CALLOW:
John R. Callow and Elizabeth (Hitt) Callow, his wife, came to Reedy in the year 1883. He was born in the Isle of Man, April 18, 1784, son of Robert Callow, and arrived in the United States in time to serve and did serve as a soldier in the War of 1812. Elizabeth (Hitt) was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, April 2, 1790; there she and John R. Callow were married about the year 1820. Of this marriage two sons were born and came with their parents to Reedy. Their names, George W. and Elijah; of these we write as next follows:
George W. Callow was born in Fauquier County, October 26,1822; on April 2, 1846, he married Sarah M. Flesher, born in Lewis County, westem Virginia, July 5, 1826, the daughter of George A. and Sallie (Connolly) Flesher, of the old families of Fleshers and Connollys of the Monongahela Valley; George and Sarah M., his wife, commenced their wedded life on Reedy and soon made a substantial home for themselves on Left Hand Fork about a mile from Three Forks. To George W. and Sarah A. were born five sons and six daughters, named as follows: Mary E., born 1847, died in youth; Melissa J., 1848; Mahala, 1854; Sarah C., died in youth; Emily S., 1863, and Ruann, a twin with the son Albert, born 1866. The names of five sons are William A., born 1849; Charles W., 1852, lived in Cass County, Missouri, about 1880; Elijah Jr., 1856; Henry F., 1861, and Albert twin of Ruanna, 1866.
Elijah CaUow, son of John R. and Elizabeth Callow, above mentioned, was horn in Fauquier County, Virginia, 1825, came to Reedy with his parents as stated, 1833; married July 15, 1852, Mary C., daughter of Jacob C., and Sarah (Walker) Smith, born in Kanawba County, western Virginia, 1833, Jacob Smith having settled on Reedy on his lands adjoining the Callow lands about the year 1852, this being then a part of Wirt County.
Elijah and Mary C. Callow, his wife, began their wedded life on part of the paternal lands and proved skillful farmers and good citizens; of this wedded life six sons and four daughters were born, named, George A., born 1854; William V., 1857; Jacob C., 1862; Jefferson H., 1866; Andrew C., 1873, and John R., 1875; the daughters' names were Elizabeth A., 1853; Mary P., 1860; Charity Ann, 1868, and Magnolia, 1870.
George W. Callow and Elijah Callow both served as volunteers in the Confederate Army of the Civil War, and both endured imprisonments and hardships of that awful war. At home again they enjoyed prosperity, contributed to church and schools, and had the unstinted respect of all their neighbors to time when they were gathered to their fathers.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 467-468
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
