The Callison Family in Pocahontas County

 

The Callisons of Locust are one of the oldest families in southern Pocahontas County, West Virginia, known for their significant contributions to the development of the region.

Their history can be traced back to James Callison, Senior, and his wife Elizabeth, who were originally from Ireland, but of English descent. The family likely settled in Ireland during the reign of King James the First.

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James Callison, Senior, migrated from Greenbrier County to Granger County, Tennessee, in the late eighteenth century where he established a permanent settlement and raised his family.

His sons were James, Anthony, Isaac, Jesse, Samuel, and Elisha. His daughters were Rebecca, Abigail, Mary, Nancy, and Ruth.

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One of his sons, Isaac Callison, settled in the Meadows of southwest Greenbrier.

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Another son, Colonel Elisha Callison, married Margaret Bright, the daughter of David Bright of Greenbrier, and lived on the prominent Callison homestead near Lewisburg.

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James Callison, another son of the pioneer emigrant, moved from Tennessee to Locust, which is now in lower Pocahontas County, in approximately 1782.

 

He settled on 164 acres that his father had previously preempted. He married Susan Edmiston, the daughter of James Edmiston, Senior, who was living on a farm later owned by George Callison, a grandson of Susan.

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James and Susan Callison had five sons and two daughters.

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William Callison married Hannah Ray and settled in Nicholas County.

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Isaac Callison married Nancy Jordan, initially resided in Nicholas County, and later returned to Pocahontas.

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James Callison married Rebecca Gillilan, the daughter of John Gillilan, and settled in Missouri.

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Josiah Callison married Nancy Hill and lived at the old homestead.

They had five sons: James, Thomas F., William, George, and Richard; and three daughters: Martha, Mary, and Jemima.

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James Callison married Ellen Alkire of Lewis County and settled in Greenbrier, where he died in 1885. His widow and two children moved to Kansas.

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Thomas F. Callison married Minta Myles of Greenbrier County. His second marriage was to Jane Myles, a cousin of Minta. He lived near Locust.

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William Callison married Fannie Whiting, the daughter of Ebenezer Whiting. They lived on Locust Creek, near its source at the base of Droop Mountain.

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George Callison married Mandie McNeel and lived in Hillsboro.

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Richard Callison married Fannie Beard, the daughter of Charles W. Beard, and lived on the old Trump Run homestead near Locust.

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Martha Callison married James K. Bright.

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Mary Callison married Lorenza Reger and lived in Roane County.

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Jemima Callison married Jesse Bright near Frankford in Greenbrier and died in 1886.

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Another branch of the Callison family descended from Anthony Callison, also a son of James Callison, the immigrant from Ireland.

 

Anthony was raised in Tennessee and married Abigail McClung in Greenbrier County. They settled on land next to his brother James. They had six sons: Abram, Joseph, Isaac, Anthony, Junior, Israel, and Elisha; and four daughters: Margaret, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Julia.

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Abram Callison married Frankie Blair, sister of Major William Blair of Hillsboro, and lived in Pocahontas for a few years before moving to North Carolina.

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Joseph Callison married Elizabeth Bright of Greenbrier.

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Isaac Callison married Huldah Hickman in Bath County and moved to Indiana.

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Anthony Callison, Junior, married Martha Hill and settled in Indiana.

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Israel Callison married Mary Bright, Joseph’s sister-in-law. They lived on the old homestead before moving to Illinois.

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Elisha Callison settled in the Meadows of West Greenbrier.

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Margaret Callison married William Burnsides and moved to Indiana.

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Elizabeth Callison married Jonathan Jordan and lived on Cook’s Dry Run. Her twin sons, John and Anthony, died young.

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Abigail Callison married James Gay and moved to Indiana.

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Julia Callison married Colonel Woods Poage.

 

The Callison family has been instrumental in shaping Pocahontas County, leaving a legacy of hard work, community involvement, and resilience. They have contributed to the economic growth of the region through farming, livestock raising, and various other professions.

Their story provides a glimpse into the lives of early settlers and the challenges they faced in establishing their homes and families.