John M. Hess

John M. Hess was born 1812, in Lawrence County, Arkansas.    (Lawrence County later became known as Independence County.)    He was the son of Samuel Hess and Sarah (maiden name unknown).

John 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)    John served with his brothers James and Riley.   John drew a pension for his military service.

John married Louisa Sutton on June 4, 1837, in Independence County.   Louisa Sutton was born December 4, 1821, in Tennessee, the daughter of Dempsey Sutton and Elizabeth Donoho.

John and Louisa settled in the area between Poke Bayou and the Gap, near his sister Betsy Gill and her family.   John was a farmer.

The 1850 Independence County census, White River Township, shows John, 38, a farmer; Louisa, 30; Elizabeth, 11; Sarah, 8; Malinda, 7; Caroline, 5; Solomon, 3; and Rhoda, 1 year old.   Living next door was John's sister Nancy Lafferty and her family.

John moved his family to Jackson County, Arkansas, about 1854.    John appears on the 1860 Jackson County census in Glaize Township.   The census shows John Hesse, 44, a farmer; Louisa, 35; Caroline, 15; Solomon, 12; Rhodey, 10; Lavinia, 8 and Thomas, 6 years old.     The family was living in the area of Possum Grape, south-south-west of Newport.    Living not far from John's family was his brother Riley Hess and his family.

The 1870 Jackson County census shows the family in Grand Glaize Township.     The census shows John Hess, 59, works on farm, $200 real property, $800 personal property; Louise, 50; Caroline, 19; Jennie, 16; Solomon, 20, works on farm; Thomas, 14, works on farm, and Alfaretta, 8 years old.   Living with the family were Henry Youngblood, 46, works on farm, born in Michigan; Isabell Youngblood, 28, born in Arkansas, John Youngblood, 4, born in Arkansas; and Nicholas Youngblood, 7 months old, born November 1969, in Arkansas.     Living a short distance away was John's brother Riley Hess and his family.

We believe both John and Louisa died prior to 1880, probably in Jackson County, Arkansas.   

Children of John Hess and Louisa Sutton