1870 McMinn Co., Tennessee Census:
NAME AGE SEX PLACE OF BIRTH
Mathew T. ARTHUR 47 M Georgia
Sarah 38 F Tennessee
John 12 M "
Mary 8 F "
Joseph 5 M "
Julia 9/12 F "
207. Alice Arthur
This is doubtful a child of Matthew's and Sarah Arthur. She would have been over 50 at the time of the her birth. And although biologically possible, just not probable. Could either be a grandaughter, or perhaps a child by a second marriage, or more likely, a wrong addition and she belongs elsewhere. (11/2/99).
BIRTH: Information received from Dan Sadberry - taken from a Bible record
given to Dan by William K. Arthur of Colorado. 1850 Polk Co., TN census pg.
240, 1860 & 1870 Polk Co., TN census.
!RELATIONSHIP: Listed with husband on 1850 Polk Co., TN census pg. 240 living
next door to Joseph Arthur. 1860 Polk Co., TN census.
Children listed on Guion Miller Roll application #32365.
!DEATH: Guion Miller Roll application #32365 states that she died, but I
believe this is in error because two of the children were born after 1861 and
there was a spouse living in the household of David Lankford on the 1870 census, but I was unable to read the name. Penelope definitely died prior to 1880 in Polk Co., TN because David Lankford was married to Mary Malinda Starkey on the 1880 Polk Co., TN census.
Maiden name from death certificate of Jesse Lankford and Guion Miller Roll
application #32365 -- birth place listed as GA.
BIRTH DATE: 1900 Polk Co., TN census -- listed as 37 years old when he
enlisted in Confederate Army in 1862.
!BIRTH PLACE: Confederate Pension Record #3497.
1850, 1880, 1900 Polk Co., TN census lists birth place as GA.
1860 & 1870 Polk Co., TN census lists birth place as TN.
!DEATH: Guion Miller Roll application #32365.
Applied for Confederate Pension in 1901, Still working on application in 1903,
Pension was denied. He died before 1915--Polk Co., TN: Chancery Rule Docket #3,
pg. 112, Chancery Book G, pg. 329-330. Not listed on 1910 Polk Co., census
with wife, Lindy, ED 158 Sheet 6.
PLACE OF MARRIAGES: Probably Polk Co., TN where records have been destroyed.
!SOURCES OF MARRIAGES: (1) 1850, 1860, 1870 Polk Co., TN census.
(2) 1880 Polk Co., TN census and Sudie Clemmer collection on microfilm in Athens, TN library.David Lankford served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War in Co. H, 59th Tenn. Mounted Infantry (Cook's Regiment), 1 (Eakin's) Battalion Infantry). According to his Pension Application, he was on guard duty at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee when he caught a cold that "settled in his bowels and eyes" causing blindness in his left eye and loss of vision in his right eye. It also affected his speech so that he could not speak above a whisper for about 3 years. He was furloughed and sent home. Afterwards his discharge was sent to Strawberry Plains and his Lieutenant wrote to him.
When David applied for his pension in 1903, it was denied because his Company was incorrectly stated on the application and officials were unable to verify his service. However, his compiled Service Record obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. verifies that he enlisted in Athens, Tennessee on 14 April 1862 for 12 months and was present through June 1862. March & April 1863 Muster Roll indicates that he was "absent on Surgeons Certificate for discharge." May & June 1863 Muster Roll says "Sick on Surgeons Certificate since 20 August 1862."
David was a good, honest, hard-working man.
In 1880 he was living in Polk Co., Tennessee, a poor, mountainous area that was once Cherokee Indian land. The Agricultural Census for that year showed David renting 160 acres of land, 30 acres tilled, and 130 acres of woodland or forest. It showed that he only had one horse with which he worked 18 acres of Indian Corn and 6 acres of Rye. He also grew Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco. He had 1 cow and 1 calf, sheep, swine and barnyard poultry.
After many years of "share cropping," David was finally able to purchase 10 acres of land in Polk Co., Tennessee on 26 November 1887. He paid $25 down and had a $25 note due 20 November 1888 plus interest. On his 1903 pension application, this land was valued at $27. At this time David's attorney stated that "Mr. Lankford is in very bad condition, and will not be here long, and if he could get a little help just now it would be thankfully received, but if he is not entitled to anything he don't want it." On the application David stated that he had six children, but none of them were able to help support him because they were barely able to support themselves. He also stated that his wife was in bad health and was no longer able to take in laundry to help with their support.
After David's death, the 10 acres of land was sold for $91.00 at public auction on 25 May 1917. After court costs, the balance of the money, $58.13, was to be divided among his heirs. But it appears from the court records that only three children, Newt, William, and Martha received their share of $9.68 each. The balance of the estate was turned over to a trustee on 5 December 1919. I have copies of court records and newspaper advertisements concerning the division of this estate which provides the solid connection needed to prove descendency from David Lankford.David Lankford served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War in Co. H, 59th Tennessee Mounted Infantry, (Cook's Regiment), 1st (Eakin's) Battalion Tennesse Infantry. According to his Pension Application, he was on guard duty at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee when caught a cold that "settled in his bowels and eyes" causing blindness in his left eye and loss of vision in his right eye. It also affected his speech so that he could not speak above a whisper for about three years. He was furloughed and sent home. Afterwards his discharge was sent to Strawberry Plains and his Lieutenant wrote to him.
His Compiled service record obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D.S., verifies that he enlisted in Athens, Tennessee on 14 April 1862 for 12 months and was present through June 1862. March & April 1863 Muster Roll indicates that he was "absent on Surgeons Certificate of discharge." May & June 1863 Muster Roll says, "Sick on Surgeons Certificate since 20 August 1862.
209. Martha Lankford
BIRTH & RELATIONSHIP: Listed with parents on 1860 Polk Co., TN census pg. 90
& 1870 Polk Co., TN census.Parents listed on Guion Miller Roll application #32365.
DEATH: Polk Co., TN Court Execution Docket Book F, Pg. 223.
212. Caroline Lankford
BIRTH & RELATONSHIP: Listed with parents on 1860 Polk Co., TN census pg. 90
DEATH: Not Listed on 1870 census
75. Ransom J. Arthur
1860 Polk Co., Tennessee Census
NAME AGE SEX PLACE OF BIRTH
R. J. ARTHUR 30 M Georgia
Elizabeth 25 F Tennessee
Robey 6 F "
John 4 M "
Charles 2 M "
Infant 3/12 M "
220. Felix Arthur
The 1880 Pickens Co., Georgia census indicates his place of birth as Georgia.