The BOGAN, REEVES, SHARP family history is a work never truly "done".There will always be more to verify, more to learn, to correct, and a multitue of stories yet untold.The research of John L. Bogan has taken me on many winding paths in South Carolina, Alabama and Arkansas and touched many other families of the same. The families of Nathaniel Pettit, George W. Poole, Giles D. Pettit, James W. Reeves, Thomas Albert Sharp, Charles Price, Sol David Mize, Richard Bivins, John Cleghorn, James Finegan, Arthur Finegan, Jack Abney and Essie Lacefield are all part of our family, to name a few. The following are notes compiled from many wonderful conversations with my beloved Grandfather, William Thomas Reeves Sr.(97 years old in 1999) of Foreman, Arkansas and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles and other family members across the entire United States.I have made every effort to have documentation for the history, some information however, comes from stories "passed down" with no supporting record.If it's oral history (story) and not documented fact, I will mention it in my notes.Though the stories and facts come from various sources and parts of the county, one thing holds true throughout; that the individuals we are today have been greatly influenced by these men and woman of yesteryear.Their strong moral character, loyalty to God and County, love of nature, family and life itself, knit us together in a stong family bond. There hopefully will be more family gatherings in future generations, more campfire tales and more treasures found in family attics.Thus, the Bogan, Reeves, Sharp family history will continue to grow and change as facts surface. I trust these notes will be a "spark" to kindle a fire of interest in the hearts of our decendents to learn more about their rich American heritage. My Bogan family line is from South Carolina circa 1800 or before that year.I have most of the decendents of John L. Bogan and Caroline F. Poole Bogan through today.John's family migrated through Georgia from South Carolina before continuing on toAlabama.By 1850 I find John L. Bogan and Catharine F. Poole Bogan in Benton County, Alabama in Peaks Hill Township.They are living near George W. Poole and his wife Agnes and Nathaniel Pettit's family, both families are from Spartanburg, South Carolina near the Pacolet River.I believe Catharine F. Poole Bogan to be the daughter of George and Agnes Poole of Spartanburg, SC. Catharine's first child was named Nancy A. (the same as George W. Poole's youngest daughter) and her second child, a son, born in 1850 was named George W. Bogan, probably after George W. Poole. I don't believe that to be a coincidence.Nor is it a coincidence that these three South Carolina families are living in the same township in Alabama at the same time. Later, I find thatNathaniel Pettit's son, Giles D. Pettit, married Mary Poole (another of George and Agnes Poole's daughers).It is a known fact (census records of Spartanburg, South Carolina and Union County South Carolina) that the Bogan family came to that area of South Carolina as early as 1790 or earlier.Further, John L. Boganis said to havefallen in love with Catharine Poole when she was a child and he was a young boy, in South Carolina.He vowed to marry her when she was of age.The families obviously knew eachother in South Carolina as the two were childhood sweethearts. By 1870, I find John L. and Catharine in Little River County, Arkansas, Giles Pettit in Scott County, Arkansas and members of the Poole family in Scott County, Arkansas.One of Giles Pettit's daughters (Lucinda) married John L. Bogan's son, William.John L. Bogan's family raised their families in Little River County, Arkansas where some decendents live today.
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