GENERAL: Mentioned in obit. for son, George, referred to as the late Alex..
Daughter Mary's obit. refers to two half sisters and one half brother. The
half sisters are referred to as Mrs. Will Dibler and Mrs. George Davenport.
The brother is not named. It is unknow if son George is this same half brother
or if George is a full brother.Information about the Sigmon Family comes from the book "Alex Sigmon of Hickory Creek" by Doris C. Leak (Clyde), privately printed but a copy is held in the Library of Congress (libray of congress control #82211862). Information passed down to Shirley Tollison (Leak) prior to 1970 said he went by the name of Alek, source unknown.
CENSUS 1810 Census shows birth place as KY, Sigmon book says NC. Also mentioned in the Sigmon book is reference to living in Illinois for three years before moving to Missouri where he met and married the 1st of four wives. Must have been in early 1850's, 1850 KY Census shows him living at home and an age of 18 instead of 20 as expected. Following death of his 1st wife, moved to Kansas in 1859, briefly. Need to look for 1860 Kansas Census records, if any.
OCCUPATION: Listed as farmer on Census records.
HOMESITES: LIved with 1st wife in Cass Co, Mo. Lived with 2nd wife, during Civil War, in Linn County near La Cygne until shortly after the war. By 1867, moved to Benton Co., Ark with several other families. Moved to a 200-acre bottomland farm on the banks of Big Hickory Creek, which joined the White River less than a mile downstream. Beave Lake covers much of the bottom land and the old house is gone. The homesite is accessable during low-water periods, but is covered at other times by the backwaters of the lake. Tiny farming town of Hickory Creek was nearby.
MILITARY: After the defeat of Confederate General Sterling Price at the Battle of Westport near Kansas City, the Governor of Kansas called out the entire militia of the state to chase the troops out of the state. The only real battle to be fought in Kansas took place at this time at Mine Creek, in Linn County.
According to Kansas State Militia Records:
Alexander Sigmon was a Pvt., Co. M, 6th Cavalry Regiment of the Kansas State Militia under the command of Capt. Amos W. Long, and teh Regimental Comannder Lt. Co. James D. Snoddy.
"On October 25, 1864, approximately 2,800 Union troops attacked and defeated about 8,000 Confederates along the banks of Mine Creek. This was one of the largest cavalry battles in the Civil War and was the only major battle fought in Kansas. The Union brigades were commanded by Colonels Frederick W. Benteen and John F. Philips. After this battle, Federal forces pursued and defeated additional Confederates in Missouri as they attempted to return to Arkansas, Indian Territory (Oklahoma), and eventually Texas."
Records of the Adjutant General read as follows: "First tour: Mustered in 25 Sep 1864 at Trading Post, Kansas (Linn County), and mustered out 29 Sep 1864. four days. Second Tour: Mustered in 15 Oct 1864 at Mound City, Kansas (Linn County), and mustered out 26 Oct 1864. Eleven days."
STORIES: A brother of Alex was bushwacked during the civil war and 2 children (Lonzo and George F.) lived with Alex and Artamesa for a while (on 1865 Kansas Census) Name of brother killed, unknown but could be surmised with a little more research using age of children, location, etc. They did not appear on any other census records for Alex.
1880 census Big Spring, Benton, Arkansas, p 391:
Alexander SIGMON Self M Male W 50 Kentucky Farmer NC NC
Cyntha SIGMON Wife M Female W 45 MO Keeping House Kentucky TN
Edman SMITH SSon S Male W 18 TX Works On Farm TN MO
Francis SMITH SSon S Male W 15 TX Works On Farm TN MO
John SIGMAN Son S Male W 15 KS Works On Farm Kentucky MO
Roda A. SIGMAN Dau S Female W 14 KS At Home Kentucky MO
Sarah J. SIGMAN Dau S Female W 12 AR At Home Kentucky MO
James S. SIGMAN Son S Male W 10 AR Works On Farm Kentucky MO
Miram J. SIGMAN Dau S Female W 7 AR Kentucky MOTranscription of his obituary (with many mistakes) from the Springdale News, Springdale AR, December 23, 1910:
"Uncle Alex Sigmon died Monday at his home on Hickory Creek, northeast of Springdale, the result of general debility. The remains were interred in the neighborhood cemetery Tuesday. Deceased was 81 years of age and had resided in this section for about forty-four years. He had been married twice, his second wife being a Mrs. Ogden, by whom he is survived, and to whom he was married some two years ago. He is also survived by a number of children from his first wife. Uncle Alex was one of the well-known characters of this section and had a host of friends."
Excerpt from Benton County Pioneer, Vol. 3 Page 4 (Benton County Historical Society)
"At War Eagle and about eight miles northeast of Springdale in Big Spring Township, we stopped at the home of Alex Sigmon. He is 74 years old and one of the best known characters in this section. His wishes come very close to being the law around here. He came to Benton County in 1867, has six living children and 52 grandchildren (32 boys and 20 girls). He told me that veryone of them is a Democrat."
51. Elizabeth Powell
BURIAL: As of 1982 remained undiscovered but is thought to be in Cass County or just across the line in Linn County KS. She is listed in the 1860 Missouri Mortality Schedule.