One of Marion County's pioneer families is that of the Tabors of the Pyatt community. John H. Tabor, born December 11, 1809, came to Marion County when a small boy. He remembered hunting buffalo with the Indians. He set out the first orchard in Marion County prior to 1829, in Tucker Bottom on White River for his brother-in-law, John Stallings, father of Captain Tom Stallings of steamboat fame. John H. Tabor married Betsy Magness, daughter of James and Narcissa Magness, who were reported to be the first white people to settle near the present town of Yellville. Their daughter Nancy had married Nimrod Teaff, and the two families lived east of town on what was for many years called the Layton farm but is now known as the Angel place. Another daughter was Minerva (1849-1917), who married F. A. Lowery (1849-1924). They were the parents of six daughters and three sons.
Nimrod Teaff was a gunsmith and did a thriving business with the Shawnee Indians. Later the Teaffs moved to Texas. Mrs. Belle Narramore, mother of Charles and Chester Narramore, married J. M. Teaff, son or grandson of Nimrod, but they too moved to Texas. Narcissa Magness, wife of James, died soon after the Civil War and is buried in the Patton Cemetery.
When John H. Tabor married Betsy Magness, her father opposed the match -- so Mr. Tabor built the first cabin on Flippin Barrens and took his bride there. In 1833 they moved to Shawneetown and later to the Pyatt vicinity. Mr. Tabor died in 1902 and is buried at Patton. A glowing tribute to the sterling qualities of John H. Tabor, written by J. A. Rose, an early minister of the Christian Church, appeared in the MOUNTAIN ECHO on June 1, 1902.
Reprinted with permission from History of Marion County edited by Earl Berry, copyright 1977.