Alexander Smith McCamant1

b. 19 January 1829, d. 31 March 1897
Alexander Smith McCamant (repaired & cropped)
photo courtesy Gladys Dillard
FatherSamuel McCamant1 b. 21 Jun 1798, d. 5 Dec 1866
MotherMatilda Dickenson1 b. 24 Dec 1808, d. 24 Dec 1851
Birth19 Jan 1829 Alexander Smith McCamant was born on 19 Jan 1829 in Grayson County, Virginia.2,3,4,5 
Marriage19 Dec 1855 He married Sallie Larzalere Lucinda Beach Gardner, daughter of Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmiston, on 19 Dec 1855 in Lamar County, Texas.6,7 
  Alexander was originally from Grayson County, Virginia. Two of Alexander's brothers married two of Sallie's sisters in the years following Alexander and Sallie's marriage.  
Cens-186025 Jul 1860 In 1860 the young couple was enumerated farming in Hunt County, Texas. Alexander reported that he owned real estate worth $1,000 and personal property of the same value. Two children had joined the family: 3 year old Margaret and 2 year old William.5 
Occupation Alexander served as surveyor of Hunt County before moving the family to "the Paluxy" in 1861 [the Paluxy River flows through present day Hood County. Hood Co. was part of Johnson County until 1866].8 
Occupationcirca 1862 Alexander and his brother William established a tannery business using a new process involving cedar leaves. They also raised livestock and farmed. Aong with their neighbors they suffered losses from frequent Indian raids.8 
Military Alexander joined Co. A, 14th Brigade of the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was assigned to protect the frontier against the Indians.9,10 
Residencecirca 1866  The family moved to Granbury when Hood county was organized. Alexander had been elected clerk of the county court and Granbury was to be the county seat.11 
  Alexander, who appears to have been known as "A.S." was active in the development of Hood County. He built a double log house on the south side of Lambert Branch. He was influential in local politics and good natured.8 
  However tragedy struck the family in the summer and fall of 1867 when 3 of their children died during a three month period.12 
Cens-187027 Sep 1870  The 1870 census for Hood County provides a snapshot of the family at that time. Two children born after the 1860 census were listed along with William (age 10): Sam (age 6) and Myrtle (age 2). Alexander listed his occupation as "CG clerk" and stated that he owned real property worth $500 and personal property of the same amount.13 
  The household was also enumerated as though it included Alexander's brother John, and Sallie's sister India, who had married in 1858. In reality, India died in August 1870, but the census taker did not reach the family until September and following census rules he recorded the household as it stood on June 1st. 
Residencecirca 1877  Alexander and Sallie left Hood County and moved to Jones County, Texas, circa 1877.14 
Death31 Mar 1897 Alexander died on 31 Mar 1897 in Jones County, Texas, at age 68.1,2 
Burial He was buried at Ft. Phantom Hill Cemetery in Jones County.1,2 

Research Comment:

Alexander and Sallie's 1880 census entry escaped me for some time. When I finally found them in Jones Co. I discovered that the enumeration had been badly misrecorded. The household was listed as: Ellick McCamit, 40, occupation: Frating [?], b. TX; Sarah, 35, wife, keeping house, b. TN; Dodd, 16, son, Stock Herder, b. TX; Sarah, 11, dau, b. TX; Samuel, 9, son, b. TX.15

Related Links and Images:

Click on the camera icon to see the larger photo from which the image of Alexander at the top of this page was cropped. The larger photo is not retouched
Find Lamar County on the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page). Sallie's family first settled here when they migrated to Texas and Sallie and Alexander married in Lamar Co.
By 1860 they were in Hunt County which you can also locate on the map. Also look for Hood County and Jones County.

Family

Sallie Larzalere Lucinda Beach Gardner b. 13 Apr 1831, d. 28 Aug 1889
Children
Last Edited12 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  2. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Aug. 2013). Alexander Smith McCamant memorial #48000023, Fort Phantom Hill Cemetery, PHantom Hill, Jones County, Texas. The memorial lists dates as Jan. 9, 1829 Grayson Co., VA - Apr. 1, 1897 Phantom Hill, Jones Co., Texas. However a photo of the stone, included with the memorial, reads: Alexander S. McCamant Born Jan 19 1829 Died Mar 31 1897.
  3. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Garder provided 19 Jan 1828 as an alternate date of death.
  4. [S1307] Samuel McCamant household, 1850 U.S. cens, Grayson Co., Virginia, pop. sched., District 19, p. 210 stamped (page after), dwelling 714, family 714, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 104 of 148. Enumeration includes: Samuel McCamant, 51, lawyer, b. PA; Matilda, 41, b. VA; Alexander, 21; James M., 19; John D., 15; William, 12; Samuel 10; Virginia, 8; Thomas, 6; Robt E., 2; Sally Shepherd, 20; all b. VA.
  5. [S1551] Alexander S. McCamant household, 1860 U.S. census, Hunt Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat 4, p. 315 stamped (next page after), dwelling 354, family 353, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 28 of 35. Enumeration includes: Alexander S. McCamant, 31, b. VA, farmer, owns real estate $1,000, pers. prop $1,000; Sarah, 26, b. VA; Margaret, 3, b. TX; William E., 2. b. TX.
  6. [S3051] Lamar Co. Texas Marriage Records 1842-1858: 163, microfilm no. 1,293,614, Family History Library. A.S. McCamant and Sallie Gardner married 19 Dec. 1855 by W.A. Provine, a Minister of the Gospel.
  7. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The Bible included a list of children (all in the same script and apparently copied from an earlier record) for Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmondson which contained this entry: Sallie Lizalier Lucinda Gardner was born April 13, 1831, married Alexander S. McCamant.
  8. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 53. Citing "Hood County History": Chapter 27.
  9. [S1644] History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 29.
  10. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Aug. 2013). Alexander Smith McCamant memorial #48000023, Fort Phantom Hill Cemetery, PHantom Hill, Jones County, Texas. The memorial includes a transcription from the Taylor Co. News at Abilene Co. TX dated Fri. Apr. 2, 1897.
  11. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 53. Citing "Hood County History": Chapter 26.
  12. [S2594] "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 26 Aug. 2012), "Benjamin and Fewell Ancestors" (owner: gbenjamin5), entry for Alexander Smith McCamant, letter from Alexander Smith McCamant (Hood Co., TX dated Nov. 8, 1867) to brother James Martin McCamant, transcription added 19 Oct. 2008 by site owner. The letter states: "I feel quite lonesome having lost three of my little children within the last 3 months."
  13. [S1645] Alexander McAmit household, 1870 U.S. census, Hood Co., Texas, pop. sched., p. 19 (stamped), dwelling 301, family 304, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 37 of 65. Enumeration includes: Alexander McAmit, 41, b. VA, owns real and pers. prop of $500 each, CG clerk; Sarah, 34, b. VA; William E., 10, b. TX; Sam J., 6; Myrtle, 2; all children b. TX.
  14. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 52.
  15. [S3104] Ellick McCamit household, 1880 U.S. cens., Jones Co., Texas, pop sched., ED 5A (p. 400 stamped), page 50, dwelling 51, family Feb. 2013. Household includes: Ellick McCamit, 40, occupation: Frating [?], b. TX/TX/TN; Sarah, 35, wife, keeping house, b. TN/TN/TN; Dodd, 16, son, Stock Herder, b. TX; Sarah, 11, dau, b. TX; Samuel, 9, son, b. TX, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  16. [S2250] "Texas State Death Certificates", database with digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed Jan. 2013). Mrs. Myrtle McLaurine certificate #20060.