French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Le Flore Co., Oklahoma

Chart #40. Samuel Sherril French, 1797
Tumlinson, Scott Co., Arkansas
Latimer Co., Arkansas
Summerfield, Le Flore Co., Oklahoma
Purcell, Chickasaw Nation Indian Territory, Oklahoma

This chart updated by Mara French on 3/10/11. Numbers in brackets [ ] show sources and refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line. Send any corrections or additions to this chart to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 2011.

History and Research

Scott Co., AR was formed in 1833 from Pulaski, Crawford, and Pope Counties.

First Generation

1.1* Samuel S. (Sherril – not Sherman) French, b. 1797, perhaps in Louisiana, d. after 1845, m. Elizabeth, arrived in Arkansas early in the 1820’s from TN. Before that the family lived in KY and in NC before that. The only head of households listed as living in AR in the 1840 census right after son Samuel S. was born are as follows:

Elizabeth French, Scott Co., AR, aged 30-40, with 4 males (1 under 5, 1 5-10, 1 10-15, 1 15-20)

George French, Izard Co., AR, aged 20-30, wife 20-30, son and daughter both under 5

Joseph French, Jackson, Sevier Co., AR, aged 60-70 with wife aged 50-60

Lorenzo French, Jackson, Sevier Co., AR, aged 30-40, with one son aged 15-20, 2 sons under 5, his wife aged 20-30, and 2 daughters; one between 5-10, and the other 15-20. His wife was very young to have these children.

Nancy French, Athens, Izard Co., AR, aged 50-60, living with 2 females: 10-15 and 20-30, plus 1 male 15-20 and 3 males 20-30. It would seem that Nancy is a widowed grandmother.

Pelisha French, Pulaski Co., AR, a female aged 40-50, living with 2 females: 5-10 and 30-40, and 1 male under 5.

T.C.P. French, Monroe, Sevier Co., AR, aged 30-40, living with 3 males: 1 under 5, 2 6-10, and 2 females: 1 under 5 and one 20-30 his wife.

From this study in 1840, Samuel S. French could have lived with Elizabeth, George, Lorenzo, Pelisha, or T.C.P. French (that’s 5 out of 7). Considering the fact that Samuel S. French lived in Scott Co., only Elizabeth would be possible. Going back to the 1820 census when Samuel S. French’s parents lived in TN, 15 Frenches are listed, and the only name (head of household) that coincides with the list above is Elizabeth French in Stewart Co., TN. In this same census in Stewart Co., TN, are (3 different Samuels) Samuel French, Samuel C. French, Thomas French, Saml French, and Gideon French. By 1830, only Samuel and Thomas French remain in Stewart Co., TN.

Samuel French "took his land at the place known as the Talbott Improvement at Pine Bluffs." He came to the upper Red River in June 1818, from Louisiana. Registro. Apparently he was accompanied by a number of sons. At any rate, Joseph, Levi, Thomas, and Samuel S. (whom we know was 21 years of age in 1818) signed the Miller County petition of 1825 [2]. Miller County, AR, was formed west and south of the Red River in what is now Red River County, TX, in 1820, and for a time was also north of the Red River in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. Those Frenches living in Miller County, AR, whose names appear 1825 in a petition, were Thomas P. French, Joseph French, Levy C. French (his name is struck out), and Samuel French.

STRAY HORSE TAKEN UP, Arkansas Gazette (1819-1930) Newspaper Articles

State of Arkansas, County of Scott

The undersigned have this day viewed a stray horse, show to us by Thomas Camplain, and do find him to be a BRIGHT BAY, about 14 and a half hands high, both hind feet white to the hair, the left fore foot white to the knee, bald face, some saddle spots, aged between ten and twelve years, which we value at thirty five dollars, this 10th May, 1837.

Drury Arrington
George Williams
Reuben Trator, Appraisers

Sworn to, before me, the date above written,
Samuel S. French, J.P.
A true copy, Attest - G. Marshall, Clerk

The reconstructed 1833 census of Scott County Arkansas list Samuel S. French and no other French as the head of the family.

1.2 Clayborn C. French, b. 1805. Let’s try a new angle. The name Clayborn sounds like a predominant family name. The first Clayborn surname appears in Arkansas in 1870 – there were 22 in all. Most lived in Pleasant Hill, Newton Co., AR. Others lived in Union, Izard Co., AR. The name Clayborn first appears also in 1870. Let’s try the name Sherril which is Samuel’s middle name; it could be his mother’s name. There is an Eli Sherril living in Ruddall Twp, Independence Co., AR in 1830. In the 1850 census for Slave Schedules, Clayborn C. French of Scott Co., AR, aged 45, therefore born in 1805, owned 7 slaves:

Female 45 Black, b. in 1805
Male 38 Black, b. in 1812
Female 15 Mulatto, b. in 1835
Male 13 Black, b. in 1837
Male 10 Black, b. in 1840
Male 9 Black, b. in 1841
Female 4 Black, b. in 1846

In 1850 in Scott Co., AR, Clayborn C. French had 35 acres of improved land valued at $500.00 and farming implements valued at $100.00. He owned 8 horses, 6 milch cows, 3 working oxen, 4 other cattle and 90 swine valued at $511.00. His farm had produced 400 bushels of Indian corn, 300 bushels of oats, 1 bale of cotton, 6 lbs. of wool and 50 lbs. of butter valued at $25.00. His slaughtered animals were valued at $20.00 [3].

Second Generation

Children of Samuel S. and Elizabeth French, 1.1

2.1 Samuel Sherril French, b. 18 Feb 1839 in Scott Co, AR. Samuel S. French m. Lucy Ann Brown on 19 Dec 1859 in Waldron, Scott Co., AR [1], and he d. 12 Nov 1915 in Hughes, Latimer Co., OK [1]. He is buried at the Red Oak Cemetery in Latimer Co., OK [1].

Red Oak Cemetery, Latimer Co., OK. Nineteen Frenches are buried in this cemetery.

Lucy was b. 12 Jan 1839 in Madison Co., MO, d. 1 Sep 1915. In 1870, Samuel lived in Tumlinson, Scott Co., AR, age 29, living with his wife Lucy, age 29, and their children all born in AR: William French (9), Samuel French (7), and Levi French (2).

The 1850 census of Boon, Scott Co., AR, lists Samuel as age 12, b. ca. 1838, living with Clarbon (probably Clayborn) C. French, age 23, born in 1827, a farmer, born in TX; Elizabeth Anthony French (7, born in AR in 1843); and Rebecca French (18, born in AR in 1832).

2.2 Elizabeth Anthony French, b. 1843 in AR according to the 1850 census of Boon, Scott Co., AR. By 1880, she may have been married to a man named Burks and iving in Clay, Dunklin Co., MO, age 32, working on a farm, with 2 children: James Burks (9) and Candice Burks (7). Both per parents were born in Arkansas.

2.3 Rebecca French, b. 1832 in AR according to the 1850 census of Boon, Scott Co., AR.

Third Generation

Children of Samuel S. and Lucy Ann (Brown) French, 2.1

3.2 William French, b. 1861 according to the 1870 census of Tumlinson, Scott Co., AR.

3.2* Samuel Clayborn French (called Clabe), b. 22 Oct 1862 in Arkansas according to the 1870 census of Tumlinson, Scott Co., AR. He m. Martha Ann Wise on 28 Dec 1884. She was b. 7 Mar 1865 in Monroe Co., MS, d. 23 Mar 1939, the dau. of James Elbert Wise and Mary Jane Mays. Martha Ann Wise was part American Indian and the family lived on the Chickasaw Nation Indian Territory in Oklahoma. She is buried at the Tomlinson Cemetery located in the northern part of Scott Co. at Boothe. Samuel d. 4 Jul 1931 in Summerfield, Le Flore Co., Oklahoma, a farmer. Both are buried at the Red Oak Cemetery in Latimer Co., OK. He never lived any place as an adult except Oklahoma.

3.3 Levi French, b. 1868 according to the 1870 census of Tumlinson, Scott Co., AR.

Fourth Generation

Children of Samuel C. and Martha Ann (Wise) French, 3.2

A child of Samuel was buried at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Scott Co., AR, no name and no date, but “Son of Sam French” is written on a tiny metal plate fastened to the cement block.

4.1 Ora French, b. 1890 in OK, age 20 in the 1910 census of Red Oak township, Latimer Co., OK, living with her parents.

4.2 Sudy or Sudie French, b. 1893 in OK, according to the 1920 census of Summerfield, Le Flore Co., OK, when she was 27 years old and living with her parents.

4.3 Clayborne C. French (called Clyde), b. 29 Aug 1896 in Oklahoma, listed on the 1930 census of Santa Barbara, CA, age 34, living alone. He registered in the draft for WWI during 1917-1918 in Latimer, Oklahoma, FHL Roll Number 1851786. It states that he was born in Richard, Oklahoma, and that his father was born in Christian Co., AR, and that his father was S. C. French of Red Oak, Oklahoma.

In 1920, Clayborn was age 23, living in Summerfield, Le Flore Co., Oklahoma, the son of Samuel C. French and Martha. He was a manager at a ranch estate in California.

4.4 Thomas L. A. French, b. 16 Apr 1900 in Purcell, Chickasaw Nation Indian Territory, OK, m. Idah Adell Williams of Fayette Co. AL on 14 Oct 1922 and had dau. Norma Jean French who was b. 19 Oct 1923 in LeFlore, LeFlore Co., OK, m. Gerald E. Wheeler. Idah Adell Williams was b. 18 Jan 1903 in Fayette Co., AL, d. 10 Jun 1974, the dau. of James Farmer Williams and Ofelia Emeline Wilson. Samuel d. 13 Oct 1973 in Redlands, CA, a merchant. In the 1920 census, Thomas was 19, born 1901, living in Summerfield, Le Flore Co., OK, living with his parents. Thomas d. 13 Oct 1973 in Wilburton (Red Oak), Latimer Co., OK.

Bibliography

[1] Jean Wheeler, FFA Member, 285 Belblossom Way, Los Gatos, CA 95032-5026.

[2] Chronicles of Oklahoma, Volume 18, No. 1, March 1940, Miller County, Arkansas Territory, The Frontier That Men Forgot, by Rex W. Strickland, website: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v018/v018p012.html

[3] 1850 Agricultural Census, Scott County, Arkansas, transcribed by Delaine Edwards, website: http://www.argenweb.net/scott/ag1850.htm, email: delaine@ipa.net

[4] Scott County Arkansas, pre-1882 Marriages, contributed by Delaine Edwards, website: http://files.usgwarchives.org/ar/scott/vitals/marriages/scotmarr.txt, email: delaine@ipa.net

[5] Rebecca Madden, email: bluebirdrn@gmail.com (email good in 2010).

[6] Sherry Hollan, email: sherryhollan@yahoo.com (email good in 2008). (This could be the incorrect chart for her). I am a great-great-grand-daughter of Samuel S. French, born 1839, who married Lucy Ann 'Annie' Brown of ?Alabama?. Their son William Joseph 'Joe' French m. Sadie Mead. Joe and Sadie's four daughters included my grandmother Willie Josephine' Josie' who married Oscar Baxter, and Josie's sisters Dora, Lucy, and Julie. Do you have any information to share about this Samuel S. French, his parents, or anything else. I am very new to genealogy researching, and I get so excited when I find a family member's name. I also saw that it said that this was chart where Samuel S. was listed was an Indian Tribe Chart: exactly what did that mean? Does this Samuel have a roll number?

[7] Red Oak Cemetery, Latimer Co., OK, website: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=99334&GSfn=&GSln=French