The Langstons in Our Family History
By Barbara J. Allen

        The Langstons originated in Wales.  At some point in time they moved to England.
The first documented American Colonist of our line was born in the 1600's in England.  He shows up in records in 1664 but may have been in Nansemond County, Virginia earlier.  He was John Langston I.

        Researchers believe John Langston I's parents were Henry and Elizabeth Worrell Langston.  They lived in London, England.  Henry was an apprentice grocer; he was issued a membership in London Grocers at the age of twenty-five.  The great London fire of 1666 nearly leveled the city.  Henry and Elizabeth left London permanently and lived on their Sedgeborough estate in Worcester County.

        Henry's brother, William Langston, was established in the Colony of Virginia.  Henry may have lived a portion of his life in the Colonies, then returned to Sedgeborough.  The fire of London destroyed records.  Courthouse fires in Nansemond and New Kent counties of Virginia during both the Revolutionary and Civil War destroyed a vast amount of records.  Researchers are still hopeful of proving that Henry and Elizabeth were John Langston I's parents from records around their Sedgeborough estate.

        In 1672/73, John Langston I  received a grant from the General Court for 1600 acres in New Kent County, Virginia.

        The fact that John I was involved in a historically important occurrence sheds some light on a life that otherwise may have never been discovered.  He was involved in "Bacon's Rebellion".  It was one hundred years before the American Revolutionary War but the colonists were already dissatisfied with English rule.  John was a Colonel in Nathaniel Bacon's Militia.  One of the commanders was John Washington, great grandfather of George Washington.  Bacon had nearly succeeded in conquering the entire colony of Virginia when he unexpectedly fell ill and died in October of 1676.  He was replaced by Joseph Ingram but the rebellion began to fall apart.  Governor Berkeley hanged the prominent leaders and officers of the rebellion.

        Several colonial government records still exist which pertain to John Langston I's involvement in the rebellion.  One document states, "John Langston, Joseph Ingram, Gregory Walklett, Thomas Whaley and John Forth are prohibited from ever holding office in the colony….. have failed of capture and execution with the other adherents of Nathaniel Bacon, Jr… Status: at large of Virginia".
Another record states, "Submission of John Langston on 31 July 1677….. liberty to John Langston (concerned in the late rebellion) to wear a sword on 27 August 1678".  Another document mentions, "John Langston was pardoned by act of the Assembly, January 1680 but was barred from ever holding public office."

        Apparently, John, the first, abandoned his land in New Kent County.  He moved to three hundred and fifty acres on Cypress Branch of Sarum (Sarem) Creek in Upper Parish Nansemond County, Virginia.  John was called a "Planter" and their place was called a "Plantation".  The actual site was in "old" Chowan County, North Carolina, although Virginia laid claim to the same area.  This disputed boundary makes it difficult to follow their movements.  They called their plantation, "Sarum".  John had applied for a land grant but died before it was issued so it was issued to his wife, Katherine in 1694.  A woman was only allowed to inherit land if she had a male heir.  John and Katherine had at least three issue.  They were John Langston, the second, Leonard Langston, and Mulford (Mountford) Langston.

        One source says John Langston I, from New Kent County, was "exiled" because he refused to prosecute Nathaniel Bacon or his followers.  Given name of Langston was used for over one hundred years in the Bacon family.  Given name of Nathan was used by the Langston family for two hundred years.

        Katherine died four years after John I in 1699.

        John Langston II, as the eldest son, would become his Mother's heir.  He was born in the 1660s in New Kent County.

        Howard Langston (my source through John III) did not know John II's wife's name.  Another author names her as Ann Vann.

        John Langston II seems by all accounts to have been a prosperous planter who must have led a quieter life than that of his rebellious father.  In 1726, he was granted four hundred and eighty acres in Chowan County, North Carolina.

        John II and his wife had several issue.  Six of those documented were John III, William, Thomas, Jacob, Isaac and Michael.

        In 1739, John II traded a tract of two hundred acres for "a plantation in Chowan County called, Sarum, 150 acres which is part of a great tract formerly taken up and patented by one Katherine Langston. "   The document is signed by John Langston and witnessed by Jon (John) Langston, Jr., and three others.  It was stated in the deed that John II made the trade for his son, John.  This was a gift deed.  Less than a month later, John II sold another one hundred acres of the original tract owned by his mother, Katherine, to his nephew, William Langston.

        In 1744, John II sold the land he had been granted in 1726.  He was around eighty years of age.  He still owned land in Nansemond County, Virginia.  The last mention of him is in 1747, the Vestry book of Upper Parish, Nansemond County, a notice his lands had been processioned.

        John Langston III was probably born at Sarum Plantation.  Since John II inherited it, in residence, near 1700 and John III was born in 1710, they probably still lived there.  That is probably why he wanted it back and John II, having let it get away, bought it back for him in 1739.

        John the third married Agnes Mangham before 1731.

        The gift deed places him in Nansemond County, Virginia in 1739.

        By the year 1743, John III had moved his family westward to "old" Edgecombe County, North Carolina.  (Family genealogists have dubbed him, "The Carolinian".)  In 1743, John III appeared before the County Council to "Prove his Rights".  This document shows the population of the Langston Plantation at this time to be six whites and two blacks.

        The date of Agnes' death is not known but she and John III had ten children.  Their names were Absolom, James, Solomon, Amy, Jechonias, Louisa (Luville), Patty (Martha), John, Joseph, and Jesse.

        By second wife, Elizabeth Persons, he had Elizabeth, Sarah (Sally), Rebecca (Bekka), Samuel, Mary (Molly) and Frances.

        In 1755, in Granville (formerly Edgecombe) County, John Langston III's holdings totaled more than fourteen hundred acres.  He operated a grist-mill.  There are numerous records of "gift deeds" to his sons.  The best source of information about them is "Langstons and their kin".  When the American Revolution began, they made the decision to leave North Carolina.  They settled first in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

        After settling in South Carolina, John III and several of his sons and grandsons participated in the struggle for Independence.  The Daughters of the American Revolution recognized John III as a "Patriot".  The family paid a high price for their quest for freedom.  Many of the Langstons served in the Military, and one of John III and Elizabeth's grandsons, James, son of Solomen Sr., was killed in the fighting.  Solomen Sr. was himself a lieutenant in the Spartanburg "Spartan" Regiment, Joseph Langston served as a lieutenant in Captain Merritt's Company in North Carolina and Laodicea Langston has been named a heroine of the Revolution.

        After the end of the War, John III and Elizabeth moved to Greenville County, South Carolina.  His will left the home place and seven slaves to Elizabeth with the stipulation that all be sold at her decease.  His children received inheritances of money, slaves, furniture, livestock and some land.

        The will indicated that John III owned a fair sized tract of land and that he operated a grist mill, as he had in North Carolina.

        Elizabeth died four years after John III.  Since the eldest son, Absolom, had already died, the second eldest son, James, sold the land, disposed of the property and settled the estate.

        After the Revolutionary War, New Territories were opened up for settlement.  The children of John III began migrating mostly into Georgia and Kentucky.  The next generation went into Alabama and Texas.   Some of John III's descendants left the South completely.  Denouncing slavery, they moved north to Indiana and Illinois.

        Of John III's children, Absolom is our common ancestor.

        Absolom Langston probably spent his childhood at Sarum Plantation, in Nansemond County, Virginia.  He was born between 1728 and 1730.  The "gift deed" places his father, John III, in Nansemond County in 1731.  Absolom would have been about thirteen when his parents moved the family to North Carolina.

        He was, apparently, on his own by the age of twenty-two, as he was paying taxes.  This is probably when he married, in 1752, but was definitely married by 1759 because there is a record of his wife, Christian Langston, witnessing a deed in 1759.  Absolom and his brother, Solomen, married sisters, daughters of Richard and Sarah Bennett.  Absolom married Christian Bennett and Solomen married Sarah Bennett.

        About age twenty-four, Absolom served in the Granville County, North Carolina Militia, in 1754.  His unit was Captain Daniel Harris' Company, William Eaton's regiment.  His brothers, James and Solomen, and father-in-law, Richard Bennett, were, also, in the same unit.  His brother, Joseph, was, also, in Captain Andrew Hampton's unit at the same time.

        Absolom and Christian were in Granville County, North Carolina until 1770 when they sold their land and moved to South Carolina.  In 1771, 3 September, Absolom received a grant for four hundred and fifty acres in Craven County, South Carolina.  In May of 1772, Absolom was granted another four hundred and fifty acres on Waters of the Tyger River, and on Dutchmen's Creek, in Union County, South Carolina.

        Absolom and Christian Bennett Langston's children were Nathaniel, Caleb, John, Nehemiah, Daniel, Sarah, William, Jacob, Bennett and Martha.

        The American Revolutionary War began in 1776.  I don't know if Absolom fought in the War.  He probably did.  He was forty-six when it began.  Peace was signed in 1783.  Absolom died in 1783.  The estate was sold by Christian, 22 September 1873.
 

DICEY LANGSTON

The portion of South Carolina near the frontier, watered by the Pacolet, the Tyger, and the Ennoree, comprising Spartanburg and Union Districts, witnessed many deeds of violence and blood, and many bold achievements of the hardy partisans. It could also boast its full complement of women whose aid in various ways was of essential service to the patriots. So prevalent was loyalism in the darkest of those days, so bitter was the animosity felt towards the Whigs, and so eager the determination to root them from the soil, that the very recklessness of haste gave frequent opportunities for the betrayal of the plans of their enemies. Often were the boastings of those who plotted some midnight surprise or some enterprise that promised rare pillage-uttered in the hearing of weak and despised women--unexpectedly turned into wonder at the secret agency that had disconcerted them, or execrations upon their folly. The tradition of the country teems with accounts of female enterprise in this kind of service, very few instances of which were recorded in the military journals.

The patriots were frequently indebted for important information to one young girl, fifteen or sixteen years old at the commencement of the War. This was Dicey, the daughter of Soloman Langston of Laurens District. He was in principle a stout liberty man, but incapacitated by age and infirmities from taking any active part in the contest. His son was a devoted patriot, and was ever found in the field where his services were most needed. He had his home in the neighborhood, and could easily receive secret intelligence from his sister, who was always on the alert.  Living surrounded by loyalists (some of whom were her own relatives),  Miss Langston found it easy to make herself acquainted with their movements and plans, and failed not to avail herself of every opportunity to do so, and immediately to communicate what she learned to the Whigs on the other side of the Ennoree River. At length, suspicion of the active aid she rendered was excited among the Tory neighbors. Mr. Langston was informed that he would be held responsible thence forward, with his property, for the conduct of his daughter. The young girl was reproved severely, and commanded to desist from her patriotic treachery. For a time,  she obeyed the parental injunction; but having heard by accident that a company of loyalists, who on account of their ruthless cruelty had been commonly called the "Bloody Scout," intent on their work
of death, were about to visit the "Elder settlement" where her brother and some friends were living, she determined at all hazards to warn them of the intended expedition. She had none in whom to confide; but was obliged to leave her home alone, by stealth, and at the dead hour of night. Many miles were to be traversed, and the road lay through woods, and crossed marshes and creeks, where
the conveniences of bridges and foot-logs were wanting. She walked rapidly on, heedless of slight difficulties; but her heart almost failed her when she came to the banks of the Tyger--a deep and rapid stream which there was no possibility of crossing except by wading through the ford.

This she knew to be deep at ordinary times, and it had doubtless been rendered more dangerous by the rains that had lately fallen. But the thought of personal danger weighed not with her, in comparison to the duty she owed her friends and country. Her momentary hesitation was but the shrinking of nature from peril encountered in darkness and alone, when the imagination conjures up a thousand appalling ideas, each more startling than the worst reality. Her strong heart battled against these, and she resolved to accomplish her purpose, or perish in the attempt. She entered the water; but when in the middle of the ford, became bewildered, and knew not which direction to take. The hoarse rush of the waters, which were up to her neck, the blackness of the night, the utter solitude around her--the uncertainty lest the next step should engulf her past help, confused her; and, losing in a degree her
self-possession, she wandered for some time in the channel without knowing whither to turn her steps.  But the energy of a resolute will, under the care of Providence, sustained her. Having with difficulty reached the other side, she lost no time in hastening to her brother, informed him and his friends of the preparations made to surprise and destroy them, and urged him to send his men instantly in different
directions to arouse and warn the neighborhood. The soldiers had just returned from a fatiguing excursion, and complained that they were faint from want of food.  The noble girl, not satisfied  with what she had done at such risk to herself, was ready to help them still further by providing refreshment
immediately. Though wearied, wet, and shivering with cold, she at once set about her preparations.  A few boards were taken from the roof of the house, a fire was kindled with them, and in a few minutes a hoe-cake, partly baked, was broken into pieces and thrust into the shot  pouches of the men. Thus provisioned, the little company hastened to give the alarm to their neighbors, and did so in time for all to make their escape. The next day, when the "scout" visited the place, they found no living enemy on whom to wreak their vengeance.

 At a later period of the war, the father of Miss Langston incurred the displeasure of the loyalists in consequence of the active services of his sons in their country's cause. They were known to have imbibed their principles from him; and he was marked out as an object of summary vengeance. A party came to his house with the desperate design of putting to death all the men of the family. The sons were absent; but the feeble old man, selected by their relentless hate as a victim, was in their power. He could not
escape or res ist ; and he scorned to implore their mercy. One of the company drew a pistol and deliberately leveled it at the breast of Langston.  Suddenly a wild shriek was heard; and his young daughter sprang between her aged parent and the fatal weapon. The brutal soldier roughly ordered her to get out of the way, or the contents of the pistol would be instantly lodged in her own heart. She
heeded not the threat, which was but too likely to be fulfilled the next moment. Clasping her arms tightly round the old man's neck, she declared that her own body should first receive the ball aimed at his heart! There are few human beings, even of the most depraved, entirely insensible to all noble and generous impulses. On this occasion the conduct of the daughter, so fearless, so determined to shield her father's life by the sacrifice of her own, touched the heart even of a member of the "Bloody Scout. " Langston was spared; and the party left the house filled with admiration at the filial affection and
devotion they had witnessed.

At another time the heroic maiden showed herself as ready to prevent wrong to an enemy as to her friends. Her father's house was  visited by a company of Whigs, who stopped to get some refreshment, and to feed their wearied horses. In the course of conversation one of them mentioned that they were going to visit a Tory neighbor, for the purpose of seizing his horses. The man whose possessions were thus to be appropriated had been in general a peaceable citizen, and Mr. Langston determined to inform him of the danger in which his horses stood of having their ownership changed. Entering cordially into her father's design, Miss Langston set off immediately to carry the information.  She gave it in the best faith; but just before she started on her return home, she discovered that the neighbor whom she had warned was not only taking precautions to save his property, but was about to send for the captain of a Tory band not far distant, so that the "liberty men" might be captured when intent on their expedition, before they should be aware of their danger.  It was now the generous girl's duty to perform a like friendly act towards the Whigs. She lost no time in conveying the intelligence, and thus saved an enemy's property, and the lives of her friends.

Her disregard of personal danger, where service could be rendered, was remarkable. One day, returning from a Whig neighborhood  in Spartanburg District, she was met by a company of loyalists, who ordered her to give them some intelligence they desired respecting those she had just left. She refused; whereupon the captain of the band held a pistol to her breast, and ordered her instantly to make the disclosures, or she should "die in her tracks. " Miss Langston only replied, with the cool intrepidity of a veteran soldier: 'Shoot me if you dare! I will not tell you", at the same time opening a long handkerchief which covered her neck and bosom, as if offering a place to receive the contents of the weapon. Incensed by her defiance, the officer was about to fire, when another threw up his hand and saved the girl's life.

On one occasion, when her father's house was visited on a plundering expedition by the noted Tory, Captain Gray with his rifleman, and they had collected and divided every thing they thought could be of use, they were at some loss what to do with a large pewter basin. At length the captain determined on taking that also, jeeringly remarking, "It will do to run into bullets to kill the rebels." "Pewter bullets, sir," answered Miss Langston, "will not kill a Whig".  "Why not?" inquired Captain Gray.  "It is said, sir" replied she, "that a witch can be shot only with a silver bullet; and I am sure the Whigs are more under the protection of Providence." At another time when a company of the enemy came to the house they found the door secured. To their demand for admission and threats of breaking down  the door, Miss Langston answered by sternly bidding them be gone. Her resolute language induced the company to "hold a parley; " and the result was that they departed without further attempt to obtain an entrance. One more anecdote is given to illustrate her spirit and fearlessness. Her brother James had left a rifle in her care, which she was to keep hidden till he sent for it. He did so, by a company of "liberty men, who were to return by his dwelling. On arriving at the house, one of them asked the young girl for the gun. She went immediately, and brought it; but as she came towards the soldiers, the thought struck her that she had neglected to ask for the countersign agreed upon between her brother and herself. Advancing more cautiously--she observed to them that their looks were suspicious; that for aught she knew they might be a set of Tories,  and demanded the countersign. One of the company answered that it was too late to make conditions; the gun was in their possession, and it's holder, too. "Do you think
so", cried she, cocking it, and presenting the muzzle at the speaker. "If the gun is in your possession, take charge of her! "  Her look and attitude of defiance showed her in earnest; the countersign was
quickly given; and the men, laughing heartily, pronounced her worthy of being the sister of James Langston.

After the war was ended, Miss Langston married Thomas Springfield, of Greenville, SC. She died in Greenville District, a few years since. Of her numerous descendants then living, thirty-two were sons and grandsons capable of bearing arms, and ready at any time to do so in the maintenance of that liberty which was so dear to the youthful heart of their ancestor.

The preceding anecdotes were furnished by Hon. B.F. Perry of Greenville, SC, who received them from one of Mrs. Springfield's family.

Soloman Langston was born ca 1732; Nansemond Co., VA ? Died ca. 1825; Laurens Co. SC.   He married Sarah Bennett; daughter of Richard and Ann Bennett; 1753 Granville Co., NC.   Sarah and Christian Bennett were sisters, Christian was the wife of our Absolom.   Soloman and Sarah had 10 children, James was killed in the Revolution.; Soloman Jr. married Elizabeth Camp; Sarah Langston married first George Bell, second  ? Miller; Laodecea (Dicey) M: Thomas Springfield; Henry M: Sarah Murphy; Selah M. Samuel or John Stiles;  Martha (Patty) M: William or Nathan Jones.; Amy M: Ephriam Christopher.; Mary, M: Jesse Holder; and Bennett, M: Mary Brown (not our Bennett) Soloman was a lieutenant in the Spartanburg Co., SC "Spartan: Regiment" during the
American Revolution. As a young man, he served in the Granville Co. Militia. He was listed on the muster roll of 6 Dec. 1754 as a private in Captain Daniel Harris' Co.; Colonel William Eaton's Regiment. This muster roll also lists Absolom and James Langston. The aforementioned information in this paragraph is from the book titled "'The Langston Family: 500 Years of Genealogical History"
by Howard R. Langston, Jr.

In 1781, the deed to Absolom’s  450 acres on Dutchmen’s creek was forcibly taken from Christian by soldiers led by a Colonel Tairlton. After the war was over, in 1785, Christian had the deed back; she and witnesses of the deed went to court to verify ownership. By then, Absolom and son, John, had died. The land was deeded to Absolom and Christian’s sons, Caleb, Nathan and Jacob.

After Absolom died, Christian married Alexander Fairbairn. Her dower (that portion of her interest or the part of her dead husband's estate that a widow inherits) was dated 1 March 1799 (from Mr. Fairbairn).

Except for a few personal things such as her saddle, Christian left everything "within doors and without doors to be sold for cash to my small Grandson, Mark Langston” in her will, made in 1800. She states "my four daughters" one named Mary.

For many years, researchers thought that Absolom and Christian's son, Bennett, came to Izard County with five sons about 1814. New technology in genealogical research has given access to state, county and national records that have been almost impossible to find before.

It now appears that Absolom and Christian’s son, Caleb, is our common ancestor.

Caleb and his wife, Elizabeth, both died so young that all their children were minors. In his will, Caleb  sked that his children be kept together until they respectively come of age and then to draw their equal dividend or portion of his estate.  He mentions his children, John, Absolom, Jesse, Nathan, Samuel and Christon.  (Those are the names of the ones who came to Izard County.) He named his wife, Elizabeth, Executrix and his brother, Nathan, executioner.  Caleb died soon after the will was made.   The writings of J. J. Sams revealed that Elizabeth remarried to Jim Darneal;  They came to Izard County in 1819.

The children grew up in Kentucky.

In 1808, John, being the eldest of Caleb’s children, appointed a lawyer and recovered Caleb’s land in Union District, South Carolina for himself, his brothers and sister. Their Uncle Nathan had held the title to Caleb’s land for them. The children were living in Livingston County, Kentucky at this action.

Early researchers thought that Hiram was one of the original brothers but present day researchers believe him to be a son of the oldest brother, John. John married Nancy Ware 1 February 1804 in Livingston County, Kentucky.

Absolom married Dorcas Young in Christian County, Kentucky in 1809.

Nathan Jediah married Patty Weir in St. Clair County, Illinois in 1812.

Samuel was listed in the Territorial Census of Illinois with John and Nathan J. in 1818.

     Jesse married Christina Hawkins Steadman and they lived for a time in Missouri territory. (Until 1819, Arkansas at present - day Izard County was Missouri territory.)

One Genealogist thinks Sarah George and Mary Hunt, who witnessed Caleb’s will, were married daughters of Caleb and Elizabeth.

In 1820, all five brothers are in (present-day) Izard County, Arkansas.  It is not known if Christon (Chressy) came with them.

---To back up a bit---I digressed from Caleb, father of the Izard County Langstons. Caleb was born about 1755. He would have been about twenty-one when the Revolutionary War began.  I don’t know if he fought in it, but he probably did. We do not know the maiden - name of his wife, Elizabeth, or when they married. Their first son, John, was born 1781-84 or around the War's end, in 1782.  Son, Absolom, was born 1787, Jesse b. 1791, Nathan J. 1790 and Samuel and Christon between 1793 and 1800.

There is one record in which, Caleb’s mother, Christian Fairbairn, in 1793, entered up a judgement against Caleb Langston, law heir of Absolom Langston, for 27 lbs., 8 shillings sterling.  Seven months later, Nathan bought the tract for 20 lbs. and settled the judgement against the 450 acres on Dutchmen’s Creek.

                Of Caleb and Elizabeth’s children, John and Nathan Jediah are our common ancestors.
 
 
 

John Langston's birth date is estimated from 1780 to 1790.  He was probably sixteen to nineteen when his parents, Caleb and Elizabeth, died in South Carolina.

He and Nancy Ware were married in 1804 in Livingston County, Kentucky.  Nancy was born in South Carolina, also. A copy of John and Nancy's marriage bond was published in Langston Family Newsletter April 1994. Nancy’s father and John Langston had to pay fifty pounds bond to the Governor of the State of Kentucky.

In 1808, John appointed an Attorney and recovered the land for himself and his brothers and sister left to them in their father's will in 1800.

In 1814, John was sworn in for twelve months duty on the frontiers of Missouri and Illinois as an Indian fighter. A complete account of the "Battle of the Sinkhole” was published by Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri. It was a woods battle between the Missouri River and the upper Mississippi River with the Sioux. They were paid $12.00 at the beginning of the enlistment, and $12.00 at the end of the enlistment and given one hundred and sixty acres of land in the new Territory. This may have something to do with them coming to Arkansas.  John took part in the "Battle of the Sinkhole”, as did Jehoida Jeffery, who also moved to Izard County, later.

In 1818, John was listed in the Territory of Illinois along with brothers, Nathan and Samuel.

As the second generation of Langstons, in this new Territory, were growing up, the country was constantly changing.

In 1819, Arkansas boasted fourteen hundred white settlers, qualified and became a territory. When the Langstons first came, there were only five families living on the east side of the White River from Batesville to the Great North Fork of the River. There were only two pole cabins at Batesville. The westside of the river was Cherokee Indian Reservation from the Great North Fork of White River, south to Desha Mountain in Independence County, from a Treaty in 1817.  The Cherokee didn’t like this swampy land and were given land in Oklahoma in 1828. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and all the Indians across the river from the Langstons, left. There were Delawares, Shawnees, Osage (before 1808), Jussars and possibly, Chocktaws, as well as Cherokees.  In 1836, Arkansas applied for Statehood and qualified but was almost turned down because they had slavery. When the Langstons
first came, they had to go to Helena to get flour. They had to go to Little Rock to circuit court. In addition to farming, Nathan Langston carried the mail for twelve years from Mt. Olive to St. Thomasville, Missouri, a distance of one hundred sixty miles, there being only four Post Offices on the entire route. The first Post Office in the County was at North Fork, which was, also, the first
County Seat. It was moved afterwards to Athens, at the mouth of Piney Creek, next to Mt. Olive and then to Melbourne where it is today.

Caleb’s sons built a mill on Piney Creek. They carried logs on their shoulders and built it in six days. It was the first Mill in the County. This was an “undershot” water wheel with the water going under the wheel instead of over it because of the slow flow of the water. The mill would run for a short time, then they would have to wait until the water level rose again before they started up. It could grind a bushel of corn a day.  Nathan Langston and Colonel Stuart each owned a half interest in the Mill. Nathan operated
the Mill for six months then sold his interest to Henry Benbrook. Today, it is known as the "Old Benbrook Mill" Site.

In 1820, an Altercation between Nathan Langston and Matthew Adams left a court record. Robert Livingston, Nathan, Jesse Langston and “others" were walking from Michael Wolf 's to Jim Darneal’s when Matthew Adams came riding up. After some words with Nathan, Matthew drew his gun on Nathan
and said he would blow his brains out. He didn’t shoot but Robert Livingston and Jesse Langston filed a court deposition for Matthew drawing his gun and threatening Nathan.

        Matthew later became a Judge and the Langstons, Adams and Livingston families intermarried.

One of the early jobs was building roads. On court records 27 Mar 1821, Nathan was appointed to mark  a road from Nathaniel Dickson’s to Daniel’s Mill. 1822, He was appointed to mark a road from Batesville to Livingston Mill.   3 May 1822, he was allotted $5.00 for his work on the road between Polk Bayou and Big North Fork.  Jesse became overseer of roads 21 November 1822 in White River Township. Nathan served as "linesman" for the first official land survey of Izard County, 1827.
Jesse and Nathan were both Constables.

All the Langstons were mentioned in Batesville newspaper Ads listing “strays" found in the area
in the 1830’s. Most of them read the way this one appeared on 7 May 1333:  "State of Arkansas, White River Township; We the appraisers have this day viewed a stray, shown to us by John Wolf - a roan mare, appraised to $75.00 - Absolom Langston."

        The Territorial Militia existed until 1836.  Hiram Langston was named 2nd Lieutenant on 13 October 1834.  Nathan Langston was named 2nd Lieutenant on 12 May 1827.

In 1820, John is in the Arkansas Territory Census. The Langstons and Jim Darneal came by water. It had to be by raft or flat-bottomed Keelboats. There were no steamboats on the White River until 1836. Researchers believe the Langstons became acquainted with the Wolf and Jeffery families In Kentucky. Like them, they followed the trail through western Kentucky and southern Illinois Territories coming to Arkansas Territory.

John and Nancy’s home was on White River, the east - side, near Calico Rock.

The names of their children that I know, were Caleb Langston, Joseph H. Langston , and Hiram (Hyram) Langston.   There were two more males and three females, eight children altogether. In 1830 Census, Caleb, the eldest, was married and lived next door. John and Nancy still had seven children at home. In Turnbo’s, “Tales of the Ozarks Biographical Stories”, he says that Caleb lived one year in the bottom with the springs which bear his name then returned to his father, 1833. We know that John died sometime between 1832 and 1839 when Nancy’s name appears on the tax lists. Perhaps, Caleb went back to help.

In the 1840 Census, when Nancy was “head of house”, there is only one of their children still at home, a boy fifteen and under twenty.

Records from the Arkansas Cumberland Presbyterian Church indicate that John Langston was an Elder of the White River Church (later Mt. Olive) during their spring meeting of 1828.  Also, records of Piney Church (Rev. George Gill’s Church) mention John Langston being a “Messenger” in 1833. October 10, 1835, John and Jessy Langston were named as members of the congregation.

Of John and Nancy Ware Langston’s children, Caleb is our common ancestor.

Caleb was born in 1805 in Kentucky. According to information passed down in the family, Caleb’s wife, Martha was a Ragsdale. Martha was born in Kentucky. On the Census of 1830, Martha is under twenty. They have one son. Miles was the eldest. Their other children were William Jasper, born 1830-32; Hiley, born 1834; Ann, born 1838; and Peyton, born 1840. There was another son, five and under ten, on the 1840 Census who was gone by the 1850 census.  A tax list from 1829 lists eighty-seven and one half
acres by Caleb’s name.

This is from, “Turnbo’s Tales of the Ozarks Biographical Stories”. HOW THE CALEB SPRING TOOK ITS NAME.

In the early settlement of Ozark County, Missouri, a man of the name of Caleb Langston settled in the creek bottom on Little North Fork known years ago as the Elias Keesee Place. This farm is on the west-side of the creek and is where John Graham sold goods in 1869, 1870 and 1871. Mr. Langston built his cabin on a high spot of land and cleared a few acres of land near the mouth of the hollow in which the big spring is. Soon after he had cleared this land and scratched it over with a very small plow, he planted the ground in watermelons and mush melons and raised a fine crop of them.

Langston was from Calico Rock in Izard County, Arkansas, and his father lived on White River near Calico Rock. He lived there only one year when he returned to his father. After he left this bottom, a black walnut tree grew up from among the rocks that Langston and his family had used for a fireplace, and when Elias Keesee was clearing this land, this walnut was a pretty tree, and Keesee cut it down and made an ox yoke out of a part of it.

Caleb Langston was the first settler in this bottom, and the hollow and the fine spring of cold, sparkling water in this hollow which pours off of a ledge of rock one half a mile or more above the mouth took their names from him. Peter Keesee who furnished me with this account said that Mr. Langston lived here in 1833. (End of Quote)

I think sometimes those people would "try out” the land before they applied for a grant or patent.

In Census of 1840, Caleb and Martha have four sons and two daughters. They have ten slaves and three free colored persons with their household. Caleb paid taxes until 1847 but Martha is a widow on the 1850 Census. Also, they have lost one son. If Caleb died in 1847, he was forty-five years old.

In the Census of 1850, Martha and the eldest son, Miles, say they are farming. William Jasper and the other children say they are in school.  Rebecca Ragsdale, thirty-five, is living with them.

In 1860, Martha had one daughter, Ann, left at home. Martha listed the value of her Real Estate at $250.00 and Personal Estate at $120.00, a sizeable estate for that time.

In 1860, William Jasper patented 315 1/2 acres. The description was Sec 7, Twp 18N R9W. He paid .12½ cents an acre or a total of $40.00. In 1859, William Jasper and Martha each paid tax on sixty acres with the description Sec 24 twp 18N 10R.

In 1860, Martha’s oldest son, Miles M., patented 315 acres with the description Sec 12 & 13, 18N twp R10W.  In 1866, Martha paid tax on eighty acres of this same description, Sec 12 & 13, 18N twp R10W. Therefore, Martha owned land joining each of their patented places. Martha disappeared from the Census records after 1860, so she may have died between 1866 and 1870, or between sixty-four and sixty-eight years. She gave her age as forty-eight (Census of 1860), and fifty-six (Census 1860). She was born between 1802 and 1811.

     Of Caleb and Martha’s children, William Jasper is our ancestor.

William Jasper Langston was born August 1830. He was called “Jasper".  Apparently, his father died when Jasper was about seventeen. At twenty-seven, he married Mariah Radar, in 1858. They had two daughters, Martha and Hiley, and two sons, James and William Henry. Reportedly, Mariah left Jasper during the Civil War.

Jasper served with the Confederacy Company E; (McCarvers) Arkansas infantry. He also served with Company F new; 8 Arkansas Infantry Private / Private. He served from 1861 to May 1865.  He was wounded many times but the most devastating was a gunshot wound to the right hand.  It left only the thumb usable, index finger missing, and other fingers drawn back laying in the palm. He was wounded at Georgia, in hospital three months, then given three months furlough in December of 1663. The hand wound happened at the Battle of Chickamauga, Tennessee. He was listed on a role of Prisoners of War paroled the week of May 20th, 1865, at Memphis, Tennessee. This was a formality, ending the War and acknowledging the Victory of the Union.

Jasper was living in Fulton County, probably, at Wild Cherry, before the War. On the Census of 1870, the first Census after the War, he was living in Union Township, Izard County, near his mother, Martha’s, place. He remarried to Mariah’s sister, Elmira Jane Radar Turner. They raised the children from the first marriage plus they had two sons, Miles Franklin and John and a daughter named America (from Census records). Family sources report daughters, Marley and Betty. These may be other names of America. Betty married a Henry. Hiley married Charles Sexton. In 1880, there is John B, a grandson, living with them. He is Martha’s son. She married, in 1881, Jeremiah Franks. Mariah probably came with the Radar family who lived near Martha in 1860 and had come here from Mississippi about 1857.  George and William and Elmira Jane all said they had been born in Alabama. They were near the
same age. William always lived beside Elmira Jane even when they moved. I think they were kin.  Elmira Jane said on Census 1900 and 1910 that her father had been born in Germany. Everyone called her “Jane". Martha Jane Langston Allen said that her Grandmother Jane’s family suffered terrible hardships during the War from bushwackers stealing their food.

The 1900 Census asked the question,  “How many times have you been a mother?  Jane answered. ‘Nine’. The next question was. “Of these, how many are now living?” Jane answered, “Two’. We know part of the story.  Jane was coming to Izard County from Mississippi, with her six children. They were coming on a raft. She lost all of her children on the trip. They are thought to have taken sick and died.

In 1880, Jasper and Jane were living again on the Fulton County, Guthrie Township property. In 1892, Jasper applied and began receiving a small confederate compensation. In 1897, on an application for a complete pension, he said that he had a wife and one dependant child.

One of Jasper's pension applications was sent from Sulphur Rock to Independence County.  His daughter, Martha Franks, and son, Henry, lived there.  His son, Jim, lived at Newark, near Sulphur Rock.  He and Jane may have been visiting or they may have maintained a residence for a portion of their lives at Sulphur Rock.

They may have been taking care of a grand daughter, Rosa Lee, perhaps belonging to their daughter, Betty.  Betty may have died before 1900 (Jane said on Census 1900 that only two of her children were still living.) Miles' daughter, Mildred, clearly remembers Uncle John; that makes two. On the Census of 1900, Jasper and Jane were living with their son, Miles Franklin and his wife, Margaret Adeline Woodcock Langston. Looking at the census sheet, William Jasper, Elmira Jane and Rosa Lee seemed to be grouped within the family group and in 1910, Rosa Lee is listed beside Elmira Jane. That enumerator did not list the last name of the child, if it was different from the head of house, because Adeline’s child from her previous marriage was listed only by his first name. Rosa Lee, as niece of Miles and Adeline leaves many possible last names for they each had several siblings.

In 1901, Jasper received 100 % pension.  He was seventy-one. On the application of 1897, he reported renting and Miles Franklin was farming on "own account", so they no longer owned land.

Miles Franklin’s daughter, Martha Jane said that Grandfather Jasper told them (his grand children) stories about things that happened in the Civil War by the hour.

Jasper suffered a stroke while burning a brush pile and died 3 March 1910 at the age of eighty.

Miles Franklin’s daughter, Martha Jane Langston Allen, described her Grandmother Jane as a “Real Southerner”. Jane was eighty-eight when Miles F's daughter, May, married "Vessie" Scott. Miles F.’s daughter, Mildred Langston Ruddell, recalls, “All the family went to the Wedding, except Martha stayed home with Grandma so that Mama and Papa could go". Grandmother Jane was too feeble to go out. There is an E.J. Langston and W. J. Langston buried side by side in Trimble Campground Cemetery near Pineville in Izard County.

Of William jasper and Elmira Jane’s children, Miles Franklin is our common ancestor.

Miles Franklin Langston was born in 1869. His childhood was spent in the reconstruction period following the Civil War.

Miles was a sharecropper farmer all of his life. Sharecropping was considered self-employment. On the old census sheets, it is OA, for Own Account. A sharecropper owned his equipment such as mules, big heavy wagons, hay rakes or whatever was necessary to the farm operation. Miles farmed around Wild Cherry, in Izard County until the early 1920’s. His brother, Henry, farmed near them. He came to Independence County and finished out his career farming Rutherford bottom-land at the Gap of the Mountain.

Miles Franklin first married Julia Perriman in 1889.

In 1892, Miles Franklin married Margaret Adeline Woodcock Dixon.

        Miles and Adeline had ten children. Their names are Charlie (m. Josephine ‘Josie’ Hand), Geneva (Neva) Price, Roberta Lee (Bertie) Lancaster, Callie Ellen Taylor, May Scott, Martha Jane Wyatt Allen Roberts, Sylvester ( m. Ruby Roberson), Edna Audra Byler Sutherland, Carrie Mildred Dorcas Ruddell, and Drucilla.

In Independence County, five of their children met their spouses.  Irl Ruddell came to work for Mr. Rutherford, building roads. He and Mildred married. Phillip Byler rented land from Mr. Rutherford and farmed it. He and Edna married. When they lived on the Engles place, Allen Fairview Dairy was "up the hollow and on the other hill" from them. Frank Allen and Martha married.  A little gazebo type springhouse still stands marking the Allen place on Gap Road. Sylvester probably met Ruby visiting Martha. The Roberson farm joined the Allen farm at “Valley Road”.  Claud Taylor was boarding and working as a hired hand. He and Callie married. Two of their children who had married in Izard County came with them, to Independence County, Neva and Bill Price and Bertie and John W. Lancaster.

Miles was a Baptist.

After he retired from farming, Miles and Adeline lived with first one then another of their children, as Miles' elderly parents had lived with them.  It was the custom.  Miles Franklin died in 1942, aged seventy-three.

Of Miles Franklin and Margaret Langston’s children, Martha Jane is our common ancestor.

Martha was raised around Pineville and Wild Cherry, in northern Izard County. Wild Cherry Township is just over the line into Fulton County. Wild Cherry also borders Baxter County. Martha’s grandparents, Mary Polly L. Dorcas and Reverend Thomas Robert Hively lived at Rodney, near Mountain Home, in Baxter County while she was a child.  Her grandparents, Jasper and Jane Langston, lived with them from before she was born until they died.

Martha was one of eleven children.  Her cousin, Rosa Lee, also lived with them - sixteen in the household, altogether. Martha was born 22 April 1904.

She said she went to school through the seventh grade.  All of her life, she has been an avid reader.

She remembers a childhood of moving often, as was the custom of most sharecroper farmers, but mostly, around the Wild Cherry community. Wild Cherry was a thriving town until the Depression. Then the road got paved, people got cars and the young people went looking for jobs, elsewhere. The town was said to have grown up because Scott Mills provided jobs. The little town disappeared.

Once, their house burned. She looked up and saw fire in the loft. Some quilts she carried out were all that was saved.

Lots of relatives lived around Wild Cherry. Martha laughed about her Uncle Tom Hively Jr., sneaking out in his sock feet, going to dances, wearing out his socks; things the Rev. Tom Hively, Sr. just couldn’t stand. He whipped poor Tom but it didn’t do any good. He just went back and did it again!

Martha laughed when she recalled how one of her uncles got drunk. It was after dark and he couldn’t find his way home. He wandered around the hills and hollows and finally slept in the woods until daylight.  I don’t recall which Uncle she said it was. I remember it wasn't Tom. From her delight at recalling it, I can imagine her and her little siblings hooting with laughter about it at the time!

She was about twenty when her parents moved to Independence County. She stayed with relatives or friends in Izard County. She was married to Oscar Wyatt, divorced, then went to live with her parents on Gap Road near Batesville.
 

Five years later, she and Frank Allen were married. They owned a ranch and farm across the road from the Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church on Bethesda Road. Martha liked to sew. She made quilts and some of her clothes. They attended the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Martha was fifty-two when Frank Allen died.  She spent a lot of time visiting her sister, May Scott, in Pineville. They went to church at Wild Cherry. She was visiting May or one of her children most of the time.

Martha married Herchel Roberts when he was eighty-nine and she was eighty-three. After two years, he had some strokes. She moved back into her house and he died a few months later in a nursing home.

She entered a nursing home, at eighty-eight with Arthritis and Arteriosclerosis and suffered severely disabling strokes a short time later. She is in 1998.

Nathan, son of Absolom and Christian Bennett Langston of Union District, South Carolina was born in  1791. He was nine whenboth his parents died. The next time we hear of him, he is nineteen, head off household on the 1810 Census. He is living in Christian County. Kentucky. There are (two males 16-26) (one female 15-26). These are, undoubtedly, himself, younger brother, Samuel, and younger sister, Chressy.

On August 12, 1814, Nathan Langston and Patti Weir were married in St. Clair County, Illinois.

On 24 September 1814, Nathan was made a Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment of the Militia, Illinois Territory.

In 1820, a deed records him selling “a certain settlement of Congress land” located near the home of Robert Livingston, on the Northeast side of White River to Robert Livingston for the sum of $12.00 currant money of the United States (they have stopped using lbs. and shillings sterling). Nathan eventually patented around 650 acres.

I have already talked about the activities of Nathan in the early settlement of Izard County. I will turn now to his family.   Nathan and Patti had sixteen children. The first a female who married Thomas Hightower, John (m. Maldred Livingston), Nathan Langston, Jr., Sarah Jane, Patsy, Martha, James, Jehoida J. and Absolom.

Patti died. Nathan’s second wife was Susanna Lathan.  They had three children: Thomas B., Caleb S., and Jane.

His first daughter died and her children are listed in his household in 1850 Census. They are Patsy, Nathan, Heyley Jane and Mary Ann -
 

        An elderly man living with his household in 1840 is probably Patti's father.

In spite of an adventurous life, Nathan Jediah lived to be eighty.

 Of his and Patti Weir's children, John is our common ancestor -

John was born in 1820. The land sale places his parents in Arkansas in May of 1820. John's mother, Patti, died in 1840-41. John and his wife, Maldred Livingston, are thought to have been living with Nathan’s household at the 1840 Census. Their first daughter, Phoebe, was born in 1840.  They had another daughter, Peggy, born in 1843 and Polly L. was born in 1845. At the 1850 Census,
Maldred and the girls are established in a house, but John died between 1845 and 1850, twenty-five to thirty years old.

After John Langston died, Maldred had an ulcerated leg that the local doctors could not heal. A doctor in Tennessee said if she would come there, he could heal her leg. She took her three daughters,Phoebe, Peggy and Polly  to live with her mother (E. Mildred Livingston who lived west of Calico Rock on a farm that, fifteen years ago, was known as the Caples Farm) until she could return to get them. She left with a family who was coming back to Tennessee to live. They were traveling in a covered wagon and she took her horse to ride when she was able. After they left the vicinity of Calico Rock, they were never heard of from that time on. The three girls lived with their grandmother until they married. They never knew what became of their mother or the family she was traveling with. They could have drowned while crossing the river, she could have died of sickness caused by the ulcerated leg and the family failed to let them know, or Indians could have killed them? ?

Of John and Maldred Langston’s children, Polly L. is our common ancestor.

Soon after she was five years old, Polly L. was living with her grandmother and two sisters.  Grandmother F. Mildred was a sister to Michael Wolf who came to Izard County in 1819. A.C. Jeffery said they were of Dutch extraction and Michael spoke very broken English.  E. Mildred had married William Livingston. William was a brother of Robert Livingston who came to lzard County in 1814.  E. Mildred had been widowed young but she had a black slave, John,  who helped her take care of the girls.  He did the cooking, laundry, etc. and stayed with the girls when E. Mildred had to be away. He would give them brown sugar cubes for treats to keep them happy.

E. Mildred’s nephew, Colonel Jacob Wolf, built the Wolf log house museum at Norfork.

Polly L. married Modena Francis (Frank) Woodcock.  They were living on a farm above Pineville when Frank joined the Confederate Army in 1862. Their first child, Atlas Franklin, was born in 1862, died 1867.

On his return from the War, Frank was crippled with rheumatism and other ailments. Gold had been discovered in 1849 in California and shortly after, three of Frank’s brothers went out there. They now wanted him to come to California.  In 1874, the family rode Matthews freight wagons to Independence, Missouri to board the train for California. They lived near Visalia, California for seven years.  Then Frank died of War injuries complicated by pneumonia. By now, they had seven children: Luther, Joel, Adeline, Callie, Monroe, Samantha and Dena.  Polly L. stayed one year after Frank died then brought the family back to the farm at Pineville. They rode an ‘immigrant” train back to Arkansas. It went so slow over the Rocky Mountains, the children jumped off and played in the snow.

On the train, a man asked Polly L. what she was going to do with those children. She replied, “Take them to Arkansas”. “Ah,” he said, “You’re going to rack em sack em.” “Rack en Sack” was a term being used for Arkansas, in those days.

        Polly L. said that her great grandfather signed the Constitution of the United States.  This connection has not been documented, yet.  She said his name was Robert Livingston.

        Polly L. told this story to one of her grandchildren about happenings when she was young:  She wanted to go to school but none was close, so she wanted to leave home and go to a boarding school - they had slaves to do the work, but her grandmother wanted her to stay home and take care of her - so she told her grandmother she would never open a book if she couldn't leave home and go to school - so she never learned to read.

Polly L.'s eldest son, Luther, was seventeen when they came back to Pineville. Adeline was eleven.

Three years later, Polly L. married Reverend Thomas Robert Hively, a blacksmith and circuit riding Methodist Preacher. He had three children from his first marriage.  His first wife was Sarah “Jane” Langston, Nathan’s daughter, (Polly L.'s aunt) or some researchers think she was Absolom’s daughter.

Luther set up his own house when Polly L. remarried and the Woodcock children lived there. Martha Langston Allen said that Adeline thought a lot of her step-father, Rev. Hively. Polly L. supported Rev. Hively in his work, sitting up with sick people etc. Polly L. and Reverend Thomas Robert had three children: Martha, Janie and Thomas.

He was another Grandfather who told Civil War stories to his grandchildren. Some examples:

Reverend Thomas was twenty-three, when he rode into the Battle of Pea Ridge. He was Cavalry. Pea Ridge is above Harrison, towards Fayetteville. He told how, when the fighting was bad, once his horse and his saddle saved his life. He was backed up against a rail fence, surrounded by Union soldiers. Suddenly, his horse bolted straight up, twisted in mid air and jumped the fence. His saddle had an extra high “roping” pommel and he was able to hang onto it and get away. The saddle was hit by a minnie ball
fired by a Union Musket, but he and his horse were spared! His saddle, which he also used as a circuit riding Methodist Minister, is in the United Methodist Museum of Arkansas at the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church in Little Rock.

After the War, men would gather round to talk, as he worked, at the blacksmith shop. One day, the topic turned to the Civil War. Rev. Tom said, “I did something during the War that bothers me to this day. I knocked a fellow off his horse and pinned him to the ground with my sword, rode off and left him like that. Never knew what happened to him. I get nightmares about it."

One of the men started crying. He opened his shirt to show a scar and said. “I was that man.” Rev. Hively could never tell this story without crying.

Once Rev. Hively had helped neighbors kill hogs and they gave him some of the fresh meat. He was walking home through the woods when he heard the wolves coming. They had smelled the meat he was carrying. He took off in a dead run, jumped a rail fence in front of the cabin and ran upon the porch hollering, “Polly, open the door!’ one jump ahead of the wolf pack!

Polly was remarkably tall and strong. She carried three cedar buckets of water from the spring each way by balancing the third one on her head. One of her granddaughters said, "I would describe her as a very healthy person". Another time, she said. ‘If one of her daughters said something she didn't like, she sure got them told about it right quick!"

Rev. Hively and Polly L.'s grand daughter, Everne Hunter, followed in their pioneering footsteps when she became the first WOMAN Minister ordained by the North Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Reverend Thomas Robert Hively died in 1917 and Polly L. in 1932.

Apparently, when Polly L. was elderly, she lived with Luther. Polly L. liked best to ride with the teenage daughter who drove the Model A fast. This granddaughter says, “...and she knew just how far we should get from the house before she would say, "Ok, you can step on it, now!” Polly L. liked fast horses. She rode astride, not side saddle, as was thought proper for ladies, in those days.

Of Polly L. and Frank Woodcock’s children, Margaret Adeline Woodcock is our common ancestor.

Adeline was born at Pineville in 1870. When she was three, the family went to California. She was eleven when the family came back to Pineville, after her father died. Once when she was elderly, she laughed about remembering herding a flock of geese in California. Evidently, one of her childhood chores was tending to the family’s geese.

After her mother married Reverend Thomas Hively, Adeline said he was like an own father to her. She enjoyed the younger half sisters and brother.

-       In 1881, Adeline married Benjamin Franklin Dixon Jr. “Frank’ died after nine years. They had a son named Jake.

Adeline’s second marriage was to Miles Franklin Langston in 1892. At the Census of 1900, Miles’ parents had come to live with them and a niece, and they had four children. On Census of 1910, Adeline's brother, Joel Woodcock, was farming next door to them. Sometimes, Miles’ brother, Henry, would be farming near them. When Jake was sixteen, Henry was farming some bottomland below Batesville. in Independence County. Jake went to stay with them and work for him. Jake took pneumonia and died, while there.

Adeline had eleven children: three boys and seven girls. They were Jake, Charlie, Bertie, Neva, Callie, Edna, May, Martha, Vester, Drucilla and Mildred. In the early 1920s, Adeline and Miles moved to Gap Road in Independence County, near Batesville. Most of their children and descendants stayed here.

Miles died eight years before Adeline and she lived with her daughter, Callie, those last eight years. She often visited a week with daughter, Martha.

Adeline was a descendant of Nathan Langston (1791-871) and Miles Franklin was a descendant of John Langston (1783-1839) but there were three or four generations between so Adeline and Miles were not kin (not ‘counting’ kin, anyways).

Of Adeline and Miles Langston's children, Martha is our lineage.