email me Don Sasser, for any additions or corrections

"MY SASSER ANCESTORS"

Marion County Arkansas 1880-1907

Adin Sasser’s children were among the many to explore Arkansas and Oklahoma. Adin Sasser, born June 3, 1816 in Johnston Co., NC. died November 4, 1869 in Laurel County KY. Adin and his wife Elizabeth had 12 children. Three of whom went to Marion County AR.

The early settlers did not find half as much timber as is here today. There were three great prairies, known as "barrens". One, the Flippin Barrens, named for the Flippin families who very early settled there. The Cowan Barrens was so called because of the Cowan family

Perhaps ninety per cent of the heads of families in 1887 had either seen service in the Confederacy, or were sons of ex-Confederates. There were a few ex-Union soldiers, and to my surprise, they were well thought of by those who had fought on the other side. A few exceptions, but not many. The war had evidently taken the dross out of most of those who had survived that awful tragedy -- the Civil War. Fully ninety per cent of the families in 1887 were either religious or religiously inclined. I can not believe that a better people have ever lived in this world. One seldom heard, in those days of an atheist or an agnostic. The writer (W. R. Jones ) can remember but two, and they had not lived but a year or two in Marion county, prior to his arrival. There were no expensive church buildings, but religious services were held pretty often, in almost every school house in the county. In those days preachers, of all denominations, gave the gospel message, practically "without money and without price". The Methodist (South) preachers, usually, devoted all their time to the ministry, and were paid (poorly paid) for their services. The preachers of most of the other denomi-nations, generally kept up their farms, made a living on them, and only gave a part of their time to religious work. These received but little for their preaching, but as they were staking all on the future, they seemed a happy and contented lot of men. Of the Methodist preachers of around forty years ago, the writer can remember "Old Parson" John H. Wade, whose membership was, I believe, at Pleasant Ridge, as was "Grandma" Cantrell, wife of "Uncle" Billie Cantrell. These two, preacher and lay sister, did a great work; especially in the Cowan Barrens, and in and around Yellville.

Pleasant Ridge turned out a number of real able preachers under the encouragement of these two. Among them were Rev. George Wade, Rev. P. B. Summers, Rev. J. M. Watts, Rev. J. M. Cantrell (son of Uncle Billie and Grandma Cantrell), and Rev. Lee Bearden. Rev. Lynn Wade, now one of the most noted Methodist preachers in Arkansas, is a grandson of the "Old Parson Wade", the nestor of Methodism. Rev. Lynn Wade 's father, George Wade, was also a Methodist preacher. The two nestors of the Christian church were Elders W. B. Flippin of the Flippin Barrens, and William Jenkins of Sugar Loaf. Their families intermarried. Other Christian preachers were Elders James Rose, Tom Nowlin, and some others whose names I can not just now recall. Among the Missionary Baptist preachers were Elders Henry Sasser, "Tosh" Soward and Elder Parmer, and some others whose names have escaped me.

"A Series of Articles Written by W. R. Jones From 1929 Submitted by: Gladys H. Brown Email: CHTP69D@prodigy.com "

Marion County Arkansas probably was the three Sasser Brothers original destination when they left Laurel County Ky.

However, according to family tradition: The Sasser’s spent one winter in the Mississippi River Delta area. It was not uncommon for a trip of this nature to take more than one year. Henry's Great, Grandfather spent one year in Tennessee on his journey to Kentucky.

However, according to family tridition, they were convinced by the people living in the area that people acclimated to the hills would certainly have health problems if they attempted to live in this lowland area. One source indicates Henry Became Ill and spent one year in Mississippi. We do know the families eventually moved on to the hills of North Arkansas

The original 1890 population schedules were destroyed or badly damaged by a fire in Washington in 1921. Also all of Marion County Court House Records burned August 1887. A new stone building court house was built in 1905. Until then frame and log houses served as the courthouse. Again, a fire January 12, 1943 destroyed that building Therefore I have not been able to pin down the exact date the Sasser’s arrival in Marion County. Best guess is 1881. Andrew Jackson Sasser, Henry’s oldest son, Henry and Joseph all paid taxes in Tomahawk Township for the year of 1887.

Also, we do know by 1900 Henry, Thomas and James (Uncle Jim) were in Christian County Mo. As also owned land in Marion County past 1900. So it my be concluded they traveled back and forth several times between Marion Co and Christian Co.Henry may have preached in Christian Co. as well as Marion Co., as the dates overlap showing him as the pastor in both chuches.

John R Pigg, who was Rebecca June Sasser’s husband. (Rebecca was Henry’s Daughter) obtained a land grant in Christian County Missouri on April 18, 1891. Nine years to the day before Thomas A Sasser purchased his 1st piece of land in Missouri. Henry’s first purchase in Missouri was May 18, 1899, a few months before Thomas.

March 28, 1896 Henry and Kate sold their land in Marion Co. The document was notarized and signed by T.A. Sasser. JP Thomas A Sasser was Henry’s son. Commencing one hundred feet South of the NE Corner of the SW ¼ of SW ¼ Section 3, Township 17 North of range 117 West and running South 70 yards, thence west 1200 yards more or less to southern line, thence North 70 yards, Thence East to place of beginning. To John Angel and William Angel for $100.00.

Henry Sasser, my great grandfather, was one of the Sasser’s that made this trip towards the west. The first record of them I have found is in Marion Co. Ar. Henry, with his brother Joseph Sasser and sons James Nelson , Thomas Aden and Andrew Jackson Sasser all purchased land in Marion County as did their cousin John M Sasser

Marion County Ar. The area around where our Sasser’s lived was described as townships. We know that Henry, Joseph and Andrew lived in Tomahawk Township in 1887. Andrew Jackson, Henry’s oldest son married Mary Frances Dobbs in Marion Co. on April 08, 1880. My grandfather was not married until 1890 and lived with his father Henry. His brother James Nelson Sasser married John Anna Stone on February 28, 1894 in Marion County.

Thomas married Sarah Lela McCarty on December 24, 1890. The McCarty’s lived in Bearden Township. After Tom and Lela married they moved closer to the McCarty’s. From Hampton to Bearden Townships it is about 20 miles, a days ride by wagon.

Henry founded and named his church "New Hope Baptist Church". It was located on the South side of the Mill Stream near a community called Ralph. This is about 6 miles south of Yellville on Hwy 14. The New Hope Baptist Church remained at this site until the 1940’s. The church played a main part in the social life of the families for miles around.

Henry and Kate’s home on Mill Creek in Marion County AR. They lived here when Henry founded and preached at his New Hope Baptist Church.

I have searched Marion County Court House records for Eli Sasser. I have not found any land or tax records.

Horner’s McCarty’s, Morrow’s, Hamlet’s, Duren’s, Pigg’s, Sasser’s and Nanny’s

All attended the regular Sunday sermons as well as revivals. Rupert Nanny, Son of Jim Nanny was Henry Lee Sasser’s brother-in-law.

Rupert went on to become a successful pastor in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. His first church was in New Boston, Texas. He also was a pastor in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.

Henry served as pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church from 1883 - 1887. In 1890 C. H. Mayfield served. Henry returned in 1891 to 1897. Forty two pastors have served at the New Hope Church since Henry’s time.

The local schools were typical of the Hamlet School. It was important to have a small school county school every three or four miles as most of the children walked to school and travel was slow and difficult. The desks were usually a small table for the teacher, double seats fastened to the floor, a stove in the center of the class room and a recitation bench up front. The blackboard was made of long pieces of lumber fastened to the front wall and painted black. The girls used the forest on one side the boys on the opposite side. If there was no well for drinking water. Drinking water was carried from a spring.

As churches played a important part in the lives living near water sources such as the Mill Spring did also. J. A. "Pasco’s Grist" was located across the hollow from Henry’s house and Church. Pasco’s Grist was powered by the water the spring produced. The spring was on land owned by Samuel Vanzant. The flew was carved into the rocky soil from the mouth of the spring sown the hill side to the grist. The fall is about 150 feet down to the mill. The flew was lined in timbers and at one point crossed the road that led to Henry’s house and Church. The flew was high enough for the horse and wagons to pass under. The road led on down along side of the flew to the location of Pasco’s Grist. There the water fell in to the buckets on the large wheel that turned the stones mill. Corn and grain were ground for meal and flower. Pasco, the owner of the mill kept a peck for every bushel ground. All of the spring’s water was not diverted to the grist. Some went on down an into Crooked Creek. Crooked Creed flows through Yellville on it way to White River. This mill was built before the Civil War and remained in use until 1926. It was built by John Quincy Adams, Sr. John Quincy Adams, Sr lived on land that was owned by George Horner. Neal and Alma Horner’s 1st cousin. John Quincy Adams, Sr’s daughter married Baron DeKalb " Dee" Morrow. Baron DeKalb " Dee" Morrow was Marry Ellen Sasser Morrow’s Uncle by marriage. Another of John Q. Adams’ daughter Angeline, married William Hamlet. William Hamlet is George Hamlet’s father. George Hamlet married Mary Catherine McCarty who was Sarah Lela McCarty’s sister. The mill was owned by Adams, Bud Stokes and George Treat before Pasco bought it in 1910. William is J. L. Hamlets father

Bearden Township Marion County Arkansas

The Bearden Township of Marion County Arkansas for the Year 1890 lists Henry Sasser as owing $408.00 in taxes. He was taxed for 1 horse, 13 cattle, 1 mule, 10 hogs, 1 carriage, 1 gold or silver watch and school tax. He paid his tax on April 6, 1890, his receipt may be found on page 65.

His son Thomas A Sasser was taxed $166.00 for 1 horse, and school tax in the same year..

The closeness of the families accounts for the marriages between the Horner’s McCarty’s, Morrow’s, Hamlet’s, Duren’s, Pigg’s and Nanny’s. When Tom and Lela moved to Missouri, taking Charley Egbert Sasser, Bertha Catherine Sasser, Icephenia Sasser, Gertrude Melissa Sasser with him, many of them also moved to Missouri and Oklahoma.. Mary Ellen Sasser Morrow’s father-in-law Demosthenes Gracchus "Grack" Morrow may have told the Sasser’s about the area around Higlandville Missouri. He owned land there in 1875 before moving to Yellville. Many of The Horner’s McCarty’s, Morrow’s, Hamlet’s, Duren’s, Pigg’s and Nanny’s are buried at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery about 2 miles to the east of the New Hope Baptist Church in Ralph Arkansas.

For the residents in Marion county around this time farming was the main producer of income. At one time two cotton gins where in Bruno and one in Yellville. The land was not really suitable for farming, (too hilly). Now Chickens, Turkeys and live stock are the mainstay.

In 1897, Thomas A Sasser paid taxes in Bearden Township. He purchased land in Marion Co., Missouri on September 18, 1889. Gertrude was two years old by this time. His father, Henry remained at the church until 1897 also. By the end of 1901 Henry had sold all his land and moved to join his son Thomas in Highlandville. Although he is listed as being the pastor at The New Hope Church he founded until 1907.

Eventually, Tom’s brothers James Nelson and Henry Lee and his sister Mary Ellen Sasser Morrow, moved to Missouri. Only Joseph Sasser and some of his descendants remained in Marion County, Arkansas.

Joseph had tried farming in Oklahoma in 1900. His son George Dewey was born in Lincoln Co., Ok. His daughter Lucy Anne Sasser married William R Jackson in Lincoln Co on November 05, 1909. So he may have spent several years there.

Oklahoma was not opened up until 1889. Joseph’s daughter Mary Ida Sasser married John William Anderson on June 10, 1898 in Marion County Ar., Therefore it may be that between 1898 and 1909 Joseph was in Oklahoma.

James Lindsey Sasser, Mahala Sasser, Eli Sasser II, (who died at two years old), James Lindsey Sasser, Joseph Shelby Sasser, Arthur Sasser, George Dewey Sasser were left in Ar..