Etta Sweazea was born in Bellevue, Clay, Texas to James Franklin Sweazea (1850-1923) and Sarah Ann Posey Sweazea (1850-1915). In 1890 the Sweazeas moved by covered wagon to the High Plains of Texas, settling in Castro County, near Dimmitt. On 23 Dec 1903 Etta Sweazea married James Thomas Franklin (Frank) Hunt (1882-1968) and they moved to New Mexico Territory to establish their ranch and raise cattle. They lived in a dugout near the communities of Quay and Ogle - southwest of Tucumcari, New Mexico. Two sons were born to them James Harlon Hunt (1906-1988) and Cecil Newton Hunt (1908-1908)
On the 18th of Sept 1911 Etta was tragically killed when a fully-grown cow fell through the roof of the dugout onto her bed. It was later surmised by family and neighbors that Frank had driven the cow onto the roof causing Etta's death.
Frank, her "grieving" widowed husband, was asked to move in with Etta's brother, John Sweazea & Family, who owned a ranch several miles away. Mildred Adeline (Addie) Wampler was John Sweazea's wife - and she welcomed the attention of the handsome new boarder in their home. On 10 April 1914 John Sweazea and neighbor Will Jones were ambushed returning from Tucumcari in their wagon and both killed. The Quay County Sheriff arrested Frank Hunt for the murders, but a Grand Jury Inquiry could not find enough evidence to make a charge of 1st degree murder stick . He was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison.
He remarried twice more and died in Contra Costa County, California in 1968.
Etta was buried by her husband and the Sweazea Family, in the nearest cemetery, Quay Cemetery, which also held the grave of her son Cecil Newton Hunt.
On the 18th of Sept 1911 Etta was tragically killed when a fully-grown cow fell through the roof of the dugout onto her bed. It was later surmised by family and neighbors that Frank had driven the cow onto the roof causing Etta's death.
Frank, her "grieving" widowed husband, was asked to move in with Etta's brother, John Sweazea & Family, who owned a ranch several miles away. Mildred Adeline (Addie) Wampler was John Sweazea's wife - and she welcomed the attention of the handsome new boarder in their home. On 10 April 1914 John Sweazea and neighbor Will Jones were ambushed returning from Tucumcari in their wagon and both killed. The Quay County Sheriff arrested Frank Hunt for the murders, but a Grand Jury Inquiry could not find enough evidence to make a charge of 1st degree murder stick . He was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison.
He remarried twice more and died in Contra Costa County, California in 1968.
Etta was buried by her husband and the Sweazea Family, in the nearest cemetery, Quay Cemetery, which also held the grave of her son Cecil Newton Hunt.
Etta Sweazea was born in Bellevue, Clay, Texas to James Franklin Sweazea (1850-1923) and Sarah Ann Posey Sweazea (1850-1915). In 1890 the Sweazeas moved by covered wagon to the High Plains of Texas, settling in Castro County, near Dimmitt. On 23 Dec 1903 Etta Sweazea married James Thomas Franklin (Frank) Hunt (1882-1968) and they moved to New Mexico Territory to establish their ranch and raise cattle. They lived in a dugout near the communities of Quay and Ogle - southwest of Tucumcari, New Mexico. Two sons were born to them James Harlon Hunt (1906-1988) and Cecil Newton Hunt (1908-1908)
On the 18th of Sept 1911 Etta was tragically killed when a fully-grown cow fell through the roof of the dugout onto her bed. It was later surmised by family and neighbors that Frank had driven the cow onto the roof causing Etta's death.
Frank, her "grieving" widowed husband, was asked to move in with Etta's brother, John Sweazea & Family, who owned a ranch several miles away. Mildred Adeline (Addie) Wampler was John Sweazea's wife - and she welcomed the attention of the handsome new boarder in their home. On 10 April 1914 John Sweazea and neighbor Will Jones were ambushed returning from Tucumcari in their wagon and both killed. The Quay County Sheriff arrested Frank Hunt for the murders, but a Grand Jury Inquiry could not find enough evidence to make a charge of 1st degree murder stick . He was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison.
He remarried twice more and died in Contra Costa County, California in 1968.
Etta was buried by her husband and the Sweazea Family, in the nearest cemetery, Quay Cemetery, which also held the grave of her son Cecil Newton Hunt.
On the 18th of Sept 1911 Etta was tragically killed when a fully-grown cow fell through the roof of the dugout onto her bed. It was later surmised by family and neighbors that Frank had driven the cow onto the roof causing Etta's death.
Frank, her "grieving" widowed husband, was asked to move in with Etta's brother, John Sweazea & Family, who owned a ranch several miles away. Mildred Adeline (Addie) Wampler was John Sweazea's wife - and she welcomed the attention of the handsome new boarder in their home. On 10 April 1914 John Sweazea and neighbor Will Jones were ambushed returning from Tucumcari in their wagon and both killed. The Quay County Sheriff arrested Frank Hunt for the murders, but a Grand Jury Inquiry could not find enough evidence to make a charge of 1st degree murder stick . He was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison.
He remarried twice more and died in Contra Costa County, California in 1968.
Etta was buried by her husband and the Sweazea Family, in the nearest cemetery, Quay Cemetery, which also held the grave of her son Cecil Newton Hunt.
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