Elliott County’s Confederate Civil War Veterans By John A. Stegall < johnstegall@hotmail.com One installment in a series of articles Mr. John A. Stegall prepares and publishes in The Elliott County News, this article first appearing in the Friday, May 14, 1999 addition and first in this series. Transcribed with permission from the author by Samone Ratcliff. on Nov 16, 1999. In my pervious series of 47 articles on the Union veterans emphasis was on the Union veterans still living when the 1890 military census was taken, which was the first and perhaps only such census take in the United States. I shall now attempt to do a series of articles on the Confederate veterans; however, since no census record for them is available, the task will be very difficult. I have compiled a list from various sources, but I am sure the list is far from complete. If a reader has a relative that was in the Confederate Army, and was still living as late as 1890, I will appreciate any information they can pass along. As with the Union veterans, I hope to make these reports as complete as possible. Joseph Adkins: It is indicated that he volunteered for service a West Liberty, Morgan Co, KY on Oct 21, 1861, entering Co. B., 5th Regt., Inf., Ky. Volunteers. One source indicated that Joseph Adkins was a 1st Lieutenant, a 2nd Lieutenant and then attained the rank of Capt. Several Josephs are named in my Adkins file, however, Joseph, the son of Howard Adkins, and age 20 in the 1860 Morgan Co census appears to have been the one most likely to be a veteran. The 1850 Morgan Co census also lists Joseph Adkins, age 10, and a son of Howard and Mary Adkins, both born in Virginia. The 1870 Elliott Co census has a J. K. Adkins, age 30. I believe this is the Joseph Adkins mentioned in the Morgan Co records. In 1870 his family was found living in the Martinsburg Precinct and was enumerated as follows: Joseph (J. K.), age 30 and born in KY; Margarett, 27 and also born in KY; Denna, a son, 9; Joseph, 6; Mary, 4; Alamander, a son, 3; and Mintie, a daughter, age 1 year. Morgan Co KY marriage records indicate that a Joseph Adkins and Margaret Adkins were married Jan 26, 1860. When the 1880 Elliott Co census was taken, Joseph K. Adkins was a resident of Precinct #1, Martinsburg. (Readers should keep in mind that the Marinsburg precinct included a very broad area.) In the 1880 census, Joseph K. Adkins was 39 years of age and indicated that he was born in KY. He also indicated that his father had been born in VA. Margarett, Joseph’s wife, was 37, and stated again that she was born in KY. Their children were: Denis F., 19; Joseph D., 16; Mary A., 13; Delilah A., 12; Alamander, 12; Howard, 7; Andrew, 4; and Martha, 1 year. It would appear that Alamander and Delilah were twins, however, Delilah was not named in the 1870 census. The 1890 Elliott Co tax records show a Joseph Adkins Sr. as a resident of the Martinsburg Precinct and the owner of 85 acres of land. This record indicated that there were no children between the ages of 6 and 20 years living in Joseph’s home. The 1990 Elliott Co census reveals more about Joseph Adkins’ family. He was 60 years of age, having been born in 1840; Margaret, his wife, was 58, having been born in 1841. They indicated that they had been married 40 years and had 14 children, 5 of them being deceased. Four children were still at home with their parents: Howard, 27 (born in 1872; Lourania, 21 (1879); John B., 18 (1881); Marion L., 14 (1886). Some of the older children are also named in the 1900 census. I have no date of death or place of burial for Joseph Adkins. I assume that he might be buried on Howard’s Creek or Middle Fork. Harrison Adkins: According to the Kentucky Adjutant’s report, this veteran joined the Confederate Army on Oct 21, 1861 at West Liberty. He was a Private in Co. B, Fifth Regt., Inf., Kentucky Volunteers. This Regiment was mustered out Oct 20, 1862. A comment made in the above-named report reads: “Deserted”. Records indicate that Harrison Adkins was born about 1817 in VA which would make him a bit old for war service. I do not, however, find another Harrison Adkins that would be near sufficient age to have served in the Civil War. The first record I can find for Harrison Adkins is a Morgan Co, KY marriage record showing that he married Rebecca Click on June 6, 1843. (Rebecca was a daughter of John and Susan Drake Click, who probably came from Floyd Co, KY.) The Morgan Co census of 1850 reveals that Harrison Adkins was 33 years of age and born in KY. His wife, Rebecca, was 27 and, likewise, born in KY. Three children were listed: Melvina, 5; Amanda, 4; and Margarett, 1 year. In the 1860 census of Morgan Co Harrison indicated that he was 43 years of age which seems to be consistent with previous ages given and the year of birth. Rebecca stated that she was 34, obviously not consistent with the age she gave in the previous census. In 1860 they had eight children: Melvina, 15; Amanda, 13; Margatett, 11; McFarlane, 9; Martha A., 7; Eliza J., 6; Eveline, 4; and William, 1. Family records indicate that Harrison Adkins apparently moved from this area shortly after 1860 and that he died in Nicholas Co, KY about 1865. I am assuming that he is buried in Nicholas County. James P. Adkins: This is probably the James K. P. Adkins listed as a Private and “Musician” in Co. B., Fifth Regt. Ins., Kentucky Volunteers. It is indicated that his military service began Oct 25, 1861 at West Liberty. Since this regiment was to be mustered out on Oct 20, 1862, I assume that James P. Adkins’ military service may have ended on that date; however, it could have ended earlier or later. There are several James Adkins in Elliott Co records; however, I am unable to pinpoint this particular James P. Adkins. It seems possible that he war a resident of Morgan County. Green G. Adkins: One record indicates that a Green G. Adkins entered the Confederate Army at Prestonsburg on Oct 26, 1861; however, another record shows that Green G. Adkins entered Co. G, Fifth Reg’t Inf., (Consolidated) Ky. Vol., in Morgan Co on Jan 3, 1862. This later record notes: “Transferred to Capt. Henry T. Stanton} s Co. B, 5th Reg’t (One year organization)”. None of the Adkins family records I have indicate that there was a Green G. Adkins in the Civil War; however, the 1850 census report for Morgan Co, KY lists a Green Adkins, 13 years of age, and a son of Howard and Mary Adkins. This particular Green Adkins appears in the 1860 Morgan Co census as Green G. Adkins, 23 years of age, and still in the home of his father, Howard Adkins. (Mary Adkins is not mentioned and may have been deceased.) When the first census of Elliott Co was taken in 1870 Green G. Adkins had married and established his own home. He indicated that he was 33 years of age, which was consistent with the ages he gave in previous census reports. His wife was listed as Etta, age 30. Morgan Co marriage records show that G. G. Adkins and Pieta Whitt were married Aug 16, 1860. I am assuming that Etta was a shortened form of Pieta. The 1870 census lists the following children for Green G. and “Etta” Adkins: William, age 7; James B., 5; and John M., 3. The 1880 Elliott Co census lists Green G. Adkins as a resident of the Martinsburg Precinct and 43 years of age (again, the age is consistent). His wife is listed as Sarah, age 31, and apparently his second wife. Green’s children were as follows: William, 17; James B., 15; John M., 13; Catherine, 8; Sallie, 6; Andrew P., 3; and Wylie, 1. The five- year space between John and Catherine might be an indication that Pieta “Etta” had died during that time and Green had remarried. I do not find a Green G. Adkins listed on the tax rolls of Elliott Co in 1890, neither do I find him named in the 1900 Elliott Co census. One Adkihs (Atkins) family records I have indicates that Green was born in 1837 and married first, Piety Whitt, a daughter of Richard Whitt Jr. and Margaret Adkins Whitt. Green’s second wife was Sarah Eldridge. I have no date of death for Green G. Adkins (Atkins); neither do I know where he is buried, however, it seems likely that he is buried somewhere on or near Middle Fork. Note:To Mary Layton in Portsmouth, OH; Thanks for the information on the date of death and place of burial for John w. Wells. And for anyone else interest in this information, he died in 1884 and is buried on a hill on the north side of Route 7, near the Linzie Dickerson residence. Finished USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access.