Eugenia (Logan) Louden

Ancestors

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Biography

This information was transcribed from “History of the Corkrens and Logans”, A brief history of the Corkren and Logan ancestors, beginning with the families of Robert Corkren and Robert Logan, and a detailed genealogy of their descendants, pioneer citizens of Marion and Fayette Counties, Alabama. Compiled by Esther Mae Mays Stewart, Sikeston, MO; A member of the fifth generation. 1984

Robert Logan was born in 1800 in Tennessee according to the 1850-60-70 federal census records for Marion and Fayette Counties in Alabama. Morgan County, Alabama, records revealed that on November 11, 1822, a marriage bond was executed for the marriage of Robert Logan and Virginia Jane “Jennie” McCaleb, and on November 14, 1822, the nuptials were solemnized by Robert Tapscott, Judge of County Court. There is a disagreement about what Virginia Jane “Jennie” McCaleb’s full name was. On her marriage record, the name is Jane (initial) McCaleb. The initial has been debated as being W, M, N, or V; therefore, I have omitted it. There is records confirming her name as Virginia Jane “Jennie” McCaleb. I wasn’t able to confirm that Robert’ middle initial was M, either. Virginia Jane was generally called “Jennie”. She was born in 1804 In Stokes County, North Carolina. She was the eldest of nine children of Hugh White McCaleb and Elizabeth Holbrook, Marion and Fayette County, Alabama, pioneers, and progenitors of one of the county’s most prominent families., Tradition is that the Logans and McCalebs may have come from North Carolina, thru Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and into Alabama together, at about the time Alabama was admitted to the Union as the 22nd state and Morgan County, Alabama, was created. Robert and Jennie were in the1830 federal records for Marion (now Fayette) County, Alabama with four children. Robert’s occupation was listed as farmer. They were in the 1840 Fayette County census records with nine children and neighbor of the McCalebs. They were still living in Fayette County at the time of the 1850 census with fourteen children and till neighbors of the McCalebs. Nothing is known about the early training or educational qualifications of Robert Logan, but regardless of how much education he had, he was a very successful farmer and provided well for his family. He was considered to be one of the best farmers of his time in Fayette and Marion Counties. He received a land grant in 1837 in Fayette County, Alabama. The 1850 Fayette County Agricultural Census stated that he was owner of 75 acres cultivated, 125 acres woodland, valued at $250.00; $395 worth farming implements; 5 horses, 1 mule, 11 milk cows, 4 working oxen, 27 other cattle, 6 sheep, 80 swine, valued at 747.00; produce 11 bushels wheat, 1000 bushels of Indian corn, 8 bales of cotton, 12 bushels of peas and beans, 100 bushels of sweet potatoes, 250 pounds butter; $150.00 evaluation of home-made furnishings; $100.00 worth of cattle slaughtered. He was living “high on the hog”, as they would say. Sometime before the 1860 census for Marion County, Alabama, Robert Logan purchased land in Marion County and moved his family there. It was located west of the Luxapallilia Creek, and in sections 22, 23 and 26. This property was sold at a “Public Out Cry Sale”, on March 1, 1886, for $965.50. Robert and Jennie’s son, John Calvin Logan, was the administrator of the estate. Robert Logan had slaves. There are no records showing just how many. I found a record in Fayette County, Alabama, stating that Robert had freed Lorenzo Walker and his wife, Phereba, on January 10, 1844. The Marion County, Alabama, 1870 census shows that two black families, whose surname was McCaleb, were neighbors of Robert and Jennie. It is assumed that these families were descendants of Hugh White McCaleb’s slaves who were in the 1810 North Carolina census with Hugh White and who were, also, house-servants and mammie for Jennie. When Jennie married, it is believed that her father let these slaves go with Jennie. Because they were devoted to Jennie and her family, their descendants continued to live nearby. Robert and Jennie were prominent citizens and neighborly people. Jennie was kind, soft-spoken and cheerful. They were the parents of fourteen children. Twelve married and reared families, many of whose descendants still live in Marion and Fayette Counties, Alabama. They had eight sons, seven of which were active in the Civil War. The other son helped build bridges for the Union Army. Two of their sons died while serving in the Union Army; one died from measles and the other from pneumonia. I was told that Robert was reared as a Presbyterian but was converted to the Church of Christ by Alexander Campbell. He and Jenny remained faithful to the Church throughout their lives. It is assumed that Robert died sometime between1870 and 1880, because he was not in the 1880 census and Jennie was. Jennie died before the 1900 census. Since their estate was sold in March of 1886, she may have died before 1886. They are both buried in unmarked graves on top of a high hill, near Yampertown, in Marion County, Alabama. It was Robert’s request that they be buried there. I did not find any record to confirm the identity of Robert Logan’s parents. It is assumed by some that the was a descendant of one of the original Logan families. The original brothers agreed to keep certain given names in order that future generations could more easily trace the family history. Ironically, the task was made more difficult. There is such a succession and multiplication of Robert, William, David, John, James, and Hugh, some confusingly designated as “senior” or “junior”, that I was not able to distinguish specific ancestors beyond the previously referred to Robert Logan. The Robert Logan narrated in this book supposedly had two brothers, whose names were James William, and Henry, that supposedly went from Tennessee to Alabama also. I did not confirm this, because the Logans I contacted in Alabama that were not descendants of Robert said, “we really do not know”. Some remember hearing some of their ancestors speak of “Uncle Bob Logan”, but did not know who Uncle Bob was, and if they were related. Not once, did my Grandmother “Rhoda” (Logan) Corkren mention anywhere in her family records any Logan’s names other than the descendants of Robert and Jennie Logan. But she narrated all about all of Jennie’s brothers and sisters. This leaves the author wondering if Robert really did have close relatives that went from Tennessee to Alabama.

Sources

• “History of the Corkrens and Logans”, A brief history of the Corkren and Logan ancestors, beginning with the families of Robert Corkren and Robert Logan, and a detailed genealogy of their descendants, pioneer citizens of Marion and Fayette Counties, Alabama.

Compiled by Esther Mae Mays Stewart, Sikeston, MO; A member of the fifth generation. 1984