Jacob Weddington Hargis

1828-1915

Jacob Weddington Hargis was born the son of John Louis Hargis 1802-1996 and Elizabeth Weddington 1805-1843 on 16 March 1828 in Russell County, Virginia. Jacob and his parents migrated from Virginia to Pike County, Kentucky, where his father worked as a lawyer. They moved to Breathitt County, Kentucky, in 1839, when that county was formed. Jacob's father bought 1000 acres of land around the planned county capital city of Jackson. The town site itself was no more than 10 acres of barren land, which was divided into lots and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Jacob's father John also bought two of the town site lots and erected two or three log cabins, which were used as hotels for several years. The Hargis family was the first inhabitants in the newly formed town of Jackson. 

Jacob's first wife was Lucinda South, born in Kentucky about 1834. They were married about 1849 and had at least five children I can name:  John R. 1850-, Sarah J., James H. 1855-1941, and Thomas T. 1856-1884 and an unnamed child 1856-. Lucinda's death date is unknown to me at this time.  Jacob's second wife Nancy Jane Calhoun 1842-1919, pictured here with Jacob, was born in Russell County, Virginia, 19 May 1842, the daughter of James Calhoun and Mary "Polly" Hogg. Jacob and Nancy were married about 1860 and had at least eight children:  Louiza 1861-1907, Marcie, Mary A., Amanda, William Norvel 1869-1946, Florence Bell, Robert Clifford 1874-1955 and Harve Sanders 1977-1946.

Jacob's father, John Louis Hargis 1802-1996,  was a lawyer and delegate to the Kentucky State Constitutional Convention, 1849 and member of the Kentucky State House of Representatives, 1855-57.  Jacob's bother Thomas Frazier Hargis 1842-1903 was a lawyer; county judge in Kentucky, 1869-71; member of Kentucky State Senate, 30th District, 1871-75; candidate for circuit judge in Kentucky, 1874; district judge in Kentucky, 1878-79 and  Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.  Jacob's brother Kenaz 1832-, was a county attorney for Lee County Kentucky.  Jacob chose farming as his occupation and pursued that his entire life.

On the 1850 census Jacob and his first wife Lucinda South were living in Letcher County, Kentucky, and had one child named  John. By 1860 Jacob and Lucinda were living in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky, and had the four children named above. Jacob was a Confederate Civil War Veteran. On 4 Jan  1914, an application #3124 was filed for veterans benefits. Jacob was granted a pension. Another application #3494 was filed by wife Nancy on 11 Mar 1916 after Jacob's death. Jacob was a private in the 10th. Kentucky Calvary, Company E, and 5th. Kentucky Infantry, Companies A and B of the Confederate Army. He enlisted on 11 Sep 1862 in Jackson, Breathitt County and served until, according to some records, 12 Oct 1862 when he was reported as desserted. That allogation did not hold up when he produced  witnesses to his service on his pension application (#484a)  (#484b)  (#484c)  (484d)  (484e)  (#484f). Jacob's brother Thomas Frazer Hargis also served in both the 5th and 10th. Thomas eventually attained the rank of 2nd lieutenant while Jacob remained a private. Jacob later joined his brother's new unit, the 10th Kentucky Calvary on 1 Sep. 1863. His brother Thomas F. Hargis attained the rank of Captain but was captured and became a prisoner of war. Thomas was captured and exchanged or excaped more than once.

After Lucinda died, Jacob married Nancy Jane Calhoun, pictured in photo. They moved to Rowan County, Kentucky and had four additional  children.  In 1870 they were living in the Christy Creek region of Rowan County where their last three children were born. When Jacob applied for his Civil War pension he states that they were living in Craney, Round County, Kentucky. Craney is just east of Paragon along Lick Fork, a tributary of the Licking River. This location was inhabited by the Hargis family until the mid 1940's when the farm was sold and the last Hargis moved away. Jacob Hargis died on 14 Oct 1915 (#249). Nancy died on 25 May 1919. Both Nancy and Jacob were originally buried in the Hargis Family Cemetery near the farm in Craney. When the Cave Run Dam was being constructed on the Licking River, which flooded much of the area creating Cave Run Lake, the Army Corps of Engineers relocated cemeteries in Bath, Menifee, Morgan, and Rowan Counties that would have been flooded. At that time, Jacob and Nancy were exhumed and reburied in Alfrey Cemetery on a hillside overlooking the lake. Alfrey Cemetery is a short drive west of Morehead, Kentucky.

The headstone photo below was taken shortly after July 4, 2009. I was surprised while visiting Alfrey Cemetery to find a Confederate flag on Jacob's grave, as I had never seen this before in a cemetery. After a little research on the subject I believe it was probably placed there by either The Sons of or The Daughters of the Confederacy. To many this flag represents a racist symbol while to others it has historical meaning and a sign of respect for the Confederate soldier. After all, the Confederate States of America marker, shown at the foot of Jacobs headstone was provided in respect by the U. S. Veterans Administration as early as 1930. I prefer to believe the flag is placed there in respect.