Gone To Texas: remember your ancestors

Showing posts with label remember your ancestors. Show all posts

Friday, December 12, 2025

Joseph G Goodbread

Joseph G Goodbread has waited long for the post dedicated to him. He was born in 1809, in North Carolina, to Philip R Goodbread and his first wife, whose name is unknown. Joseph’s great-grandfather Philippus Gutbrodt was born in 1725, in Wuertemberg and later, the man emigrated to North Carolina.

There are several land assessment Alabama records which mention Joseph G Goodbread. It was possible that it was ‘our’ Joseph as his family lived at that time in that state.

31 August 1833, Joseph bought 39 acres for $1.25 in Chickasaw township area, Alabama (1).

On 24 November 1834, he purchased 52 acres in Chickasaw township area, Alabama. He payed $65 and received patent for the land on 27 September 1886 (2).

In 1837, Joseph married Miss Susan Johanna E Todd (born in about 1822 in Georgia). She was the daughter of William Henry Todd, Sr. and Martha "Patsey" Holder. Joseph and Susan had a daughter whom they called Mary, she was born in 1838.

Philip’s family came to Texas in 1838.

From July 9 to 10 August 1839, Joseph served with Captain Inman’s Harrison-Shelby County Volunteers, during the Cherokee War in Northeast Texas (3).

After the service, Joseph came back home to Shelby County.

In that time, land certificates were issued in the Shelby County. They were signed by local Land Commissioners. Many important lawyers of the area, who signed the certificates, believed they were good and legitimate because they were issued by the Land Commissioner’s Office.

If I had bought such land grants then, most likely I would have believed they were legal. Probably Joseph did think so, as well as he used them as a payment mean in the transaction with his former fellow Militia man, Albert George. Those land certificates amounted for 46 000 acres.

George on the other hand, allegedly put fake grantees names on the certificates which he received from Joseph.

Later, it appeared that despite the common believe, the land certificates were not legal as they hadn’t been signed by the travelling board of land commissioners appointed by the State.

The information about the deal and land certificates got to Charles W. Jackson, who was originally from Kentucky. He was a man of a dubious character and a criminal record. Jackson used to be a steamboat captain on the Mississippi River. Once, his boat was passing another one (named Ben Sherrod). That boat was in flames and sinking. Jackson did not try to help those people. He passed Ben Sherrod by – its passengers and the boat went down to the river bottom. Afterwards, Jackson moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he ran a store. The man was arrested by a group of men and was to be taken to New Orleans. He managed to escape, though and came back to Shreveport. There was a gun fight between Jackson and those ones who were after him. Jackson killed some of his opponents and fled to Shelby County in Texas. In Texas, the very same man ran for the position of the representative in the Texas Congress. He failed, though, and he blamed land speculators for that.

Jackson wrote letters to the General Land Office in Austin and other persons in Texas, and Louisiana . He also wrote one to Joseph Goodbread. The exchange between the two men was not pleasant, the least to say. Both man were agitated. Joseph wrote to Jackson telling him to mind his own business, otherwise, as Joseph said, he would kill Jackson.

On 20th September 1840 (4), Charles Jackson came to Shelbyville. When he approached Joseph, he was sitting on his horse while Goodbread was sitting on the ground. During the dispute, Joseph apologized for what he had written in his letter and the hasty words. Goodbread also stated he was unarmed. Despite that, Jackson kept demanding that Joseph would stand up. When the latter finally did, Jackson shot him dead. There was a witness of that encounter - Mr. Ephraim M. Daggett saw and heard what happened, and he later described that in his memoirs.

Soon after the incident, Jackson organized a group of men who were called Regulators. Officially, their purpose was to stop crime. Practically, however, Jackson got that group together to protect himself from Goobread’s friends and relatives, who were expected to retaliate after Joseph’s death. Thus, the Regulators first target, were Joseph Goodbread’s allies.

To make the long story short, Capt. Jackson was taken to trial on 16 July 1841 (7), in Harrison County. Jackson chose trial by Jury. The Judge by the name of John Hansford, was under enormous pressure. Hansford’s father-in-law, Joshua Prewitt, was murdered by the Regulators on 4 July. The old man was killed in in the presence of his daughter, Hansford’s wife. If it was not enough, 150 armed men, friends of Jackson, surrounded the court during the trial. It all led to Jackson’s indictment.

A contra group was organized by those who were against the Regulators. They were known as Moderators, and that is a subject to be talked about in a later post.

In the following months of the same year, Charles W. Jackson was shot dead by Moderators. It happened when he was on his way to Logansport.

Clipping source: Cruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 41, Ed. 1, Wednesday, September 8, 1841, newspaper, September 8, 1841; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48150/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

The two homes mentioned in the clippings were the homes of James Strickland and John McFadden. Regulators burned the dwellings of those families and forced the wives and children out in the cold weather. Strickland and McFadden were called "outlaws" in the above clipping. Apparently, the newspaper editor either supported Regulators, or was afraid of their retaliation. As the previous events showed, it was not safe to openly condemn or oppose to the Regulators' actions.

Albert George was elected a sheriff in 1841. He was not present at the Jackson's trial. Another man by the name of George was (first name Hezekiah). Judge Hansford tried to arrest and prosecute murders of Joshua Prewitt, with no success, though. At the end of 1841, he was to be impeached by the Senate. Hansford resigned before it happened.

Clipping source: Whiting, S. Daily Bulletin. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Thursday, December 30, 1841, newspaper, December 30, 1841; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80081/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Clipping source: Whiting, S. Daily Bulletin. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 26, Ed. 1, Wednesday, December 29, 1841, newspaper, December 29, 1841; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80080/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

At the end of the year 1844, John M. Hansford was shot dead by Regulators.

Clipping source: The Morning Star. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 612, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 1, 1844, newspaper, February 1, 1844; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1498026/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Clipping source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 11, Ed. 1, Wednesday, February 28, 1844, newspaper, February 28, 1844; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78039/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Clipping source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 12, Ed. 1, Wednesday, March 6, 1844, newspaper, March 6, 1844; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78040/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Joseph’s widow, Susan Eleonor married Mr. Alfred M. Truitt, who was a Moderator and was present at the Jackson’s trial. More about Albert another time..

Sources:

1. "United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JN8-VC9G : Fri Oct 31 09:02:26 UTC 2025), Entry for Joseph Goodbred, 31 Aug 1833.

2. "United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:62X9-JC8B : Fri Oct 31 11:03:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Joseph G Goodbread, 24 Nov 1834.

3. Savage Frontier: Rangers, Riflemen, and Indian Wars in Texas, Volume 2, 1838 – 1839, by Stephen L. Moore, p 275.

4. Texas State Historical Association. The Texas Historian, Volume 35, Number 5, May 1975, periodical, May 1975; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391259/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

5. Yoakum, H. (Henderson K.), 1810-1856. History of Texas: From Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846, Volume 2, book, 1855; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2386/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.

6. Texas Gulf Historical Society. The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 1, Number 1, November 1965, periodical, November 1965; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1433634/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Gulf Historical Society.

7. East Texas Genealogical Society. East Texas Family Records, Volume 8, Number 1, Spring 1984, periodical, Spring 1984; Tyler, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38042/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting East Texas Genealogical Society.

Photos taken in 09. 2020

Sunday, October 12, 2025

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.

Friday, September 12, 2025

Napoleon Bonaparte & Charlotte Breeding + Family

I learned about the couple from a history piece on the pavement when we visited La Grange, Fayette, Texas. I thought I would find out more about the couple. The research brought six pages of information related to Napoleon, Charlotte, and their relatives. I decided to break it into a series of posts, and here is the first one.

Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding came to this world in 1815, in Christian County, Kentucky. He was the third son of David W Breeding (born in 1776 in Virginia) and Sally Davis (born in abt. 1771 in Virginia).

His brothers were

John, born on 16 October 1807, in Virginia

Richard Landy, born on 15 October 1810 in Kentucky,

Fidelio Sharp, born in 1818 in Kentucky,

Benjamin Wilkens, born on 10 January 1820, in Kentucky,

and Davis, born/died in 1828, in Kentucky.

👉 Mr. David W Breeding his wife and five sons came to Texas in 1832/1833. Napoleon was about 18 then. The family found his home in Mina Municipality along Cummins Creek.

⇒ In the second half of the year 1833, Napoleon’s cousins joined the family in Texas. They were George W., Edward Judson, James, and Gustavus, the sons of John breeding and Elizabeth Russell. John Breeding, the brother of David W., passed on 16 July 1833, his wife Elizabeth died earlier, in about 1827.

The boys attended the only school in the area – run in a log cabin on the land that belonged to the breeding family.

👉 In December 1835, Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding was a second sergeant and, together with Thomas Alley’s Company, he fought in the siege of Bexar. Both Napoleon and his brother John served as Texas Rangers. Later, from 1835 to 1836, the man served in the Texas Army. At first, he was with Capt. William J. E. Heard’s company, however, due to an illness the man did not fight in the Battle of San Jacinto (*). John, his brother was ill then as well, they both stayed in the camp. In the next year, Napoleon was with Steven Thousand’s company.

⇒ 14 December 1837 – Fayette County was created. Mr. David breeding served on the first Board of the Land Commissioners and was a juror during the first session of the District Court.

Clipping source: Cruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 1, Ed. 1, Saturday, December 16, 1837, newspaper, December 16, 1837; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth47965/: accessed September 12, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

⇒ 1 January 1838 – John, Napoleon’s brother, was elected the first Fayette County Sheriff and soon received 1/3 league of land there.

⚭ On 19 January 1838, 23 year-old Napoleon B. Breeding married Miss Charlotte O’Bar (born on 7 May 1818, in Alabama). It happened in Fayette County, Texas. Their marriage was the first one recorded in the county (1). Charlotte was the daughter of John O’Bar (native of Ireland, born in 1778) and Mary E Reed (born in Virginia in 1782).

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John O’Bar, Charlotte's father, passed before 1837. In September 1837, Ms. Mary O’Bar came to Fayette County area, Texas with her children (Lucinda + husband Thomas Hodges, John + wife Nancy, Carson, Alfred, and Charlotte) and grandchildren.

Charlotte stayed at home with her mother Mary who was granted 1280 acres of land in Warrenton Community.

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⇒ In 1837, Richard Landy, Napoleon's brother, hauled lead for the government. On 2 February 1838, he received payment from the land Commissioners – 1/3 league of land in the Fayette County.

🔹1838 - on 5th August, Napoleon and Charlotte’s first son, David S. was born.

👉 22 October 1838 – Napoleon breeding served as a juror during the first session of the District Court. Later, he was also was part of the first Grand Jury.

👉 1838 – Napoleon paid taxes (2) in Colorado County for 1 horse (worth $40) and 7 heads of cattle (worth $100).

🔹Sarah Jane was born to Napoleon and Charlotte a year later, in 1839.

In the same year, Napoleon had 4 tracts of land in Fayette County (3).

Clipping source: Cruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 7, Ed. 1, Wednesday, July 31, 1839, newspaper, July 31, 1839; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48064/: accessed September 12, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

♦ 1840 – Lucinda, Charlotte’s sister died.

♦ July 1842, her brother John passed.

🔹In 1843, the second son, Benjamin J. , was born to the family of Napoleon and Charlotte's.

TBC

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More about the Family

N B Breeding - Snively Expedition

Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding and Family - Part 3

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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

1. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6YT-RTG : 22 January 2020), Napoleon B. Breeding, 1838.

2. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8P-S3RM : Sun Mar 10 14:13:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Napolean B Breeding, 1838.

3. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-WYZN : Sat Mar 09 09:51:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Napoleon B Breeding, 1839.

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This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas" dedicated to those ones (their families and descendants) who at some point in their lives relocated to Texas/lived in Texas.

Monday, August 4, 2025

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.

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Walter Little Jones, Archie Davis & Family

Walter Little Jones was born on 12 January 1850 in Fort Bend, Texas (1), to James Jones and Mary Jane Little.

Walter's mother died soon and his father remarried. On ⚭ 31 January 1855 (2), James Jones married 16-year-old Miss Fannie (Frances) E. Hill. She was the daughter of Mr. John P. Hill. The young lady was born on 10 June 1839, in Louisiana.

Walter's father James passed away about two years later.

On ⚭ 20 September 1859, in Fort Bend, TX (3), Ms. Fannie Jones, the stepmother, married Mr. William O. Bohannon (born on 29 February 1832). The latter was a stock raiser. In 1860, the man paid taxes for 36 horses and 2500 head of cattle. He also owned 701 acres of land worth $2000 (4).

Walter started his own family at the age of 19. His wife was Ms. Virginia Smith, age about 15. The marriage ceremony took place on ⚭ 11 November 1869 in Richmond, Fort Bend, TX (5). Virginia was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Jefferson Smith and Julia Maria Lee Beale. Mr. T. J. Smith used to be a sheriff of the Fort Bend County, he owned a hotel in Richmond, operated a local blacksmith shop, and livery as well.

🏠 July 1870 (6) - Walter and his young wife lived with her parents and siblings (at Mr. and Mrs. Smith's home in Justice Precinct #4, Fort Bend, TX). Walter was a stock raiser.

🏡15 October 1870 (7) - the young couple were registered at their household. The value of both their personal and real estate were given as $300 each. Walter's uncle William s James lived with his wife and children in the nearby house.

Soon, Walter and Virginia's son Alex was born (see below).

♦ Sadly, Virginia Smith Jones passed away.

⚭ 4 March 1874 (8) - Walter married Miss Archietta (Archie) Davis, who was the daughter of William Kinchen Davis and Eloniza Jane Pickens. Archie was about 7 years younger than Walter, she was born on 15 June 1857 in Bend, San Saba County, TX.

🔹 22 September 1875 their youngest daughter Jenetta was born in Richmond.

At that time, Walter operated the livery stable.

Clipping source: The Four Counties. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 25, 1875, newspaper, March 25, 1875; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181362/: accessed March 18, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

👉 1875 - The Brazos River flooded Richmond (*) - many merchants lost their business places. How it affected Walter Little Jones I am not sure,

🔹 28 April 1877 - Hattie E. was born
August of the same year - Walter still owned the Livery Stable

Clipping source: The Fort Bend Flag. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 3, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 11, 1877, newspaper, August 11, 1877; Richmond, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181150/: accessed March 18, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

🔹 19 September1878 - another daughter, Abbie H, arrived.

By 1880, Walter had started a new business venture.

🏡 June 1880 - Census registered W. L. Jones (bar keeper, age 30), and his family in Richmond, ED 45, Fort Bend, TX (9). The names of Archie (age 21) and the children were misspelled in the records - Aleck (Ellick - age 9), Jenny (age 4), Hattie (Hatty - age 3), and Abbie (Abby - age 1).

🔹 12 December 1880 - Walter and Archie's son Thomas Harris Little Jones came to this world. Mourning came about a year later, when little baby Thomas died on ♦ 14 October 1881.

🔹 8 February 1882 - William Eugene was born.

♦ 21 November 1883 - sad time again - little Abbie left this world.

🔹 22 October 1883 - new arrival in the family - another son, Joe A, was born.

August 1884

Clipping source: Walford, J. H. The Nation. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, August 8, 1884, newspaper, August 8, 1884; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181501/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

👉 June 1885 - great fire in Richmond (possibly arson according to the news) destroyed many business holdings. Unfortunately, Walter Little Jones' bar place was affected as well.

Clippings source: Walford, J. H. Richmond Opinion. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 50, Ed. 1 Friday, June 26, 1885, newspaper, June 26, 1885; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth179343/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Not long after the fire, on 🔹 30 September 1885, Walter Little Junior was born.

♦ 20 November 1885 - Walter Little Jones (age 37) passed away in Bend, San Saba, TX. Was his death related to the fire that happened a few months ago, I do not know.

Another death in the family came some time later.

♦ 11 November 1891 - Mr. William Kinchen Davis, Archie's father, passed away.

Photograph Source: [William Kinchen Davis holding a cane], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8276/: accessed January 29, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

⚭ 18 July 1893 - 17-year-old Jenny married 3-year-older Mr. Toney Bernard Wessendorff (10), born on 19 November 1872 in Richmond, to Anton Bernard Wessendorff and Anna Margaretha Johannah Janentzki.

Jennie Jones

Photograph source: [Jennie Jones (Wessendorff) wearing a white dress and a floral corsage], photograph, [1885..1910]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8296/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

Young T B Wessensdorff

Photograph source: Lorenz, C.O. [T.B. Wessendorff as a teenager.], photograph, 1888; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth369/: accessed March 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

⚭ 1 June 1898 - Hattie married her brother-in-law Thomas Alex Wessendorff (11), born on 19 October 1877.

Hattie Jones

Photograph source: [Photograph of Hattie Jones Wessendorff], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8902/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

👉 After Walter's passing, Archie (age 49) lived with her sons William (age 29), Joe (age 26) and Walter Jr. (age 25) in Richmond, Justice Precinct # 1. William and Walter did odd jobs, Joe worked at a grocery store (12).

Mrs. Archie Davis and sons - Walter Little (kneeling), left - Joe, Bill holding a hat

Photograph source: Lorenz, C.O. [Archie Davis Jones and her sons.], photograph, 1892; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth483/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

TB Wessendorff, Jennie Wessendorf, baby Lizzie, Walter Jones Jr.

Baby Lizzie - Elizabeth Weseendorf was born on 9 March 1894

Photograph Source: [T.B. Wessendorff, Jennie Jones Wessendorff, Lizzie Wessendorff, etc.], photograph, 1895; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth392/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Back row - from the left - TB Wessendorf, Jennie Wessendorff, Lizzie Wessendorff (standing), Archir Davis Jones, Welliam Eugene Jones, Lizzie Wessendorff, Walter Jone Jr., Joe A Jones.

Photograph source: [Group of people on the porch of a home.], photograph, 1895; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth342/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.+9

⚭ 10 July 1918 - William Eugene married miss Eugenia E Burges (13).

William Eugene Jones

Photograph source: [W.E. Jones on horseback. Man dressed in dark suit.], postcard, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth447/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Back row left: Mrs. Swinford, Lizzie Wessendorf, Jennetta Wessendorf, Mrs. Archietta Davis Jones, Jennie Jones Wessendorff,

Front row - Marguerite, Doris, and marie Wessendorf - photo taken in about 1910.

Lizzie Wessendorf was TB's sister. She was born on 6 November 1860.

Jennetta Wessendorf was born on 1 October 1896. Marguerite was born on 21 November 1901, Doris, was born on 21 November 1904, Marie was born on 15 April 1907.

Photograph source: [Mrs. Swinford, Lizzie Wessendorff, etc.], photograph, 1910; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth417/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

👉 November 1918 - WW1 time - the Jones brothers were drafted.

Source: "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-5CW : Sat Nov 23 05:40:21 UTC 2024), Entry for William Eugene Jones, from 1917 to 1918.

Source: "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-5HH : Sat Nov 23 04:21:05 UTC 2024), Entry for Joe A Jones, from 1917 to 1918.

Source: "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-5CM : Fri Nov 22 18:03:57 UTC 2024), Entry for Walter Little Jones, from 1917 to 1918.

♦ Walter Little Jr. passed about two years later, on 7 June 1920 (14). He lived 34 years, 8 months and 8 days.
Walter Jr., and his brother Joe had worked at a general store (15).

Hattie's husband Thomas was a bank cashier. He met his tragic end on ♦ 21 March 1923.

Clipping source: Bishop, C. M. The Giddings News. (Giddings, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, March 23, 1923, newspaper, March 23, 1923; Giddings, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1597458/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center.

That must have been a devastating time for Mrs. Archie Jones. More was coming. Soon after that tragic death, on ♦ 6 April 1923 another child of hers, Joe A, died at the age of 39 (16).
Three years later, on ♦ 20 September 1926 - Jenny, the eldest daughter of Archie and Walter's died in the Houston Hospital due to TB (17).

T. B. Wessendorff's residence

Photograph source: [T.B. Wessendorff Residence, Richmond, Texas, 1901.], photograph, 1901; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth362/: accessed March 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Another death came on ♦ 13 January 1930. Toney, Jenny's husband died suddenly at the age of 57. He had been a merchant.

👉 After Thomas Alex Wessendorff's passing, Mrs. Archie Jones (age 76) lived with her 52-year-old daughter Hattie (18).

♦ 7 May 1930 - Walter Little Jones Sr.'s wife Archie Davis Jones finished her life journey (19) which was full of suffering. Among others, Archie's husband and six of her seven children proceeded her in death. Archie Davis Jones lived 72 years 10 months 23 days.

Mrs. Archie Davis Jones' house

Photograph source: [Home of Archie D. Jones 3], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth610828/: accessed March 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend County Libraries.

The last one of Mrs. Archie's children was William Eugene Jones.

He was registered by the Army in 1942 (20).

W. E. Jones passed on 7 November 1954 in Seguin, Guadalupe, TX (21).

To be continued...

Sources:
findagrave.com
familysearch.org

1. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2Z-DJG1 : 15 December 2021), Walter Little Jones, ; Burial, Richmond, Fort Bend, Texas, United States of America, Morton Cemetery; citing record ID 62521336, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

2. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MJ-T9N : 22 January 2020), James Jones, 1855.

3. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MJ-TSV : 22 January 2020), William O. Bohannon, 1859.
4. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-6GFD : Sun Mar 10 00:02:39 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Bohannon, 1860.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLD5-CJR : Sun Mar 10 16:54:40 UTC 2024), Entry for Walter Jones and Virginia Smith, 11 Nov 1869.
6. "United States, Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGY-BG7 : Sat Jan 18 07:57:07 UTC 2025), Entry for Thomas J Smith and Julia L Smith, 1870.
7. ""United States, Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGY-5ZH : Tue Jan 21 05:21:39 UTC 2025), Entry for Walter Jones and Virginia Jones, 1870.
8. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZB-S7SW : Wed Jul 31 23:38:27 UTC 2024), Entry for Walter L Jones and Archie Davis, 04 Mar 1874.
9. "United States, Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNC-H1Y : Sat Jan 11 18:45:09 UTC 2025), Entry for W.L. Jones and Archey Jones, 1880.
(* )https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1695/History-of-Fort-Bend-County
10. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXSR-6XK : 22 January 2020), Jennie Jones in entry for T. B. Wessendoff, 1893.
11. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXSR-J57 : 22 January 2020), Hattie E. Jones in entry for Thomas A. Wessendorff, 1898.
12. "United States, Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2MB-HVG : Sun Mar 10 16:41:38 UTC 2024), Entry for Archie Jones and William Jones, 1910.
13. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZB-SZW1 : Wed Jul 31 23:39:17 UTC 2024), Entry for W E Jones and Eugenia E Burges, 10 Jul 1918.
14. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2Z-DJPM : 7 November 2023), Walter L Jones, ; Burial, Richmond, Fort Bend, Texas, United States of America, Morton Cemetery; citing record ID 62521337, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
15. "United States, Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9C-CYM : Wed Jan 15 13:29:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Archie Jones and Joe A Jones, 1920.
16. "BillionGraves Index", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYWW-T65 : Wed Feb 26 01:23:06 UTC 2025), Entry for Joe A Jones.
17. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37G-3JS : Thu Jul 18 19:19:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Jenny Ryan Wessendorf and Walter Jones, 24 Sep 1926.
18. "United States, Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HTFW-4PZ : Sun Mar 10 19:04:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Archie Jones and Hattie E Wessendorff, 1930.

9. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K335-CY7 : Thu Jul 18 15:16:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Archie Jones and W K Davis, 7 May 1930.

20. "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPV6-VP2 : Fri Feb 14 12:02:43 UTC 2025), Entry for William Eugene Jones, 1942.

21. "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZJQ-6K2 : Tue Feb 25 03:55:18 UTC 2025), Entry for William Eugene Jones, 07 Nov 1954.

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