Abraham Castleman (abt. 1802 - 1888)

Born about 1802 in Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza (Jones) Castleman — married 20 Jan 1821 in Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Died 1 Feb 1888 at about age 86 in Polk, Missouri, United States

Biography

Abraham was born about 1802 in Davidson County, Tennessee. He was the son of Benjamin Castleman and Amelia Unknown. He passed away in February 1888 in Polk County, Missouri.

Abraham married Eliza Jones on 20 January 1821 in Davidson County, Tennessee.^[1] Known children include:

1. Mary Ann Castleman, 1823, TN, md Robert Reed 1839
2. Caroline T Castleman, 1825, TN, md Obadiah Dyer, 1840
3. Katherine Castleman, 1830, Cooper, MO, md Samuel Caulk, 1846
4. Elizabeth Castleman, 1834, Cooper, MO, md Henry Brockman, 1852
5. Eliza Ellen Castleman, 1837, Miller, MO, md George R Shelton, 1853
6. Nancy M Castleman, 1839, Miller, MO, md Henry Dickerson, 1855
7. Benjamin F Castleman, 1842, Miller, MO, md Minerva Hoskins, 1863

Abraham was baptized into the Methodist faith by a circuit-riding preacher in Tennessee. He was later sent into central Missouri by the presbytery of the Methodist Church as a circuit-riding preacher. He was later known as a minister of the Christian Campbellite Church, or Disciples of Christ. (Prominent leaders in this movement were Thomas and Alexander Campbell.) He arrived in Cooper County, Missouri about 1827-30 and by 1836 he and his family have purchased a farm and settled in Richwoods Township, Miller County, Missouri. About the same time his widowed mother, Milly Castleman, and at least two more of her children also moved to Miller County. The children were David Castleman and his wife Louisa Cayce and Elizabeth Castleman and her husband John Aust.

Abraham was one of the first settlers to patent land in Miller County. His patent was granted in 1836. On 22 June 1837 Abraham Castleman was called to the first Grand Jury convened in Miller County, Missouri. This would not be the first time Abraham was active in the life of Miller County. In May 1838, "Abraham Castleman presented the County Court a view of a road laid out and marked by himself, John Brockman, and Boyd Miller, leading from Tuscumbia to easterly of Spring Garden, ..."^[2]

Fearing an unexpected uprising by the Osage tribe and lacking military support, volunteers in the Big Richwoods in September, 1839, organized the Miller County Militia. On October 26, 1839, the company crossed the Osage river to Muster Day at Tuscumbia under the command of Colonel Abraham Castleman and Captains John Bond and William P. Dixon.^[2] In 1842, he served as a deputy sheriff of Miller County. During the Civil War, he was a Secessionist and raised a State Guard of Confederate troops.^[3]

Sometime during the Civil War or shortly after, Abraham and his family left Miller County. Many of the residents in and near Richwoods Township were Union supporters and he may not have felt very welcome there any longer. It is not known where he was living when the 1870 census was taken, but by 1880 the widower Abraham is living with his son Benjamin Castleman in Polk County, Missouri where he died in 1888.

Civil War Service

The Missouri General Assembly passed the "Military Bill" on May 11, 1861, in direct response to the Camp Jackson Affair in St. Louis the previous day. The final version of the act approved on May 14 authorized the Governor of Missouri, Claiborne Fox Jackson, to disband the old Missouri Volunteer Militia and reform it as the Missouri State Guard to resist a feared invasion by the Union Army. ^[4] Abraham Castleman served as the original Captain of the "Iberia Rangers" - 6th Division, Missouri State Guard. His militia group, formed in 1839, probably served as the nucleus of this Division.

Residence

Abraham and Eliza lived and farmed in Tennessee for a few years after their marriage. Their two oldest daughters, Mary Ann and Caroline, were born in Tennessee. By 1830 Abraham is on the census in Cooper County, Missouri. In his household are:

• Males - 20 thru 29: 1 [Abraham]
• Females - Under 5: 1 [Caroline]
• Females - 5 thru 9: 1 [Mary Ann]
• Females - 20 thru 29: 1 [Eliza]^[5]

By about 1836 Abraham and family have moved on to Richwoods Township, Miller County, Missouri. Joshua D. and John Cochran in Abraham's household were orphaned brothers bound out to Abraham in November 1837 to learn farming. Joshua was also taught to become a preacher by Abraham.^[3][2] In Abraham's household on the 1840 census are:

• Males - 10 thru 14: 1 [John Cochran]
• Males - 15 thru 19: 1 [Joshua Cochran]
• Males - 30 thru 39: 1 [Abraham]
• Females - Under 5: 2 [Eliza E, Nancy]
• Females - 5 thru 9: 2 [Catherine, Elizabeth]
• Females - 10 thru 14: 1 [Caroline]
• Females - 30 thru 39: 1 [Eliza]^[6]

In 1850 Abraham and Eliza are still farming in Miller County, Missouri. Abraham is shown with land valued at $4,200 and personal property worth $2,995. In their household are children:

• Elizabeth Castleman, 16, MO
• Eliza Castleman, 13, MO
• Nancy Castleman, 10, MO
• Benjamin Castleman, 8, MO^[7]

By 1860 the only child still at home with Abraham and Eliza is son Benjamin, age 18, born Missouri. Also in the household are Albina Page (age 18, no occupation & unknown relationship) and William R and Elizabeth Caudle. He is a farm laborer, no occupation given for Elizabeth. She is probably William's sister.^[8]

Neither Abraham nor Eliza have yet been located on the 1870 census. By 1880, Eliza has passed away and widower Abraham is retired and living with son Benjamin, his wife Nancy and their children in Marion, Polk County, Missouri.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ7P-P28 : 3 November 2017), Abraham Casselman and Eliza Jones, 20 Jan 1821; citing Davidson, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. 241, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 200,294.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Judge Jenkins' History of Miller County, written & published by Clyde Lee Jenkins, Tuscumbia, Missouri, 1971]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Biographies: Abraham Castleman
4. ↑ Missouri State Guard
5. ↑ 1830 census
6. ↑ 1840 census
7. ↑ 1850 census
8. ↑ 1860 census
9. ↑ 1880 census

• "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPZ-J94 : 29 July 2017), Abraham Castleman, Cooper, Missouri, United States; citing 201, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 73; FHL microfilm 14,854.
• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT5-L3N : 15 August 2017), Abraham Catleman, Richwood, Miller, Missouri, United States; citing p. 112, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 226; FHL microfilm 14,856.
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZX-KY3 : 4 April 2020), Abraham Castleman, Miller county, Miller, Missouri, United States; citing family 353, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHZ1-8T4 : 19 March 2020), Abraham Castleman, 1860; Richwoods Township, Miller, Missouri, United States, Household 318, page 49; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) M653_633; FHL Film #803633.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6F7-FKH : 14 August 2017), Abraham Castleman in household of Benjamin F Castleman, Marion, Polk, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 117, sheet 325D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,710.

See also:

• Miller County in the Civil War