Elijah Isaacs and Sally Bowman

Elijah Isaacs was born about 1808 in Virginia.  He was the son of Samuel Isaacs and Nancy Baldridge.  He married Sarah/Sally Bowman on the 15th of April 1830 in Clay County.  Sally was the daughter of Jacob Bowman and Elander Evans.  Elijah and Sally appeared on the 1830 census of Clay County, but I haven't found them on the 1840 census.  They were most likely missed by the enumerators or living with another family because Elijah appeared on the Clay County tax list consistently from 1829 through 1843.    Owsley County was formed in 1843 and Elijah was listed on Owsley's first tax list in 1844. Elijah and Sally were listed in the Owsley County census in 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. 

Elijah Isaacs was received into the Elk Lick Baptist Church by "experience and baptism" on the 11th of August, 1843. Susan Isaac was also "received by experience and baptism" in October, 1843. Susan Isaac was most likely the wife of Fielding Isaacs, Elijah's brother.  In June, 1844, "Brother Elijah Isaacs came forward and let the church know the hurt between him and Susan Isaac."  Unfortunately, whoever was keeping the church minutes didn't make a record of what the particular hurt was.  Elijah continued to appear in the Elk Lick Baptist Church records through February, 1878, When Elijah Isaacs and W. A. Smith were appointed to cite J. M. Roberts and wife to fill their seats." 

Elijah is buried in the Elijah Isaacs Cemetery in Owsley County, in plot #8.   This cemetery is located on the James Hurt farm, near the Elk Lick Baptist Church.  The cemetery has also been called the Elk Lick or Buck Creek Cemetery. One of the reasons we know so little about Elijah is that Owsley County suffered a courthouse fire in January 1928.  County histories claim that 5000 marriage records were lost as well as most land and court records prior to 1929.

Children of Elijah Isaacs and Sally Bowman

1. Sylvester Isaacs was born 13 May 1831 in Clay County.  He married Martha Brewer daughter of Howell Brewer and Emily Short on 2 June 1853 in Owsley County.  Martha was born 9 January 1834 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Sylvester served as a Capt in Co. E., 14th KY Cavalry during the Civil War. Three of Sylvester's children were listed in the Owsley County Kentucky Vital Records:  Sarah born 13 March 1854; Henry born 6 June 1856; and James B. born 29 May 1858.  Sylvester died 29 February 1916 and his wife Martha died 5 October 1918.  The are both buried  in the Elijah Isaacs Cemetery in Owsley County.  Susan Isaac has a picture of Sylvester's tombstone on her web site at:  http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7895/Isaacksgrave63.htm 

2. Preston Isaacs was born about 1834 in Clay County.  He married Rachel Johnson 25 May 1855 in Owsley County.  Rachel was the daughter of Jesse Johnson and Ellender Bowman. The Owsley Vital Records list the birth of Permelia Isaacs born 25 June 1856, daughter of Preston Isaacs and Rachel Johnson.  Preston served as a Pvt in Co. A, 7th KY Infantry during the Civil War. He died of disease on  4 November 1864 in Adams General Hospital in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. He is buried in the Memphis National Cemetery, Sec. B, grave 1268.  After Preston's death, Rachel married Samuel Mays.  A picture of both Preston's (TN) and Rachel Johnson Isaacs Mays' (KY) tombstones appear on Susan Isaac's web site at:  http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7895/Isaacksgrave79.htm  

3. Henderson Isaacs was born 6 August 1836 in Clay County.  He married Leticia Margaret Neeley on 1 February 1858 in Owsley County.  Leticia Margaret was the daughter of  Harrison J. Neeley and Jane Bishop.  Henderson served as a Corp'l in Co. E, 14th KY Cavalry during the Civil War.  He died on 1 August 1901. Henderson and Leticia are both buried in the Elijah Isaacs Cemetery in Owsley County. Henderson and Leticia's  names are listed on the tombstones, but no dates are given. The 1900 census of Jackson County listed Henderson's birth as January 1838 and Lucy's (Leticia) as March 1835.  They were listed as having been married 44 years and having had eight children, seven of whom were living.

4. Stephen Isaacs was born about 1843 in Owsley County.  He served as a Pvt. in Co. D, 7th KY Infantry during the Civil War.  When he enrolled at Booneville, KY on 22 September 1861, he was listed as 19 years old, blue eyes, light hair and as a farmer by occupation. He died on the 23rd of October 1863  of chronic diarrhea at the St. James General Hospital in New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana.  He was buried on the 24th of October 1863 in Grave #271, Cypress Grove No. 2.  A picture of Stephen's 20th century tombstone in the Elijah Isaacs Cemetery in Owsley County is listed on Susan Isaac's web site at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7895/IsaacksgraveSteven.htm

5. William Isaacs was born about 1845 in Owsley County.  He married Nancy J. Cole about 1867, probably in Owsley County.  Nancy was the daughter of James M. Cole and Nancy Smith.

6. Isaac Isaacs was born on 15 September 1848 in Owsley County.  He married Permelia Hall about 1870/71, probably in Owsley County.  Permelia was the daughter of Harvey Hall and Mary Bowman.  Permelia died about 1876.  Isaac married a second time on the 26th of September 1877 in Owsley County to Phoebe Scott.  They were married at the home of L.L. Mainous.  Phoebe was born 24 December 1860 and was the daughter of Wikerson Whitley Scott and Martha Mainous. Isaac Isaacs died 30 June 1926 in Owsley County and Phoebe Scott Isaacs died 12 June 1937 in Owsley County.  They are both buried in the Elijah Isaacs Cemetery in Owsley County.

7. Jacob Isaacs was born about 1850 in Owsley County.  He wasn't listed with the family on the 1860 or 1870 census.

8.  Martha Isaacs was born 30 June 1853 in Owsley County according to the Owsley County Vital Records.  She married John Hamilton about 1873, most likely in Owsley County.  John died in 1915 and Martha died in 1931, both in Lee County.

9.  Rachel Isaacs was born 19 September 1855 in Owsley County.  Owsley Vital Records listed her death as July 1856.

10. Rachel Isaacs was born 11 September 1856 in Owsley County.  The Owsley Vital Records listed the birth of both Rachels.  This 2nd Rachel must have died early as well, because she didn't appear with the family on the 1860 or 1870 census.