Francis Henry Dallam

Francis Henry Dallam was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1812 and died in Henderson County 31 March 1866.[1] He was the son of Nathan Smith Dallam and Sarah Hicks, who married in Winchester, Kentucky in 1807.  The Dallam family had moved to Kentucky in 1804 and, in 1808, they moved to Christian County, Kentucky, where Nathan was clerk of court for many years.  He was elected to the state legislature and was a personal friend of Henry Clay.[2]  Nathan and Sarah are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, Caldwell County.

After studying law in Frankfort, Kentucky, F.H. Dallam moved to Livingston County, Kentucky and then to Henderson.  F.H. married Miss Camilla Barbour 9 April 1839 in Caldwell County, Kentucky.[3]  The following children were born to this couple: Camilla B. Dallam Dudley, Florence "Floy" Dallam Alves, Henry Dallam, Kate Dallam and Clara Dallam.  Camilla B., Florence and Kate are known to be buried in Fernwood Cemetery  although Kate's grave is unmarked.[4]  Henry Dallam moved to Texas and died in Stephens County 15 November 1911.[5] He is buried in Acker Cemetery, Wayland, Stephens County.[6]

F.H. Dallam built an Italianate style home on Dixon Street in Henderson between 1855 and 1866. The house still stands. The family is listed on the 1860 Henderson County census.[7] Clara, the  youngest child was not listed in the household and very likely died before 1860.

Dallam was a faithful member of the Episcopal church.

The following scene is described in Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky:  "The death scene of this faithful Christian gentleman was quite impressive and touching. After a stormy night at the end of March, and after he had been gradually sinking all night, the sun arose and its bright rays streaming in through the closed shutters aroused him, and he looked up and asked, 'Is not this Easter Sunday?'  Those in attendance said, 'Yes, this is Easter Sunday,' and then, with full consciousness and looks of thankfulness in his eyes, in a few minutes he departed this life,  -  Sunday morning, A.D. 1866."

  

F.H. Dallam

Buried Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 23 May 2019. It appears the top part of this monument may have broken off and is now missing.

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[1] H. Levin. Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1982 reprint) 383-4.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Caldwell County, Kentucky Marriages 1833-1853. (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 1997), 43.  Chs. B. Dallam was surety.

[4] "Former Henderson Woman Dies Sunday," Henderson Gleaner, 4 Sep 1951, p. 6. "Miss Kate Dallam, member of one of Henderson's prominent families, died at her home in Louisville late Sunday night ... funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday ... burial will follow in Fernwood cemetery." Kate was age 97 when she died.

[5] Texas Death Index, 1903-2000, Henry Dallam, Stephens County, Ancestry.com.

[6] Find A Grave Memorial #40050597, Henry Dallam, born 26 Sep 1840; died 15 Nov 1911.

[7] 1860 Henderson County, Kentucky census, Division 1, Roll M653_373, p. 46, Ancestry.com.

Published 30 May 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/