In this post, we will look at the known events of Ira’s life and provide the supporting documents for each date/event when provided.
One book says that Ira was born in 1814 in South Carolina. While the date shifts anywhere from 1814 to 1821, most documents agree on the year 1820 as the year of Ira’s birth.
The next year any information is found is 1836 where Ira W. Rabun was found in Columbus, Georgia where he enlisted in Lawhon’s Company, Hoxey’s Battalion of Georgia Volunteers. This was for service in the Creek War also referred to as the Florida War.
Index Card Showing Ira Enlisted
The next date we have for Ira is 1839 where he was found in Pike County, Alabama where he married Amanda Murfees on August 15th.
Documents Showing 1839 Marriage to Amanda Murfees in Pike, AL
To date, no information has been found to document what happened to Amanda, how long the marriage was or if they had any children together.
To date, no 1840 Census has been found listing Ira. It should be noted that prior to 1850, the federal Census only listed heads of household and not each individual living in the household. So it’s possible he was living in a household with a family and therefore was not listed by name.
One source wrote that Ira paid .50 tax in Walton Co, Florida in 1847. Ira definitely had ties to that area. That is not in dispute. But to date, I personally have not seen this documentation. I don’t dispute that it exists, I just haven’t found it for solid proof.
By 1850, Ira had married Eliza A. Garrett or Tidwell. (I have seen no documentation that indicates Eliza was ever a Tidwell, but some undocumented sources state that belief, so I put it here, but can’t prove she ever married a Tidwell). The DNA does indicate that she was biologically a Garrett. No marriage document has been located for Ira and Eliza. In 1850, Ira and Eliza were living in Pike County, Alabama. At this point, they had three children – James, Mary and either IW or JW Raburn. (Some have speculated that Ira had a son named Ira W. Jr. We do know he had a son James W., but James was already listed on the Census, so it wouldn’t make sense that JW would be listed again below and the ages were different. So this is CIRCUMSTANTIAL evidence about having a son named Ira W. This particular Census provides a lot of information, but without someone to explain it, it’s only speculation. A Sarah Celmar, age 24, born in SC is listed, as is Amanda Celmar, age 1. It is believed that Amanda was Sarah’s daughter. There are two Garret males listed as well, Joseph, age 14 and D., age 18. Some speculate that these are Eliza’s younger brothers.
1850 Census
In 1855, Ira was granted 120 acres in Dale County for his service in the Creek/Florida War. This land was purchased by a Henry B. O’Neal. Many veterans would transfer or sell their land grants to other people or family members. It should be noted that even though the document says Dale County, AL, the boundary lines moved from time to time, so it likely was more in the area of what is now Covington County, which makes more sense.
One person wrote that Ira signed over BLW on October 7, 1856 in Walton County, FL. I personally have not found any documentation, although once again, I don’t dispute that it likely happened given Ira’s ties to that area.
Next, we find Ira listed in the 1860 Census living in Beaver Dam, Clark County, Mississippi. It is unknown what ties, if any, he had to this area or why they were there. By this time, Ira and Eliza had seven (living) children. Most are listed as having been born in Florida.
1860 Census
Ira did serve in the Civil War on the Union side. He MAY have also been a Confederate soldier before that. His brother, James W. and son James W. both served on the Confederate side in Florida. The brother, James W. Rebren, (another alternate spelling) died of brain fever while serving. James Wiley (the son) was described as 5′ 8-1/2″ tall with blue eyes and light hair and light complexion.
Ira’s Son’s Record Describing His Physical Appearance
A 1921 Census of Confederate Soldiers states that James Wiley was born in Laurelhill, Florida in 1845.
1921 Census of Confederate Soldiers
Ira’s war record says he was born in Darlington District, SC. On April 1, 1864, he was listed as 44 years old, occupation farmer. He had blue eyes, dark hair, fair complexion and was 5′ 9″ tall.
Record Showing Ira’s Place of Birth And Physical Description
Apparently at some point, Ira deserted and was charged and arrested and confined at Ft. Pickens, Florida. I have not personally found and further documents regarding this.
Record Showing Ira’s Arrest and Confinement At Ft. Pickens
Ira was next found in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama on the 1870 Census. By now, they had several more children. This Census states all children listed were born in Alabama.
1870 Census
At this point, I have been unable to find any further records past the 1870 Census. I did find a photograph that someone posted to a genealogy site that suggested Eliza may have lived well into her old age. But that’s not proven. There is speculation that Ira and Eliza are both buried at the Jordan Kelley Cemetery in Covington County in unmarked graves. I don’t think anybody knows for sure. It would make sense with the lack of documentation for them to be in unmarked graves. But unless or until some documentation shows up to prove it, we are just left to wonder.
Closing Thoughts
The records consistently show that Ira was a farmer and that he was born in South Carolina c. 1820. That much, we can probably say is accurate. Work is still to be done to definitively say who his parents were. As far as the DNA, I have found no ‘definitive” line for Raiborns (or any other variation in spelling). We have to leave open the possibility that perhaps he wasn’t a Rabren at all. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. I’m not suggesting that’s the case. I’m saying we need to do further research and study in great detail the DNA. We do know Ira is somehow linked to George T. Rabon and the Ard family as well as Barrows. How they all fit together remains to be figured out. There is still much work to do on this line.
I will go into further detail about the DNA links as well as more family descended from Ira in future posts.
Meanwhile, happy hunting!
Linda's Genealogy Research Blog 