1840 US Census, Cass Co., GA
John Huff
1850 US Census, Cassville, Cass Co.,GAEnum: 5 Oct 1850 Hap Shoup: Asst. U.S. Marshall.
1860 US Census: Texas: Parker Co., Beat 1,Town of Weatherford.
 Robert Smith and Harriet Matilda Huff-Smith abt 1885 |
Harriet Matilda 'Mattie' HUFF b. Nov 1845 Cass Co.GA d. aft 1930 OK. Married: abt
1860-61 AR. Robert SMITH b. Mar 1834 AR d. bef 1920 OK.
note: 1930 US Census: Harriet Smith age 75 living with Andy O. Pearson family in Muskogee, OK. Listed as: Step-Grandmother.
Children of Robert Smith and Harriet Matilda 'Mattie' Huff:
1861 - 1865 American Civil War in North Texas : Hopkins County area.
Read More: History of Hopkins County, Texas
1870 US Census: Texas: Hopkins Co., Sulfur Springs, Bright Star P.O,- Enum; 27 July 1870 -B.H. Dawson, Asst. Marshall.
1870 U.S. federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
Benjamin Huff Age: 30 Born: GA. Lists Death as: Gun Shot Accident - February 1870. Sulfur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas. Occupation: Saddler. Enumerator: (Ben's age was 34 years old, born in 1836)
1880 US Census: Texas: Wise County, Precinct 1 - Enum: 3 June 1880- J.G.White
Here is evidence that the Smith family left Hopkins County before 1880. Wise County is north of Dallas County. Harriets brother, Richard stays in Sulfur Springs, Hopkins Co.
From:Handbook of Texas Online
Wise County:The majority of Wise County settlers were immigrants from southern states, though only fifty-three of the county's 3,160 white residents owned slaves in 1860. Prior to the Civil Warqv cattle and sheep production were the major industries; cotton was not introduced into the county until the 1870s. Most residents engaged in open-range ranching through the 1880s; the two most prominent ranches, owned by W. H. Hunt and Daniel Waggoner,qqv were located in western Wise County. The predominantly southern populace supported secessionqv in 1861 and raised five Confederate companies that fought in the Civil War. The removal of federal troops from the frontier left outlying settlements at the mercy of hostile Comanches and other plains Indians. Texas militia units, formed to patrol from the Red River to the Rio Grande, set up a post in Decatur. Local volunteer groups also defended the frontier communities. Nevertheless, many farms were abandoned, as fearful residents moved into towns for protection against Indian attack.
In 1862 Wise County was gripped by the same Union League conspiracy hysteria that precipitated the Great Hanging at Gainesville.qv Five men were tried and hanged for plotting to aid the Union cause by burning property, stealing weapons, and reducing the people to helplessness. When the war ended, an angry mob of 200 people protested the hangings but was dispersed by local supporters of law and order. Though many Wise County inhabitants remained bitter in defeat, the Reconstructionqv county governments usually included both ex-Confederates and Republican partyqv appointees. Indian raids continued until 1875, and the population of the county grew slowly. Only 1,450 people resided in Wise County in 1870. During the antebellum period Decatur was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mailqv route from St. Louis, Missouri, to San Francisco, California. A government telegraph line also connected the county with larger population centers. Between 1866 and 1886 the Eastern Cattle Trail to Abilene, Kansas, crossed Wise County east of Decatur. The coming of the railroads eventually provided a more convenient and cheaper means of transportation for crops and livestock. In the 1880s and 1890s two railroads were built through the county„the Fort Worth and Denver City, which passed through Decatur, and the Rock Island, which crossed the western section of the county through Bridgeport.
Robert Smith Family moved to Ardmore, Carter Co., Indian Territory about 1885.
COVINGTON: In Georgia and Covington Genealogy
Archibald 'Arch' Covington b. 1826 NC d.? m. Elizabeth MNUkn b. 1830
Children of Archibald 'Arch' Covington and Elizabeth:
Thomas Jefferson Covington came to north Texas with his parents before the Civil War. As a boy he grew up with many memories of the times and remained there with his family among many whose sympathy's were for the south during and after the Civil War and a place to start over among kindered kind.
He became a law enforcement officer for the Paris Texas District Court which took him to all parts of north Texas and the Indian Territory. From Paris to Gainsville to Sherman,Texas to Ardmore I.T. and Ft.Smith, AR. I can only imagine what he still saw in the 1880 and 1890's. Indian Territory was still in devestation after the Civil War. Whiskey runner's abounded moving their goods into Indian Territory , murder, and cattle stealing all along the Red River country in those days. A family story that involved his brother James: James had a problem with the whiskey and problems with other's because of it. James shot a man (wounded him) over a mule in the man's field and James was fortunate to have his brother's help avoiding any serious consequence. Tom threated to haul him in if he didn't change his ways but instead James left the area. He eventually saw the light after getting arrested and sent to 'Hangin' Judge' Parker's Court in Ft. Smith, AR on a liquour violation according to a Court Docket I found in the Ft. Smith Archives. Ole James was in famous company as Wyatt Earp was docketed for cattle stealing on the Indian lands.
Another story was the Dixon murder in Ardmore, Indian Territory......the prisoner was turned over to Deputy Marshall Covington.