unknown, had several children: Daniel Floyd, James, and Feriba O'Rear. After his first wife's death, Benjamin O'Rear married Elizabeth Cook on May 27, 1829, in Greene County, Georgia. They had the following children: Benjamin Franklin, Lewis B., Martha A., Monroe Berian, Elizabeth Susan, Mary, Emery, and Thomas O'Rear. After his second wife died, Benjamin O'Rear married Mary O'Donald on November 4, 1849 in Murray County, Georgia. Benjamin O'Rear was a farmer and served as a private in the 2nd Regiment (Jenkins') of the Georgia Militia during the War of 1812. ++++ A daughter of Benjamin O'Rear, Feriba O'Rear Harp was born February 18, 1815 in Georgia, died August 21, 1890 in Johnson County, Texas, and was buried in Sand Flat Cemetery. Her husband, Seborn/Seaborn Harp, was the son of Thomas M. and Sarah Martin Harp (Harrup). Seaborn Harp, who was a farmer, was born circa 1800 in Chattooga County, Georgia and died in 1873-1874 in Chattooga County. After his death, Feriba Harp and their children came to Johnson County, Texas by covered wagon and settled in Sand Flat. Several of Feriba's brothers and sisters also settled in Johnson County. The children of Seaborn and Feriba Harp were: Benjamin F., Mary, Sarah Jane, James, Elizabeth, Margaret, Thomas B., Daniel Franklin, Louronia Ellen (Ella), and Amanda Louise Harp. Sarah Jane Harp, born October 22, 1839 and died June 22, 1881, married Nathaniel C. Boatwright. Daniel F. Harp, born January 24, 1853 and died April 25, 1942, maried Martha Sugg Harville. Louronia (Ella) Harp, born 1856 and died 1921, married Daniel Wesley Teasley. Amanda Louise Harp, born August 8, 1857 and died November 30, 1912, married William Franklin Beck, born January 11, 1853 and died February 20, 1933. Additional information on the Beck, Harp, and O'Rear families may be found in The History of Johnson County, Texas published by the Johnson County History Book Committee in 1985 and Chattooga County The Story of a County and Its People by Robert S. Baker. Additional Comments: The following sketch provides much information on the Benjamin O'Rear family: DANIEL J. BOATWRIGHT, farmer, Cleburne, Texas. - All his life Mr. Boatwright has followed, with substantial results, the occupation to which he was reared and in which he is now engaged - farming. He is justly recognized as one of the leading tillers of the soil, and as a man, no less than a citizen, he is highly esteemed. He was born in Elbert county, Georgia, in 1831, and was the eighth of ten children born to Daniel and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Boatwright, the father a native of Virginia. The elder Boatwright moved to Elbert county, Georgia when thirty years of age, was married there and there resided until 1837, when he moved into Cherokee purchase, North Georgia. There he made his home until 1856, when his death occurred. The father served as a substitute in the Creek or Cherokee (Indian) war in Florida. The paternal grandfather, a native of Virginia, was in the war for independence. Daniel Boatwright, the father of the subject of this sketch, was six years of age during the latter year of the Revolutionary war, and remembered distinctly the battles fought near him. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Boatwright, also fought through the war for independence. He was a native of North Carolina, and was over 100 years of age at his death. The family of Daniel Boatwright scattered, and Daniel J. and his brother, William, started for Texas, in 1857, leaving their mother in Georgia, who died in 1864. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ever since she was a child. The brothers Boatwright came across the country in wagons. Daniel J., our subject, remained two years in Grand View, and in 1860 settled on the farm adjoining where he now lives. He is the owner of 280 acres, and has given his children 200 acres. He was married in Whitfield county, Georgia, in 1852, to Miss Martha O'Rear, daughter of Benjamin O'Rear, of that county. Her mother, whose name before marriage was Elizabeth Cook, was of English parentage, and was reared near Macomb, Georgia, and died when Mrs. Boatwright was a small girl. Her father, of Irish ancestry and a farmer during life, died in 1855, in Georgia, his native State. Mr. and Mrs. O'Rear were the parents of nine children: William, deceased, whose family are now in the Indian Territory; Mary, deceased, was the wife of Madison Atkins, the family now in Georgia; Franklin, deceased, whose family are in Arkansas; Louis, also deceased, was a soldier in the Confederate army, and his family now reside in this State; Martha, wife of D. J. Boatwright; Munroe, who resides in Columbia county, Arkansas; Elizabeth married W. C. Boatwright, and is deceased; Emery died at the age of eighteen years, and Thomas at the age of twelve. Mr. O'Rear was married three times, and by his first wife had three children: Daniel, deceased, whose family is in Louisiana; James, deceased, whose family is in Texas; and Faraby [Feriba O'Rear Harp], who married Cleburne Harp [Seaborn Harp], and died, and the family now reside in Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Boatwright are the parents of seven children, six now living: Amanda, married A. Waldaver, a farmer of this county, and they have two children; Daniel F., a physician of Wilson county, married Etta Deeson, of this county, and they have one child; Thomas, farmer, married Delila Luper and they have four children; Rhoda; Laura; Benjamin, married Cynthia Thurman. When Mr. Boatwright settled in Johnson county his nearest neighbor was two miles away and the country was wild and unsettled. In 1862 he enlisted, at Buchanan, in the Thirtieth Texas Cavalry, made up first as Partisan Rangers, and served in Kansas and Indian Territory. He was in the following engagements: Poison Spring, Arkansas; Roseville, Arkansas; Cabin Creek, Indian Territory, where his command captured 600 well loaded wagons, and many other minor engagements. He served until a short time before the surrender, when he came home on a furlough. Mr. Boatwright is a Democrat and is deeply interested in political affairs but has never held office. He was a Royal Arch Mason, Cleburne Lodge, No. 315. About twenty-four years ago he joined the Missionary Baptist Church and has held membership in it ever since. He is of English descent on the paternal, and of Dutch on the maternal side of the house. Source: The Memorial and Biographical History of Johnson and Hill Counties, Texas. Lewis Publishing Co., 1892. +++ In 1988, a granite VA grave marker was placed at the Macedonia Cemetery by Hester Beck Willis (a descendant) and John Todd Willis, Jr. of Waco, Texas. This marker was acquired from the VA by T. Bradford Willis, DDS of Waco. +++ According to information sent by Mr. Danny Shelby, the Rome Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution conducted a Grave Wreath Laying Ceremony on March 27, 2010 at the Macedonia Cemetery to honor the American Revolutionary War veteran, Daniel O'Rear. Also, the Rome Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution joined with the Society of the War of 1812 to honor Benjamin O'Rear, a son of Daniel O'Rear, who was also buried at the cemetery and was a War of 1812 veteran. Appreciation is expressed to the following officers of the Rome Chapter: President . . . . . . . . .Jeff Kelly Vice President . . . . . . Ed Walraven Secretary . . . . . . . . .Bob Evans Treasurer . . . . . . . . .Dick Richter Chaplain . . . . . . . . . Rev. Clyde Hampton Registrar . . . . . . . . .Jim Clark. Also, appreciation is expressed to Harry, Ralph and Jeanette Treadaway for their help to honor these veterans. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chattooga/bios/orear1020gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb