|
|
 |
The Isbells originally migrated from Halifax County, Virginia, to Robertson County, Tennessee, about 1800, Yearby Hudson Isbell, Sr. was born in Robertson County on June 20, 1827. He was the son of Thomas D.and Rebecca Yates Isbell, and the grandson of George and Mary Isbell and Thomas Yates.
When the Missouri Territory opened up during the 1830's, many families sold their land and took what possessions they could on wagons or boats and literally traversed across the wide Missouri Valley. The Isbells and Lindseys did likewise. On February 3, 1833, Caroline's family departed Kentucky and set sail on flat boats. They floated to the mouth of the Cumberland River where it empties into the Ohio River. They traveled along the Ohio until they reached the Mississippi River. Here they loaded on to larger boats and sailed north up the Mississippi into the mouth of the Missouri River. They continued up the river and landed in Layfayette County, Missouri on March 9, 1833. Here they replenished their supplies. As soon as spring came they boarded wagons and rode south to the central part of the state. After several weeks they located their new home in what is now Benton County, Missouri.
One of the adjoining neighbors was John Isbell, an uncle of Y.H. He had evidentially left Tennessee and preceded his brothers, Thomas D. and George O. , at an earlier date and homesteaded in Missouri. This is the first association between the two families which we know. Whether these families made the same trip to Missouri or not is mere speculation, but we do know that they traced the same route.
We know that the county elections and court sessions were first held at the Isbell home. There is no doubt that Y.H. and Caroline became acquainted here at an early age.
We next locate the father of Y.H. when he was appointed on of the first justices in Newton County, Missouri at its formation in 1840.
Y.H. probably worked for his uncle and began courting Caroline. This relationship ultimately led to marriage on December 10, 1846. It was about this time that Y.H.'s other uncle, George O. Isbell, made a trip to Texas. We do not know for certain where he settled, but he did remain long enough for one child to be born. He returned to Missouri shortly before 1850.
Y.H. owned and operated the Isbell distillery and brewery, commonly called "The Jolly Old Mill." It still stands near Neosho in Newton County.
On April 3, 1849, the first son, John Thomas, was born to Y.H. and Caroline The next year Caroline's mother, Peggy, died. Caroline's younger sister, Margaret, came to live with the rest of the family. The second child, Minerva Lucinda, was born September 27, 1850, in Newton County..It was at this time that George Isbell returned from Texas. It is most likely he was the first to spread the word to the family about the wonderful land available in that state. It is possible that some of the Lindseys (particularly, Adam Linn) may have made a similar trip to Texas. For we note the following account:
The family settled near Parker Co., in a small town known as Veal's Station. Here the Lindseys made their home. About 1865, Adam L. responded to the call of arms in the Civil War, thus ushering the 15 year old son into top position of the household.
MArgaret Lindsey was staying with Adam on the 1850 Newton County Census. In 1852, she was made a ward of Y.H. Isbell. He was appointed custodian and administrator of her portion of the Lidnesy estate. In June, 1853, he was given permission by the court to hire out Maggie's servant, Hannah. The public auction took place at the Isbell mill.
The third child, George, was born to Y.H. and Caroline on January 21, 1853. On November 2, 1853, Margaret married John W. Wright. John was the brother of Rachael S. Isbell, the wife of Thomas Isbell, older brother of Y.H. Thomas Isbell may have come to Texas in 1850, for he is not listed on the Newton County Census of that year. His family did come to Texas for awhile, but returned to Missouri because Rachael became ill. She was fearful of dying away from her family. They returned to Missouri and shortly thereafter she died. The young children were without a mother and for this reason Thomas soon married again. He then returned to Texas and was residing in Wise County on the 1860 census.
The fourth child, Linn Boyd, was born on December 16th, 1854, to Y.H. and Caroline. In 1855 the father of Y.H. died and his mother soon after. Except for a younger brother William, Y.H. had a few ties left in Missouri.
According to information contained in a letter written by Maggie's daughter, Alice Caroline, Adam Linn Lindsey came to Wise County with Margaret and John Wright in 1857. They came in wagons drawn by horses and the trip was of long duration. Adam returned to Missouri , sometime after this trip. Y.H. and his brother, George came to Wise County. This was sometime before March 5, 1858 for this was when Y.H. Isbell Jr. was born. Y.H. Jr. was born on land about 2 miles north from present day Decatur in that region where the "Battle of the Knobs" occurred. The valley and springs in that area still retain the Isbell name today.
For several years the Isbells lived in Wise County. But as war clouds gathered and the seed was sown which ultimately split the country in two, the Isbells one more moved. Y.H. Sr. settled on a farm adjacent to Veal Station in Parker County, where another son, Eli Shelton, was born on April 22, 1860. George Isbell moved to Palo Pinto County and Thomas moved farther west into Knox County.
Y.H. Sr. volunteered his services. He was sent to Camp Brunson in 1862, another daughter Caroline Elizabeth, was born on November 4th. From Camp Brunson, Y.H. Sr. was transferred from the Confederate Army to the state service as a Texas Ranger, and Isbell had to be recruited from the Confederate service by discharge or transferred to the State service. I so recommended to the Division Commander. Isbell gave bond to the State for ten thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duties as agent to the Indians.
In February, Isbell was on the job securing shirts and guns for the Tonks. The shirts he had made for them and the guns were rifles which used ounce balls. He hoped to secure more guns for them by means of donations through the assistance of Throckmorton.
Y.H. Sr. was permitted to care for his home as well as serve in the capacity delegated to him. For this reason, the Tonks would occasionally visit his farm. As it happened, the visiting Toonks soon became fast friends of Isbell children.
On March 5, 1866 another son, William Daniel was born to the Isbell family. John Thomas died on September 26, 1867 at Veal Station as a result of a fall from a horse. On December 26, 1870 the last child, Alford Veal, was born ; Linn Boyd Isbell died of congestive chills in 1870. On February 10, 1873, Yearby Hudson Isbell Senior passed away at Veal Station.
On November 13, 1889, she joined her husband in death and was laid to rest beside him at Veal Station.
George Isbell had moved to California in 1881, because of ill health. During 1887, Y.H. Jr. and Eli Shelton made a trip west to visit him Times were hard and wages were slim in Texas, so they thought they would make some additional money in California. Eli soon became sick and decided to return home. He died of T.B. on November 20. 1887 at Veal Station. Minerva Lucinda married William Tannahill on October 20, 1869. They lived near Mansfield, Texas. She died there on May 19, 1907.
Their children were:
Helen Buns, who married Paul Hoefle
John Yearby
Robert
Marion Mae, who married Dan C. Bateman
George married M.Susan Clark about 1873. He died in Whittier, California in 1915. He had only made one return trip to Texas about 10 years earlier. They had one child, Mollie C., who married Lawson Baily.
Yearby Hudson Jr. Married Mary Lu Ella Patterson on December 10, 1879. They had twin daughters, Maude Lee, who married Lee Alison Ward and Minnie May, who married William Arthur (Aus) Woody. After Mary died Y.H. Jr. married Frances Isabella Cumming on December 27, 1891. They had Clara Gertrude, who married William Everett Ritch ; Ethel, who married Lee Ambers Rogers; And Lavina Caroline, who married Henry Earl Bell Sr. Lavina has contributed greatly to the gathering of his family information. Y.H. Jr. was sheriff of Parker County from 1896 until 1900 he died in Weatherford on March 5, 1926.
