The Sibert Family of South Carolina and Alabama

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I. DAVID SIBERT (1793–1873), son of John David Sibert

David Sibert was probably born in October 1793 in Ninety-Six District, Alabama. He died on 11 July 1873, age 79 years and nine months, and is buried in the Duck Springs Cemetery in Duck Springs, Etowah County, Alabama. He married Elizabeth Cook on 29 November 1820 in Abbeville District. [1][2]

Beeson says that Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry Phillip and Margaret Susanna (Lightfoot) Cook, but there is no evidence of this. [2] She died on 8 August 1863 and is buried in the Duck Springs Cemetery. [1] The inscription on her gravestone says she was 80 when she died. This is undoubtedly an error, as it would make her in her mid-fifties when her last child was born, and it is inconsistent with census entries that have her born in 1788 or, more plausibly, 1792.

photo: said to be Elizabeth (Cook) Sibert

Elizabeth's father may have been Henry Cook of Abbeville and perhaps Orangeburg. According to the census a Henry Cook headed a household in Orangeburg in 1790 with one white male over 16, two white males under 16, five white females, and a slave. [3] Inventory was taken on the estate of Henry Cook of Abbeville on 13 October 1801, and it amounted to 5,559 dollars. The estate was probated in 1807. His administratrix was Susanna Cook, presumably his widow. She posted bond on 15 September 1801, signing with her mark. [4] In 1800 Susannah Cook, aged between 26 and 45, lived in Abbeville with a boy under ten, two boys 10 to 15, and two girls under ten. [3]

David Sibert in the year 1819 went to St. Clair Co. Alabama took up land in the neighborhood of the present site of Asheville and built a house. He returned to Abbeville District, South Carolina, and married Elizabeth Cook, oldest child of Henry Phillip Cook and his wife Margaret Susanna (Lightfoot) Cook on 29 Nov. 1820. He began his long journey to his farm in St. Clair Co. Alabama, with his wagons, household goods, cattle, and the necessary tools for pioneer life. He took with him his mother-in-law, Margaret Susanna (Lightfoot) Cook Clark, then the widow of her 2nd husband, Henry Clark, and their charming young daughter Martha Clark. They stopped in Georgia in 1821 and made a crop, arriving in St. Clair Co., Alabama early in the year 1822. At their first meeting Curtis G. Beeson fell in love with Martha Clark, and they were married on July 29, 1822 at the home of David Sibert. David Sibert and his brother-in-law, Curtis G. Beeson, lived near neighbors in St. Clair County. The widow Clark lived with the Siberts until they moved to Big Wills Valley, DeKalb co. about 1836. Then she lived with Curtis G. Beeson and family until her death April 11, 1847 at age 83. [2]

David Sibert bought 80 acres in Huntsville in St. Clair and Etowah Counties on 25 July 1825. [5]

David was commissioned Justice of the Peace in St. Clair County on 18 March 1829 and 14 May 1832. [6]

David Sibert purchased from the Cherokee Indians a village with about 80 acres of cleared land around it, located in Big Wills Valley about two miles west of Keener, Ala. The pride of the village was a large log house covered with thatch. The trees for this house had been hacked down by the Indians with stone axes and the bark peeled off. [2]

David bought 40 acres in section 36 of Huntsville township in Etowah and St. Clair counties on 25 July 1825. He purchased 160 acres in section 14 and 120 in section 11 of Huntsville township in Etowah county on 1 May 1845. He bought 40 acres in section 6 on 1 May 1548, 40 acres in section 11 on 2 September 1850, and 80 acres in section 10, all in Huntsville in Etowah County. [5]

According to the census, in 1830 David was between 30 and 39 years old. He lived in St. Clair County with a household consisting of a (free white) female aged 30 to 39, two males aged five to nine, three males and two females under five, and a female slave aged ten to 23. The children were probably John, Henry, Martha, George, Jasper, Hiram, and Mahuldah. [3]

According to the census, in 1840 David Sibert was between 40 and 49 years old. He lived in DeKalb County with a household consisting of a (free white) female aged 40 to 49, two males aged 15 to 19, one male and two females aged ten to 14, two males and one female aged five to nine, and a female who was under five. The children were probably John, Henry, Martha, George, Jasper, Mahulda, Julia, William, and Mary Ann. [3]

David Sibert and his family moved into [his large log] house and began a pioneer life again. He and his two oldest sons, John W. and Henry built the first mill in Big Wills Valley on Will's Creek. The mill stones for grinding wheat and the bolting cloth were purchased in France and shipped to Mobile and up the river to Wetumpka and were hauled about a hundred and fifty miles to the mill site. The mill stones for grinding corn were made from the millstone grit rock found in Lookout Mountain nearby. The building was a two-story structure made of hewn timbers and sided first with split laths. The mill had turbine wheels which were made by John W. and Henry Sibert. In order to supply the inhabitants of Wills Valley with flour and corn meal the mill had to be operated day and night and frequently on Sundays. Flour was turned out by this mill until 1918 when it was abandoned by the owner.David Sibert was an enterprising citizen, a good farmer, and he owned several slaves. He was a local Methodist preacher. He died in his home 16 July 1873, and is buried beside his wife, Elizabeth Cook, in Duck Springs Cemetery in Big Wills Valley about 12 miles north of Gadsden, Alabama. [2]

Map of Big Wills Valley

According to the census, in 1850 David was a 57-year-old farmer with real estate worth 3,000 dollars and eight slaves. He lived in DeKalb County with Elizabeth, aged 62, Julia A., aged 18, William, aged 16, and Mary A., aged 11. William was also described as a farmer. Both William and Mary A. had attended school that year. [3] According to the Alabama state census, in 1850 D. Sibert was living in DeKalb County in a household consisting of one free white male over 45, one free white male 18 to 21, one free white female over 21, two free white females under 21, and eight slaves. [7]

In 1860 David was a 66-year-old farmer with real estate worth 3,500 dollars, a personal estate worth 18,969 dollars, and 16 slaves. He lived in DeKalb County with Elizabeth, age 68, and Julian, age 27. [3] He owned 140 acres of improved land and 340 acres of unimproved land. He had four horses, one mule, three milch cows, four working oxen, 17 other cattle, 25 sheep, and 100 swine. He grew wheat, corn, oats, cotton, peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes and produced wool and butter. [8]

David Sibert registered to vote in Baine County [a temporary name for Etowah] in 1867. [9]

According to the census, in 1870 David was living with his daughter Mary H. Beeson and her family in Attalla, Etowah County. He was a 76-year-old widower with real estate worth 4,000 dollars and a personal estate of 100 dollars. [3] He owned 100 improved acres, 360 acres of woodland, and 20 acres of other unimproved land. He had one horse; he grew spring wheat, corn, oats, cotton, and sweet potatoes. [8]

David is described as a leading man in the Methodist Church in Wills Valley in the early years of its existence. [9]

Letters testamentary on the last will and testament of David Sibert, deceased, were granted to W.J. Sibert and W.B. Beeson on 15 September 1873 in Etowah County. [10]

Children of David Sibert and Elizabeth Cook:

I-A. John Wesley Sibert was born on 1 February 1822 in South Carolina. He died on 10 May 1868. He married Nancy Unknown.

I-B. Henry Sibert was born on 4 April 1823 in Alabama. He died on 27 November 1892. He married Dorcas Edwards.

I-C. Martha Sibert was born on 30 May 1824 in Alabama. She died on 28 March 1905. She married William C. Waddell.

I-D. George W. Sibert was born on 1 December 1825 in St. Clair County. [1][2] He died on 20 August 1847 in Keener and is buried in the Duck Springs Cemetery. [1][2]

I-E. Jasper Sibert was born on 10 November 1827 in Alabama. He died on 21 January 1915 in Craigshead County, Arkansas. He married first Rebecca Brown. He married second Nannie H. Farrar

I-F. Hiram Sibert (twin) was born on 25 or 26 February 1829. [1][2] He died on 14 October 1835. [1][2]

I-G. Mahuldah Sibert (twin) was born on 25 or 26 February 1829. [1][2] She died on 28 June or 18 January 1841. [1][2]

I-H. Jacob Sibert was born on 12 January 1831. [2] He died on 3 April 1831. [2]

I-I. Julia Ann Sibert was born on 10 July 1832. [1][2] She died on 12 January 1863 in Keener. [1][2] She is buried in the Duck Springs Cemetery. [1] She married Arthur A. Parr about 1860. [1] [11]Arthur was born on 27 June 1820 in Georgia. [1] He died on 23 February 1879. [1] He married second Alpha H. Yeargin. [1] Alpha was born on 16 February 1838. [1] She died on 11 June 1914. [1] Arthur and his wives are buried in the Greenwood Baptist Church Cemetery. [1]

Arthur was a corporal in Company G of the 49th Alabama Infantry. [1]

I-J. William Joshua Sibert was born on 17 October 1833 in St. Clair County. He died on 29 July 1909 in Gadsden. He married Marietta Ward.

I-K. Mary Ann Frances Sibert was born on 13 September 1838 in Keener. She died on 16 July 1905 in Keener. She married Captain William Baker Beeson.

Location of the 80 acres David bought in Section 10 (shown in dark orange) in Huntsville (shown in orange), Alabama in 1853.

Endnotes

1. "Find a Grave," database with images, FindaGrave (accessed March 8, 2024), memorial pages for

Rev David Martin Sibert (Oct 1793–11 Jul 1873), Memorial ID 7355481, Elizabeth Cook Sibert (1783–8 Aug 1863), Memorial ID 7355482, George W. Sibert (1 Dec 1825–20 Aug 1847), Memorial ID 7355489, Hiram Sibert (26 Feb 1829–14 Oct 1835), Memorial ID 7355496, and Mahuldy Sibert (26 Feb 1829–28 Jan 1841), Memorial ID 7355495, citing Duck Springs Cemetery, Duck Springs, Etowah County, AL; Maintained by G. Andrew Dill (contributor 47069688).

Julia Ann Sibert Parr (10 Apr 1822–12 Jan 1863), Memorial ID 6796047, citing Duck Springs Cemetery; Maintained by Arkieologist (contributor 47246586).

Arthur A. Parr (27 Jan 1820–23 Feb 1879), Memorial ID 5732572, citing Greenwood Baptist Church Cemetery, Keener, Etowah County, AL; Maintained by Jack Findley (contributor 46498111).

Alpha H. Yeargin Parr (16 Feb 1838–11 Jun 1914), Memorial ID 46289343, citing Greenwood Baptist Church Cemetery; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8).

2. J. Luther Beeson, The Sibert Family of South Carolina and Alabama (n.p.: the author, 1928).

3. "U.S. Federal Census Collection," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/usfedcen) >

1800 > SC > Abbeville > Not Stated, image 53, entry for Susannah Cook.
1830 > AL > St. Clair > Not Stated, image 37, entry for David Sibert.
1840 > AL > DeKalb > Not Stated, image 38, entry for D. Sibert .
1850 > AL > DeKalb > Division 25, image 50, entry for David Sybert; slave schedule, image 3 .
1860 > AL > DeKalb > District 3 , image 2, entry for David Sibert; slave schedule, image 1.
1870 > AL > Etowah > Subdivision 42, image 113, line 27, entry for David Sibert.

4. "South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670–1980," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9080) > Abbeville > Probate Records, Boxes 19–20, Packages 390–455, 1782–1958, images 258–66.

5. "General Land Records," database with images, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior (https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx), Acc. Nos. CV-0121-254, MW-0766-167, AL3080__.367, AL3090__.055, AL3110__.294, AL3140__.077, AL3190__.397.

6. "Alabama Civil Appointments, 1818–1939," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60923) > M881666, images 4402–3.

7. "Alabama, U.S., State Census, 1820–1866," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1576) > 1850 > DeKalb, image 18, entry for D. Sibert.

8. "U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850–1860," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1276) >

AL > Agriculture > 1860 > DeKalb > District 3, images 1–2, line 16, entry for David Sibert
AL > Agriculture > 1870 > Etowah > Subdivision 42 > image 13, line 39, entry for David Sibert

9. "Alabama, U.S., Voter Registration, 1867," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60968) > Baine-Etowah > Vol. 1, image 30, line 43, entry for David Sibert.

9. Anson West, A History of Methodism in Alabama, (Nashville: Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1893), 517.

10. "Executors' Notice," Gadsden Times, 13 November 1873, p. 4, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gadsden-times/142689670).

11. "Biographies," DeKalb County, Alabama Genealogy Trails (http://genealogytrails.com/ala/dekalb/bios.htm), entry for William J. Sibert, Julia's husband's name.

Newspaper clipping: "Big Wills' Valley Land for Sale!" The Gadsden Times, 9 October 1873, p. 2, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gadsden-times/142688736).

17-Mar-2024 11:52 AM