THE

STOCKMAN FAMILY

NEWSLETTER

16 McKinley Street

Silver City, NM 88061



Table of Contents

 

Stockman Family Newsletter

 

Volume 18 Number 1

 

Reunion Apple Valley, California May 13, 14, and 15

World War I Draft Registration for Stockmans

Oklahoma

Texas

Robert Jesse Stockman

Two Stockman Headstones in Tarrant County, Texas

Obituary of Old George Stockman

The will of Old George Stockman

New Subscribers, etc

The Resurrection of John Thomas Stroope

The Stroope Family

John Thomas Stroope

The Odle Family

It begins to come together

The Resurrection

Editor Speaks

 


 

  THE

STOCKMAN FAMILY

  NEWSLETTER


 

Volume 18, Number 1                               © Lee Stockman                                                   March 2005


 

 Reunion Apple Valley, California May 13, 14, and 15

 

            Time to make reservations and get the old tin lizzie up and running. The Red Roof Inn has been inspected by Sharon and she reports that it is modern, quiet, clean and has a friendly staff. Single Rooms have king bed and the cost, including tax, is $58.49 per day. Doubles have queen beds and cost $62.49 per day. To get these special rates you MUST tell the reservations clerk you are with the Stockman Family Reunion.

 

Red Roof Inn

13409 Mariposa Road

Victorville, CA 92395

Inn Phone: (760) 241-1577

Toll Free 1-800-733-7663

 

             John and Sharon want RVers to know that they have accommodations for several RV at their home, but you need to contact them soon to make sure there is space. If you prefer an RV park there is one about 3 miles from there home where full hookups are $20 per night with a 10% discount for Good Sam. Contact the Lone Wolf Colony RV Park 23200 Bear Valley Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307. Sharon assures us that this is a regular, clean RV park and not a nudist Colony!

            Those who plan to fly should arrive at Ontario Airport, and prepare for a pleasant 50 mile drive to Apple Valley. If you need more information call John and Sharon at : 760-240-5295 or e-mail them at: sacsas@aol.com.

 

            For you GPS fans here are the coordinates for the accommodations:

                                                Red Roof Inn               34.4918056034, 117.3306098135

                                                Lone Wolf RV                         34̊ 28.233' N, 117̊ 9.300' W

 

            Apple Valley is beautiful in the spring time of the year, the wild flowers will be blooming, the days temperate and pleasant. Just off Interstate 15 before it drops down off of the Mojave Desert into the metropolitan area of San Bernardino, Apple Valley was for many years the home of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

            Be prepared for our traditional auction. Bring items for the auction or, yes, Money to join in the bidding for your favorite items.

            You, California members of the family, what better excuse for a few days away from the wear and tear of everyday life than to join the festive atmosphere of a traditional Stockman Family Reunion without having to travel to New Mexico or Texas. See you soon.

 

 

 

World War I Draft Registration for Stockmans

 

            These records have recently become available on Ancestry but are not available for all states.

 

Oklahoma

Stockman first name               Residence                    Date of Birth   Occupation     Next of Kin

 

George Green                        Erick, OK                    31 Jul 1880     Farming          Wife 

            Son of William Henry Stockman (Hardy Francis Stockman, Henry Stockman Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family)

Leonard S                  Erick, OK                    17 May 1896              Farming          Wife

            Son of Young Leonard Stockman ( William Henry Stockman)

Freeman Arthur       Drumwright, OK         18 May 1886                          ?           Wife Mattie

            Son of Perry Francis Stockman (Hardy Francis Stockman)

Hardy Vernon           Drumwright, OK         13 Jun 1899                Oilfield Worker           n/s

            Son of Perry Francis Stockman.

Hiram Perry              Drumwright, OK         6 Mar 1891                 Barber             Single

            Son of Perry Francis Stockman

Joseph Herman         Guthrie, OK                 1 Dec 1889                 Farmer            Married

            Joseph Herman Stockman was born in Reno County, Kansas. In 1910 he was living next door to Henry Stockman age 64 yrs who was from Germany, probably his father.

Jessie Lewis               Marshall OK                25 Feb 1888                Farmer            Married - 2 children

            Jesse Lewis Stockman was born in OK.

Joseph Verzel            Linn OK                     7 Feb 1891                  Farming          Married -2 Children

            Joseph Verzel Stockman was born in Kansas, father Herman, living with him in 1920 was born in Illinois

 

 

Texas

 

Stockman first name   Residence                    Date of Birth   Occupation     Next of Kin

 

Bill                              Brown, TX                  27 Jun 1890    Farm Hand      Wife 

Bill (Brennan Bill) Stockman was son of Jessie Thomas Stockman (Hardy Francis Stockman) Signed his Mark

Frank                         Brown, TX                  9 Mar 1900     Farm               Mother  

            Frank (Dodger D) Stockman was son of Jessie Thomas Stockman.. Signed his Mark, mother is Mrs. Mellie Edwards.

Lee                             Brown, TX                  20 Apr 1897               ?          Mother  

            Lee L Stockman was son of Jessie Thomas Stockman. Signed his Mark. Mother in Mellie Edwards.

Durward Jepthy      Lampasas, TX                         15 Dec 1873   Farmer            Ima Polly Wife

            Durward Jeptha Stockman was son of Garrison Greenwood Stockman ( Henry Joseph Stockman, Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family)

Henry Walter                        Caldwell, TX               5 Jan 1889      Barber  Wife - 2 children

            Henry Walter Stockman was son of Perry Francis Stockman

Raymond                   Comanche, TX            27 Sep 1896                Laborer           Married  

            Raymond Carr Stockman was son of Jessie Thomas Stockman. Signed his Mark

Jessie James              Hill, TX                       16 Nov 1892    Farming         Wife and child

            Jesse James Stockman was son of William David Stockman (George William Stockman, Peter Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family)

 Thomas                       Lamar, TX                  11 May 1899   Farmer          George Stockman

            Thomas Stockman was probably son George Stockman who lived in Fayette, Fayette County, Alabama. Signed his Mark

Harry                         Lampasas, TX                         17 Sep 1893    Farming          Mother & Sister.

            Harry H Stockman was son of Jessie Thomas Stockman. Signed his Mark

Thomas Arthur         Milam, TX      7 Jan 1882      Farming                      Victoria Stockman

            Thomas Arthur Stockman was son of Thomas P Stockman (John George Stockman of Alabama, Barbara Stockman of the 1790 census of Newberry County, SC)

Columbus A              Nacogdoches, TX        15 Apr 1874   Farmer            Mrs. V V Stockman

            Columbus Anastash Stockman was the son of Peter F Stockman (Peter Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family)

David E                      Navaro, TX                  16 Mar 1895   Farming          Father and Mother

            David Earp Stockman was son of William David Stockman (George William Stockman, Peter Stockman) he died 1 Nov 1918 in battle in France.Support of Father and Mother. David is listed as Killed in Action, in Soldiers of the Great War.

Eldon Pettaway         Orange, TX                  28 Nov 1894   Laborer           Wife

            Eldon Petaway Stockman is son of Prentis Pettaway Stockman, ( John A Stockman, John Peter Stockman, Barbara Stockman of the 1790 census of Newberry County, SC.

Owen Evert               Sherman, TX               7 Oct 1886      stock farmer    Single

            We have been unable to identify Owen Evert Stockman. Born in Plymouth Indiana.

Robert Jesse              Tarrant, TX                  7 Jun 1878      Adit Salesman Eura Clara Stockman

            See next article for identification of Robert Jesse Stockman.


 

Robert Jesse Stockman

            In 1920 Robert Jesse Stockman was enumerated in Tarrant County, TX

 

1920, Robert Stockman, Tarrant County, Texas, 6th Ward Ft. Worth, Page 176B, H. H. 157

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

Robert Stockman

Head

M

41

Mgr, Telephone Compay

TX

TX

TX

Eula

Wife

F

32

 

TX

TN

TN

Earl Inez

Dau

F

13

 

TX

TX

TX

Florence

Dau

F

10

 

TX

TX

TX

Robert

Son

M

6

 

TX

TX

TX

Billy

Son

M

2

 

TX

TX

TX

 

            Robert Jesse Stockman does not fit into any of the known Texas Stockman Families, even though he was enumerated, born in TX and both parents born in TX. In 1910 Robert J Stockman is living in Erath County, TX. with his widowed mother.

 

1910, S A McClellan,

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

S A McClellan

Hear

F

50

Works in Hotel

TX

MO

TX

Robert Stockman

Son

M

31

Driver Livery Stable

TX

IA

TX

Ura C

D-in-L

F

23

 

TX

TN

TN

Earl

G dau

F

3

 

TX

TX

TN

Florence

G dau

F

7/12

 

TX

TX

TN

            Robert and Eula have been married four years. S A McClellan is a widow. In this census we find that the enumerator listed his father born in Iowa. In 1900 Robert Stockman is living in Brown County, TX all alone.

 

1900, Brown County, Texas, Blanket community, Page142A

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

Robert Stockman

Boarder

M

22

Cold Drink Stand?

TX

OH

TX

 

Living next door is William McClellan and his wife Sally, Sally is surely the mother of Robert. Here the enumerator tells us Robert’s father was born in OH. In 1880 we find Robert in the family of Charles Stockman, from Ohio who is living in Precinct 4, Lavaca county, Texas, enumerated on Page 448C

                                                Relation           Sex      Marr    Race    Age      Birthplace

Charlie STOCKMAN            Self                  M        M        W        25         OH      Occ:    FarmerFa: PRUSIA          Mo: NJ

Sarah STOCKMAN               Wife                 F         M        W        22         TX      Occ:    Keeping House  Fa: MO           Mo: LA

William STOCKMAN           Son                  M        S         W        3           TX Fa: OH     Mo: TX

Robert STOCKMAN             Son                  M        S         W        2           TX Fa: OH     Mo: TX

Mary                                       Dau                  F         S         W        1M       TX Fa: OH     Mo: TX

 

            This census tells us that Robert’s father was born in Ohio ca 1855 and his father was born in Prussia. A Look at the 1860 census of Ohio offers confusing information. The only Charles Stockman who was born circa 1855 has a father born in Maryland. Further Research is needed to determine the early ancestry of Robert Jesse Stockman who registered in the draft in World War I in Texas.-//-

 


 

Two Stockman Headstones in Tarrant County, Texas

 

            Photos of two headstones in the Mount Olivet Cemetery, in Tarrant County, TX, were recently posted on the Cemeteries Photographed web site, url http://pages.prodigy.net/teafor2/. Who were these to Stockmans?

 

Seth S Stockman 1896 – 1960

Lucille Cindy Stockman 1914 – 1998

 

            In the 1930 census, Seth S Stockman was living in St Joseph County, Indiana.

 

1930 Seth S Stockman, St Joseph County, IN, H. H. 374

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

Seth S Stockman

Head

M

34

Insurance Agent

IN

OH

OH

Gail E

Wife

F

31

 

IN

IN

IN

Marie

Dau

F

12

 

IN

IN

IN

Samuel

Son

M

10

 

IN

IN

IN

Eleanor

Dau

F

8

 

IN

IN

IN

Phylis

Dau

F

2

 

IN

IN

IN

 

Sometime after this census was taken, Gail died and Seth remarried to Lucille Zumbauch Funk and they moved to the Fort Worth Area in Tarrant County, TX where they died and are buried.

            Texas death records tell us that Harriet Lucille Stockman died 2 Dec 1998 in Tarrant County, TX. Seth Samuel Stockman or Samuel Seth Stockman was born 13 Feb 1896 in Marshall County, IN . He was the son of Samuel Stockman and Mary C Yazel. Seth married Emma Gail Amones.

            In 1910 young Seth Stockman is living with his parents, Samuel and Mary C Stockman in Marshall County, IN.

 

1910 Samuel Stockman, Marshall County, Center TWP, Page 39 B and 40A H. H. 168

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

Samuel Stockman

Head

M

49

Farmer owns farm

IN

PA

PA

Mary C

Wife

F

46

Heeping House

OH

OH

OH

Mary Gertrude

Dau

F

22

 

IN

IN

OH

Jesse Albertus

Son

M

20

 

IN

IN

OH

George Edgar

Son

M

19

 

IN

IN

OH

Alma Grace

Dau

F

17

 

IN

IN

OH

Pearl Ann

Dau

F

16

 

IN

IN

OH

Samuel Seth

Son

M

14

 

IN

IN

OH

Charles Timothy

Son

M

12

 

IN

IN

OH

Carl Jacob

Son

M

10

 

IN

IN

OH

Raymond Earl

Son

M

9

 

IN

IN

OH

Ivy Lorraine

Dau

F

7

 

IN

IN

OH

Paul Clyde

Son

M

5

 

IN

IN

OH

Fay Dell

Dau

F

3

 

IN

IN

OH

 

            Samuel Stockman, father of Seth, was born 28 Feb 1861, and died 13 Jul 1938. He married on 27 Apr 1884 Mary Yazel who was born 2 Jan 1864 and died 23 Aug 1949 they had 14 children 12 of whom were enumerated in the 1910 census.

            We find young Samuel Stockman in the 1870 census enumerated with his parents John and Anna Stuckman. During the generations this family changed from Stockman to Stuckman and then back.

 

1870 John Stuckman, Marshall County, IN, Center TWP, Page

Name

Age

Sex

Occupation

Place of Birth

John Stuckman

50

M

none shown

OH

Anna

40

F

Keeping house

IN

Christena

15

F

At Home

IN

Susan

12

F

 

IN

Samuel

9

M

 

IN

Maria

6

F

 

IN

Ellen Shaffer

5

F

 

IN

 

            John Stockman in 1850 was living in Elkhart IN very near to where his elderly father, George Stockman was living.

 

1850 Elkhart County, Indiana, Page 117, H.H. 1583, 2 Oct 1850, Union TWP

Name

Age

Sex

Occupation

Place of Birth

John Stockman

30

M

Farmer $300

OH

Anna

25

F

 

Canada

Solomon

 5

M

 

IN

Hannah

 3

F

 

IN

Sally

6/12

F

 

IN

 

            John Stockman was a son of George Stuckman and Christine Balsbaugh. He was born 26 Apr. 1820 in PA and died 14 Sep 1903. He married Anna Stump 3 Oct 1844 in Elkhart County, IN. They had ten children. John Stockman’s obituary reads:

 

John Stockman, son of Gorge Stockman and Christina Stockman was born in Pennsylvania April 26, 1820-died Sept. 12, 1903-age 83 years 4 months, 16 days. At the age of four years he moved with his parents to Ohio, later to Elkhart co. In. Where he grew to manhood. In 1844 he married Anna Stump. To this union was born 10 children, 5 of which are living, Solomon, Samuel, Hannah DeVeny, Maria McClurg and Christina Nifong, all of whom are living in Marshall county. In the year 1853 he and his family moved to Marshall county settling on the farm where he has since lived. He leaves an aged companion, 5 children, 34 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Funeral September 14, 1903 at his home conducted by elders J. H. Sellers and J. G. Joseph of the German Baptist [Dunkard] church. Internment at the Mt. Pleasant church.

 

            Anna Stump was born 16 Jun 1825 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and died 23 Mar 1909 in Plymouth, Marshall Co, IN, she was a daughter of Solomon Stump and Anna Burkholder..

            George Stuckman, Father of John is the pioneer, George Stuckman, son of Johannes Peter Stockmann the immigrant who arrived in Philadelphia in 1766. See the article about George Stuckman later in this newsletter.

 

Gertrude W. Stockman 1922 - 2004

            Gertrude Cline Wiles Stockman, "Trudy," age 82, of Manassas, died on Oct. 5, 2004, at Prince
William Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Lewis and Bessie Carter Cline of Winchester. Trudy
retired from Watkins-Johnson. Prior to that, she worked at Melpar. She enjoyed her crafts,
especially crocheting. She also loved her flowers.

            Her first husband Roy O. Wiles preceded her in death in 1973. She is survived by their children,
Gerry Kent of Arcola, Mary Hull of Washington, N.C., Roy (Buster) Wiles of Fort Valley, Jim
Wiles of Amissville, Harry Wiles of Warrenton, and John Wiles of Manassas.

            Her second husband Frank Stockman (William Hardy Stockman, William Bonapart Stockman,
Young Hardy Stockman, Hardy Francis Stockman, Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and
Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family) died in 1994. In addition to her children, she is
survived by 24 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren, four stepdaughters,
and numerous step grandchildren, as well as, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

            Funeral services were held on Friday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. Interment followed at Stonewall
Memory Gardens.

This obituary was published in the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger on 10/7/2004.

  

Margaret E. Singletary Stockman 1921-2004

Former Prague resident Margaret E. Stockman, 82, died Tuesday, May 11,2004 at her home in
Broken Arrow. She was born May 25, 1921, in Gerard, Texas, to Clyde and Ada (Banks) Singletary. She
was a homemaker and a lifelong Southern Baptist.

            On July 19, 1945, she married Earl Stockman (Brennan Bill Stockman, Jessie Thomas
Stockman, Hardy Francis Stockman, Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet
of the Texas branch of the family) in Texas. He preceded her in death on Jan. 26, 2000.

Margaret and her husband lived in California until 1979 when they retired and moved to Prague. In 2003,
she moved to Broken Arrow.

            She also was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and sister. Survivors include her
three sons and two daughters-in-law, Ron and Elaine Boyd of Prague, Don Stockman of Buena Park,
Calif., and Earl and Ethel Stockman of Mira Loma, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Terry
Owen of Broken Arrow; 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

            Service were held at 10 a.m. Saturday15 May at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague
with the Rev. Randall Miller officiating. Burial followed at Prague Cemetery. Arrangements are under
the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.

 

Obituary of Old George Stockman

 

            George Stockman, son of Johannes Peter Stockman the immigrant lived many years and died in Marshall County, Indiana. His obituary is from The Marshall County Republican 12 Jun 1862 and was provided to the Newsletter by Elizabeth Groth who is descended from George Stockman.

 

George Stockman, aged about 90 years, died at the residence of William Clark, in this county, on the 6th inst.– He voted for General Washington for President in 1788.

 


 

The will of Old George Stockman

 

            Old George Stockman, the son of Johannes Peter Stockman made his will the 12th day of September 1856. Elizabeth Groth has shared this important find with us.

 

In the name of the Lord, Amen,

This is my last will and testament made this 13th day of September AD Eighteen Hundred and fifty six.

First, all my expenses of sickness and my funeral expenses to be paid first, of the proceeds of my property.

Second, that my body to be buried in a decent manner.

Third, that my real and personal property to be sold and divided amongst my children in the following manner

To my sons Martin Stuckman Samuel Stuckman John Stuckman, Peter Stuckman David Stuckman Catherine Stuckman, deceased, Tazen Clemence, Mary Clark, Hannah Drake, Christina Newcomer, to each of the above I give an equal share of my property.

To George Stuckman I have given his share of the property and I shall not give him anything.

To my daughter Elizabeth Amick I give and bequeath an equal share with the rest of my children by her paying sixteen dollars to the rest of the heirs

I also appoint my son Martin Stuckman to be my administrator, to settle up my affairs

Given under my hand and seal this twelfth day of September 1856.

 

AttestHis

William P ShreveGeorge XStuckman

John WhetstoneMark

 

On the reverse is the notation that the Will of George Stuckman was:

 

Filed and Recorded July 8th 1862

         H R Pershing, Clerk

         2-180

 


 

New Subscribers, etc

 

Willie Gilmore (Rose Nell Stockman, William Bonapart Stockman, Young Hardy Stockman, Hardy Francis Stockman, Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the Family) New Subscriber 35635 Cockran Creek Dr, Brownsville, OR 97327. (541) 466 5525.

Mary Stockman Goetes has a new address: 7-777 Langlois Rd. Sp. #88, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241.

 


 

The Resurrection of John Thomas Stroope

 

            Our story of John Thomas Stroope has a few twists and turns and involves the Stockman family peripherally in three different paths. This gets a little complicated so stick with me folks!

            Young Hardy Stockman (Hardy Francis Stockman, Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family) married Rebecca Billings, 14 Sep 1866 in Kerr County, Texas. Rebecca was the daughter of James Billings and Louisa Naomi Kent, dau of Alamo Hero Andrew Kent. One of Rebecca’s younger brothers was Ammon Billings who was born 9 Jun 1947 in DeWitt County, TX. His name is sometimes spelled Amon.

            Ammon Billings married Mary Lee Stroope 3 Mar 1872 in Kerr County, Texas. They lived on the Hackberry Fork of the Nueces River in what is today Edwards County. Edwards County had been designated in 1859, but was not organized as a county until1 1877. Ammon and Mary Jane had two children, Mary Jane Billings was born 4 Jan 1878 in Rocksprings, TX, she married James Lawrence Anderson 27 Dec 1888 in Leakey, TX. They had four children and Jane Anderson died14 Jan 1963 in Rocksprings. Another daughter was born to Ammon Billings and Mary Lee Stroope, Willie O Billings but both mother and child lived only a few days after the birth.

            Following the death of Mary Lee, Ammon Billings married her sister, Lucinda Catherine Stroope on 9 Feb 1875 in Kerr County, Texas. They had eight children. Ammon died in the 1890's and Mary Jane died 5 Apr 1954 in Texas.

 

The Stroope Family

            There are many different spellings of the name Stroope. Strup, Stroop, Strupe, are some of the more common ones. John Price Stroope was born in Arkansas ca 1843 and moved his family to Texas. He married Sarah Jane whose last name may have been either Dalton or more likely, Benson.

            They had six children:

1.         Mary Lee Stroope was born ca 1856 in TX and was the first wife of Ammon Billings

2.          Lucinda Catherine Stroope was born 3 Feb 1858 in TX and was the second wife of Ammon Billings.

3.         John Thomas Stroope was born 15 May 1859. More on John Thomas Stroope later.

4.         Martha Jane Stroope was born 4 Feb 1861 in Kerr County, TX. She married FNU Farmer.

5.         Sarah Louisa Stroope was born 1 Feb 1863 in Kerr County, TX. She married FNU Kempt.

6.         Baby Stroope born and died in 1864 in TX

 

John Thomas Stroope

            John Thomas Stroope, third child of John Price Stroope and Sarah Jane Benson was born 15 May 1859 in Texas. He was enumerated with his parents in the 1860 Census in Kerrville, Kerr County, TX.

 

1860 J P Strupe, Kerr County, TX, Kerrville, page 72, H. H. 74

Name

Age

Sex

Occupation

Place of Birth

J P Strupe

37

M

Teacher in Common School

AR

Sarah

21

F

 

IL

Mary L

3

F

 

TX

John Thomas

1

M

 

TX

 

John Thomas Stroope has not been found in the 1870 census but in 1880 he was living alone in Tom Green County.

 

 

1880 John Stroopes, Tom Green County, TX, Precinct 1, page 376D, H. H. 92

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

John Stroopes

Head

M

21

Laborer

TX

TX

TX

 

            On 31 Jan 1885, John Thomas Stroope married Elizabeth Bell Odle and they had two children:

1.         Adeline Stroope born in April 1896.

2.         William Stroope born in September 1897.

            Now we interrupt our study of John Thomas Stroope to look at the Odle family.

 

The Odle Family

            James S Odle was born ca 1835 in Arkansas and there he married Rachel Adoline Thruman. In 1860 they were living in Benton County, Arkansas. They moved their family to Texas around 1870. They first settled in Burnett County and were still living there in 1880 when James S was enumerated as Widowed. They had seven children:

1.         John Dee Odle was born ca 1859 in AR and married Amy Melvina Mccarty in TX.

2.         James A Odle was born ca 1864 in AR. See below for death.

3.         Alvin C Odle was born ca 1866 in AR. and died in 1888 in Vance, Edwards Co, TX.

4.         Elizabeth Bell Odle was born ca 1868 in AR. She married 1. John Thomas Stroope and 2 William Jefferson Brunson. She died 13 April 1915

5.         Nancy J Odle was born in 1871 in TX.

6.         Robert L Odle was born ca 1872 in TX. He died in Arizona.

7.         Walter P Odle was born ca 1876 In Texas. He must be the son called Will. He died in Edwards County, TX in 1888.

 

            Alan Stovall in his book, Nueces Headwater County says that the Odle family lived near where the old Hackberry Store was once located. Several of the Odle Boys worked for Mr. Newman. His list of the children tells us their nicknames and the fate of Jim Odle.:

“John was the oldest of the Odle Children. Among the others were Lizzie, who married John Stroops, Nannie, Alvin, Will, Jim and Bud. Another boy was called Monk by his family and the neighbors. Mrs. Odle was dead and the children were all about grown. Jim was killed while working for Mr. Newman. He was trying to catch a horse that was trailing a rope. As he leaned over in the saddle to catch the rope, the mare’s foot hit the line. She was running at full speed and turned a complete somersault, killing Jim almost instantly.”

 

It begins to come together

            John Stroope and Elizabeth Bell Odle were married 31 January 1885. A little over three years later on 15 May 1888 John Stroope was killed by two of Elizabeth’s brothers.

 

    The hunt for the Odle boys, Alvin and Will, ended in tragedy for the two men in the year 1888. The search for the two brothers, who were wanted for killing of their brother-in-law, John Stroops, came to a close in the shadow of Bullhead Mountain on Christmas Eve, 1888.

    The Odle boys were a product of the Old West, and were, in a sense, the victims of an unfavorable and lawless environment. Friends of the Odle family says that the boys were good workers, and had many other good qualities, but that they got in with the wrong crowd and took up the habits of their sometimes lawless companions.

    The night the two men were killed, there was a party going on at the Taylor home above Vance, and a large crowd of people had gathered for a dance in Vance.

    The sheriff’s Office in Leakey had gotten word that the Odle brothers would be at a certain place on Christmas night. Mr. Wheat, the sheriff sent word to Will Terry, his deputy at Vance, to gather a posse of men and to be prepared to take the two men. Terry gathered his posse, which included among others, Captain Hughes, Texas Ranger, Paul Jones, Dan Crier, and Jim Rhodes of Barksdale, and Henry Wells at Vance. There wee twelve or fifteen men in the group.

    The men concealed themselves behind a picket fence at the east slope of Bullhead Mountain about a mile above Vance. There, they waited for the boys, whom they expected momentarily. Soon the clap clap of horses hoofs on the hard ground could be heard. The sounds came from the direction of Vance. Terry gave final words of command, and the men waited in breathless silence. In a few minutes, the dark forms of the riders loomed up in the darkness as they trotted their mounts up the road. Suddenly the word “halt!” sounded on the still air. The horses of the two men broke to run, but a fusillade of shots from the direction of the fence knocked down one of the horses and its rider. The rider was killed instantly with a shot through the head. The other rider was wounded in the arm, and while trying to use his gun with one hand, and being unable to control his horse with the wounded arm, was carried directly toward the place where the posse lay concealed. The next burst of fire brought this rider to the ground. The deed was accomplished. The sheriff’s orders had been carried out. Another case of frontier justice had taken place.

    Josh Burleson, the justice of the peace at Vance, was called to the spot to make the inquest. While examining the bodies, Mr. Burleson found a sack of biscuits in the clothing of one of the men. It was later learned that a family at Vance had prepared the food for the boys, and it was believed that the bread must have been prepared just before the departure of the two men, for the biscuits were sill warm when they were found on the bodies of the dead men.

    Mrs. Pippin, a member of a Vance Family, asked permission to come and identify the bodies. She identified them as those of Alvin and Will Odle.

    The next day the two men were buried together in a grave near the spot where they had fallen,

A number of people were there that day, many with sad faces, some with thoughtful hearts.

    Some months after the killing of the two men, Zac Eppler carved an inscription on a large rock near the grave site. He built a fence around the graves, and this fence, and the huge stone that identifies the graves, marks the stop where the two boys fell more than seventy years ago.”

 

            This description of the death of Alvin and Will Odle is taken from Nueces Headwater Country pages 109-110, written by Alan A Stovall and published in 1959.

            It is of interest to note that the Justice of the Peace referred to in this story, Josh Burleson was David Joshua Burleson, the brother of Margaret Jane Burleson, who married Perry Francis Stockman.

 

            The Hand book of Texas in an article about Texas Ranger, Calvin Grant Aten, reports as follows on this incident:

 

His most noted escapade occurred on Christmas Day 1889, when he accompanied John R. Hughesqv and two others on a manhunt to Bull Head Mountain, in Edwards County. There they killed Alvin and Will Odle when the two wanted rustlers resisted arrest.

 

            Chuck Parsons, a reputable chronicler of Western Americana, writing in Texas Ranger Dispatch magazine in an article entitled, “The Border Boss: John R Hughes”

 

Although sudden gunfights between lawmen and outlaws have become the norm in the popular mind due to the media treatment of Old West lawmen, they were actually not all that common. Very few men cared to accept a challenge from a Ranger, preferring to surrender and hope to settle matters in court. Not the Odle brothers, however. The pair, William and Alvin, were charged with murder in Edwards County. Hughes, two Rangers, a deputy sheriff, and several citizens went out in an effort to track them down and arrest them. The Odles refused to surrender and opened fire on the lawmen. They were both killed in the gunfight. This event certainly increased Hughes’ reputation as a hard man and one not to tangle with. He had gone up against murderers and emerged victorious, and he solved other murders and many lesser crimes.

 

            These accounts leave little doubt but that Alvin and Will Odle, brothers of Elizabeth Bell Odle who was married to John Stroope were gunned down by the posse for the killing of John Stroope. Many sources of family history data for John Thomas Stroope list is date of death as 15 May 1888. In the following winter, the date of 1889 in The Handbook of Texas article not withstanding, Elizabeth’s two brothers were killed because of the murder of John Stroope. Can anyone doubt that John Thomas Stroope was dead?

 

The Resurrection

             Unfortunately there is no 1890 census available as it was destroyed. And we find no further records of the Widow Elizabeth Stroope in TX but in 1900 Elizabeth Stroope is living in Gila County, Arizona where the following census enumeration was made for her and her family:

 

 

1900 John Stroope, Gila County, AZ Territory, Gila Co outside of Globe, Dist 18, H. H. 835

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

John Stroope

Head

M

41

cow puncher

ukn

ukn

ukn

Lizzie

Wife

F

32

 

AR

AR

AR

Addie

Dau

F

14

 

TX

ukn

AR

William

Son

M

12

 

TX

ukn

AR

Thomas Dyle

n/s

M

40

Miner

NY

ukn

ukn

Theodore H Harris

n/s

M

47

Miner

IN

ukn

ukn

 

            Some additional information in this census. John and Lizzie had been married 16 years, she had two children both living, John Stroope was born in May 1859, Lizzie was born in Jan 1868, Daughter Addie was born in April 1886 and son William was born in Sep 1887. Both children had attended school in the last 7 months. John Stroope was renting his home.

            Can there be any doubt that this is the family of John Thomas Stroope and Elizabeth Bell Odle? Can there be any doubt that John Thomas Stroope is alive? Confirmation of who Lizzie is, is found in the 1910 census of Arizona Territory.

 

1910, James S Odle, Gila County, Arizona Territory,

Name

Rel.

Sex

Age

Occupation

Pob

Pobf

Pobm

James S Odle

Head

M

77

Farmer

AR

TN

TN

Elizabeth Stroop

Dau

F

42

none

AR

AR

AR

Oscar Fuel

G-son

M

23

Low ? On Range

TX

DK

DK

Adeline S Fuel

G-dau

F

24

none

TX

AR

TX

Robert Fuel

GG-son

M

2

none

AZ

TX

TX

not known Fuel

GG-son

M

4/12

none

AZ

TX

TX

 

            In this census, James S Dole is listed as a widower and Elizabeth Stroope is listed as a widow, she has had 2 children, both still living. Elizabeth’s daughter, Adeline and Oscar Fuel had been married 4 years and this was their first marriage.

            A Birth certificate issued in Gila County, Arizona for Marjorie Bell Sarah Fuel, date of birth,1 May 1912, father is Oscar Orice Fuel and the mother is Sarah Adeline Stroope. They were living seven miles north of Globe, probably in the vicinity of the community of Wheat Fields.

            Living next door in the 1910 census is Robert L Odel (sic) age 35 and his wife, Alice and son Robert G who is 5/12 yr old. This is Robert L Odle, the brother of Elizabeth Bell Odle. The census taker had apparently mis wrote the surname and is should be Odle, for the birth certificate for Robert Glen Odle, son of Robert Lee Odle and Alice Viola Wood, birth date 23 Nov1909 has the correct spelling. They moved to Maricopa County, AZ, where a second child, John Jefferson Odle was born 9 Jul 1917 and wife, Alice, died 10 Nov 1926.

            James S Odle died in Maricopa County, AZ 10 Apr 1924 at the age of 92 years and is buried in the Greewood Cemetery in Maricopa County.

            John Thomas Stroope’s son William Lee Stroope has not been found in the 1910 census, but later records place him in Maricopa County, AZ where three children were born to him and his wife Kathreatre Boone. 2 Jul 1926 they had a daughter, Jacqueline Threata Stroope while living at Castle Hot Springs and then on 24 Nov 1928 a daughter, June Elizabeth Stroope. William Lee Stroope is listed on both birth certificates as a rancher. In 1930 Willie L Stroope and his wife, Threatre were enumerated in Mariposa County, AZ, with their two daughters, living with them is Threatre’s father, Albert Boone and two of her brothers, Carmel and Charles.

            What happened to John Thomas Stroope is not known. There is no death certificate for him issued in Arizona. The rest of the life of Elizabeth Bell Odle Stroope can be pretty well told.

            In 1910 William Jefferson Brunson and his widowed mother, Harriet Matilda Greer Brunson were living on the Shadyland Ranch at the mouth of Slate Creek in the Tonto Basin, Gila County, AZ. Harriet Matilda died in 1914 and on 1 Jan 1915 William Jefferson Brunson married Elizabeth Odle (she did not use Stroop as her surname. It is probable that William and Elizabeth had known each other in Texas as the Brunson lived on the Hackberry Fork of the Nueces river at the time the Odles moved there. William Jefferson Brunson is the great uncle to Carolina Emily Brunson who married Jessie Perry Stockman and to her sister, Gladys Nedra Brunson, who married Lee Thomas Stockman.

            Elizabeth Odle Stroope Brunson died in El Paso, TX 13 Apr 1915, of general peritonitis, she was buried in the Brunson Plot in the old Globe Cemetery and her headstone reads Elizabeth Brunson.

 


 

Editor Speaks

The Stockman Family Newsletter

is published periodically

by Lee T Stockman

16 McKinley Street

Silver City, NM 88062-0250

(505 388-4054

e-mail: LeeT@signalpeak.net

W eb page http://www.signalpeak.net/stockman


A subscription is $10.00 for four issues. Back issues are available $2.50 each, postage paid.


History, Genealogical material, Stories, and comments are welcome. Corrections to material in past Newsletters are very welcome.

<> Rounding up Some Texas Strays

          There have always been a few Stockmans in Texas who did not fit into the family of Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet. Why was this? Was it because we did not know all there was to know about their family, even though we liked to think that we had gotten them worked out, or was it because there were some Stockman strays from other dominions who have wandered into Texas and put their roots into the rich Texas soil that lured the children of Frederick and Katherine back to Texas in 1826.

            In this issue we round up a couple of these strays and give them their proper standing in the group of Stockman families. Some are distant relatives for which we can patch together the relationship, but some, we cannot fit into the greater family at this time.

 

<>       John Thomas Stroope          The story of John Thomas Stroope is a strange one. Your humble editor backed into this story while researching the Brunson side of his family. The coincidence of Stroope family on both sides of the family naturally called for further research and as the story developed stronger and stronger came to urge to share this strange story with the greater family. While the ties are a little bit remote the involvement of the families of Young Hardy Stockman, Perry Francis Stockman and two of the sons of William Bonapart Stockman, I think, gave enough glue to hold this story to the pages of The Stockman Family Newsletter. Hope you enjoy it.

  <>       <> Reunion 2005 They’re coming from Texas and Oklahoma. They’re coming from Oregon and New Mexico. Maybe there will be some from Ohio and Arkansas and South Carolina and Louisiana. And a bunch from California, all gathering in Apple Valley, California. Sharon and John have done their duty and have made the preparations. Now it is up to the rest of us to make our resolve and our reservations for the 2005 Stockman Family Reunion.

 

13, 14, and 15 May

                            Apple Valley California

                                                          See You There