Napoleon B Breeding's Family - Part 4

More about Napoleon's relatives

Benjamin Wilkens Breeding, Napoleon's brother, and his nephews David S., Benjamin, and Columbus Patton Breeding served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Benjamin W. was with Company E, 15th Regiment of Texas Cavalry and Company G, 26th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Debray’s /Davis' Mounted Battalion).

The three nephews were with Company D, Waul’s Texas Legion.

Cornelius was the Company’s bugler. he also served with Company I, 18th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Darnell’s) and Company A , 9th Regiment, Texas Infantry (Nichols') (6 months, 1861-62).

David also served with Company I, 24th/25th Consolidated Regiment, Texas Cavalry, and Company G, 26th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Debray's) (Davis' Mounted Battalion) (16).

David, son of Napoleon's married Eliza F. Bell on 27 January 1867 in Fayette County, TX (17). She was born in 1850, in Fayette County, her parents were Granville P. Bell and Mary Ann Sutton.

Cornelia, the youngest daughter of Napoleon and Charlotte’s got married twice. Her first husband was James Sidney Black – their marriage took place on 26 January 1867 (18).

Later, she married Dawson N Hodges (born on 25 June 1848, in Gonzales, TX, to Thomas Robert Hodges and Nancy S. Reed) on 30 November 1876 (19).

Richard Landy, Napoleon’s brother, lived nearby their father’s household (which he also owned) until 1877. Then he moved to Hays County and sold the father’s home in December of that year.

Eliza F. Bell Breeding, David’s wife had passed by 8th June 1880. David lived then in Precinct # 3 of Gonzales County (20), together with his son by Eliza, Charles A (age 7) and brother Alexander Breeding (age 32). Cornelia, their sister, lived in the neighborhood with her husband Dawson (age 31), his father Andrew J Hodges (farmer, age 52), and her youngest child Eugenia (age 1).

On 13 July 1882, David S. Breeding remarried. His second spouse was Mattie M. Neal, a widow, born in 1842, in Gonzales, TX (21).

Charlotte Breeding, Napoleon's wife, passed on 20 August 1902.

David S Breeding, the son, passed a day later.

Cornelia died at the age of 80, on 1 February 1931.

 Other Posts about Napoleon B. Breeding

Part 1 - Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding & Family

Part 2 - the letter related to Snively Expedition

Part 3

---

This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas"

Sources:

"Daugthers of Republic of Texas. Patriot Ancestor " Album vol.1 - Turner Publishing Company, 1995

• Fayette County Founders

16. Soldiers and Sailors Database

17. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-WD45 : Tue Jan 21 16:41:52 UTC 2025), Entry for D S Breeding and Eliza F Bell, 27 Jan 1869.

18. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-W69B : Tue Jan 21 11:23:00 UTC 2025), Entry for James Sidney Black and Cornelius M Bruding, 26 Jan 1867.

19. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-PV5V : Sun Mar 10 02:49:25 UTC 2024), Entry for Dawson N Hodges and Neeley Black, 30 Nov 1876.

20. "United States, Census, 1880", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFND-FL7 : Tue Jan 14 21:33:38 UTC 2025), Entry for David S. Breeding and Charles A. Breeding, 1880.

21. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-P2SS : Tue Jan 14 08:57:19 UTC 2025), Entry for D S Breeding and Mattie M Neel, 12 Jul 1882.

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.