James Monroe Maddux & Sarah Naomi Harris:
By: Patricia Caster9 (Edith Latalia10, Benjamin Franklin9, Benjamin Clinton8, James Monroe7, Benjamin Wills6, Zachariah5, Alexander4, Lazarus3, Alexander2, Thomas1)
February 16, 1818 may not have been a big event for the town of Milledgeville, in Baldwin County, Georgia, it was for
Benjamin Wills Maddux and Catherine Powell Maddux. their first son James Monroe, was born and was one of the 5th
generation Maddux�s of America.
Thomas Maddux, born about 1590, possibly from Wales is the first known Maddux of this family. Alexander, his son,
was born in England in the year 1613. Alexander emigrated to America in 1635 on the ship Abraham out of London.
He settled in Maryland and later moved to Virginia where his third son Lazarus was born about 1657. A 1st generation
Maddux of America, Lazarus was James's third great grandfather.
John Powell born in England about 1580 emigrated to America. His second son Richard born about 1625 in Virginia
was a 1st generation Powell of America. Richard was Catherine�s sixth great grandfather.
Catherine has the same ancesterial lineage as her son, since her mother was the daughter of William Maddux a brother to
Zachariah Maddux, her great uncle and her husband's father.
In 1830 James, age 12, was living in Gwinett County, Georgia with his parents and four brothers and two sisters.
Evans Powell, age 15, Zachariah age 11, Benjamin Fletcher age 7, Sivility Jane age 5, Mariah Ann, age 4, Moses
Wilkerson age 1. Those that were old enough attended Grogans school in Milledgeville. Late that year the family moved
to the newly opened Cherokee country in Walker County, Georgia. They made a home near Trion.
James fought in the Seminole War in Florida while some of his brothers started moving west. Around 1840, after coming
home from the war he assumed the responsibility of looking after his parents and their property. During this period he did
some teaching. The war between the states began and Sherman's march came across their land.
Sarah Naomi Harris age 18, the daughter of William G. Harris of Georgia and Amanda Elizabeth Petters Harris of Virginia,
became the wife of James Monroe Maddux age 22, on November 1, 1842. They made their home in Walker County,
Georgia.
Amanda Elizabeth, a daughter, was born September 13, 1843. She was the first of their twelve children. Their first son
William Porter was born 19 months later on April 6, 1845.
Mary Springs their second daughter arrived on February 13, 1847 and Benjamin Clinton, (Clint) their second son, was
born on June 10, 1849.
The U.S. Census takers came by and recorded that James M. Maddux and his wife Sarah N. were living in Taylor Ridge
Valley, Georgia. James was now 32 with a family of four children Amanda E. age 6, William P. age 5, Mary S. age 3 and
Benj C. age 1. All of the children were born in Walker County, Georgia.
Martha Katherine their third daughter, was born on January 20, 1852, followed by Cicero Summerfield their third son,
born March 2, 1853. Tragedy came the following year when Martha Katherine died January 21, 1854, one day after
her second birthday.
Joseph McTier their fourth son, was the only child of James and Naomi to be born outside of Walker County.
He was born in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia on March 9, 1855.
On September 18, 1857 James Andrew their 5th son was born. A sixth son John Powell was born two years later,
December 3, 1859.
Ten years had passed, and the census people found James M. Maddux and his wife Sarah N. in Wilson's District,
Duck Creek Post Office .James at the age of 42, was supporting him family as a farmer. Their family had expanded to
8 children, Manda E. age 16, William P. age 14, Mary S. age 12, Clinton B. age 10, Cicero S. age 6, Joseph age 5,
James A. age 3 and John P. age 7 months. The census did not report the birth and death of Martha Katherine.
In 1862, Eliza Jane their fourth daughter was born on June 28. She died at the age of 10 months on April 5, 1863 never
leaving Walker County, Georgia. A year later a seventh son, Samuel Fletcher was born on April 12, 1864.
James's mother Catherine died on March 27, 1866 and was buried at the Bird Chapel Cemetery. ??????
Their last child Emma Jean Sivility their fifth daughter was born on March 11, 1867 in the home of her grandparents.
Dr. Underwood said that this child was an unusual. The three moles on her head was a sign of intelligence. James's
father Benjamin Wills died two years later on February 2, 1869 and was buried next to Catherine at the Bird Chapel
Cemetery. ??????
After the death of his father, James packed up his family and headed west. He and Naomi loaded all of thier household
good onto wagons, leaving only the Maddux home behind. Leaving Walker County, Georgia they headed for Memphis,
Tennessee. Once there, they put their wagons and family aboard a steamboat and watched the banks of the Mississippi
River go by until they reached Pine Bluff, Arkansas. During the trip Emma Jean burned her hand on the heater. The
steamboat entered the Arkansas River and docked where they moved the wagons back onshore. James hitched up
newly purchased horses and a yoke of oxen and started out for Magazine, a farming community located in Scott County,
Arkansas. They followed a road that which was muddy and lined with cane on both sides. Some of the boys worked for
wages while others put in a crop. Clint fell ill with typhoid fever and was in bed for weeks. When he got well he worked
for Mr. Priddy to pay his doctor bill. During this time Clint met Mary Loyd and they fell in love with each other.
James now 52, with his family, had made it to a location know as the Revielle Post Office, in Scott County, Arkansas. He
and Sarah who is now 45 had 8 of their 10 living children with them, Mary Springs age 23, Benjamin Clinton age 20, Cicero
Summerfield age 17, Joseph McTier age 15, James Andrew age 12, John Powell age 10, Samuel Fletcher age 6, and Emma
Jean age 3.
Amanda Elizabeth had married James Stansberry who late died in the Civil War. William Porter now 25, returned later that
year after serving in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
February 8, 1870 Mary Springs Maddux married James Madison Thomas in the town of Barling located in Crawford
County, Arkansas. Later that fall, the family moved to Sebastian County near Fort Smith, Arkansas, where Clint and his
brothers built a large two story log house while James Monroe made the boards to cover the house. When the house was
finished Clint went back to Scott County.
They did not stay at Fort Smith for very long before deciding to try their luck in Colorado. With two wagons drawn by
mules and an ox they followed their 40 head of cattle moving towards Colorado. Staying behind Benjamin Clinton married
Mary Ann Loyd February 8, 1872 in Magazine Arkansas and settled down there.
James, Naomi and family arrived at Dodge City in Kansas and after a brief stop they moved on. A short time later they
found themselves in country that was overrun with grasshoppers. They soon met other families on the trail that had left
Colorado, who told them of the devastation of Colorado by the grasshoppers. They said that every living thing had been
destroyed.
Since the cattle were getting thin and footsore, James thought it best to return . On the way back the cattle were sold.
When they were traveling through the northern part of Arkansas they found two farms near Minesville and bought them.
After a few years James became restless and Texas Fever had hit him.
Leaving Arkansas on October 12, 1876 James, Naomi and family headed for Texas. They arrived in Graham, Texas
the first Tuesday of November and set up camp. They soon found that there was no land available for renting so they
moved on to Keedhi Valley. Along the way someone suggested that they go to Weatherford. It was a few days before
they started out on a Saturday afternoon for Weatherford. They spent the night there and decided to move on the Milsap
where they camped for a few days. They found out that a man named Bill Brashears had some land for sale southeast of
Milsap.
The 200 acres of land was rough and unimproved. James bought it for $500. It was now December 1876 and they
quickly put up a temporary log cabin using a tent stretched over the top for a roof. The new home could not be started
until they went to Fort Worth for lumber, shingles and nails. It took six days for the trip. Naomi spent that time preparing
for the noon meal which they would provide on the day of the house raising. On that day neighbors and friends arrived to
help build the log cabin. Among them were Joe Norman, Jim Norman, Tom Osborn, Billie Brashears, Billie Joe and
Andrew Maddux. Young Samuel Fletcher, James's son was the water boy. They hauled water in a barrel on a sled
pulled by a mule.
Sarah served the noon meal on her prized white tablecloth. There was wild turkey with dressing, ham, hot biscuits,
cakes, pies and lots of hot coffee. After the meal everyone worked hard to complete the house. They would have
made it except a heavy snow that night and the next day delayed putting in the doors and completing the roof. James
now 60 found the delay hard to face.
In the spring of 1877, fifty peach trees were planted along with cotton, sweet potatoes, crowder peas and corn. Twenty
three year old Cicero had prepared 40 acres during the winter for cultivation. That first spring they harvested 7 bales of
cotton and their other crops. They had also raised hogs, horses and cattle. That fall they harvested 200 bushels of wheat.
Cicero left sometime during 1877 for Altus, Arkansas Arkansas where he prepared to be a teacher. Late 1878 he returned
to teach at Ballew Springs.
In 1879 Amanda widower remarries. Her new husband is Marion Francis Prior.
Later that year on December 18 Joseph McTier and Mary Elizabeth McLaren are married in Brock, Parker County, Texas.
On February 2, 1880 James and Sarah deeded land for the school and church to be built in Brock, Texas. The deed
states "...convey unto the Trustees of said community and their successors the following parcel of land
(for school and church purposes) situated in Parker County on the waters of Grindstone Creek about ten miles
south-west of the town of Weatherford. Beginning at North-west corner of a 200 acre survey deeded to the said
James M. Maddux by R. C. Brashears, thence with his west live 13 rods a corner, thence north-east twenty six rods
a corner, thence north 13 rods to the north boundary live of said survey a corner, thence with said live 26 rods to
the place of beginning, containing two acres more or less ... ...and it is further agreed between the parties that
the house built on the above described premisis is to be used by the different denomination, public worship provided
the various denomination appoint their days so as not to conflict with each other and provided further that no
denomination shall hold a meeting so as to conflict with the school.�
James Monroe called upon every businessman in Weatherford. They provided money and gifts help build the first
school. He wanted the children of Olive Branch to be able to be able to attend school in their own community. The
people in the community took part in the building of the school and the first teacher was John Jones. Emma Jean,
James's daughter was among the first students.
During the same time period James Monroe asked Henry Brock and Sam Langdon to take one acre of land on the
northeast corner of his farm for a cemetery. Using the North Star as a guide they staked off the acre. He wanted to
be buried on his own land and when he died in 1892 he was the first to be buried in the Brock cemetery.
On February 26, 1882 Cicero Summerfield and Sarah Elizabeth Hodge were married (marriage license issued in
Parker County, Texas)
On September 4,1887 Emma Jean and Melton Wells Bell are married
In April 1890 James and Norah Hart are married.
At the age of 84 on December 7, 1892 James Monroe Maddux was the first to be buried in the Brock Cemetery.
December 2, 1894 John and Mary Clinnie Cannon are married in Kingfisher, Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
December 25, 1895 Samuel and Amanda Bauman are married.
The search continues... Patricia
Information gathered from the following:
The Powell Family of Norfolk and Elizabeth Counties, Virginia and Their Descendants...Silas Lucas Jr. Editor.
The Powell Families of Virginia and the South ...The Rev. Silas Lucas Jr.
As I Remember ...Mrs. Emma Maddux Bell.
Maddox, A Southern Maryland Family ...W. N. Hurley Jr.
U.S. Census 1850, 1860 Walker County, GA.
U.S. Census 1870 Scott County, AR.
U.S. Census 1880, 1900 Parker County, TX.
Deed executed in The State of Texas, County of Parker, July 17, 1880.
History of Parker County ...Parker County Historical Commission.
Special thanks to Mark Maddux for sharing information with me and allowing me to share it with others.
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