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"Descendants of Asa B. TARRANT"

Asa B. TARRANT was born on 17 Oct 1818 in Kentucky.  In 1850 he was a farmer.  He and his wife platted the village of 15 lots on 17 Nov 1853 in Elba, Gallatin Co., Illinois.  "In his book Ghost Towns of Southern Illinois, Glenn Sneed describes the village as being laid out in the south half of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 33.  However, modern topographical maps show the town site on the south side of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter.  It's possible the town moved over time."

He purchased the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 33 on 19 Sep 1854 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  In 1860 he was a farmer.  In 1870 he was a farmer.  He homesteaded about 1876 in Galesburg Twp, Kingman Co., Kansas.  According to Barbara Wilson (granddaughter of Hugh Wilson) one of the Kingman Co. historical books listed A. B. Tarrant as the first settler of Galesburg Twp. He was upset that he had to take 160 acres under the Homestead Act as all he wanted was enough to have a garden and some fruit trees.

He appeared on the census in 1880 in Galesburg Twp, Kingman Co., Kansas.  A. B. "Torrent" was listed as a white male farmer, age 61, widowed. He listed Kentucky as his place of birth and that his father was born in Georgia and his mother in Tennessee. He appeared on the census in 1885 in Galesburg Twp, Kingman Co., Kansas.  The census listing showed him as age 65 and a white male.  The Agricultural Census of the same year listed him as owning 160 acres not fenced. The cash value of his farm was $2000, and he owned implements worth $60. Asa had 20 acres of winter wheat, 40 acres of corn, 20 of oats and 1 acre of Irish potatoes.  The previous year he had cut 8 tons of prairie, sold poultry & eggs valued at $10 and made 200 lbs butter.  His livestock included 2 mules/asses, 1 "milch" cow, 1 other cow and 9 swine.  The orchard had 50 non-bearing apple trees, 300 peach trees, 20 cherry trees and 2 acres of cottonwood trees over 1 year old.  Asa also owned 1 dog.

He died on 14 Oct 1891 in Kingman Co., Kansas.  He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Albion Twp, Reno Co., Kansas.  The inscription on the east side of the marker:

Asa B. Tarrant
Born Oct. 17, 1818
Died Oct. 14, 1891

 

Mary Ann ROBERTSON was born on 29 Apr 1824 in Kentucky.  She died of typhoid fever on 7 Sep 1879 in Kingman Co., Kansas.  A "Dr. Young" was the attending physician.  She was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Albion Twp, Reno Co., Kansas.  The inscription on the west side of the marker:

Maryan Tarrant
Born April 29, 1824
Died Sept. 7, 1879

[The tall square medium gray marker was possibly added at a later date. jwg]

Two small stones at the foot of the marker appear to be home-made from concrete with initials inscribed "M.A.T." and "A.T."

Asa B. TARRANT and Mary Ann ROBERTSON were married on 11 Jun 1840 in White Co., Illinois.  They appeared on the census in 1850 in Bear Creek Twp, Gallatin Co., Illinois.  Asa B. Tarrants was a white male, age 31, born in Kentucky who could not read or write.  Mary, also born in Kentucky, was 24 years old.  Others in the household were   James A. (age eight), Betsy J. (age seven), Thomas J. (age five), and William E. (age 3).

They appeared on the census in 1860 in Twp 8 Rng 8, Gallatin Co., Illinois.  Asa B. Tarrant was a 41 year old white male born in Kentucky who owned $800 worth of real estate and $400 worth of personal property.  Mary A. was a 35 year old white female also born in Kentucky.  Others in the household were four boys (James A., Thomas J., Asa Laf and Robert F.) and two girls (Elizabeth J. and Mary C.).

They appeared on the census in 1870 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  Asa B. Tarrant was a 51 year old white male born in Georgia with real property worth $800 and personal property worth $350.  Mary was a 45 year old white female born in Illinois.  Neither Asa nor Mary could read or write.  Others in this household were four females (Mary C., Livona, Louisa L. and Martha R.) and two males (Asa L. and Stephen A.).

 

  Asa B. TARRANT and Mary Ann ROBERTSON had the following children:

 

  1. James Alexander TARRANT, born on 16 Aug 1841, Gallatin Co., Illinois; married Nancy Elizabeth MORRIS, on 8 Aug 1867, McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., Illinois; died on 24 Feb 1910, White Co., Illinois.
  2. Elizabeth Jane TARRANT, born on 31 May 1843, Illinois; married Bryant Wilson BOZARTH, on 11 Jan 1866, Gallatin Co., Illinois; died on 13 Jan 1940, Doniphan, Ripley Co., Missouri.
  3. Thomas J. TARRANT was born in 1846 in Illinois.  He appeared on the census in 1850 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  Thomas J. Tarrants, a son of Asa B., was age 5, white and born in IL.  He appeared on the census in 1860 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  Thomas J., enumerated in the household of Asa B. Tarrnt, was 14 years old and had been born in Illinois.
  4. William E. TARRANT was born about 1847 in Illinois.  He appeared on the census in 1850 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  William E. was listed in the home of Asa B. Tarrants, 3 year old white male born in IL.  He died in 1858 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  He was buried in Palestine #1 Cemetery, Gallatin Co., Illinois.
  5. Mary Catherine TARRANT, born about 1854, Illinois; married John WALLACE, on 1 Jan 1884, Galesburg Twp, Kingman Co., Kansas.
  6. Asa Lafayette TARRANT, born on 3 Jun 1855, Illinois; married Hannah L E "Lucy" ROLLMAN, on 25 Jul 1875, Gallatin Co., Illinois; died in 1928.
  7. Robert F. TARRANT was born about 1857.  He appeared on the census in 1860 in Gallatin Co., Illinois.  Robert F. Tarrant, enumerated in the household of Asa B, was 3 years old and had been born in Illinois.
  8. Livona TARRANT, born on 30 Jan 1859, Omaha, Gallatin Co., Illinois; married Lewis Riley WILSON (son of Samuel P. and Elizabeth WILSON), on 22 Oct 1877, Galesburg Twp, Kingman Co., Kansas; died on 22 Mar 1928, Greensburg, Kiowa Co., Kansas.
  9. Steven Arnold Douglas "Doug" TARRANT, born on 3 Aug 1861, McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., Illinois; married Martha Jane "Matty" LAKEY, on 5 Sep 1886, Murdock, Kingman Co., Kansas; died on 17 Apr 1944, Nash, Grant Co., Oklahoma.
  10. Louisa L "Lou" TARRANT, born on 30 Jun 1864, Illinois; married Robert D MOORE, on 11 Oct 1883, Kingman Co., Kansas; died on 25 Nov 1909.
  11. Martha Rosina "Rosie" TARRANT, born on 2 May 1866, Illinois; married Robert Franklin CAWTHON, on 13 May 1888, Kingman Co., Kansas; died on 24 Feb 1939, Ringwood, Major Co., Oklahoma.

 

Submitted by Jackie Wilson Goddard at the request of Gale Wall.

Jackie Wilson Goddard is the great granddaughter of Livona Tarrant & Lewis Riley Wilson. 

[Gale contacted Jackie after researching and photographing the Fairview Cemetery]

Photos by Gale Wall

   

Submitted by Gale Wall on February 10, 2006.

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06/09/24