My Genealogy Hound

James C. Brashears was born in Perry County, Ky., in 1837, his parents being Sampson and Margaret (Bright) Brashears. The father was born December 21, 1789, in Tennessee, a son of Samuel Brashears, and of Irish descent. Samuel was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and served as captain in one of the French and Indian wars. Sampson was reared in Tennessee, served in the war of 1812, in the Thirteenth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, and in 1819 with his wife and eight children immigrated to Kentucky on pack-horses. There he entered 10,000 acres of land, a portion of which he improved. He became the largest land owner in that section of the country, dealt largely in stock, and was considered a leading man. In 1872 he retired from active life, divided his property among his children, and made his home with one of his sons until his death, in 1878. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. The mother of our subject was born August 23, 1797, in Washington County, Va., was reared in Tennessee, and died in 1866. She was the mother of thirteen children, eight now living: Isaac (deceased), John, James, Sarah A. (deceased), Ezekiel (deceased), Elizabeth, Samson (deceased), Robert S. (deceased), Louisa, Harvey G., Jesse C., William R. and Hezekiah. The four last named live in Madison County, and the remainder who survive, in Kentucky. Jesse C. remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, and then attended school in Lee County, Va. When twenty-two years old he married and went to live upon some land given him by his father. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army, served until the close of the war, and then resumed his farming. In 1882 he came to Arkansas, purchased land in Madison County, and in February, 1883, removed his family to his present place of residence. December 25, 1858, he married Elizabeth J. Hogg, a native of Kentucky, born in 1838, by whom he has nine children: Martha A., wife of John Combs; Harvey G., Lizzie, Mary L., Kelly, William H., Cynthia J., James J. and Robert H. The four eldest are school-teachers. Mr. Brashears is a successful farmer and stock raiser, the owner of 450 acres of good land, 150 of which are finely cultivated. He was postmaster at Jesse Post-office, Perry Co., Ky., from 1881 to 1882, which post-office was named after him. He has been justice of the peace, and is a Democrat.