In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, sketches were presented about William and Andrew, likely children of John Stufflebean and his first wife, Priscilla Ross, and then James and Michael Stufflebean, the first two children of John and second wife, Alice/Elsee Larrison Ketchum.
Today, we have two more of John’s and Elsee’s sons, Jacob and Hiram, but information about their families is sadly lacking. Perhaps there are some descendants out there who will read this and add to the knowledge base. Both of these sons married and had children, but the children can’t be found in 1850.
Jacob Stufflebean is one of the biggest mysteries among John and Elsee Stufflebean’s children. Jacob was born about 1800 and only appears in three records – the 1830 and 1840 censuses of Randolph County, Illinois and in the 1850 mortality schedule of the same place.
No one would ever think to link this Jacob as a son of John and Elsee, except for the fact that Jacob’s parents came to live with his family and the old soldier died in Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois on 16 January 1844. It is 400 miles due west from Ravenna, Estill County, Kentucky to Kaskaskia, Illinois. Why did Jacob settle there? Another unanswered question is why John and Elsee traveled 400 miles to live with Jacob’s family (John was 84 in 1840) when he had Hiram close by?
Jacob Stufflebean married Unknown before 1830. In 1830, Jacob is 20-29 years old, with a female in the same age range and a male under 5. In 1840, the adults are both 30-39. There are two males, one 15-20 and the other 10-15.
- Male, born 1820-1825
- Male, born 1825-1830
The 1850 mortality schedule lists one Jacob Stufflebean of Randolph County who died in July 1849 of cholera. His age is recorded as 70, which is about 20 years too old and that he was born in Tennessee, but Jacob is the only Stufflebean there in 1840 and no Stufflebeans are in the regular schedule of Randolph County in 1850.
So, is this Jacob who died of cholera the same Jacob who is the son of John and Elsee? I don’t know, but I don’t know who else it could be. A 1780 birth date in Tennessee is not likely. There weren’t any Stufflebeans early in Tennessee. There is also no indication of who gave the mortality information to the census taker, either. Another possibility is that the census taker wrote down the wrong age. In any case, John and Elsee’s son, Jacob, and his family are gone by 1850 with no clues about their given names.
Hiram Stufflebean married Mourning McAllister on 14 June 1828 in Morgan County, Kentucky. She was born in Henry County, Kentucky about 1810. Hiram is enumerated in Estill County, Kentucky in 1830 with himself, his wife and a female born 1825-1830. He is still in Estill County in 1840 with a wife and three daughters.
- Female, born 1825-1830; died after 1840 census
- Female, born 1830-1835; died after 1840 census
- Female, born 1830-1835; died after 1840 census
By 1850, Hiram and Mourning are living in Breathitt County. However, instead of any daughters being in their home, we find Charlotte Banks, 12, Sally Bryant, 9 and Josiah Bryant, 7.
Their own daughters, if living, would be about 20, 18 and 16, all old enough to be married according to the culture of that area. Or, did all three girls die young? There are no marriages for Stufflebean daughters up to 1851. In fact, the only female Stufflebean listed in Estill County marriages is Mary, who married John Maxwell in 1826. These children in 1850 are too old to be grandchildren of Hiram and Mourning. This is a total mystery!
Hiram Stufflebean, aged 63, and wife Elizabeth, aged 60 and born in North Carolina, are found in the 1870 census of Wolfe County, Kentucky. They are the sole residents of the household. Neither Hiram nor Elizabeth has been found after 1870. They may have died in Wolfe County, Kentucky during the 1870’s.
Short sketches today because not much is known about these family branches. Next week, tune in for some more mystery with Mary and John Stufflebean.