The Pioneer EBLEN FAMILIES of Roane and Loudon Counties, TN
Note: Since posting this family sketch, I have received additional information from Roy Tobin, IsaiahBT@aol.com who has generously agreed to share it with me, and it would appear he has the ancestors and siblings of John William Eblen. You may want to read it first. Go to Hans Michael Eblen & Poytt Families PatMcD
The Summer 1998 Edition of 'Roane County Roots', by Bailey Publishing, has more details on the descendants of Eblen family. PatMc
From Roots of Roane County, TN – page 106-8, by Snyder E. Roberts, pub. 1981
The EBLEN families are among the best known and most numerous of the pioneer families in Roane and Loudon counties. Unfortunately , a number of published accounts of the families have had some conflicts and discrepancies, and are not consistent with proven history. Mrs. Ralph Shipley of Lenoir City has done research on the older generations in order to set the records straight. Mrs. Elmer (Wilma) Eblen and Mrs. Emma Huffine Norman have collaborated in straightening out the 15 children of SAMUEL and ELIZABETH (RAYBURN) EBLEN.
From all the records at hand, it appears that SAMUEL EBLEN was the first Eblen in Roane County as his name appears on a petition in 1799 for the erection of Roane County. His name is also on the Roane 1802 Tax and Militia rolls. Apparently he left soon after 1814 to join relatives in IL. The presence of this old Samuel Eblen helps to explain the possible parentage of a number of Eblens otherwise unidentified.
JOHN WILLIAM EBLEN, who married a "red-haired Irish lady," ANN WHITTAKER, in Loudon County, VA, about 1780 is the key figure in the Eblen story in Roane County. Ann’s red hair has been passed down through the generations as a dominant heredity characteristic. All of John and Ann’s children were born in VA. The Eblens intermarried with some of the most prominent families in Roane County, including: WILSON, JOHNSON, GALLOWAY, BALLARD, PYOTT, ARNOLD, MCCOWEN, WALLER, MCELWEE, ALLISON, STUBBS, JONES, MONTGOMERY, KOLLOCK, RAYBURN and others.
John Eblen’s name first appears in Roane records in 1803. He began to acquire approximately 2000 acres of land in the Eblen Cave area, 6 miles east of Kingston. He acquired six or seven hundred acres south of the TN River, owned slaves, a grist mill, and operated an inn or tavern. His will in Roane County, 1828, names his children.
"Isaac Eblen, William Eblen, Samuel Eblen, John Eblen, Polly Ballard, Anney Arnel/Arnold, Elesey Oden, Edward Eblen, Israel Eblen and Sary Pyott." Executors were William and John Eblen. Wittnesses: Saml. Eskridge, Lewis W. Jordan, James McCampbell. Will Book B 1828-1837, p. 22-25 Difficulties were encountered on the settlement of the vast estate when John, R. moved to TX, leaving William to complete the task.
JOHN WILLIAM EBLEN and his wife ANN (WHITTAKER) children:
ISAAC EBLEN (1781-1860) m (4 Mar 1806, Loudoun Co. VA) ELIZABETH WILSON (1785 - ) They had 6 children and were the maternal grandparents of Capt. W. E. McElwee
KEZZIAH EBLEN (1783-1873) m1 HIRAM BERRY, and m2 PETER JOHNSON (children)
WILLIAM C. EBLEN (1784-1843) m (3 May 1807, Roane Co.)) MARTHA "PATSY" GALLOWAY (1783-aft 1850). They were the parents of JAMES GALLOWAY EBLEN (1811-1877) who m (1844) ELIZABETH STUBBS (1820-1873)
ISRAEL EBLEN (1786-1863) m BARBARA ERNEST (1789-1882)
MARY "POLLY" EBLEN (1787- ) m (22 May 1807, Roane Co) WILLIAM BALLARD
Note from Sherry SBFleis@aol.com
Ann Ballard who married Lemuel Harvey had a sister, Frances Ballard. Here is her obit:"McPherson, Mrs. Francis (nee Ballard) died 26 Feb 1897 east of Maysville, MO, aged 81 years. She died in the home of her sister, Mrs. Anna Harvey. She was born 4 April 1833. They came to Platt Co., MO, in March of 1847 and in 1848 to Maysville and to Plattsburg, MO in 1865. Then they went to Oxford, MS, and back to Cameron, MO. Her husband died 10 years ago. She has a son, Jos. W. McPherson, of Crystal Springs, MS; a daughter, Anna Everett, of Keystone, Clinton County, MO; another son, H. C. McPherson in St. Joseph, MO. Her eldest daughter, Cornelia Smith, died prior to the Civil War."
I believe Frances and Hugh must have gone to MO with Lemuel and Ann. Here is why:
Lemuel floated his family down the TN River on a flat boat then on the Ohio River until they reached the Mississippi River at Cairo, IL. They then took a steamboat on the MO River until they reached Weston, MO, and they were in DeKalb County, MO in 1848. They settled just a little east of Maysville, MO." This information has been kept in the family and passed down from generation to generation.
EDWARD EBLEN (1789 - )
SARAH EBLEN (1791- ) m (31 Dec 1809 VA) JOHN PYOTT
ANNA EBLEN (1793-1867) m (1818) JONAS ARNOLD (1795-1883). 11 children
Another researcher has found conflicting information for Anna, the child of William and Patsy. ANNA EBLEN married December 13, 1828, SYLVESTER A. FREEMAN, born November 22, 1807 in Roane Co., TN, and died 1865 in Wright Co., MO.
SAMUEL EBLEN, SR. (1794-1878) m (31 Dec.1818, Roane Co.) SARAH MCCOWEN (1790-bef 1878) They had at least six children including SAMUEL, JR., [below]
JOHN EBLEN (III) (1796-bef 1858) m (25 Mar 1819, Roane Co. ) NANCY MCMULLIN. Went to TX [Note: He is called "Jr." in Roane records.]
ELIZABETH EBLEN (1798- ) m (6 June 1812, Roane Co.) JOHN ODEN
SAMUEL EBLEN, SR. AND JR.
Samuel Eblen, Sr. (no 9 above) named in his will his children as: ISAAC NEWTON, ANNA, JOHN, FRANKLIN G., WASHINGTON H., and SAMUEL JR.
Samuel Eblen, Jr. (1827-1911) married ELIZABETH JANE RAYBURN (1844-1906). They had fifteen children
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Some confusion has existed regarding the children of Samuel, Sr. and Samuel, Jr., and another Samuel Eblen who married (1818 in Knox Co.) MARTHA YOUNG, but who is unidentified.