The Colbert’s of Southern Illinois is a large extended family, well-documented in the area, mostly in the counties of Hardin, Gallatin, and Saline. This area lies west of the Ohio River mostly in the Shawnee Hills in the southeastern corner of Southern Illinois. The family has been established in the area since the early 1800’s. Family lore indicates that the family came from Alabama to this area, where they settled on the acreage they acquired, farmed the land, worked at other endeavors, and became involved with the building of the early communities, notably the ones in the Eagle Creek area of Gallatin County. The extensive family is well known in the area, both as early settlers and currently, for they have always involved themselves fully in community affairs, current politics, their churches, and the society in which they lived and thrived for so long. Much of the first farmland acquired by the family is in the Eagle Creek Township near Equality, Illinois, in the areas of the communities of Kedron and Leamington and in the Saline County near Derby and Eagle, Illinois. Many of the early descendants of the family who lived in these areas are buried in the Colbert Cemetery, near Derby, Illinois, on the county line of Mountain Township and Eagle Creek Township, borders of Gallatin and Saline Counties. The earliest ties seem to be further south, however, to what is now Georgia close to the western banks of the Savannah River and the Broad River which flowed nearby. Prior to this and where the family had its beginnings in the early colonies and elsewhere is the question that remains to be answered. Thus the research into the Calvert lines as many of them have Colbert surnames, and many are known to have been in early Georgia and Illinois at the same times as this family of Colbert’s.
The generations known to the family are as follows:
Generation I
1. ELISHA COLBERT (UNKNOWN1) was born about 1772 or earlier in ??(Georgia or perhaps the Carolinas), and died 1834, according to an early affidavit, in Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. He married MARIANN, February 09, 1791 in Elbert Co., Georgia. She was born about. 1769 and died after 1855.
Elisha is the earliest known Colbert to arrive in Southern Illinois. He is documented as being a “squatter” prior to 1805 in early Gallatin County, now Hardin County, then known as Shawney Town and Gram Pear in Randolph County, Illinois Territory. He and his family resided near Elizabethtown, Illinois, in Hardin County near the fork of Big Creek and Hog Thief Creek. Even though he is unproven in some respects as the earliest ancestor, early records from Elbert County, Georgia, and early census records in the Illinois area along with land records indicate that he was the earliest known Colbert ancestor of this family line. Earlier land records indicate he was in Elbert/Franklin, Georgia, and relates to both a James Colbert, who left him and others a land inheritance and is perhaps a father, and a William Colbert, who bought Elisha’s land in Georgia in 1806.
Generation 2
2. Children of Elisha and Mariann are:
i. James Colbert, b. between 1790 and 1794, ?, d. 1834, wed. Sarah Ann Baldwin
ii. Hiram Colbert, b. about 1798, Georgia, d. 1873, ARK, wed Mary Arnold
iii. Henry Colbert, b. 1807, Illinois, d. about 1860, Arkansas, wed Phebe Estes 1, Fereby
Richardson 2
iv. Drury Colbert, b. 1810, Illinois, d. ?, Probably Mississippi
v. Female Colbert, (indicated by early census records)
Generation 3
3. Children of James Colbert and Sarah Baldwin are:
i. Allen B. Colbert, b , Illinois
ii. Hiram Colbert, b. , Illinois
iii. Thomas C. Colbert, b. 1829, wed Catherine Rodgers
. iv. William W. Colbert, b. 1819, Illinois, wed Elizabeth McFarlan.
v. Nancy J. Colbert, b. 1821, Illinois; wed Robert Pearson 1 and Johnston J. Kanady
vi. Elisha A. Colbert, b. 1822, Illinois; wed Elizabeth Mills
vii. James T. Colbert (Sr.) b. 1827, Illinois, wed Mary J. Seets 1 and Mary A. Hull 2.
viii..Frances (Francis) A. Colbert, b. 1833, wed Calvin M. Baker
James wed Sarah Baldwin in 1816 and bought land in Gallatin County shortly thereafter. There they settled to raise a family, farm the land, and eventually acquire even more land in the Eagle Creek area. James, however, died in 1834, apparently due to a cholera epidemic during the Black Hawk War, leaving Sarah to raise the family. Sarah is later found living with daughter Frances and son-in-law Calvin M. Baker. She died in Gallatin Co., Illinois. Most of the children remained in the Southern Illinois area.
3. Children of Hiram Colbert and Mary Arnold are:
i. Sarah Ann Colbert, b. 1819, Alabama, wed Jeremiah Wood
ii. John D. Colbert, b. 1820, Alabama, d. 1868, Alabama, wed Mahala Howard
iii. Matilda Matison Colbert, b. about 1822, Alabama, d. after 1880 Arkansas, wed
William Lowe
iv. Thomas E. Colbert, b. 1820, Alabama, d. between 1863-1864, Texas, wed Martha
Brazil
v. Nancy Moriah Colbert, b. 1830, Alabama, d. 1914, wed John Levi Dodd
vi. Narcissa Julia-Ann Colbert, b. 1837, Alabama, d. 1888, Arkansas, wed Elias Freeman
Elrod 1 and Wylie Franklin Forseythe 2
Hiram, according to family lore, left Illinois and returned to Alabama, where the family apparently had earlier ties, where he acquired land by 1824 and later acquired more land there co-owned with an Arnold, likely a relative of his wife. Hiram married Mary Arnold, and their children were born in Alabama. By 1850, Hiram and his family were found in Arkansas where he died and is buried. According to a descendant of Hiram's daughter Nancy Colbert Dodd, a story is told of her and her family traveling in a covered wagon on the Wagon Train Trail in the 1840's from Bibb County, Alabama, lead by Captain Joab Pratt. They first settled at Union, Arkansas, and started the Philadelphia Church, then traveled on and settled in Saline County, Arkansas.
3. Children of Henry Colbert and Phebe Estes are:
i. James Franklin Colbert, b. 1831, Illinois
ii. Lucinda Jane Colbert, b. 1833, Illinois
iii. Julia Ann Colbert, b. 1835, Illinois
iv. Mary Ann Colbert, b. 1838, Illinois
v. Bluford W. Colbert, b. 1840, Arkansas
vi. Nancy A. Colbert, b. 1842, Arkansas
3. Children of Henry Colbert and Fereby Richardson are:
i. Taylor Worth Colbert, b. 1850, Arkansas
ii. Lambert E. Colbert, b. 1849, Arkansas
iii. Lavina A. Colbert, b. 1852, Arkansas
iv. Lucy Colbert, b. 1856, Missouri
v. Hiram J. Colbert, b. 1858, Arkansas
vi. Arazona L. Colbert, b. 1860, Arkansas
vii. Pollie Colbert, b. 1862, Arkansas
Henry Colbert acquired land in Illinois by 1817 and married Phebe Estes, who apparently moved to Arkansas with him prior to 1840. The last two of their children were apparently born there. By 1846 Henry had married Fereby Richardson, indicating that Phebe has died. Census information indicates these children and the additional children added to this already large family. Henry died in Arkansas and some of his children remained there
3. Drury Colbert is largely an unknown. He is found in an 1840 census living in Alabama either alone or with an elder female. A land grant indicates he may have acquired land in Mississippi by 1841. Whether he married is not known, nor are there any known children. Note: A Drewrie Colbert, aged 50, who is believed to be this Drury, is found in a later census living with a Davis family in Alabama A Warren Colbert and family live in the same area.
3. Female Colbert is indicated for this family by early census records, but nothing is known other than conjecture that she might be Mary Ann, based on an early marriage record for the area which would fit the time frame for her.
Generation 4
4. Children of William W. Colbert and Elizabeth McFarlan are:
i. JAMES M. COLBERT, b. 1847.
ii. JOHN F. COLBERT, b. 1849.
iii. HENRY COLBERT, b. 1854.
iv. THOMAS COLBERT, b. 1856.
v. HIRAM COLBERT, b. 1859.
vi. GEORGE W. COLBERT, b. 1862.
vii. SAMUEL B. COLBERT, b. 1865.
4. Children of Nancy Colbert and Robert Pearson are
i. SARAH ANN PEARSON, b. 1840.
ii. HENRY TALTON PEARSON, b. 1855.
iii. ELIZABETH PEARSON, b. 1858.
4. Children of Elisha A. Colbert and Elizabeth Mills are:
i. WILLIAM "CRIPPLE BILL” COLBERT, b. 1854
. ii. JAMES "RED PILL PEDDLER" COLBERT, b. 1856
iii. JANE H. COLBERT, b. 1858; d. 1859.
iv. ALLEN D. COLBERT, b. 1860.
v. INFANT COLBERT, b. 1863
4. Children of James T. Colbert and first wife Mary J. Seets are:
i. LUCY ANN COLBERT, b. 1847,
ii. ALLEN B. COLBERT, b. 1849
iii. FRANCIS JANE COLBERT, b. 1851.
iv. SARAH EMMELINE COLBERT, b. 1852
. v. JAMES T. "BLACK JIM" COLBERT, JR., b. 1855
. vi. MARY LUCRETIA COLBERT, b. 1857
. vii. AARON STOUT COLBERT, b. 1860
. viii.MARGARET E. COLBERT, b. 1862
. ix. THOMAS JEFFERSON COLBERT, b. 1864
. x. ISABELLE COLBERT, b. 1866
. xi. PRUDENCE COLBERT, b. 1869.
xii. JOHN B. COLBERT, b. 1871
4. Children of James Colbert and second wife Mary Hull are:
xiii. VIRGIE COLBERT, b. 1880
. xiv. VIRGIL COLBERT, b. 1883.
xv. PAUL COLBERT, b. 1892
4. Children of Frances A. Colbert and Calvin Baker are:
i. CALVIN MORGAN BAKER, b. 1865
ii. SARAH ELIZABETH BAKER, b. 1851
iii. WILLIAM HENRY BAKER, b. 1854.
iv. MARY FRANCES BAKER, b. 1860.
v. IRENE CAROLINE BAKER, b. 1863
vi. LUCY OLIVE BAKER, b. 1868
vii. EFFA ANN BAKER, b. 1873
viii.PHOEBE JANE BAKER, b. 1858
ix. RENA BAKER.
x. JAMES C. BAKER.
4. Children of Thomas C. Colbert (SR) and Caroline Rodgers are:
i. AMERICA COLBERT.
ii. SARAH F. COLBERT.
iii. ELIZA J. COLBERT.
iv. JOSEPHINE COLBERT.
v. BELL COLBERT.
vi. AL COLBERT.
vii. WILLIAM "PRODGE" COLBERT, b. 1859
viii.THOMAS C. COLBERT, JR., b. 1870
Much of what we know of the early family is aided by the following article:
James T. Colbert (1905)
James T. Colbert, a well-to-do farmer, living near Equality, Gallatin Co. IL., was born in the neighborhood where he now lives, May 3, 1827. His father James Colbert, was born in Alabama about 1792. When he was a young man he came with his brothers, Henry, Drury, and Hiram, to Illinois, and after working for a while at the salt works entered eighty acres of government land and passed the rest of his life as a farmer. This Farm is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch, and it was there that he was born. James Colbert fought in the Black Hawk war and died in 1834. His Children were: Allen B., William, Nancy J., Elisha, Hiram, James T., Thomas and Frances. Allen died at the age of thirty-five years; William lived to be seventy-seven; Nancy married Robert Pinson and after his death Johnson Kanady, and died at the age of seventy-five; Elisha died in 1862 while serving in the One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry; Hiram died in 1834; Thomas died in 1890; and Frances is the wife of Calvin Baker. The mother of these children died at the age of seventy-six years. James T. Colbert commenced life on his own account when he was twenty years old, his only capital being an ax, a fiddle, and a determination to succeed. His education had been acquired in the old subscription schools, in a log house with no floor but the ground and split saplings for seats. From the time he was twenty until he was thirty years of age he followed farming during the summer seasons and worked at the Illinois Iron works in the winter time, devoting all his leisure time to self-study, until today he is one of the best informed men in his locality. He has also prospered in the accumulation of this worlds goods. When he was first married in 1847 he went to housekeeping in a log cabin, about a mile from where he now lives. He remained there until 1891, when he removed to his present location, where he has a well improved farm, all improvements having been made by himself. He now owns eight hundred acres of fine land, five hundred acres of which are under cultivation, and has given something like four hundred acres to his children. As a stock raiser Mr. Colbert has been quite successful, though the greater part of his attention has been devoted to a general farming business. He takes an interest in public affairs and has served as County Commissioner, to which office he was elected on the democratic ticket, having affiliated with that party ever since he became a voter.
Mr. Colbert has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Mary J. Seets, a native of Tennessee, and to this marriage there were born the following children: Lucy A., wife of Jefferson Vinyard, of Hardin Co; Allen B., who died at the age of ten years; Frances, wife of Robert Taylor, living near Harrisburg; Sarah, wife of Joseph Vinyard; James who lives near his father; Mary L. who married Henry Hamp and afterward died; Aaron, who lives in the vicinity; Margaret, widow of Isaac Jennings, who was a farmer in Eagle Creek Township; Thomas J.; Isabelle, who married Robert White and died some years ago as his wife; Prudence, wife of George Leadbetter and John B., who died in 1893. The mother of these children died in 1875 and on October 29, 1879, Mr. Colbert was married to Mrs. Mary A. Frohock, widow of Lucien Frohock, and a daughter of Josiah Hull. Three children have been born to this second marriage,
Viz.: Virgie, wife of George Blackman, of Eagle Creek Township; Virgil, on the farm with his father, and Paul, at home.
Source: “James T. Colbert.” Memoirs of the Lower Ohio Valley. Federal Publishing Company: Madison, Wisconsin, 1905. 2:389-390.
The above was copied several years ago from a copy of the 1905 Memoirs of the Lower Ohio Valley owned by the Baker family, descendants of Frances A. Colbert. The tombstone of James T. Colbert reads “Here lies an honest Democrat.”
This is an overview of the Colbert family of Southern Illinois through the first four generations that we know. James T. Colbert is my great-great grandfather, and my great grandfather is his son, Thomas Jefferson Colbert. My grandfather is Jesse James Colbert and my father James Ralph Aaron Colbert, former Gallatin County Clerk.
Signed: Sandra Colbert Frohock
Contact me at sfrohock@msn.com
My gratitude and thanks to many who have contributed to this knowledge, notably Terry Colbert, who is a descendant Elisha A. Colbert and James Colbert, 1856; Mildred Colbert Gresham, who is a descendant of James T. Colbert, her grandfather, and Virgil Colbert, her father; more James T. descendants: H. D. Colbert and his father, Emmett Colbert, now deceased, who so diligently kept records through the years and Dala Jo Cornett, also a descendant of James T. Colbert, and Kim Morris who is doing wonderful research on Hiram Colbert and his family, her ancestors.