OLDHAM, William Riley Odom

1796 - 1867  (71 years)

• Name	OLDHAM, William Riley Odom
  Born	13 Feb 1796	Sampson County, North Carolina, USA   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Died	1 Jun 1867	Milledgeville Cemetery, Mcnairy, Tennessee, USA   [2]
  Buried	Milledgeville Cemetery, Mcnairy, Tennessee, USA   [2]
  Notes	My Mother Nancy & Her Oldhams: "1820 Census for Sampson County, North Carolina shows him to be a head of a household. He was 24 years of age at that time and the older female in his household was 45 or above years of age. This was probably a relative. There was also a female child under the age of 10 years of age. He left North Carolina in 1827 and settled on the Tennessee River at Milledgeville, in the northeast corner of McNairy County, Tennessee. He was a farmer in this area until his death. Died Jun 1, 1867; buried in the Milledgeville Cemetery on land he donated to be used for a church cemetery. Col. Fred Odom notes: What motivated the migration from Tennessee to Arkansas is a matter of some conjecture. The death of Riley in 1867 and the subsequent breakup of his property may be part of the reason. In his will, Riley divides the estate evenly among eight family members, Wiley, James Ollin, Jessee, Nancy, Polly, Lucy and Martha and Pleasant Wrinkle. What was once a big farm suddenly became eight small ones. It is understandable that James, Jesse and Nancy would sell their shares, with Wiley, Polly, Lucy and Martha remaining in Milledgeville. With it's original size, Riley relied on slave labor to work the farm. With the war over and the slaves gone, running a farm in the late 1860's might have been more than the Odom families bargained for. None of these theories explain why they left the Milledgeville area. Factors such as weather/drought or penalties imposed by the Reconstructionist Government may have had bearing. Also to be explored is the attraction of Northeast Arkansas, Randolph County. The county was populated and not so much a threat from the Indian Nations. William Riley Odom was in North Carolina in the early 1800's and had a son Wiley (willy) 1820. He moved to Tennessee where we find him in 1858 and another birth to Willie L. Odom and to a Jacob Odom 1844, supposedly the father of both Dr. C.E. Odom Notes: The dates are varied and somewhat incorrect, but are ok if taken as approximate. Dates and names (spellings) were problems back then. 7 Nov 1823 first mention.....Simon Herring of Wayne County to Riley Odom for $350.00, four parcels in Sampson County, east side of Little Cohera Creek, 100 acres, 20 acres, 50 acres east side Hornet Swamp adjoining Jacob Oadom's line and 100 acres. It appears Riley married the girl next door. 16 June 1826: Land Grants in Tennessee - Riley, Jesse, and Jacob get bordering 25 acre grants. 1790 Census has them living in Sampson County, North Carolina There are deeds showing receipt of land patents by Abraham (1768) and Richard (1759), suggesting the presence of the Odoms in the area from before the Revolution. From extensive documentation from the Harrell Book, Odum/Odom notes. Col. Fred Odom notes: Birth: Rily (William) Odom, 13 Feb 1796 North Carolina. Death 1 June 1867 Milledgeville, McNairy County, Tennessee - substantiated by family records and grave marker. Duplin County records show a George Jernigan Odom in a land deal on 20 Nov 1807. George J. Odum was in Duplin Co 1790 Census. Sampson County was formed from Dublin County in 1784. Records from that period are in Sampson County Courthouse. Some of the transactions 1750-95 show land deals involving Odoms and Jernigans; proximity suggest that George Odom is probably the son of an Odom/Jernigan marriage. 1820 Census shows Riley as the head of a family consisting of 1 female under 10 and 1 female over 45. Apparently not yet married to Sophia (b.179 2) possibly caring for mother or older relative. Jesse and Jacob show as 2 6-45.. Sampson County, North Carolina Deed book 21:255 = 21 Feb 1825 - John Strickling, attorney for Martrin Strickling of the State of Mississippi, to Riley Odom for $125.00, four parcels on Hornet Swamp granted to Holly Strickling, 15 Feb 1799; also east side Little Coheary and north of Hornet Swamp, containing 100 acres. Riley also bought all the other parcels belonging to Holly, and they are recorded. Dr. C.E. Odom has copies of land grants in Tennessee, to Riley, Jesse and Jacob Odom, showing the move of these 3 from Sampson County, North Carolina to Tennessee. Data from 2 sources that this g+grandfather, was killed by lightening as he was approaching home on a mule or horse. The cemetery in Milledgeville, McNairy County, Tennessee was started by and named after William Riley Odom, or as known then, just plain RILEY and was called the ODOM CEMETERY. The street from town to the cemetery is named ODOM AVE. Riley is buried under the mighty Oak and many of his family are also. The cemetery now is a community project and is well kept. Court Records, McNairy County, Tennessee Courthouse, Selmer, Tennessee: Deeds: Riley started buying slaves 1838-39, 40....then land 1840-44-45-46 -48 In the 1850's he started giving land to his children, as well as slaves. There are names of J.M. Smith - Nancy Spence (probably Spencer) There was a transaction in 1848 from Riley Odom to Charles Spencer 76 acres. Jessee Martin received 830 acres on waters of White Oak. 118 acres to Wiley Odom 100 acres to John Olin Odom - to my son in law J.M. Smith In 1865 there are entries where the land was sold to others, indication of a breakup of the family plantation. The move was soon after this. John O. Odom was still here and made the sale on Oct 27, 1865. Wiley was still buying on Oct 20 1866. He stayed in Tennessee and was buried there. On Apr 27, 1867 a sale was made from Wiley Odom to J.B. Hardeman 84 acres of the old Riley Odom farm. In 1872 the family members left, dedicated land to the Methodist Church, the property for the cemetery.
  Person ID	I10012	oldham
  Last Modified	26 Mar 2017

  
  

  Father	OLDHAM, Jacob Odom,   b. Abt 1765, North Carolina, USA ,   d. Aft 1842, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA  (Age ~ 78 years)
  Family ID	F17788	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	WRINKLE, Martha Ann,   b. 5 Apr 1841,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	5 Apr 1864  [3]
  Children	1. OLDHAM, Pleasant W. Odom,   b. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	29 Nov 2013
  Family ID	F4476	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	STRICKLAND, Sophronia Sophia,   b. 18 Jun 1792, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ,   d. 7 Jun 1862, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA  (Age 69 years)
  Married	1 Oct 1822	Sampson County, North Carolina, USA   [2]
  Children	1. OLDHAM, Child,   b. 1816, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. OLDHAM, Lucy A.,   b. 1819, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. ODOM, William Wiley,   b. 5 Nov 1820, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ,   d. 24 Nov 1893, Milledgeville Cemetery, Mcnairy, Tennessee, USA  (Age 73 years)   4. ODOM, Nancy Caroline,   b. 1 Jan 1822, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ,   d. 9 Oct 1897, Maynard, Randolph County, Arkansas, USA  (Age 75 years)   5. ODOM, John Olin,   b. 4 May 1825, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ,   d. 9 Jul 1895, Randolph County, Arkansas, USA  (Age 70 years)   6. ODOM, Jesse Martin,   b. Abt 1828, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA ,   d. 1865  (Age ~ 37 years)   7. ODOM, Son,   b. Abt 1831, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA ,   d. 1840, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA  (Age ~ 9 years)   8. ODOM, Mary Polly Vann,   b. 20 Jan 1833, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA ,   d. 30 Dec 1874, Arkansas, USA  (Age 41 years)   9. ODOM, Jacob E.,   b. Abt 1835, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   10. ODOM, Daughter,   b. Abt 1836, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA ,   d. Bef 1850, McNairy County, Tennessee, USA  (Age ~ 13 years)
  Last Modified	29 Nov 2013
  Family ID	F4475	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 13 Feb 1796 - Sampson County, North Carolina, USA Married - 1 Oct 1822 - Sampson County, North Carolina, USA Died - 1 Jun 1867 - Milledgeville Cemetery, Mcnairy, Tennessee, USA Buried - - Milledgeville Cemetery, Mcnairy, Tennessee, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S2061] LDS Film #AF91-106501. [S2898] My Mother Nancy and Her Oldhams, Jessye Anne Welch High. [S1063] Hope Coslett Pees.