The Gibson Family Newsletter

Greetings Cousins! Summer is upon us, I hope everyone is beating the heat and enjoying their gardens and other summer activities. With my kids playing hard, keeping me busy trying to keep track of them, genealogy is piling up on my desk. I wanted to get this issue out by the 4th of July but I fell way short of that goal. Ron Warren was kind enough to write an article and send accompanying information on Jesse Richardson Pratt. I'm including material researched & compiled by our cousin Flo Gates and then just a little of my own. A huge thanks to both Ron and Flo!!

When I started the newsletter I thought I would include family group sheets on our ancestors but when I got my copy of Betty Jo's book "Descendants of Robert Gibson, Sr." I decided there is no need to duplicate all the hard work Betty Jo put into her creation so, there will not be many family group sheets in the newsletter. Instead, I hope that each of you will try to purchase a copy of this book for your family. Even if you do not get one of these books or if you do, please send your family history to Betty Jo. This is very important, we do not want you, your parents or children overlooked. Future generations will greatly appreciate the time you take to include your family in the tree. The cost is $20 plus $3.00 for postage and handling, write to Betty Jo Scott at: 1301 W. Oklahoma, Enid, OK 73703.

Many of you have been very kind to share with us your memories and memorabilia. Thank you all. If you have not seen it printed yet, you will soon. There is plenty of room for more though and I hope you will keep it coming. Memories are so important to this project, it's what breathes life into it. Sit down and write me a letter and include your favorite memory on any subject. I've said that I plan to do an issue on Oklahoma but I'm also planning articles on holidays, hunters/hunting and anything else that your personal memories may spark. Please write!! As always, you can reach me at:

Gena Davis 5904 Horseshoe Bend OR coft@aol.com OR 219-482-2131 Ft. Wayne, IN 46825

Before I finish, Ron Warren is a huge Civil War aficionado and if you have any Civil War information or stories, please write to him at: PO Box 194, Ironton, MO 63650. Who knows, you just might find yourself mentioned in his book which will be in production soon (I hope!).

Thanks for your interest in my upcoming trip to Ripley Co. There will be a lot to do while I'm there and your suggestions will make it all the more enjoyable! I'll tell you all about it when we get back. Until then, have a great summer!

"A Family Tree will wither if nobody tends its Roots." ~ unknown

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JR PRATT by Ron Warren

Jesse Pratt was born in Tennessee on January 13, 1804. Little is known about his parents or his exact place of birth. He was married twice; first to Frankie Fox who died 1842 or 1843 in Missouri and second to Elizabeth Gibson. Jesse died in Warm Springs, Arkansas on August 18, 1888.

Jesse Pratt was first and foremost a pioneer. He was a religious man with true spirit of adventure. He enlisted in Captain Dunn's Company, 2nd Regiment, 1st Brigade, Illinois Mounted Volunteers as First Sergeant on June 16, 1832, in Randolph County, Illinois for service in the Blackhawk Indian War. He was discharged at Dixons Ferry, Illinois on August 12, 1832. His brother, Matthew Young Pratt, was in the same Company. I have not read of specific actions this unit participated in but did read that Captain Dunn was seriously wounded by one of his own sentries in an accidental shooting. Captain Dunn survived the war and signed Jesse Pratt's discharge.

Jesse Pratt moved to Missouri sometime after the Blackhawk War probably in 1837 or 1838. He settled in what was then Washington County but is now part of Reynolds County near present day Black, Missouri. According to James Bell, author of "History of Black, Missouri", Jesse became minister of the Black River Church in the late 1830's. Soon, his ministry was known far and wide and one great revival after another came about in the late 1830's and early 1840's attracting some of the great ministers in Southeast Missouri. He writes that people came and camped all over the river bottoms near the church often staying two or three weeks. Jesse served the Black River Baptist church from 1838 till 1842 and from 1851 to 1858. Jesse became the first minister of the newly formed Baptist church in Ironton, Missouri in 1858 and served there until the beginning of the Civil War.

Jesse Pratt, probably because of his Southern birth, joined the Confederate Army. No exact date of his enlistment has been found but we know he was active very early in the war. Ironton, Missouri was the southern terminus of the Iron Mountain railroad out of St. Louis, so the Union army occupied Ironton very early in the war. General Grant received his promotion to General in Ironton in 1861. He was only here for a couple of weeks but he may have written an order for Jesse's arrest. He stated in this order that a "preacher from this place has been taking information to the enemy camp and I have ordered his arrest upon his return." Jesse is the only minister from Ironton that I have found to have served in the Confederate Army, so I am assuming that General Grant was writing about Jesse.

Jesse was a leader of a squad of "irregulars" and harassed Union forces in the Ironton area. At some point, Jesse became Captain of Company N, 15th Missouri Cavalry which was made up of mostly Reynolds County residents. His son, Robert Gibson Pratt was 1st Lt. of the same company and his grandson, Jesse Gibson was also in this company. Jesse's Company is believed to have captured and burned the Reynolds County Courthouse on December 22, 1863, and took the entire Union garrison prisoner with no loss of life. The prisoners were taken to Ripley County closely followed by Major James Wilson of the Union 3rd Missouri Militia. When Jesse and his company arrived in Ripley County, the entire 15th Regiment was camped for a Christmas holiday with their wives and children. Colonel Timothy Reeves was the Regimental Commander and himself a Baptist minister from Ripley County. While dinner and religious services were being conducted, Major Wilson attacked and killed and wounded over 100 people many of them women and children. This became known as the "Wilson Massacre". Later, during the Missouri Campaign of 1864, Major Wilson was captured during the Battle of Pilot Knob. He was tried and convicted, then executed by members of the 15th Missouri Cavalry along with six of his troopers.

Jesse Pratt remained active till the end of the war and several mentions of him by Union Officers in official correspondence are in evidence. Jesse surrendered along with the rest of the 15th Missouri on May 11, 1865, and was paroled at Jacksonport Arkansas on June 5, 1865. He remained in Arkansas in the Warm Springs area till his death in 1888.

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Grant's Order

HEADQUARTERS, Ironton, Mo., August 15, 1861.

Captain JOHN C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: I have to-day to note the arrival of two regiments of infantry - Colonel Lauman, Seventh Iowa Regiment, and Colonel Thayer, First Nebraska Regiment. I have also ordered the Twenty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteers, under Colonel Alexander, forward upon the Greenville road, and Colonel Frederick Hecker, Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, upon the Fredericktown road, taking five days' rations, with instructions to form a conjunction at Brunot. I expect to follow to-morrow with artillery, should any arrive, a few companies of infantry, and more provisions, if means of transportation can be procured; otherwise I shall send teams back from Brunot or Greenville for additional rations.

I purchased to-day sixteen wagons and sixty-eight mules, subject to the approval of Major-General Fremont. These teams are well adapted for our use - more suitable and more efficient than those which we have heretofore employed or found in the service of this command. I shall to-morrow purchase five more wagons and twenty mules on the same terms. The teams which I have conditionally purchased have been for some time in the service of the Government without charge if now purchased; otherwise to receive compensation.

Requisitions were made upon Quartermaster McKinstry some days since for camp equipage, & c., but as yet I have received nothing. At this time I have not a single tent for my headquarters, nor is there any stationery in the quartermaster's department.

Several prisoners now in my charge I shall at the earliest convenience send to the arsenal, with charges accompanying. Since writing the above a messenger has come in from a spy I have out, who reports the rebel force much greater than has heretofore been represented - from 25,000 to 30,000. The spy mentioned is an officer in disguise. From representations made by the messenger, the information which has caused them to retreat was obtained from a preacher of this place, who managed to get out of camp, and is now back again, without a pass. I have ordered his arrest and will have him sent to Saint Louis if caught.

I shall move with the detachments of my command, viz, the Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth Illinois Regiments, towards Brunot subject to any order from your department, and will report as often as practicable.

U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

"Sounds to me like a future president of the United States didn't like our Grandfather!" ~Ronnie Warren

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Mrs. Baptist Preacher

When we think of our ancestors do we make them out to be larger than life individuals who wore shining armor without chinks or rust? In most of the articles that I have written for this newsletter, I have certainly fallen into that frame of mind. The truth is though, that all of them suffered the incredible daily stresses poverty, hunger and disease was an ever existing wolf at the door. In the last newsletter I wrote glowing reports on our circuit-riding ancestors. Today I am going to give you the flip side of that coin.

"Lucy Bowers, in spite of the difficulties in rearing a large family with their dad gone off preaching a lot, evidently had the patience of Job. But one time she was pushed too far. She had often entreated Mitt to buy more spoons because the kids had carried them off and broken them, or just wore them out. Mitt had more pressing matters in his mind and could not remember to do this. One day then the table was full of visiting preachers, as was often the case, Mitt asked Lucy to put mre spoons on the table. Conveniently, the spoons were just put in a glass in the middle of the table so one was available when needed. He repeated his request. Finally, he said sharply, "Lucy, there's only one spoon on the table. Bring some more in here." Her patient reply was, "They are on the table, Mitt. All that we have are there." He brought spoons the next time he went to town."

"James Bowers Descendants, New Jersey to Arkansas" by Flo Gates. Lucy Bowers was Lucinda Ann Pratt, dau of JR Pratt and Mitt was her husband, Milton Drew Bowers. This was meant to be a humorous excerpt from Flo's book but the first sentence "Lucy, in spite of the difficulties in rearing a large family with their dad gone off preaching a lot, evidently had the patience of Job." caught my attention. Life for the wife of a preacher was definitely hard as they were required to carry the duties of the husband, as well as the wife much of the time. This is a comment that Betty Jo Scott sent to me on the very same subject: "My impressions from Dad (Joseph Gibson) about the way he felt about his parents were: His Dad (WO) - forceful, outgoing, fiery preaching that matched his (red hair) hair, and he left his family alone too much to go on the preaching circuit. Other than that one area I think he respected him very much. Dad was a stickler about a man taking care of his family. He was up set with our preacher one time when they were having a baby and the preacher was at the church preaching when he should have been by his wife's bedside. His Mom (Mary Glore Gibson) - he loved her dearly, respected her faith in God and learned more about a relationship with God from her than he did from his Dad, he felt sorrow that she was overworked and went without necessities for herself and their large family which she loved very much. Those are just feelings or impressions I have, probably from his words that I don't even remember. So how real they are I just don't know." ~ Betty Jo Gibson Scott

This seems like a lesson we should all keep in mind "Children learn from the parent's actions and not just their words" and also when we work on genealogy we need to keep in mind that women, who are often overlooked by enthusiastic researchers, were often the backbone of families, teaching their children the lessons of life. The same ones that many of us pass to our own children today.

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Mail from Internet Cousins In most of the previous newsletters I have mentioned "another cousin found on the Internet". In order to give you a taste of how easy and fun the "Net" can be I am including e-mail cousins that have sent me queries recently.

From: Stacie1@aol.com Hi, I'm researching Jesse R. Pratt who married Elizabeth Gibson. She, B: 1829 in MO, . He, B: 1825 in MO, . Their son is Preston Akers Pratt, B: March 1850, Ironton, Iron, MO, M: March 15, 1874 in Randolph county, Ark. Do you have more info on Elizabeth? I haven't found anything. Thanks Stacie 1

From: JPLovelace@aol.com Hi, Gena -- Got a snail-mail letter yesterday from a desc. of Paul ALEXANDER, bro of Clydia who m. Sterling Price PRATT, s/o Jesse R. I sent her all the names and addresses of those of you working either Jesse R. or his half-bro, Matthew Y.; but I told her I'd e-mail you and save her one stamp! She's trying to identify the father of Paul and Clydia; says their mo's name was Mary (__) ALEXANDER. If you have anything on him, please write to: Ms. Fern Stewart, 632 E. Big Bear Bl., Big Bear City, CA 92314. No need to respond to me. Thanks... Jayne (Jayne is the author of a book on ALL Pratts in US)

From: donhodo@scan.missouri.org (Don Hodo) Hi Gena, Nice to meet you. Yes the net is something else and a person can spend a lot of time on it[Computer]. I Have only been on couple of months and have a lot to learn. I am 63 years old and retired from the MO Highway Patrol, Radio Division. I retired 5 years ago and have been enjoying it very much. I have been into electronics for quite a while, Ham Radio, Computers, and I like Auto Mechanic work. I have so many hobbies I cant do all of them. I have been so busy snooping on the internet that I have not had time to do any of the other things, including fishing and boat riding. My great grandfather Peter Martin Hodo Jr b. 29 April 1852 was married to Emma Catherine Gibson b. 8 May 1866. They were married here in MO and later moved to OK. He died 19 Jan 1928 at Blackwell, OK and she died there too on 10 Apr 1937. Emma's brother Straud Richardson Gibson was married to my grandmothers sister (my great aunt) Lucy Driver. I have all the family info in my computer in a program called family roots. If you are interested in it give me your mailing address and I will send it to you. How are you related to Williamson Osborne Gibson? Do you have your family history in a computer program too. If so I would be interested in it too. I was snooping in the Gibson info today that Betty Jo Gibson put on the net. Better scat now. C U Later Don E. Hodo 908 North Corn Willow Springs, MO 65739

From:JUnderw974@aol.com Hi Gena: I have a list at Shoal Creek Cem., (Center Post) in Crawford Co., Missouri. All these names are there, also in the Crawford Co., Book it list some of them. Send me your address and I will send you what I have. I am related to these lines, but by marriages. Judy Underwood 1447 Laurel Glen Rd Soquel, CA 95073

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Hello New Cousins!

We have three very special new cousins to greet in this issue and they are: Imogene Baker of Pocahontas, AR. In the first newsletter I believe I credited a group of OK descendants with compiling a history of the Gibson family but I think the real credit goes to Imogene. Thank you Imogene, I have referred to your work many times! Her address is: Imogene Baker, 831 Bellview Road, Pocahontas, AR 72455.

Marcella Gordon is the granddaughter of WO and Mary Gibson through their son Steve. Marcella has some wonderful memories to tell and can be reached at : 211 8th Street N.E., Guymon, OK 73824.

Sylvia Brewer is the widow of Wm Allen "Jewell" Gibson s/o Steve Gibson. She lived much of her life around Doniphan but now resides in CA. Write to Sylvia at: 1130 5th St., Los Banos, CA 93635. From all of us, to our 3 new cousins. WELCOME!! I hope you will all share your memories, articles & photos!

Updates

Here is another mystery photo sent to us by Judy Guilliams. (Photo not available at this time) Who is this handsome young man? Could he be a son of WO and Mary? Turn your attention to Newsletter #2, photo 1. It was sent by Betty Jo and she wanted to know who the people in it were. We can thank Imogene Baker for the answer. It was Jesse Richardson Gibson and his second wife Margaret Hornbuckle and a dau of JR and Rudy Louisa Gibson.

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Ancestors

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row,
Would you be proud of them,
Or would you really know?

Strange discoveries are often made
In climbing the family tree,
Occasionally one is found in line
Who shocks his progeny.

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row,
Perhaps there might be one or two
You perhaps wouldn't want to know

Now turn the question right about,
And take another view,
When you shall meet your ancestors,
Will they be proud of you?

contributed by Flo Gates

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More Intersting Papers Regarding JR Pratt ~contributed by Ron Warren

PATTERSON, MO., January 13, 1865. Lieutenant-General HILLER: The scout has got in from Logan Creek, and report nothing out there. Captain Pratt was there New Year's, and staid until the 6th of this month and then left south. Got one or two horses that I need for my scouts to ride. B. H. BOSTWICK, Captain, Seventh Kansas Cavalry Volunteers, Commanding Post.

PILOT KNOB, January 8, 1865. Colonel H. N. HILLR: (Care of headquarters Saint Louis District.) Captain Lonergan has pretty reliable information that Parson Pratt and Lieutenant Chitwood with about forty rebels are rendezvousing and conscripting at the forks of Logan's Creek, and Reynolds County. We have not hardly men enough here to look after these brigands.

G. D. O. KELLERMAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General Captain Bostwick, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, commanding at Patterson, reports information obtained from scouts and spies in relation to the concentration of Confederate troops in Northeast Arkansas, as follows:

General McRae, commanding in Northeast Arkansas, issued an order about the 15th instant, ordering his command into camp at Jacksonport on the 25th of January, with the promise that they should be clothed and furloughed to go home and make crop. General McRae has from 200 to 400 men in Lost Bottom, North White. They are not in camp, but scattered through the country at their homes. Colonel Tom Freeman, of McRae's command, by virtue of General McRae's order of the 15th of January, ordered his men together about fifteen miles below Batesville, and got only nine officers and no men, the men declaring that they would not go; they would die at home first. Colonel Reves, of General McRae' s command, is not trying to get his men together. Lieutenant Colonel B. Austin Johnson, of Reves' regiment, has from forty to eighty men on the border. Major Berryman is in Oil Trough Bottom, below the White River, with from 80 to 100 men, camping wherever he can find forage for his horses and provisions for his men. Captain Pratt, Captain Denis, Captain Philips, Captain Wever, and Lieutenant Williams have independent companies, and roam through the southeastern counties of Missouri and the northern counties of Arkansas, having them from ten to thirty men each. There are numerous squads of outlaws straying in the hills and plundering from all parties. From the best information that I can obtain, I do not think that they have any intention of making a raid into Missouri, only by those bands. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS EWING, JR., Brigadier-General

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Peter and Emma Gibson Hodo
(Contributed by Betty Jo Scott)