Fancher Family – Overton – Fentress – Pickett Counties TNGenWeb Project

Richard Fancher Society of America

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Biography of Capt. Hampton B. Fanchier

(Source: A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region: comprising a condensed general history, a brief descriptive history of each county, and numerous biographical sketches of prominent citizens of such counties. Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers Publishers. 1894. Click here to view original transcription at Access Genealogy.)

CAPT. HAMPTON B. FANCHIER. The intelligence and ability shown by Capt. Hampton B. Fancher, as a progressive tiller of the soil, and the interest he has taken in the advancement of measures for the good of Boone County, Ark, caused him long since to be classed as one of the leading citizens of his section. The most that he has achieved or gained has come as the result of his own efforts, and he deserves much credit for his industry and enterprise. He is a native Tennesseean, born in Overton County in 1828.

The son of James and Elizabeth Carlock Fancher, natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1790 and the latter on March 18, 1800. This worthy couple were married in Tennessee, whither they had moved with their parents when young, their nuptials being celebrated in 1818, and about 1838 they came by ox-team to northwest Arkansas, being about two months on the road. They located at the head of Osage, eight miles west of Carrollton, on a claim for which he paid $700 in gold. This he at once began improving and soon had a good home. He was one of the most prosperous, practical and enterprising farmers and stock traders in the county, and accumulated a fortune. However, he lost nearly $50,000 during the war, besides many slaves. He represented Carroll County in the Legislature in 1842 as a Democrat, and was instrumental in the formation of Newton County. That was the only official position he would ever accept. He sympathized with the South during the Civil War but took no part. For a number of years he was a Cumberland Presbyterian and was one of Carroll County’s most honest and influential citizens. His death occurred on his farm in Carroll County in 1865. He was one of eleven children, one of whom died in Illinois, two in Arkansas and the remainder in Tennessee. Mr. Fancher was in the Creek War with Jackson, and was in the fight at Horseshoe Bend. His father, Richard Fancher, was born on Long Island and the latter’s wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Jerniga, was born in Virginia. They were married in North Carolina but removed from there to Tennessee at a very early day. Mr. Fancher died there but his wife came with her son to Arkansas and died in this State. She was entirely blind the last ten years of her life. Mr. Fancher and several of his brothers were in the Revolutionary War. They were of French origin. Our subject’s maternal grandfather, Isaac Carlock, was a native of the Old North State, as was the grandmother, Sarah (Rutman) Carlock. They moved to Tennessee at an early day, and from there to Dade County, Missouri, where Mr. Carlock died, and where some of his descendants are now living. Twelve children were born to our subject’s parents and named in the order of their births as follows: Asenath, deceased, was the wife of William Morris; Arminita, deceased, was the wife of William Coker; Martha J. is the widow of William Boatwright; Hampton B., subiect; Sarah, wife of Amos Kindall, of Madison County, Arkansas; Thomas W. was killed in August, 1892, in Carroll County, while defending his son who was being assaulted (he was a Confederate soldier, and held the rank of lieutenant in Harrold’s battalion of cavalry); Henrietta, widow of Robert Dixon; James P., the present county clerk of Carroll County (for a number of years he served as circuit and county clerk, and was afterward a member of the Legislature; during the Civil War he was in the Confederate Army and was captured at Vicksburg;) George M.; Dallas died in infancy, and two others died in infancy.

Until ten years of age our subject remained in his native State and then moved with his parents to Carroll County, Arkansas, where he grew to manhood with limited educational advantages. On July 26, 1858, he was married to Miss Eliza 0. McKennon, daughter of Dr. Archibald and Sarah McKennon. Mr. and Mrs. McKennon were natives of South Carolina, but came to Tennessee when young, were married there, and subsequently moved to Carroll County when Mrs. Fancher was a girl. From there they removed to Johnson County, and there received their final summons. He was a successful physician for many years. He had four sons in the Confederate Army, one of whom, Hon. Archibald S. McKennon, a prominent lawyer of Clarksville, Arkansas, is one of the United States Commissioners now treating with the five civilized Indian tribes for the abandonment of their tribal relations. The names of the other sons are unknown. Mrs. Fancher was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and died in June, 1892. Eight children were born to this union: Elizabeth, wife of John H. Walker, of Carroll County; James Archibald, died in infancy; Thomas H., a lawyer of Clarksville, Arkansas Virginia Lucretia, deceased, was the wife of Thomas N. Lancaster of Texas; Sallie Mac., wife of Jeremiah Bentley, of Boone County; Susie Jessie; Maggie Polk, died young, and Grover Cleveland, a little girl.

In 1861, when the war cloud hung darkly over the nation, Mr. Fancher enlisted in the Fourth Arkansas Infantry, State troops, as Captain of Company H, and fought at Oak Hill. After a few months this company disbanded and he was then enrolling officer for about a year. After that he went with his father to Texas, and after his return was in Harrold’s battalion until the war closed. Afterward he followed farming in Carroll County until 1880, when he came to Boone County and settled five miles northwest of Lead Hill, where he has a fine river farm of over 400 acres. For some time both before and after the war he was engaged in merchandising at Fair View. Fraternally he is a member of Polar Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 224, at Lead Hill, and was W. M. two terms. He is also a member of Berryville Chapter. Mr. Fancher was made a Mason when twenty-two years of age, and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge in 1853, obtaining the charter of Yell Lodge No. 64, at Carrollton. For many years he has been a prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife held membership in that church also. In politics he is a Democrat.

Biography of Thomas W. Fancher

THOMAS W. FANCHER, a prominent farmer of Carroll County, Arkansas, was born in Overton County, Tennessee, on January 24, 1833. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Carlock) Fancher, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively.

When twelve years of age James Fancher removed from his native State to Tennessee. After his marriage in the latter State he located on a farm and resided there until 1838, when he came to Carroll County, Arkansas Locating on a farm, he spent the remainder of his life here, and died on June 8, 1866. His widow is still living (1888). James Fancher served as a private in the War of 1812. In 1842 he represented Carroll County in the Arkansas Legislature.

Thomas W. Fancher grew to manhood on his father’s farm, and on July 9, 1857, was married to Elizabeth B. Sneed, a daughter of Charles Sneed. She was born and reared in the neighborhood of her present home. After his marriage Mr. Fancher located on a part of his present farm. The place now contains 500 acres, of which 230 acres are under cultivation and finely improved. Mr. and Mrs. Fancher have a family of ten children, viz.: James, Wilburn H., Martha J. (a widow, who resides with her parents), Mary D. (one of the county teachers), Polk, Charles R., Wilkins H., Bessie May, Joseph J. and Jesse. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fancher are earnest Christians. She is a member of the Methodist Church, and he of the Cumberland Presbyterian.

In 1862 Mr. Fancher enlisted in the Confederate Army, and was assigned to the Fourth Arkansas Infantry. Later he was placed in Herrell’s battalion, and served until hostilities ceased, acting part of the time as first lieutenant. Among other engagements he participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Poison Springs and Mark’s Mills. His regiment was disbanded in Texas, after which he returned home, arriving in June, 1865. Mr. Fancher is a charter member of Osage Masonic Lodge, and is a Master Mason.

Statement of James Fancher of Overton County, Tennessee

[Source: Fancher/Fanshaw Family Origins, http://www.mindspring.com/~fancher/index.htm (via the Internet Archive)]

J. Polk Fancher
Green Forest, Arkansas
March 26, 1903

To: W. S. Potter

I have you herewith record of my grandfather Richard Fancher father James Fancher and my own family per your request some time.

I get record of my Grand Father and family from his old family Bible printed over a hundred years ago which I now have. No doubt you have the correct idea as to the anger of the family. Father James Fancher died in this Carroll Co, Ark June 8, 1866. He left a short written crude statement of history of his Father Richard Fancher family and his own family in his own hand which is poorly written and badly spelled because fathers education was very limited. He failed to give or state his grandfathers given name. I after heard him say that grand father Richard Fancher was born on Long Island, N. Y. and was raised there and about the beginning of Revolutionary War with Great Britain that his father and grandfather went to Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Army of the Revolution for… Grand father had brothers and may had his father… In the same service and war.

I wrote to ascertain the service of my grand father in said war to… and he wrote as follows, “I have found Richard Fancher it may be Fansher among the militia rolls of Philadelphia. The name is found among some receipts for pay…My father always claimed that we were Huguenot French…

(Author’s Note – The statement referred to follows.)
(E-2956)

tatement of James Fancher
Son of Richard Fancher of Overton County, Tennessee
Living in Arkansas
Written 1864-1866

James Fancher the son of Richard Fancher and Sarah, his wife. My ancestry was French and Scotch. My father was raised on Long Island. He and my grandfather moved from Long Island to Pennsylvania and lived there in the time of the Revolutionary war. My father was in that war and after the war they moved to Virginia and there father married my mother. She was raised in Spottsylvania County Virginia, her maiden name was Jernagan. They moved to Stokes County, North Carolina where I was born in the year of 1790. And in 1806 Father moved to Overton County Tennessee and in the year of 1812 when the war broke out with Great Britain and the United States I turned out as a volunteer. In 1814 I served a tour against the Creek Indians. I was in the Battle of Horseshoe and in the year 1818 I married (Elizabeth Carlock) and in the year 1838 I immigrated to Carroll County Arkansas and in the year 1842 I was elected to the legislature of that state.

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 $2500 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 On thmy 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 goods in and burned my barns and wheat fan and some grain and farming 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.
Signed James Fancher

(Author’s note – This is James⁴, Richard³, David², Richard¹. His father Richard³ served in the Eighth Regiment of VA during the Revolution. There has been no record found of this family in PA.)