Ancestors of Jenk Stephenson

General Notes: According to family, Jenkins, only lived to be 38 years old. He supposedly died of a spider bite. Assuming he was born in 1815 he then would have died in about 1853; however, he had a daughter born in 1855, (and that date could be wrong) otherwise, it is known that he died before 1873.

I have seen his name spelled as Jenkinson.

Census:
1850: Dwelling 630 - Jenkins Stephenson 35, farmer, $125 Real, Tabitha Stephenson 33, Sara Stephenson 9, Henry Stephenson 7, Nathan Stephenson 5, Samuel Stephenson 2.

Marriage: Jinkins Stevens to Tabitha Britton, 1 April 1839, Bond - Abraham Stevens

Real Estate:
Deed book 36, page 486 in 1857, where the Sheriff sold the lands of Jenkins (two tracts totaling about 220 acres) to satisfy debts owed to Uriah Vaughan, James H. Lassiter, Benjamin Spies(?) and Benoni Parks. The last three were the purchasers of the land. One tract adjoining Elilzabeth Garris and the other on Kirby Creek.

Book 35, page 170, June Court 1853 - Division of the estate of Nathan Britton - 209 acres adjoining the lands of David Stephenson, William K. Howell and others. To Lucendia wife of Henry A. Wade, Tabithia wife of Jenkins Stephenson, Sarah wife of Edwin Bryan, Jane(?) wife of Lewis Bryan, John W. Britton, Nathan J. Britton, Henry T. Britton. Tabithia's lot was 31 1/2 acres.

Other:
Jean Stephenson Stinson- (Descendant of Samuel Charles Stephenson)- E-mail 1/30/2000 - "I am descended through Benjamin's son, Jenkinson Stephenson, He was born 1815 died before 1873 supposedly from a spider bite. He was married to Lucy Tabitha Britton on April 1, 1839."

Jenkins married Lucy Tabitha BRITTON on 1 Apr 1839 in Northampton County, NC. Lucy was born in 1817 in Northampton County, North Carolina.

i. Sarah J. STEPHENSON was born in 1841 in Northampton County, NC and died after 1900.

ii. Henry STEPHENSON was born in 1843 in Northampton County, NC and died before 1873.

iii. Benjamin Thomas (Civil War) STEPHENSON was born in 1845 and died in 1917 at age 72.

iv. Nathan STEPHENSON was born in 1847 in Northampton County, NC, died on 8 Feb 1871 in Woodruff County, Arkansas at age 24, and was buried in I assume the Stephenson Cemetery.

8 v. Samuel Charles STEPHENSON (born on 14 Feb 1848 in Northampton County, NC - died on 14 Mar 1898 in Woodruff County, Arkansas)

vi. Elizabeth "Eliza" Ann STEPHENSON was born in 1855 in Northampton County, NC and died after 1900.

17. Lucy Tabitha BRITTON, daughter of Nathan BRITTON and Sarah DAVIS, was born in 1817 in Northampton County, North Carolina.

Lucy married Jenkins STEPHENSON on 1 Apr 1839 in Northampton County, NC. Jenkins was born in 1815 in North Carolina and died before 1873.

18. Charles CARRICKER, son of Phillip CARRIKER and Eve GOODMAN, was born on 30 Aug 1799 in Cabarrus Co., NC and died on 8 Jan 1873 in Woodruff Co, AR at age 73.

Charles married Lucinda WIGGINS on 4 Oct 1834 in Cabarrus Co, NC. Lucinda was born in 1800 in Cabarrus Co, NC.

iii. Peter Jackson CARRICKER was born in 1840 in TN and died on 8 Mar 1900 in Woodruff Co, AR at age 60.

iv. Charles. CARRICKER was born in 1841 and died in 1866 in Woodruff County, AR at age 25.

Lucinda married Charles CARRICKER on 4 Oct 1834 in Cabarrus Co, NC. Charles was born on 30 Aug 1799 in Cabarrus Co., NC and died on 8 Jan 1873 in Woodruff Co, AR at age 73.

i. James Thomas GARRETT was born on 11 Mar 1858, died 13 Dec (Nov?) 1934 at age 76, and was buried in Red Mud Cemetery, Dickens County, TX.

10 ii. William Clinton GARRETT (born on 14 Dec 1859 in Augusta, Woodruff County, Arkansas - died on 1 Dec 1954 in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas)

Elizabeth married James A GARRETT on 9 Jun 1857. James was born on 14 May 1835 and died on 15 Apr 1867 at age 31.

22. John Newton JONES, son of Robert JONES and Malinda Ann EWING, was born on 4 Feb 1835 in Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee, died on 31 Jan 1922 in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas at age 86, and was buried in Cone, Crosby County, Texas.

General Notes: Burried in Cone, Texas Cemetary

Check this out: Applicatin for enrollment into the Mississippi Choctaw Intian tribe, Consolidated application #6755 and #MCR 6810.

Joh Newton Jones left home when he was 16 and traveled alone and on foot from Clark County, Arkansas to Texas. He stayed 9 months and then returned home. He later traveled back to Texas when he was 19 and became a Texas Ranger. He traveled with Sam Houston when he ran for Governor of Texas. Source: John Newton Jones Family Records, Cone, Texas (Letter of September 14, 1921). Book of John N. Jones life "You Can't Get The Coons All Up One Tree." by Leona Parrish Carver, Coltharp Printing & Publishing: 1980. Additional Source: J. G. Cubage Family Records; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The 1880 census confirms John N. Jones's statements in his book about the time when he left Arkansas for Texas. He is listed in the index for 1870 in Anderson County, Texas. He only lived in anderson County, Texas around 2 or 3 years. He moved from Anderson County, to Hill County,Texas but did not move on to Palo Pinto County, where his sister, Rhoda (Jones) Weedle llived until after Ann (Campbell) Jones died in 1882. He left his girls with his sister for a time and took the boys with him to West Texas where he hunted wild horses.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: arpkl@westnet.com.au,

cousin from Australia

Please print, save. If you find mistakes-please let me know.
If you can add info-please let me know.
Now looking for the first time in years, I found I had written:
Pensioner certificates #No. 1065387 John Newton Jones.
Union side.
Mrs. Bobbie McLane, 222 McMahan Dr.,Hot Springs, Ark.71913-6243 .
When I had cancer, I packed up my research and sent to US.
This year, I began to work on these lines again.
Have a good day, and I will see what I can send you.
Love, Margaret

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
From the webstie of Mamie Joyce (Jones) Logue:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/o/g/Mamie-Logue/GENE9-0014.html

79. John Newton5 Jones (Robert4, William Andrew3, John2, Unknown1)400,401 was born February 04, 1835 in Bolivar, Hardeman Co., TN402, and died January 31, 1922 in Floydada, Floyd Co., TX. He married (1) Mary Jane Box403 January 05, 1858 in Alpine, Clark Co., AR, daughter of Joshua Box and Aremesy Unknown. She was born 1838 in TN, and died May 1861 in Meeks Settlement, Clark Co., AR. He married (2) Mary Ann Bruton404,405,406 February 23, 1864 in Clark Co., AR. She died 1865 in (Died from injuries from falling off a horse). He married (3) Mary Elizabeth Ann Campbell407,408,409 March 1866 in Caddo Gap, Pike Co., AR, daughter of Wilson Campbell and Elizabeth Unknown. She was born 1844 in KY, and died 1882 in Palo Pinto Co., TX.

Notes for John Newton Jones:
John Newton Jones left home when he was 16 and traveled alone and on foot from Clark Co., AR to TX. He stayed 9 months and then returned home. He later traveled back to TX when he was 19 and became a TX Ranger. He traveled with Sam Houston when he ran for Governor of TX.
Source:John Newton Jones Family Records; Cone, TX (Letter of September 14, 1921). Book of John N. Jones life "You Can't Get The Coons All Up One Tree." by Leona Parrish Carver, Coltharp Printing & Publishing:1980:

Additional Source:J. G. Cubage Family Records; Oklahoma City, OK. Research by Cledith (Jones) Doster:Provided by Billy Ray Jones:

Ancestry.com/Images Online/census/tx/hill/1880:Date of Import 09/06/01:
Jones, John...........WM....Head.....44....Farmer....TN....TN....TN
Jones, Sarah..........WF....Wife......34....................MS....KY...NC
Jones, Joseph.......WM....Son.......19.....................AR....TN...MS
Jones, Kittie..........WF......Dau......13.....................AR....TN...MS
Jones, Malinda.....WF......Dau.......10....................TX....TN...MS
Jones, Jolly...........WM....Son..........5....................TX....TN...MS
Jones, Susan.........WF.....Dau.........3....................TX....TN...MS
Jones, Sarah..........WF.....Dau..10/12....................TX....TN...MS

This census confirms John N. Jones's statements in his book about the time when he left AR for TX. He is listed in the index for 1870 in Anderson Co., TX. He only lived in Anderson Co., TX around 2 to 3 years. He moved from Anderson Co., TX to Hill Co., TX but did not move on to Palo Pinto Co., TX where his sister, Rhoda (Jones) Weedle lived until after Ann (Campbell) Jones died in 1882. He left his girls with his sister for a time and took the boys with him to West TX where he hunted wild horses.

More About John Newton Jones:
Burial: 1922, Cone, Crosby Co., TX
Census: 1880, Hill Co., TX

Notes for Mary Jane Box:
(Mary Jane is a cousin of J. N. Jones through his grandmother Rebecca (Box) Jones. Marriage book D, Page 51. Mary died of consumption.

Marriage Notes for John Jones and Mary Box:
John Newton Jones & Mary Jane Box were married at Joshua Box residence:Source John Newton Jones letter 1921:

Notes for Mary Ann Bruton:
Mary Ann was married to Joe Dinwiddie. He was killed during the Civil War and John Newton brought word to her and Joe's parents of his death. Mary Ann and John Newton later married but she only lived 7 months after they were married. She died from a fall from a horse.

More About Mary Ann Bruton:
Burial: 1865, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR (St. John's Cemetery)

Children of John Jones and Mary Box are:
+ 295 i. Jemima Texana6 Jones, born October 31, 1858 in Pike Co., AR; died January 10, 1906 in Silverton, Briscoe Co., TX.
296 ii. Unknown Jones409, born 1859 in Pike Co., AR; died February 04, 1862 in Clark Co., AR.
Notes for Unknown Jones:
Became ill and died very young after his mother had died of Tuberculosis and while his father was away fighting in the Civil War. John Newton's Mother was caring for him and his sister.

Children of John Jones and Mary Campbell are:
297 i. Joseph Wilson6 Jones409, born December 23, 1866 in Pike Co., AR; died August 31, 1944 in Floydada, Floyd Co., TX410.

More About Joseph Wilson Jones:
Burial: Unknown, Floydada, Floyd Co., TX (Floydada Cemetery)

+ 298 ii. Elydia Ledufsia Jones, born January 15, 1868 in Pike Co., AR; died September 22, 1944 in Floydada, Floyd Co., TX.

+ 299 iii. Melinda Ann Jones, born October 31, 1869 in Anderson Co., TX; died March 14, 1900 in Dickens Co., TX.

+ 300 iv. Jolly Jones, born July 1874 in Hill Co., TX; died WFT Est. 1883-1963.

+ 301 v. Susan Josephine Jones, born September 09, 1876 in Hill Co., TX; died June 28, 1940 in OK.

+ 302 vi. Sarah Angeline Jones, born August 19, 1879 in Hill Co., TX; died WFT Est. 1874-1966.

303 vii. John Jones410, born Abt. 1881 in Hill Co., TX; died Abt. 1881 in Hill Co., TX.
Notes for John Jones:
Died in infancy.

304 viii. Mary Jones410, born Abt. 1882 in Hill Co., TX; died Abt. 1882 in Hill Co., TX.
Notes for Mary Jones:
Died in infancy.

John married Mary Elizabeth Ann CAMPBELL in Mar 1866 in Caddo Gap, Pike County, Arkansas. Mary was born in 1844 in Kentucky and died in 1882 in Palo Pinto County, Texas at age 38.

i. Joseph Wilson JONES was born on 23 Dec 1866 in Pike County, Arkansas, died on 31 Aug 1944 in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas at age 77, and was buried in Floydada Cemetery.

ii. Elydia "Kit" Ledufsia JONES was born on 15 Jan 1868 in Pike County, Arkansas, died on 22 Sep 1944 in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas at age 76, and was buried in Floydada Cemetery.

11 iii. Malinda Ann JONES (born on 31 Oct 1869 in Anderson County, Texas - died on 14 Mar 1900 in Dickens County, Texas)

iv. Susan Josephine JONES was born on 9 Sep 1876 in Hill County, Texas, died on 28 Jun 1940 in Oklahoma at age 63, and was buried in Amber Cemetery.

vi. John JONES was born about 1881 in Hill County, Texas and died about 1881 in Hill County, Texas.

vii. Mary JONES was born about 1882 in Hill County, Texas and died about 1882 in Hill County, Texas.

John next married Mary Ann (Bruton) DEADWILEY on 23 Feb 1864 in Clark County, Arkansas. Mary was born in 1840, died in 1865 at age 25, and was buried in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas (St. John's Cemetery).

John next married Mary Jane BOX, daughter of Joshua BOX and Aremesy UNKNOWN, on 5 Jan 1858 in Alpine, Clark County, Arkansas. Mary was born in 1838 in Tennessee and died in May 1861 in Meeks Settlement, Clark County, Arkansas at age 23.

i. Jemima Texana JONES was born on 31 Oct 1858 in Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas and died on 10 Jan 1906 in Silverton, Briscoe County, Texas at age 47.

ii. Minnie JONES was born in 1859 in Clark County, Arkansas and died on 4 Feb 1862 in Clark County, Arkansas at age 3.

iii. Joseph Wilson JONES was born in 1861 in Arkansas and died on 4 Feb 1862 in Arkansas at age 1.

23. Mary Elizabeth Ann CAMPBELL, daughter of Wilson CAMPBELL and Elizabeth Ann UNKNOWN, was born in 1844 in Kentucky and died in 1882 in Palo Pinto County, Texas at age 38.

General Notes: Third wife of John Newton Jones. Sometimes referred to as Sarah, maybe a nick name.

Mary married John Newton JONES in Mar 1866 in Caddo Gap, Pike County, Arkansas. John was born on 4 Feb 1835 in Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee, died on 31 Jan 1922 in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas at age 86, and was buried in Cone, Crosby County, Texas.

24. William Franklin RICH, son of Timothy RICH and Nancy BEVILL, was born about 1826 in North Carolina, died in May 1887 in Tippah County, Mississippi about age 61, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

General Notes: Occupation: Farmer

Places of residence: North Carolina; Lincoln, Giles, TN; Tippah, MS

Sources: Court house records from Delta, Lamar, Hall, Childress, & Donley Counties

Texas death records from Forth Worth Library, Federal Census 1860 to 1920

Tippah County, MS marriage records, Tombstone dates from Fairview Cemetery in Memphis, Hall County, and Cooper Cemetery in Cooper, Delta County, Texas. Funeral home records from Memphis and Hedley at the Memphis Library.

Personal information from Vernon Rich.

The above information was supplied by Pat Fox.

William married Martha A. BARKLEY about 1853. Martha was born about 1836 in , Maury, Tennessee, USA, died about 1910 in Tippah County, Mississippi, USA about age 74, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

ii. William Thomas "Tom" RICH was born on 1 Dec 1855 and died on 5 May 1926 at age 70.

iii. Timothy Parolee RICH was born on 10 Mar 1858 in Tippah County, Mississippi, died on 16 Jun 1929 in Tiplersville, Tippah County, Mississippi at age 71, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

iv. Sarah Jane RICH was born on 8 Apr 1860 in Tippah County, Mississippi, died after 1904, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

v. Martha Elizabeth RICH was born on 28 Feb 1862 in Tippah County, Mississippi, died on 16 Apr 1923 in Tippah County, Mississippi at age 61, and was buried in Falkner, Pogue, Tippah County Mississippi.

vi. Major Anderson "Bud" RICH was born on 22 Mar 1864, died on 28 Jun 1934 in Memphis, Hall County, Texas at age 70, and was buried on 29 Jun 1934 in Memphis, Hall County, Texas.

12 vii. Robert Alvis RICH (born on 23 Apr 1866 in Tippah County, Mississippi - died on 5 Feb 1930 in McAdoo, Dickens County, Texas)

viii. Benjamin Bruce RICH was born on 10 Dec 1868 in Tippah County, Mississippi and died on 8 Dec 1923 in Sonoma, Sonoma County, California at age 54.

ix. Samuel B. RICH was born on 27 Jan 1870 and died on 4 Dec 1907 at age 37.

x. James H. RICH was born on 27 Feb 1873 in Tippah County, Mississippi, died on 1 Oct 1889 in Falkner, Tippah County, Mississippi at age 16, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

25. Martha A. BARKLEY, daughter of John Locke BARKLEY and Elizabeth BOSTIC, was born about 1836 in , Maury, Tennessee, USA, died about 1910 in Tippah County, Mississippi, USA about age 74, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

General Notes: Places of residence: TN and Tippah County, MS

Some info From Ancestry.com

Martha married William Franklin RICH about 1853. William was born about 1826 in North Carolina, died in May 1887 in Tippah County, Mississippi about age 61, and was buried in Smyrna Cemetery, Tippah County, Mississippi.

26. Willis (2) DAVIS, son of Nathaniel DAVIS and Caroline CHAPPELL, was born on 28 Sep 1855 in , Fayette, Alabama, USA and died on 30 Aug 1927 in Aley, Henderson, Texas, USA at age 71.

Willis married Fannie Lee BOBO on 29 Oct 1875. Fannie was born on 5 Mar 1859 in , Fayette, Alabama, USA, died on 27 Jul 1940 in Texas at age 81, and was buried in Lynn, Texas, USA.

13 i. Zora Bell DAVIS (born on 28 Aug 1878 in Fayette, Alabama - died on 7 Apr 1964 in Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico)

27. Fannie Lee BOBO, daughter of Spencer BOBO and Wealthy (Marthy) BARNES, was born on 5 Mar 1859 in , Fayette, Alabama, USA, died on 27 Jul 1940 in Texas at age 81, and was buried in Lynn, Texas, USA.

Fannie married Willis (2) DAVIS on 29 Oct 1875. Willis was born on 28 Sep 1855 in , Fayette, Alabama, USA and died on 30 Aug 1927 in Aley, Henderson, Texas, USA at age 71.

William(?) married Sara Elizabeth FARMER. Sara was born on 27 Feb 1849 in Jefferson County, Tennessee and died on 21 Sep 1917 near Afton, Dickens County, Texas at age 68.

14 i. Clad BRADFORD (born on 27 Feb 1871 in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri - died on 26 Aug 1945 in Glenn, Dickens County, Texas)

29. Sara Elizabeth FARMER, daughter of William FARMER and Lydia UNKNOWN, was born on 27 Feb 1849 in Jefferson County, Tennessee and died on 21 Sep 1917 near Afton, Dickens County, Texas at age 68.

Sara next married Thomas J. McCARTY on 14 Nov 1874. Thomas was born in 1802 in , , Virginia, USA and died on 21 Dec 1884 in Glass Ranch, Dickens County, Texas at age 82.

i. Flora Delany McCARTY was born on 23 Mar 1876 and died on 10 Aug 1962 at age 86.

30. John William NEWCOMB was born in Sep 1833 in Missouri, died on 3 Jul 1909 in Fort Griffin, Shackleford County, Texas at age 75, and was buried in Fort Griffiin Cemetery.

John married Catherine Cerilda "Cass" McCARTY on 8 May 1868 in Ft. Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas. Catherine was born on 10 Feb 1848 in Marion County, Arkansas, USA, died on 9 Apr 1900 in Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas, USA at age 52, and was buried in Fort Griffin Cemetery.

i. Daniel Artimus NEWCOMB was born on 5 Mar 1869 and died on 13 Jun 1953 at age 84.

ii. George Washington NEWCOMB was born on 27 Jul 1871 and died in 1962 at age 91.

iii. Sterling David NEWCOMB was born on 24 Jan 1873 and died on 9 Dec 1952 at age 79.

iv. Samuel Patrick NEWCOMB was born on 10 Feb 1878 and died on 1 Jan 1942 at age 63.

v. Luanna Vilette NEWCOMB was born on 23 Nov 1880 and died on 30 Sep 1966 at age 85.

15 vi. Ellen Alvaretta "Alvie" NEWCOMB (born on 26 Jan 1883 in Ft Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas - died on 10 Dec 1944 in Glenn, Dickens County, Texas)

vii. Lillie Mazulfer NEWCOMB was born on 22 Jan 1887 and died on 31 Jul 1965 at age 78.

31. Catherine Cerilda "Cass" McCARTY, daughter of Thomas J. McCARTY and Sarah Eliza Jane LEFORS, was born on 10 Feb 1848 in Marion County, Arkansas, USA, died on 9 Apr 1900 in Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas, USA at age 52, and was buried in Fort Griffin Cemetery.

General Notes: Katherine was a step daughter of Sara Farmer

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Catherine Cerilda "Cass" McCarty
This information was taken from the book: Our Kin by Patsy Rich Fuchs. 2003. page 17-19

Catherine Cerilda “Cass” McCarty, (Thomas J. McCarty) born on 10 February 1848 in Marion County, Arkansas. She died 9 April 1900 near Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas and was buried in Fort Griffin cemetery. She married John William Newcomb on 8 May 1868 near Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas. He was born in September 1833 in Missouri. He died on 3 July 1909 in Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas and is buried in 1909 at Fort Griffin Cemetery.

Catherine was born in Marion County, Arkansas on the White river or one of the branches. She was about 5 or 6 years old when her family moved to McDonald County, Missouri. They were living in Webster County, Missouri when the family moved to Texas. They settled in Johnson County and Catherine was listed with Thomas on the 1860 census. She was 12 years old. There isn’t much known about Catherine’s early years. The Newcomb diaries mention her moving to Fort Davis in 1866. She was a petite woman with very dark hair.

In May 1868 she married John William Newcomb (no known relationship to Samuel Newcomb of the Fort Davis Diaries). John was born in 1833. We have no record of where he was born, but some family members say it was in Platte County, Missouri. The only record found on Newcomb in that county is a land record showing Wm. Newcomb owning 40 acres in section 14 dated 14 March 1857. This is about the time the Indians were driven out of Platte County, and those who participated in this effort were given 40 acres of land. We don’t know that John William was an Indian fighter. Some say he was.

John was in Texas by 1858. It is said he drove the Butterfield Stage coach between Gainesville and Ft. Chadbourne during the years 1858 and 1859. He and a friend Jeff Limley enlisted in the Palo Pinto County Confederate Texas Cavalry joining Alexander’s Regiment, Co. “F” on 1 February 1862. The two stayed together throughout the war. At some time John received a gunshot wound to his hand, the only injury we know about. They were discharged in 1863 at Van Buren, Arkansas.

After his discharge he returned to Palo Pinto County. He probably worked as a cowboy and deputy sheriff. It was five years after the war that John and Catherine McCarty were married. Their marriage is recorded at the courthouse in Palo Pinto county, Texas. They settled in Throckmorton County, probably at old Camp Cooper. Catherine and John’s first child, Daniel Artimus was born in 1869 and he is said to be the first white child born there. The Newcomb’s moved to Shackelford County in 1872. They paid taxes for the next 12 years.

The seventies were terrible years for the pioneers living on the frontier. Sonnechsen wrote in his book, I’ll Die before I Run, “The thing that brought the trouble on was an organized ring of stock thieves who ran off both cows and horses to the Indian Territory, defying pursuit and killing anybody who tried to interfere with them. As usual they had confederates among the settlers. By 1876 things were so bad they could hardly have been any worse.” The Frontier Echo, over at Jacksboro remarked that “the stealing of horses has become so frequent that the losers could not purchase fresh stock fast enough to satisfy the demand of the horse thief” and suggested that “no medicine will reach the case but blue whistlers or hemp.”

The state of affairs was so bad that John Larn was the man they chose to help set things right. He was about 21 years old at the time. On one occasion, Larn, while riding at top speed was closely pursued by 11 to 15 savage Indians yelling and shooting. The followed him almost home turning to go through Matthews field taking his horses and crossing the river getting G. R. Carter’s, John Newcomb’s and John Selman’s, getting about 20 head in all. Citizens followed them to near Browning’s ranch. In 1878 Larn was accused of cattle rustling and was arrested. He was killed by a mob July 5, 1878.

In 1874 Catherine and John settled on vacant land along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, about 18 miles from present day Albany. This land was much closer to old Fort Griffin. The Flat, as people called it in those days, had become a trading point for the upper Clear fork settlers, mostly ranchers. Carl Coke Rister wrote in his book, Fort Griffin on the Texas Frontier, “A short time later drifters - bullwhackers, cowpunchers, gamblers, toughs, and prostitutes came to the Flat to fleece the unsuspecting and to ply their unholy trades. There were personal privileges aplenty and no legal restraints. Saloons thrived and gambling was lucrative. In front of every store, saloon, and business hourse was a long hitching rack, which was generally lined with saddled horses, and the street was congested and jammed with ox- or mule-drawn wagons and horse-drawn hack and buggies. To attract the liquor-buying and adventurous visitors, pianos, fiddles, banjos, and guitars ground out their lilting tunes, and scantily attired Cyprians walked the streets to add their allurements. But the music was marred by a babel of boisterous talk, whoops, curses, and hoarse laughter. It was not uncommon to see Tonkawa Indians, both men and women, in a state of beastly intoxication, rendering it unsafe even for Fort Griffin officers and enlisted men to go down to the Flat unarmed, as the Tonks and white toughs had bowie knives and firearms about them.”

“From 1875 to 1880, the Flat increased in size two-fold, growing to a town of about one thousands persons, with perhaps twice that many transients, including buffalo hunters and cowboys. Here the revolver settled more differences among men than the judge, and straight shoot could promise long life more than fresh air and sunshine.”

The Newcomb’s endured the hardships of Indian raids; the stench of the buffalo hides along with the everyday struggle to live on the frontier. In 1880 they are listed on the Shackelford County Federal census with four sons. John was listed as having partial paralysis. He suffered a stroke in 1879 and was partially paralyzed for the rest of his life.

On July 3, 1883 John and Catherine made an application for 160 acres of vacant land under the homestead law. This is probably the land where they first settled in 1874. On June 14, 1888 they made another application and the state granted them 100 acres on January 7, 1889. The family lived on the land until they sold it to J. A. Matthews in 1897.

The federal census for 1900 in Shackelford County shows John with 4 of his children. Catherine died 9 April 1900. John’s children began to marry, and by 1905 they were all married living in or near Shackelford County except for Alvie, who was in Dickens County.

On February 25, 1907 John applied for a Confederate pension saying he owned nothing and was living with his children. The pension was approved 19 September 1907. He died 3 July 1909. He and Catherine are buried side by side in the old fort Griffin Cemetery.

Catherine married John William NEWCOMB on 8 May 1868 in Ft. Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas. John was born in Sep 1833 in Missouri, died on 3 Jul 1909 in Fort Griffin, Shackleford County, Texas at age 75, and was buried in Fort Griffiin Cemetery.

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Ancestors of Jenk Stephenson

Fifth Generation