Person:John Gauntt (1)

CSA Soldiers of the 20th Texas Cavalry Co. E , (later Co. F) Henderson Co. TX. :
Partial List :
CONE, William, Cpl.
Gauntt, John Washington
OWEN, Ishmail Davis, Sgt.
OWEN, John Wade, Sgt.
WARREN, Robert Bradford

John Washington Gauntt Obituary born 12-12-1829; Died 1-18-1912

The subject of this sketch was born in Newberry District, South Carolina, December 12, 1829. His parents, Luke and Elizabeth Gauntt, removed to Georgia while he was quite young. He was raised near Rome, Ga. When he twenty-one years old, he with his parents, removed to Texas and settled in Henderson County near the old town of Fincastle in the year 1852.

In 1854, he married Miss Martha M. Owen, a daughter of Samuel Truss [sic-should be Tine] Owen, and sister of Judge D.A. Owen.

Among the hills four miles west of Fincastle they built themselves a small log cabin and moved into it; They remained at this place the remainder of their lives. His wife died February 16, 1880, nearly thirty-two years ago. After his wife's death he continued to live at the old homestead until called home by the angel of death, having lived fifty-seven years in one place.

He and wife reared a family of nine children : five sons, J.B., W.M. , J.R., R.L. and D.T., all of whom are living, and four daughters, Sallie Elizabeth, Roxy, Eula and Mattie, two of whom still live, and two are deceased. Sallie who married Dr. Mackie who now resides at Golinda, Texas, and Eula who married Judge W.F. Freeman who now resides at Ardmore, Okla.

Mr. Gauntt served four years in the Confederate army. He volunteered and out in Capt. Jerry Warren's company. He was in General Steel's brigade and saw service in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Indian Territory.

About the close of the war his command was ordered to the coast of Texas. On the 24 day of May 1864, by order of Major General McGruder, he was honorably discharged and came home and took up his calling of farming as he was able to follow the plow.

He lived an honorable and upright life. He loved is home and never neglected his business. He did unto others as he wished to do unto him. He joined the Christian church and was a consistent and exemplary of it for 35 or 40 years. He was devoted husband a generous and loving father and ever ready to give good and wholesome advice.

The sober, steady, upright lives and character of his children certify to his worth as a citizen and to his consistent life as a father and a Christian.

The editor of the Review frequently met Mr Gauntt and always enjoyed his conversation.

The Review tenders its sympathy to the bereaved.
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[Note: The editor of the Review at that time was William Dixon Smith, husband of the sister of Mrs. R.L. Gauntt . (Salena Broughton and Margaret Tomie Broughton)]

J.B. (Bass) Gauntt tells in his autobiography: "In 1865, I was 10 years old. Just at the close of the war, father was on his way from Navasota, Texas where he had been discharged from four years service in the so called Civil War. Mother sent me on an old horse were called "Old Pone". One or two other boys was along to meet Uncle Bill Gauntt and other southerners coming home. We meet them about half way between where we lived (the old Homeplace at Myrtle Spring) and Palestine. Father was driving a four mule government team. There were a big bunch of soldiers along after we met them. We turned back some seven or eight miles and stopped for dinner with an old gentlemen by the name of Noble Johnson. There father left the wagon and team and we came home on "Old Pone". Legend in the family had it that he walked to meet his father.

John Washington Gauntt was born to Luke Gauntt and Elizabeth Sibby Moore, 12 December 1829 in Newberry County, S.C. He came to Texas in 1851 with his father and family in the Owen-Knight Wagon train and married Martha Maranza Owen, born 1 April 1838, the youngest daughter of Samuel Tine Owen and Sarah Ward Knight, 11 January 1855.

The history of the John Washington Gauntt family was published in Faulk's History of Henderson County and was written by his son, Bassel (Bass) Gauntt. Since that time it has been proved that the Gauntts were descended from Peter Gaunt of England who came to Massachusetts in 1635 and were not of Scottish origin as stated in that history.

In 1861 John W. volunteered for the Confederate Army and served for four years. He applied for a Confederate Soldiers Pension twice, the first one being rejected. The second one was approved. He stated he had served in Co. A, 20th Texas Calvary, Dismounted, Johnson's Battalion. It was approved on March 28 1911 even though a letter from the War Department, stated they could find no records.. He died 16 January 1912 at the home place at age 83. Martha Maranza had died the 16 February after the birth of the last child in 1880. They lived in the New York-LaRue area on the Luke Gauntt Survey plus additional land he purchased after the war. They are buried in the Myrtle Springs Cemetery. Bass Gauntt in a letter a stated that John W. was " a sound man both phisically [sic] and mentally. He was "regular in his habits and a man that loved his family, home and country." Bass further stated that Martha Maranza was "a woman with a well balanced mind, very kind and affectionate toward her family and friends."

Their children:

i. James Bassell born 16 Nov. 1855; m. (1) Amanda Pruitt, 15 Jan 1872 Marriage annulled (2) Victoria Neill 21 Dec. 1879

ii. William M. born 28 Aug. 1857; d. 2 Feb. 1931; m. (I) Mary Etta Neill 13 Feb 1879. (2) annie Joe Young 15 Oct 1882.

iii. John Randolph (Bob) , born 17 Dec. 1859; d. 11 June. 1937; m. (1) Nannie Curtis 21 August 1882 (2) Florence Speak.

iv. Robert Lee (General) born 13 June 1862; d. 15 June 1921; m. 13 June 1888 Margaret Tommie Broughton b. 24 June 1861; d. 28 Sept 1946

v. Sally Elizabeth (Sally) 1867; m. Dr. Asberry Mackie 28 Dec. 1882

vi. Roxana (Roxie) 29 Oct 1868; d. 3 May 1922. in Myrtle Springs Cem. ; m. (I) John Wesley Phillips 14 Dec. 1890 (2) Dr. Mackie

vii. Tallulah (Eula). 23 Dec. 1871; m. Judge W.F. Freeman 18 Feb. 1889; d. 10 Feb.. 1898; bur. Athens City Cemetery

viii. Dewitt Talmadge born 6 July 1874; d. 6 Dec. 1963; m. 15 April 1900 Drusilla Dixon b. 1 Dec. 1877; d. 12 Mar 1963. Bur. Myrtle Springs Cemetery.

ix. Martha Maranza 8 Feb. 1880; m. Tom Henry Bell; bur. Shelby Chapel Cemetery Henderson County, Tx.

John moved to Texas from Georgia with his parents, in-laws, the Knight family and others (1851). His wife, Martha Marantha Owen, died of "childbirth fever" on February 16, 1880 only four days following the birth of her ninth child, Martha Moran Owen Gauntt. John began farming the "home place" in 1879. A few years later he bought property in Athens, Texas and became a merchant on the square in Athens. John enlisted and served in Warren's Company, Bass's Regiment for the Confederacy.

J. W. GAUNTT, 73 years old, born in Georgia, 55 years in this co.