Notes:

GREENFIELD VEDETTE 2 Jun 1887 p3 col 3, Greenfield, MO--Mr. Ira A. Douglas, an old and well known citizen of Polk Twp writes to the VEDETTE as follows: "I was 77 years of age last March 26th-came to Missouri in the year 1839, and helped to build the first house on the site of the town of Greenfield. Saw the stake driven into a gopher mound to mark the center of the court house. I still have some old friends in your town, among the number, Dr. S. B. Bowles, R. S. Jacobs, Rev. W. J. Garrett, and Rev. J. D. Montgomery. The last named was the first man I heard preach in Dade county. I think he has built up as many churches and done as much good as any man within my knowledge."

Ira first settled in Smith Twp in then Barry Co, MO (now Dade Co). And settling about the same time was Dr. JAMES DOUGLAS, born 1774-79 moved to Dade settling in Prairie Twp. In the spring of 1848 the doctor's wife MARTHA WHITE was murdered by her slave PETE who had wrested the pistol away from the aged Dr. Douglas and beat Martha over the head so severly she died and would have killed the doctor had not others intervened. Pete also had murdered his own three children because he didn't want them to be slaves. Pete was the first of only two people hung in Dade County. The doctor married only two months later, the widow NANCY C. HENSLEY whose husband James had died in 1837 at Bolivar, MO leaving her with four small children. Dr. Douglass applied for bounty land for his war service twice, for 80 acres each. In 1850 he was living in Greene Co, MO. He died in 1859 2 1/2 miles from Mt. Vernon, Lawrence Co, MO. Nancy died Seneca, MO. Dr. Douglas enlisted War of 1812 in Lincoln Co, MO and was discharged in Dickson Co, TN. He lived there for a time before moving to MO. Nancy applied for and drew his pension. We believe this James is related to Ira Alexander Davis and Didama in some way, possibly as an uncle (brother of Jesse Douglas).

Birth:
possibly in Spartanburg Co. Ira

Ira married Cynthia (Sintitha) Carlock on 9 Jun 1833 in McMinn Co., Tennessee, USA. Cynthia was born on 16 Feb 1816 in Overton Co, Tennessee, USA; died on 8 Nov 1849 in Dade Co, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He purchased a small farm in McMinn County, Tennessee where and his family cleared the land and cultivated the soil. They were pioneer settlers struggling to make a meager living on the frontier, and were unable to send their children back east to be educated.

Jesse and Sarah lived in Spartanburg, SC until at least 1813, then moved to TN. They lived on a small farm in McMinn Co, TN until about 1837 when they moved to Murray County, GA. Jesse and his sons Ira A., (Rev.)Hiram, David were Petitt Jurors January 17, 1837 in Murray Co., GA David was a Grand Juror March 1, 1839. In 1840 Jesse and Sarah Ann had one son at home two females in the household and Sarah Ann. Their daughter Didama and family were living in the adjoining household with one child (Martha).

Jesse and Sarah apparently lived in Murray Co, GA until 1849 when their last child Katherine Douglass married. Most of their children had married in Murray County. Jesse and Sarah had moved by 1850 to Gilmer County, GA with Calvin Douglas, their son, and lived by others from McMinn Co, TN. Jesse died 1850-1860 and Sarah Ann was listed as a separate household in the 1860 Gilmer Co. Census 734/645 SARAH DOUGLAS 70 b SC and the next listing was 735/646 REUBEN GUNTER 76 b SC and Gemimah Gunter 38 b NC. Calvin Douglass was living 732/643, and 733/644 was Abner G. Davenport (wife Mary dau of Jesse and Sarah Ann Douglass).

(Research):Formerly linked to William Alfred Douglas and Margaret Stroud as parents, this now seems unlikely.

Jesse + Sarah Ann Estes. Sarah was born in 1787; died in 1889. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]