Elliott County Civil War Veterans of 1890
By Mr. John A. Stegall <johnstegall@hotmail.com

One installment in a series of articles Mr. Stegall publishes in The Elliott County News, this 
article first appearing in the Nov 8, 1996 edition of said paper and a continuation from Oct 25, 
1996.  Transcribed with permission from Mr. Stegall by Samone Ratcliff on Mar 29, 2000.

	James B. Horton: Corp., Co. B, U.S. Inf.  Information from the 1890 Military Census 
indicates that James Horton entered the military on Oct 6, 1861 and was discharged Nov 18, 1865. 
His address in 1890 was The Ridge, a post office in the southwestern part of Elliott Co.  He 
mentioned no war related injuries or current illnesses.
	The first record in which I find James B. Horton mentioned by name is the 1850 Morgan Co, 
KY census.  He was named in the Rhode and Catherine Horton family, and was 10 years of age, 
placing his date of birth around 1840.  Indeed, a later record reveals that he stated he was born 
in Apr of 1840 in VA.
	According to the 1850 census, James had an older brother, William, age 13.  Brothers and 
sisters younger than James were: Zarilda, 8; Jacob, 6; George, 4; and Sarah, 2.  Rhode Horton 
indicated that he was born in VA; however, Catherine and all of the children were born in KY, 
according to this census report.
	Information given in the 1860 Morgan Co census varied somewhat from that given in 1850.  
Rhodah Horton was 40 years of age, which was not consistent with his age of 24 given in 1850.  In 
the 1850 record, it was stated that Catherine was 32 and born in KY; the 1860 report gives her 
age as 22, born in VA.  Again, we have inconsistencies.  Family researchers say Rhode was born 
about 1816, making him about 44 years of age in 1860.  He and Catherine Banner were married Apr 
12, 1836, therefore, she would have to be more than 22 in 1860.  
	In 1860, James B. Horton was 20 years of age and still residing in the home of his 
parents.
	Morgan Co marriage records indicate that James B. Horton and Margaret Whitt were married 
Apr 24, 1866, not long after he had served in the Civil War.  Margaret was a daughter of Martin 
and Evaline Adkins Whitt. 
	We can follow James Horton to the 1870 Elliott Co census.  At that time, James gave his 
age as 30, and born in VA; Margarett  was 22 and born in KY.  They had 2 children: Lucretia, age 
2, and James, 1 year.
	In 1880, James B. Horton was 40 years of age; Margaret was 33.  They were residents of 
Precinct No. 2, Devils Fork, which included at least the upper reaches of South Ruin.  Children 
named in the 1880 report were: Lucretia, 13; James M., 11; William H., 9; Arvilla, 7; Robert, 5; 
and Rose A., 2.
	Obviously, James B. Horton was still a resident of Elliott Co in 1890, but like other 
residents, no census record for him exists for that year.  He is mentioned, however, on the tax 
rolls for that year with the indication that he owned 125 acres of land.
	In 1900, James B. Horton informed the census taker that he was 60 years of age, having 
been born in Apr 1840.  Margaret was 51, and was born in June 1848.  They stated that had been 
married 33 years and had 10 children, 1 of which was deceased.  Children named in the 1900 census 
were: Robert, 24 (born Sept 1875); Loulie, 18 (Apr 1882); Johnie, 15 ( June 1884); Ettie M., 13 
(Nov 1886); and Lonnie, 12 (Feb 1888).
	James B. Horton is later found in the 1910 census of Elliott Co, and apparently living in 
the same general area that had been his lifelong home.  He was 69 years of age, a farmer, and a 
Union Veteran.  Maggie (Margaret) was 61 years of age, and stated that they had 10 children, 3 of 
them being deceased.  In the home with James and Maggie were: Arvilla, 36; Lonnie, 22: and a 
grandson, Lancelet Fannin, age 5 years.
	I do not have access to the 1920 Elliott Co census, therefore, I do not know if James 
Horton was deceased by that time.  I do not know the date of his death or where he is buried.  I 
assume, though, that he is buried near his homeplace in the South Ruin area.  Several of James 
Horton’s descendents live in that area today.

	John T. Horton: Pvt., Co. A, 5th Ky Inf.  He stated that his military service began in 
1861 and ended in 1862.  No specific dates were indicated.
	One source of information I have seen shows that John T. Horton’s middle name was 
Thompson, and that he was a son of Travis and Rebecca Lester Horton.
	This particular Horton family were natives of Russell Co, VA; however, it seems apparent 
that sometime during the early 1800s, Travis Horton moved his family to Lee Co, VA.  It is also 
possible that they resided for a short time in Pike Co, KY before making their final move to that 
part of Carter Co that is now in the southeastern part of Elliott Co, and known to us today as 
Horton Flats.
	John T. Horton was born July 15, 1821 in Russell Co, VA, and died June 27, 1898 in 
Elliott Co, KY.  
	Carter Co marriage records reveal that John T. Horton married Elizabeth Cox, Jan 10, 
1849.  Elizabeth was a daughter of Henry and Rebecca Flannery Cox.  It is interesting to note 
that three of John’s brothers also married daughters of Henry and Rebecca Cox.  (The surname Cox 
was originally Cocke; however, researchers say that a brother of Henry Cocke petitioned the 
Virginia Legislature to change the name to Cox.  Evidently, the petition was honored.)
	Military information, other than that in my own person al file, indicates that John T. 
Horton attained the rank of 2nd Cpl., and 2nd Lieut., in Co., D, 5th Regt., Inf., Ky., Vol., 
C.S.A.  It is indicated that this service was under Capt. Leonidas H. Elliott.
	John Horton’s family is enumerated in the 1850 Carter Co, KY census.  He stated that was 
28 years of age and born in VA; Elizabeth was 23, and likewise, born in VA.  They had one child, 
Francis, age 7 months.  Also in John’s home was Rebecca Horton, age 70, and undoubtedly, John’s 
mother.
	I do not have access to the 1860 Carter Co census, in which, I feel sure, John T. 
Horton’s family would be named.  I know that additional children were born to John T. and 
Elizabeth during the 1850s.  According to Carter Co birth records, Rebecca Jane was born Sept 19, 
1852 and Leander M.C. was born July 13, 1855.  Carter Co death records list the last child as 
Leondes C., and indicate that he died Sept 20, 1857 at the age of 2 years, 1 month and 1 week.  
This same record shows that Horton family living on “Clifty”.
	I have no further information on this particular John T. Horton.

	Jesse K. Howard, Sr.: Pvt. Co, K, Ky Cav.  According to Howard family researchers, Jesse 
K. Howard enlisted in the Union Army Oct 17, 1863.  I have not seen a date of discharge for him, 
but his service lasted for a few months.  This same source of information states that he was 
captured a Mount Sterling, KY.  After the war, he received a pension of $90, every three months 
for an injury to his left eye during his time in the military.  
	After his released from military service, Jess Howard was involved in different 
occupations: farming, surveying and teaching.  Family researchers tell me that he was the first 
School Commissioner of Elliott Co after the county was formed.
	Jesse Kendall Howard was born Mar 28, 1828 in Morgan (now Elliott) Co, KY, and died Nov 
5, 1897, Elliott Co.  He is buried in the Weddington Cemetery on Little Sandy.  He was a son of 
George and Sarah Howard, early settlers in the Neal Howard’s Creek area.
	Morgan Co, KY marriage records show that Jesse K. Howard and Lockey Adkins were married 
Oct 26, 1848.
	The 1850 Morgan Co census indicated that Jesse K. was 23 years of age and a “Constable”. 
 Lockey was 20, and their only child, Carline (Caroline) was 2 years old.  (Records show that 
Caroline was born in 1848.)
	The 1860 Morgan Co census again names Jesse K. Howard, and indicates that he was 32, 
which was consistent with the age given in 1850  and his date of birth.  Lockey was 30.  Children 
named in this census report were: Caroline M., 12; Christopher, 9; James B., 7; John W., 6; and 
Wiley G., 6 months.
	When Elliott County’s first census was taken in 1870, Jesse K, Howard was a resident of 
Precinct No. 1, Martinsburg.  He was 41 years of age; Lockey was 38, which seems to be 
inconsistent with previous ages.  Children named in the 1870 report were: Caroline, 22; 
Christopher, 19; James B., 16; John W., 13; George, 11; Jesse, 8; and Dolly, 3.  Also living in 
the Howard home were Aggy Parsons, 32, and an apparent son, James Parsons, 2.
	In the 1880 census, Jesse K. Howard stated that he was 52 years of age, and that Lockie 
was 48.  Four children were still at home with their parents: George W., 20; Jesse K., Jr, 17; 
Dollie, 12; and Nancy E., 9.  Also living in the home was Milsey Whitt, 24, a farm hand.
	Obviously, the 1890 census of Elliott Co would have named Jesse K. as a resident.  The 
tax records for that year indicate that he lived in the Devil’s Fork Precinct and owned 100 acres 
of land.  
	I am not aware of the date of death for Lockey Adkins Howard; however, we know that her 
death preceded that of Jesse K.  He later married Elizabeth “Bett” Adkins Gray, widow of William 
M. Gray.
	Jesse Kendall Howard, Sr. was certainly one of the prominent citizens of Elliott Co, and 
played important roles in it’s development.  The number of his descendents still living in 
Elliott Co is quite large.

Note: Thanks Dixie for the information regarding the burial place of your grandfather, David C. 
Greene.  My cemetery records are far from being complete, and it often hinders my efforts to 
write a comprehensive report on some of our Civil War veterans.

Finished

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