The sixth child of Peter and Maria Garlock was born in Feb. 1784 in the District of Louisiana on Negro Fork. This was later to become the Meramec settlement in Jefferson Co., MO. Her father was killed by Indians the year she was born. Her mother married Robert Owens and they went to live with him near Marais de Liards. Robert was the only father she knew.

The Sullens family lived near the Missouri River and she met Nathan Sullens here. They were married in 1801 in the St. Louis area. Nathan was born ca 1776 probably near Rutherford, N.C. to John and Jane Childress Sullens.

They made their home in the vicinity of present day Creve Coer, St. Louis Co. Nathan died there about 1830. Betsy later married John McCourtney. The McCourtneys were early settlers in the area and made their home in the Franklin Co., area. John's father may be the James who resided at Creve Coeur in 1808.

It was this lady that the famed historian, Lyman C. Draper, met as he interviewed the descendants of the Revolutionary War soldiers.

She died about 1870 in Franklin Co., MO.

They had five children. We will only give a listing here and refer the reader to PETER SULLENS AND MARY CARSON, TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF DESCENDANTS by Maude Sullens Hoffman.

     SULLENS, David b. 1802 in MO. Married Catharine ca 1825.

     SULLENS, Peter b. ca 1804 and married 1) Synthia Pepper 22 May 1821 and 2) Sarah Cox 28 Apr 1831. He died 1853 near Byrnsville, MO, buried at Cedar Hill.

     SULLENS, Mary b. 1805. Married William Pepper. She died 1889.

     SULLENS, Isaac b. 27 Jan. 1810 near St. Louis. Married Malinda Williams daughter of Thomas and Gemima Carter Williams 28 June 1829. (She is an umpteenth great aunt of the author). They were married at Rock Twp, St. Louis, MO. Isaac died 23 Sept 1870. (obit below)

SULLENS, Nathan b. 2 May 1820 near St. Louis, MO. He married Cynthia Medley 30 July 1837, Jefferson Co., MO. He died 6 Feb 1863 and is buried at Cedar Hill, MO.

IN MEMORIAM

Rev. Isaac Sullens was born in St. Louis Co., MO. Jan 27, 1810, and died in Jefferson Co., but a few miles from his birth place, on the 23rd of Sept A.D. 1870. Bro. Sullens experienced religion in early life and joined the M.E. Church of which he continued a faithful and useful member until taken from labor for reward. He soon became a class leader and steward in the church. Then exhorter and local preacher. In all these capacities he served the church with great ability and usefulness. At the conference held in Hannibal, in the Fall of 1854, he was ordained Deacon by Bishop Ames: and at Jefferson City he was ordained elder by Bishop Baker in 1864.

As a minister, Bro. Sullens was neither learned nor eloquent, after the fashion of this day. But he was earnest and sensible, giving plainly the meaning of the scriptures. The people heard him gladly, because they knew him to be a good man. And God owned his labors in the conversion of sinners. He preached much and traveled far, often filling the place of the regular minister, and always without pecuniary compensation. Nor was he of that class of local preachers who think themselves exempt from payment to any of the benevolences of the church because they preach. He contributed to all these and was both, liberal and active in the support of the regular ministry.

As a businessman he was successful. His father died when he was a child, leaving him health, hope and an immense energy with which to commence life in a new country. Fortunate in the selection of a wife and blessed of Heaven, he secured a competency; and at the time of his death he might have been called wealthy for one in that neighborhood. He was a farmer, a strong advocate of temperance, and NEVER used tobacco.

He was hospitable as well as generous. He loved his country in the time of her greatest need, and to her he gave his money and his sons. As a neighbor he so conducted himself as to secure the love of most, and the respect of all. As a husband and father he so blended affection with firmness as to make his family happy. The wife of his youth and the partner of all his toils still lives to mourn her irreparable loss. Their sons and daughters, eleven in all, now grown to manhood and womanhood, remember his virtues and imitate his example in many things.

His funeral, which took place from his late residence where he had lived for forty years, was largely attended. A discourse was preached by the writer from Rev. 14:12-13. In a quiet spot nearby, we laid him away to rest. He sleeps well.

The Hildebrand Database provides the original documentation to this work as well as for many Hildebrand lineages in the U.S.