John Thomas Gant

Somehow, with a very busy Christmas season,  it took me ages to complete this family research and prepare the post related to it. Finally, it is here.

When in the library, I wanted to see books on a certain shelf. Well, I could not. A man was sitting at a table, very close to that shelf. He was reading a book. I did not want to disturb him, so I reached for a random book, on a random shelf. And there he was, John Thomas Gant! To my surprise, I found our cousin and an unknown family line. The connection between our family branches goes back to Virginia where, in the late 1600s/early 1700s, the members of the Gant family first settled in the New World.
John Thomas' great-grandfather Lunsford (born in about 1764 in Culpeper, Virginia) moved the family to Georgia. His son James (born in about 1786 in Lincoln, Georgia) relocated with his nuclear family to Mississippi, where his children and grandchildren were born.

♢ John Thomas was born on 22 August 1868 in Mississippi. His parents were Aaron Gant (born in March 1836) and his wife Elizabeth Bright (born on 22 November 1834, in Mississippi).

🏡 In 1870, the family lived in Beed No. 13, Scott, Mississippi (post office Morton). John's father Aaron (age 28) was a railroad worker. Other family members mentioned in the record (1) were: John's mother Elizabeth (age 29), John T. (age 2), and John's siblings James (age 3), and Laura (3 months).

John Thomas was the second eldest child of his parents. He had four siblings. Besides the ones mentioned above, there was also Joseph Franklin (born on 13 December 1872), and Gabriella (born on 21 May 1876). All of them were born in Mississippi.

Ten years later, Mr. Aaron Gant, his wife, and his children lived in Beat 3, Newton, Mississippi (2). The man was a farmer then. The two eldest sons, James B. (age 14) and John T. (age 12) helped with the farm work. Laura N., daughter, helped her mom to keep the house and take care of the young siblings, Joseph F (age 7), and Fathew G. ( Gartha Gabriella, age 5). All the kids were enrolled at a school in the Centerville Election District, Newton Mississippi (3).

🚆 In 1889, John Thomas went by train to Texas. His uncle by the name of Wiseman (William Wiseman Gant, born on 15 February 1815, Georgia) had relocated to Texas and settled in Mc Neil Community with his wife and children by 1860 (4). John Thomas joined the family there. 

 

⚭ On 28 Aug 1895, the man married Ms. Molly Green (5). 

Soon, John's parents and siblings followed him and came to Texas too.

♦ 27 June 1896, son Floyd A was born in Caldwell/ the boy died on ♦ 24 January 1897.

♦ On 4 September 1897, Ruby Elizabeth was born to John and Molly.

૦ In about 1900, John and Molly divorced.

🏡 On 17 June 1900, John T. was registered during the census in Justice Precinct #2, Luling, Caldwell, TX. He was a boarder at the household of George B. McAllister, a farmer. Very likely John worked at his host's farm, as the previous was recorded as a "farm laborer" (6).

⚭ 1 Feb 1905 - John Thomas remarried (7). His second wife was Ida Moore. She was born on 30 August 1885 in Caldwell, TX, to Fulton Columbus Moore and Margaret E Rampey.

♦ ♦ 1 February 1906 - stillborn son came to this world.

 

♦ John T's father Aaron passed on 5 May 1905, in Caldwell, TX.

♦ 7 February 1907 - the second daughter - Maggie Elizabeth - was born.
♦ 10 February 1909 - son James Benjamin arrived.

John Thomas Gant was a farmer and dairyman. He lived with his wife in the McNeil Community from his arrival in Texas until the last day of his life. 👉 In 1910, the census registered John, Ida, and their two children James and Maggie.

John's brothers were his closest neighbors on both sides of his property. It was James Benjamin (born on 22 May 1866) with his 4-years younger wife Lucy Emma, and their seven children. On the other side was the household run by Joseph Franklin (after his father's passing). The brothers' mother Elizabeth and their two sisters Laura (born on 28 May 1870) and Gabriella lived in the family household too (8).

♦ 4 January - 1911 - John Thomas Jr. was born to John and Ida.

⚭ 29 Apr 1916, Oklahoma - 18-year-old Ruby Elizabeth married Mr. Clyde Elmer Barber (9).

♦ 21 February 1918 - Oma Lucilla came to this world.

 

👉 1920 - John Thomas and his family still lived in Justice Precinct #2 Caldwell County, TX. However, his two brothers James and Johnathan were no longer his neighbors (10).

♦ 10 April 1924 - Alvin, the youngest son was born.

⚭ 22-year-old Maggie Elizabeth was married to Harl D Caraway in 1929. The man was the son of William Henry Craway and Mary Miranda Burton, born on 2 December 1906 in Atascosa County, TX.

⚭ 25 Dec 1929 James Benjamin married Miss Gladys Jackson (11) born on 11 September 1912.

 

👉 In 1930, John Thomas and his wife Ida lived on their own in the family household. John was registered during the census as a butcher. He worked in meat markets in Lulling. John's son James B. (an expressman who worked for Express Co.) lived with his wife, his 4 siblings, and a nephew next to John's house (12).

⚭ John Thomas Jr. married Lovella Scruggs on 28 Apr 1934 (13). The lady was born on 28 June 1913 in Milam County, TX. She was the daughter of Arthur D Scruggs and Mary Arden Sledge.

♦ 21 April 1935 - Ida died after a year-long illness (14).

👉 9 April 1940 Census (15) - John T (age 71, farm laborer) was the head of the household in which he lived with his children Oma (age 22), Inez (age 17), and Alvin (age 26).

⚭ 12 June 1943 - Ethel Inez married Young B Heathcock (16).

🥇 John Thomas Gant was awarded the Lockhart Centennial Medal which contained an inscription "John T. Gant, Pioneer  - Caldwell County Centennial 1848-1948".

👉 6 April 1950 (17) - John Thomas (age 80) and his daughter Oma (age 32, checker at grocery store) lived with the family of John's daughter Maggie (age 43): her husband H C Caraway (age 43, carpenter) and their two children son John (age 18), and daughter Bonnie (age 11).

♦ John Thomas Gant Sr. (age 65) died about two weeks later, on 24 April 1952 (18).

 

⚭ Oma Lucille Gant was married to James Elles Bennett on 22 September 1950 (19). James (born on 12 March 1922 in Crockett, Houston, TX) was the son of Robert Daniel Bennett and Jenny Viola Oldham.

⚭ Alvin, the youngest son of John Thomas and Ida Gant, got married in 1958. His wife was Jessie Lee Johnson (born on 27 August 1911 in Floresville, Wilson, TX), the daughter of Elliot Vernon Johnson and Jessie Willie Spear.

Sources:
"Historical Caldwell County: where roots intertwine.", Caldwell County, Texas : Mark Withers Trail Drive Museum, 1984.
Familysearch.org,
Findagrave.com

 

1. "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFSR-MN7 : Wed Oct 04 02:44:58 UTC 2023), Entry for Aaron Gant and Elisabeth Gant, 1870.
2. "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GT-64T : Fri Oct 06 14:42:10 UTC 2023), Entry for Aaron Gant and Elisabeth Gant, 1880.
3. "Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6W-LYCK : 2 March 2021), A Gant in entry for J T Gant, 1885; citing School enrollment, , Newton, Mississippi, United States, Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Jackson.

4. "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFY-N6D : Wed Oct 04 03:08:43 UTC 2023), Entry for Wiseman Gaut and Sarah G Gaut, 1860.
5. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6BC-MXC : 22 January 2020), Mollie Gates in entry for J. T. Gant, 1895.
6. "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3LS-8DB : Tue Dec 12 17:39:31 UTC 2023), Entry for George B McAllister and Lula A McAllister, 1900.
7. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL72-ZJP : Thu Nov 30 11:38:08 UTC 2023), Entry for J T Gant and Ida Moore, 01 Feb 1905.
8. "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2S4-57G : Wed Dec 13 19:39:40 UTC 2023), Entry for John T Gant and Ida Gant, 1910.
9. "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995." . FamilySearch. "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXLF-KM4 : 23 February 2021), C E Barber and Ruby Elizabeth Gaut, 29 Apr 1916; citing Oklahoma, various county courthouses, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm.
10. "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCMM-8Z3: Fri Dec 08 01:46:52 UTC 2023), Entry for John Gant and Ida Gant, 1920.
11. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-YDBW : Mon Oct 23 13:44:20 UTC 2023), Entry for J B Gant and Gladys Jackson, 25 Dec 1929.
12. "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CQLC-S3Z : Fri Oct 06 17:20:06 UTC 2023), Entry for John Gantt and Ida Gantt, 1930.
13. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K61R-N47 : Mon Oct 23 13:17:50 UTC 2023), Entry for John Thomas Gant and Lovella Scruggs, 28 Apr 1934.
14. "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZDZ-9HC: 24 May 2014), Ida Gant, 21 Apr 1935; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: 2006); citing certificate number 17295, Caldwell, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
15. "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWJM-X3G : Tue Nov 28 10:20:06 UTC 2023), Entry for J T Gant and Oma Gant, 1940.
16. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-JCBZ : Mon Oct 23 13:37:34 UTC 2023), Entry for Young B Heathcock and Ethel Inez Gant, 12 Jun 1943.

17. "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGP-SPSZ : Thu Oct 05 22:15:42 UTC 2023), Entry for Maggie Caraway and John W. Caraway, 6 April 1950.

18. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CY-FXL : Tue Nov 28  00:45:00 UTC 2023), Entry for John T Gant and Aaron Gant, 24 Apr 1952.

19. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-VWZH : Mon Oct 23 14:21:16 UTC 2023), Entry for James Elles Bennett and Oma Lucille Gant, 22 Sep 1950.

Photos: Christmas lights in Johnson City, TX.

Merry Christmas to y'all!