James F. Fancher

James Fancher was born in Stokes County, North Carolina, January 26, 1790 and died in Osage, Arkansas, June 8, 1866. He married January 8, 1816 in Rock Springs, Tennessee to Elizabeth Carlock, born March 18, 1800, Stokes County and died June 8, 1891, Lead Hill, Arkansas, daughter of Isaac Carlock and Sarah Ruckman. In 1806 James Fancher moved with his parents to Overton County, Tennessee. In 1838 he moved to Carroll County, Arkansas and lived there until his death, except for two years in Texas near the end of his life.

Mr. Fancher was a private in Capt. Miller's Company of Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812, listed with the Spies of 1812, and discharged at Fort Williams because of disability. In 1814 he served a tour against the Creek Indians and was in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. He served as a representative in the state legislature in 1842 from Carroll County. During the Civil War, he lost most of his property, as described in the following statement made by him, in the possession of Mrs. Mary G. Fancher Spalding.

"On the 11th day of January 1863, Jarnell Herns brigade camped on my farm - they burned about 6000 rails, took a good many horses and foraged on my grain, killed hogs, cattle and sheep and other property, damaged me $2,500 and on the last of March 1863, James Blunt command came to my house on Sunday about one o'clock in the afternoon and robbed me. They went into every room and went upstairs and in the garret loft and broke open every trunk and took my money and they made their headquarters at Carrollton, 8 miles from my house and they staid there 8 days and they were at my house every day foraging. They took my horses and cattle and hogs sheep geese poultry and everything that came in their way and when they were going to leave they burned all of my dwelling houses and all of my out houses and a large new frame house that we was selling farming utencils and blacksmith shop and all it contained. The damage they did, that is both brigades, at the least figers 22,500 dollars and I had to fly and leave to save my life and go to Texas."

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Yesteryears: The First Family by Nancy Carter (Special to CNN)

In the name of God Amen. I, James Fancher, of the county of Carroll and the state of Arkansas, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and disposing memory for which I thank God and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being delirious of disposing of all such worldly estate as it has blessed God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in manner as follows..." are the words of introduction to the last will and testament of James Fancher, written on April 11, 1866. James Fancher departed this life on June 8, 1866, at the age of 76.

James Fancher's will, which was filed on June 13, 1866, is the first will recorded in the Record of Wills, Book A, at the Carroll County Clerk's office in Berryville. Earlier records of the county were destroyed in a fire.

The clerk of the circuit court and ex officio clerk of the court of Probate for Carroll County in 1866, George J. Crump, stated that the last will and testament of James Fancher had been "exhibited, proved, and recorded" on September 18, 1866, and,, that in accordance with the request of the deceased, his sons, Hampton B. Fancher and Thomas W. Fancher, had been appointed executors by the court and were charged with the responsibility of disposing of the estate according to the terms of the will.

It is fitting that a historical account of Carroll County begin with James Fancher. He and his family moved into the Osage area in 1838 from Overton County, Tenn. They were members of one of the first families who settled in Carroll County.

The first provision of James Fancher's will stated that his just debts and liabilities were to be settled.

The second provision stipulated that all of his land on Osage Creek, specifically described as approximately 515 acres in Township 18, Ranges 22 and 23, Sections 36 and 31, become the joint property of his sons, Hampton Bynum Fancher and James Polk Fancher.

It is noteworthy that Hampton Fancher and his wife, Eliza O. (McKennon) Fancher, in addition to raising their eight children, took Tryphenia and Kit Carson Fancher, the youngest children of Captain Alexander Fancher who had survived the Mountain Meadows Massacre in southern Utah and were returned to Arkansas by the federal government, into their home, and they became his wards until they reached the age of majority.

James Polk Fancher was prominent in the political arena of Carroll County, having served as county clerk, circuit clerk, county judge, and state representative fot eh county at the Arkansas General Assembly.

In the third provision of the will, James Fancher requested that his son, Thomas Washington Fancher, was to remain the owner of the farm on which he resided, noting that Thomas already had a deed to the property.

In the fourth and fifth provisions, James Fancher requested that his "beloved wife, Elizabeth Fancher, reside upon the homestead and be maintained during this life time by my sons, Hampton Bynum Fancher and James Polk Fancher. He also requested that the "farm wagon together with all my farming tools... also one pair of oxen and two mares...remain upon the homestead."

James Fancher and Elizabeth Carlock were married on January 8, 1816, in Rock Springs, Tenn., when the groom was 25 and the bride was 15. Their marriage spanned 50 years, and they were the parents of 11 children. Elizabeth Fancher died on June 8, 1891, at the age of 91.

James Fancher further willed that at his death "all my perishable property" except for the previously mentioned property together with 80 acres located on Piney Creek and three lots in the town of Carrollton be sold on "a credit of 12 months purchases giving bond with approved security for the payment of the purchase of money." The combination of these sales and his outstanding debts when they were collected were to be equally divided among his six daughters or their children, Asenath (Mrs. William) Morris (deceased), Arminta (Mrs. William) Coker (deceased), Martha Jane (Mrs. William) Boatright, Sara (Mrs. Amos) Kendall, Margaret Catherine (Mrs. James) Kenner and Herrietta (Mrs. Robert) Dickson.

James Fancher was also preceded in death by two infant sons, Clayborn Fancher, who was born in 1821 and died in 1822 in Overton County, Tenn., and George M. Dallas Fancher, who was born in Carroll County in 1846 and died at the age of 10 months.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 12 2016, 2:03:52 UTC