Reason West

Reason West (1807 – Feb. 9, 1863) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died during the Civil War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born in 1807, Reason West was the son of Charles P. West (1774-1862) and Sarah Phillips (1788-1860). His siblings included Jane West (1801-1849), Cynthia West (born 1804), Reuben West (1810-1883), John Wesley West (1812-1903), Rachel West (1813-1880), Mary West (born 1814), William West (1816-1906), Sally West (1817-1905), Pleasant W. West (1820-1853), Melvina West (1823-1916) and Winnie West (1828-1901).

West appeared in the 1840 census in Campbell County, with his wife — Phereba Marcum (1813-1880) — and four children. He appeared in the 1850 census with his wife (age 37) and children John (14), Frederick (12), William (7), Barzella (5) and C.J. (Columbus Jackson, less than 1 year). Other children, born later, included Louis Scott (in 1852) and Polly Maraline (in 1854). General Taylor West, born 1847, did not appear in the 1850 census but was included in the 1860 census.

Civil War

A military marker in the Duncan Cemetery in McCreary County, Ky. lists Reason West’s date of death as being Feb. 9, 1863. He is believed to have died in Bowling Green, Ky. after enlisting in Co. A of the 1st Tennessee Infantry.

Reason West did not appear in the 1860 census with the rest of his family, which would usually be an indication that he died sometime prior to 1860. However, Phereba West filed a widow’s pension application on Dec. 19, 1864.

A separate Reason West from Scott County also served in Co. A of the 1st Tennessee Infantry. He was listed in the 1890 veterans census as still living in Scott County, with an enlistment date of July 18, 1862 and a discharge date of June 1865. This would be Reason Sevier West (1835-1916), son of John Wesley and Emily West and wife of Nancy Ann West — our Reason West’s nephew.

Aftermath

Pheriba West did not remarry. When the 1870 census was taken, she was living with Barzilla, C.J., Louis Scott, Polly Maraline, as well as a two-year-old girl, Elizabeth West. The 1870 census does not specify relationships. However, when the 1880 census was taken, Elizabeth was listed as 12-year-old Rebecca A. West, Pheriba’s granddaughter. Barzilla and Louis were still living at home then, as well. It can reasonably be assumed that Rebecca (Elizabeth in the 1870 census) was Barzilla’s daughter; and, in fact, her mother was listed as “Barzilla Duncan” on her death certificate when she died in 1939. (Barzilla married Franklin Asberry “As” Duncan, 1853-1920, after the 1880 census was taken. They had no children together.) Rebecca’s father was listed on the death certificate as Cal Hughett.

Pheriba died sometime after the 1880 census was taken, though it’s not clear when, or where she was buried.