Isham Ferris Alcorn (1793 - 1846)

Born 1793 in Mercer County, Kentucky, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Permelia (Seagraves) Alcorn — married 22 May 1823 in Lawrence county, Arkansas by William Looney, JP

Descendants

Died 27 Feb 1846 at about age 53 in Randolph County, Arkansas, USA

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Biography

Isham F was born in 1793, supposedly son of William Alcorn and Sarah McClean.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage

He married Permelia Heartgraves 22 May 1823.^[1]

Census Records

1840 Randolph Co. Isham F. Alcorn 40/50 in Davidson Twp. p. 150 wife 30/40 1 boy 15/20 1 boy & 2 girls 10/15 3 boys 5/10 2 boys under 5

1850 Randolph Co.. Parmelia Alcorn 45 KY Israel P. 19 AR William M. 17 AR Joseph W. 15 AR Richard M. 13 AR Geroge C. 10 AR Phedora P. 8 AR James L. 4 AR John J. 2 AR

Death & Estate

Isham F Alcorn died in 1846, without leaving a will. His widow and son Hamlet submitted an affidavit on 22 Feb 1847 in Randolph County, Arkansas, that said:

"We Pamela [might be Parmela] Alcorn and Hamlet F Alcorn do solemnly swear that the value of the estate of Isham . Alcorn deceased, and upon whos estate we have prayed [?] letters of administration is not to the best of our knowledge and belief more than four thousand five hundred dollars. That aid Isham F. Alcorn died without making a will, leaving as his only heirs seven sons and two daughters to wit, Hamlet F.,. Harriet L., Israel P., Wm. M., Joseph W., Richard M, George C., Phidora P. and Jas. L. Alcorn, all of whom reside in Randolph County..."^[2]

Justice of the Peace

Arkansas

Comm. Date Surname,Given Name County-Township Commission-Remarks

1829 Nov 20 Alcorn, Isham F. Lawrence Magistrate

1831 Nov 5 Alcorn, Isham F. Lawrence Magistrate

1832 May 19 Alcorn, Robert Jefferson Magistrate

A few of the marriages performed by Isham F. Alcorn, Justice of the Peace:^[3]

• COCHRAN, George W. to Elizabeth MATTIX. 29 November 1832 in Davidson Township by Isham F. Alcorn JP
• The old records of Lawrence county show where Nimrod Capps and Synthia Mattix were married by Isham Alcorn, justice of the peace, on June 13, 1830. Capps at one time operated the Bay Mill above Doniphan. The Mattix family were early settlers on lower Spring river.
• HUDSON, Edward to Sarah NEAL 28 March 1833 in Davidson Township by Isham F. Alcorn, JP
• HUDSON, Samuel to Nancy BELLAH. 28 September 1831 in Davidson Township, by Isham F. Alcorn. JP
• McILROi. Daniel to Elizabeth LYNC'H 21 August 1831 by Isham F. Alcorn. JP
• nW. Hamet to Elizabeth DAVIS. 11 July

1833 in Davidson Township by Isham F. Alcorn. JP

About Randolph County

HISTORY of RANDOLPH COUNTY ARKANSAS

by Lawrence Dalton

Published 1946 - 1947

"The first term of circuit court that was held in the county was held May 31, 1837, with Lewis B. Tulley as circuit judge. The following men were members of the first grand jury:

George B. Croft, William Jarrett, William Spikes, Samuel Jordon, Ruben Rice, John Mansker, Fielden Stubblefield, William Marshall, Walter G. Hogan, John Welch, James Bigger, Isaac Blount, Lewis Edwards, John Shaver, Edward Mattix, James Luttrell, Amos Lively, Daniel Plott and Joseph Spikes.

The first petit jury was composed of the following: Isham F. Alcorn, Lemi Evans, Jesse Gray, Charles Hatcher, Jacob Shaver, William Crabtree, Isaac McDonald, William Mitch-ell, Charles Thompson, Isaac Everett, Daniel Lieb, and William Adair.

Evans and Crabtree were fined for not appearing as jurymen after being summoned.

The majority of the first cases tried in this court were for assault and battery and gambling. The charge for gambling was entered on the record as "Betting at seven-up" in most cases, although a few were listed as "betting at a game called three-up."

Thomas Johnson was the first prosecuting attorney.

An interesting thing to be noted in the record of the first and second terms of Randolph County Circuit Court was the frequent appearance of the names of the leading citizens of that day on the docket. It seems that even though they occupied places of prominence in their communities and were often situated in responsible positions, they did not fail to defend their side of the questions involved, even to the extent of being hauled into court and charged with "assault and battery" and "creating an affray."

The people who lived a hundred years ago were, of necessity, of the rough-and-ready type who often scorned conventional things and were not much for formality, relying a lot on impulses and looking at things for their true worth and nothing else.

The Oconee Community

One of the oldest inland communities of Randolph County is the community known as Oconee. Being situated in Dry Creek valley, it is the site of some of the first homesteads in Elevenpoint river valley.

Among the first families to settle here were the Rices, John Wells, Rodney Crawford, the Selbys, Barbers, Howell White, some of the McIlroys, some of the Stubblefields, Davis and Jacksons.

Ezekiel Rice was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Davidson township, in which this community is located. Isham Alcorn was also an early settler here.

The first school house is reputed to have been built on the north bank of Dry creek near the present Oconee ford, about 1874. It is possible that an earlier “meeting house” had been built in the community at an earlier date, but nothing definite is known of this. The house built in 1874 was used both as a school and church until 1894.

Near this date both the Baptists and Church of Christ built churches here.

Oconee was first known as Ricetown. William C. Rice was the first postmaster after the office was established in 1894. He gave it the name Oconee.

The following have been among those who have been merchants at this place: H. M. Rice, J. A. Rice, Thomas White, Harve Boling, Avery Nuckles, Charles Casey, Freeman Owens, M. A. Baker, and Ora Sullenger.

Dry Creek, while not a large stream, flows down out of the dividing brakes between Janes Creek and Elevenpoint River and possesses a nice fertile “bottom” which was taken up by the early settlers and made into a number of nice farms. The old Crawford house is one of the oldest existing buildings in the county.

Near this community were also found the Bellahs, Moores, Rickmans, McLains, James, Taylor and other families during the very first days of settlement.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Record Book "A,": 1821-1837, Lawrence county, Arkansas HEARTGRAVES. Permetia (Isham Alcorn) LAWRENCE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY - VOLUME I - NUMBER 3 MARRIAGES - BOOK A 1821 - 1837 by Dr. M. S. Craig GROOMS Page 17 ALCORN, Isham to Permetia HEARTGRAVES, 22 May 1823 in Davidson Township, by William Looney, JP, A-6
2. ↑ image on ancestry.com
3. ↑ Published in: The Arkansas Family Historian; Volume 13, No.3, July/Aug/Sept 1975. Published Quarterly By ARKANSAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, Inc. Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

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