The following excerpts are from "The History of Wayne County, Tennessee" Turner Publishing Co, Submitted by: Mrs. Billy Underwood

Robert McBride Poag, eleventh child , fifth son, of Samuel L. and Hannah McBride Poag, was born in York County, SC. His oldest brother, William Barnett Poag, about 15 years older, taught school and saw that his brothers and sisters received an education as was needed in those days. submitted by: Jewell Poag:

Grandpa Bob ran away from home and went to Tishomingo, MS, where he lived with the Chickasaw Indians. He fell in love with one of the Indian maidens, Esther Burgess, born 1813, near Corinth. They married September 20, 1833, at Clifton, TN and returned to the Poag farm to raise their family. He farmed, hunted and fished while he taught school. submitted by Mrs A. M. Matthew:

In 1833, Robert fell in love with a Chickasaw maiden named Esther Burgess who lived at "The Big Spring" in Mississippi Territory . Her Indian family wanted her to have an Indian wedding, which occurred in early September, 1833. After several days, Robert Poag brought his wife Esther (her Indian name is difficult to understand or spell) to Waynesboro on horseback, where his brother-in-law, John May Barnett, married them. Bob, as he was called, said he did not think the State of Tennessee would recognize an Indian ceremony, so the American ceremony was on September 20, 1833, according to the Nashville Banner and Advertiser, which announced the wedding.

Esther died in 1878 at the age of 65. She never accepted the Christian religion, remaining faithful to her Chickasaw worship of the sun, moon and stars. Bob lived until July 1886 when he died at the age of 88. Both are burried in Tolle-Barnett Cemetery.

Alexander Pittman was my great grandfather and is the subject of my search. He appears in the 1870 Independence County Arkansas Census at age 22. He then appears in the 1880 Izard County Arkansas Census at age 32 along with wife Elizabeth (22) and son William (7) my grandfather. The entry indicates that he was born in Mississippi and that both parents were born in N. Carolina. An old family bible indicates that he was born in 1848 in Corinth, MS and died 1914 in Arkansas. Before my father (Verlin Pittman) died a few years ago at age 92, he told the story of how Alexander came to Arkansas on the run after thinking he had killed another young man in a fight. He later learned that the man survived but he stayed in Arkansas and raised a family. The only other story I heard is that as a young boy he could hear the canons firing in the distance from a civil war battle near his home.

In searching thru the 1850 Mississippi Census for the old Tishimingo County (which included Corinth at the time), the closest match I can find is an Alexander at age 3 in the 1850 census. His parents - best I can read - are Miles (42) and Margaret (32). Miles occupation was a shoemaker born in N. Carolina. Margaret was born in Alabama and it indicates that Alexander was born in Alabama as well. So, the birth places for he and his mom don't match and his age is off by a year. It shows brothers William, Edward, John, Miles, and sisters Martha and Elizabeth.

Do you have any information that might shed some light on the mysterious Alexander. Do you think it might be the same person? I would certainly appreciate any information you might be able to provide. Sincerely, Gary Pittman