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Abraham EASTEP / ESTEP (1824 - 1872)

Abraham ESTEP was born 1 February 1824 in the area of Rowan Co., North Carolina that is now Davie Co. His parents were Moses and Elizabeth (JONES) ESTEP. The ESTEPs moved to Lauderdale Co., Alabama after 1827.

Ann(e) WALLACE / WALLIS was born 20 October 1820 in Alabama (probably Lauderdale Co.). At this time her parents are not known but she had one sister, Sarah "Sallie", who was born 19 October 1817 in South Carolina. Sallie married William M. McMURRY on 18 March 1841 in Lauderdale Co., Alabama and Ann married Abraham ESTEP on 3 February 1846 in Lauderdale Co. Ann's name was spelled as Anna WALLAS on the marriage record.

Around 1848 the McMURRYs and ESTEPs moved to Smith Co., Texas and settled near Starrville. By then the ESTEPs were spelling their surname as EASTEP.

Abraham and Ann were the parents of:

  1. Martha Caroline, born 13 March 1849, Smith Co, Texas; died 29 September 1896, Smith Co, Texas, buried Antioch Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas; married A. J. (or A. G.) OSBURN, 2 July 1868, Smith Co, Texas.
  2. William R., born 23 July 1851, Smith Co, Texas; died 5 August 1861
  3. George M., born 14 March 1854, Smith Co, Texas; died circa 1884 to 1889, Henderson Co, Texas; married Amanda Carolyn SLIDER,14 July 1878, Henderson Co, Texas.
  4. Mary E., born 14 July 1856, Smith Co, Texas; died 28 October 1857
  5. Elizabeth Ann, born 8 January 1859, Smith Co, Texas; died at age of 28, 17 January 1887, Van Zandt Co, Texas.married Philip Jackson PRYOR, son of Lemuel and Elizabeth C. (HARDEGREE) PRYOR, on 16 June 1878 in Smith Co, Texas.

Burial locations for William, George, Mary and Elizabeth Ann have not been found.

Twelve days after the birth of Elizabeth Ann, Ann (WALLACE) EASTEP died on 20 January 1859 at the age of 38. Her burial location has not been found. According to the biography of Elizabeth Ann written by her husband, the newborn was taken in by Sallie McMURRY who took care of her until Abraham remarried.

On 25 October 1859 Abraham was married to Sarah GRICE in Smith Co, Texas. Sarah GRICE was born 22 November 1830 in Alabama. Abraham and Sarah had the following children:

  1. Isaac S., born 30 July 1860, Smith Co.; died 2 November 1860
  2. Harriet Rhoda, born 1 December 1861, Smith Co, Texas; died 8 March 1947, Blair, Jackson Co., OK, buried Warren Cemetery; married 1. L. C. OLIVER, 23 December 1880, Henderson Co, Texas; 2. James Meredith INKLEBARGER, 2 December 1885, Wise Co, Texas.
  3. Sarah "Letha" Taletha, born 25 August 1865, Smith Co, Texas; died 30 November 1936, Hill Co, Texas; married France M. WIESEN, 16 April 1885, Henderson Co, Texas.
  4. James, born 27 January 1868, Smith Co, Texas
  5. Mitz? Orlly? / Mit evry? [unable to read name in the Bible], born 20 April 1871; died 7 October 1871

Burial locations for Isaac, James and the last child are not known.

After being on the 1870 Smith Co., Texas, the EASTEPs left for Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The biography of Elizabeth Ann (EASTEP) PRYOR stated that the family moved in the winter of 1868 [should be 1870 or 1871] to Pickens County, Indian Territory where the parents died, leaving Elizabeth Ann, her brother, one half-brother and two half-sisters. The young children went back to Smith Co. in August of 1873. Another source, the interview with F. M. WILSON (WIESEN) (husband of Sarah Taletha EASTEP) in 1937 or 1938 by the WPA stated that Abraham's wife was of the Choctaw tribe and that they went to Caddo area in 1871 along with neighbors BUCKLES and JONES. Abraham EASTEP died on 19 February 1872 at age of 48 and Sarah (GRICE) EASTEP died on 2 July 1872 at age of 41. Their burial locations have not been found.

The young children went back to Texas and Elizabeth Ann went to live with her married sister, Martha Caroline OSBURN, until her marriage. The other children lived with Ripley Copeland UNDERWOOD and his family in Henderson Co, Texas until their marriages. Copeland UNDERWOOD was living with the EASTEPs on the 1860 census and his birthdate (6 June 1849 in Mississippi) was listed in the family Bible. Copeland Underwood's mother was Harriet GRICE, sister of Sarah (GRICE) EASTEP.

Nothing has been found on James EASTEP who may have died before the 1880 census.

I would love to hear from descendants of this family and exchange information.

Sources of Information:

Eastep family Bible; marriage records of Lauderdale Co., AL, Smith Co, Texas, Henderson Co, Texas, and Wise Co, Texas; data from Antioch Cemetery (Smith Co, Texas) and Warren Cemetery (Jackson Co., OK); biography of Elizabeth Ann Eastep written by P. J. Pryor; interview with F. M. Wilson by WPA as part of the Indian-Pioneer History Collection at the Oklahoma Historical Society; 1850, 1860 and 1870 Smith Co, Texas census records; 1880 Henderson Co, Texas census record; information on George M. Eastep family from Rowena R. Shearer; information on Rhoda Inklebarger family from Wanda Carter; information on Letha Wiesen family is from Jane Sharp, and from my personal research and the Elizabeth Ann Pryor family history.

Deed - Hardegree-Pryor-Eastep

Submitted by Nova A. Lemons, great-granddaughter of P. J. and Elizabeth Ann (EASTEP) PRYOR. Nova A.. Lemons Web Page http://www.homestead.com/ThomasEstep/SA39.html

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If you agree, please email, Scott Fitzgerald with your submission.

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