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Submitted: 10/23/08 • Approved: 10/23/08 • Last Updated: 8/2/12 • R84101-G84100-S3
Birth: Aug. 3, 1817
Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina
Death: Jul. 1, 1902
Fourche, Perry County, Arkansas
Reddick S. Tarvin and wife Harriet Elizabeth Huffman were ancestors of a large branch of Tarvin Line William. The following story is from an article written by their grandson, Joe Little Tarvin of North Little Rock, Arkansas for the reunion of the descendants of Reddick Tarvin held at Little Rock in 1983. Ten years later, on January 2, 1993, Joe Tarvin died.
Our grandmother Harriet, could neither read nor write, but she could make a campfire, drive a wagon, split wood, cook a meal from nothing, and bear children. Tough as a man, she managed to care for, love, and teach 12 children how to survive and prepared them for adulthood. This grand old lady never married a blue blood to have an easy life. The story goes, when one of the boys bought her a new iron cook stove her reaction was "Why, I can't cook on that ole iron box. She worked hard her 84 years, and I for one loved her and new her, and wish I could put my arms around her right now and say "We love you dearly for all you did and the kindness you have shown to our family".
Reddick was listed as a farmer/wagon master on various census records prior to moving to Arkansas. His brother-in-law Henry Huffman , was also listed as a wagon master. They traveled the stage coach route from Washington City to Montgomery, Alabama. We found the 1840 Macon County, Alabama census shows Dial Hathorn, William H. Stafford, Richard Tarvin, William Hathorn, Aaron Brazil, C. Barzil, William Beason, James Dent, William Dent, William Tarvin and Lewis Huffman.
Reddick married Harriet E. Huffman on 28 February 1837 at Macon County, Alabama. We found their marriage license at the Tuskeegee, Alabama courthouse (built in 1833-1834). There, they had three sons, William F. (1839), Thomas J. (1840), and Reddick P. (1842). It is said Harriet could speak with the Indians there in their own language. Macon County, Alabama was part of the Creek Indian Nation at that time.
The family migrated to Union County, Arkansas, Moro Bay area in 1843, where Harriet gave birth to nine more children, John J. (1844), Elizabeth "Betty" (1846), Henry (1848), James Monroe (1850), Newton (1852), Eliza Ann (1854), Franklin (1856), Sarah Jane (1858), and Wilburn Layfayette (1860).
Grandpa Reddick Tarvin was 36 years old when he moved to Arkansas. Over the years he acquired 280 acres of swampland timber in the Moro Bay area. They were farmers and sawmill operators. He died January 9, 1856 at age 59, and is buried at Friendship Cemetery near Hampton, Calhoun County, Arkansas.
Sons William F., Thomas, and Reddick P. served in the Confederate Army Cavalry 1862-1865. Son John J. served in the Arkansas Infantry.
In 1867, son William F. was appointed administrator of Reddick's estate and guardian of all minor children. Harriet formed a partnership as a merchant with J. T. Ederington of Moro Bay. She sold her part and moved to Perry County, Arkansas in November 1874. Most of the real estate was still being handled by son William F., until 1869 when he advised the Probate Court he had formed a partnership with Dr. Watkins of Gravel Ridge, Bradley County, Arkansas for the practice of medicine, and had cause to "move one load of plunder, and as soon as the Mississippi falls, will move the rest and will become a citizen of Bradley County," He had filed a correct report on the R. S. Tarvin estate and had asked that someone else be appointed to wind up the estate.
In November 1887, Andy J. Harcrow, husband of Eliza Ann Tarvin, petitioned the court for taxes he paid from 1883 to 1886, $22.09 plus 10 percent and petitioned to settle the remaining estate except for dower rights.
On 12 April 1888, Harriet E. Tarvin petitioned the court to sell her dower, and on 20 April 1888 she named J. C. Jones of Hampton, Arkansas as her attorney-in-fact. The property was sold at auction. She moved in with her son, Wilbur Layfayette Tarvin and family (including Joe Little Tarvin, author of this story) and remained there until her death in 1902. She is buried in Perry County, Perryville/Ragsdale Cemetery, Perryville, Arkansas.
Taken from the Tarvin Family Association Genealogy Database.
Contributed on 10/23/08 by fergie71742
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Record #: 84101