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James Enloe |
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James Enloe was born February 19, 1793 in York District, South Carolina, the second son of Enoch Enloe and Jane McCord. James had an older brother, Isaac Enloe, who was born in 1791, also in York District. When small boys, their parents passed away for reasons unknown. They went to live with their half-brother Benjamin S. Enloe. Benjamin was already grown, married and had four children. Ben and his wife Mary McElwee, reared the two boys as their own. While growing up, the family lived in Tennessee and Kentucky. It was in Barron County, Kentucky where James met and married Nancy Jane Simpson on May 24, 1813. Nancy was born on October 8, 1793 in the state of Tennessee, daughter of John Simpson.
While in Kentucky, eight children were born to this union: Enoch, John Simpson, Hugh Simpson, Margaret, Mary Polly, James, Isaac and Jane. In 1828 James and Nancy left Kentucky with six of their children, Margaret and James having passed away, heading west seeking a better life. They rode in covered wagons with several other families. Legend has it that one of the wagon wheels belonging to Lamon Short broke one evening, therefore causing the posse to stop for the evening. When they awoke the next morning they found beautiful, fertile land and decided to stop there and homestead. This was just outside of Russellville, Missouri.
James and his family settled near the mouth of the Moreau River in Walker Township, what was then Moniteau County. After moving to Missouri, James and Nancy had three more children: Benjamin F., William S. and Abraham, for a total of eleven. James was a very successful farmer, raising tobacco, crops and cattle. He was also very active in politics. James served on the House of Representatives for Cole County in 1838 and Moniteau County in 1850 and 1858. It’s said that he used to walk from his farm near Russellville, to Jefferson City to attend the sessions. James was a Democrat, a strong Union man and was opposed to the rebellion. Although he owned slaves, he did not believe in slavery and felt it should be abolished.
James was a member of the old Cole Spring Baptist Church, which at that time was known as the Hardshell Baptist Church. He passed away in his log home on October 11, 1877, which later became know as “Home Comfort”, which his son, Thomas Murray Enloe, owned after the death of his father. “Home Comfort” still stands to this day and is located at 5923 Knernschield Road in Russellville.
James and his wife Nancy (died December 18, 1857) are buried in the Enloe Cemetery located 1.5 miles west of Russellville on Hwy. C. James was a person of influence, and through all the hardships that these hardy pioneers had to endure, James was held in high esteem.
Submitted by: Kelly Hagen
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