Horton family papers

The Hortons were an influential family in the development of northwestern North Carolina and held many political offices in Ashe County and later Watauga County. The Hortons descend from Colonel Nathan Horton (1757-1824) and his wife Elizabeth Eagles (b. 1766), who moved to the New River area of Watauga County, North Carolina in 1785. They are believed to be among the earliest European inhabitants in modern-day Watauga County, which was formed from Ashe County in 1849.

Nathan Horton was born in Chester, New Jersey and married Elizaeth Eagles, daughter of John Eagles of New York City, in 1783. They moved to North Carolina in 1785. He was a colonel in Ashe County's militia, and from 1800 to 1802 represented Ashe County in North Carolina's House of Commons and from 1803 to 1806 in the senate. He also constructed a toll road from Cook's Gap to Beaver Dam. He and many members of his family were members of the Three Forks Baptist Church. Nathan and Elizabeth Horton had nine children: Hannah (1784-1785), William (b. 1786), James (b. 1789), David (b. 1792), Sarah (b. 1794-died as child), Phineas (b. 1795), John (b. 1800-died as child), Elizabeth (b. 1803), and Jonathan (1806-1895).

William, whose wife was Millie Dula, settled in Elksville and represented Ashe and Wilkes Counties in the General Assembly for fourteen years.

James represented Ashe County in 1830. He fought in the War of 1812 and commanded a company from Ashe County who removed Cherokee to Oklahoma. He and his wife Sidnea Webb lived in New River.

James' son John "Jack" Horton (b. 4 July 1816) served as the Watauga County's sheriff from 1866-1876. His wives were Rebecca Mast and Mary Swift. His son James W. (b. 1846) served as deputy sheriff while his father was sheriff. He married Mary (Polly) Council.

David Eagles was a planter on the Yadkin River and served in the War of 1812. His wife Sarah Dula was the sister of brother Williams' wife Millie.

Phineas served in the War of 1812 and was magistrate for over thirty years. Phineas and Rebecca Councill Horton had several children including William (1828-c.1867), Nathan (b. 1829), James, and Jonathan Philmore (1836-1863). Each son served as officers in the Confederacy. Jonathan organized the "Watauga Marksmen" to fight for the Confederacy. He and James died during the war. William served as county surveyor from 1849 to 1862 and was elected to the State Legislature in 1862, 1864, and 1864. He and his wife Nancy Rebecca Blair Horton (b. 1835) had the following children: James Crittenden (b. 1861), Jonathan B. (b. 1863), Julia R. (b. 1865), William P. (b. 1867), Mary Emma (Moore) (1869-1962), Addie E. (b. 1871), Henry W. (1874), and Sallie H. (b. 1866).

James Crittenden (aka John Ceril and J.C.) Horton married Mary A. Elrod (1862-1917) in 1889. He served as the Democratic County chair and a County Commissioner. He also served as Clerk of the State Legislature and was appointed inspector for the Department of Agriculture. He also worked for the Internal Revenue Service. He and Mary had one daughter, Carrie (b. 1899), who married Dean Bingham. They also acted as guardians to C.M. Hodges' children, who likely were the children of Mary's sister Sophia.

Elizabeth married her first cousin Zephaniah Horton of Yancey County and had four children.

Jonathan married Malinda Hartzog in 1841 and lived at the Nathan Horton homestead. He represented Ashe County from 1832 to 1835 and Watauga County 1854. During the Civil War, he served as captain of the 37th NC Troop. The Hortons' home was robbed multiple times during the Civil War. Jonathan served as the Watauga representative in the state senate in 1864. They did not have any children.