William Riley Landrum Tn to AL or SC to MS
After 12 years of working on our family tree, I have come to the conclusion that the William Riley Landrum controversy has been my biggest hang-up. I now have identified my great-great-grandfather, and the results go against what is posted by many Landrum researchers. I have referred to these men as William Riley Landrum (1) born in Tennessee in about 1815 to Merriman and Delilah Jackson Landrum, and died in Alabama between 1880 and 1900, and William Riley Landrum (2) born in South Carolina about 1808and died in Mississippi22 Oct 1870.
General Summary William (1)
William (1) was born about 1815 in Eaglesville, Rutherford, Tennessee. Many times he or someone in his family told the census workers his birth was in Tennessee and Eliza’s birth was in South Carolina.I have since established from a marriage record in Forsyth, Georgia that he married Eliza Bush.My thanks to Susan Marshall who sent me the answer in 1998, but I was too busy working on other family members to read what she sent.Eliza Bush was born about 1818 to Brooks Bush in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The Brooks Bush family is also in Forsyth County, Georgia in the 1840’s and then appear in Jefferson County. Alabama in the 1860’s Census, living near William (1) I and Eliza Bush Landrum.Both families are sill in the area in 1870 Census.The Landrums have moved to St. Clair County, Alabama along Kelly’s Creek.William is in the sawmill business with his son James Harvey who is also a licensed minister of the HollistownBaptist Church.In the 1880 Census both William Riley(1) and Eliza are in St. Clair and she has consumption (TB).
The book by H. P. Griffith, The Life and Times of Rev. John Gill Landrum published in 1885,gives a synopsis of where the children were in 1885. He states that William (1) was the fifth child.He was living in Alabama after leaving home at 15 and spending a time in Georgia.He was a Millwright and then William (1) worked on the railroad.
William Riley(1) named one of his children James Harvey, my great-grandfather, born in Georgia in 1848.His brother who went also to Georgia was James Harvey Landrum.
General Summary William (2)
In the 1860 Census William (2) or someone in his household stated that he was born in South Carolina about 1808 and Elizabeth in Mississippi about 1811. In the Mississippi Territory Census or 1841 and 1845 they are in Marion County, Mississippi.In 1850 Census they are in Marion County, Mississippi.In 1860 they were in Perry County, Mississippi.And according to sources he died about 22 October 1870 and is buried in Perry County, Mississippi. I believe he was the son of Thomas Landrum who was born in abt 1770 in North Carolina. He lived in the Thomasville, Alabama area of the Mississippi Territory and then Thomas died in Covington, Mississippi about 1841.
Either the information circulated on the internet is wrong, or the census records are wrong. There is approximately 260 miles between St. Clair County, Alabama and Perry County, Mississippi.
I realize many hours have been spent by many people in researching this family.As much as I would like both to be right, unless someone can prove to me otherwise, I think my current choice is to accept Merriman’s son as my great-great-grandfather.One note: Both James Harvey and his son John Shorter Landrum (my grandfather) are buried in Moody Cemetery, St. Clair, Alabama.Francina Hooper Landrum, James Harvey’s wife moved to Texas after his death and is buried in Keller, Tarrant, Texas.
What do you think?I would appreciate any input.
More Replies:
-
Re: William Riley Landrum Tn to AL or SC to MS
Paul Goodwin 9/11/11