Johnson County Presented by Genealogy Trails

JOHNSON COUNTY
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
The Dallas Morning News

JOHN WILKINS
WILKINS WAS HANGED
Spectators by the Thousands Witness His Strangulation at Cleburne
Protests His Innocence
Met Death Without a Quiver - History of the Crime - His Statement Detailing Taylor's Taking Off
Cleburne, Johnson Co., Texas., June 26 - John Wilkins was hanged today in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, estimated 10,000 to 15,000. They came from all parts of Johnson county and also from the adjacent counties of Ellis, Dallas, Hill, Bosque, Somervell, Erath, Hood, Tarrant, Palo, Pinto, Brown and other counties.
The crowd began pouring in early yesterday morning. By noon all the wagon yards were fairly well filled with horses, wagons and other vehicles, and by night they were full to overflowing. Fully 1000 people camped last night on the Nolan river, four miles southwest of town and a gentleman coming in from Tarrant county said he passed not less than 100 wagons between Mansfield and Cleburne. All day today the streets have been full of a surging mass of men, women and children moved by the morbid impulse of seeing a fellow man's Passing out of the flesh by a violent death.
By noon the vast throng had congregated around the jail and upon the bluff of Buffalo creek, which flows by the jail. The gallows stands in a depression upon the west bank of the creek and in plain view of the higher bluff on the east side. Every foot of space in and around the barbed wire inclosure was packed with a seething sea of humanity intent on seeing the end of John Wilkins. Among the vast throng were a sprinkling of women and girls, while the small boy was conspicuously present in the adjacent tree tops and upon the roofs of near by buildings. It was the largest crowd Cleburne has had since the famous Hogg and Clark join discussion on May 4, 1892. Some day todays assembly exceeds the one of that day.
At 1:10 p.m. the prisoner was escorted from the jail by Sheriff Stewart and a number of special deputies and guards composed largely of peace officers from other countries. He was clean shaven and attired in a neat suit of navy blue and patent leather pumps. A white rose was pinned to the left lapel of his coat. His step was firm and steady and his manner evinced remarkable composure. Indeed he did not look as pale as she sheriff whose unpleasant duty it was to execute the extreme penalty of the law. The prisoner was placed in a carriage in which were Deputy Sheriffs Joe Churchwell and Wylie and F. E. Leach as spiritual comforters and friends.
At 1:15 the carriage and its coterle of guards, newspaper reporters, physicians, attorneys, etc., filled into the barbed wire inclosure around the gallows. Two minutes later the condemned man has ascended the dozen steps of the scaffold with a step as firm as if he was walking up to a feast instead of a fatal fall. He took a seat in a chair upon the death trap, where he sat with perfect composure while the noose was being adjusted.
Rev. F. E. Leach, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, then offered a short, earnest prayer of two minutes length. During the prayer Wilkins sat with bowed head and apparent earnest attention.
He then arose and to a clear, but not very loud voice, stated to the spectators that he had nothing in particular to say further than to tell them all good-bye. He said that his lawyers had his last statement (which appears herewith) and he did not care to say anything more except to thank the officers for their kind treatment during his incarceration. "I have northing agin nobody." He added and resumed his seat.
Rev. A. R. Shaw, pastor of the Main Street Presbyterian church then prayed earnestly for the prisoner some minutes. Turning his head Wilkins saw Mr. W. H. Bledsoe, one of his attorneys, in the crowd and shouted:
"Good bye Will."
"Good bye John" was answered back in a kind, sorrowful tone.
The black cap was adjusted at 1:31 and a half minute later the trap fell. The fall was only six and a half feet and Wilkins neck was not broken. He withered in apparent agony for some four minutes when the body became motionless. Drs. Rucker, Happen and Osborn pronounced him dead in eighteen minutes and at 1:50 the remains were cut down and placed in a plain black coffin and removed by the undertaker to the cemetery.
Among the spectators who were admitted into the inclosure were all the resident and visiting members of the press, the physicians and lawyers and visiting officers. Among the latter were Sheriffs John Metcalf of Bosque county, Tom Hiner of Hood, J. L. Moulden of Collin, Deptuy United States Marshal R. M. Erwine of Fort Worth, Deputy Sheriffs J. B. White and J. A. Womack of Bosque, J. A. Rogers, J. P. Alexander, John Beck of Hill and Constable Tom Mitchell of Ellis, Mr. C. E. Taylor of Granview, elder brother of Grinsfield Taylor, the man for whose murder Wilkins was hanged, was also present with his two sons.
As soon as the body was cut down at 1:50 the hemp rope by which Wilkins was hanged was cut up into small bits and distributed among the eager, relic seeking crowd, who then dispersed in good order.
Wilkins chatted cheerfully with his guards in the fore part of last night and slept well the latter part. He ate a light breakfast and a very hearty dinner and when his death warrant was read to him in his cell by Sheriff Stewart at 11:45 this morning he never changed color or showed the least emotion. When the reading was finished he quietly resumed his cigar and entered into a cheerful conversation with Mr. Wm. H. Bledsoe one of his lawyers.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
Cleburne, Tex., June 20 - On Thursday night, Oct. 21, 1896, old man Price Taylor was murdered at his home, eight miles northeast of Grand View this county but the crime was not known till Saturday morning when a tenant of his found his dead body soaked with blood lying near a dining table on which was this frugal meal of bread and honey yet untouched. The deceased was a well to do old bachelor and lived the life of a hermit. He was well liked but mixed little with the world. Possibly far back in the past a wound deeper and equally as cruel as the one received on this fatal night had been inflicted which exited him from his fellow man. When found his body lay in a pool of blood and the windows were blanketed. Beds had been overturned and trunks emptied in search of money.
Three bullet wounds were found - one in the temple, one in the throat and one behind the left ear. The testimony showed that John Wilkins had hired to work for deceased on Wednesday before the murder and had stayed at his house on that night and was not seen during Thursday morning. Friday morning Wilkins rode into the Alliance wagon yard about 6 o'clock and soon afterward sold the horse he was riding at a very low figure. He was arrested on suspicions of having stolen the horse, but before arriving at the jail tried to escape. Sheriff Stewart was just recovering from a spell of sickness and could not overtake him on foot. Jumping on a horse he overtook him about half a mile from the square when Wilkins opened fire. The sheriff saw how things were and dismounting began shooting some himself. Finally Wilkins pistol was emptied and he surrendered and was carried to jail.
On the way there he asked what they wanted him for and was told for horse theft, to which he replied that if it was no worse than that he didn't care.
The officers at this time did not know of the murder of Taylor. The next day, however, the people of Grand View were horrified to learn of the crime and officers were wired to come to the scene. The deceased's brother and neighbors identified the horse ridden by Wilkins as having belonged to Taylor and that a watch and razor and other articles found on the person of the prisoner had been seen in the house of the murdered man.
On the other hand, Wilkins denied having committed the crime; said he bought the horse, watch, razor, etc., from a man by the name of Dean near Grand View for $20 on the same morning he was arrested. The state proved, however, that he told Sheriff Stewart that he had picked cotton for the horse down in Hill county.
Throughout the trial the prisoner maintained the utmost composure and when the verdict of the jury was brought in his brother broke down and wept, but he smiled and remarked to some sitting near that it was not so bad as he expected.
He was closely guarded while on trial and any one not knowing the parties would have more readily mistaken some of the spectators or deputies for the man being tried. He was a young man about 22 years old and had black curly hair and a fair as pleasant as a girl's. But he was proof against all cross examining and during the trial and his confinement he had at all times perfect control of himself.
WILKINS' STATEMENT
Cleburne, Tex., June 25 - Realizing the fact that I have but a few more hours to live and desiring if any statement should be made to the public concerning the offense for which I have been convicted and sentenced to be hanged on tomorrow, that the statement should be made over my own signature and in the presence of those who may have befriended me during my trial and my last hours to wit my attorneys I make the following as a true statement of the facts of my life and my connection with said offense.
I was born in Newton county, Missouri, twelve miles from the town of Neosho, Rachine being the nearest postoffice. I was born Oct. 8, 1874. I have two brothers, two sisters and a mother living in Missouri. My father died when I was five years of age. I have attended school about six months in my life. During my life I have been engaged in farming and working in the lead mines in that state. I was never accused of a crime of a felonious nature in my native state and never saw the inside of a jail until I was placed in the Johnson County jail. I went from Missouri to Mansfield, La., and went immediately to Tuskahoma in the Choctaw nation. I remained there about two months, working a portion of the time on a section of the Frisco railroad, and a part of the time at a saw mill.
I went from there to near Fort Smith, Ark., and while there engaged in hauling cord wood for a gin owned by a man by the name of Jim Stanley. From this gin I went to near van Buren, Ark., reaching there in November, 1893. From there I came to Texas and stopped in Ellis county, reaching there in August, 1894, stopping with Jeff Gillmore, and worked with him about one month picking cotton. I went from Gillmore's to the Dallas fair. My next location was at Alvarado, Tex., where I worked for Leonard Gowen on Perry Mahanay's place picking cotton. From there I went to near Grandview and went to work for John Cook, father-in-law of W. T. Petey. I helped John Cook make a crop and gather the most of it. This was in 1895, and I left him about Oct. 1, 1895. Mr. Cook's postoffice is Spegleville, McLennan county. From Mr. Cook's I went to Abbott in Hill county and picked cotton about one week for Ben Pitman. From Pitman's I went to Axtell, in McLennan county and worked on a section of the Cotton Belt railroad.
I worked on the section about one week and came to Grandview and went to W. T. Petty's and stayed all night at his house. I went from Petty's to Auburn in Ellis County, but did not stop until I reached the house of G. Taylor, where I tried to get work. I reached G. Taylor's in the evening of Oct. 30, 1895. I stayed at his house until Thursday night. Taylor and I tried to make a trade for me to work for him on his farm. He wanted me to take a horse for pay for my work. He was to give me $15 per month and board me. We could not agree on the price of the horse. He told me that he had made a contract with another man to work for him. Told me his name, but I do not remember it. Said that he would be there sometime during the week. Taylor said that this man had worked with him sometime before and was a good hand. Taylor asked me to stay with him that night and see whether or not his man came by the next morning.
The next morning Taylor and I went out to the pasture and drove up some ponies. It was late when we went after the ponies and after we got back we stayed around the house the balance of the morning. Picked cockleburs out of some goat wool that Taylor had in his house. I was working on the wool when Willie Furgason came to the house. He stayed there about one hour. While he was there Taylor and I ate dinner. Soon after eating dinner Taylor and Willie Furgason left the house. Taylor was riding a gray mare at the time. The one he was riding was not the one I had at the time I was arrested for this murder, but was an older and larger animal and was the mother of the one I sold here at the time of my arrest.
When Taylor left he told me stay at the house until he came back: that his man might come while he was away. Taylor did not say where he was going, but said that if any one came and wanted to see him to tell them that he would be back some time during the evening. About an hour after Taylor left a man by the name _____ ______ came to the house. He said that he had hired to Taylor to work for him and had worked for him once before.
I first met ____ while working on Hallsel's ranch at Red Fort, I. T., in 1891 and saw him there again the last time I was there. I saw him the next time at Abbott about two weeks before I came to grand View. I did not see him again after leaving Abbott until he came to Taylor's Thursday evening. He said that he had been at Hillsboro and came from there to Taylor's. After he came we put up his horse and while doing this Henry Bridges one of the state's witnesses, came by and hallooed at me. ____ and I then went back to the house and sat around and played cards the balance of the evening. We had supper about sun down. About 2 or 4 o'clock old man Kendrick and two of his sons came over to see Taylor. They stayed bout an hour. While they were there ____ was up in the loft over the ceiling. He saw them coming and got up there to keep from being recognized. After they left he came down.
About 8 o'clock at night Taylor came back, unsaddled his mare and fed her. He then camein the house spoke to us and wanted to know if I had him some supper ready. I told him I did not. He remarked something to the effect that I was a fine fellow to leave there on business. He asked who the other fellow was. ___ told him his name and asked him if he did not recognize him. Taylor told him he did not and did not want to. He then turned to me and asked if he had left any orders to take any one in. I told him I had not taken any one in; that ____ came of his own accord. ____ then commenced to talk to him but he quit off and Taylor wanted to know if I had put up his hogs. He then told me that our trade was closed.
He and ____ then began to quarrel, and I can not state word for word what was said. He made ____ go out of the house that is, crowded him out and I came in at the front door and ___ came in from the back porch door and on through into the front room. Taylor then started at me to put me out and commenced unbuttoning his coat. I then threw my pistol down on him and stopped him. Before I had time to realize what was being done ____ fired. Taylor fell at the first shot and _____ shot him again. After this I went right straight out to the lot and caught this mare which I rode to Cleburne. I saddled her and also saddled ____'s horse for him and led both back to the porch.
___ came out to the house with his shotgun, which was all that he had that I saw. He told me to wait there till he could go back and fasten up the doors, which he did. We got on the horses and started on the road to Cleburne, ___ carrying the shotgun. ____ threw the shotgun over in the field and at the same time I dropped some loaded shells by the fence, which ____ had handed me at the porch.
We came right on to Cleburne, but I am satisfied we wound around considerably. At the cemetery east of Cleburne about one mile he gave me a razor, watch and chain. We agreed to sell our horses here in Cleburne, where we intended to purchase sixshooters and leave on the train for Hillsboro. As to what occurred after the horse was sold by me on the public square in Cleburne was recounted on the trial of my case and need not be related here.
These facts were not made known to my attorneys till long after the court of last resort had declared against me. One reason was that some of the prisoners in jail persuaded me not tell it as it was. Another reason was that I was a strange boy in jail where I knew no one and for a long time mistrusted them, thinking it might be a plan of the prosecution to take some advantages of me.
All of the above I declare to be the truth, knowing that I shall soon meet my doom, and at my own request W. H. Bledsoe and Mason Cleveland, who together with A. S. Bledsoe defended me, I have asked to commit this statement to writing. In jail I have been treated as well as I possibly could under the circumstances and bear no malice toward any one. I desire to thank everyone who has been kind to or express sympathy for me. My only deep regret is on account of my people.
My last statement is that I did not shoot or kill G. Taylor and the only connection I had with the offense is as stated above. I believe my life at least could have been saved by my attorney's had I related the facts to them as they existed.
I sign the above in the presence of W. P. Pollard for whom I have the warmest feeling and also in the presence of my attorneys, W. H. Bledsoe and Mason Cleveland, whom I will go to the gallows and death thanking for what they have done for me. John Wilkins.
Witnessed by W. P. Pollard, Mason Cleveland and W. H. Bledsoe. (June 27, 1896, page 7, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
The Dallas Morning News

HENRY FUGETT

NEGRO WIFE MURDERER HANGED AT CLEBURNE, TEX
Henry Fugett Smiled as the Black Cap was Drawn over his Head
Cleburne, Tex., Feb. 12 - (Special) Henry Fugett, colored, was hanged today for the murder of his wife June 6, 1903. Sheriff Long cut the rope promptly at 12:25. His neck was broken and he was pronounced dead in six minutes.
He showed very little excitement before the death warrant was read. His pulse went to 102, but soon became normal again and remained about normal till death came. A short religious ceremony was held and Fugett shook hands with the negro preacher, Attorney F. A. Rice and a few others. He was smiling when the cap was placed over his face.
A large number of sheriffs and other officers and newspaper reporters witnessed the execution in the jail yard. A large crowd about the jail peeped through the fence, Fugett was asked if he had anything to say and replied, "No." (San Antonio Express, February 13, 1904, page 8, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
FUGETT ASKS FOR MERCY
Negro Wife Slayer Sentenced to Hang at Cleburne Appeals to Governor for Commutation of Sentence
Special to the News
Cleburne, Tex., Jan. 23 - Henry Fugett, under sentence of death in Johnson county's jail to be hanged Feb. 12 for the killing of his wife, Laura Fugett, has written the following letter to Gov. S. W. T. Lanham:
Cleburne, Tex., Jan. 22, 1904 - Hon S. W. T. Lanham, Governor of Texas, it is a matter of very grave circumstances that I appeal to you for your assistance. Your honor, I have no doubt that you have heard of my trouble before now, as it has been published time after time. Providing you have no remembrance of it, I will try to put the facts before you as near as I can. On the 3d day of June, 1903, I was crazed with love and jealousy over my wife, and the more I thought of it, the crazier I got, until I lost my mind altogether. And after I had done that I went to her house and killed her by cutting her with a knife. I was so crazy that I didn't realize what I was or had done until after it was all over. I then went and gave up to the officers and told them what I had done. I was indicted by the Grand Jury and tried for murder on the 19th day of June. The jury found me guilty of murder in the first degree and assessed my punishment at death. Me being a negro and a very poor one, I had to depend on the Court for counsel. Well they did all they could for me. They took an appeal on my case and it was affirmed on me. My day has been set for executing. Honorable Judge Poindexter passed my sentence on me the first day of January. He then set the day for me to hang on the12th of February.
Now that I have been waiting for my lawyers to take action in the case, I have delayed writing you in regards to the matter. Your honor, this is the first trouble of any kind that I have ever been guilty of at all, and if I had had my right mind I wouldn't have done what I did for my own life, for I loved my wife and I loved her dearly. I am a negro of good character and can say that I always went and carried myself in a negro's place. I am a believer in the Lord and have been all my life. Your honor, I can get some of the best men in Johnson County to swear to my being a good negro. They will all give me a good recommendation and all say that they don't want me to hang, and that they will do all they can to prevent me hanging. Your honor, I fully realize my condition, and I am at your mercy. I fully realize that I have violated the laws of the State and know that I deserve punishment. But by hanging me I would be punished for a few minutes only. I have always been used to hard labor, and I know that if you, your Honor, will have mercy on me and let me spend the rest of my days in the State Penitentiary, I will be a man at anything that they would desire me to do. And I think that the State would derive a profit from my labor. Your Honor, I am more than willing to sign an agreement not to ask for a pardon under any circumstances, and will never give the officials any trouble at all. Now, I will close my plea by praying to God that you, Your Honor, will give my case and plea your deepest thought and consideration. With the best wishes for the near future, I beg to remain your humble servant. Henry Fugett (January 24, 1904, page 10, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
Times Picayune

JOHN B SHAW
John B. Shaw Pays the Death Penalty for a Dastardly Crime
Cleburne, Tex., Nov. 25, - John B. Shaw was hanged at Cleburne today for killing Thomas C. Crane a year ago. Shaw, who claimed to be an infidel and refused all along to have any talk with or visits from preachers but at the last moment he relented and permitted a preacher to be with him on the scaffold.
Shaw's case undoubtedly attracted more attention than that of any murderer hunged in Texas since the days of Bill Longley, the noted outlaw in the early 70's. His crime was one of the most foul that could be perpetrated and sounds of the stage tragedy in conception and execution; his escape from jail and his wanderings for days, hunted by men and dogs; his trial for lunacy and the testimony given by his mother of the circumstances which happened before his birth which marked his life - all these things go to make up a story which has seldom been equaled for its tragedy off the stage.
John B. Shaw was an overseer of a ranch which was close to the home of Tom Crane a hard working farmer of the small type, who labored hard for his daily bread and to support his wife and three small children. Shaw became enamored of Mrs. Crane and attempted to persuade her to desert her husband, which she refused to do. He finally decided that with Crane out of the way his suit would prosper. This plan he proceeded to put into effect. Shaw had working for him a negro named Wilson, and this man he made a partner in his crime. Wilson was sent early in November, 1897, to the field where Crane was at work and called on him to help him rescue a steer from the swamp. Crane, suspecting nothing, went with him; when Crane and the negro reached the edge of the jungle they were met by Shaw and Crane realized the fate that was to be his at the hands of the man whose sole reason for killing him was that his wife was a decent, God fearing woman, who refused to listen to the voice of the serpent. Crane begged and pleaded for mercy - with tears in his eyes he promised to move from the country; called on the names of his babies and of Shaw's mother to gain his life, but the devil only laughed at him and told him to pray, for his time on earth was short and abused him and applied lying epithets to his wife and children and to Crane, finally shooting him in the back as he turned to flee. Crane made an heroic effort to escape; his pony struggled over gullies and through thick underbrush of the jungle, but wire fences proved too much and the poor suffering wretch was brought back to the slaughter. Again he was permitted to make a dash for liberty but a ball from a rifle that the negro carried knocked him from his horse. He was dragged for a few years by the frightened animal and then fell and then the arch fiend went to where he lay and mutilated his face and crushed his skull with the butt of the rifle and then they fled and the dead was alone in the jungle, a prey to the foul birds and the carrion seeking beasts.

Shaw went straightway to the home of the man he had so ruthlessly and cruelly murdered and to the woman, who was the innocent cause, to the faithful wife and the new made widow, he told that Crane had been compelled to flee from the law and that he had left wife and babies in Shaw's care. Mrs. Crane did not believe this and it only served to arouse her fears. She at once notified the sheriff of Johnson county that her husband was missing and that she feared that he had been made way with by Shaw. The sheriff at once went to work, first lacing Shaw under surveillance, to find the body of the murdered man, which was not accomplished for three days, so dense was the thicket where the search was made. Old frontiermen, who had tracked Indians in the pioneer days of the state, took part in the search and to them belongs the real credit for the success in tracking the murderers as well as of finding the body.
Wilson's courage soon failed him and he sent for the county attorney and made a clean breast of the whole diabolical deed; he told of Shaw's conception of the crime, and the reason that he conceived it; of the many plans Shaw had made to prevent detection, which had come to naught; of the threats Shaw had made to compel him to keep quiet, and of his own fear of a mob and of Shaw's vengeance.
The trial came on and the jury returned a verdict of guilty and assessed his punishment at death.
The negro was tried and was given a life term in the penitentiary, which he is now serving.
Shaw's case went to the court of criminal appeals and came back affirmed. Judge Hull set the date of execution at Aug. 5. On Aug. 3 the governor granted a reprieve that Shaw's application for commniation might be examined. The application was refused, and the sheriff was notified to carry out the sentence of the law on Aug. 12; three days before the date set, the alarm was spread that Murderer Shaw had escaped from jail. The governor was notified and at once offered a reward of $500 for his capture, which was supplemented by the sheriff with another $500. Then, hundreds of men, mounted, on foot, some with dogs and some without but all heavily armed, searched through the dense jungles and thickets of this Brazos valley for the condemned murderer. He was captured on the Louisiana line.
Shortly after his recommitment, a charge of lunacy was preferred against Shaw by his sister as a last resort to save him from the hangman. Under the laws of Texas, an affidavit charging lunacy acts as a stay of execution and this gave to Shaw more than a month of life. The lunacy trial came on to be heard Nov. 14, and for three day the lawyers tried every means in their power to prove that the murderer was insane and not responsible for his acts. But all to no avail. (, November 26, 1898, page 12, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
Cleburne Morning Review -- Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas
Sunday, August 21, 1921
   J. M. McPherson
J. M. MCPHERSON PASSES AWAY LAST EVENING

At 8:30 last night J. M. McPherson, 74 years of age, 1099 North Granbury, passed away surrounded by friends and loved ones. He had been an invalid for nine years and had been seriously ill for eighteen months. His death was due to nervous breakdown. The funeral will be delayed awaiting the arrival of relatives. It is thought the funeral will be held Monday, but the hour could not be announced last night. The interment will be in the Pleasant Point cemetery and the funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Geo. H. Morrison of Haskell, Texas, who was formerly pastor of the First Christian church here.

Mr. McPherson was born in Simonsville, Va., on May 30, 1847 and he came to Texas when quite a young man, locating in Dallas. He later moved to Alvarado and lived there for more than thirty-five years and he had been a resident of this city for eleven years.

Mr. McPherson was a good husband and father and he had many friends in Central Texas who will regret to learn of his death and who will extend sympathy to the bereaved relatives during this hour of bereavement. He is survived by a wife and the following children.

Albert McPherson, Cleburne; J. E. McPherson, Abilene; Roy McPherson, Tipton, Okla; Carl McPherson, Burleson; Mrs. Casstevens, Lillian; Mrs. W. E. Miller, 217 West Heard street, Cleburne; also a brother, Benton McPherson, Joshua; a brother Jim McPherson, a resident of Virginia and also a sister, Mrs. Lou Straley of Virginia. [Submitted by Erlene]
Mrs. Cora Elizabeth McPherson
Deceased Was Long Time Resident of Cleburne

Mrs. Cora Elizabeth McPherson, 89, long time resident of Cleburne, died at an early hour Sunday morning following a long and serious  illness at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. E. Miller, 300 Forest  Avenue. Born Feb. 26, 1854, in Dallas, Mrs. McPherson was the daughter of Col. and Mrs. T. C. Hawpe. Her father was sheriff of Dallas County from 1852 to 1856, and she was born at the family home place on Good  street in Dallas.
In 1871, she was married to Jake M. McPherson and they continued to live in Dallas on the farm, which was located between Junius Street  and the Santa Fe Railroad in Dallas until 1886. At that time they sold the farm and moved to Alvarado, where they purchased another  farm. Mr. and Mrs. McPherson lived near Alvarado where they reared their five sons and five daughters until 1910. In 1910 they sold their home there and moved to Cleburne where they resided since.

In August, 1921, Mr. McPherson died after a long illness but Mrs. McPherson continued to live in the home place until March of this year, when she was moved to the home of Mrs. Miller. She had been confined to her bed for the past six years and during the past six  weeks had been seriously ill.

Mrs. McPherson was a faithful member of the First Christian church, having joined when a young girl.   Last rites were conducted this afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Crosier-Pearson Funeral chapel with Rev. A. D. Rogers, a retired Christian  minister of Denton, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. E. Buford Isaacks, pastor of the First Christian Church here.

Pallbearers were six of Mrs. McPherson's grandsons, and interment was in the family plot at Pleasant Point cemetery, northeast of Alvarado.

She is survived by three sons, A. R. McPherson, Cleburne; T. C.  McPherson, Fort Worth, and J. E. McPherson, Dallas; three daughters,  Mrs. W. E. Miller, Cleburne; Mrs. J. L. Casstevens, Alvarado; and  Mrs. Ruby Yater, San Antonio; 24 grandchildren and 17 great- grandchildren. [Submitted by Erlene]
William C. Wilhite — 4/8/2002
INDIANAPOLIS — William C. Wilhite, 86, died Thursday, April 4, 2002, in a local hospital.
He was a native of Cleburne, Texas, and grew up in Temple, Texas. He was formerly of Lake Charles and recently moved to Indianapolis. He was a petroleum engineering graduate of Texas A&M University. He began his career with Stanolind Oil Co. in Jennings. He was district manager of the Lake Charles office of the Department of Conservation until his retirement in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie May Mahaffey Wilhite; three daughters, Patricia Wilhite Saunders, Margaret Wilhite and Gayle Wilhite Mayo; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at noon today, April 8, in Crown Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Crown Hill Funeral Home. [Submitted by Erlene]
Cary Lynn "Moe" Bandy
Cary Lynn "Moe" Bandy, 66, of Burleson, a recently retired Bell Helicopter employee of 41 years, passed away at his residence Monday July 23, 2007, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Graveside service: 10 a.m. Thursday. Interment: Marystown Cemetery in Burleson. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Burleson, Johnson County, Texas.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Texas Cancer Care at Huguley Hospital.
Mr. Bandy was born April 18, 1941. He was a member of the Masonic lodge for many years and enjoyed being a volunteer fireman for Burleson and Joshua. He also enjoyed playing his guitar and inspired many people with his talent of music.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Carl and Lavena Voe "McMennamy" Bandy, and a brother, Robert Dorris Bandy.
Survivors: Wife, Pat Bandy; daughters, Tammy Lackey and husband, Jimmy, Laura Jones and husband, Ron, Lisa Gilstrap and husband, Tim; brother, Don Bandy and wife, Judy; stepdaughters, Carrie Cooper and husband, Troy, Shelly McMillan and husband, Mac; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Louis and Flora Leverett; 12 grandkids; and three great-grandchildren. Published in the Star-Telegram on 7/24/2007 [Contributed by Erlene]

News article from Marion Herald - Marion County, AL - Jan. 12, 1888.

Alvarado, Texas, Dec. 29th, 1887

Editor Herald: Please allow me space for a few dots in your columns as I promise to be very brief.

We have a fine country here I moved from your county about nine years ago and of course I like to hear from it and all my old friends resident there, and wish it much success. We have as fine a farming country here as man ever saw. I live eight miles east of Alvarado in the open prairie, have good health and the water is just splendid. Land is worth from $10 to $20 per acre, the land is all good. We had a bad spell of weather which lasted for six weeks. The black mud in this country is rather disagreeable, but we make plenty of all kinds of produce. Wishing the Herald great success I am. J. T. F. [Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney]

Dallas Morning News
25 Nov. 1902

Cleburne , Tex. , Nov. 23. – Ike Prewit, who had been a resident of this city for a long time, died at his home here last night. [Transcribed and Submitted by Marla Zwakman]

Dallas Morning News
6 Jan. 1902

Cleburne , Tex. , Jan. 4. – Ben T. Howell, a well-known young man of this city, died at San Antonio after being there a short time. The remains will be sent here for internment. [Transcribed and Submitted by Marla Zwakman]

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