The Stockman Family Newsletter 79

Naco, Arizona is the nearest town on the map to where cousin Jinx will host the 2011 Stockman Family Reunion. Jinx has graciously offered to take a little time from creating exciting and sometimes hilarious adventures for her latest novel to host the 2011 Stockman Family Reunion. In historic southern Arizona where the Earps and Clantons argued and fought, where gold, silver and copper where king, where the US Army Intelligence Corps is headquartered, in the Chihuahuan desert with its beautiful adapted vegetation, the Stockman Family will gather on 12, 13 and 14 July 2011.

July 12 in the afternoon, a Mixer hosted by Jinx and Bob Schwartz at their home at Turquoise Valley Golf Course.

July 13 Breakfast and dinner will be served at Turquoise Valley Golf Club. Jinx says, “I figure lunch is left open, as people might want to tour around, take a hike, whatever, then reconvene at the club in the afternoon for the auction.” There will be no charge for use of the banquet hall for both days.

July 14 Breakfast and goodbyes at the golf club. We will retain the banquet hall until noon.

Plan to stay a few days before or after the reunion and visit the many attractions in the area.

Solomon Felger was a Russian Jewish immigrant to the United States. He first settled in Kingman, AZ where he operated a dry goods store but a few years later moved to Naco Az. Here he had a store located almost exactly on the international boarder. In those days there were no restrictions to traffic crossing and there were two communities of Naco, one in Arizona and one in Sonora, Mexico.

Solomon’s business was situated so that he might have had doors opening in the two communities he served.

In 1916, Pancho Villa raided Naco, stripped Solomon’s store of all the goods of use to his Revolutionary soldiers. Especially, the weapons and ammunition which were standard fare in dry goods stores of that day. Solomon subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California where he lived out his life.

Solomon’s grandson, Richard Felger is one of the regular hiking buddies of your editor. -lts-

The last issue of The Stockman Family Newsletter quoted an article in the In the San Antonio Daily Express. 23 Feb 1886 that Peter Stockman had been sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. While visiting in the Fredericksburg, TX area, Joyce Armstrong followed up on this short bit of information. She researched the event during a visit to Fredericksburg. Here is the full story using the information she developed.

A affidavit was sworn by Mr. James J Patterson alleging forgery by Peter Stockman on 1 July 1878. This document reads as follows:

Patterson who upon oath charges and says that in the County of Gillespie and State of Texas, on the 28^th day of June AD 1878, one Peter Stockman did commit the crime of Forgery, by altering a certain order for money given by affiant unto the said Peter Stockman, for the sum of seventy-five (75) cents, into an order for the sum of four dollars and seventy-five cents ($4.75) thereby increasing the pecuniary obligation of affiant and the pecuniary value of said order.

Contrary to the statute in such case made and provided, and agains the peace and dignity of the State

Case Number 334 which involved Peter Russell Stockman first appears in Gillespie County Records on 27 May 1884.

Attorney, but the defendant Peter Stockman came not and failed to answer his name being three times distinctly called at the Court House and it appearing to the court that said defendant, on the 20^th day of December 1883 had entered into a bail bond in the sum of five hundred dollars, payable to the State of Texas, with John T Welch and S W Watkins as sureties, which bail bond was declared forfeited and it was ordered adjudged and considered by the Court that the State of Texas have and recover of the defendant Peter Stockman alias P R Stockman principal and of his sureties John T Welch and S W Watkins, the sum of five hundred dollars and that this judgment be made final at the next term of this court unless good cause be shown why the defendant did not appear. It is further ordered that ?? Force for said sureties to be and appear before the district court of Gillespie County Texas at the next term thereof to be holden in and for said county at the Court house in Fredericksburg on the tenth Monday after the first Monday in September 1884, then and there to show cause why this judgment should not be made final.

It was further ordered that alias copies ??for the arrest of the defendant and that the case stand continue.

The following indictment was handed down by the Grand Jury of Gillespie County after listening to testimony presented by Wm Bope and J J Patterson.

The Grand Jurors, good and lawful men of the State of Texas, County of Gillespie, duly tried on oath by the Judge of the District Court of said County, touching their legal qualifications as Grand Jurors, elected, empaneled, sworn and Charged at the February Term, AD 1886, of the District Court of Gillespie County, Texas, to inquire into and true presentiment make of all offenses against the penal laws of said State committed within the body of the County aforesaid, upon their oaths preset in the District Court of said County: That Peter Stockman late of the County of Gillespie, on the twenty ninth day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight with force and arms, in the County of Gillespie and State of Texas, did then and there without lawful Authority, and with intent to defraud and injure alter an instrument in writing, then and there already in existence which said instrument in writing, before being by said Peter Stockman altered was in the words and figures as follows: To Wit: “Mr Basse, please let the bearer of this have 75^cts for me and oblige Yours J J Patterson this 29^th June”. But said instrument in writing, made and signed by said J J Patterson was then and there altered without the consent of said Patterson, by said Peter Stockman, with intent to injure and defraud by the unauthorized and fraudulent insertion of the figure 4, before the figures 75 in said genuine instrument so that the sum would if the same had been legally made increased the obligation of said Patterson in the sum of four dollars; and after said false, fraudulent and felonious alteration of said written instrument by said Peter Stockman, the same reads as follows, to wit: “Mr. Basse please let the bearer of this have 475^cts for me and oblige yours J J Patterson this 29^th of June.”

On 17 February 1886 a warrant was issued for the arrest of Peter Russell Stockman. Apparently his location was not know for the document was addressed to any sheriff of the state of Texas.

You are hereby commanded to arrest Peter Stockman and him safely keep so that you have him before the District Court of Gillespie County now in session at Fredericksburg there to answer the State of Texas on a charge of Forgery

TEST: H Bierschmale, Clerk of the District Court of Said County, at my office in Fredericksburg this 17^th Day of February AD 1886.

Peter Russell Stockman had difficulty getting witnesses for the defense to appear in court and filed an Application of Continuance on 19 Feb 1886.

No. 445 The State of Texas\In the District Court of Gillespie County, Texas. February Term AD

Peter Stockman 1886 Now comes Peter Stockman defendant in the above Styled case and says that he cannot safely go into the Trial of this case at this time of the court on account of the absence of John Williams material witness for the defense and who lives in Llano County, Texas, a distance of 45 miles from this place, the town of Fredericksburg. That def’t. Being under arrest and indicted for same offense, by indictments filed in court, in case No 334, the state of Texas vs Peter Stockman said indictment was granted by court on the 16 Feb 1886 and indictment filed in this case on the 17^th day of February 1886 to which def’t. Is now called upon to answer. Def’t in order to procure the attendance of said witnesses in case No 334 as aforesaid, applied for and obtained of the clerk of the District Court of Gillespie Co. Texas, on the 15^th day of February ad 1886 an attachment for said witnesses addressed to the Sheriff of Llano Co. Texas, commanding him to attach said witnesses and have them before this court at the present term thereof instant there to testify in case No. 334 as aforesaid on behalf of defendant. That said attachment was placed in an envelope, addressed to the Sheriff of Llano Co., Llano, Texas and on the 15th day of February 1886 placed in the Post Office at Fredericksburg, Texas, and the same registered for transmission by due course of mail; said registry Receipt is made part here of. That said attachment has not been returned into this court. Defendant expects to prove by said witnesses that they lived at the place of J J Patterson (that party alleged to be injured in this case, and the prosecuting witness therein) in Gillespie Co. Texas at and before the time said offence is alleged to have been committed. That the defendant about the last part of June, 1878 made a contract with J J Patterson to work for him, Patterson . That said Patterson told the witnesses and this def’t in June 1887 that he did not have money to pay def’t for his work, but had made arrangement with Wm Basse to let def’t have things out of his store as pay for the work to be done by def’t. That def’t was to be paid 75 cents per day for his work; that defendant did work for said J J Patterson, according to the agreement made, during this latter part of the month of June ad 1878,between six and seven days; that def’t cleaned and hoed out the cotton of said Patterson there being about 4 acres planted in cotton; that said Patterson told these witnesses that he Patterson had paid def’t for his work by an order to Basse; that these witnesses are not absent by the procurement or consent of this defendant; that this application is not made for delay; that this testimony cannot be procured from any other source known to defendant; that there is no reasonable expectation that the attendance of said witnesses can be secured during the present term of the Court by a postponement of the trial to some future day of said term; that def’t has reasonable expectation of procuring the attendance of said witnesses at the next term of this court.

Def’t further says that he, def’t was only arrested in this case No. 334 (wherein the indictment was granted) on the 14^th day of February AD 1886. That the indictment in this case was only filed in this court on the 17^th February 1886.

Two days later the court judge in a very sloppily written document indicated that Peter had pleaded guilty. The primary information in this document has been extracted below.

If you find beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant Peter Stockman in Gillespie County State of Texas ?? Two years next jurecidius the 17 day of February ad 1886 did commit the offence of forgery in manner and form as charged in the indictment you will find him guilty as charged in the indictment and assess his juris??? and confinement in the State Penitentiary for a term not less than two nor more than seven years.

Adhering to the instructions of the Judge the Jury foreman on the same day presented the jury’s verdict.

We the jury find the defendant guilty and assess him for two years in the State Penitentiary.

On March 9th 1886 custody of Peter Stockman was transferred from the Sheriff of Gillespie County to McCullogh & Whitehead, sub contractors for conveying prisoner to San Antonio, TX.

No further records were available at the Gillespie County Court House. Presumably Peter Russell Stockman served the two year sentence.

Peter Russell Stockman the son of Hardy Francis Stockman ( Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas Branch of the family) and Mary Naomi Williams was born 1 Mar 1855 in Blanco County , TX. He was named for his father’s uncle Peter Stockman and his mother’s uncle Russell Bean Williams. When he was only a few years old his family moved to Kerr County, Texas where they were living when the Civil War began. During the war his mother and the younger children lived at Mt. Calm, TX with her parents while his father and older brothers were at war. His parents both died in 1865.

Peter Russell grew up living with his older brother William Henry Stockman and his Uncle Hiram Stockman. Following the episode in his life reported above Peter Russell married Mary Emily (Polly) Roberts 5 Nov 1889 in Uvalde County, TX. They raised their family in Edwards and Real County.

During the years he was raising his family Peter Russell engaged in many trades but he was primarily a freighter driving a mule team pulling his wagons. His complete hookup consisted of 14 mules, his big wagon and two short tongue wagons in tow behind it. Freighting with this equipment was not an easy way to earn a living. in the rainy season it was necessary at time to camp along the trail for days at time until the roadway had dried enough to allow the wagons to pass. Other times the three wagons were disconnected and each was pulled through a boggy area separately

Mary Emily Polly Roberts was born 22 Feb 1857 and died 11 Feb 1951. Peter Russell died on 28 Feb 1929 in Real County, TX. He is buried in the Vance Cemetery.

1. . Lillian Arlie Stockman born 21 Feb 1891 in Edwards County, Texas. She died 28 Feb 1984 in Bexar County, Texas. She married twice, first to Arnie Robertson and then James Richard Grantland. She had two children by her first marriage, Jessie Robertson and Oscar Lee Robertson, both now deceased. By her second marriage she had three children, Edna Mary Grantland who married Albert C Jordan James Richard Grantland, Jr who was born 11 Sep 1928 in Real County, TX and Chester Grantland.

2. Willie Stockman born 19 Oct 1892 died 13 May 1907, buried in the Vance Cemetery.

5. Jessie Alice Stockman was born 11 Nov 1900 and died 25 Jul 1987. She married Homer T Jackson. Their children were, J. T. Jackson who married Lena Marie Helton, Horace Chester Jackson who married Eva LNU, Edwin Leo Jackson who married Aliene Brooks, and Homer Randolph Jackson who married, spouse's name not known.

6. Hiram Frank Stockman born 1 Mar 1905 and died 17 Oct 1942 when struck by lightening in Real County, Texas. He married Edith Wylie. They had three children, Frank, Harold, and Eddie Lou.

8. Maudie May Stockman born 11 May 1912 and died 12 Nov 1995 She married Frank Bachelor and they had four children, Harry Leon Allen, Patricia Jo Bachelor Spencer, Jean Bachelor O'Tool, and Sherrill Bachelor Hetrick.

9. Edwin Russell Stockman born 5 Sep 1909 and died in December 1978. He married Dessie May Rummel. They had three children, Russell Lee Stockman, Kyloma Stockman who married John Capps , and Carroll Ray Stockman.

A possible additional child in the family of Peter Russell Stockman and Mary Emily Roberts was a baby boy born 29 Oct 1902 and died 12 Nov 1902. The baby is buried in the Rocksprings Cemetry, in Edwards County, Texas. The headstone contains only the information reported here. At that time Peter Russell’s family was the only Stockman family in that part of Texas.-//-

Jerry Gilmore son of Chester Lee Gilmore and 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) passed on away April 12, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Stanislaus County, CA 16 Nov 1933 the second of three sons in the family.

Jerry began working with Sierra Telephone in 1960 and retired 1995.

He is survived by his wife Loyce, daughter Evelyn Lambert, son-in-law Lee Lambert and grandchildren Jessica and Steven and daughter
Shirley Buck, son-in-law Dennis, grandchildren Cody and Jason, and great granddaughter Sierra.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:

Friends of Hospice

PO Box 714

Mariposa CA 95338

He has been cremated and A special, private memorial for Jerry will be held in the Sacramento Delta, an area where he loved to go boating and waterskiing on the Delta. There his ashes will be scattered. as they will be at other places he loved.

In the last issue of the Stockman Family Newsletter we discussed the family of James W Stockman in some detail, but were not able to discuss his youngest son, Tom M Stockman who was found in the 1880 Census of McCracken County, KY.

With assistance from some of Tom Stockman’s descendants we now can show some details of the life of the youngest son.

The next available census is that of 1900 and no record of Tom Stockman can be found in that enumeration. However, in 1910 a Tom Stockman was living in Hickman County, KY. We believe this is the same person as the Tom Stockman who was enumerated with his father, James W Stockman in McCracken County, KY in 1880, aged 5 yrs. We suspect his age was improperly recorded here and should be 36 not 26. A contributing factor to our surmise that this is the Tom Stockman we are looking for is the fact that all three of the children were born in Missouri so Tom and Gentry had been in KY for only a few months.

1910 Census, Hickman County, KY, District 1 H. H. 115, page 6A
Name	Rel.	Sex	Age	Occupation	Pob	Pobf	Pobm
Tom Stockman	Head	M	26	Fisherman Fish Dock	KY	KY	KY
Gentry	Wife	F	22		KY	KY	KY
Louise	Dau	F	6		MO	KY	KY
Grover	Son	M	3		MO	KY	KY
John W	Son	M	4/12		MO	KY	KY
Jim West	Boarder	M	28	Fisherman Fish Dock	KY	KY	KY

Gentry was the mother of four children three of them still living. She and Tom has been married four years and were renting their house.

We are unable to find Tom or his family in the 1920 census, but a death record for one of his daughters, tells us that he moved back to Mississippi County, MO, where several of his brothers had settled, before 9 Jan 1912. On this date a daughter, Genett Elizabeth Stockman was born.

Genett Elizaabeth Stockman married John Landon Cannon. She died 4 Oct 1939 in Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois. Her death record says he was born 9 Jan 1912 in Missouri, daughter of Tom Stockman born in KY and Gertrude West also born in KY. Genett was a housekeeper residence Charleston, Mississippi County, MO. She was buried on 7 Oct 1939 in the Dogwood Cemetery, Mississippi County, MO. This record was extracted by the LDS Family Search Program and is available on line.

The 1930 census found in Mississippi County, MO for Tom Stockman and Gertrude is certainly the Tom Stockman of the 1880 census, ages agree and he is living in the same area as several of his brothers.

1930 Census, Mississippi County, MO, Mississippi TWP, Sheet 9B H. H. 173
Name	Rel.	Sex	Age	Occupation	Pob	Pobf	Pobm
Tom Stockman	Head	M	56	Labor General Farm	KY	KY	KY
Gertrude	Wife	F	43		KY	KY	KY
Joe	Son	M	22		MO	KY	KY
William	Son	M	20		MO	KY	KY
Mary	Dau	F	15		MO	KY	KY
Harry	Son	M	11		MO	KY	KY
Nellie	Dau	F	8		MO	KY	KY
Oscar	Son	M	5		MO	KY	KY
Odean	Son	M	2 2/12		MO	KY	KY
Christine	Dau	F	2 2/12		MO	KY	KY

Tom was 30 yrs old when he first married. Gertrude was 18 yrs old. Tom was not a veteran.

One of the reasons that this record escaped our search earlier, is that Ancestry had indexed the head of the Household as Wm. Stockman. The census taker’s penmanship does lack something but by comparing names of children and wife, it is certain this is the record of Tom Stockman.

No further records have been found for Tom or his wife Gertrude. However, son Oscar has been found. He enlisted in the US army 2 Sep 1943 at Jefferson Barracks, he had been working as a farm hand in civilian life was single and had no dependents. His education Level was grammar school. And his height was recorded as 5 ft 10 inches.

Died at her home 11 miles south west of the Nation on Sunday morning. May 14 at 4:30 o'clock, Mrs. .John Stockman, aged 33 years, 10 months and three days. She was born on the old homestead and lived on same until her death, she being the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Kloit who proceeded her a number of years ago. She was married to John Stockman in 1880 and to them was born 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys, the eldest being 16 years and the youngest 13months. Mrs. Stockman was an amiable, lovable woman, quiet and refined and her untimely death is most deeply felt by her many friends here, all of whom speak words of sympathy for the grief stricken children she left behind. Deceased leaves to mourn her loss, besides a husband. ,5 girls and 2 boys. The funeral took place Tuesday with interment in the Toronto Cemetery.-//-

John Stockman a German immigrant born ca 1847 settled in Port, Allamakee County, Iowa. He and wife, Emma had a son, also named John who was born in Kentucky. His obituary was published in the Postville Herald, 10 Jan 1935, Postville, Iowa

J o h n Stockman, a well known and highly respected Post township farmer, passed away at his home northwest of Postville on J a n u a r y 5, .1935, at one o'clock a.. m. , following a long and painful illness. He was aged 61 years, eight months , and 14 days. He was born April 21, 1873, in Louisville, Kentucky, coming Later with his parents to Postville. On March 14, 1905, he was married to Miss Anna Nuehring, and to this union two children were born, a son a n d a daughter. His loss is mourned by his widow, Mrs. Anna Stockman; one daughter, Ruth (Mrs."Will Belsker), and one son, Lester, a t home. He also leaves four grandchildren . He is survived by five sisters and three brothers, namely Mrs. H. H . (Brown of Austin, Minnesota ; Mrs. H . M. Koevenig of Postville; Mrs. Will Weisbeck of Hinckley, Minnesota; Mrs. Rudolph Borman of Columbus, 'Nebraska; Miss Lucy Stockman, William Stockman and Gilbert Stockman all of Postville; and Ed Stockman of Alpine, California. His parents and one sister preceded h im in d e a t h. J o h n Stockman was an honest , up right and industrious man, who during a long residence in this community made many friends, who will - learn of his passing with sorrow and sympathize sincerely with those bound to h i m by closer ties. Funeral services were held at St Paul's Lutheran n church in this city on Monday afternoon, Dr. R. B . Garten officiating. Interment was made in the Postville cemetery. The pallbearers were Herbert Dreier, Arno. Dreier, Virgil Dreier, Harold Groth , Ross Koth a n d Cecil Livingood. The flower bearers were Lorraine Stockman, Opal Livingood, Helen and Margaret Koth.-//-

CARD OF THANKS We hereby extend our heartfelt and sincere thanks to the many neighbors and friends for their kindly assistance and sympathy during the illness and burial of our beloved husband and father, John Stockman. Also would we thank Rev. R. B. Garten for his comforting words, the choir for their service of song, those who expressed their sympathy in floral offerings, and those who provided cars. Mrs. John Stockman, and Children.

In the Postville Herald 26 Mar 1941, Postville, Iowa, is a note Under the Heading “Local Topics”

John L. Gregg has sold the old John Stockman estate house he recently purchased to Mrs. John Stockman and she has her son, Lester, razing the building and removing the lumber to her farm northwest of town.

John Stockman has purchased the Gustav Dietsch residence for $700. From the Postville Herald, April 13 1950

Last Friday evening Mr and- Mrs. William Beisker observed their 25th wedding anniversary. About 40 relatives and friends were present. A delicious supper was served at 7:30 and the evening spent in playcards and visiting. Those attending were Mr. and Mrs, Vern Thornton and boys, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hulbert, Mr. and Mrs. Verdell Hulbert, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Beisker and girls of Rockford, Illinois, Mrs. John Stockman, Mr. and Mrs. William Livingood and girls, Mr. And Mrs. Gilbert Schroeder, Mrs. Jessie Fltzpatrick, Mrs. Emma Livingood, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Russell and Norman and Mary, Mr. a n d Mrs. Henry Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Harley Thompson, Mr. and Mis. Bob Fltzpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Kirkestue and Edwin, Mary Henry, Wilmu Stewart and the honored couple, Mr. and Mrs. Beisker and family. William Beisker and Ruth Stockman were married April 6, 1925 by t h e Rev. Van Nice at Waukon. They have four children, William, Francis, Cherric and Daisy. Two beautiful 3-tiered wedding cakes which adorned the table were served at midnight lunch. Mr. and Mrs. Beisker were remembered with several fine gifts and a purse of silver on the occasion.-//-

In the Postville Herald, 31 Jan 1951, Postville, Iowa is the obituary for Mrs. Stockman

Rites Held Monday for Mrs. Stockman L—Funeral services were held Mon- day afternoon at Schutte Funeral Home for Mrs. John Stockman, 66, who passed-away at her home here J a n u a r y 25.—/The rites were in charge of Rev. Frederick R. Ludwig. Burial was in Postville cemetery. Born In North Dakota. Mary Anna Nuehring Stockman, daughter of Henry Nuehring and Louise Reinhardt Nuehring, was born January 13, 1885, in North Dakota, and departed this life on January 25. 1951. a t her home in Post township, aged 66 years. Though born in North Dakota, at the early age of six months Mrs. Stockman accompanied her parents to the McGregor vicinity in Iowa. Here she made her home until 14 years of age, when she removed with her parents to South Dakota;- At the age of 18 Mrs. Stockman returned to the Postville community and made this her home throughout the remainder of her life. Mrs. Stockman was united in marriage with John Stockman of Postville in March 1905. To this union two children were born, both of whom survive the passing of their mother. Left to mourn her passing are her two children, Mrs. R u t h Beisker and Lester Stockman, both of Postville; seven grandchildren: two great grandchildren; four sisters: Mrs. Margaret Petrie, Hartford, South Dakota; Mrs. Andrew Peters, Blue Earth, Minnesota: Mrs. Lena Schuerch and Mrs. John Bymers, both of Redfield, South Dakota: one brother: Carl Nuehring of Hinckley, Minnesota. Mrs. Stockman was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one grandson: one sister, Frieda Schuerch, Rockham, South Dakota; and two brothers: Henry Nuehring, Merrill, Wisconsin, and William Nuehring Rehight, South Dakota/-//-

Article from Corpus Christi Times 27 Sep 1955 and about a dozen other newspappers with photo showing Boyd Stockman being treated by others and the arrow is visible in the photo.

IT REALLY HAPPENED — Actor Boyd Stockman was actually wounded by an arrow during filming of 'Comanche' in Durango, Mexico. Actor Stacy Harris lends a hand as Dr. Pedro Rivera treats the injury. In • the background is the 'Comanche* who felled his 'foe.'

This story from the Reno Evening Gazzette 20 Apr 1912, Reno Nevada , involves a John and Charley Stockman, who have not been identified. Anyone with information on these individuals please contact the editor.

Warren T. Ilanley alias Edward Walters, who was brought to this city from San Francisco to answer to a charge of obtaining money by false pretenses, was ordered released by District Attorney Woodburn this morning, for lack of identification and absence of testimony that would result in a conviction. Hanley was taken into the presence of Messrs. McCabe and Hadley of the Western Union company, where he is alleged to have attempted to secure, money, and also in the presence of Manager Brown of the Postal company, but they could not identify him as the man who secured the money. Hanley claims that he was in San Francisco at the time the money was secured here by a man giving his name as John Stockman and that he was staying at the Hotel Regent in that city. Chief of Police Hill house communicated with the Hotel Regent and found that Hanley was there at the time. Hanley knows Charley Stockman of Los Angeles, the man who sent the Stockman in Reno, which money was secured by some person representing himself to be John Stockman, and it was for this reason that he was suspected. The man who secured the money at the Western Union by pretending to be John Stockman first went to the Pos tal and asked if the money had been sent there, and it was for this reason That Manager Brown was summoned to look at Hanley and determine whether or not he was the man. McCabe gave the impersonator of Stockman the money and he stated that Hanley was not the man he gave the money to.

Lucinda Stroop was the second marriage of Ammon Billings, brother-in-law of Young Hardy Stockman (Hardy Francis Stockman, Henry Stockman, Frederick Stockman and Katherine Disponet of the Texas branch of the family). Ammon Billings owned land next to Young Hardy Stockman on the Hackberry fork of the Nueces river in Edwards County, Texas. This story as recalled by Lucinda Billings in her later years was printed in the Kerrville Mountain Sun 25 Aug 1949.

Indian Hunt Responsible For Discovery of Devil’s Sinkhole Says Pioneer The shooting of two Indians three quarters of a century ago , brought the discovery by white men of the Devil's Sinkhole. Stories of the revelation of the spectacular cavern range from 'act-based reminiscences of pioneers to fabulous lies such as that [which had young cowpoke Coke Stevenson, former governor of Texas, falling in the cave and winning his freedom only by roping buzzards which came down to dine on his shattered cowpony, and thereby starting the first air-lift operation. Only one person, the widow of the best-accredited discoverer, is living today to recount first hand the incidents and dates involved in the finding of the phenomenon called by some "The Eighth Wonder of the World." She is Mrs. Ammon Billings, 91, of Rocksprings. She herself looked over the brink of the cave on May 21, 1876, the day after Mr. Billings fired at, and apparently wounded, two Indians believed to have been in a group of marauders. Billings, who had come up from a ranch on Hackberry Creek well east to range 400 hogs in the Rocksprings vicinity, had a possy of five men, including himself, pioneering in the livestock business. While scouting he saw the Indians. He fired and they fell. He started to rush up but a wiser uncle and a Captain Wells in the possy advised that the Indians' disappearance might be a ruse. The group came back the next day, found blood on the ground and then, reconnoitering through the then high grass, crept up on the brink of the cavern. The women in the party, including Mrs. Billings were invited up to see what Mr. Billings told them was "a helluva hole in the ground." The women agreed that it was quite a hole but disliked the perhaps warranted profanity. They suggested that "The Devil's Sinkhole" would do just as well. There are other stories of the finding of the cave, but none with the first-hand documentation which Mrs. Billings can offer. Carvings on the limestone in the cave carry many names and dates. The oldest is one reading "H. S. Barber, Oct. 19, 1889." A resident of Rocksprings for the last 32' years, Mrs. Billings came to the county, then a part of Kerr, on May 1, 1876. She and her husband owned a ranch on Hackberry Creek for about 41 years, Mrs. Billings was born Lucinde Katherine Stroop on Feb. 2, 1858, on the Pedernales River about 15 miles from Fredericksburg. She was the second child in a family of five children. When she was six, her father died, leaving them the pioneer home and $1,500 in Confederate money. A few years later they sold the house and moved to Gonzales where her mother married again. Six children were born to this union. Finally, the chore of making a living for the entire brood fell to Luciende and her oldest brother. She and Mr. Billings were married in February, 1875, and to this union eight children were born. Mrs. Billings reared her own eight children, her own brothers and sisters and four of her half brothers and sisters, and her granddaughter and her husband's nephew—18 children in all. Mr. Billings died Oct. 13, 1907, 42 years ago. Ninety-one years old last Feb. 2, Mrs. Billings lives alone. Her radio is her constant companion. She never misses the 10 o'clock newscast at night.

Just to prove that the Newsletter is not slanted for or against one or another branch of the family, Joyce also uncovered some documents concerning Young Hardy Stockman (your editor’s Great grand father) and his illegal possession of a cow hide. This story will appear in the next Newsletter

For story and photo of Peter Russell Stockman’s family we are indebted to several family members. Quite a few years ago, now, Dan Rowen attended one of the family reunions. He is descended from Hiram Frank Stockman. J T Jackson, provided information about the family at about that same time. Recently, Jean O’Toole has added to what we knew about the family of Peter Russell and Mary Emily.