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A number of Civil War Veterans, both Confederate and Union, lie buried in Fairview Cemetery, Midland, Texas. In 1967, Ada Phillips made a survey and identified twenty-one of these individuals. Her work was filed with the Texas State Historical Survey Committee in Austin, Texas. Copies of the survey sheets that she completed were also placed on file in the Texas State Archives.
Subsequent to the work done by Mrs. Phillips, Wanda Perry and the late Judy McClure continued researching these subjects. They consulted, among other sources, compiled service records, pension application files, newspaper articles, county histories and death records. Even though a vast amount of material has been collected and compiled, this project is not complete. The work is being continued by Wanda Perry.
In 1974, a list was published in the spring issue of THE THORNY TRAIL (Vol. II: 2, p. 6-7), that contained the names, birth and death dates, and gravesite locations of twenty-nine veterans. To date, forty have been identified.
The mini-biographies of the civil war veterans who are buried in Fairview Cemetery, which follow, have been compiled from the material that was collected by Mmes. Phillips, Perry and McClure. These are the first in a planned three part series. Parts 1 and 2 will include biographies of Confederate veterans. Biographies of the Union veterans will appear as part 3.
The purpose of this series is two-fold. Members of the editorial staff of THE THORNY TRAIL were, first, interested in seeing this collection of material published, so that it would be more accessible to individuals researching in this area. Secondly, it is hoped that there will be readers with additional data they can
contribute.
The researchers who have worked on this project were diligent in recording the sources their of information. Such documentation is not included in this article, but it is available.
BAKER, LEMUEL K. (17 Jan 1837-17 Oct 1904), enlisted on 4 March 1862, at Hays City. He served with Captain Henry T. Davis in the Texas Company of Mounted Volunteers, Frontier Regiment, TST, commanded by Colonel James M. Norris, until he was mustered out, at the expiration of his term, on 7 Feb 1863. He attained the rank of 5th sergeant, and was stationed at Camp Davis.
5th Sgt. Baker's wife's given name was Martha Ann. Her maiden name is not available. Location of his grave is Avenue D west, Block 52, Lot 2. It is possible he died elsewhere, since no Texas death certificate has been located.
BIZZELL, FRANCIS M. (13 Feb 1842-13 Jan 1928), the son of Frank Bizzell, enlisted on 17 Jul 1861 at Yellville, Arkansas, for one year. He was captured at Fort Hudson on 9 Jul 1863. During his tour of duty, he attained the rank of 4th sergeant, and served with Company E, 14th Regiment of the Arkansas Infantry.
An application for CSA pension (#08732) was made by Frank M. Bizzell in Hopkins County. This may or may not be a different individual.
4th Sgt. Bizzell was married to Emily Slaughter. He died in Midland County at the age of 85. Prior to moving to Midland about 1923, he had lived in Bell and Mitchell Counties, Texas, and was by occupation a farmer. He had at least one son, T. E. Bizzell, who was born in Bell County, Texas, 12 Apr 1893. At the time of his death he was a widower.
Location of his grave is Avenue K East, Block 40, Lot 4.
BOUNDS, MICHAEL M. (1841- 10 Nov 1925) was born in Calhoun County, Mississippi. He enlisted at Graysport, Mississippi, on 14 Aug 1861, and served in Company D, 48th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, attaining the rank of private.
During his tour of duty, Pvt. Bounds was wounded twice. He was first wounded at Seven Pines on 31 May 1862, and was granted a furlough. By July 1862, however, he was back on the active roll. He was captured at Fredricksburg, Virginia on 5 Jun 1863, and later exchanged. On 12 May 1864, he was wounded a second time, and sent to the General Hospital at Camp Winder, Richmond, Virginia. He was then granted a sixty-day furlough to return home, where he was at the time the war ended.
Michael M. Bounds moved to Texas in 1868, and was a farmer. His wife (maiden name reportedly Peves) preceded him in death. It is possible that Mr. Bounds lived elsewhere at the time of his death, as only her death is of record in Midland County. Location of his grave is Avenue L East, Block 45, Lot 3.
BRUNSON, ALMORAND B. (26 Feb 1812-23 Jan 1899), enlisted in the Confederate Army 23 Feb 1864 and was discharged 31 Mar 1864. He served with Company B, 15th Texas Infantry (formerly Speights' Battalion), and attained the rank of private.
Pvt. Brunson grew up in Georgia, lived for a time in Alabama, and came to Texas, probably during the last year of the Civil War. He was married to Eliza Woodard (1818-1891), and the couple had two sons, David Woodard and William H., and one daughter, Sudie, who married a Wright.
Location of his grave is Avenue C, Block 107.
COWDEN, GEORGE FRANKLIN, SR. (8 Jan 1827-12 May 1912), enlisted 1 Feb 1864 in Palo Pinto County, Texas. He served with Captain William C. Clayton in Company B, First Frontier District, TST, Commanded by Major William Quail. He attained the rank of lst lieutenant. 1st Lt. Cowden, who married Ruth Elizabeth Whitesides, came to Texas from Newton County, Georgia with one of his brothers, William Hamby Cowden. They were the sons of Jonathan Cowden.
Location of his grave is Block 105, Lot 1.
COWDEN, WILLIAM HAMBY, SR. (1 Apr 1826-1903), enlisted 20 Sept 1863 in Palo Pinto County, Texas. He served in Company A, Texas State Troops of Frontier Protection (local defense), under the command of Captain William C. Clayton. He was reportedly thirty-nine years old at the time of his enlistment, which was for a period of six months. He attained the rank of sergeant.
Originally from Newton County, Georgia Sgt. Cowden was the son of Jonathan Cowden. He married Katherine Lidden, and was by occupation a rancher. He was the developer of the JAL Ranch in New Mexico.
Location of his grave is Avenue C, West, Block 82, Lot 1.
DYER, B. FRANKLIN (5 Aug 1849-1 Apr 1914), enlisted in July 1861, and served as a private under commanding officer Captain L. D. Mcconico, in the Reserve Company, Beat 7, Navarro County, Texas Militia, a unit of the 19th Brigade assigned to protect Navarro, Ellis, Freestone and Limestone Counties. An application for CSA pension (#03109) was filed in Navarro County.
Pvt. Dyer was reportedly born in Tennessee, and at the time of his death was married, and by occupation a hotelkeeper. No name is available for his wife.
Location of his grave is Avenue H, Block 85, Lot 2.
EDSON, JAMES EUGENE (27 Aug 1848-15 Feb 1930), enlisted 1863 in Cooper County, Missouri. He joined Company D, 9th Regiment of the Missouri Infantry, and served as a private. His unit was surrendered at New Orleans, Louisiana on 26 May 1865. The men were paroled at Alexandria, Louisiana on 7 Jun 1865. Pvt. Edson was wounded during his tour of duty, and as a result, lost one of his fingers.
County death records indicate that he was the son of Eugene Edson, and that he was widowed at the time of his death.
Location of his grave is Block 10, Lot 6.
FLOOD, TERRENCE (7 Feb 1853-7 July 1913), was born in Texas and served in Company A, Waul's Legion Volunteers, as a private.
At the time of his death, he was reportedly a stock farmer, and it appears that his wife survived him. He father's name was given as Tom Flood, who was born in the state of New York.
Location of his grave is Row K, 4th plot on the right.
GLENN, WM. J. (11 Jun 1844-31 Jul 1925), was born in Cherokee, Texas. He reportedly walked from Kerrville to San Antonio to enlist on 15 May 1862. He was a private in Company F, 16th Texas Infantry (Flourney's Regiment).
Information from members of his family indicate that he served for a period of four years. He married Rhoda A. _________ (1850-1949) on 1 Jan 1866. No record of pension has been located for this soldier, but his wife made application for widow's pension. An unusual amount of information is contained in this file, CSA (#41164).
By occupation Pvt. Glenn was a trail driver and an Indian fighter.
Location of his grave is Block 23, Lot 1.
HODNETT, THOMAS J. (1841-18 Mar 1926), served as a private in Company B, 9th Louisiana Infantry. His unit surrendered 16 May 1865, at Citronville, Alabama. The men were paroled at Meridian, Mississippi 16 May 1865. Pvt. Hodnett was wounded 28 Aug 1862.
Application for pension CSA (#15625) was filed 31 Jul 1909, in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas.
Pvt. Hodnett's wife, Matte E. ___________ (1868-1907) preceded him in death.
Location of his grave is Block 113, Lot 7.
HOLCOMBE, WILLIAM FRANKLIN (20 Apr 1828-7 Jul 1897) served as a private in Company I, 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment. He enlisted in Gonzales, Texas, 11 Sept 1861, and drew his last pay 30 Jun 1863. He was assigned to special duty in 1863. At some time he
was undoubtedly taken prisoner, as his name appears on a parole list dated 5 May 1865, Greensboro, North Carolina.
Pvt. Holcombe and his wife, Sarah Alameda McGuire, were living in Hope, Aikansas in October 1859 when their daughter, Mary Ellen, was born.
Location of his grave is Block 77, Lot 2.
HOLLOWAY, WILLIS A. (20 Dec 1836-12 Feb 1924), was the son of Thomson (sic) and Lottie Earl Holloway. He served in Company V, Minute Company, Brown County, TST, as a lst sergeant under Captain A. K. McCain. He enlisted 29 Jul 1861.
1st Sgt. Holloway was married at the time of his death. He was by occupation a rancher, and at one time carried mail regularly every Friday, from the Midland Post office to the Midkiff Post Office, in his hack.
Location of his grave is Block 29, Lot 4.
HOLT, JOHN OSCAR (1830- 1902), enlisted 6 Jan 1862. He served as 1st lieutenant in Company F, Young's Regiment, Texas Infantry. He was discharged in April 1865, in Milam County, Texas. According to his military records he was ill for a time in
Little Rock, Arkansas, and at another time was reportedly absent from his unit while procuring arms.
Location of his grave is Block 58, Lot 8.
HUTCHISON, ARCHIBALD B. (22 Mar 1836-23 Jan 1929), served as an officer with Company F, McCord's Frontier Regiment, Texas Cavalry. His date of enlistment is not available, but he was administered the Oath of Amnesty at Victoria, Texas, in August 1865.
2nd Lt. Hutchison, the son of Wm. Hutchison and Harriet Dickson, was born in Virginia. He married 29 Aug 1867, to Harriet Leonora? (1848-1921.
Midland County reveal the following:
"March 16, 1908. A. B. Hutchison was arrested and charged with driving an automobile faster than eight miles an hour in the City of Midland."
Location of his grave is Block 36, Lot 1.
HUTCHISON, JOHN D. (3 Apr 1834-16 Oct 1914), was an older brother of Archibald B. Hutchison, listed above. He served as a private in the Lone Star guards light Infantry, Red River 8th Brigade, in Company F, McCord's Texas Cavalry, and also enlisted in July 1861.
He applied for a pension in Runnels County, Texas, CSA (#14392), giving his age at the time as 74 years, and his post office address as Mazelan.
Also the son of William Hutchison and Harriet Dickson, John D. was born in Virginia, as was his brother, Archibald. The name of his wife is not known, however, he was apparently married for a time. At death he was reportedly widowed.
HYATT, JOHN S. (29 Aug 1839-5 Jun 1923), was born in Asheville, North Carolina. He enlisted at Ellijay, Georgia, 12 May 1862, and served with Company A, 65th Georgia Regiment. He attained the rank of captain.
Capt. Hyatt was in the Battle of Atlanta, and rather than surrender his sword, he buried it outside of Atlanta. He was wounded 22 Jun 1861, at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, just outside of Atlanta, and was taken prisoner 1 Sep 1864. He resigned 11 Feb 1865.
Prior to his coming to Midland in 1909, Hyatt was a Pony Express rider for Wells-Fargo, and carried the mail from Fort Belnap to Fort Griffin.
An application for pension was filed in Bowie County, Texas. The pension was rejected, however, an unusual amount of information is contained in this file.
Hyatt was married to Mary C. _______ (1853-1925).
Location of his grave is Block 8, Lot 1.