Callahan Family Tree

Bridge to the Past Publications

Publisher: D. R. Hammons

Issue No. 008

Date: November 6, 2014

Clan Callahan
Robert Robin Callahan
1847-1930
Robert Robin Callahan is my great grandfather through
his second son James Rutherford Callahan, my maternal
grandfather.
Robert was born on August 19, 1847, to Ezekiel Zeak
Callahan of North Carolina and Mary Polly Herd of Clay
County, Kentucky. He was the second child of four children
and the only boy. His older sister was Rebecca Becky
Callahan and his two younger sisters were Martha and Nancy.

Robert Callahan circa 1910-19

The first time Robert is mention in official records is on the

1850 Owsley County, Kentucky census (see image on page
2)1. He is listed as three years old along with sisters Becky,
age 4 and Martha, age 1. This family of five lived next door to
Pollys brother Elijah Herd on one side and Ezekiels brother,
Edmund Mack Callahan on the other side. It was not until
1854 that Mary gave birth to their fourth child, Nancy.
Nancys birth occurred months after Ezekiel had died in 1853.

Robert was six years old when his father died and he grew up with his mother and sisters in
the home of his step father, John Farmer. Polly married John Farmer at the end of January of
1856 when Robert was 8 years old.
There are all kinds of stories that Robert Callahan was part-Cherokee. One is that his mother
was full-blood Cherokee, another is that his mother was married to a Cherokee prior to her
marriage to Ezekiel and he had half-brothers who were full-blooded Cherokee. Stories are great,
but sometimes they are hard to support by evidence.

Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,2009), Ancestry.com,
Year: 1850; Census Place: Kentucky, Owsley, Kentucky; Roll: M432_216; Page: 317B; Image: 427

These stories may or may not be true. But one story that I do believe is the one told to me by
my mother, Kathryn Callahan Hammons. She was Roberts granddaughter and was 14 years old
when he died. She told me that when she went to the family home in Horse Lick Creek, Jackson
County, Kentucky for his burial, he was laid out in the parlor of the family home in full
Cherokee headdress.
Although my physical appearance is more like my fathers English heritage, I do have some
physical characteristics of the Cherokee, high cheekbones and crooked little fingers2. Does this
prove anything? Probably not, but I will prepare a newsletter about my DNA results when they
come in. Some of Roberts grandsons do have Native American features (see picture on page ..).

1850 Owsley County, Kentucky Census (see footnote 1)

Locating documents for Robert Callahan one must look at all kinds of spellings for the
surname, Callahan. It has been noted as Callahan, Calahan, Calihan, Callaham, Calaham. Civil
War records list him has Robert Calahan, the 1860 census record his name as Calliham, the 1870
census record his name as Calaham, in 1880 and 1900 his name is recorded as Callihan. In the
1850, 1910, 1920 and 1930 census records it is Callahan. On Roberts third wifes, tombstone
(Malinda Sparks) her name is spelled Calihan. On his own tombstone his name is spelled
Calahan since that was the spelling the Civil War records used when a tombstone was requested
for his service during the Civil War. Im sure there may be other spellings that I have not located
as yet, but for the purpose of this document and other documents I produce about my mothers
family, I will use Callahan since that is the way my mother spelled her maiden name.
The Callahan family has been in the Owsley County area of Kentucky since the close of the
18th century. In a 1898 interview of Robert McCollum (my 1cousin 3x removed) stated that his
grandfather David McCollum (my 3rd great grandfather) came to Owsley County at the close of
the 18th century and that the Morrises, some of the Bakers, some of the Thomases, allens,
Bushes, Gilberts, Callahams, Ashers and Bowlings were here.3 It is hard to know which Callahams
(Callahans) were present in Owsley County at the turn of the 19th century as Ezekiel, Roberts father and

Julian, Andrea; Characteristics of the Cherokee, eHow, http://www.ehow.com/info_8517393_characteristics-cherokeeindians.html, May 26, 2014, access date November 6, 2014.
3
1898: Manchester, Clay County, Kentucky Interview #2147-48 of John J. Dickey Diary of Robert McCollum

his uncle Mack Callahan were not born until 1817 and 1827 respectively and they were born in North
Carolina not Kentucky.

History of Owsley County

To get a better picture of who Robert Callahan was I would
like to take a look at a short history of Owsley County, where
he was born and grew up as a young man.
The part of Owsley County where Robert was born became part of Jackson County in 1858
when Jackson County was formed. Owsley County as it was formed was a very large county, its
boundaries included what is now Lee County and much of the present Jackson and Wolfe
Counties as well as its own present acreage. The first reduction in size occurred in 1858 when
Jackson County was organized out of parts of Owsley, Clay, Estill, Laurel, and Rockcastle
Counties. It was named in honor of Judge William Owsley, a prominent lawyer, legislator,
circuit and appellate judge of Garrard County who became governor of Kentucky in 1844,
serving one term.
White men first explored this territory in 1750 when Dr. Thomas Walker and his company
passed through this area near the junction of the three forks of the Kentucky River, now the site
of Beattyville (37.571N 83.706W). Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky was described by Dr.
Walker in his journal as a land abundant in wildlife. He wrote that We killed in the journey, 13
buffaloes, 8 elk, 53 bears, 20 deer, 4 wild geese, about 150 wild turkeys, besides small game, we
might have killed three times as much if we had wanted it.4 It was not until 1770-71 that Daniel
Boone and his brother Squire actually explored this part of Kentucky with their hunting trips
along the Kentucky River.
The first person known to have settled on the South Fork, and then known as Goose Creek,
was James Collins who built a cabin on Collins Fork of Goose Creek in 1780. A few families
moved into what is now Owsley County between 1798 and 1810 but most of the county was
uninhabited as late as 1815. This was also due to the fact that many people feared the Indians
who lived in the area. Owsley County was a favorite hunting ground of the Shawnee from the
north and the Cherokee from the south. Once it was realized that there was little danger from the
Indians, settlers began to move into the territory. However, the primary reason that settlers began
to move into the area was the General Assembly Act of 1815. This offered the sale of all vacant
lands in the state for 20 dollars per hundred acres, the mountain lands of Eastern Kentucky was
more easily available and settlers began to fill the county rapidly. Settlers populated along every
creek in the Three Forks area of Owsley County by 1843.
The first permanent settlers in the area now known as Owsley County were John Renty
(Renta) Baker5 and John Abner who came by boat and settled near the present Clay County line
at Courtland. The exact date is unknown however they were established when the Gabbard
family arrived in Indian Creek circa 1790. Most of the early settlers of Southeastern Kentucky
were originally from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania. They were mostly
4

Fred W. Gabbard, Historical Sketches of Owsley County, published in the Booneville Sentinel circa 1965-1974
http://owsleykyhist.org/historicalsketchcouty.htm
5
My 5G grandfather

English, French, German, Scotch and Irish. Also, many

of the prominent families of eastern Kentucky can trace
some of their ancestry back to Chief Redbird of the
Cherokees who lived on the banks of the stream, which
bears his name.
Owsley County in 1895
http://www.livgenmi.com/owsleyKY.htm

Owsley County in 1895

http://www.livgenmi.com/owsleyKY.htm

The first large settlement Booneville (3729'N

8341'W) was incorporated as the county seat March 1,
1847, three years after Henry Gabbard wrote in
German the first request to establish Owsley County, as
he could only write in German.

The county was not in existence in 1840 and

therefore there was no census information. But in 1850 the total population of Owsley County
was 3,613 with 136 slaves. The formation of these other counties gradually reduced Owsley
County to approximately one-third of the size when the county was established on January 24,
1843. As a result, the population decreased commensurate with the reduction in size of the
county over the next two census periods (1860, 1870).

Robert Callahan: 1854-1863

As a child Robert grew up in the frontier of Owsley
County on the Cumberland Plateau. This same plateau had
been the trail along War Fork Creek southeast of McKee
called Warriors Path. This path connected the Shawnee
settlements of southern Ohio and the Cherokee Nation of
east Tennessee and Georgia. It is the same trail that was used
by Dr. Thomas Walker in 1750 and later by Daniel Boone in
1769.
Roberts father Ezekiel died in 1853 when Robert was six years old. There are no records
telling us how he died. At the time of his death he was divorced from Polly and was living in
Laurel County. Polly probably remained on the same Owsley County farm recorded in the 1850
census. Although we dont know exactly where in Owsley County the Callahan family lived, it
can be assumed that the divorcee/widow Polly and her three children lived very near to or within
the town of McKee. Robert attended school during the 1859-60 timeframe and was identified as
being able to read and write on the 1870 census.
A farmer and surveyor by the name of John Jackson Farmer (1812-1908) living in McKee in
1854, lost his wife, Lucy Icy Frost (1812-1854) on the 10th of April of that year. John and Icy
had seven children, Denton (b. ca 1833), Cornelius Neal (b. 1838) Houston (b. 1841), Graham
(b. 1843) Jane (b. 1846), Stephen (b. 1848) and Austin (b. 1852). Two months after Icys death
and at least ten months after Ezekiels death, John and Polly probably met. Denton Farmer,
Johns son married Pollys sister Sylvia Herd on 15 June 1854. It may have been at that wedding
that John and Polly met or they may have been acquainted prior to this time. In any event, Two
years later on January 26, 1858 John and Polly were married. On September 24, 1859 John and
4

Pollys first son John was born. Polly and John had two more sons, Andrew (1865) and William
(1872). The 1900 Jackson County6 census recorded that Mary had eleven children seven were
still living at the time and four had died. It is probable that between the births of John and
Andrew two children had been still born and between the births of Andrew and William, two
more children had been still born.
In 1858, Jackson County was formed out of lands from Owsley, Madison, Estill, Laurel, and
Rockcastle counties. The part of Owsley County that was surrendered over to form Jackson
County was the part where the Farmers/Callahans were living. The county of 346 square miles
included the Cumberland Plateau and the Warriors Trail and more than 50 percent of the county
is what is now known as Daniel Boone National Forrest. The town of McKee became the county
seat of the newly formed Jackson County, the town where the Farmers/Callahans lived.
In 1860, the first census of Jackson County showed a population of 3,087. For most of its
history, the economy of the county was based on agriculture, lumbering, coal, and milling.
Jackson County sent logs, coal, and produce to market on the Kentucky and Rockcastle rivers.
John Farmer who had been a surveyor prior to the formation of Jackson County became the
Clerk for the Circuit Court of Jackson County, a position that he held for twenty-six years. The
1860 census records that John Farmer was a farmer so he must have taken this position as Clerk
after 1860.
The county was named in honor of President Andrew Jackson and may have been behind the
naming of John and Marys third son, Andrew who was born in 1865.
Johns third son by Icy Frost, Houston married Roberts older sister Rebecca on July 4, 1860.
Robert was 14 years old at this time. We do not know much of the activities of Robert during
these years, but he did attend school according to the 1860 Jackson County census.7

Civil War: 47th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Co G

The people of Eastern Kentucky were generally Unionists, and
like the Unionist of East Tennessee and West Virginia, they
were compelled to act in self-defense. The U.S. Congress
authorized the governor of Kentucky to organize an army of
not more than 20,000 troops for the defense of the State of
Kentucky.

When Robert was 16 years old he joined the 47th Kentucky Mounted Infantry Regiment, a
regiment that had been authorized by the U.S. Congress to the governor of Kentucky to defend
6

Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc,
2004), Ancestry.com, Year: 1900; Census Place: McKee, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: 527; Page: 1A;
Enumeration District: 0056; FHL microfilm: 1240527.
7
Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.,
2009), www.ancestry.com, Database online. Year: 1860; Census Place: My Division, Jackson,
Kentucky; Roll: ; Page: 883; Image: 441.

the state, the Kentucky Civil War Union Volunteers.

The authorization was for no more than 20,000 troops to
be raised for defense.

Robert Callahans Tombstone

Piney Grove Cemetery
Jackson County, Kentucky
Picture taken August 2000 by D. Hammons

In the report written by the Adjutant General of the

State of Kentucky, the 47th Regiment did most
excellent service in the central and eastern portions of
the State.8 Not much is known about what the
Regiment actually did because the Adjutant also stated
that The officers of this Regiment failed to furnish any
data from which to make up a statement of its
operations, marches, etc., which is to be regretted, as it
was due to the gallant men of this command that their
record should be as complete as possible.9

Robert Callahan joined the 47th at the age of 16

according to his enlistment records and was mustered
into service at Irvine, Kentucky on October 5, 1863. He enlisted at the rank of private and during
his service remained at that rank.
The 47th Kentucky Mounted Infantry Regiments mission was to scout and patrol in Eastern
Kentucky. This portion of Kentucky was exposed to inroads from Southwestern Virginia which
was poorly protected. This was its primary mission until June 1864. Then the 47th was put into
operations against Morgan between May 31 and June 20, 1864. The unit patrolled the Kentucky
Central Railroad until April, 1865.
Joseph Herd, Roberts uncle became the commanding officer of Company G when its
Captain Thomas J. Engle died on December 11, 1863. Joseph was promoted from 2nd Lt to
Captain on Dec 29, 1863.
Most of the men, including Robert Callahan, were mustered into service at Irvine, Kentucky,
on Oct 5, 1863. On November 6, 1863, before it was fully mustered into service the 47th was
included in the military organization of North Central Kentucky, under the command of General
S. Frys command. It remained so during that winder, doing duty in scouting by detachments
through Eastern Kentucky. In the organization of the Department of the Ohio, on April 30, 1864,
the 47th was under the command of Major Barnes in a brigade with other Kentucky regiments
commanded by Col. John Mason Brown. The regiments were all in the division commanded by
Gen Hobson.
In June, 1864, the 47th under General Hobson was located at Paintsville when General John
Morgan came into Kentucky with the objective of destroying the Kentucky Central Railroad and
then the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. General Morgan came through Pound Gap at the
extreme eastern part of the state. He had passed General Hobsons forces and made his way
toward Mt. Sterling before his objective was known. Once Morgans target was known, General
Hobson hurried to Lexington in person by way of Cincinnati, hoping to reach Lexington in time
to organize a force there before Morgan could reach that part of the state. However, General
Hobson and 300 of his troops were captured at Kellars Bridge near Cynthiana.
8
9

Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky Report, Vol II 1861-1866, Printed 1867, pg 474
Ibid

In the meantime, the troops General Hobson the troops he had left in eastern Kentucky quickly
moved toward Lexington under General Burbridge and Cols John Mason Brown, Charles
Hanson and others. They encountered General Morgan shortly after Hobsons capture. The battle
was severe on June 12, 1864, and Morgan was defeated and all he had captured were retaken by
the 47th. Morgan was then chased out of Kentucky through the mountains and across the
Cumberland River.
After Morgans defeat, the 47th was stationed at Camp Nelson under General S. Fry where it
continued to protect the state. One enlisted and four officers were killed in action during the 47th
Regiments history. An additional 68 men died from disease. The unit lost a total of 73 men.
Robert mustered out on December 26, 1864 according to company muster out dates.
Companies were mustered out according to a schedule. Companies A through H were
mustered out at Lexington on December 26, 1864 and companies I and K were mustered out
on April 12, 1865.
It is unknown if Robert participated in any of the above conflicts but the history of the unit in
which he served were possibly involved. According to notes on the application for marker,
Robert Callahan was honorably discharged.10

Robert Callahan:
1864-1868
After his service with the 47th Kentucky Mounted
Infantry Regiment had ended on December 24, 1864 there is
little known about Robert Callahan until his first marriage in
1868.
This four-year period of Roberts life is a big question. Did he move into the wilderness and
forge friendships with the Native Americans? I suppose these are questions for which we may
never find answers.

Robert Callahan: Marriages and Children

Robert Callahan had three wives over his lifetime and
reportedly twenty-four children. His wives were Minerva Jane
Lee, Drucilla Drusey Ledford and Malinda Linda Sparks. In
the charts that follow there are only 21 children listed and 19
who reached adulthood.

10

Ancestry.com, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations,
Inc., 2012), www.ancestry.com, Database online.

Minerva Jane Sarah Lee

1853 bef 1920
Roberts first wife Minerva was born in Wythe County, Virginia in May 185511 to James Lee
and Margaret Lee (MNU12), both originally from North Carolina. By 1960, James Lee migrated
to Kentucky with his second wife Margaret and at least five of his seven children. The Lee
family settled in Travellers Rest area of Owsley County, Kentucky.13
Minerva Jane Lee was the youngest of seven children:
Name

Date of Birth

Date of Death

Mary

1832

Robert

1834

George

1836

Franklin

1839

John

1845

Madison

1849

Sep 30, 1928

Minerva

1853

Bef 1920

Mary, Robert, George and Franklin were born in North Carolina; John Madison and Minerva
were born in Virginia. There is no record available which indicates that Mary, Robert and
George moved with the family to Kentucky.
In 1860, Robert Callahan lived with his mother and step-father in Jackson County, McKee
Post Office. Exactly how close this was to the farm on which Minerva lived is unknown. How
and where Robert met Minerva is also unknown.
Almost four years exactly after he mustered out of the 47th Regiment on December 26, 1864,
Robert married Minerva Jane Lee on November 18, 186814. Robert and Minerva lived on a farm
in the Sturgeon District of Jackson County. His older sister Rebecca, who had married her stepbrother Houston Farmer lived on the neighboring farm in 187015.
Their first child, Mary M. Callahan was born in September 1869 and their second child
Benjamin Franklin Callahan, aka Frank, was born in August 1873.
11

U.S. Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Sturgeon, Lee, Kentucky; Roll: 537; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 52; FHL
microfilm: 1240537. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations Inc, 2004.
12
Maiden Name Unknown.
13
U.S. Federal Census Year: 1860; Owsley, Kentucky; Roll: M653_391; Page: 308; Image: 308; Family History Library
Film: 803391. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations,
Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
14
Jackson County marriages http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyjackso/marry/c.htm transcribed by Sarah Thompson - Access date
May 23, 2012
15
U.S. Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Sturgeon, Jackson, Kentucky, Roll: M593_471; Page 231A; Image 465;
Family History Library Film: 545970. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Children of Robert and Minerva Callahan

Name

Date of Birth

Mary M.

Sep 1869

Benjamin Franklin

Aug 1873

Date of Death

May 20, 1935

John William

4 Aug 1878

Aft 1951

James Rutherford

11 May 1879

11 Jun 1949

Robert and Minerva divorced sometime after January 1879 and before June 1880. This is
based on the fact that on James Rutherford Callahan;s, my grandfather, death certificate Sarah
Lee is listed as his mother, not Druscilla Ledford as has been thought by many. Therefore it is
likely that Minerva married John Ambrose before June 1880 and had both Mary and Benjamin
with her in 1880 when the census was recorded. Although Thomas H. West the recorder for the
1880 census recorded the surname of Mary and Frank as Ambrose, their ages in 1870 (11 and 8)
indicate that they would have been born during the time that Minerva and Robert Callahan were
married. The 1900 census does record Frank with the surname of Callahan. He was living with
John and Minerva Ambrose with his wife Emily and daughter Cora. This clears up the mistake of
the 1880 census as well as Benjamins death certificate recorded Robert Callahan as his father
and Minerva J. Lee as his mother. What isnt clear, is why only Mary and Benjamin and not
James Rutherford and his older brother John William were not taken by Minerva but both
remained with Robert and his new wife Druscilla Ledford.
Minerva and John Ambrose were married in 1878 according to the 1900 census which
indicates that they had been married for twenty-two years. The census also indicates that
Minerva had five children and three were still living. The three living children were Mary
Callahan Shepherd, Benjamin Franklin Frank Callahan and George Henry Ambrose. George
was born in 1880 two years after John and Minerva married. With the length of time between the
birth of Mary Callahan, 1869, and the birth of Frank, 1873, it is possible that one of the two
children who were recorded as not being alive was born to Robert and Minerva in 1871. There is
a period of 20 years which are absent on the birth/death of children between 1880 and 1900 and
it is also possible that the two children who are recorded as not living may be John and
Minervas children born/died after George.
The last recorded census record that included Minerva was the 1910 Census record. She lived
in Station Camp, Estill County, Kentucky with her husband, John Ambrose. Her son Benjamin
Franklin Callahan and his family lived on the neighboring farm. Minerva was 56 years old
according to this last census. Minerva was still living when her husband died on November 18,
1913. Minerva probably died between 1914 and 1920.

Drucilla Ledford
1861-1889
Roberts second wife, Drucilla Ledford was the second child of John C. Ledford and Nancy
Turner. She was born in 1861 probably in Owsley County, Kentucky. John and Nancy lived in
Owsley County during both the 1860 and 1870 census. The Ledfords had twelve children of
which Drucilla was the second.
Name

Date of Birth

Date of Death

William N.

26 Apr 1860

17 Sep 1922

Drucilla

1861

1889

James S.

1865

1910

Susan J.

24 May 1866

5 Oct 1946

Rachel

1868

1960

Martha Belle

1870

8 Jan 1950

Mary

1872

1970

Nancy

1874

1970

John B.

1877

1970

Minnie

1879

Bef. 1900

Ida

15 Mar 1884

14 Jul 1943

The 1900 Census indicated that two of Nancys twelve children were no longer living. Two of
their daughters, Drucilla and Minnie died before 1900.
A few years after Robert divorced Minerva he married Drucilla, aka Drusey, Ledford on
September 30, 1876. Drucilla was 15 or 16 years old when she married Robert depending if he
birth day was before or after September 30, 1876. During their thirteen year marriage, they had
five children.
Name

Date of Birth

Date of Death

Josephus F.

9 May 1880

30 Mar 1949

Fannie

14 Mar 1882

Bef 1892

Sherman A.

12 Apr 1885

23 Apr 1966

Henry Alfred

12 May 1886

23 Feb 1954

Martha

25 Dec 1888

17 Jan 1939

Drucilla died at the age of 28 in 1889. It is likely that she died from complications
following the birth of Martha who was born on Christmas Day in 1888. The 1900 census did not
list Martha in Roberts home but with his mother, Mary Polly Herd Callahan Farmer. It is not
10

known if her grandmother Mary raised Martha or not since there is no 1890 census to verify
where Martha lived as an infant.

Margaret Malinda Linda Sparks

1865-1954
Roberts third wife was Margaret Maggie Malinda Linda Sparks. Her name is different on
various census records but each name is the same person Malinda and Malvinia, as the siblings of 1870
and 1880 are the same, and she is listed as wife of Robert Callahan from 1900-1930 Census records as
Maggie M., Malinda and Linda. She was never referred to as Margaret; however, the nickname Maggie
is usually short for Margaret and therefore her official name is listed here as Margaret Malinda Sparks but
she was normally referred to by the nickname Linda and this is the name that is on her tombstone.

Linda was the daughter of Jeremiah Sparks (1835-1909) and Sarah Salley Morris
(1838-1920) was born on January 25, 1865. 16 Jeremiah and Sarah who lived in McKee, Jackson
County, Kentucky between 1860 and 1880 had twelve children.
Name

Date of Birth

John R.

10 Aug 1857

Vincent W.

28 Nov 1858

Elizabeth Jane

11 Apr 1863

Amilda

28 Feb 1867

Margaret Malinda

25 Jan 1867

Isaac Canada

25 Jun 1869

Merrill

4 Apr 1872

Fanny

10 May 1874

James F.

31 Mar 1875

Daniel

1877

Hannah

13 Mar 1881

Nancy

30 Sep 1883

Linda and Robert were married on September 4, 189017. The 1910 Census lists Linda and
Robert as married for twenty years and both were in their second marriage. According to the
1930 census Robert was 22 years old when he married the first time and Lind was 17 when she
married the first time. Roberts first marriage was to Minerva Lee in 1868 and he is listed as
being 22 years old on the 1870 census. Robert was born in 1847 which would make him 21 in
September 1868; however, the 1900 census lists Roberts birth year as 1846 which would make
him 22 years old in 1868. Linda was 17 years old when she was married the first time which
16

Dates taken from Tombstone at Piney Grove Cemetery, Jackson County, Kentucky
Jackson County marriages http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyjackso/marry/c.htm transcribed by Sarah Thompson - Access date
May 23, 2012
17

11

was in 1884; however, the 1900 census lists her birth year as 1866 which would mean that she
was married the first time in 1883.
The 1900 census records that Linda had given birth to 7 children and 5 were living at the time
of the census. The 1910 census recorded that she had given birth to 10 children and 9 were living
at the time of the 1910 census. There were no children living with Robert and Linda starting in
1900 who were listed as step-children to Robert. It is unlikely that Linda was divorced. In the
1900 census there were four children listed that were hers; Rebecca, Charlotte, Julia and Mattie;
however, the census said that she had 5 living children. One living child seems to be missing
from the census records, but her mother and father had their 14 year old granddaughter Sarah E.
Morris living with them in 1900. Since Sarah E. Morris was born January 1886 it is probable that
Sarah is Lindas daughter from her first marriage. The two children who are listed as having died
before 1900 could either be from her first marriage or from her marriage to Robert. I have added
these two unknown children as Roberts being born and dying in 1896 and 1897. The 1910
Census states that Linda had 10 children and 9 were still living; which disagrees with the 1900
Census. By 1910 Robert and Linda have 10 children if we include the two stillborns/infant
deaths of 1896 and 1897. This does not account for Sarah E. Morris as one of the 10 children.
Name

Date of Birth

Date of Death

Rebecca B.

Jun 22, 1891

Jan 2, 1941

Charlotte

Jan 23, 1893

Bef 1993

Julia

Apr 1, 1895

Dec 1977

Mattie

Dec 17, 1898

1924

Jeremiah

Feb 28, 1901

Mar 1970

Merrill

1903

Jul 18, 1978

Lillian

Jan 22, 1905

Nov 1987

William Thomas

Jan 3, 1907

Jun 18, 1987

Leonard

May 20, 1911

May 31, 1988

Minnie J.

Jan 22, 1913

Jan 17, 1896

Linda Sparks died at the age of 89 on May 18, 1954 and is

buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Threelinks, Jackson County,
Kentucky.18
Robert Callahan is listed in 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900,
1910, 1920 and 1930 census records and all children reflected are
included above and shown below. The 1890 Jackson County
Census Records did not survive the fire at the Commerce
Department in Washington DC on 10 January 1921. However he
is listed in the 1890 Veterans Schedule as a resident of Jackson
County, Kentucky.
18

Dates taken from Tombstone at Piney Grove Cemetery, Jackson County, Kentucky

12

Year: 1850; Census Place: Kentucky, Owsley, Kentucky; Roll: M432_216; Page: 317B; Image: 427.

Year: 1860; Census Place: My Division, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: M653_374; Page: 883; Image: 441; Family
History Library Film: 803374.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Sturgeon, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: M593_471; Page: 231A; Image: 465; Family History
Library Film: 545970.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Mckee, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: 421; Family History
Film: 1254421; Page: 482B; Enumeration District: 048; Image: 0087.

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Year: 1900; Census Place: McKee, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: 527; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 56; FHL
microfilm: 1240527.

Year: 1910; Census Place: McKee, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: T624_482; Page: 7B; Enumeration
District: 0090; Image: 19; FHL microfilm: 1374495.

Year: 1920; Census Place: Hasselick, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: T625_577; Page: 4B; Enumeration
District: 24; Image: 164.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Horse Lick, Jackson, Kentucky; Roll: 751; Page: 4A; Enumeration
District: 8; Image: 1113.0; FHL microfilm: 2340486.

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Robert Callahan: Death

December 20, 1930
Robert Robin Callahan lived to be 82 years and four months old.
He died on December 20, 1930 from bladder trouble.19

Robert and son James Rutherford Callahan

circa 1920s

19

Death Certificate: Vol 061, Cert 30416-1930, dated December 20, 1930

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