Faulkner County, Arkansas Census and History by Sondra Johnson Acklin Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 1
Copyright 2012 by Sondra Johnson. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system. Disclaimer While every effort has been made to produce as accurate and reliable information as possible, the certainty of errors is inherent in human nature. A number of resources have been used to construct the contents, some of which may also contain errors or misleading information. The author, therefore, advises that the information contained in this document should not be used to supplant or otherwise take the place of independently documenting and verifying any information contained herein. Dedication and Acknowledgements This census is dedicated to my sweet, dear mother, Veradean McCord, my wise and understanding sister, Charlotte Moudy, and Suzee Cia, my tried-and true, faithful friend, who have continually supported my efforts to complete this long and difficult project. It is also dedicated to the memory of so many loved ones that have gone before us, whose lives changed our history and our perspectives of life. To my Lord and Savior, whom I thank for guiding me and watching over me as I walked the hallowed grounds and for giving me courage, strength, and determination. Throughout the years that it took to complete the Faulkner County Cemetery Census, I was helped along the way by many people. To name them all, would be difficult due to the passage of time and I would run the risk of omitting some. However, I would like to especially thank the following: Veradean (Johnson) McCord, Charlotte (Johnson) Moudy, Stephanie (Moudy) Weatherington, Glenna (Blair) Shumate, Suzee (White) Cia, Joe Melton, Connie (Hall) Weir, Lynita Langley-Ware, Desmond (Walls) Allen, Euna and Steve Beavers, Charles Parsons, and Vivian Hogue. Faulkner County, Arkansas, Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson For more information on the cemeteries of Faulkner County, Arkansas, contact Sondra Johnson at littlefishes@windstream.net or the Faulkner County Museum at fcm@conwaycorp.com Acklin Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 2
Acklin Cemetery GPS Coordinates: 35 7.864 92.19.391 (Approximate) Township 6 North, Range 12 West, Section 30 Political Township: Harve Location This abandoned family cemetery is located on a hilltop on the south side of Acklin Gap Road in east central Faulkner County. Surrounded by a dense wood thicket and residential property, the cemetery has become isolated and extremely difficult to reach. History Other than this cemetery being a family cemetery, the origin of the cemetery is unknown. It is believed, however, that the property was once owned by the Acklin family. Census Data According to the Pence Funeral Home records, there are three people buried in Acklin Graveyard: Chris and Mary Jane (Protho) Acklin and their son, Tommie Acklin. 1. Acklin, Christopher Madison "Chris," b. 1847 (age 48 years) d. October 30, 1895; Residence: 10 miles NE of Conway; Cause of death: pneumonia. 2. Acklin, James Thomas "Tommie", b. 1879 (age 19 years), d. December 7, 1897; Residence: Holland; Cause of death: typhoid fever; Remarks: A. K. M. C. Gore 3. Gore, Mary Jane (Protho) Acklin, b. August 1850 (age 62 years), d. 11 Nov 1911; Residence: Conway. James W. Acklin was born in 1820-21 in Tennessee. He died between 1871 and 1879 in Newton Township, Faulkner County, Arkansas. According to some researchers, he was buried in the "Acklin Graveyard." James married Elizabeth G. Sanford, who was born in 1827 in Tennessee, and died sometime before 1870. She was also supposedly buried in Acklin Graveyard. At the time of their deaths, this part of Faulkner County was part of Conway County, Arkansas. James and Elizabeth (Sanford) Acklin were married in about 1842 in Tennessee. They had six known children: Martha (b. 1842), Elizabeth (b. 1843), Christopher Madison (b. 1847), James S. (b. 1848-49), Catherine Mary (b. 1855), and J. W. (b. 1859). All of the children were born in Tennessee, except the last child, who was born in Royal Township, White County, Arkansas. Christopher Madison Acklin, the third child of James W. and Elizabeth G. (Sanford) Acklin, was born in 1847 in Tennessee. He married Mary Jane Prothro on June 5, 1870, in Harve Township, Conway County, Arkansas (now Faulkner County). Mary Jane was born in August of 1850 in the Mack Community in Walker County, Georgia, daughter of Evan James Thomas Prothro and Sarah Jane Blasingame. Acklin Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 3
Evan Prothro was born in 1742 in Cape Fear, Elizabethtown, North Carolina. He died in about December of 1821 in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia. He was a Revolutionary War soldier (File No. 194005). He married Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) in 1763 in South Carolina. Elizabeth was born in 1746-48 in South Carolina. Their children were: Nathaniel (b. 1765), James (b. 1767), William (b. 1769), Rachel (b. 1771), and Catherine (b. 1773). Nathaniel Prothro was born in Prince George County, South Carolina, in 1765. He was the first son of Evan and Elizabeth Prothro. Like his father, he also participated in the Revolutionary War. He died on September 1, 1823, in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia. He married Zylpha (Zilpha) Morgan in 1786 in Saint David, Craven County, South Carolina. Zilpha was born in 1770. Nathaniel and Zilpha were the parents of at least seventeen children. All of the children were born in South Carolina, except the last child, Massee, who was born in 1818 in Elbert County, Georgia. Their children were: Elizabeth (b. 1787), Evan (b. 1788), Harriett (b. 1790), Mary (b. 1792), Lydia (b. 1793), Solomon (b. 1794), Abigail (b. 1796), Rachel (b. 1798), James (b. 1799), Mary (b. 1801), William (b. 1801-02), Mehitabel (b. 1803), Joshua (b. 1804-05), Zilpha (b. 1807), another William (b. 1807), Nathaniel (b. 1811), and Massee (b. 1818). William Prothro was born in 1801 in Elbert County, Georgia. He died between 1861 and 1869 in Piney Township, Van Buren County, Arkansas. He married Milley Ann Powell on November 29, 1827, in Elbert County, Georgia. Milley was born in 1805 in Georgia. Like his parents, William had a large family of fourteen children, all born in Georgia: Evan James Thomas (b. 1829), Morgan (b. 1830), Nathaniel (b. 1833), David M (b. 1834), unknown son (b. 1835), Harriet (b. 1836), Mary (b. 1838), Martha (b. 1840), Zilpha (b. 1843), Amanda (b. 1844), Emily (b. 1845), William A. (b. 1848), and Sarah (b. 1850). Evan James Thomas Prothro, the first son of William and Milley Prothro, was born in 1829 in Elbert County, Georgia. He died in 1873. He married Sarah Jane Blasingame in 1849 in the Mack Community of Walker County, Georgia. Sarah was born in May of 1832. Evan (J. T.) and Sarah Prothro had eight children. The birthplaces of their children documents the family's migration to Arkansas. Their first child was Mary Jane Prothro, who was born in August of 1850 in Walker County, Georgia. Frances Sarah was born in 1851 in Alabama. The next four children were born in LaGrange, Marshall County, Mississippi: Thomas J. (b. 1854), James Henry (b. 1855), Martha (b. 1857), and Lou (b. 1860). The last two children were born in what was then Conway County, Arkansas, later to become part of Faulkner County: Elmira (b. 1864) and Benjamin (b. 1869). Sarah Jane Blasingame was the daughter of William A. and Permelia (Malcom) Blasingame. William was born in 1802 in Greene County, Georgia, and died in White County, Arkansas, in 1866. He married Permelia Malcom, who was born in 1808 in Lincoln County, Georgia. William and Permelia had ten children: Benjamin J. G. (b. 12 Aug 1821), an unknown daughter (b. 1827), Sarah Jane (b. 1832), Elizabeth Frances Dinah (b. 1834-36), John Malcom (b. 1836), James (b. 1838), William Powell (b. 1842-44), Frances M. (b. 1847), David A. (b. 1849), and Bruce (birth date unknown). William was a preacher. He died in 1866 and was buried in Blasingame Cemetery in El Paso, White County, Arkansas. His wife, Permelia, was also buried there. The parents of William were Benjamin and Sarah (Beeland) Blasingame. Acklin Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 4
Christopher and Mary Jane Acklin had three children: James Thomas "Tommie," born in 1879; Warren, born in December 1886; and William, born in August 1892. Christopher Acklin died on October 30, 1895, and was buried on their farm located on Acklin Gap Road in Faulkner County. On December 7, 1897, Tommie died of typhoid fever and was buried in Acklin Cemetery along with his father, Chris. After the death of Christopher in 1895, Mary Jane "Mollie" (Prothro) Acklin married Alexander K. McClum Gore on June 21, 1896, in Faulkner County, Arkansas. They were both 46 years old. No children were born of this marriage. Mollie died on November 11, 1911, and was buried in Acklin Cemetery. Census Data Marie (Heigi) Harrington was born and grew up in the vicinity of the Acklin Cemetery and was aware of its existence as a young girl. In September of 2009, Sondra Johnson and Veradean McCord, accompanied by Marie Harrington, attempted to conduct an on-site survey of the cemetery, but because of the difficulty in reaching the cemetery, were unable to do so. Mrs. Harrington stated that at one time there was at least two headstones and several rock markers in the cemetery. Acklin Gap Williams Ranch Williams Ranch Road Driving Directions: From the junction of Highway 65 north of Conway and Acklin Gap Road, turn right (east) on Acklin Gap Road and drive approximately 4.5 miles. Turn right (south) on Williams Ranch Road and drive past the first house on the left (east) side of the road. The cemetery is located on your left (east) on the wooded hilltop. Acklin Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 5