The Martin Van Digby & Pearl (Griffin) Digby Family: Basic Family Info.

THE MARTIN VAN DIGBY & PEARL (GRIFFIN) DIGBY FAMILY

                 1907 - 1966                                                                                          1907 - 2006
      Martin Van Digby ("Mart")                                                                      Pearl Griffin in 1985


Martin Van Digby ("Mart") was born on April 1, 1907 in Santa Anna, Texas (Coleman county).  He married Pearl Griffin on December 7, 1929 at the Methodist parsonage in Belton, Texas (Bell county).  The minister was Rev. M.D. Council and their witnesses were Rena Griffin and Nan Skinner.  Pearl was born on February 15, 1907 in Bell county, Texas east of Salado,Texas.  She was at first Methodist, then attended the Disciples of Christ church.  She was a teacher in the rural schools of central Texas.  Her parents were George Washington Griffin ("G.W.") and Mary Elizabeth House ("Bettie").  Jeannine (Digby) Blair relayed the following information about her father to Billy Blair in 2013: "My father, Mart Digby, quit school when he was in the ninth grade.  His mother, with tears in her eyes, told him that if he wasn't going to go to school, he had to go to work.  He did and went to work for D.B. Porter, who owned a feed store (located  by the "whister's bench" area now, just east of the Cochran, Blair, & Potts department store).  He would have stuff ground up at Summers Mill, then haul grain from Summers Mill to the feed store.  D.B. Porter treated Mart more like a son than an employee".  Mart Digby worked in a bakery when young, then sold cars in Belton, Texas as an adult.  He would get some type of regular food (like a roll) after eating a dessert because he had to have something "to get the sweet taste out of his mouth". He was also Methodist by faith and then attended the Disciples of Christ church (First Christian Church in Belton) after he and Pearl were married.  His parents are William Seaborn Digby ("Will") and Mattie Minerva Wallace ("Mattie").  Jeannine (Digby) Blair said that Mart Digby and Leonard Cosper had a bad wreck on Leonard's Indian motorcycle when they hit the trolley tracks in Belton.

Mart Digby played a deaf and dumb (black-faced) person on stage in the Lions Club Minstrel Shows in Belton, Texas.  He never had a speaking part and his stage name was "Rigor Mortis" Digby.  Dr. Will Long purchased some honorary bricks on the sidewalk north of the Belton courthouse and dedicated them to five of his good friends in the show.  Mart is one of the ones listed.  Each brick has their stage name on it  (Note: Insert photos of the bricks as well as images of the show from the old Hood theater on Central Avenue in Belton).

Gale (Digby) Cosper relayed the following to me in September, 2006: "I saw my father on a Saturday in the hospital.  My son Johnny was born in June; my father died in August.  Dad told me to 'Take care of that boy'.  I had no idea my father was dying.  I was about 25 years old at the time.  Bill and Mattie Wesson picked up Joe and I that evening to go back to the hospital.  I still didn't realize he was dying.  Neighbors kept Johnny.  My father died that night.  Chuck and Sharon Notter stayed with Pearl after Mart died.  They lived there with her on 13th street in Belton for five years.  They later got divorced, but kept up with Pearl for many years".

Mart died of stomach cancer at Scott & White hospital in Temple, Texas on August 22, 1966 and is buried at North Belton cemetery in Belton, Texas.

In 1997, family members contributed to purchase an honorary brick on the southeast sidewalk of the Belton courthouse.

"Martin - Pearl Digby 12-7-29"
East sidewalk at Belton Courthouse, Bell Co., Texas

Pearl Digby died on September 4, 2006 in Belton, Texas and is buried alongside Mart, the love of her life.  (Location of their graves: North Belton Cemetery.  The plot is straight east of light pole in west line of cemetery about mid-way between two roads that run east & west also.  About halfway between last two roads running north & south on west side of cemetery.  Information supplied by Glenn Blair to his son Billy).  Pearl died on her son Dwayne & JoAnn's 47th wedding anniversary.

Rambling Reflections by Pearl Digby Notes:

(to establish timeline & Life Summary)

Procedure at school: Chores on Monday for the week.  Each child had their own drinking cup, but water was in open  buckets.  Passed from dipper to cups.  School began at 9 am.  Bell rang, we lined up in front of the building in three lines, one for each room.  Saluted the flag, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and marched into the rooms.  The roll was called and attendance was taken.  Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States.

4th Grade: (page 5 of Pearl's book).This grade was held in the middle room.  The teacher was Miss Mabel; she was an extreme disciplinarian who either would hit you with a pine paddle ruler or would make you stand at the blackboard with your nose in a circle (drawn on the blackboard) while you stood on your tip toes.  The boys and girls had separate playgrounds.  Pearl first noticed Mart Digby, a new boy in school, here.  An older cousin of Pearl's managed to pass some notes to Mart from Pearl.  After this year in school, Mart's family moved to another community.  After Pearl's high school graduation, 3 years of college, and 4 years of teaching, she married Mart Digby.  When Pearl was in the 4th grade, her father (G.W. Griffin) was the President of the four member Board of Trustees.  There was a threat of a lawsuit against Miss Mabel and she wasn't as mean after that.

8th Grade - High School: Pearl was top of the class in spelling.  They had spelling bees on Friday afternoons.  Pearl was on the girl's basketball team all four years; they competed with the nearest schools.  Once they went to a two-day tournament in Rockdale with several rural Milam county schools.  The basketball courts had dirt floors.  The Principal had a Model - T Ford.  (page 6).  The road through Cameron and Rogers was gravel; the road to Val Verde was mud.  Coming back from the tournament, the doctor rode out seven miles to Pearl Digby's home.  He told Pearl that the fifth girl in her family had just been born

The rest of Pearl's school years at Val Verde were good overall.  She was on the debate team.  She and Roy Whittington represented the school in debate contests with neighboring schools.

10th Grade - High School graduation: Pearl's graduating class was six students; she was the only girl.  The graduation program was held at Val Verde church.  They received a sheepskin scroll which was rolled up and tied with a red ribbon.  On most Friday afternoons, they had special programs of recitation and singing as well as an occasional box supper or fund raiser.  Ice cream supper were held either on the school grounds or at the Val Verde church tabernacle.  Val Verde Baptist church was the only church in the community.  We would walk to church, then back again for B.Y.P.U., which was a youth service.

In the summer, we would have special Children's Day.  We would have practices on Saturdays in July and August when they was not as much farm work.  Miss Della Whittington played the pump organ for all of the community services at the tabernacle.  Miss Whittington walked five miles to take care of Pearl's mother when she was sick.  Della never married.  She taught Pearl's two younger sisters piano lesson.  (page 8 of Pearl's book). 

Mart & Pearl (Griffin) Digby Residences:

(based on information from Rambling Reflections)

1.  Farmhouse close to Salado creek near the Sulphur Springs crossing.  Family were tenant farmers.

2.  Larger, better farm about one mile from their first home.  It was the "Aiken place", about three miles east of Salado, Texas.

3.  Spent a few weeks during the summer with John J. & Samantha Jane (Arnold) House, Pearl's grandparents.

4.  December, 1914: Grandmother Griffin's place at Val Verde in Milam county, Texas.

(Note: Schools began in October).

5.  Baylor Academy in Belton to get approval for courses to go to Rogers, Texas for the last year.

6.  Two summers at Baylor Academy.

7.  September, 1924: Pearl entered Rogers High School.

8.  1925: Pearl's first year at Southwest Texas State Teacher's College in San Marcos.

Ruth Dalchau was Pearl's roommate in San Marcos (not sure of years).  Pearl said, "She was from Caldwell.  She went home often.  Her folks had a grocery store, so she would bring us food back to school".

9.  While teaching at Content School, Pearl and the other teacher rented a room from the Moores.  It was 13 miles from Temple and 3/4 s of a mile from Content School.

10. Pearl taught at Bell Plains school.

11. Pearl goes to San Marcos to summer school.  She shared an apartment with Ruby Dolehite in Armstrong House, which was nearer the campus.

12.  Pearl's second year teaching in Bell Plains.  She had room and board  with Raith and Fronia McQueen, a short distance from the school and the Methodist church.

13.  In June, after leaving Bell Plains, Pearl went to San Marcos for two semesters in summer school.

14.  Pearl taught at Val Verde school.  She lived at home.  The Little river bridge was about a mile away.

15.  Pearl received her engagement ring at Christmas.

16.  Pearl transferred to Baylor and got an apartment just off of campus (Was "Baylor" really "Mary Hardin Baylor"?).

17.  Mart Digby & Pearl Griffin were married on December 9, 1929.  At the time, schoolteachers couldn't be married.  Mr. Cryer was the President of the School Board.  Pearl got permission because she and Mart wanted to get married in December.

18.  While finishing out the school year in early May, Pearl spent weekends at Mart's parent's home.  A little red, brick building (one room over a root cellar) was Mart's bedroom.

19.  A two-bedroom apartment on South Main street in Belton.  They bought furniture and got odds & ends from the family.  Pearl's first "china cabinet" was two wooden apple boxes nailed together with a flowered curtain across the front.

20.  A large house of two apartments shared with friends - Fred & Jollie Whittenburg (where Pearl lived with her family when she was a teenager).  The couple fought a lot.  This was the Jones/ Beimer Historical Home in Belton, Texas.  Mart & Pearl Digby lived in the north apartment and Fred & Jollie Whittenburg lived in the south apartment.  All of the upstairs rooms were vacant.  They had wonderful neighbors; it was a nice, friendly neighborhood.  In 1930, they were expecting their first child (Jeannine).  After two months, Fred and Jollie moved away due to another job.  There was a big, fenced yard and a barn out back.  Mart got a milk cow.  They got "Dan", the bulldog; Pearl didn't like him.  There was a wide, long stairway in the hallway of the house.  In September, Pearl's sister Rena lived with them to finish out High School.  On January 22, 1931, Wanda Jeannine Digby was born.  Rena graduated and went home.

21.  The Great Depression is getting worse.  Small, new home on South Pearl street.  They could walk to First Christian Church in Belton.  Rena came back to live with Mart and Pearl again while training for a Western Union telegraph job.  Jeannine got over her three month colic.  Mart and Pearl had pleasant memories here.  Emmitt Digby gave Jeannine a ride on his trick horse, Grey Buck.  A black woman who was carrying an axe rushes into their home.  Pearl is pregnant with Mattie, who was born on August 25, 1932.  Leonard and Merle (Digby) Cosper move in with Mart and Pearl and shared the rent.  Leonard and Mart took odd jobs (digging a well).  When it was close to the time of Mattie's birth, Leonard and Merle moved in with Mart's parents.  Jeannine is walking good.  Mart's parents lived down the street with a large, vacant lot between them.  Mattie was born during a hot, dry August.

22.  The Great Depression is now in full swing (around May, 1935).  Nice little house on Avenue D when Jeannine was 4 1/2 years old and Mattie was three years old.  Mart Digby worked at a service station.  1935 was a difficult year.  Pearl was pregnant again, which resulted in a stillborn son.  Rent was $ 8.00 a month and utilities.  Pearl's mother came to help them out at this time.  Pearl went through several weeks of depression while recovering.  Mart worked seven days a week.  Pearl would walk to church with her two girls.  Mart and Odell Hyer went to work for Cities Service Oil Company.  They had the service station downtown and Mart drove the oil truck to service the other stations in Temple and Belton.  Mr. Frank Knowles was their good boss and friend.

23.  "The Mitchell house" on North Pearl street.  They shared the house with Corrinne and Odell Hyer.  The house had two apartments with a wide hallway in between.  Mart and Pearl had the north apartment, which was a bit larger than the Hyer's apartment.Odell and Cody had Billy Lewis, who was about 18 months old.  Cody worked at the Dry Goods store in town, so Pearl kept Billy Lewis with her two girls.  He was very good.  They had no problems with Odell and Cody; she was like a sister to Pearl.  Mart and Odell would help the railroad bums that hung out around the house.  Mart and Pearl enjoyed living here.  Loraine Digby was left with three girls on her own.  They let her live with them until she could afford a place of her own.  Mart and Pearl gave up one of their rooms, which were large.  Corrinne and Odell shared their kitchen and bath with her.  Several months later, Loraine rented a house two doors down.  Mart & Pearl shared a Model A Ford car with Odell & Cody.  Mart and Pearl went home to Val Verde once every six weeks.  They found out that Pearl's mother had terminal liver cancer.  After her death, Mart's father sold the homeplace, the small house among all the elm trees in southwest Belton.  Leonard and Merle Cosper bought it.  Shortly after they bought it, the kerosene cookstove exploded and burned the house to the ground.  They later rebuilt.  Rent was $ 15.00 per month.  Mr. Mitchell was ready to sell it and Mart/ Pearl couldn't afford to buy it. 

24.  The Hunt house on "Hungry Hill" across the street from the Beimer/ Jones house where Jeannine was born, still sharing a house with Corrinne and Odell Hyer.  All three of Mart and Pearl's kids had whooping cough (includes Billy Lewis).  Jeannine swallowed a marble.  The house had a pretty back yard with a white picket fence.

In 2006, Pearl Digby related the following: "Mart and I were visiting Wallace cousins in New Mexico.  A dust storm came in, dark and sandy.  We couldn't see anything.  Mart laughed.  We kept driving because they knew where to turn".  (Note: This may have been in 1946 when they went with Glenn & Jeannine Blair to visit the Jim Wallace family in New Mexico).


25. 1130 North Beal street in Belton, Texas.  They lived here from 1948 to 1962.

Billy Blair drawing based on information from Pearl (Griffin) Digby in late 1970s.
The top of the map faces west.

When the above piano was given to Rita Digby, it took ten men to move it across the street and up the front porch stairs.  The piano is about 6' long, 5' tall, and 3' deep.  The piano bench does not open.  The asking price at the Cowan estate sale was $ 500.00.  As I was trying to figure out how to come up with the money, the Cowan family decided to sell it to Billy Cowan, who will keep it in the Cowan family.

According to Pat Digby and Dwayne Digby, Kay, Pat, Gale, and Rita all four slept in the same bed at this home.

The family pet while they lived here was a dog named "Tinkerbell"; sometimes everyone would call her "Tinker" or "Tink".

In 1955, Pearl was in Scott & White hospital in Temple, Texas for three days; room & board at that time at the hospital was $ 10.50 per day.

Information on the back of photographs give some insight as to some of the renters Mart & Pearl allowed to stay in their home while at the Beale street home:
a.  Bill & Anise Douglas: had kids Mike (age 5), Billy (3 1/2), and Janie (16 1/2 months).  There was also a 1955 picture of Anise Douglas' sister, Mary Ann.
b.  Hibbs: had a six week old child named David Lynn.
c.  Picture of possible renters in May, 1967.
d.  Joey & Denise Scruggs (Peggy Scrugg's kids).  (Picture in 1958).
e.  The Notters: Sharon & Nathan (1978) Mindy & Chuck.  They were renters for five years and were with Pearl after Mart died of stomach cancer.  They eventually divorced, but kept in contact with Pearl for many years.

26.  The home on old Nolanville road in Belton, Texas.  This is the house they lived in when Glenn and Jeannine (Digby) Blair eloped.

Billy Blair map based on information from Pearl (Griffin) Digby in the late 1970s.
The top of the map faces north.

A 17-year old man named Joachin and his wife lived in the apartment behind the windmill at the home on old Nolanville road.  Joachin would mow the yard.  His wife made fresh tamales.

Misc. Information:
1.  Pearl (Griffin) Digby attended Val Verde school and later taught here.  Other teachers included Violet White Dolehite, Miss Helen Jennings, and T.F. Cloud.
2.  Pearl (Griffin) Digby schooling:
     a.  Val Verde: grades 1 - 10.
     b.  Baylor Academy: Summer 1923; Summer 1924.
     c.  Rogers: Graduated from the 11th grade; they didn't have a 12th grade then.
     d.  San Marcos: 3 semester terms; also every summer for seven years.
     e.  Baylor College: one summer (MHB).
3.  Schools that Pearl (Griffin) Digby taught at:
     a.  Content School: (13 miles east of Temple, Texas at the Airville community).  It was a two-teacher school and she taught grades 6 - 9.  Pearl was the Principal.  Pebble Pollard was the other teacher.
     b.  Bell Plains: (9 miles southwest of Belton, Texas).  In 1927 - 1928, she taught grades 5 -8.  This also was a two-teacher school.  Maurine Wray was the other teacher; Pearl was the principal.
     c.  Val Verde: 1929 - 1930.  This was a four-teacher school.  Pearl taught grades 4 - 5; these are the grades that she had always wanted to teach.  This was her favorite school.  Virgil Chaffin was the principal.  The other two teachers were Nan Skinner and Edna Chaffin (Mr. Chaffin's cousin).  Pearl coached basketball at Val Verde.  Pearl got married in 1929 after the school year.
4.  Pearl's address in January, 1979: 600 West 9th street, apt. # 137.  Belton, Texas 76513. (by Mary Hardin Baylor campus).
5.  Information about husband, Martin Van Digby:
     a.  He was born in Santa Anna, Texas in Coleman county at home.
     b.  Schooling: He went to Vilas school at the edge of Bell county, Texas.  Grades 1 - 10 (which was the end of schooling available).  He then went to work.
     c.  Mart's interests: He belonged to the Riding Club (His kids had horses).  He enjoyed people very much.
     d.  Mart had solid white hair by the time he was 25-30 years old.
6.  Pearl said, "I loved to go bare-footed.  I went bare-footed until I was 15 years old.  I wish I would have taken better care of my feet.  I got splinters in my feet all the time.  I would soak my feet in kerosene and then would wrap my feet in skin with a lot of animal fat to draw out the splinters".
Pearl walked 3 miles to church both in the morning and in the evening.  She went to the Methodist church in Vilas for a short while.  Sometimes they couldn't attend the Methodist church due to the weather.
7.  Pearl's sisters graduated from High School at:
     a.  Georgia: Buckholts.
     b.               : Academy?
     c.               : Brookhaven?
     d.               : Belton
     e.               : Belton
8.  When Mart Digby was 20 years old, he was working in a bakery.  There was an explosion.  His hair turned white from the shock of the event.  The only thing visible was his blistered lips.  As Dr. McLanahan was taking the bandages off, he said, "I can't believe you didn't die from this".  Mart told Pearl, "That was very encouraging".  Ruby Dolehite rode with Pearl to the hospital because G.W. Griffin wouldn't let Pearl go in by herself at night.
9.  It took 4 hours to get from Rogers to Content: Ivy, G.W. Griffin, and Pearl were driving in the old Model-T to Rogers to see a friend play in a basketball game.  On the way back, the road was so muddy, it was impassable.  The mud clogged the wooden spokes.  They cleaned out the mud with sticks.  Ivy would drive a few yards, then they would have to repeat the process.
10. Mart & Pearl Digby had one of the first TVs in Belton while in their home on Beal street in Belton, Texas.  Gale (Digby) Cosper remembers several people coming over on Wednesdays and Fridays to watch boxing on TV.  These people included: Johnny & Bonnie Mellon, Johnny Boren, Jack & Betty Killingsworth, and Dude & Pat Wallace.  Gale also remembers Johnny Pechal coming over and watching cartoons on Saturday mornings.  Some of the popular shows to watch included "The Millionaire", "Bozo the Clown", "Howdy Doody", "Mr Friend Flicka", and "Lassie".  Gale said that she and her sister, Rita, went to the local TV station with a group of kids and saw Bozo the Clown.
11.  At Southwest Texas State Teacher's College in San Marcos, Pearl Griffin lived at the bottom of the hill on campus.  She had to hike up the hill to get to her classes.  She had a 7:30 am class because it was cool then.  Pearl's roommate was tall and she carried the umbrella for the 1 pm class.  It was hard to climb that hill.  Pearl would sit at a table with a kerosene lamp doing Algebra.

12.  Mattie (Digby) Wesson said that her father, Mart Digby, told her many times that he never wanted gladiolas on his grave.  She told Billy Blair this on Easter Sunday, 2002 at First Christian Church in Belton, Texas when she was given a lily, which she was going to place on Mart's grave.  Pearl Digby checked with her and made sure that it was not a gladiola.

Pearl (Griffin) Digby High Chair
(Images by Billy Blair - 2004)

Pearl used this high chair as a child, raised her children in it (and probably many other relatives). Both of Billy and Susan Blair's children used it.  Billy had it refinished by a good friend, Woody Bruner.  There were several layers of paint (black, red, lime green....) and the chair is made up of 3-4 types of wood.  Teeth marks can still be seen on the tray.  The chair is now in the possession of Lee & Jeannie (Blair) Pittman.

13.  The first time Mart Digby met Pearl Griffin's family: G. W. Griffin pulled Mart Digby's car out of the mud.  One time, he couldn't get the car out of the mud with the mules, so he carried Mart home and Mart slept on their couch.  It worried Bettie Griffin that Mart was in the same house as Pearl when they weren't married.  This story was relayed by Dwayne Digby in 2017.

14.  Pearl (Griffin) Digby and Ivy (Griffin) bought a car together at some point in time (Source: Dwayne Digby).

Top Row (left to right): Jeannine (Digby) Blair, Mattie (Digby) Wesson, Gale (Digby) Cosper, Rita (Digby) Locklin.
Bottom Row (left to right): Jewell (Griffin) Elsik; Pearl (Griffin) Digby.
(Image taken at Mandy Blair & Judd Barbour wedding reception. Sugarland, Texas).

THE CHILDREN OF MART & PEARL DIGBY


I.  Wanda Jeannine Digby ("Jeannine"): (Note: See separate blog post on this family).  

She was born on January 22, 1931 at home in Belton, Texas (Bell county).  She married Robert Glenn Blair ("Glenn") on February 11, 1947 in Holland, Texas.  Glenn died on February 14, 2005.  Jeannine lived at Garden Estates assisted living facility in Temple, Texas, but moved into Park Place Nursing Home in Belton in January, 2015.

II.  Mattie Elizabeth Digby ("Mattie" or "Mattie Beth"):

Bill &  Mattie (Digby) Wesson

Bill Wesson

Mattie (Digby) Wesson

Mattie was born on August 25, 1932 at home in Belton, Texas.  She graduated in 1949.  She married Billy Hays Wesson ("Bill") on June 5, 1950 at the First Christian Church in Belton.  They had the following children:
     A.  Vickie Diane Wesson ("Diane"):

Diane Wesson with a baby chick.

Diane Wesson

Diane Wesson barrel
racing at Belton's rodeo.

Ricky & Diane (Wesson) Scott with
their children, Clent (left) and Blayn.

Diane's first husband was (1) Ricky Lee Scott ("Ricky").  They had the following children:
          1.  Clent Zonka Scott ("Clent"): He was born in 1977.  He married Alissa ______ , but they have no children.
          2.  Blayn Clayton Scott ("Blayn"): He was born in 1979.  His girlfriend is Lorri Renfrow.  They have three children:
               a.  Nathaniel Gage Scott ("Gage"): He was born in 2009.
               b.  Zachary Hays Scott ("Zach"): He was born in 2012.
               c.  (boy).
(Note Lorri Renfrow's first husband was _________ Rodriguez.  They had four children:
          1.  Isaiah Rodriguez: Age 16 as of 2013.
          2.  Monika Rodriguez: 7th grade as of 2013.  Note: The family was in a car on IH 35 around Salado around July 7-8, 2013 and was in a five car wreck.  A woman in another car was texting and did not see the wreck.  She hit them full speed.  Monika was killed and the rest of the family was injured and taken to the hospital.  One of the boy's legs were crushed.  Monika was 14 years old at the time of the wreck
          3.  Eric Rodriguez: 6th grade as of 2013.
          4.  Brendon Rodriguez: 1st-2nd grade as of 2013).
Vickie Diane Wesson's second husband was (2) Mike Pressley.  They had the following children:
          1.  Taylor Pressley: She was born in 1993.  Taylor's appendix ruptured and she had surgery on Saturday, August 19, 2017.
     B.  David Bruce Wesson ("David"):

All of the above pictures are of David Wesson.

Becki & David Wesson with son Brady

Diane & David Wesson next to O'dell Hyer's gas station in Belton.

He married Rebeca Rose Walker ("Bekie").  Mr. & Mrs. Prosper Walker are her parents.  After attending Belton schools, Bekie attended Temple Junior College and Texas State Technical Institute.  She was employed as a savings counselor at First Federal Savings.  After attending Belton schools, David attended Temple Junior College.  He is a manufacturing engineer at Texas Instruments.  David and Bekie had the following children:
          1.  Brady Hayes Wesson ("Brady"): He was born in 1992.  He is getting married in May, 2013 to Bethany Anson.
          2.  Riley Walker Wesson ("Riley"): He was born in 1997.  He likes theater.

III.  Martin Dwayne Digby ("Dwayne"): He was born on April 1, 1938 at home in Belton, Texas.  It's interesting that he was born on the same day as his father.  The following story was told by Dwayne's sister, Gale: "In Dwayne's high school days, the Dairy Queen was located where the Dominoes Pizza is now. That's where Dwayne had his first wreck.  He was trying to do what daddy told him to and not pull out onto Main Street.  He went through the alley instead, where he had the wreck".  Dwayne told me this story in 2017 about his childhood: "I shot my sister Mattie in the temple with my childrens bow & arrow when I was riding my bike to the barn.  Mattie ran crying to the house".  Dwayne graduated in 1957 after flunking one year of school (He said he "played" in the 4th grade).  He married JoAnn York on September 4, 1959 at the First Baptist Church in Lampasas, Texas.  She weighed 94 lbs. when they got married.  JoAnn has an older brother, Daryl York, and a younger brother named Lonnie York.

Dwaye & JoAnn (York) Digby wedding reception.
First Baptist Church, Lampassas, Texas.

Dwayne & JoAnn Digby with daughter, Cindy.

Dwayne & JoAnn Digby family.
In front yard of Pearl Digby home on
14th street in Belton, Tx.  (View is
SE to NW).

PHOTO FROM THE BELTON JOURNAL, APRIL 2, 1970
DWAYNE DIGBY AND RATTLESNAKE

Dwayne & JoAnn Digby with their children: Craig, Cindy (top right) and Dawn.

Dwayne and JoAnn had the following children:
     A.  Cindy Jo Digby ("Cindy"):  Cindy married (1) Stanley Houston Hanes ("Stan") on a Saturday at First Baptist Church in Belton, Texas.  Cindy attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor after finishing Belton schools.  Stan attended Temple Junior College after finishing Belton schools, then received a music education degree  from East Texas State University.  They had no children and eventually divorced.  Cindy's second husband is (2) Mike Smith.  They had the following children:
          1.  Erin Smith: Born in 1986.  Teaches Speech Pathology in an Elementary school in Killeen, Texas.  Erin married Joshua ("Josh") Silverman, who has three children, on May 20, 2017 in Academy, Texas.
          2.  Eric Smith: He was born in 1988.  Eric works in a grocery store.  He married Haley Waldrep.  They had a wedding shower at First Christian Church in Belton, Texas on August 3, 2014.  He and Haley have the following children:
               a.  Brooklyn Smith ("Brook"): She was born in May, 2012.
          3.  Emily Smith: She was born around 1990.  She teaches Special Education in Center, Texas. She married Aaron Edward Lawson.   She and her husband are expecting their first child in May, 2017.
     B.  Martin Craig Digby ("Craig"): He married Penney.
          1.  Alycia Digby: She was born around 1990.
          2.  Paige BreAnn Digby: She was born on February 17, 1994.
          3.  Shelby Digby:  She is a sophmore in high school in 2013.
     C.  Dawn D'Lynn Digby ("Dawn"): She married Brent Giles.  They have the following children:
          1.  Ben Giles: He was a Junior in high school in 2013.
          2.  Matthew: He was born in 1998.

IV.  Mabel Gale Digby ("Gale"):

Gale Digby

Gale Digby, 1959

Gale Cosper on "Seashell" float.
Belton July 4th parade, 1959.

She was born on April 12, 1941 at home in Belton, Texas.  Gale was named after Mr. Norman's wife, "Mabel".  Gale hated having Mabel as part of her name, but Pearl and Jeannine said, "You wouldn't hate it if you knew how sweet this woman was".  Gale's first job was working at the Belton Car Mart for her dad. Gale married Joe Lynn Cosper on June 17, 1960 at the First Christian Church in Belton, Texas; Ray Weatherford performed the ceremony. Jeannie Blair and Carol Beth Roen registered the guests.  Billy and Bobby Blair lit the candles.  Joe's parents were William Park Cosper ("Bill") and Leigh (Allen) Cosper ("Granny Leigh").

Gale Digby & Joe Cosper at the prom.

Gale & Joe Cosper

Gale said that one time, Joe took her to the Temple Municipal Building in Temple, Texas to see Johnny Cash.  They went to see several performers there. Gale said that Joe used to tell her "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't".  According to Gale, Joe badly wanted to go to college.  His brother Billy went to college and just played around.  Joe's father decided they weren't going to send any other kids to college because it was just a waste of money. Verlon Hare used to work with Joe a lot.  Verlon and his first wife were good friends with Gale and Joe.  Verlon and his first wife divorced and Verlon got custody of his two children.  Verlon later re-married.  In 1951, Joe was the President of the Salado Jr. Club.  A note from 1954 - 1955 said that Joe's nickname was "Cob".  Joe died from lung cancer on February 17, 1984 after smoking for many years.  Gale said, "When I began working at Stagecoach Inn in Salado, I had to relearn how to work an adding machine....  I must have said the 's_ _ _' word often because they got me a necklace with that word on it".  Joe and Gale had the following children:
     A.  Johnny Ray Cosper: Gale Cosper said that Johnny Ray's name came from Johnny Elsik and Ray Weatherford.  Johnny's first wife was (1) Dee Ann Oliver.  They got divorced and had no children.  Johnny' second wife was (2) Kim Haas.  They had the following children:
           1.  Dylan Cosper: He was born on September 11, 1994.
Johnny Ray's mother relayed a couple of great stories about Johnny:  "Before he and his wife went to Mexico, he went to a tanning booth to get some tan on his legs first".   "Johnny Ray took a trip to New York City; this was about the same time as the last Digby reunion at Frank's Lakeview Pavillion in Belton.  When he arrived in New York City, everyone carried on about him since he was a Texas cowboy.  Some people from the Dominican Republic asked if they could sit at the table next to him.  They wanted to buy his cowboy hat and the girls kept wanting to dance with him.  Since Johnny loves to dance, he finally danced with one of the older ladies.  There was a man who kept following them around taking pictures.  Johnny later found out that he was a professional photographer taking pictures of New York City night life for his magazine.  Johnny never asked what magazine he was connected with".   
     B.  Marty Jo Cosper: She was born at 11:17 on October 18, 1968 at Kings Daughters Hospital in Temple, Texas.  She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20" long.  Her doctor was Dr. Denson.  Her first husband was (1) Jackie Watkins (Note: His second wife was Emily Montgomery; Emily is 13 years younger than Jackie).  Marty Jo and Jackie got divorced, but had the following children:
          1.  Alfred Jack Watkins Jr ("A.J."): He was born on February 28, 1990.   He married Courtney Brock on Saturday, December 13, 2014.  The wedding was at the R & J River Ranch (which was formally Sam Dolehite's old homeplace.  Now it has a new building).  They have the following children:
               a.  Jax Watkins: He was born on Thursday, May 18, 2017.  He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 1/2" long.
          2.  Joseph Watkins: He was born on November 14, 1993.
          3.  Kyler Watkins: She was born on March 30, 1995.
Marty Jo Cosper's second husband was (2) Carl W_________.  They got divorced and had no children.

V.  Rita Pearl Digby ("Rita"):

Rita Digby

Rita with chickens at the Dogridge community, Bell Co. Tx.

Rita Digby, 1958

Lloyd & Rita Locklin

She was born on March 12, 1944 at the hosptial in Belton, Texas.  1962 was her senior year at Belton High School; their mascot is the Belton "Tigers".  She married Loyd Wayne Locklin ("Loyd") on June 8, 1963 at the First Christian Church in Belton, Texas; Rev. Walter F. Feay, pastor at First Christian Church performed the ceremony.  The wedding was in the church parlor, which was located just inside and to the left of the front door. Loyd paid Rev. Feay $ 5.00 for doing the service, but he gave the money back to him.  Rita rode the barrel races in horse shows through the Riding Club (not in the rodeo).  She also rode a shovel pulled by a horse/ rider.  Rita began working at First National Bank at the Central Avenue location on August 1, 1967.  The bank moved to a new location at 300 East 1st street on May 8, 1980.  It was re-chartered and the name was changed to First Texas Bank.  Rita retired from the bank in March, 2012 after 45 years of service.  Loyd died on April 15, 2003 of stomach cancer.  They had the following children:
     A.  Lisa Lynn Locklin ("Lisa"): Lisa was born on a snowy day in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  She married Mark Anders.  They divorced.
          1.  Cory Ryan Anders ("Cory"): He was born on May 16, 1991at Northwest Memorial Hosptial in Houston, Texas.  He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz.
          2.  Jaci Anders: She was born on December 30, 1994.  She married Ethan Hoylek.  They had the following children:
               a.  Laurel Grace Holyk ("Laurel"): She was born on Saturday, September 3, 2016.  She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20" long.  She was Rita (Digby) Locklin's first great-grandchild.
               b. Bayen Ryan Holyk: He weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz. and was 20.25" long.
     B.  Ricky Kevin Locklin ("Ricky"): 
He and Amy LaRue had a daughter named Kristin Carol Anne Locklin ("Kristin") who was born on February 12, 1990.  Kristin's companion is Matt Bulls.  They have a son together named Cash Bulls, who was born on June 11, 2009. 
Ricky Locklin and Jodie Mitchum had the following children:
          1.  Keilar Locklin: He was born on May 11, 1993.  He and Macie had the following child:
               (a).  Kaison Kevin Locklin:  He was born on Friday, June 1, 2018.  He weighed 6 lbs. and was 18 1/2" long.

Kaison Kevin Locklin

      
            2.  Brenton Locklin: He was born on August 5, 1994.  He married a girl named Keiko.  They had the following children:
               (a).  Kelby Nicole Locklin: She was born on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 about 4:25 am.  She weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 1/2" long.
Ricky's first wife was Anjee Taylor.  Her first husband was Jeff Edds.  She and Jeff had the following children:  (a). Madison, a daughter who was born on March 25, 1994 and (b). Philip, a son born on February 19, 1996.  Ricky Locklin and Anjee had the following children:
          1.  Kolby Locklin: He was born on November 12, 1998.
          2.  Konner Locklin: He was born on August 25, 2003.
(In January, 2017, Rita Locklin stated that Ricky and Anjee got custody of their 3-year old granddaughter, Presley, and her 5-year old half brother Carter).
     C.  Michael Jay Locklin ("Michael"): He married Melissa Hinds.  They divorced after having one child:
          1.  Jessica Locklin: She was born on July 13, 1997.
Michael's second wife was (2) Donna Strickland.  Donna's first husband was Lance Mungia (?). They had a son named Garrett, who was born on February 20, 1990.  Garrett's last name was changed to Locklin when he was about twelve years old.  Donna and Michael had other children as of 2013.
     D.  Bradley Wayne Locklin ("Bradley"): He married Jennifer Beach ("Jen").  They have the following children:
          1.  Kade Locklin: He was born on October 5, 2002.
          2.  Brooke Locklin: She was born on January 24, 2006.
          3.  Landry Leigh Locklin: She was born at 4:43 am on August 22, 2015.  She weighed 6 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 1/2 " long.


SOURCES:
1.  Pearl Digby: 1979; May 11, 1980; August 3, 1994; January 2, 1999; September 5, 1999l; August 19, 2006.
2.  Jeannine (Digby) Blair: July 26, 2006; April 14, 2013.
3.  Mattie (Digby) Wesson.
4.  Dwayne Digby.
5.  Gale (Digby) Cosper: October 6, 2005; November 12-13, 2005; July 26, 2006; September, 2006; February 11, 2007; July 19, 2007; June 21, 2008.
6.  Rita (Digby) Locklin. Misc. conversations; July, 2006; Discussion in January, 2013.
7.  Rambling Reflections by Pearl (Griffin) Digby
8.  Dwayne & JoAnn Digby: Discussion in January, 2013.
9.  Rita (Digby) Locklin: Conversation with Billy Blair on January 5, 2013 regarding the history of "The Belton Car Mart" and her participation in Riding Club events.
10. Country Schools Around Holland by James R. Persky & John Dagere (page 105).
11. The Belton Journal newspaper photo dated Tuesday, April 2, 1970 (Dwayne Digby and rattlesnake).
12. Billy Blair, February 11, 2007.
13. Mattie (Digby) Wesson conversation in April, 2002.
14. 1951 Boys 4-H Club Handbook (regarding Joe Cosper being President of the Salado Jr. Club).
15. Pat Digby and Dwayne Digby: September, 2006.
16. Information off the back of photographs identified some of the renters Mart & Pearl Digby had at their home on Beal street in Belton, Texas.
17.  Info. from a card from the hospital on the day of Marty Jo Cosper's birth (her birth information).
18. Rita Locklin post on Facebook regarding the birth information of Landry Lee Locklin.
19. Rita (Digby) Locklin post on Facebook on November 13, 2015 regarding her employment at First National Bank in Belton and the move to the bank's new location on East 1st street in 1980.
20. Rita (Digby) Locklin post on Facebook that Laurel Grace Holyk, daughter of Jaci & Ethan Holyk, was born on September 3, 2016 (Rita's great-granddaughter).
21.  Note on Facebook regarding Erin Smith's upcoming wedding to Joshua Silverman.
22,  Note from Rita (Digby) Locklin on April 4, 2017 on Facebook about the birt of Kelby Locklin.
23. Dwayne Digby: story of how Mart Digby first met Pearl's family.  Told at a family gathering in September, 2017 at Mattie (Digby) Wesson's apartment in Belton, Texas.  Dwayne Digby, Mattie Digby, Gale (Digby) Cosper, Rita (Digby) Locklin, Jeannie (Blair) Pittman, and Billy & Susan Blair were in attendance.

24.  Gale (Digby) Cosper: Note on Facebook about her first job.  June 12, 2020.

John S. Barnes (Tennessee Barnes' father): Family Info. & Sam Bass Outlaw Gang

THE JOHN S. & MARTHA (CANNON) BARNES FAMILY

          ca. 1812 - ca. 1843                                                                  1817 - before 1874
             John S. Barnes                                                                         Martha Cannon




Connection to the chart on this blog: John S. Barnes and Martha (Cannon) Barnes are the parents of Elmira Tennessee Barnes ("Tennie") and her twin brother, Seaborn Barnes, who was in the Sam Bass outlaw gang.

John S. Barnes was born in Alabama (possibly Louisiana) about 1812.  About 1817, Martha Cannon was born in the Pendleton District of South Carolina.  Her parents were Carter C. Cannon and Sarah Litimer.  John S. Barnes is shown on the tax list of Yalobusha county, Mississippi in 1834, 1835, 1836, and 1841 (Note: In 1841, no blacks are listed with the family.  Also, there is confusion as to whether the last name is Barnes or Burns).  In April, 1834 John S. Barnes was elected constable in the southwest district and gave as his securities besides some three whose names were given in other bonds, the following: J.L. Miller, C. Cannon, G.S. Stewart, Thomas Robertson, John Robertson, Mack Williams, and James McCoy (April 1834, Police Court).  In the Fall of 1834, Mr. Carton Carter Cannon put up a cabin on the ground now occupied by the Shaw Foundry and about the same time, John Barnes, a son in  law of Mr. Cannon, made an improvement where Mr. Tabor now resides.  The improvements were purchased in 1838-1839 by G.B. Ragsdale (who had moved up from the vicinity of Coffeeville) for a "stand", later a post office (1844) (Note: The post office was located outside of the county line - never in Yalobusha county until a few years ago, when the Legislature attached two tiers of sections of the county from the territory of LaFayette.  August, 1938 was the date of this information source).

John S. Barnes married Martha Cannon ("Patsy") on February 28, 1835 in Yalobusha county, Mississippi (Their marriage date is listed in the index, but the actual marriage book is lost).  She was born about 1817 in Pendleton District, South Carolina; she was the daughter of Carter C. Cannon and Sarah Latimer (or Lattin).  He was a lawman in Yalobusha county, Mississippi.  John S. Barns family moved from Mississippi to Texas between 1841 and 1843.  John S. Barns lived in Cass county, Texas from 1841 to 1853.  On July 3, 1841, James Skinner received a conditional certificate for 640 acres which John Barns and Calvin Cunningham witnessed.  Conditional land certificate was received on May 4, 1844 in Cass county, Texas for John S. Barnes.  The Texas General Land Office (File 848, Bowie 3rd class) shows 294 acres for John S. Barns on February 3, 1845.  (Note: Carter Cannon completed his land application in 1845.  He went broke in Yalobusha county, Mississippi).  John S. Barns is listed on the tax rolls for Cass county, Texas in 1846.  On August 29, 1846, John Barnes was selected for jury duty.  (Note: Cass county, Texas was organized in 1846; the parent county was Bowie county, which was organized in 1840).  Conditional certificates for 346 acres for John S. Barnes (File 220) never had the patents completed; the land was surveyed on October 19, 1848.  J.S. Barnes is listed as one of the several petitioners against Jacob Alewine, who was officially labled a lunatic.  John S. Barnes (spelled "Burns" in the source book) was an officer in the Mexican War (probably 1848 - 1850?).  On May 14, 1849, John S. Barns sold 294 acres to Asa Johnson.  (Note: Sources debate John S. Barnes death date/ location: 1849, 1853, possibly in Cass county, Texas as well as 1853 - 1856 and 1876 are death date possibilities).  On March 29, 1850, there was a District court case where John Barnes vs. John Waits.  In 1850, John ran for constable in Cass county, but only received two votes (Note: According to the 1878 Wayne Gard book, John S. Barnes was a sheriff and tax collector in Cass county.  There is no record of a sheriff named Barnes in Cass county.

On September 28, 1850, John and Martha are residing in Cass county.  (Barnes Lake in Cass county was on the land of John S. Barnes.  Descendants of Wiley Jackson Barnes and brother Warren Riley Barnes, who were born about a generation after John S. Barnes; the lake was probably named for their ancestors.

Barnes Lake, Cass county, Texas

Barnes Lake, Cass county, Texas

Wiley's family lived at the lake after John S. Barnes died.  The precise relationship between the two is not known.  Sources listed say that an old man named "Taylor" used to live in a shack near the bridge across Barnes Lake; the bridge rotted down and was never replaced.  The old wooden bridge had flat wooden boards on top of side rails that you could sit on.  Maude Marie Simpson Salmon has a picture of the old bridge.  Mr. Taylor charged people to fish in the lake.  When Mrs. Salmon heard about it, she made him move.  There were two Barnes girls and a brother Jack Barnes, deceased).  The value of their real estate was 6000; they lived in Precinct # 4, Hickory Hill (now called Avinger).  At this time, John's occupation was that of a farmer.  On February 17, 1853, John S. Barns sold land to James Skinner.  In February/ March, 1853, there were two land transactions between John S. Barns and the heirs of James Skinner, Sr.


John S. Barns died in Tarrant county, Texas between 1853 - 1856 (There are several other conflicting death dates, as mentioned above).  (Note: The Tarrant county, Texas courthouse burned down in 1876, destroying most records).  In 1856 and 1857, a John Barnes paid poll tax in Tarrant county, Texas.  In 1863, John Barns has 174 acres of land taxed in Tarrant county.  Sometime between 1866 and 1870's (when Seaborn Barnes was young), Martha (Cannon) Barns moved to live with relatives near the village of Handley, Tarrant county, Texas (nine miles east of Fort Worth) with five children after she was widowed.  One source says they "lived off the charity of relatives".  In July, 1874, twelve and a half acres were set aside for the heirs of Martha Barnes out of the estate (Note: Estate documents located in Tarrant county, Texas) of C.C. Cannon, deceased (Note: from C.C. Cannon estate documents.  B.H. Barnes to D.C. Harrison, April 20, 1877).  Martha (Cannon) Barnes dies in Tarrant county, Texas prior to July, 1874.  On June 5, 1877, D.C. Harrison (John Barnes' brother in law) acquired land from John Barnes' heirs.  The land was sold for non-payment of taxes.  Harrison bought it for $ 6.86.  J.S. Barnes is listed on the Cass county, Texas Delinquent Tax list for February 7, 1889 (The note says: Owner: J.S. Barnes, no acres, 100 original grantee:  BBB & CRR Co.  Note: In the same list, but harder to read is: Owner: John Barnes. no acres. Original Grantee: ___).  A.J. Barnes is listed on the roll of unrendered property in Cass county, Texas for 1890 (The note says: Owner: unknown ABS # 111  Cert.#  Original Grantee: J. Barnes.  Grant acres: 294 Acres unrendered: 294 Value $: 441).

The Children of John S. &  Martha (Cannon) Barnes:

I.  Sarah Jane Barns: She was born about 1836 in Yalobusha county, Mississippi.  She married James Skinner on December 15, 1852 in Cass county, Texas.  James Skinner was born about 1826, possibly in Indiana.  Sarah Jane Barnes died about 1853 in Cass county.

II.  Rhoda Ann Barns: She was born about 1838 in Yalobusha county, Mississippi.  She married James Skinner, her sister's widow, on December 23, 1854 in Cass county, Texas.  Rhoda possibly died in Cass county, Texas.

III.  Mary E. Barns: (Was her name Mary C.?).  She was born about 1841 in Yalobusha county, Mississippi.  She possibly died in Texas.

IV.  Elmira (Emeline?) Tennessee Barns ("Tinnie"): She was born about 1842 (Tombstone says 1851) in Cass county, Texas.  (Note: Birth years vary in sources from 1842, 1843, to 1851).  A relative said that an uncle raised her since she was an orphan.  She married Martin Van Buren Digby ("M.V.") on January 28, 1869 in Austin county, Texas (one source says Tarrant county).  Martin Van Buren Digby was born about 1843 in Mississippi.    On April 4, 1877, M.V. and Tennie Digby sold 1/6th interest out of the 74 acres set apart for the John Barnes heirs out of the estate of C.C. Cannon and Sarah Cannon.  Tinnie died of a stroke on August 19, 1931 in Austin, Texas (Travis county) at St. David's hospital.  She was buried in Temple, Texas (Bell county) at Hillcrest cemetery (block # 4; Row # 3).  A.C. Hewett Funeral Home handled funeral arrangements.  The had the following children:
     A.  James H. Digby: He was born about 1870 in Tarrant county, Texas.
     B.  William Seaborn Digby: He was born on January 12, 1872 in Tarrant county, Texas.  He married Mattie Minerva Wallace on December 27, 1896.  She was born on March 9, 1874; she died on October 1, 1936 at Scott and White hospital in Temple, Texas (Bell county).  Will Digby married a second time to (2) Lilly (          ) Haire.  Will died on February 11, 1952 in Belton, Texas; he and his wife are buried in the North Belton cemetery in Belton, Texas.  They had children.
     C.  Claud Digby: He was born about 1876 in Tarrant county, Texas.
     D.  Alta Digby: She was born in January of 1880 at Haught's Store in Dallas county, Texas.  She married D McKay.  They had two daughters; one of them  married Sam Floca in Temple, Texas.
     E.  L. G. Digby:

V.  Berry Henderson Barnes ("Henderson"): He was born about 1846 - 1847 in Cass county, Texas.  He married Theodosia F. Leatherman about 1866 in Tarrant county, Texas (One source says they were married in Bell county, Texas on September 7, 1865).  She was born about 1848 in Minden, Claiborne county, Louisiana (location unsure).  Her parents were Daniel Leatherman and Rebecca __________.  (There is a B.H. Barnes who was the original grantee and patentee of 160 acres on May 31, 1871 in Tarrant county, Texas; Abstract # 98/ 3).  Henderson and Theodosia's family was in Tarrant county, Texas in 1880 (Note: They are shown twice in this census: (1) village of Handley, Tarrant county on page 42 and (2) District 91 on page 76A).  Berry Henderson Barnes and Theodosia (Leatherman) Barnes ("Dosie") were very rigid Baptists.  She would not let relatives in her parlour except for a very few occasions to see the stereopticon or hear the Victrola.  B.H. Barnes was harsh.  He took in two of Martha F. Barnes' kids: Lily and Judson (Jack).  Jack's hunting dogs barked a lot, so one day B.H. sent Jack to a party on Sunday.  When Jack returned home, B.H. had killed all of his dogs.  At this point, Jack left their home.  On April 4, 1881, there was a deed from B.H. Barnes to Martha Puchet of Sebastian county, Arkansas.  B.H. Barnes died of tuberculosis on October 25, 1883 in Handley, Texas (Tarrant county).  (Note: He was the first person to spell his last name with an "es" - Barnes).  Some sources have suggested that Theodosia's death was on August 8, 1928 in Dallas, Texas (Dallas county).  Henderson and Theodosia had the following children:
     A.  John F. Barnes: He was born about 1867 in Tarrant county, Texas.  He was married, but had no children.  Some relatives saw them as very dull people.
     B.  Robert E.W. Barnes ("Robert"): He was born about 1869 (1867?) in Tarrant county, Texas.  He probably died fairly young.
     C.  Phillip N. Barnes ("Phil"): He was born about 1871 (1872?) in Tarrant county, Texas.  His father made his children make a promise to him on his deathbed that they would not drink liquor.  Phil was the only child to break that promise; some relatives refused to visit him because of this.  He had children.
     D.  Emma Ophelia Barnes ("Ophelia"): She was born about 1874 in Tarrant county, Texas.  She never married.  She was strict like her mother, but more likeable.  She was  a career woman.
     E.  Charles Henry Joseph Barnes ("Charley"): He was born about 1877 (1878?) in Tarrant county, Texas.  He was married in 1907.  He had children.
     F.  Ida May (Maud?) Barnes: She was born in May, 1880 in Handley, Tarrant county, Texas.  She lived up to the late 1940's or early 1950's.  She had a step-son, but no other children.
     G.  Clementinus Claud Barnes ("Claud"): He was born in May, 1880 in Handley, Tarrant county, Texas.  He died young.
     H.  Ozee Barnes: She was born after 1880 (one source says Ozee is a boy).  Ozee or Ozee's son died soon after Charles Barnes, son of B.H. Barnes.

VI.  Martha F. Barnes: She was born about 1848 (1847?) in Cass county, Texas.  She married James Whiting (Whitten?) Beall about 1863, possibly in Tarrant county, Texas.  He was born in 1844 (1846?) in Attala county, Mississippi.  He was the son of Josiah D. Beall and Ann Tatum Dent ("Nancy").  (Note regarding Josiah D. Beall: He is listed in the slave schedule, not population schedule of the 1850 Attala county, Mississippi census.  He was born in Franklin county, Georgia.  He also had a patent for 160 acres on September 23, 1859; Tarrant county, Texas?).  James Whiting Beall had a second wife named Mary Elizabeth Williams.  He died in 1879 in Cooke county, Texas (One source says Tarrant county).  He was buried in the Dunville cemetery in Cooke county.  Martha died about 1872 (1873?) in Tarrant county, Texas (Note: Could she have died from childbirth complications with daughter, Lilly?).  They had the following children:
     A.  Judson Tatum Beall: He was born on September 22, 1864, possibly in Denton county, Texas.  He was raised by Henderson and Theodosia (Leatherman) Barnes.  He married Emma Artelia Rogers on November 25, 1890 in Tarrant county, Texas.  She died after 1941 in Roby, Fisher county, Texas.  Judson Tatum Beall died on March 1, 1941 in Roby, Texas; he was buried in Roby on March 2nd.
     B.  James Edward Beall: (One source says Edward James Beall).  He was born about 1866 in Texas.
     C.  Laura Josephine (Josaphine?) Beall: She was born on March 3, 1870 (one source says August) in Industry, Austin county, Texas.

Laura Josephine Beall

Laura Josephine Beall

She married Louis David Smith on March 11, 1893 in Tarrant county, Texas.  Louis David Smith was born on June 29, 1865 in Prairie City, McDonough, Illinois.  He was the son of Walter Evander Smith and Catherine L. Luper (Lupfer).  Louis David Smith died on May 24, 1944 in Quanah, Hardeman county, Texas.  She died on December 15, 1958 in Fort Worth, Texas (Tarrant county); she was buried in Quanah, Texas (Hardeman county) on December 17th.
     D.  Lilly (Lilla?) E. Beall: She was born about 1872 in Austin county, Texas.  Lilly was raised by Henderson and Theodosia (Leatherman) Barnes.  She married Caleb Henry Tyler on January 7, 1886 in Cauthron, Scott, Arkansas.  He was born on March 12, 1865 in Missouri.  His paents were Asberry Tyler and Martha Cheney.  Caleb Henry Tyler died on February 9, 1942 in Sulfer, Murray, Oklahoma and is buried at Oaklawn cemetery in Murray, Oklahoma.  She died about 1891 in Tarrant county, Texas.

VII.  Seaborn Barnes ("Sebe"): (One source said he was often called "Sanford"; Sam Bass nicknamed him "Nubbins Colt").  He was born about 1852-1853 (1849 according to his tombstone), possibly in Cass county, Texas (One source says Tarrant county).

Seaborn Barnes

(One source described Sebe as being very dark, and the known Barnes descendants at the time were dark).  Other sources include the following physical descriptions: slender, blond, beetle brow canti-levered over a generous Roman nose; prominent Adam's apple, and a roving foot.  Jeannine (Digby) Blair said that people called Seaborn Barnes "Red" because he had red hair.  She said that there was a lot of red hair in that family.  (Note: Jeannine stated that either Pearl Griffin Digby or Mary Elizabeth House Griffin told her this information).  Seaborn's widowed mother had to live off the charity of relatives; she and her five children lived at Handley, near Fort Worth, Texas.  Seaborn was mad about being a "have not".  He had no education.  Seaborn was a cowboy in his early teens, cooking for local ranches.  He worked as a potter for A.H. Serrens works south of Denton, Texas (Note: The 1870 Denton county, Texas census shows an Augustus Seren, potter from New York, although his son's death certificate spells the name "Serren".  Augustus H. Serren died in Denton county on January 6, 1874).

He spent a year in jail awaiting trial for shooting a man when he was seventeen years old; this would have been about 1866, if his birthday is correct.  He was acquitted.  In 1874, Sebe was put in jail in Calahan county, Texas.  He escaped, wearing his leg irons; he went across the street and had the blacksmith cut them off.  Seaborn arrived in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area about 1878.

Seaborn Barnes' involvement in the Sam Bass outlaw gang:

Controversial photo of members of the Sam Bass Gang

Identification of the above photo of the Sam Bass gang members vary:

1.  Jim Murphy (who betrayed the gang to the Texas Rangers) on left (Note: Another source said he betrayed them by sending a telegram to the Texas Rangers from the Belton Post Office); Sam Bass (seated); Seaborn Barnes (right), a large man.  (Source: Article on "Sam Bass Outlaw" in the Denver Post Magazine, March 30, 1986).

2.  (left to right): Seaborn Barnes; Sam Bass; Frank Jackson (Source: Article on "Death of Sam Bass" by Loraine Barnes.  Publication name and date not known).

3.  Photograph is of three other men, not the Bass gang at all.

Seaborn was a member of the Sam Bass outlaw gang; when Bass' first gang dissolved, he recruited Barnes, a tough western gunman.  The Sam Bass gang also included Frank Jackson, Tom Spotswood, Henry Underwood, Arkansas Tom Johnson, and later, Jim Murphy.  The Sam Bass gang robbed a stage in October of 1877 outside Mary's creek near Fort Worth; they only got $ 43.00.  It was at this point the gang stopped robbing stagecoaches and turned to trains.  In the spring of 1878, there were a string of train robberies that netted about $ 1, 500.00 each:

1.  Houston & Texas Central at Allen Station on Febuary 22nd.  $ 1, 280.00.
2.  Texas & Pacific safe in the mail car near Eagle Ford on April 4th.
3.  Texas & Pacific at Mesquite on April 10th.  This is the first time the gang encountered serious trouble.

Mesquite Train Robbery
This is believed to be the train which the Sam Bass gang held up in Mesquite
in the 1870's.  They missed $ 30, 000.00 which had been hidden in the stove in
the express car.  (Source: Dallas Times Herald magazine, 7-15-1962).

Several prisoners were being escorted on the train; between the several guards and the passengers, there was quite a volley of gunfire.  Seaborn received the following wounds: three bullets in his left leg and one in his right leg (Note: another place in the same source says he received one bullet in his left thigh and three bullets in his left leg).

Artistic depiction of the Mesquite Train Robbery by S. Seymour Thomas
(completed in 1880 when he was 12 years old).  This picture is reproduced from
Sam Bass by Wayne Gard (Source: Article "Account of Sam Bass is Exciting and
authentic" by Walter Prescott Webb. Dallas Morning News, July 26, 1936.
DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas.

On June 13, 1878, the gang escaped an ambush in Wise county, Texas near Salt Creek during a retreat from the aborted train robbery at Mesquite.

One of the gang's favorite hiding places was in the Cross Timbers area in Denton county, Texas.   Sam Bass was called the "Robin Hood of the Cross Timbers".

A 1991 view of the Eastern Cross Timbers looking southeastward
from the east end of the Ray Roberts Lake dam.  (Source:
An Illustrated History of Denton Co. Tx. from Peters Colony to
Metroplex by E. Dale Odom).

 The normal range of the Bass gang was limited to the upper or northern cross timbers, or the area of prairie country in between the East and West prongs.  They would hide in the dense Elm and Hickory bottoms an enormous swamp area where "the foliage is dense - the vines hang in masses and it is not good daylight until 12 noon"  (Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws by Nash).  Another source says Bass would maintain his rendezvous "along the streams and in the dense postoak and blackjack groves and thickets of the cross timbers...." (Down in the Cross Timbers by Worth S. Ray).  One place some Denton county residents ran across Sam Bass was at "a crossing on Clear creek, several miles north of Denton, on the way to Pilot Point, in  an arm of the thickly wooded area of the cross timbers" (Down in the Cross Timbers by Worth S. Ray).  "...His main long term hideout was the cove near Rosston in Cooke county near the Wise county line, but he did spend some time in the Hickory Creek thickets south of Denton, used Pilot Knob as a lookout to locate posses chasing him, and rested occasionally at many other places in the county" (An Illustrated History of Denton county, Texas by E. Dale Odom).


Pat Digby relayed the following story to me in 2006.  He said he heard it when he was about twelve years old on a car trip in which Emmitt and Guy Digby were talking in the back seat after having several drinks: "Guy and Will S. Digby lived in East Texas.  Tinnie Barnes would have her kids surround the sheriff when he came to their house a couple of times looking for her brother, Seaborn Barnes.  The kids would hold the reins of the sheriff's horse, hold his legs, and gather close to him.  This would give Seaborn time to escape out the back door and ride away".

Captain June Peak at age 35.  This is the way he looked
when he was commissioned to drive the Sam Bass gang
out of Denton county.  Captain Peak was one of the first
to talk with Jim Murphy about giving the gang away.
(Source: Article "Sam Bass Texas" by Walter Prescott
Webb in the Dallas Morning News, 1-2-1927.  DRT
Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas.

Basic Sequence of Events at Round Rock, Texas (July, 1878):

Thursday, July 18th pm: Some of the gang go into Mays' and Block's store to get horse feed.  Barnes entertains the idea of stealing horses for the gang so they would all have fresh horses to ride.  Murphy discourages this idea because it would make the town folks suspicious.  Murphy says to stay with the original plan of staying there four or five days, rest the horses, and pretend to buy cattle.  Barnes agrees with the plan.  Upon returning to camp, Barnes again states his complete trust in Murphy and thanked Frank Jackson for preventing the boys from killing him a few weeks ago.

Friday, July 19th am: Murphy urges Barnes to go with him to get a shave and take a look around town.

Saturday, July 20th: Sam Bass plans to rob the bank at Round Rock at 3:30 pm.

Old bank at Round Rock, Texas which Sam Bass gang planned to rob.
Current Location: Fort Tumbleweek near Liberty Hill, Texas.
(Source of Image: Leonard & Lynda Kubiak)

At Round Rock, Texas, Barnes shot Sheriff Hoke Grimes twice and killed him when Grimes put his hand on Barnes' shoulder and asked him if he had a gun.  Barnes and the others had on long coats.  Barnes was shot through the head at Round Rock, Texas (Williamson county) on July 19, 1878 (some sources say July 20) about 4:15 pm by Texas Ranger R.C. Ware ("Dick") of Lieutenant Reynold's company (See note at bottom of article regarding Dick Ware).

Dick Ware
(Source of image: Rick Calvert;
"Find A Grave" website, 6-8-2011)

Dick Ware tombstone
Colorado City Cemetery
Colorado City, Texas
Mitchell county.
(Image: "Find A Grave",
added by Beth on 5-15-2012)
Grave: just west of flagpole.

                                           






















Dick Ware ran out of the barber shop with two guns in his hands; he had the striped barber bib still around his neck.  Barnes had one foot in his saddle; he turned to fire at Ware.  Ware stopped and shot once, hitting Barnes squarely in the forehead.  According to Samuel Edward Loving, Barnes was shot right behind the ear, and the ball came out over his eye (The Cattleman, article by Clopton).  Ranger Ware shot Barnes with a Colt 44 while Barnes was running to his horse, according to Ranger Ira Aten at the Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas.  (Note: Leonard Dansby's Sept. 30, 1980 article in San Antonio News states that Barnes was killed with a .45 slug).  (Note: Sam Bass was killed by Henry Harrell (one source says George Harrell) with a Colt 45 single action # 29569.  This is the gun in the Texas Ranger museum).  Seaborn's body was identified by Jim Murphy; he was accompanied by Major Jones.  Barnes had three bullets in his right leg and one bullet in his left leg (sources differ as to how many bullets were in which leg).  Barnes is buried in the Round Rock cemetery, which is two and a half miles north of town; his tombstone now reads, "SEABORN BARNES Here lies Seaborn Barnes, a member of the Sam Bass gang.  Born in Cass county,Texas in 1849.  He was known as 'Seab' or 'Nubbins Colt'.  On Friday, July 19, 1878 at 4:15 pm he was shot through the head as he fled Koppell's store located next to Miller's Exchange Bank on Main street, Round Rock.  Following the killing of Deputy A.W. Grimes and the wounding of Deputy Maurice Moore the fatal shot was fired by Texas Ranger Richard C. Ware.  He was 'right bower' to Sam Bass". "Right bower" means "Sea Anchor".

Graves of Seaborn Barnes (left) & Sam Bass (right)
Round Rock Cemetery, Round Rock, Texas

Seaborn Barnes' tombstone

Entrance to Round Rock Cemetery
Round Rock, Texas

                                             
(Note: His original tombstone was made of sandstone; Seaborn Barnes and Sam Bass have had their tombstones replaced several times due to people chipping the other ones away).  An article in the San Antonio News in 1980 states that, "Barnes was totally loyal and devoted to his leader Sam Bass...."  Pearl (Griffin) Digby said of Seaborn, "The family was ashamed of him" and Mack Flanagan Digby said, "He was mean as a snake.  The Bass gang stopped at William Seaborn Digby's farm on the way to Round Rock to water their horses.  Will Digby knew the gang wouldn't hurt them since they were Seaborn's relatives."  



Reproduction of "Wanted" poster.
Source: McMinnie's Posters

Reproduction of "Wanted " poster.
Source: McMinnie's Posters

Major John B. Jones correspondence regarding Sam Bass Gang:
(Copies of the telegraphs came from the Texas State Archives in Austin, Texas)

Major John B. Jones

Major John B. Jones was the commander of the Frontier Battalion of Texas Rangers from 1874 to 1880.  It was his task to clean up Texas at its worst, just after the carpetbaggers had withdrawn.  The above image of him is from an article titled "Sam Bass Texas" by Walter Prescott Webb.  Dallas Morning News, January 2, 1927.  DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas.

   


Sources:
1.  Tarrant county, Texas Deeds: Book S, page 639
2.  Tarrant county, Texas Deeds: Book C, page 508.
3.  1846 Tax Rolls of Texas (Cass county only) Cass county Genealogical Society. Gen 976.4 Cass C 1977-79. v. 4-6. Vol. 4  No. 1 1977. (Lists John S. Barnes as present in 1846). 
4.  Cass county Genealogical Society. Gen. 976.4 Cass C  1977-79. v.4-6. Vol. 5 No.2  1978  p. 38-39.
5.  Pauline (Barnes) Prescott, Fort Worth, Texas (don't consult; doesn't like to discuss the Barnes family).
6.  Cass county Genealogical Society. Vols. 1-3. June 1974. page 13. Book 1, page 180.
7.  Tarrant county, Texas Deeds: Vol. F, page 516.
8.  1880 Tarrant county, Texas census (Berry Henderson Barnes family: 30; E.D. 91; sheet 5; line 27).
9.  Cass county Genealogical Society. Vols. 1-3. Vol II. no 1  1975.  Oct/ Nov. 1955 page 23.  (The original source is an old Linden newspaper).  For 1889 Delinquent Tax List for Cass county, J.S. Barnes.
10. Cass county, Texas - Records of 1890.  Gen. 976.4  Cass C  compiled by Cass county Genealogical Society.  1990. page 137.
11. Census Records:
     a.  1850 Cass county, Texas census (Hickory Hill, now called Avinger), page 727.
     b.  1880 Tarrant county, Texas census (James & Martha Beall).
     c.  1850 Attala county, Mississippi census.
     Note: No census after the 1850 Cass county, Texas shows the John S. Barns family.  They could have been in the 1860 Tarrant county, Texas census, but it was burned.  (I need to check alternate spellings of the Barns name on the census).
12. Jean Jones (Barnes researcher): auntjean@rapidramp.com - Family Talk.  Thelma Jean Jones (great grandaughter of Lily Barnes).
13. Barnes mailing  list: MAISER@rmgate.pop.indiana.edu  SUB BARNES (Place on first line of message and send).
14. Internet links that may prove helpful:
     Genealogy Online
     WWW Genealogy Databases
     Surnames: WWW surname archive
     National Queries Forum
     Rand Genealogy Club
     Roots Surname List Name Finder
     Roots Location List Name Finder
     Roots - L
15. Jean Jones e-mail:  DNNM42A@prodigy.com
16. Cecilie Gaziano (major source of information on Barnes families).
17. A Sketch of Sam Bass, The Bandit by Charles L. Martin.  Dallas: Herald Steam Printing House, 1880.  Reprinted in 1956 by the University of Oklahoma Press (Charles L. Martin was a Dallas newspaperman).
18. Sam Bass by Wayne Gard.  1936, reprinted by the University of Nebraska Press.  Lincoln, 1964.
19. Charline Morris (Mrs. Alonzo Morris).  Information regarding Barnes Lake in Cass county, Texas.  She gave me the following sources:
     a.  Mr. Harlan B. Pitchford
     b.  Lilly Barnes (used to live at Barnes Lake; in her 70s in 1997).
     c.  Maude Marie (Simpson) Salmon (wife of Jack Salmon, dec'd).  She owns Barnes Lake.
     d.  Fred McKenzie: Wrote book on Avinger, Texas.
20. The Texas Rangers by Walter Prescott Webb. Publisher: University of Texas Press. Copyright: 1965.
21. San Antonio News article on September 30, 1980 by Leonard Dansby (about Seaborn Barnes).
22. Frontier Times, Vol. 2.  October, 1924. No. 1 (Published monthly at Bandera, Texas by J. Marvin Hunter). p. 11 - The Complete Version of the Sam Bass song.
23. The Cattlemen: Article, "Texas Branding of Sam Bass" by Mildred Cooke Clopton. 1953.  pgs. 31, 47-49 (DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas).
24. The Authentic History of Sam Bass and His Gang by a citizen of Denton county.  Frontier Times, 1932. pages 170-175.  (DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Tx).
25. The Tenderfoot Bandits Sam Bass and Joel Collins, Their Lives and Hard Times, by Paula Reed and Grover Ted Tate, 1987. Vol. 51. Great West & Indian Series.
26. The Dallas Morning News, July 26, 1936.  Article, "Account of Sam Bass is Exciting and Authentic" by Walter Prescott Webb (DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas).
27. The Sun, July 25, 1878 article "The Tragedy in Round Rock" (DRT Library in the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas).
28. The Houston Post, Sunday, September 26, 1965 article, "Sam Bass: Walter Prescott Webb's Story of Texas' Beloved".  (DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas).
29. The Dallas Morning News, January 2, 1927 article, "Sam Bass, Texas" by Walter Prescott Webb (DRT Libary at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas).
30. Article, "The Story of Sam Bass" by Charles Lee Martin (DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas).
31. American-Statesman, Sunday, August 14, 1927.  Article, "Death of Sam Bass Retold by Spectator" by Ted Thompson.  (DRT Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Tx).
32. A Sketch of Sam Bass, The Bandit by Charles L. Martin.  University of Oklahoma Press.  The Western Frontier Library.
33. Round Rock, USA !!! Project of the Round Rock Kiwanis Club, 1972.
34. Williamson County, Texas: Its History and It's People.  Williamson county sesquicentennial Genealogical Society.  Article, "I Saw the Shooting of Sam Bass" by J.B. Warden (submitted by Mrs. Clara Warden Pafford).
35. Initial sources in Cecilie Gaziano research:
     a.  1850 Cass county, Texas census (John and Martha Barns).
     b.  Yalobusha county, Mississippi Tax List 1834-35; 1836 and 1841 (for John and Martha Barns group).
     c.  Cooke county, Texas Tax Roll, 1878 (James & Martha Beall).
     d.  Texas General Land Office, File 848.
     e.  Tarrant county, Texas Deeds (Vol. F, p. 516, 1876; Book C, p. 508, 1877) (John & Martha Barns).
     f.  Personal papers/ notes of Aileen Beall Whaley (deceased) of Sweetwater, Texas (James & Martha Beall).
     g.  Texas death certificate # 71559 (James & Martha Beall).
     h.  1880 Tarrant county, Texas census (James & Martha Beall).
     i.  March, 1876 Denton county, Texas guardianship file (James & Martha Beall).
36. Yalobusha county, Mississippi Tax List for 1834 and 1835.
37.  Yalobusha county, Mississippi Marriage Records 1846 - 1870 by Frances L. Turnage.  Water Valley, Mississippi: comp. 1958. (Note: Book A has been lost for many years; only the index remains.  Fort Worth library has a hand copied index with the Barns marriage date. page 6) (John and Martha Barns).
38.  Yalobusha county Historical Society Files & Records, vol. 1, page 7.
39.  Article, "Comments on the Early History of Water Valley" North Mississippi Herald, author unknown, August 4, 1938, Yalobusha Pioneer, vol. 17, # 4, Winter, 1992. (page 15).
40.  Mack Digby, June, 1980.
41.  Vera (Barnett) Digby, 1980.
42.  Pearl (Griffin) Digby, May 11, 1980.
43.  Mrs. Elmira Tennessee (Barnes) Digby Confederate Pension Application, Texas State Archives, Austin, Texas.
44.  The Donahoe Community and Donahoe, Texas - A Ghost Town by Mr. E.A. Limer Jr.
45.  1880 Texas Soundex (D-210 micro-copy T-773, Roll # 18.  D200-0450).  Fort Worth, Texas library.
46.  The Texas Ranger Museum, Waco, Texas - 1995.  (Note: Ranger Ira Aten identified Ranger Dick Ware's gun as a Colt 44; this was the gun that killed Seaborn Barnes in Round Rock, Texas.  The gun is not located at this museum; the type of gun was identified.  The Colt 45 that killed Sam Bass is at the museum).
47.  Random search of the Fort Worth Democrat newspaper 1873-1890 at the Fort Worth library (on microfilm; difficult to read).
48.  Marcelle Hull, UTA Libraries, Special Collections (possibly has information on Seaborn Barnes).
49.  Frontier Times, 1933 (A letter from S.W. Digby about John Barnes involvement in the Mexican War).
50.  A book written by Wayne Gard in 1878.
51.  Letter from Rick Miller to Billy Blair dated December 20, 1996 requesting help for the definitive new book he's writing on the Sam Bass gang.
52.  Letter dated May 22, 1995 from Dan Agler, Collections Manager for the Moody, Texas Ranger Library at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas.
53.  Down in the Cross Timbers by Worth S. Ray.
54.  Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen and Outlaws by Jay Robert Nash (Copyright: 1994).
55.  Six Years with the Texas Rangers by J.B. Gillett (Note: J.B. Gillett was a Texas Ranger who was an eye witness to the shoot-out in Round Rock between the Rangers and the Sam Bass gang).
56.  An Illustrated History of Denton county, Texas (From Peters Colony to Metroplex) by E. Dale Odom, 1996.
57.  Pictorial History of the Wild West by James D. Horan and Paul Sann.  Bonanza Books, New York.
58.  1968 Footprints, page 77.  Patent volume 543, No. 38.  Abstract # 98/3. (B.H. Barnes land).
59.  1968 Footprints, page 77.  Patent volume #179, No. 27.  Abstract # 163/3.  (Josiah D. Beall land).
60.  Jeannine (Digby) Blair conversation on April 21, 2012 with Billy Blair (regarding Seaborn Barnes being called "Red" because he had red hair....).
61.  The Handbook of Texas - article on Texas Ranger Richard Clayton Ware (Dick Ware, who killed Seaborn Barnes).  (See citation in note below).
62.  "Find A Grave" website for Richard Clayton Ware.
63.  Pat Digby, September, 2006. (Story about Tinnie Barnes' family protecting Seaborn Barnes when the sheriff arrived).

Notes:
1.  There is an estate settlement for a John S. Barns in Tarrant county on April 26, 1852, but probably is the wrong Barns  (Billy Blair has a copy of the settlement).
2.  Problem: Confusion with other "John Barnes" or "John S. Barns" in Cass county and Tarrant county.
3.  John S. Barnes in Cass county, Texas who bought land for the International Railroad Company.  Could this one be ours?  On January 15, 1874, there was a deed of trust between John S. Barnes et. al. to the International RR Company (C611).
4.  The "Barneses" were one of seven families living in Handley, Tarrant county, Texas.  This is the same time that the railroad came through Handley.  The "Barneses" lived on Village Creek.  1876.  (Which Barnes was this?).
5.  How to get access to John S. Barnes' Mexican War record?
6.  Yalobusha county, Mississippi has two county seats: one in Water Valley and one in Coffeeville.  Our Barnes records are in Coffeeville; the other courthouse burned.  Some of the Creek Indians went to Water Valley, Mississippi about 1820 or so.  They were from South Central Georgia.
7.  Possible early migration patterns for the Barnes family:
     a.  From NC to SC to GA to ALA.
     b.  From NC and SC to TN to ALA.
8.  Cecilie Gaziano believes that William Barnes is John S. Barnes' father (not proven).
9.  How to get copies of John S. Barns land grants at the Texas land office?
10. Railroad records; books; wanted posters for John S. Barns or Seaborn Barnes.
11. Check Arlington, Texas cemetery records.
12. Check Rose Hill cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.
13. Polly C. Barnes is listed as John S. Barnes' wife in settlement of John S. Barnes estate in 1852.  Could this have been a second wife of our John S. Barnes?
14. Cass county, Texas was renamed Davis county during the Civil War.
15. Read sheet on "Early Land Laws" in my Barnes file.
17. Migration pattern for Barnes:
     Before 1841: Yalobusha county, Mississippi.
     1841-1843: Move to Texas.
     1843-1866: Cass county, Texas.
     1866-1870's: Martha (Cannon) Barnes moves family to Handley, Tarrant county, Texas.
18. Originally, "Barnes" was "O' Barnes" in Ireland.
19. The "Cannons" lived in the northern part of the Yalobusha county, Mississippi.
20. Check the Denton county Historical Museum, especially for information on potters in Denton county.
21. Fort Tumbleweed - Gateway to the Old West.  Located 20 miles NW of Austin, Texas near Liberty Hill.  http://www.forttumbleweed.com   (Source of image of Round Rock, Texas bank which the Sam Bass gang planned to rob).
22.  There is a Tennessee Barnes (1848 - 1930) in Lincoln county, Missouri (with a picture).  Any relation?
23.  Richard Clayton Ware (Dick War) article in The Handbook of Texas:
(H. Allen Anderson, "WARE, RICHARD CLAYTON,"  Handbook of Texas
Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fwabf).  accessed April 22, 2014.  Uploaded on June 15, 2010.  Published by the Texas State Historical Association).
"Ware, Richard Clayton (1851 - 1902).  Richard Clayton Ware, Texas Ranger, sheriff, and United States marshall, the oldest son of Benjamin F. and Mary Jane (Price) Ware, was born on November 11, 1851, on the family plantation near Rome, Georgia.  In 1870 he came with his family to Texas and settled near Dallas.  Ware joined the Frontier Battalion on April 1, 1876 and was assigned to Company E under Lt. B.S. Foster.  He continued to serve in that company under lieutenants Nelson O. Reynolds and C.L. Nievill.  In July, 1878 Ware was among the rangers sent to accompany Maj. John B. Jones to Round Rock to intercept Sam Bass and his gang.  Ware was in a barbershop being shaved when the outlaws entered the town and killed Deputy Sheriff A.W. "High" Grimes.  He rushed from the shop only partially shaved and fired his gun at the fleeing outlaws.  One shot killed Seaborn Barnes, and another, it is thought was the bullet that fatally wounded Sam Bass.  Although Lieutenant Nevill's official report, based on the coroner's verdict, credited George Herold (or Harrell) with the fatal shot, several eyewitnesses, including fellow ranger Chris Connor, attributed it to Ware.  Even the dying Bass declared that the man who felled him had lather on his face.  The controversy over who really killed Sam Bass was never entirely resolved.  In 1880 Ware was transferred to Company B of the Frontier Battalion under Capt. Ira Long and sent with them to Hackberry Springs in Mithcell county.  Ware resigned from the company in 1861 to become the county's first sheriff.  He had won that job by a single vote, and not long afterward his opponent was killed by Ranger Jeff Milton while resisting arrest.  Ware was re-elected until November 11, 1892, when his deputy defeated him.  President Grover Cleveland appointed Ware U.S. Marshall for the Western District of Texas on May 11, 1893.  He held that office at Colorado City headquarters until January 26, 1898, when the McKinley administration replaced him.  Ware was a Mason, an Oddfellow, and a lifelong bachelor.  He moved to Corpus Christi for his health and later to a Fort Worth hospital in 1902.  He developed heart trouble, which resulted in his death on July 2, 1902.  He was buried in Colorado City.  
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Corpus Christi Caller, July 4, 1902.  H. Gordon Frost and John H. Jenkins,  'I'm Frank Hamer': The Life of a Texas Peace Officer (Austin: Pemberton Press, 1968).  J. Evetts Haley, Jeff Milton (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1948).  Robert W. Stephens, Texas Ranger Sketches (Dallas, 1972).  Thomas Thompson, The Ware Boys: The Story of a Texas Family Bank (Canyon, Texas: Staked Plains, 1978).  Walter Prescott Webb, The Texas Rangers (Boston: Houghton Miffin, 1935, rpt. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982).  H. Allen Anderson"