The most notorious Skaggs in history was the Missouri bushwacker Larkin Skaggs. He was a Baptist preacher who rode with William Quantrill's raiders during the Civil War. He was the only one of Quantrill's raiders killed when they burned the city of Lawrence, Kansas. More about this infamous bushwacker below the fold.
Larkin Skaggs was likely a descendant of
Old Richard Skaggs, one of the Longhunters, younger brother to the famous Henry Skaggs Aaron Skaggs and Sarah Lyon, through their son James and his wife Elizabeth Willis. Larkin was born in Edmonson County, Kentucky about 1831. He and his brother Willis moved to Cass County, Missouri in the early 1850s. Not long after, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed the voters of Kansas and Nebraska to determine if slavery was allowed within their borders. The border between Missouri and Kansas became a flashpoint in the national debate over slavery. Missouri was a slave state and Kansas outlawed slavery. Larkin Skaggs participated in the border war over slavery from the start. In
Larkin Skaggs' Last Ride the author, Tom A. Rafiner describes the life and times of Larkin Skaggs leading up to the Civil War. In 1863, after neighbors were burned out by Kansas
Jayhawkers, Larkin joined Quantrill's bushwackers. They planned a raid on Lawrence, Kansas, at the time it was half the size of Kansas City and home to many prominent abolitionists and Northern political leaders.
Larkin Skaggs c. 1863
You can read about the details of that Lawrence raid from Tom A. Rafiner or many other authors but basically Quantrill's men burned the city and shot many of the men and boys, killing 164 civilians. Larkin Skaggs was the only one of Quantrill's men killed in the raid and his body was dragged through town, mutilated and left in the town dump. A nasty event in a nasty war.
Larkin's death left his widow and children to fend for themselves for the remainder of the war. His wife remarried in 1879 and his two boys, Bluford and James Buchanan Skaggs lived out their lives in Missouri.
A few years ago the owner of a jewelry store in Lawrence
found a whiskey jug he believes belonged to Larkin Skaggs. He tells his story in an audio clip
here.
Larkin was absolutely NOT a descendant of Richard Skaggs, the Longhunter, brother to Longhunters Henry and Charles Skaggs. Larkin was the son of James "Squire" Skaggs and Elizabeth Willis who married on 3 Dec 1807 in Adair County. James is considered to be the son of Aaron Skaggs and Sarah Lyon.
ReplyDeleteNo one knows for sure exactly how Aaron Skaggs was connected to the Longhunter Skaggs, but they were probably no closer than 2nd cousins.
You're right, the 1850 census has Larkin in Edmonson County, KY in the household of James and Elizabeth Skaggs. The James who was son of Richard the Long Hunter was married to Fanny Beeler. Larkin's father was the James married to Elizabeth Willis. His 1807 marriage record lists his mother as "Sarah" so like you said he is likely the son of Aaron Skaggs and Sarah Lyon. Thanks for the correction.
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