| Notes |
- Dr. Richard Allen Hargis is buried in the Upper Old Athens Cemetery behind the New Hope Baptist CBios: Richard Allen Hargis, Claiborne Parish, LA
Submitted by: Quincy Lee Hargis, 2601 W. Magna Carta Place, Baton Rouge, LA
70815-5523
**********************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.org/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
************************************************
RICHARD ALLEN HARGIS OF CLAIBORNE PARISH, LOUISIANA
HIS TIME by Quincy Lee Hargis
Richard Allen Hargis spent his early years in Tennessee, where according to
family tradition, he was born to John and Sarah Douglass Hargis. John and
Sarah who were married in Caswell County, North Carolina, 4 February 1795,
moved to Smith County, Tennessee, within the next five or six years. County
records verify this by listing him and his wife among a group of pioneer
residents from 1801. Land transactions were made by John and recorded along
with other legal documents. These are on file in the Smith County Court House.
There are two documents that would be helpful to unravel the mystery
surrounding this family. These are the last will and testament of John Hargis
and the probate of his estate. Neither has been located after many years of
searching. Even though written evidence is lacking, research by several
genealogists supports a claim that John and Sarah Douglass Hargis were the
parents of Richard Allen Hargis.
Upon reaching the age of eighteen or nineteen, Richard Allen Hargis moved to
Lawrence County, in the state of Mississippi. We do not know why he left
Tennessee at such a young age, leaving the home of his mother and father.
However, living near him in this southern Mississippi county was Aaron Hargis,
an uncle, who also migrated, and probably provided the influence that Richard
Allen needed to make such a decision. Evidence of these two Hargis men living
in Lawrence County is provided by the 1820 Census.
Marriage Book I, Page 149, State of Mississippi, Lawrence County, reads as
follows:
"Know all men by these presents that we Richard Hargis and Aaron Hargis are
here and firmly bound unto Walter Leak, Governor of the State Aforesaid for
the time being and his successor in office in the sum of $200.00 and for which
payment will and truly to be paid. We bind ourselves, our heirs, executors,
administrators and signers firmly by these presents 5 June 1823.
The conditions of the above obligation is such that if the above bound
Richard Hargis does bound in marriage Pennicia Mitchell provided there shall
be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation is
to be void of no effect or otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
R.A. Hargis (Seal)
A. Hargis (Seal)"
Richard A. Hargis and Pennicia Mitchell were married, 8 June 1823. At the
present time Pennicia Mitchell's parents are not known. Two Mitchell families
lived in Lawrence County and one of these is most likely to be her parents.
Edward and Wright Mitchell are listed in the 1820 U.S. Census. Wright Mitchell
is in the correct age group to be the father of Pennicia, while Edward fits
the category of being her grandfather.
From the "History Of Mississippi" by Lowry, we find that Richard A. Hargis
served as Senator. Also, the Mississippi Senate Journal of the Called Session
of 1835 shows Richard A. Hargis, "Senator from the Senatorial District,
composed of the Counties of Lawrence, Simpson and Covington". This book being
95 pages in length, mentions his name many times. He also served as Justice of
the Peace for Lawrence County.
Born to Richard and Pennicia Mitchell Hargis were two sons and three
daughters. The eldest child, a daughter, Launcey Ann was born in 1824 followed
by a son Quincy Anson, born 16 October 1825; daughter Angelina Dilra was born
about 1827; daughter Sarah Delzira about 1830; and son John D. about 1831.
Sometime after the birth of John, Richard's wife Pennicia died leaving him
with five small children.
On 20 February 1834 Richard took as his second wife Susannah Neyland. After
the birth of their first child, a son, Alphons O. P. (Alfins) Hargis, Richard
and Susannah moved to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, as evidenced by the 1840
U.S. Census for that Parish. Family tradition indicates they moved first to
Arkansas before settling in Louisiana. This may be an accurate assumption
since one daughter, Fary Vensina, is listed in the 1860 U.S. Census of
Claiborne Parish, as having been born in Arkansas. In any case their home in
Louisiana was located near the Arkansas line. Determining an accurate
boundary between the two states, may have posed a problem during the early
days in the year of 1840.
The remaining children of Richard and Susannah Neyland Hargis were all born in
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana as shown in census records. Following behind
Alphons O.P. and Fary Vensina (born abt. 1834 and 1840 respectively) comes
Susan H., born about 1842; Richard D. about 1844; Franklin Courtney, 1 January
1848; and Balus S., about 1849.
Eleven children, lacking in questionable identity, were produced by Richard
Allen Hargis and his two wives. They had husbands and/or wives with names such
as Havard, Moore, Wroten, McFarland, Pratt, Nolan, Hargis and Rogers. Quincy
Anson Hargis married Clementine Havard, 4 October 1849, in Caldwell Parish,
Louisiana. To this union fourteen children were born resulting in many
grandchildren and great grandchildren, one of whom is this writer. Launcey
Ann's husband was William T. Moore, Angelina Dilra married Joel H. Wroten,
Sarah Delzira married Joseph Friend McFarland, and son John D. was killed in
the Civil War without marrying. This completes the children from his first
marriage to Pennicia Mitchell.
Children by Susannah Neyland include Alphons O.P. who married Elizabeth Pratt.
He died at Law Hospital, La Grange, Georgia, 13 December 1863, as a result of
wounds received in the Civil War while enlisted in Co. C, 19th La. Infantry.
His widow and children lived in the household with Richard and Susannah for a
while. The next child after Alphons is Far Vensina who first married John
Nolan and later took as her second husband Frank M. Hargis, a war veteran from
the State of Missouri. The third child is Susan H., who remained single and
lived with her parents until they were deceased. She may have died in 1900
while living in the home of a Williams family located near Junction City,
Arkansas/Louisiana. Richard D., another son, was killed in the Civil War
without marrying. Franklin Courtney married Millie Rogers and their daughter
Carrie married Arlanzo Jackson Gates. Mrs. W.T. Hayes of Mer Rouge, Louisiana,
a granddaughter of Franklin Courtney and Millie, was most helpful by allowing
access to the family bible. Much of the information on this family came from
this bible. Another child and son of Richard Allen and Susannah Hargis, Balus
S., appeared on the 1850 census record of Claiborne Parish as one year of age.
On the 1860 census he is not listed. Two other children enumerated on the 1860
census as living in the household are: Jas. S., whose age was recorded as nine
years and Elizabeth G., a female at the age of six years. Nothing more is
known about these children. The 1860 census also shows the age of Richard
Allen as fifty eight and Susannah as fifty one, not too old to have children
but questionable.
Following Richard and family to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, was a sister,
Lucinda N. Hargis. Using the 1830 census of Lawrence County, Mississippi, it
is believed she resided in his household and is enumerated along with his wife
Pennicia, in the 15 to 20 age category. Later that same year Richard gave
written permission for her to marry Josiah Wilson. Eight children were
produced by this couple with all but the youngest born in Lawrence County,
Mississippi. The residence of Josiah and Lucinda while living in Claiborne
Parish, was near the community of Summerfield where they were members of
Hebron Baptist Church. The church cemetery has headstones for them along with
some of their children. A great great granddaughter, Iva Allgood Almond, who
lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a fellow genealogy researcher and helps in
gathering family information.
Being busy and productive was important to the everyday life of Richard Allen
Hargis. From Senator and Justice of the Peace in Mississippi, he broadened his
scope to include Baptist Minister and Medical Doctor as well as farming and
merchandising after he moved to Arkansas/Louisiana. In Deed Book "A" page 217
for the records of Union County, Arkansas, Circuit Clerk's Office we find:
"To all whome it may concern these are to certify that the bearer herof
R.A. Hargis was at Call of Holly Grove Baptist Church, solemnly set apart this
day by the imposition of hands and ordained by us to the Gospel Ministry. And
he is fully Authorized to minister as an evangelist in the Vineyards of the
Lord wherever divine Providence may direct his course and to administer the
Special as well as more common ordinances of the Gospel on every proper
occasion and we do hereby Recommend him to the affectionate regards,
confidence and respect of all Christian People but more especially of those
who pertain to the Baptist denomination and Recorded in Office Decm. 23rd,
1842. Given under our hands this second day of November A.D. 1842. Signed,
Elder John Meeks, Elder Sam'l J. Larkins, J.W.R. Moore, Clerk and Exofficio
Recorder, Union County, Arkansas."
Many Baptist churches in the area of Arkansas and Louisiana owe their
beginnings to Richard A. Hargis. In each state you will find records showing
the establishment of churches and records of many marriages performed by this
Baptist Minister. From a book, "History of the Missionary Baptist Church in
Claiborne Parish", by N.S. Copeland, page 134, comes the following:
"Friendship Church was constituted December 26, 1847, in the dwelling
house of James Wise, about one mile north of present residence of Hon. W.F.
Moreland, with three male and five female members. Elder R.A. Hargis was the
first pastor and served the church acceptably".
On page 137 is found:
"In 1848 Elder R.A. Hargis and deacon Richard Young constituted Hebron
Church near Summerfield. Elder R.A. Hargis was the first pastor of the church.
Hebron has since been served by a number of pastors."
And on page 168:
"Elder R.A. Hargis a man of more than ordinary ability, of genial
disposition, and popular manners, and for a number of years was an acceptable
and useful minister, and honored with the confidence and esteem of the
denomination. In the later years of his life he engaged in farming and
merchandising, and preached only an occasional sermon. He died a few years ago
(23 May 1883, QLH) at Athens, La., after an eventful life".
The foregoing examples are just a few of the churches Rev. R.A. Hargis
established. He also served as first minister at many of these churches.
Richard Allen Hargis was born on Saturday, 2 May 1801 and died Wednesday, 23
May 1883, 21 days past his 82nd birthday. He is buried in New Hope Baptist
Church Cemetery, Old Athens, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. A new marker was
placed on his grave by great great grandson Quincy Lee Hargis after a visit to
the cemetery revealed an old crumbling white marble tombstone that had broken
into two pieces. Repairing this marker was out of the question so a
replacement was made using a more durable material. The inscription on the old
marker read, Dr. R.A. Hargis, but a decision was made to use his full name,
Dr. Richard Allen Hargis with the hope that future generations may recognize
the person interred here with greater accuracy.
During Richard's time in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, there also lived tow
other Hargis families. William Napoleon Bonaparte Hargis and Joseph Felix
Grundy Hargis resided and owned land in the same general area of Richard Allen
Hargis. No official relationship has been established, however speculation
supports the idea they may very well have been brothers. Too many coincidental
points exist to overlook this possibility.
Richard Allen Hargis can be considered a pioneer to the Claiborne Parish area
of North Louisiana. He also represents the entry of my branch of the Hargis
family into Louisiana.
ADDENDUM
Since writing this short biography of Richard Allen Hargis, I have found that
John, the youngest child of Richard Allen and Pennicia Mitchell Hargis, did
marry a Mary Deville and lived in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, before
enlisting in the war. Evidence is found in the 1860 U.S. Census for Catahoula
Parish, Louisiana.
Also, sufficient information has been received to state that the father of
Pennicia Mitchell was Wright Mitchell. At the time of the marriage between
Richard and Pennicia, the Mitchell family lived in Lawrence County,
Mississippi. At a later time Wright Mitchell moved to Caldwell Parish,
Louisiana.
Quincy Lee Hargis
October, 1998hurch on the Old Athens Road, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
|
1801 - 1883 (82 years)
[1]