Submitted by: Mary Sheridan

MARY ELIZABETH JONES EARLY
1860-1940

Mary Elizabeth Jones Early was born 11/25/1860 in Cass County Texas. Can anyone tell us where in Cass Co. and who her parents were? She died on 12/17/1940 in Bowie County, Texas and is buried at College Hill Cemetery. Bowden Funeral Home was the undertaker and Dr. C. S. Crew was the attending physician.

Mary Elizabeth Jones married James Nathan Early on 7/29/1878 in Hope, Arkansas. They had a total of eleven children, most of which were born either in Cumby or Riley Springs, Hopkins County, Texas. Children were Edgar Bruce 1879-1924, Claudia 1881-1954, Bevely Milton 1883-1982, Owen Lester 1885-1961, Willie Ann 1887-1890, Oscar Allen 1890-1978, Gertie Belle 1892-1971, Stella Mozelle 1895-1978, Hester Ann 1898-1985, Ollie Esther 1900-1909, and Howard Swinton b.1903. They can be found on the 1890 and 1900 Hopkins Co. TX census reports. There is a William Jones, age 50, b.TX (father b.MO) who is a miller, married to Nancy, age 36, parents from SC, living near them in Hopkins Co. in 1880. These could be possible parents of Mary Elizabeth Jones. Several of the children of James Nathan Early and Mary Elizabeth Jones married sons and daughters of John Matthew Martin Hawkins and Rachael Ann “Josie” Perry of College Hill in Bowie Co. Texas.

James Nathan Early
1856-1907

James Nathan Early was the son of Edmund Bean Early and Martha Ann Moore of Lone Oak in Hunt County, Texas. His father, Ed Early, served in the Confederate Calvary, 5th Texas Partisan Rangers. On 19 July 1862, Ed enrolled as a Confederate soldier at Greenville, Hunt County, Texas in J.D. McCamant's Company H, Martin's Regiment of the Texas Cavalry. He was 30 years of age when he enlisted. He rode his horse 80 miles to Fort Washita, Indian Territory to muster in with his company. On the enrollment form, the value of the soldier's horse is shown as $__100. His form shows a hand written amount of $125.00. He served for about 3 years, until the war ended. At age 69 he was approved for a Confederate Veteran's disability.

The site of his grave is registered with the organization of Sons of Confederate Veterans. Every Veteran's Day and Memorial Day they decorate his grave in honor of his military service. He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery at Ballinger, Texas, which is near Abilene.

The 5th Texas Cavalry Partisan Rangers, was mustered into service at Fort Washita, Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) on 6 February 1863 by Brigadier General Albert Pike. The regiment consisted of the consolidation of the 10th (Martin's) Texas Cavalry Battalion and the 9th (Randolph's) Texas Cavalry Battalion. During the 2 years and 3 months of existence, Martin's Regiment participated in several skirmishes and battles during the war. They primarily served in Indian Territory (I.T.) and the Northern Sub District of Texas.

Battles fought during the war:
Fort Gibson, I.T. (skirmish) May 1863
Honey Springs, I.T., 17 July 1863
Perryville, I.T. (skirmish) 26 August 1863
Massard Prairie, near Fort Smith, AR. [detachment] 27 July 1864
Cabin Creek, I.T., 19 September 1864.

The 5th Partisan Rangers were disbanded near Houston, Texas on 15th May 1865

Ed 1832-1922 and Martha Early 1833-1913

Martha Ann Moore married Ed Early on 6/23/1853 in Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Illinois. They settled in Hunt County, Texas, in 1854 where most of their children were born. Children were John T. b.1854, James Nathan b.1856, Nancy A. b.1858, Sarah Jane b.1862, Janlia F. b.1864, Joseph Edd b.1867, Jasper Newton b.1869, Jacob R. b.1872, and Jester W. b.1874. They can be found on the 1860 and 1870 Hunt Co. before moving to Hopkins Co. Texas.

Martha Ann Moore was the daughter of Hartwell Moore who was born 4/2/1802 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. He died 1857 in Hunt County, Texas.

UPDATE:

Several years ago you posted a picture and request for information on my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Jones b.11/25/1860 in Cass Co. TX. She married James Nathan Early in 1878. I made mention that a lot of Bowie Co. Hawkins families were descended from this line. We have now located Mary Elizabeth's family. Her father was Robert B. Jones who is listed as a teacher on the 1860 Cass Co. census in Hickory Hill. I have additional information if anyone is interested in this family. Thank you so very much for your help.
Mary Sheridan

1860 Cass CO. Census Hickory Hill P.O.
Census dated 15 Oct. DW# 336 - family#344
R.B. Jones 32 M teacher GA
R.C. Jones 34 F GA
W.S. Kirk 15 m Alabama
J.G. Kirk 12 M TX
M.A. Kirk 8 F TX [this is Matt]
B.R. Jones 2 M TX
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1870 Falls CO. TX census Marlin P.O.
Robert Jones 41 M W farmer GA
Rhode Jones 45 FW GA
Joseph Kirk 23 MW TX
Martha Kirk 18 FW TX
Benjamin Jones 12 MW TX
Mary Jones 10 FW TX
Stella Jones 2 FW TX
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Between 1870 and 1880 Mary E's family moved from Falls Co. to Delta Co.

1880 HOPKINS COUNTY, TX. CENSUS
#87 is Ed & Martha Early with 7 kids.
#88 is James Early b. Tx. age 24 farmer
Elizabeth f age 19 wife
Edgar b. TX. 6 mo. son
Jones, Buck b. Tx age 21 farmer
#89 is Henry & Virginia Bishop He's from Arkansas
they have 4 mo. dau named Barberry
#90 is Mary Stewig a widow with 4 kids
#91 William Jones age 50, b Tx. his father b.Missouri
his occupation is miller
Nancy J. wife age 36 b. Alabama, her father &
mother were both born S. Carolina.
No kids listed.

1900 Hopkins Co. TX Census June 1900, Pct. 3, Enum 6/12/1900
158-158 Early, James N. Head W M June 1854 45 M 22 TX IL IL
Early, M. E. Wife W F 35 Dec. 1864 35 M 22 TX GA GA
Early, Bell M. Son W M Nov. 1881 18 S TX TX TX
Early, Claudie Daug. W F Jan. 1884 16 S TX TX TX
Early, Owen Son W M Dec. 1885 14 S TX TX TX
Early, Oscar Son W M Nov. 1890 19 S TX TX TX
Early, Gertie Dau W F April 1892 8 S TX TX TX
Early, Stella Dau W F Feb. 1893 6 S TX TX TX
Early, Hester A. Dau W F Dec. 1897 2 S TX TX TX
Gambling, Fannie Boarder W F May 1826 74 TX TX TX

1910 Bowie Co. TX Census
Early, Mary E. W F 48

1920 Bowie Co. TX Census DeKalb
356-368 Early, Mary E. 59 F W TX GA AL