Akers Family

AKERS, MCKERN, VANDERPOOL, TASH, COLLINGS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 8/27/2019 at 07:29:02

This is a letter my Mother wrote May 8th, l975, the day before she passed away. It may be of interest to some from Decatur County.

"To Journal Reporter"
I wish to send some information on the early history of Decatur County as I have been doing much research on my Mother's family both maternal and paternal, so do have quite a lot of information on both families. My Grandmother Lavicy Ann Akes was the daughter of Emily Jane Akers who lst husband was Patrick McKern. He died and is buried at Mercer, Mo. Then she married John Vanderpool either in Missouri or after she came to Decatur County. She came to Iowa before l850 as her brothers, the Akers, came then, Spencer, Thomas, Benjamin and William.

I found on record in Leon Clerk of court office where Hiram Tash's name was recorded but unable to decide or make out just when he came to Decatur County, but looked like l830. Hiram Tash's 2nd wife was Lydia Ann Collings Akers and she first married Beda Akers and they were the parents of the ones named above, and others as had a large family. Beda Akers died and is buried in Chariton County, Mo.

My own Grandmother, Mrs. Akes, often told me that the lst court cases were held in her stepfather's log home south of Palestine Cemetary. I have tried to find just where and thought it was near the Carl Smith home. After reading the article that B.E. Akers sent to your paper 30 or 40 years ago saying the first Court House site was l/4 mile east and l/2 mile south on a high h ill would be just past the top the the steep hill before reaching the Carl Smith home. I remember there was a set of old farm buildings on the east side of the road and are long gone now.

Hiram Tash and his wife, Lydia Ann are buried in Palestine Cemetary on the west side and have gravestones. Lydia Ann's daughter, Emily Jane Akers McKern Vanderpool is buried beside them.

Many Decatur County early pioneers are buried here, also many war veterans. The first one buried in Palestine Cemetary was Singleton Gilbert and also Spencer Akers (who then lived on lst farm north of Orville Coffelt). Billy Gibson, a nephew of Spencer helped dig this grave. The second one buried there was a Benton child.

Billy Gibson's mother was a sister of Spencer Akers and wife of Garret Gibson who was in Mexican War and are buried in the Leon Cemetary. PS I have been told that o ne of Billy Akers family wrote a letter that was published in your paper about l938 stating that Billy or (Wm. Akers) and all of his family left Decatur County in 1887 and went to Oregon, but no one seems to know just where. I hope you can find this article and send me a copy."

From Irma O