Robert E Rash

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52801640

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/2Z34-MWK

Robert and Setha Bryant Rash's graves are in Reed Cemetery, which now is in the middle of a farmer's field in rural Keokuk County, Iowa. He has fenced it off and you can park at the edge of the nearby road and walk to it.
The GPS coordinates for parking are 41.23544 N, 92.01704 W, aka 41°14'07.6"N 92°01'01.3"W
Link to these coordinates at Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Xhbh8LmqVpvik9X7A

They lived in East Tennessee before moving to Keokuk county, Iowa where he died 1 October 1881. Wilkes Co Heritage, NC

From the 1880 book History of Keokuk County Iowa page 690:
RASH, ROBERT, farmer. Sec. 13; P. O. Richland; born April 13 1805; is a native of Wilkes county, North Carolina; he lived there till 1833, during which time he was married to Miss Setha Bryan, in August, 1824; she is a native of North Carolina; he remained there till 1835; and from there went to East Tennessee, where he remained till 1850; not being satisfied with this location he came to this county in 1853 and settled in the place he now lives on; has 100 acres of land, well improved; his family consists of eight children, living: Malinda E., Levi M., Lewis E, John A., William W., Daniel W., Nancy J., and Amanda A.; lost two; Mr. Rash is a member of the United Brethren Church and is a good neighbor and well respected citizen.

ANOTHER PIONEER GONE ACROSS THE SILENT RIVER--

Robert Rash an old and much respected citizen of this township died last Sunday in his seventy-third year, of Paralysis. Mr. Rash was born in the state of North Carolina, and was married there, when he moved to Tennessee where he lived for a number of years, when he again moved to this state and settled in this township in an early day. He was attacked some 18 months ago with paralysis, since which time; he has been much affected, until last week he had another stroke, which left him totally unconscious, until last Sunday his spirit took its final flight to join his wife who had been called home something over two years ago, and now they be side by side in the Brushy Bood Cemetery; the family have the sympathy of all the neighbors where they had lived so long and were respected so well.

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Bob Fahey notes about the children of Robert and Setha Rash:

I have come to believe that some of the names listed as children of Robert and Setha Rash on various sites are mistakes, and that the total number of children is 11.

Clarinda/Clarina, I think, is a nickname for Leatha Caroline Rash, and not a separate person.

Lindie, I think, is a nickname for Melinda, and not a separate person.

Burton Rash, I think, is Robert Burton Rash, and not a separate person.

Simeon, I think, is just plain a mistake, and no such person existed. I can't rule out the possibility that Simeon was twins with one of these other children, and died in infancy. He is listed as having been born in 1830, which would place him between Robert Burton Rash (b. 1829) and Caroline Rash (b. 1831). Nancy Miller Thompson Smith's 2015 book (see excerpt farther down here) does not include Simeon.

This view is partially because of the following information from the 1850 census. The numbering to the left of the childrens' names is mine, not something from the census.

I believe there were only two children other than those in this census, Peggie and Melinda, who by 1850 were 25 and 23, respectively, and had moved out of their parents' home.
01 Peggie Rash (1825-1883) North Carolina
02 Melinda E. Rash Eller (1827 - 1907)

1850 census in Keokuk County Iowa:
Robert Rash M 45 North Carolina
Setha Rash F 45 North Carolina

03 Levi M Rash M 22 North Carolina [Melvin Levi 1828-1913]
04 Robert B Rash M 20 North Carolina [1829-1851]
05 Caroline Rash F 19 Tennessee [1831-1902]
06 Lewis E Rash M 18 Tennessee [1834-1912]
07 John Rash M 16 Tennessee [1835-1902]
08 Wm W Rash M 14 Tennessee [William Watson 1836-1915]
09 Daniel W Rash M 12 Tennessee [1838-1895]
10 Nancy J Rash F 10 Tennessee [1839-1908]
11 Amanda E Rash F 7 Tennessee [1843-1910]
Household ID: 94, Line Number: 19, Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Affiliate Publication Number: M432, Affiliate Film Number: 185, GS Film Number: 442960, Digital Folder Number: 004181052, Image Number: 00462
Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4X-X4F : accessed 29 July 2015), Robert Rash, Richland, Keokuk, Iowa, United States; citing family 94, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
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My book, which includes plenty of info and photos about Robert Rash and his descendants:
Our Iowa Family, by Robert Fahey. The History and Stories of these families and more: Rash, Higgason, Hammer, Brown, Campbell, Adams, Fahey, O’Neill, Phinney:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.geni.com/p13/15/b5/20/9f/5344485ef55470e3/our_iowa_family_-_last_updated_6-9-2021_original.pdf

Miller Cemetery guide - Union, Hardin County, Iowa - A map to the location of all graves, with links to detailed information on each.
https://photos.geni.com/p13/a3/88/43/e3/5344485ef6870d85/miller_cemetery_union_hardin_co_iowa_last_updated_june_2021_original.pdf

Marriage record of Daniel W. Rash and Bertha Mcentyre:
From Montana Marriages
Name Daniel W. Rash
Birth Date 1839
Birthplace Jefferson, Tenn
Age 55
Spouse's Name Bertha Mcentyre
Spouse's Birth Date 1866
Spouse's Birthplace U/
Spouse's Age 28
Event Date 24 Jan 1894
Event Place Missoula, Montana
Father's Name Robert Rash
Mother's Name Sethie Bryant
Spouse's Father's Name Jefferson
Spouse's Mother's Name U
Race White
Spouse's Race White
Montana Marriages, 1889-1947
Reference ID 285
Indexing Project (Batch) Number M02814-4
System Origin Montana-EASy
GS Film number 1888747
Digital Folder Number 4156725
Image Number 598
Citing this Record: "Montana Marriages, 1889-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZS2-B97 : 9 December 2014), Robert Rash in entry for Daniel W. Rash and Bertha Mcentyre, 24 Jan 1894; citing Missoula, Montana, reference 285; FHL microfilm 1,888,747.

1850 Census:
Event Place Richland, Keokuk, Iowa, United States
House Number 89
Name, Role, Sex, Age, Birthplace:
Robert Rash M 45 North Carolina
Latha Rash F 45 North Carolina
Levi M Rash M 22 North Carolina
Robert B Rash M 20 North Carolina
Caroline Rash F 19 Tennessee
Lewis E Rash M 18 Tennessee
John Rash M 16 Tennessee
Wm W Rash M 14 Tennessee
Daniel W Rash M 12 Tennessee
Nancy J Rash F 10 Tennessee
Amanda E Rash F 7 Tennessee
United States Census, 1850
Household ID 94
Line Number 19
Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number M432
Affiliate Film Number 185
GS Film Number 442960
Digital Folder Number 004181052
Image Number 00462
Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4X-X4F : 12 April 2016), Robert Rash, Richland, Keokuk, Iowa, United States; citing family 94, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Robert Rash death record:
Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990
Name: Robert Rash
Gender: Male
Burial Date: 02 Oct 1882
Death Date: 01 Oct 1882
Death Place: Richland Twp., Keokuk, Iowa
Age: 77
Birth Date: 1805
Birthplace: N. C.
Occupation: Farmer
Race: White
Marital Status: Widowed
Record Collection:
Wiki LinkIowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990
Document Information:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number B86685-2
System Origin Iowa-EASy
GS Film number 1005836
Reference ID p 35
Citing this Record: "Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVQ8-7MY : 11 March 2018), Robert Rash, 01 Oct 1882; citing Richland Twp., Keokuk, Iowa, reference p 35; FHL microfilm 1,005,836.

Robert Rash wrote-up at familysearch.org:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/2Z34-MWK

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Robert and Setha Rash write-up in Nancy Miller Thompson Smith's 2015 book The Genealogy of the Rash and Hammer Families

GENERATION IV
ROBERT RASH (12)
Born: 25 April 1805
Where: Wilkes County, North Carolina
Father: Asa Rash (24)
Mother: Nancy Coleman (25)
Married: August 1824
Where: Iredell County, North Carolina (probably)
Wife: Setha Bryan (13)
Died: 1 October 1882 (death certificate)
Where: Richland, Keokuk, Iowa
Buried: Reed Cemetery
SETHA BRYAN (13)
Born: 31 January 1804
Where: North Carolina
Father: Lewis Bryan (26) (probably)
Mother: _______ ______ (27)
Husband: Robert Rash (12)
Died: 31 July 1880 (tombstone)
Where: Richland, Keokuk, Iowa
Buried: Reed Cemetery

Children (birth dates from Robert Rash family Bible):
1. Peggy Rash (died young) 11 April 1825
2. Matilda E. Rash 10 January 1827
3. Levi Melvin Rash 28 March 1828
4. Robert Burton Rash 16 October 1829
5. Setha Caroline Rash 28 March 1831
6. Lewis Ellis Rash (6) 12 April 1834
7. John Anderson Rash 12 March 1835
8. William Watson Rash 18 November 1836
9. Daniel W. Rash 24 April 1838
10. Nancy Jane Rash 29 December 1839
11. Amanda E. Rash 12 March 1843

Robert Rash was born April 25, 1805, during the administration of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson had negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with France, and in 1804, Napoleon was proclaimed Emperor of France. During the life time of Robert Rash, nineteen Presidents served our country. A few of the outstanding leaders were James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, and Ulysses S. Grant.

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 had climaxed the Revolutionary period. The extension of American rule over the Mississippi River basin and the interior of the nation brought peace upon the frontier, and once again homesteaders could resume the westward expansion of our nation. By 1810, the population of the young nation was seven and a quarter million. By 1880, the population had grown to almost eighty-eight million, and many additional states were a part of the Union.

In the early 1750’s Daniel Boone, who may have been related through marriage to Setha Bryan Rash, left his home in Wilkes County to explore Kentucky and the Cumberland Gap. By 1775 Boone, with thirty axe men, blazed the Wilderness Road which stretched 208 miles from Long Island, Tennessee on the Holston River, to Richmond, Kentucky. This foot-road cleared the way for thousands to migrate to Kentucky and other areas west and north. Immigration through the mountainous gap immediately began, and by the end of the Revolutionary War some 12,000 people had crossed into the new territory. By early 1800, more than 300,000 people had passed through the gap, going west.

Robert Rash, the son of Asa and Nancy Coleman Rash, was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He, like his forefathers, was a land owner and a farmer. He spent his early life with his family on land which adjoined that of his grandfather, Daniel Rash. Robert and Setha Bryan Rash were married in 1824, and four of their eleven children were born in Wilkes County before the family emigrated to Tennessee.

His father, Asa, died in 1828, and his mother, Nancy, lived in Wilkes County until her death which occurred after 1870. Robert was named with twelve other children, to inherit the land upon the death of his mother (Wilkes County Probate Records, February 1829, will date October 1828).

Keokuk County History, a chronicle about that early Iowa county, included the following biographical sketch about Robert Rash (Keokuk County History, [1880], p. 690). Although there were several statements that have proved to be inaccurate, it documents data that could not be found elsewhere.

"ROBERT RASH, farmer Sect. 13, P.O. Richland; born April 13, 1805; is a native of Wilkes County, North Carolina; he lived there till 1833, during which time he was married to Miss Setha Bryan, in August 1824; she is a native of North Carolina; he remained there till 1835; and from there went to East Tennessee, where he remained till 1850; not being satisfied with this location he came to this county in 1853 and settled in the place he now lives on; has 100 acres of land, well improved; his family consists of eight children, living: Malinda E., Levi M., Lewis E., John A., William W., Daniel W., Nancy J., and Amanda A., lost two; Mr. Rash is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is a good neighbor and well-respected citizen."

Robert Rash is one of three males between the ages of sixteen and twenty-six who lived with his parents in the 1820 Federal Census of Wilkes County. Robert married in 1824. The family left North Carolina before the 1830 Federal Census, and relocated in New Market, Jefferson, Tennessee after the 1830 Federal Census. The 1840 Census of New Market, Jefferson, Tennessee: Robert Rash - 35, Setha Rash - 35, Matilda - 14, Levi - 12, Rob. B. - 10, Caroline - 9, Lewis E. - 8, John A. - 5, Wm. W. - 3, Daniel - 2, Nancy - under 5 months. (Vol. 5, family No. 593). The only other record found was School District 45 & 44: "June 1841, Robert Rash, children in school, 5 between 6 and 16; 3 males and 2 females. (Tennessee Library and Archives, Nashville, Jefferson County, Tennessee Records, pages 50 & 51, copied by PWA) The 1850 Federal Census and the 1856 State Census of Keokuk, Iowa show their daughter, Setha Caroline, was born in Tennessee. Robert Rash recorded in the Family Bible that Setha Caroline, their fifth child, was born on March 12, 1831, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. In the same Bible Robert recorded that his fourth child, Robert Burton, was born in Wilkes County, North Caroline on October 16, 1829.

The article, previously mentioned, further states that he remained in Tennessee until 1850, and came to Keokuk County in 1853. The Federal Census of District No. 26, Keokuk County, Iowa, which was taken August 22, 1850, showed the Robert Rash family living on their homestead. Robert’s oldest living child, Malinda E., was married to Jacob Eller on September 3, 1849, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Since it seems unlikely that they would have left an unmarried daughter in Tennessee, the family probably left Tennessee after her marriage, and arrived in Keokuk County before August of 1850.

In 1965, Clinton Wallace Thompson, Robert and Setha’s great-grandchild, wrote the following family lore as it was told to him: "The Rash family left Tennessee in a covered wagon, which was driven by oxen, for the new state of Iowa. They settled in Keokuk County, near Richland Township. Here Robert Rash purchased virgin land from the Government, and improved it into a productive farm. They, like the other pioneers of that day, constructed a sod house for shelter until they could build a more suitable one of logs. After clearing the land, planting crops, and building a barn for an animal shelter, a more sturdy, fashionable home was constructed."

In the 1874 Keokuk County Atlas the land holdings of Robert Rash were recorded as follows: "Keokuk County, Richland Township; 74 North, Range 10 West; Section 13; 100 acres, 20 acres in Section 24, 40 acres in Section 23, 26 2/3 acres in Section 14, and 13 7/8 acres in Section 13."

Robert Rash died October 1, 1882, in his seventy-seventh year. His wife, Setha, died July 31, 1880, in her seventy-fifth year. They are both buried in the Reed Cemetery, which is located in Richland, Keokuk Co., Iowa.

In February of 1971, Clara Grace Rash Bunker, the granddaughter of Robert Rash and the daughter of William Watson Rash, was eighty-nine years of age, and she resided in California. At that time Grace, as she was called, wrote a letter to Doris Williams Rash, who was married to a great-great-grandson of Robert Rash. In this letter she copied the children’s names and their birth dates from the Robert Rash Family Bible, which was in her possession.

At the date of this writing, 1996, the only living descendant of Clara Grace Rash Bunker, Bernyce Bunker Hufford, does not know what happened to the Bible. If there was additional information in the Bible about the Robert Rash family, it is unknown.

Setha Bryan was born in North Carolina on January 31, 1804 (Family Bible); her parents were natives of North Carolina according to Census. She was married to Robert Rash in August of 1824 in North Carolina. These are the only facts that are known and documented regarding our subject before her marriage. Her name was found with several spellings. In Keokuk County History, written in 1880, when Setha was still living, her name was recorded "Setha Bryan." In the 1880 Federal Census of Richland Township, she was listed: "Setha Briant Rash; Age, 75; married; white female; wife; Occupation, keeps household; born - North Carolina; Father born - North Carolina; Mother born - North Carolina." In the 1870 and 1850 Federal Census of the above County, she was recorded, "Setha," and her birth place was North Carolina. In the 1860 Federal Census and the 1856 Iowa State Census and on her tombstone, her name was recorded as "Sethy." This recorder believes that she was born "Setha," because she named her second daughter "Setha Caroline Rash," and her nickname was "Sethy." Spellings of the surname Bryan, Bryant, O’Bryan, Brian, etc. were spelled interchangeably in early records.

Although this writer, her sister Helen Thompson McCrary, and several qualified genealogists searched for the parents of Setha Bryan Rash, they were not found. The research included legal documents, court records, and census in the counties of Wilkes, Surry, Iredell, Yadkin, Rowan, and Davies, and the State Archives. The 1820 and the 1810 Federal Census showed several households which had a female in the right age group.

In the settlement of Daniel Rash’s estate there was a Lewis Bryan who borrowed money from him in 1819, and the estate record stated that "the collection was doubtful." Perhaps Lewis Bryan was Setha’s father, and he moved elsewhere by the late 1830’s, or was deceased. Robert and Setha’s third son was named Lewis Ellis Rash. This was the first time that "Lewis" appeared as a first name in the Rash and earlier related lines. It was interesting to note that all other persons in the probate record who were in debt to Daniel Rash were relatives or related through marriage (refer to Daniel Rash for his Probate records).

Another search was made for the marriage record of Robert and Setha, but it was not located. It is the opinion of the genealogists, who have researched the records of North Carolina, that the couple probably married in Iredell County, where the records were burned in a court house fire in 1854. Setha could have lived in this county. This location might place her near the Rash property, which extended to the Iredell County line.

Although the legal documents of the above-mentioned counties contained no Bryan heirs who named "Setha" as a daughter or relative, there are reasons to speculate the possibility that she was kin to a large Bryan family from this area. Some of these Bryans did not name their children in their wills. Some left no will, some moved to Kentucky and other frontiers, and some were killed in wars or by Indians. There are several Lewis Bryans listed in Bryan genealogies, and Federal Census, but their children are not listed. There are no estate papers or wills left by a Lewis Bryan in Wilkes, Iredell, Davie or Rowan Counties.

Daniel Rash, the grandfather of Robert, came to Wilkes County before March 4, 1778, when he entered land on Hunting Creek, part in Rowan County, part in Wilkes County. He was a near neighbor to Morgan Bryan and Squire Boone, who came from Virginia and settled on the forks of the Yadkin River shortly after 1753, when Rowan County was created. Squire Boone (1696-1765) was the father of Daniel Boone (1734-1820). He and his wife, Sarah Morgan Boone, daughter of Edward Morgan, were married July 23, 1720. Squire and Sarah Boone were buried between Yadkinville and Mocksville. Daniel Boone, with his brothers, George, Edward, Squire, Jr., and Jonathan were settlers in Wilkes County. Daniel married Rebecca Bryan, daughter of Joseph and Alee Bryan, and the granddaughter of Morgan Bryan. William Jennings Bryan (the famous American statesman, orator and author) also descended from Morgan Bryan (J. Hayes Johnson, Land of Wilkes, [1967], Wilkes County Historical Society pp. 23-25, 33, 65-67, 129, 130).

Morgan Bryan had four brothers, Thomas of Traphill, Colonel John Bryan, Andrew Bryan, Jr., and Henry Bryan of Wilkes County. The Bryans were formerly from Pennsylvania, and came to North Carolina from Virginia. John, Andrew, and Henry settled in Wilkes County between 1785 and 1788. The descendants of the Bryans, who left Wilkes County, scattered primarily to Rowan, Iredell, and Davies Counties. The Boones and Bryans had many children; they bound the ties of these families through marriage. The Bryans of this area were well documented in such books as Land of Wilkes and Happy Valley; however, these books do not name all of their near kin. There are several Lewis Bryans listed as children, but none of their descendants were included.

There are many persons who claim a relationship to these famous Bryans, with little or no proof other than "family tradition." This researcher does not wish to make such an affirmation, but rather to suggest the logical possibility that Setha was related because a Lewis Bryan was born in North Carolina, he was listed in the probate record of her grandfather-in-law, and several Bryans lived near Daniel Rash’s property.

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