Tracing the Carmans From Dumplin Creek to the Skunk River and Points West, by Maxine C. Allen

Provided by Dan Carman

Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1
- Spring 1995 (TENNESSEE)

page 4

Tracing the Carmans From Dumplin Creek to the Skunk River
and Points West, by Maxine C. Allen

   This history was submitted in 1993 by JCGS Member Maxine
C. Allen, great-great-granddaughter of Caleb and Jenny 
(WALKER) CARMAN.  The surname CARMAN appears in many early
Jefferson County records.  This partial will of John CARMAN,
father of Caleb is on file in the Jefferson County Archives.
     Caleb CARMAN, born about 1769 in Maryland, married in
Jefferson County, Tennessee, 13 Dec 1796, to Jenny (Jane)
WALKER.  Family tradition says Caleb left Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, early in 1796, traveling with two wagons and
stopping for a time at Bristol, Virginia.  He stopped
again in Northeastern Tennessee before settling in 
Jefferson County.
     A John CARMAN purchased 100 acres of land in Jefferson
County in 1797.  The date he arrived in the county is 
unknown.  John CARMAN left a will (shown here), dated 
February, 1837, in which he named his wife, Nancy.  John
CARMAN bequeathed 100 acres of land to his son, Caleb.
To each of his other children -- William, Joseph, and 
Jean-- John gave one dollar.  John's son, Caleb, and Caleb's
wife Jane, were appointed Executors.  When John CARMAN's
Will was proved (1840), Jane CARMAN was apparently deceased.
Court records show Caleb, as an Executor, appeared; the
other Executor (Jane) was dead.
     In July 1818, Caleb CARMAN purchased 164 acres on
the waters of Dumplin Creek, adjoining John CARMAN's
land.  In 1840, Caleb inherited his father's land.  Caleb
CARMAN wrote his Will in July, 1841, where he named the
following children: William, Thomas, Nancy (BETTIS), James,
John, Frankey, Atchley, Charlotte, and Elizabeth NEWMAN.
To Charlotte, Caleb gave a bed and furniture, a flax
wheel, and one cow.  To his son, John, Caleb bequeathed
164 arcres of land.  To his grandson, Caleb Harrison
CARMAN, Caleb left 100 acres.
     On 14 Aug 1849, Caleb CARMAN executed a Deed of
Gift to his son, John, in exchange for $1.00, love and
affection, and John's agreement to provide Caleb with
"decent and comfortable support."  The deed stipulated
that John CARMAN could not dispose of the land.  To insure
he would be supported, Caleb CARMAN retained a lien on 
the property.  Caleb died before 7 Oct 1850, the date his
Will was entered for probate.
     John CARMAN, son of Caleb, was born about 1806-7.
He married in Jefferson County, 12 Feb 1840, Mary Jane
HODGES (born in March, 1816).  They lived at Greenhill.
In 1838, John had purchased 60 acres of land adjoining
his father's property.  John and Mary Jane CARMAN had
three children: Caleb Harrison, Edmund M., and Sarah.
John CARMAN died in Jefferson County about 1858.  Mary
Jane CARMAN was still living in 1900, aged 84 (1900
Census).  The children of John and Mary Jane CARMAN were
as follows:
     1. Caleb Harrison, born 1840 (he is covered in 
     detail later).  Caleb Harrison was the only son
     of John CARMAN's children to leave Tennessee.
     Caleb married twice and had ten children -- five
     by each wife.
     2. Edmund, born February, 1842. Edmund lived
     his entire life in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
     He became sole owner of the CARMAN lands there.
     Edmund married 12 Mar 1862, in Jefferson County
     to Mary Elizabeth GASS.  They lived at Greenhill.
     Known children:
          1. Luther (1864-1926), married Martha
             Rebecca MARIE (1864-1943).
          2. Ulis (born 1879), married Nancy
             Tennessee MARIE.
          3. Verdie, married William BETTIS.
          4. John (nothing is known of him).
          Edmund and Mary may have had others,
          including a child named Carrie.
Page 5
     3. Sarah M., born about 1845, died 22 Jan 1901. 
     She married in Jefferson County, 17 Nov 1874, to
     James Monroe SHERROD (born March, 1852).  James
     and Sarah were buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetary,
     Knoxville, Tennessee. Children:
         1. Cowan McClung, born 5 Oct 1875, died
         23 Nov 1943.  He married Margaret BROWN
         and had issue.
         2. Ida, born 1 Jan 1880, died 6 Jun 1902,
         buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

     Caleb Harrison CARMAN was born 22 Nov 1840, the
son of John and Mary Jane (HODGES) CARMAN.  Caleb was
17 years old when his father died.  Caleb and his
brother, Edmund, ran the CARMAN farm at Greenhill,
Jefferson County, from their father's death until the
Civil War began.
     On 2 Oct 1862, Caleb H. CARMAN, aged 21, enrolled
at Mossy Creek, Tennessee, as a private in Company F,
61st Mounted Tennessee Infantry (Confederate).
He was taken prisoner 17 May 1863 at Big Black River,
near Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Caleb was sent as a 
prisoner-of-war to Memphis, Tennessee.  According to
family tradition, Caleb transferred to a prison at Rock
Island, Illinois, where his brother Edmund, visited him.
This is likely true, since Caleb enlisted as a private 
on 31 Oct 1863 at Indianapolis, Indiana, in Company A,
8th Tennessee Cavalry (Union). (EDITOR'S NOTE: Enlisted 
as a Union soldier was one method for Confederate 
prisoners to gain release from a Union prison.)  By 
1865, Caleb had been promoted to Corporal; he was
honorably discharged at Knoxville, Tennessee, on 11 Sep
1865.
    In Jefferson City, Tennessee, on 5 Apr 1866, Caleb
H. CARMAN married Sarah J. French.  Sarah was born 
circa 1845, daughter of James and Lucinda (SASSEENS)
FRENCH, of Jefferson County.  Three children were born
to them in Tennessee: James (1867), William (1869), and
Malinda (1870).
   In 1870, Caleb and Sarah CARMAN migrated to Keokuk
County, Iowa, where Caleb worked for the railroad.  Two
more children were born to them in Iowa: Omer (1872)
and Arthur (1875).  The infant, Arthur CARMAN died
2 Nov 1876.  A few weeks later (22 Jan 1877), Sarah
CARMAN, died at the age of 32.  She and Arthur were 
buried in the Old Methodist Church Cemetary at Richland,
Iowa.
    Caleb CARMAN married a second time at Sigourney, Iowa,
20 Feb 1878 to Asenath Thurza COY.  Asenath was born 
25 Dec 1852, the daughter of John and Sarah Jane (BALLARD)
COY, of Keokuk County.  Asenath helped Calebrear his first
family.  Caleb and Asenath had five children of their own,
all born in Iowa: Lector (1881), Eugene (1883), Elmer (1886),
Eva (1888), and Carrie (1891).
    In May, 1887, Caleb CARMAN's brother, Edmund, became
the sole owner of the CARMAN farm in Jefferson County; it
had been passed down through the family.  Their sister,
Sarah, was paid for her share.  Caleb executed a quit-claim
deed to relinquish his share, in exchange for an agreement
that Edmund would support their mother for her lifetime.

In the Summer, 1995, issue, Caleb CARMAN's family moves
to Missouri; descendants continue on to California.