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Thomas Sowards
and Stella Justice

Thomas Sowards b 1800 Floyd Co KY; s/o Thomas Sowards and Letisha Hall. Thomas Sowards m. 22 Jan 1824 Pikeville, Pike Co KY to Stella Justice b abt 1805 Floyd Co KY. Children of Thomas Sowards and Stella Justice;

1. William Sowards b 1822 Pike Co KY; m. abt 1844 Russell Co VA to Rebecca Robinson b 1822 Russell Co VA; d/o William Robinson and Nancy Hutchinson. Children of William Sowards and Rebecca Robinson; 1. Margaret Sowards b 1846 Russell Co VA 2. Permelia Sowards b 1847 Russell Co VA 3. Hopkins Sowards b 1850 Russell Co VA

2. Martha Sowards b 1827 Pike Co KY; m. abt 1848 Russell Co VA to George McClanahan b abt 1826 VA. Child of George McClanahan and Martha Sowards; 1. David McClanahan b abt 1849 Russell Co VA

3. John Wesley Sowards b 1829 Pike Co KY; m. Elizabeth Unknown b 1835 VA.

4. Louisa Sowards b 1830 Pike Co KY

5. Jefferson Efferson Sowards b 1832 Pike Co KY; m. abt 1852 to Louisa Unknown b 1836 d 20 Apr 1865. Children of Jefferson Efferson Sowards and Louisa; 1. Elbert Martin Sowards b 1853 Wise Co VA d 1921 Stroud, Lincoln Co OK; m. 11 Oct 1871 Wise Co VA to Tabitha Dickenson Long b 5 Mar 1854 d 1929 Stroud, Lincoln Co OK. Children of Elbert Martin Sowards and Tabitha Dickenson Long; i. Creed F Sowards b 4 Mar 1876 ii. Nettie G Sowards b 1 Apr 1878 iii. Minnie B Sowards b 28 Jul 1880 iv. Mattie V Sowards b 9 Oct 1882 v. Fred Sowards b 25 May 1884 vi. Willard Sowards b 11 Jan 1886. 2. Rhonda Sowards b 1859 Wise Co VA

Jefferson Efferson Sowards m. 1865 to Susan Dean b 1839

6. Letitia Sowards b 1835 Wise Co VA; m. Unknown. Children of Letitia Sowards and Unknown; 1. Frances Sowards b 1860 Pike Co KY; m. 22 Aug 1878 Pikeville, Pike Co KY to John Mullins b abt 1859 Pike Co KY 2. Louisia Sowards b abt 1865 Pike Co KY; m. 27 May 1886 Pike Co KY to John Elswick b abt 1864 Pike Co KY.

7. Andrew Jackson Sowards b 1837 Russell Co VA; m. Virginia Unknown b 1835 VA. Andrew Jackson Sowards served on the Confederate side in the Civil War while 3 of his brothers served on the Union side. Children of Andrew Jackson Sowards and Virginia Unknown; 1. William Sowards b 1855 VA 2. Rebecca Sowards b 1856 KY 3. R Sowards b 1858 Pike Co KY

8. Martin Jefferson Sowards b 1838 Russell Co VA; m. 4 Mar 1858 Pike Co KY to Melvina Mullins b abt 1841 Pike Co KY; d/o Alexander Mullins.

9. America Sowards b 1855 Russell Co VA.

Taken from "MARRIAGE BONDS OF PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY 1822-1865 By Clyde Runyon Belfry, Kentucky Page 14, File No. 89 - Bond dated January 19, 1824 for marriage of Thomas Sowards and Stelly Justice; signed by John Justice; Spencer Adkins, Clerk. Letter: "The Clerk of Pike County Court will please Isue license to marry Tho. G. Sowards & Stelly Justice and oblige your friend James Ratliff Guardien for the Sd. Tho. G Sowards atteste Tho. Pin (?) Lettitia Sowards", dated January (?), 1824. Also on Page 40, File 219-L - License issued January 19, 1824 by Spencer Adkins CPCC for marriage of Thomas Sowards and Stilly Justice (also written Stelly Justice). Thomas Sowards and "Stulley Justus" married January 22, 1824 by Wm. Campbell, JPPC.

Thomas Sowards (III) was the brother of Lewis W. Sowards. His four sons served in the Civil War; William, John Wesley and Martin served in the Union Army and A. J. "Eff" served in the Confederate. Thus, it was during the war that brother fought against brother and families were divided. All of which was heart-breaking for the parents. John Wesley lived on Blaze Branch at the time of the War and once he walked through deep snow at night across the Cumberland Mountains to warn his Confederate brother's troop that the Union forces were on their way to attack them. He begged them to move on, but they refused, saying they were well fortified on the mountain and would capture the Union troops. (FROM THE PIKE COUNTY HISTORICAL PAPERS NUMBER FOUR)

1830 Pike County Census:
Thomas Sowards; Male age 20-30,
2 males 0-5,
1 female 0-5,
1 female age 15-20 and
1 female 20-30.

1840 Russell County Virginia Census (sent by Priscilla Jones):
Thomas G. Sowards, age 40, b KY;
Stella Justice, age 35, b KY;
2 Males under 5 (Martin and Jackson);
2 Males 10-15 (William and John Wesley)
1 Female under 5 (Letitia)
1 Female 5-10 (Louisa)
1 Female 10-15 (Martha)

1850 Russell County Virginia Census: Household 751;
Thomas G. Sowards, age 50 and born in KY;
Stelly Sowards, age 45 and born in KY;
Wesley Sowards, age 21 and born in KY;
Efferson Sowards, age 18 and born in KY;
Louisa Sowards, age 20 and born in KY;
Letitia Sowards, age 15, and Born in VA;
Jackson Sowards, age 13 and born in VA;
Martin V. Sowards, age 12, and born in VA.

1860 Pike County Kentucky Census: Household 179
Thos. J. Sowards, age 56, head of household, farmer, $600 Property Owned, $500 Personal Property owned and born in KY.
Stella Sowards, age 53 and born in KY;
Letitia Sowards, age 23, and born in VA;
America Sowards, age 5, and born in VA.

1870 Pike County Kentucky Census: District #9, P.O. Robinson Creek, June 29, 1879. A. E. Adams Household 96:
Thomas G. Sowards, age 66 Farmer, $300. Property Owned, $250 of Personal Property Owned, and born in Kentucky.

1880 Pike County Kentucky Census: Upper Elkhorn Precinct #9, June 3, by G. W. Pinson Household 159:
Thomas Sowards, age 80, Farming, born in KY and both parents born in KY.
Stella Sowards, age 70, wife, keeping house, born in KY and both parents born in VA.
Letitia Sowards, age 44 daughter, born in VA and both parents born in KY.
Louisia Sowards, age 17, granddaughter born in KY and both parents born in VA.

The above information from Jeffy Strunk, gr-grandson of Louisia Sowards.


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