AVERY COUNTY, NC - BIOGRAPHIES - Barnabas (Barney) B. Calhoun ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Peters ss_peters@mindspring.com ==================================================================== Barnabas (Barney) B. Calhoun Apr. 13, 1834/7 - Dec. 12, 1930 Barney B. Calhoun was born on Apr. 13. The year of his birth is listed as 1834 on his headstone. The 1850 census record would indicate that he was born c1837. The place of his birth is not absolutely known, though it would seem most likely that he was born in Ashe County. He died on Dec. 12, 1930 in Newland, Avery County, North Carolina. Barney has a death certificate on file in the court house at Newland. This is the information that appears on that death certificate: Barney Calhoun, Born April 13, 1835, Died Dec. 12, 1930 Undertaker: Ronald Hughes Informant: Tilman Calhoun Wife: Rachel Calhoun Cause of Death: Old Age Father: William Calhoun Mother: Unknown Barney married Nancy Rachel Osborne around 1859. Rachel was born Sep. 2, 1840 and died Dec. 6, 1912. If I have the correct family for Nancy Rachel, she was born in Virginia. Grayson County Virginia would be the most likely location. She also died in Newland, North Carolina. Barney and Rachel are buried in the Fork Mountain Cemetery just outside of Newland. Rachel's origins are obscure. My mother, Rachel's granddaughter, told me that her maiden name was Osborne. She could not name any of Rachel's siblings, that is, if she had any. I have some census records that I will present a little later that will show some evidence as to who her parents were. In the Ashe County court house there is a marriage register that lists a Barnabas Calhoun married to a Nancy Roark on Jan. 6, 1859. This is just a register and not an actual marriage bond. This has caused great confusion to the researchers of Barney and Rachel. Wade Eller has a note on one of his cards that says that Barnabas Calhoun married a Nancy Roark. He indicated that she was the daughter of Charles Roark, Sr. and Lettie Jones. Census data for Charles and Lettie Roark do not list a daughter by that name. I can find no other Nancy Roark who would seem to fit. On the death certificates of Larkin C. Calhoun and John Calhoun, sons of Barney and Rachel, Rachel Osborne is listed as their mother. I am convinced that Rachel Calhoun was an Osborne and the entry in the Ashe County marriage register is incorrect or is referring to another Barnabas Calhoun. There is another Barnabas Calhoun, but that Barney was born in 1855. Barney Calhoun was a soldier in the Confederate Army. I'm not sure of the exact unit to which he belonged. There was a Barnabas B. Calhoun who was a Private in Company "L" 58 North Carolina Infantry. This unit was formed in July 1862 from 5 (Palmer's) Battalion North Carolina Partisan Rangers and consolidated on April 9, 1865 with 60 North Carolina Infantry, forming the (New) 58 North Carolina Infantry (State Troops). There was also a Barnabas B. Calhoun who enlisted on Jul. 18, 1863 in the 21st Virginia Cavalry. He was a member of Company C2 and provided his own horse. He was claimed as a deserter from the 37th North Carolina Infantry on Oct. 31, 1864. The following was written by Russell Calhoun telling about an incident that happened to Barney during that conflict in his book The Calhoun - Cahoon Family of Northwestern North Carolina: Barney was noted for his honesty and this was reflected in an incident told by his grandsons, Donald and Henry Calhoun. Barney came upon a Confederate Officer who had passed out from the effects of alcohol. This officer was carrying a satchel that contained a large sum of Confederate money. Barney stayed with the officer until he regained consciousness sometime the next morning. When the officer came to his senses, he realized what had happened and was quite grateful to Barney. He was carrying a satchel full of payroll money. He probably saved the officer his career and possibly his life. He persuaded Barney to ride with him for a couple of days so he could get to know him better. My mother could remember her grandfather well. As a little girl she would let her sit on his lap. She would comb and run her fingers through his long white beard. After a while he would pretend to sleep and then suddenly he would rouse and playfully snap his teeth at her and she would then pretend to be scared and squeal loudly. She was quite fond of her grandpaw Calhoun. In the 1850 Ashe County census taken on November 6th for household# 1064, we find the following entry: Name Age Birthplace John Osborn 54 NC Nancy 51 NC Ephriam 19 NC Enoch 17 NC John 14 NC Calvin 12 VA Nancy 9 VA Martha 6 VA I believe that this Nancy is my Nancy Rachel Osborne and that she is the daughter of John Osborne (c1795-bef 1880) and Nancy Graybeal (c1798-aft 1880). Barney Calhoun is listed in household# 1050 which is very close to Nancy. The 1860 Ashe County census shows the following data: Name Age Birthplace Household Barnabas Calhoun 21 NC 487 Rachel 19 NC John Osborne 64 NC 624 Nancy 60 NC Martha 10 NC Barney and Rachel are still quite close to John and Nancy Osborne. Rachel's proposed brothers, William and Calvin are living in households 447 and 451 respectively. The 1870 Ashe County census lists the following: Name Age Birthplace Household Barnabas Calhoun 32 NC 115 Nancy 30 NC Nancy 7 NC William 6 NC Margaret 4 NC John 3 NC Larkin 1 NC Sarah Rotan 35 NC 117 Mary 16 NC Nancy 14 NC Elizabeth 12 NC Francis 9 NC John Osburn 80 NC Nancy 75 NC Here is the 1870 census, Barney and Rachel are living next door to John and Nancy Osborne. I believe that this Sarah Rotan is a sister to Rachel. Sarah Osborne married David Roten. By 1880, Barney has moved to Mitchell County. This is the 1880 Mitchell County census listing: Name Age Relationship Birthplace Barnie Calhoun 39 Head NC Nancy R. 38 Wife NC William L 16 Son NC Margaret 14 Daughter NC John G. 12 Son NC Larkin 10 Son NC David G. 8 Son NC Willie D. 6 Son NC Roba S. 4 Son NC William H. 2 Son NC Sara J. 9/12 Daughter NC Russell Calhoun lists Nancy R's birthplace as VA in both the 1870 and 1880 census. From my notes, I have transcribed her birthplace as NC. We are in agreement in the 1900 census for Mitchell County. This is that record: Name Age Relationship Birthplace Self Father Mother Barnabas Calhoun 5/1836 Head NC NC NC Nancy R 1/1840 Wife VA NC NC Sarah 8/1879 Daughter NC NC VA Scott 9/1881 Son NC NC VA Tilman 8/1883 Son NC NC VA Ida 6/1887 Daughter NC NC VA Emmit 12/1899 Grandson NC NC NC Alice 2/1900 G/Daughter NC NC NC This 1900 census record also shows that Barney and Rachel had been married 42 years and that she had given birth to 14 children with 12 still living. The 1850 census shows a Nancy Osborne at age 9 being born in Virginia. The 1900 census shows Nancy R. being born in Virginia in 1840. It also places the year of their marriage very close to the marriage record found for Barnabas Calhoun and Nancy Roark on Jan. 6, 1859. The 1900 census record places the year of their marriage in 1858, which is very close to the record found in the marriage register. As I stated before, I believe that the entry for Barnabas Calhoun and Nancy Roark should in fact read Barnabas Calhoun and Nancy Osborne. The last census recorded is the 1910 and it shows the following: Name Age Relationship Birthplace Barney Calhoun 73 Head NC Rachael 70 Wife VA Emmett 10 Grandson NC Rachel died on Dec. 12, 1912. No death certificates were issued until 1914. A public document showing who her parents were has not been found. My mother, Texie Calhoun Peters, was told that her grandmother suddenly took a pain in her head and died a few hours later. It sounds as thought she may have died of a brain hemorrhage or a stroke. Barney lived for 18 more years and died at the age of about 93 to 96 years. The writer of this article is Michael Stephen "Steve" Peters. Gr Gr Grandson of Barney Calhoun.