John O. Caughlan and Sarah Childers

Sarah Childers Caughlan taken about 1850

(There is no known picture of John)

What we know about John and Sarah

John was born in about 1797 in Cork, Cork Ireland. Some family letters say he was studying to be a priest and his father and brother and sister came to the United States before he did. Family stories say he left his studies to become a priest and came to the United States via Nova Scotia Canada in about 1814. 

John O. Caughlan and Sarah Murray Byrd Childers were married in November 1819 in Virginia. We don’t know exactly where but in may have been in Buckingham County, Virginia.

The 1820 has a John Caughlen living in Buckingham County, Virginia. This is mostly our John Caughlan.

Their first child, Mary Ann, is born in Buckingham County, Virginia in 1821.

Their second child, David, is born in Buckingham County, Virginia in 1824.

John’s father Cornelius died on December 21, 1826.

 In the 1830 Federal Census there is a John Caughlin in Scioto County Ohio that lists a family with on male 40 and under 50, one female 40 and under 50, one child 5 to 10, and one child under 5. This could be our John Caughlan family.

Their third child, John Wesley, is born on August 2, 1832 in Cable County, Virginia.

Their fourth child, Adam Clarke, is born on March 14, 1834 in Wheeling, Virginia, now West Virginia.

In 1835 the family traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to live. It is thought that John taught school there and in the Alton Illinois area.

Their fifth child, Daniel, was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1837. Mary Ann married Samuel Miller the same year on September 14^th at the age of 16.

John‘s brother, Thomas died on September 30, 1837.

In 1838 John made application to buy Federal land in Hancock County, Illinois.

The 1840 Census finds John and his family in St. Louis, Missouri. The same year bought the land he had made application for in Hancock County Illinois. A copy of this record can be found on the BLM website www.glorecordsw.blm.gov/PatentSearch/. Land Record BLM Certificate No. 13614.

In 1842 John and Sarah are found in the Methodist Church records in Alton Illinois where they make application for membership. In 1843 Sarah and John are given membership to the church.

On February 15, 1844 their son David married Ellen Beall. David’s father and mother-in-law are also a member of the Methodist Church in Alton.

The 1845 St. Louis City Directory lists a John Caughten teacher at Carre and eleventh. This is most likely our John Caughlan.

On September 22, 1847 John and Sarah sell their land in Hancock County Illinois. The record shows them living in St. Louis. We know Sarah ran a boarding house in St. Louis, but we don’t know exactly when she started it. Sarah ran the boarding house until her death in 1859.

John O. Caughlan died on December 14, 1847. We don’t know where he died but suspect it was either in St. Louis or in the Alton area. We know he was teaching and was in both these close to the time of his death. From letters we know he taught in small schools in Alton area sometime before his death.

The 1850 Census lists Sarah, Adam and Daniel living in St. Louis, Missouri.

On October 19, 1858 son John Wesley married Nancy Jane Miller in Savannah, Andrew County, Missouri.

On February 13, 1859 son Adam Clarke married Mary Marilla Wait.

Sarah died on February 23 1859 of consumption. She is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis Missouri. On June 15^th thru 17^th 2001 family members met for the first time to place a grave marker on her grave. This celebration can be see by going to this website’s home page.

Last modified, April, 2005