James J Harper

 

In the book I have studied*, among many men, James J Harper is mentioned.

James was a resident of Polk County, TX. He enlisted into the CA on 14 May 1862. The man was a Private (1), he served with Company F, the 22nd Regiment Texas Infantry (Hubbard’s Regiment). In November 1862, he was reported sick at Camp Nelson in Arkansas. James did not recover. He passed on 17th November of the same year and was buried at Camp Nelson Cemetery in Cabot, Arkansas.

The note mentions James’ wife Susannah who received $80.42 from the CA Treasure Department after the man’s passing. It was the soldier’s earnings.

According to James’ military record, he was born in 1833 (2). I tried to find out more about James J. Harper and his family. Here are the results of my research.

I did not know where James was born so I looked for him in various states. It appeared the name James Harper was quite common as I found quite a few men by that name, who were born in 1833 in Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama, among others..

However, 3 things needed to add up: James’ estimated year of birth, the name of his wife, and the place of residence in 1862 – Polk County, TX.

The only more clear record was the birth of Nancy Ann E Harper, the daughter of James J Harper and Susanna O’Neal. Nancy was born on 12 August 1862, in Polk County, TX (3, 4).

It led me to James J Harper born in Alabama.

He was the son of Benjamin Hale Harper and Nancy Jane Standley. James’ mother died early and his father remarried. In 1850, the family of Mr. Benjamin Harper, a farmer, lived in Henry, Alabama (5). The family was – wife Elizabeth (age 38, born in NC), Sarah Jane (age 18), James (age 15) + children from the second marriage Benjamin Hale (age 13), Wilson (age 11), Malinda (age 9), Eliza (age 7), Washington (age 7), Joseph (age 3), and William (age 2).

James started his own family in 1859, on 21 March. He married 18-year-old Miss Susannah O’Neal (6), who was born on 19 April 1840, in South Carolina and was the daughter of James Henry O’Neal and Sarah Jane Hill. 

As you can see, the record mentions James S Harper - not James J (?)

James and Susannah’s marriage took place in Henry County, Alabama.  Susanna was the bride’s middle name. Her first name was Charlotte.

Sometime after the marriage, the couple came to Texas. I tried to find him in the 1860 records. However, he might have come to Texas later, possibly in 1861.

James never saw his daughter Nancy, who was born a few months after he was enrolled in the CA.

Sources:

* "There never were such men before: the Civil War soldiers and veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865". Ruth Peebles, Livingston, TX, Polk County Historical Commission, 1987. 

1. Soldiers and sailors

2. "Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ4L-K77 : Thu Feb 13 18:52:41 UTC 2025), Entry for James J Harper, 1862.

3. Findagrave

4. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBN-P82 : Tue Jun 10 00:01:01 UTC 2025), Entry for Nancy Ann Jackson and James J Harper, 20 March 1937.

5. "United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH5M-LRQ : Thu Jan 16 23:55:33 UTC 2025), Entry for Benjamin Harper and Elizabeth Watts Harper, 1850.

6. "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZS-FG6K : Tue Mar 05 05:08:42 UTC 2024), Entry for James S. Harper and Susannah O Neal, 21 Mar 1859.

Fort McKavett

Fort McKavett, built 150 years ago, is one of the most preserved military posts from the old days.

It was quite windy there on the day when we visited the site, and no other visitors besides us.

We were paid our solder's salary - the "money" came from the old safe box.

We spent part of our earnings in the casino. It was interesting to play the Faro game and break the bank, as well. I guess, I have played it in my previous life. The game dates back to 17th century, so who knows...

As you can see in one of the above photos, we spent our winnings at an inn, despite the innkeeper's effort - he tried to convert us to follow the temperance movement and even sang us a proper song.

Finally, we gave him all our casino money and kept on sightseeing.

While visiting the site, we came across an arrowhead diary. Do you know that some arrowheads, spearheads, and knives found in the Hill Country area date back even up to 7,500 - 10,000 BC. It is hard to comprehend how old some of them are.

It was quite sad that we were the only visitors at the place. You need to make a special effort to get there - it is situated rather far from a main road, nearest town.

More about Fort McKavett on their webstite.

Photos: June 2025

John Harris Pickens Davis and Family

John Harris Pickens Davis was the son of William Kinchen Davis and Eloniza Jane Pickens. He was born on 11 February 1851.

Source: [Jane Pickens Davis that is on a page from a book.], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth420/: accessed June 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Miss Eloniza Jane Pickens Davis was the daughter of John Harris Pickens (afarmer and stock raiser) and Eleanor Elizabeth Cooper

🏠1860 - 10-year-old John lived with his father (1) W. K. Davis (age 38), mother - mentioned in the census as Eveline Pickens (age 21), siblings - Elvira (age 8 ), Kinchen (age 5). Other persons recorded at their household in Fort bend, TX were Miss S J. Grun (age 22, born in Texas) and Daniel Davis, stockraiser (age 22, born in Missouri).

Source: [J.H.P. Davis at the age of 16.], photograph, 1867; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1498/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

🏠 In 1870, 18 year-old John lived with his parents and siblings (2) - Eleonora (age 16), Kinchen William (age 14), and Archetta (age12) - in Richmond, Precinct No. 4, Fort Bend, Texas. Johns occupation recorded by a census clerk was "attends stocks" (raised by his father William).

Five years later, on ⚭ 10 February 1875, young John Harris married Miss Susan Elizabeth Ryon (3). She was born on 10 December 1855, to Col. William M. Ryon and Mary Moore Jones.

John and Susan had three children: 

Daisy Belle (born on 22 November 1875/died on 15 June 1878),
Mary Elizabeth - called Mamie (born on 13 September 1877),

Source: [Photograph of Mamie Davis as a child], photograph, [1881..1882]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8171/: accessed June 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

 
Thomas Walter (born on 7 September 1879).

 

 

Source: [Tom Davis as a baby], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2290/: accessed June 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

2 June 1880 - another census in the town of Richmond, Enumeration District #4, Precinct #1 (4).
John H. P. Davis (age 29) ran a stock farm. His wife S. E. (24) was keeping home and looking after their children Mary (age 2) and Walter (9 months old). Two servants lived in the household: Maria Sparks (age 19) and Frank Roper (age 20).

Two prior photos combined together - Source: [Mamie Davis George and T.W. "Bud" Davis], photograph, 1882; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth7087/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

Source: [Photograph of Mamie Davis George as a young girl], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8544/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

♦ 30 October 1884 - Susan Elizabeth died. Tom was 14, and Mamie was 16 then.

Source: [Thomas Walter "Bud" Davis wearing a striped shirt and a hat], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8201/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

 Source: [Mamie E. Davis as a young girl], photograph, [1891..1895]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8177/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

On ⚭ 27 November 1888, John Harris Pickens remarried.

Source: [Photograph of J.H.P. Davis. Davis is wearing a tweed jacket], photograph, 1879; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8267/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

The marriage took place in Simpson, Kentucky (5, 6). 

John's second wife was Belzora (Belle) Ryon, daughter of James Ryon and Elizabeth Miller, born on 28 October 1850, in Kentucky.

Source: [Belle Ryon Davis.], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1497/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

 

 

Source: [Belle Ryon (Davis) resting her arms on a fireplace mantel], photograph, [1870..1880]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8227/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

7 October 1896 -19-year-old  ⚭ Mary Elizabeth (Mamie) married Mr. Albert Payton George (7), born in Texas, on 7 October 1873, to Albert Lamar George and Ella Graves.

Source: Morris. [Miss Mamie Davis as a young girl.], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth431/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

🏡 1900 - John (a banker) and Bell lived in Justice precinct #1, Richmond, TX. They employed three servants - Aaron Sherald (age 22), John Spencer (age 18), and George Spencer (age 20), who also lived in their household (8).

Source: [Photograph of Mr. And Mrs. J.H.P. Davis], photograph, 1910; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8236/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

 

Source: [J.H.P. Davis House in Richmond, Texas. Davis standing in front yard.], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth702/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Source: [J.H.P. Davis bank building], photograph, 1910; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth754/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

12 September 1918 - WW1 time - Tom was drafted (9).

🏠 1920 - Thomas was recorded together with John H P and Bell (age 64) during another census. Ms. Lolla Scott (age 40) was the family house keeper and Mr. Paris Price (age 20) was employed as servant (10).

♦ 31 May 1922- Tom died at the age of 41.

Source: [Thomas Walter (Bud) Davis wearing a felt hat], photograph, [1915..1922]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8193/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

♦ 22 May 1927 - John Harris Pickens Davis left this world. In his life, besides running a stock farm, he also owned a bank.

Source: [J.H.P. Davis with gray hair and a gray mustache], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8239/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

Mr. Davis very muck resembled his father William 

Mrs. Bell Ryon Davis passed about three years later, on ♦ 4 February 1930 (11).

 Source: [Photograph of Mr. And Mrs. J.H.P. Davis], photograph, [1912..1927]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8234/: accessed June 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

Sources:
1. "United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFB-WPJ : Mon Jul 08 23:08:39 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm R Davis and J H P Davis, 1860.
"United States, Census, 1870", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGY-BJF : Mon Jan 13 17:08:03 UTC 2025), Entry for William K Davis and Jane Davis, 1870.
3. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLDR-85C : Mon Jan 20 05:25:31 UTC 2025), Entry for J H P Davis and S E Ryon, 10 Feb 1875.
4. "United States, Census, 1880", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNC-W72 : Sat Jan 11 08:50:03 UTC 2025), Entry for J.H.P. Davis and S.E. Davis, 1880.
5,6. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1786-1965", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ9-1XH2 : Sat Feb 24 06:39:56 UTC 2024), Entry for J H P Davis and Belle Ryon, 27 Nov 1888.
7. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL88-93F : Sat Mar 09 10:54:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Albert P George and Mary E Davis, 07 Oct 1896.
8. "United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3G7-R5G : Tue Apr 29 21:15:30 UTC 2025), Entry for John Davis and Bell Davis, 1900.
9. "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-G2G : Tue Apr 29 08:20:38 UTC 2025), Entry for Thomas Walter Davis, from 1917 to 1918.
10. "United States, Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9C-4WF : Mon Jan 13 06:50:54 UTC 2025), Entry for John H P Davis and Bell Davis, 1920.
11. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K33Y-NHL : Mon Jun 09 23:51:40 UTC 2025), Entry for Belle Ryon Doris and F W Hubbard, 4 February 1930.