There are numerous examples where Mixson surname ancestors
carry the given name of "Kirkland".
Nailing down that Kirkland connection to the family continues
to be elusive. I've found Kirklands in cemeteries all the way from
SC to Polk County, FL, including many 'twixt and 'tween.
When going through probate records at the Barnwell county
courthouse in SC, I found that the legal notice of one of our Mixson
ancestors had been published at Smyrna Church. It took me a
while to find said church as, way way back, the Barnwell district
stretched all the way from the current Barnwell city and county
to the Savannah River below Hampton. The cemeteries in
much of the region are packed with Mixson and Kirkland folks.
Anyhow, Smyrna Church is located a few miles off US 301 below
Allendale. I found a slew of Kirklands there but no Mixsons.
The historical marker for Smyrna Church indicates the property
was donated by a "William I. Mixon" in 1849. I know not who
this is. Curiously, the marker also indicates it was originally
Kirkland Church. See the marker at:
A stones throw away is another cemetery called "Mixson Cemetery"
(also "Mixson/Cone Cemtery"). Lots of Mixson folks there who
I have yet to place in the family tree. But, no Kirklands.
Between Smyrna Church and said "Mixson Cemetery" is another
historical marker. This one is for "Harmony Church" which no longer
exists. The marker for that church indicates W. H. Cone and R. H.
Mixon to be its first deacons. No idea who this "Mixon" is either.
One would think with all these Mixson and Kirkland folks buried in
the same area a family connection would be apparent. Not so.
Back tracking from the Kirkland graves at Smyrna Church and
reading "Reminiscenses of a Private" by Frank Maner Mixson
(1846-1911)
I have found the Kirklands were quite the military family in the civil war.
All that being said, I've only found one direct connection. Frank
Maner's Aunt Levisy, daughter of John C. Mixson, Jr., and a
sister of Charles Jones Mixson married a Robert Cornelius
Kirkland. Obviously that doesn't put the Kirklands in our lineage,
but that's the only real connection I've found. Son and grand sons
of Robert Cornelius and Levisy (Mixson) Kirkland are buried at
Smyrna Church. (See the plot image above.)
Another secondary tie: the grandmother of L. K. Edwards, Jr., from
the well to do Irvine, FL, Edwards family was "Frances Elizabeth
Kirkland Mixson" who married Adnoiram Judson "AJ" Edwards,
L. K., Jr.'s, grandfather. I have been unable to connect her further
to either the Kirkland or Mixson clan. (The "K" in "L. K." stands
for Kirkland.) 1880 AJ Edwards Census
I'm beginning to wonder if giving all these Mixson boys the Kirkland
name might just be a recognition of a very strong, very popular SC
military family.
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