John Martin “Jack” Witherspoon (1846-1909)

John Martin “Jack” Witherspoon

Birth

7 Mar 1846

Newton County, Missouri, USA

Death

14 Apr 1909 (aged 63)

Ellis County, Texas, USA

Burial

Mount Zion Cemetery

Midlothian, Ellis County, Texas, USA Add to Map

Memorial ID

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s/o William Winfrey Witherspoon and Margaret Jane Davis Witherspoon.

Served in Parson's Brigade, Company F, Ellis County Texas Rangers during the Confederate War.

Married Nancy E. 'Nannie' Cooper.

Had 11 children.

John Calvin Witherspoon

Inscription

-- The incorrect information regarding John Martin Witherspoon's birth date is listed on the tombstone as 1870. It is also found incorrect on the 1870 Federal Census and two different genealogy books.

-- The year 1841 is the year that John Martin Witherspoon was born. The proof is listed in the following sentences:

1. J. M. Witherspoon was listed on Infant Baptismal records page 223, line 15, September 20, 1841. New Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church Neosho, Missouri dated May 15,1837-1870 microfilm of Church records from Family History Center.

2. Three different Federal Census: 1850,1860 and 1880 recalculates the birth year as 184l. The 1900 Census lists his birth as Mar. 1841.

3. His enlistment papers for the War Between the States show he enlisted in Parsons 12th Cavalry Regiment in Ellis County, TX in August of 1861 at age 20 years old. This, again, would place his birth year in 1841.

4. An article was written about John Martin and he made this statement: "...his parents died when he was only 8 years old, and he came to this state with an uncle, James Boyd..." the article is located in the book titled "A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas" located in the Sims Library, Waxahachie,Texas. His mother died in 1844 and his father died in 1849.