John was named after his grandfather who came to Louisiana around 1810. The headstone and death certificate list John Hoosier as being born in 1812, but according to census record, (see: 1860 Louisiana;Calcasieu Parish; pg 106), his actual date of birth was probably around 1828/29. Also see the census records for 1870.
John's Death certficate is signed by his wife, Zilla. She lists his father as David Hoosier and his Mother as Sussanah Clark.
His father, David (1800-1878) would have had to be around 12 years old at the time of his birth if the dates listed on his headstone were correct.
After a lot of research, I believe that the dates listed on the headstone are probably incorrect and probably were due to the lack of good record keeping, but I will keep investigating.
Other children of John Hoosier that I am still looking for the buriel of: Mathew 1851-1889; David Robert 1853-???; Jerry 1855-???; Angeline 1864-???; Mary 1866-???; Amos W 1894-???
I recently came across a Kinfolks article which I was very excited about and wanted to share with all those who love to read about this man, who's personality was so magnetic that he still holds fascination for many people today. The article was written by Linda Bass Clark. I had the priveledge to meet her in person and we travelled together to Bearhead Creek and placed the placard on John's grave. Here is some of what she wrote in it regarding John.
John, being a bear hunter, had a pack of dogs he used for tracking and baying. The dogs had colorful and interesting names such as Fourty Pounds of Turkey Meat, Gallus Up Behind, Rock Head, and Gravel Foot. "Stumpy John", as he was called by most people, really had two packs of dogs, with the first being of the hound variety. These larger dogs were used for tracking bear in the thickets and hammocks of the river bottom. The second pack of smaller "feisty" dogs was used for baying and disabling the bear. These small dogs could nip and bite the bear with relative ease without fear of injury.
One story that has always been told through the years, was of John Hoosier giving a name to a well-known creek that is a minor tributary of the Sabine. Being the prankster that he was, John decided to trick a fellow hunter who was known for being very nervous, at best. "Stumpy John", nailed a bear's head on a tree. This tree was at the edge of the creek bank where a fallen log served as a crossing.
As his friend ventured across the footlog, balancing his rifle and the day's kill, his eyes met the vacant stare of the bear from its high perch. The rifle, hunting pouch and precious bullets went on one side and the startled friend careened off the other side of the log. As the man hit the dark water of the creek, John could be heard laughing in the bushes. Today, this creek is still known as Bear Head Creek.
John ran a ferry across the Sabine River at a point later called Nix's Ferry. His compact stature was compensated with strength and sheer determination at manning the ferry. His gallantry showed itself at a young age. He was credited with saving an American military officer's wife and young children from the clutches of the Spanish Army as they were escaping from Texas. John was able to get the small family across the Sabine to the safe shore of Louisiana using his ferry. During the Civil War, John served as a scout in No Man's Land. This strp of land was vital strategically as it was a water route into the interior of the western boundaries of the Confederacy. He was rumored to have worked as a spy using his ferry as a foil. This fact, coupled with his age, would have been the perfect guise.
You can read more from the article
Vol. 24 No. 3 (pg. 143-144) Kinfolks
John's Death certficate is signed by his wife, Zilla. She lists his father as David Hoosier and his Mother as Sussanah Clark.
His father, David (1800-1878) would have had to be around 12 years old at the time of his birth if the dates listed on his headstone were correct.
After a lot of research, I believe that the dates listed on the headstone are probably incorrect and probably were due to the lack of good record keeping, but I will keep investigating.
Other children of John Hoosier that I am still looking for the buriel of: Mathew 1851-1889; David Robert 1853-???; Jerry 1855-???; Angeline 1864-???; Mary 1866-???; Amos W 1894-???
I recently came across a Kinfolks article which I was very excited about and wanted to share with all those who love to read about this man, who's personality was so magnetic that he still holds fascination for many people today. The article was written by Linda Bass Clark. I had the priveledge to meet her in person and we travelled together to Bearhead Creek and placed the placard on John's grave. Here is some of what she wrote in it regarding John.
John, being a bear hunter, had a pack of dogs he used for tracking and baying. The dogs had colorful and interesting names such as Fourty Pounds of Turkey Meat, Gallus Up Behind, Rock Head, and Gravel Foot. "Stumpy John", as he was called by most people, really had two packs of dogs, with the first being of the hound variety. These larger dogs were used for tracking bear in the thickets and hammocks of the river bottom. The second pack of smaller "feisty" dogs was used for baying and disabling the bear. These small dogs could nip and bite the bear with relative ease without fear of injury.
One story that has always been told through the years, was of John Hoosier giving a name to a well-known creek that is a minor tributary of the Sabine. Being the prankster that he was, John decided to trick a fellow hunter who was known for being very nervous, at best. "Stumpy John", nailed a bear's head on a tree. This tree was at the edge of the creek bank where a fallen log served as a crossing.
As his friend ventured across the footlog, balancing his rifle and the day's kill, his eyes met the vacant stare of the bear from its high perch. The rifle, hunting pouch and precious bullets went on one side and the startled friend careened off the other side of the log. As the man hit the dark water of the creek, John could be heard laughing in the bushes. Today, this creek is still known as Bear Head Creek.
John ran a ferry across the Sabine River at a point later called Nix's Ferry. His compact stature was compensated with strength and sheer determination at manning the ferry. His gallantry showed itself at a young age. He was credited with saving an American military officer's wife and young children from the clutches of the Spanish Army as they were escaping from Texas. John was able to get the small family across the Sabine to the safe shore of Louisiana using his ferry. During the Civil War, John served as a scout in No Man's Land. This strp of land was vital strategically as it was a water route into the interior of the western boundaries of the Confederacy. He was rumored to have worked as a spy using his ferry as a foil. This fact, coupled with his age, would have been the perfect guise.
You can read more from the article
Vol. 24 No. 3 (pg. 143-144) Kinfolks
John was named after his grandfather who came to Louisiana around 1810. The headstone and death certificate list John Hoosier as being born in 1812, but according to census record, (see: 1860 Louisiana;Calcasieu Parish; pg 106), his actual date of birth was probably around 1828/29. Also see the census records for 1870.
John's Death certficate is signed by his wife, Zilla. She lists his father as David Hoosier and his Mother as Sussanah Clark.
His father, David (1800-1878) would have had to be around 12 years old at the time of his birth if the dates listed on his headstone were correct.
After a lot of research, I believe that the dates listed on the headstone are probably incorrect and probably were due to the lack of good record keeping, but I will keep investigating.
Other children of John Hoosier that I am still looking for the buriel of: Mathew 1851-1889; David Robert 1853-???; Jerry 1855-???; Angeline 1864-???; Mary 1866-???; Amos W 1894-???
I recently came across a Kinfolks article which I was very excited about and wanted to share with all those who love to read about this man, who's personality was so magnetic that he still holds fascination for many people today. The article was written by Linda Bass Clark. I had the priveledge to meet her in person and we travelled together to Bearhead Creek and placed the placard on John's grave. Here is some of what she wrote in it regarding John.
John, being a bear hunter, had a pack of dogs he used for tracking and baying. The dogs had colorful and interesting names such as Fourty Pounds of Turkey Meat, Gallus Up Behind, Rock Head, and Gravel Foot. "Stumpy John", as he was called by most people, really had two packs of dogs, with the first being of the hound variety. These larger dogs were used for tracking bear in the thickets and hammocks of the river bottom. The second pack of smaller "feisty" dogs was used for baying and disabling the bear. These small dogs could nip and bite the bear with relative ease without fear of injury.
One story that has always been told through the years, was of John Hoosier giving a name to a well-known creek that is a minor tributary of the Sabine. Being the prankster that he was, John decided to trick a fellow hunter who was known for being very nervous, at best. "Stumpy John", nailed a bear's head on a tree. This tree was at the edge of the creek bank where a fallen log served as a crossing.
As his friend ventured across the footlog, balancing his rifle and the day's kill, his eyes met the vacant stare of the bear from its high perch. The rifle, hunting pouch and precious bullets went on one side and the startled friend careened off the other side of the log. As the man hit the dark water of the creek, John could be heard laughing in the bushes. Today, this creek is still known as Bear Head Creek.
John ran a ferry across the Sabine River at a point later called Nix's Ferry. His compact stature was compensated with strength and sheer determination at manning the ferry. His gallantry showed itself at a young age. He was credited with saving an American military officer's wife and young children from the clutches of the Spanish Army as they were escaping from Texas. John was able to get the small family across the Sabine to the safe shore of Louisiana using his ferry. During the Civil War, John served as a scout in No Man's Land. This strp of land was vital strategically as it was a water route into the interior of the western boundaries of the Confederacy. He was rumored to have worked as a spy using his ferry as a foil. This fact, coupled with his age, would have been the perfect guise.
You can read more from the article
Vol. 24 No. 3 (pg. 143-144) Kinfolks
John's Death certficate is signed by his wife, Zilla. She lists his father as David Hoosier and his Mother as Sussanah Clark.
His father, David (1800-1878) would have had to be around 12 years old at the time of his birth if the dates listed on his headstone were correct.
After a lot of research, I believe that the dates listed on the headstone are probably incorrect and probably were due to the lack of good record keeping, but I will keep investigating.
Other children of John Hoosier that I am still looking for the buriel of: Mathew 1851-1889; David Robert 1853-???; Jerry 1855-???; Angeline 1864-???; Mary 1866-???; Amos W 1894-???
I recently came across a Kinfolks article which I was very excited about and wanted to share with all those who love to read about this man, who's personality was so magnetic that he still holds fascination for many people today. The article was written by Linda Bass Clark. I had the priveledge to meet her in person and we travelled together to Bearhead Creek and placed the placard on John's grave. Here is some of what she wrote in it regarding John.
John, being a bear hunter, had a pack of dogs he used for tracking and baying. The dogs had colorful and interesting names such as Fourty Pounds of Turkey Meat, Gallus Up Behind, Rock Head, and Gravel Foot. "Stumpy John", as he was called by most people, really had two packs of dogs, with the first being of the hound variety. These larger dogs were used for tracking bear in the thickets and hammocks of the river bottom. The second pack of smaller "feisty" dogs was used for baying and disabling the bear. These small dogs could nip and bite the bear with relative ease without fear of injury.
One story that has always been told through the years, was of John Hoosier giving a name to a well-known creek that is a minor tributary of the Sabine. Being the prankster that he was, John decided to trick a fellow hunter who was known for being very nervous, at best. "Stumpy John", nailed a bear's head on a tree. This tree was at the edge of the creek bank where a fallen log served as a crossing.
As his friend ventured across the footlog, balancing his rifle and the day's kill, his eyes met the vacant stare of the bear from its high perch. The rifle, hunting pouch and precious bullets went on one side and the startled friend careened off the other side of the log. As the man hit the dark water of the creek, John could be heard laughing in the bushes. Today, this creek is still known as Bear Head Creek.
John ran a ferry across the Sabine River at a point later called Nix's Ferry. His compact stature was compensated with strength and sheer determination at manning the ferry. His gallantry showed itself at a young age. He was credited with saving an American military officer's wife and young children from the clutches of the Spanish Army as they were escaping from Texas. John was able to get the small family across the Sabine to the safe shore of Louisiana using his ferry. During the Civil War, John served as a scout in No Man's Land. This strp of land was vital strategically as it was a water route into the interior of the western boundaries of the Confederacy. He was rumored to have worked as a spy using his ferry as a foil. This fact, coupled with his age, would have been the perfect guise.
You can read more from the article
Vol. 24 No. 3 (pg. 143-144) Kinfolks
Inscription
Rest Soldier Rest thy Warfare is Oer
Gravesite Details
Husband of 1st, Jane Windham 2nd Hester Goins, 3rd Zilla Ann Ashworth. Mother: Susannah Clark
Family Members
Siblings
