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James W. Samuel Hess was born 1814, in Lawrence County, Arkansas. (Lawrence County later later became known as Independence County.) James was the son of Samuel Hess and Sarah (maiden name unknown).
James served as a private in the Mexican War. He served in Capt. Marcus W. Reinhardt's Co. H, 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Mounted Gunmen. They rendezvoused at Little Rock, Arkansas, on November 24, 1836, and were stationed at Fort Gibson. (Ref: Arkansas Pensioners 1818-1900, by Payne) He served with his brothers John and Riley Hess. James drew a pension for his military service.
James grew up at Poke Bayou, near present day Batesville and Marcella. He married Elizabeth Wells on July 19, 1838, in Independence County. Elizabeth Wells was born 1824, in Tennessee, according to census.
James appears on the 1840 Independence County, Arkansas, census in Washington Township. He was living near his uncle, Solomon Hess. The census shows James Hess, a male age 20-30; one male under 5 years (John); one female 20-30 (Elizabeth) and an unidentified female age 10-15 years. This may have been Elizabeth's sister, or another family member. James was a farmer.
James moved his family to Newton County, Arkansas, prior to 1850. The 1850 Newton County census shows the family living in Jackson Township. The census shows James Hess, 36, a farmer, real property valued at $500; Elizabeth, 27; John W., 10; Sarah A., 10; George W., 7; Samuel W., 5; Mary, 3, and Nancy, 1 year old.
The family moved to Pope County, Arkansas, prior to 1857. The 1860 Pope County census shows the family living in North Fork Township. The census shows James Hess, 46, a farmer, $700 real property, $500 personal property; Elizabeth, 39; John W., 21, a farmer; Geo W., 17, a farmer; Sam W., 16, a farmer; Mary J., 13; Nancy C., 11; Wm C., 9; Francis M., 7; James B., 5, and Robt C. B., 2 years old. Living with the family were James' sister, Nancy Lafferty, 29, $200 personal property; Joana Lafferty, 12, and Wm W. M. Lafferty, 2 years old.
James served in the Civil War. He was a member of the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry, Co. A, in 1862.
James moved his family to Stone County, Arkansas, prior to 1874. James died April 2, 1874, in Stone County. He is buried in Case Cemetery (aka East Richwoods Cemetery) located on Luber Road, in Richwood Township, in Stone County.
Elizabeth appears on the 1880 Stone County census, living in Richwood Township. The census shows Elizabeth Hess, 57, widow and her daughter, Alice, 16. Living in the same household was her son James B. Hess, 22, a farmer, and his wife Eliza J., 21, born in Alabama.
Elizabeth died between 1894 and 1900, in Stone County. She is buried beside James in the Case Cemetery, in Stone County.
Children of James Hess and Elizabeth Wells
1. John W. Hess was born Apr 2, 1839, in Independence Co, AR.
2. Sarah Ann Hess was born 1841, in Independence Co, AR. She married James J. Brewton on Aug 16, 1857, in Pope Co, AR. James Brewton was born 1834, in AR, according to census. The 1860 Pope Co, AR census shows James J. Brewton, 25, and Sarah, 19 years old. James served in the Confederate Army in the Civil War. He may have died about 1863, in the war. We believe Sarah died prior to 1880, in Stone Co, AR. We have been told, but unable to confirm, that they had a daughter, Elizabeth Brewton, born 1861, AR; died 1886, Stone Co, AR; married Walter Alonzo Haynes on Feb 19, 1879, in Stone Co, AR.
3. George W. Hess was born Feb 1843, in AR.
4. Samuel W. Hess was born 1845, in AR. Samuel enlisted as a Sergeant in Co A, AR 3rd Cav Reg on 18 Oct 1863, in Pope Co, AR. He married Mary Jane Harris Nov 4, 1866. Mary Jane Harris was born 1848, in AR, according to census. They appear on the 1870 and 1880 Conway Co, AR census. Samuel filed for a Civil War pension as an invalid on Nov 12, 1891. He died Feb 24, 1901, in AR. Mary Jane filed for a widow's pension on July 3, 1901. She was denied and filed a 2nd widows application in 1902, which was approved. Mary Jane Harris Hess died Jan 25, 1907, in AR. Samuel and Jane's children were: (1) William Hess, b. May 1870, Conway Co, AR; (2) Elizabeth Hess, b. 1873, Conway Co, AR; (3) John Allen Hess, b. 1875, Conway Co, AR; (4) James Hess, b. 1879, Conway Co, AR; (5) Thomas Carter Hess, b. Jan 29, 1882, AR; and (6) Rosalee Hess, b. Oct 14, 1887, AR (Note: My sincere thanks to Diane Davis for providiing me additional information on this family.)
5. Mary Jane Hess was born Feb 9, 1847, in AR. She married William J. Lancaster. Mary Jane died 1905, in Jackson Co, OK and is buried in the Hess Cemetery in Jackson Co.
6. Nancy C. Hess was born 1849, in AR.
7. William Carter Hess was born Apr 22, 1852, in AR. He married Elvira Pickney Hargrove on Oct 3, 1872, in Stone Co, AR. Elvira Hargrove was born Mar 14, 1855, in MS. The family appears on the 1880 Bell Co, TX; 1900 Garfield Co, OK; 1910 Sherman Co, TX; and 1920 and 1930 Donley Co, TX census. William died Feb 19, 1930, in Donley Co and Elvira died there May 10, 1931. Census indicates they had 11 children. We have record of the following: (1) Elizabeth V. Hess, b. 1873, AR; (2) Sarah J. Hess, b. 1875, AR; (3) Rebecca Hess, b. 1879, AR; (4) Gertrude Hess, b. Feb 1881, TX; (5) Andrew J. Hess, b. May 1883, TX; (6) Eliza E. Hess, b. Dec 1885, TX; (7) James O. Hess, b. Jan 1889, OK; (8) Nora M. Hess, b. Mar 1891, OK; (9) Cora L. Hess, b. July 1893, OK; and (10) Carter B. Hess, b. Nov 1899, OK.
8. Francis M. Hess was born 1854, in AR.
9. James Buchannan Hess was born Sept 1856, in AR. He married Eliza Jane Aldridge on Dec 14, 1879, in Stone Co, AR. Eliza Aldridge was born 1858, in AL, according to census.
10. Robert C. Brackenridge Hess was born Feb 16, 1858, in AR. He married Mollie Odela Nelms on July 23, 1878, in Stone Co, AR.
11. Alice Hess was born 1864, in AR. She married Alfred Frank Aldridge on June 2, 1881, in Conway Co, AR.