The purpose of this genealogy is to honor a current life member of The
Izard County
Historical and Genealogical Society. Mrs. Auby Marchant Halbrook, who recently
passed away.
Mrs. Halbrook unselfishly shared her knowledge of the Marchant Family with
me and I'm sure
many others, which added some unknown pieces to the Marchant Genealogy
and helped round
out this family picture for me.
When I started working on genealogy (back in 1983), I ran across an article
on A. A.
Marchant in the Biographical and Historical Memoirs of North West Arkansas,
The Goodspeed
Publishing Company, 1889, p. 959-96U. Well like a good researcher, I copied
the article not
knowing if it pertained to my mother-in-law's family or not. This article
was filed away with
other notes on the Marchants until two or three years later when I actually
started doing research
on this line of the family. Several visits later with my in-laws, I was
well into aunts, uncles,
cousins, parents and grandparents on numerous family unit sheets for this
Marchant family when I
remembered the article copied a few years earlier. I dug out the article
to see if any of the names
matched any of what I had collected. Was I in for an excited surprise!
W. B. Marchant, the
father of A. A. Marchant, was also the great grandfather of my mother-in-law,
Mabel Marchant
Stowers. From the information in the article, I was able to fill out several
more family unit sheets
on this family line and learned that W. B. was married three times and
had sixteen or more
children. His first wife was Susan Cox; his second wife was Nancy Byler;
and the third wife was
Eny (Eany) Dale, a Taylor widow.
This was about the time I became a member of The Izard County Historical
Society and
Mrs. Helen C. Lindley published one of her indexes to back issues of The
Izard Countv Historian.
From this index I secured a back issue dated October 1982, which contained
an article entitled,
"The Ancestry of the Byler Family in Izard County - Part 1" by Edgar D.
Byler, III and learned
several more bits of information about W. B. and his second wife, Nancy
Byler.
When I moved to Arkansas, I called Mrs. Halbrook to set up a visit and
go over the
Marchant information with her. When I arrived at her home and introduced
myself, she handed
me some typed sheets about the family. I started trying to check the information
against mine and
quickly came to the conclusion there was too much to compare and analyze
in one afternoon. I
asked for permission to take the sheets to the library where I could copy
them, so I could work
with them at home. She graciously allowed me to march off with her sheets
to make copies. This
type of trust was unusual to me coming from a big city where no one trusted
another. By the time
I returned to Mrs. Halbrook's home, the afternoon was getting away from
us, so we didn't get to
discuss as much as I would have liked before having to leave. One of the
most important facts
added was the county in Tennessee where the children were born and the
cause of death of W. B.
himself. I could not verify his death because of not being able to locate
a copy of his military
records
until recently. After hearing Mr. Cooper's Twin Creek program, I wonder
how this family
survived the hardships of the Civil
War in "mostly Confederate" Izard County.
It was interesting to note that a grandchild was named after the step-mother,
Eany, and
that she bought land from many of her step-sons when they moved on to other
states.
Now, on with the genealogy of W. B. and Susan Cox Marchant:
1. MARCHANT, W. B. "Wiley or Wylie" The first name is William
and his middle name
is believed to be Bailey. He was born about 1808 in Alabama according to
the Goodspeed
book. However, I did not realize until recently that this was not possible
because Alabama
did not become a state until 1819. In 1808 Alabama was still a part of
Georgia, so I plan
further research in this state's old records. "The Ancestry of the Byler
Family in Izard
County - Part 1 " states that, "Wylie B. Marchant and his children accompanied
John Byler
to Izard County in 1849. It is thought that Wylie married his third wife,
Edny, in Izard
County." This marriage was uncovered a few years ago while looking for
other marriages
in Early Middle Tennessee Marriages Vol.1- Grooms. Sistler, Byron &
Barbara, 1987.
Listed as taking place in Rutherford County, Tennessee on 19 Dec.,1845.
To this date I
have been unable to locate the marriage date and place for Wylie B. and
Susan Cox.
W. B. Marchant was found to be living in Rocky Bayou Township in the Seventh
Census Free Population Schedules 1850, Izard County, Arkansas. His age
was 42 and he
was a farmer, born in Tennessee. (This birth place is incorrect as stated
in Goodspeed).
W. B served as constable of Rocky Bayou and in the First Arkansas Infantry,
Company D,
U.S.A. during the Civil War. He enlisted 1 Jul.,1862 at Jacksonport, Arkansas.
The
Muster Rolls show him present from July to October,1862 at Jacksonport,
Arkansas.
The Benton Barracks Muster-Out Roll of 21 Dec.,1862 noted that he died
23 Nov.,1862
at St. Louis, Missouri. The Certificate for Undertaker states: "Wylie
B. Marchant died
23 Nov.,1862 at the Convalescent Hospital, Benton Barracks, St. Louis,
Missouri of
typhoid pneumonia and his height was five feet eight inches." The Inventory
of the Effects
was noted as claimed by a son, Thomas J. Marchant, however, a date was
not given. W.
B. Marchant is buried in the U. S. Military Cemetery at St. Louis, Missouri,
which was
probably, at that time, a part of Benton Barracks.
*First wife of 1 Susan Cox, born 24 May, 1809 in Tennessee.
Parents unknown. Died
September 1838 in Bedford County, Tennessee. She is buried in the Enon
Primitive
Baptist Church Cemetery, one mile north of Unionville, Bedford County,
Tennessee
according to the above Byler article. (Bedford County was created in 1807-8
from
Rutherford County, Tennessee according to The Handy Book For Genealogists,
7th
Edition, Edited by George B. Everton, Sr.1981 ).
The Children of this union were:
2.1 William "Bailey" Marchant, II, b.1830, Williamson Co.,
TN, married about 1850
at Lunenburg, Izard Co., AR. His death date and burial place are unknown.
W.
Bailey and Luca A., his wife, sold 230 acres in Izard County, township
17, range
11 W to Ena Marchant, his step-mother, on 2 Jan.,1871 (Izard County, Arkansas
Land Records Book 10, page 2).
*Wife of 2.1 Lucy Ann Arnold, born about 1832 in VA. Her death date
and burial place
are unknown. She was the daughter of Elisha (born about 1809, VA) and Mary
M. Kirwin Arnold (born 1 Jan.,181 l, VA, died 27 Feb.,1909). They produced
nine known children.
The Children were:
3.1 William Edward "Ed," born 29 Sep.,1851, in Lunenburg, Izard
Co., AR,
died 2 Mar.,1918, Lunenburg, Izard Co., AR, buried in Lunenburg
Cemetery.
*First wife of 3.1 Mary A. "Mollie" Carney, born 27 Aug., I
850 in TN, the
marriage date and place are unknown. "Mollie" Carney was the daughter
of Thomas L. And Parcilla (?) Carney of IL and SC respectively. She died
24 Mar.,1894 at Lunenburg, Izard County, AR and is buried in the
Lunenburg Cemetery.
Their children were:
4.1 Erma Belle "Emma," born 5 Oct.,1873, Lunenburg, Izard Co.,
AR,
died 17 Dec.,1938 in Lunenburg, Izard Co., AR.
*Spouse of 4.1 Joshua A. Horton, married 27 Nov.,1892.
The children of this union were:
5.1 Oscar Horton
5.2 Bertie Horton
5.3 Charles Horton
5.4 Infant (Name unknown)
5.5 Wilson Horton
4.2 William Thomas, born 2 Dec.,1874, Lunenburg, Izard Co.,
AR;
died 3 Sep.,1937 or 1938 in OK.
*wife of 4.2 Nonnie Landers no other information is known about her.
The children of this union were:
5.1 Guy
5.2 Clyde
5.3 Geraldine
4.3 John Sherman, born 6 Nov.,1877 in Lunenburg, Izard Co.,
AR,
died 3 Sep.,1937 at Guion, Izard County, AR and is buried at
Lunenburg Cemetery, Izard Co., AR, married before 1901. They
lived in Guion township on the 1900 Census.
*Wife of 4.3 Della M. Tate, born 22 Mar.,1882, died 5 Nov.,1965.
She
is buried at Lunenburg Cemetery, Izard Co., AR.
Their children were:
5.1 Mary or "Mannie," born about 1901, died Aug.,1972
5.2 Melda, born about 1903, died Jun.,1971
*Spouse of 5.2 Pat Hodges
Children of this union:
6.1 Paul Henry Hodges
6.2 Johnny Wayne Hodges
5.3 James Sherwood "Jim Dick," born about 1905
5.4 Thelma, born about 1909
·Spouse of 5.4 ?_ Richardson
5.5 Ruth, born about 1912
'Spouse of 5.5 Jimmy Pate
They lived in Searcy, White Co., AR for years then moved
to TX
4.4 Virginia Texas "Jenny," born 4 Jul.,1878, Lunenburg, Izard
Co.,
AR, died 16 Apr.,1921
*Spouse of 4.4 Ted Adams (no other information)
Their children were:
5.1 Bertie Adams
5.2 Ted Adams, Jr.
5.3 Sall
4.5 Berta Louise "Bertie," born 4 May,1880, Lunenburg, Izard
Co.,
AR, died 4 Jul.,1953, place unknown.
*Spouse of 4.5 Haney Berry, born about 1876, died --?-- place
unlrnown, married 28 Oct.,1896 place unknown.
Known children were:
5.1 William Edward Berry
5.2 Jennie Vestel Berry
5.3 Mollie Jewel Berry
5.4 Lawrence Calvin Berry
4.6 James Oscar, Sr., born 24 Jan.,1882, Lunenburg, Izard Co.,
AR,
died 26 Jun.,1934, buried in Lunenburg Cemetery, Izard Co., AR,
married 15 Apr.,1903
* First wife of 4.6 Nora Kansas Davidson,13 Jan.,1882,10
Mar.,
1919, buried at Lunenburg Cemetery, Izard Co., AR, daughter of
George W. and Eliza Davidson,
Known children were:
(Subject of trubute See picture below).
5.1 Auby Roe, born 8 May,1908, Sweetwater, Nolan Co., TX,
died 25 Nov.,1997, Melbourne, Izard Co., AR. She is
buried at the Violet Hill Cemetery, Izard Co., AR.
*Spouse of 5.1 Rupert Loye "Jack" Halbrook, married 13
Jul.,1929. He is the son of William M. and Hattie Lou
Thompson Halbrook.
No children were born of this union.
5.2 Nobia Virginia, born 1 Apr.,1911, Lunenburg, Izard Co.,
AR, date and place of death unknown.
*Spouse of 5.2 Robert Gray Miller, married ? Sep.,1932,
son of Greene Hightower and Annie Margaret et Gray Miller,
Sr.
Children:
6.1 Nora Ann Miller, born 8 May,1933, Melbourne,
Izard County, AR
*Spouse of 6.1 Ernest Hayden, married
5 Dec.,
1952, son of Walter and Nobia Elms Hayden.
Children:
7.1 Robert Gray Hayden, born 22 Jul.,1953,
Melbourne, Izard Co., AR.
7.2 Carl Edwin Hayden, born 19 Jun.,1954,
Melbourne, Izard Co., AR
7.3 Gregory Paul Hayden, born 20 Dec.,1957,
Melbourne, Izard Co., AR.
6.2 Robbie Jean Miller, born 29 Mar.,1935, Melbourne,
Izard Co., AR.
*Spouse of 6.2 Wayne Harvell, married 18 Jul.,
1952, son of John Owen and Sybil Walker Harvell.
Children:
7.1 Michael Joe Harvell, born 9 Feb.,1955,
Clinton, DeWitt Co., IL
7.2 Timothy Wayne Harvell, born 5 Dec.,1959,
Melbourne, Izard Co., AR
7.3 Robin Ann Harvell, born 19 Dec.,1962,
Melbourne, Izard Co., AR
7.4 Jennifer Lynn Harvell, born 19 May,1967,
Melbourne, Izard Co., AR