James Cannon Travis

Notes:

His Texas Death certificate, viewable online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, showed that he was a farmer whose usual residence was Sabine County, Texas. He died at the San Augustine hospital. The informant was Mrs. E. E. Eddings.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Family/Spouse: Sophia Emiline Hyden. Sophia (daughter of William Henderson Hyden and Matilda Easley) was born on 29 Sep 1880 in Texas; died on 27 Nov 1968 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 19 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 68 Sheets 7B and 8A Stamped 99
120-124
Travis, Wm. Hed W M May 1855 45 M 28 Tx Miss Miss Farmer
Travis, Grace Wf W F Sep 1856 43 M 28 15/12 Tx Tcx Eng Ala
Travis, Jas. C. Son W M Jan 1879 21 S Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Travis, Lee Son (sic) W M (sic) Nov 1881 18 S Tx Tx Tx Far
m Laborer
Travis, Joella Dtr W F Oct 1884 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Jack (sic) Son W M Feb 1888 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Anna Drr W F Apr 1890 10 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Lona Dtr W F Dec 1892 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Della Dtr W F Nov 1894 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Mary Dtr W F Sept 1895 4 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Eliza C Dtr W F Feb 1897 3 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Saphronia Mother W F Mar 1822 66 Wd Miss Va Ga

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 25 Apr 1910
SD ? ED 131 Stamped 92
Hemphill and Jasper Road
108-110
Travis, William H Hd M W 54 M1 35 Tx Miss Miss Farmer
Travis, Grace Wf F W 53 M1 35 15/12 Tx England Ala
Travis, Mary Dtr F WS 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Liza Dtr F W 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Travis, Sophronia P Mother F W 77 Wd 12/9 Miss Va Ga

William married Grace Ener in 1873 in Sabine County, Texas. Grace (daughter of James Trahane Ener and Mary Ann Gomer) was born on 29 Sep 1856 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 12 Jan 1930 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was known by his middle name, Cannon. He may have been married previously to an Elizabeth, also from Mississippi.

According to the MINUTES 1858-1890 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HEMPHILL, TEXAS, (James) Cannon and Sophronia (White) Travis were among the 11 founding members of the church. Sophronia was admitted by voucher on September 7, 1857 from W. C. Southwell, Missionary East Texas, as was her husband, Cannon Travis. Fellowship was withdrawn from Cannon Travis on November 10, 1860, and restored September 24, 1864. In June 1884, "charges having been preferred against Bro. Cannon Travis for unchristian conduct & said charges as alleged being Sustained, it was ordered that the Church withdraw fellowship from him & it is further ordered that his name be erased from the Church Book."

Note: Children's names and birthdates are based on a transcription of the 1870 census. The actual 1870 and 1880 census microfilm's should be carefully checked. The 1880 extract seems to have several glaring discrencies in names and dates. Blanche Toole speculates that perhaps the census taker knew Cannon and his family, and completed the information from (faulty) memory instead of by actually interviewing the family. Also, Charlie White lists a child named Jann White, born ca 1868 per the 1870 census who is not listed on either transcription of the census. Perhaps this is Martha Jane White.

Military Service Co. D 1 Tex HV Arty CSA (Courtesy of Tony Pickett)

Was shown on the muster roll of Captain J.M. Burroughs Company of the Sabine County Volunteer Infantry, CSA, and was enlisted at Hemphill, Texas by Drury Field for 3 months duty on January 15, 1863.

Jules Hurst writes that "I understand that Cannon died in Texas of cancer of the eye."

James married Sophronia Pauline White on 5 Dec 1850 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Sophronia (daughter of Edward White and Elizabeth Strickland) was born in Nov 1833 in Amite County, Mississippi; died on 15 Jun 1915 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sophronia was born during an auspicious month. On November 13, 1833, between midnight and dawn, thousands of meteors showered the sky over North America. To the native peoples of the land, it appeared that the stars were falling out of the heavens. Some thought it was the judgment day. Others called it "The Night the Stars Fell".

A young girl who was a slave at the time of the event said "Somebody in the quarters started yellin' in the middle of the night to come out and to look up at the sky. We went outside and there they was a fallin' everywhere! Big stars coming down real close to the groun' and just before they hit the ground they would burn up! We was all scared. Some O'the folks was screamin' and some was prayin' we all made so much noise, the white folk came out to see what was happenin'. They looked up and then they got scared too."

The celestial phenomenon called "the most impressive and awesome display ever recorded" was, in fact, the Leonids meteor shower seen in one of its most impressive years. Viewers witnessed 50,000 to 150,000 meteors per hour, only equaled by the November 17, 1966 display, when the Leonid shower brought 150,000 meteors per hour. Debris from the comet Temple-Tuttle that orbits the sun every 33 years causes the shower.

She was born and raised in Amite County, Mississippi, and can be found on the 1850 census with her parents. Sometime after that, the family moved to Sabine County, Texas.

After her husband's death, she lived with her oldest son, William Hardy Travis. She can be found living with he and his wife, Grace Ener, at the time of the 1900 and 1910 Sabine County census.

Notes:

An article published in the October 15 issue of "The Sabine County Reporter" indicated that James and his brother, William Trehane Ener, immigrated from Cornwall to America in the spring of 1835. William settled in Grant County, Wisconsin, and James was in Jefferson County, Texas by 4 April 1836. He joined Capt. O. M. Wheeler's Company K, 2nd Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers during the U.S. Mexican War. After returning to Sabine County, he and his wife, Mary Ann Gomer, established a large successful farm on the south side of the Housen Bayou near her parents. He was murdered one block south of the Sabine County Courthouse on 27 November 1869 by a disgruntled sharecropper. He was the second person to be buried in the Ener cemetery.

John and Helene Ennor (ennor@cfu.net) emailed : "We are looking for information on James T Enner. He was born in England about 1810 and at some point ended up in Sabine Co. We think this might be where he married Mary Ann Gomer on 10/5/1847. He was murdered in Sabine on 11/27/1869. What we would like to know is who James T Enners parents are and any details on his murder. If you have info we would appreciate hearing from you."

A later email from James Ennor indicated that James was shot by a man named Lyles.

James married Mary Ann Gomer on 5 Oct 1847 in Sabine County, Texas. Mary (daughter of James Frederick Gomer and Anna M. B. ???) was born on 17 Nov 1828 in Giles County, Tennessee; died on 12 Sep 1897. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sometimes shown as William Barrett Travis

From the JERUSALEM CHURCH CHURCH BOOK, Mississippi Territory of Amit e, 29 Feb 1812

This church was located near the present town of Gillsburg. Organized 29 Feb 1812, when Mississippi was Indian Territory. The transcription is courtesy of Mrs. Alva McEwen, McComb, Mississippi.

Feb 1825: William Travis by experience May 1825: John Travis, Nancy Travis by experience Apr 1827: Brother and Sister Travis restored Jan 1829: Brother and Sister Travis reported for non-attendance Mar 1829: Brother and Sister Travis excluded July 1841: William Travis restored. William and Nancy Travis, letter of dismission. Apr 1842: Members included: Elizabeth White, Emily and Patsy Strickland, Rutha White, Henry Strickland, Elizabeth White (dec'd), Polly (Mary) Travis, William Travis, Nancy Travis, John Travis, John Travis, Sr., Nancy Travis, Mary Travis

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Louisiana, St. Helena Parish, Eastern District
Enumerated 24 July 1850
Page 178
21-21
William Travis 50 M Farmer $500 Miss
Sabrina Travis 23 F La
Cannon Travis 22 M Farmer Miss
Polean Travis 17 F Miss
Decalb Travis 15 M Miss
Wm Travis 7 M La
Winna Travis 4 F La
Rebecca Carroll 22 F La
Henry Carroll 19 M Farmer La

1860 Census
Lousiana, St. Helena Parish
Enumerated 22 Jun 1860
Page 26
234-234
Wm Travis 62 M Farmer 1800 500 S. Carolina
Sabrina Travis 32 F La
William Travis 15 M La
Wineford Travis 12 F La
Alice Travis 6 F La
Izabell Travis 1/12 F La
Henry Wagoner 15 M La

William married Nancy B. Hurst on 8 Oct 1817 in Liberty, Amite County, Mississippi. Nancy was born about 1798 in Northumberland County, Virginia; died on 1 Nov 1842 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Henry Hurst.

Notes:

Married:
Jules Hurst, a descendant, also reported that William and Nancy (Hurst) Travis had "twin girls said to have been killed by lightning--names unknown to me."

Notes:

There is an Ed White in Pike County, Mississippi in 1820. This may or may not be the same Edward White that is located in Amite County, Mississippi 10 years later. The family composition is 3 males under the age of 10, 1 male between 10-16, two males between 26 and 45, two females under the age of 10, and one female age 26 to 45.

On the 1830 Amite County, Mississippi census, Edward White and wife had 3 boys & 3 girls, 0-9, 1 boy and 1 girl 10-19. He was between the ages of 40 to 60 and his wife was between 20 and 40.

He was still in Amite County in 1840, on page 52. The microfilm at the San Antonio Public Library was faded and difficult to read. It appeared to show the following, however< Edward White Males 1-0-2-0-0-0-0-1 Females0-2-0-2-0-0-1-0 He appears to have held at least two female slaves, one under the age of five, and the other between five and ten. The number of male slaves is difficult to read. It is probably just one.

Edward White, his wife Elizabeth, and several of his children can be found in Amite County, Mississippi on the 1850 census as well. Sometime after this enumeration, they moved to Sabine County, Texas.

In White and Toole's book, Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records it was noted hat "Later that year (ca. 1843-sic), the Edward White family...and many of their friends and relatives came to Sabine County. Some forty or fifty covered wagons, some of them drawn by oxen, travelled together." From "Sabine County Historical Sketches And Genealogical Records."

Edward White is shown on various internet trees, most unsourced, as either the son of William White and Mary Matilda Mason of Mecklenberg, Virginia or as the son of Edward White and Pembrook Singleton of Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. In neither case has documentary evidence been shown. Mildred Bell Landers emailed that she had "heard from a ggg grandson of Edward White (through his daughter who married Cannon Travis), and he asked if I had ever heard that Edward was an Indian named Whitecloud or Whitefeather, like his father, William. I had never heard this, and in Sabine County the past is closer than elsewhere. Nor had I heard that Edward White's father was William. One of my other gg grandfathers was part Indian, and this seems to be known in Sabine County, at least by descendants. Ever heard of any of this? There was a picture of an Edward White, Civil War veteran, in an issue of the Sabine County Reporter (maybe a son or grandson) and he did not appear to be part Indian. In my mother's family, some of them had characteristics that could be considered Indian."

Jack Hutchins White emailed, in August 2013, that his White ancestor was "Cajabeth White, who was living in Bute Co, NC with his brother, William, as early as 1766. He had two sons, John and Robert. John White inherited land from a man named John Seagrove, whose will names John White as his nephew. It seems likely that Cajabeth's wife, Frances, was a Seagrove, but this is not proven. The 1771 tax list for Bute Co shows that Young McLemore....had an overseer named John Seagrove, who appears on a number of documents with members of the McLemore family before they migrated out of Bute (later Warren) Co. I have been trying for a couple of years to piece together precisely how the Seagrove, McLemore and White families may have interacted with one another, but the Seagrove family history is as complicated as that of the Whites.

The thing that interests me about your website is that Cajabeth White was frequently referred to in court documents as Cade, and I see in your website that two sons of Edward White (b. 1781 in Mecklenburg Co, VA) each had sons they named Cade.

I believe it is likely that the Edward White in your website is the son of William White Sr. of Mecklenburg Co, VA. The personal property tax lists for that county show a son of William named Edward who is first listed as a taxable adult in the household of his father in 1797 and as head of his own household in 1800. He is gone from the county by 1801.




I am researching the possibility that William White Sr. was the brother of Cajabeth "Cade" White named in the 1766 tax rolls for Bute Co. The fact that the name Cade appears twice among the grandchildren of Edward White seems to support this theory.

I am still a bit fuzzy on when this White line intermarries with the Strong and McLemore families. I am hoping one of your family researchers would be willing to collaborate with me on the foregoing topics. I have copied Lisa Lisson, a White family descendant, who is assisting in this research."

(Research):
Census Listings:

CENSUS YR: 1850
STATE or TERRITORY: MS
COUNTY: Amite REEL NO: M432-368
PAGE NO: 93A
REFERENCE: Enumerated 12 Dec 1850 by Henry Flowe
23 615 615 White Edward 69 M Farmer 750 Va
24 615 615 White Elizabeth 55 F Geo 25
615 615 White Jane E. 25 F Amite Co Miss (Widow of J.H. Wente---I believe she is actually listed as Went on the microfilm)
26 615 615 White S. P. 17 F Amite Co Miss
27 615 615 White Wm. T. 12 M Amite Co Miss
28 615 615 Went Elizabeth 7 F Amite Co Miss
29 615 615 Went John E. 6 M Amite Co Miss
30 615 615 Went Jane E. 4 F Amite Co Miss
31 615 615 Went James T. 1 M Amite Co Miss

On the 1860 Sabine County, Texas census, Edward and Elizabeth (age 79 and 66) were living with 11 year old L.E. White, a female born in Texas. Edward's real property was valued at $500 and he had personal property valued at $7,943. I speculate that L.E. White might actually be M.E. White, Mary Elizabeth Sophronia White, the oldest daughter of James and Drucilla White. James died prior to 1860, and his wife remarried John C. Partin. James and Drucilla's two younger daughters are listed with Drucilla and her new husband, but their oldest daughter, born circa 1848/1849, has disappeared. It could be that this oldest daughter died. Or it could be that the oldest daughter went to live with and/or care for her elderly grandparents. Additionally, the 11 year old L.E. White does not seem to fit into any other of the White families shown on the 1850 census, nor can she be found after 1860.

Edward married Elizabeth Strickland after 1809 in Elbert County, Georgia. Elizabeth (daughter of Henry Strickland and Ruth Thompson) was born about 1795 in Elbert County, Georgia; died on 25 Dec 1864 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Travis Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the JERUSALEM CHURCH CHURCH BOOK, Mississippi Territory of Amite, 29 Feb 1812

This church was located near the present town of Gillsburg. Organized 29 Feb 1812, when Mississippi was Indian Territory. The transcription is courtesy of Mrs. Alva McEwen, McComb, Mississippi.

Nov 1836: Received by experience, Elizabeth White Oct 1837: Elizabeth White, Pernecia Travis baptized Apr 1842: Members included: Elizabeth White, Emily and Patsy Strickland, Rutha White, Henry Strickland, Elizabeth White (dec'd), Polly (Mary) Travis, William Travis, Nancy Travis, John Travis, John Travis, Sr., Nancy Travis, Mary Travis

Elizabeth Strickland White and 10 others founded the regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ on the banks of the Housen Bayou on May 29, 1858. This later became known as the First Baptist Church of Hemphill. Elizabeth joined by letter from the Jerusalem Church in Amite County, Mississippi. The other founding members were Richard and Ruth Travis, Henry S and Mary Etta White, Simon and Mary Ann Beckcom, John and Sophronia Everett, and Cannon and Sophronia Travis.

Elizabeth's husband, Edward, did not become a member of this church, founded by his wife and several of his children, until over six years had passed. He then joined on a profession of faith and Baptism in June 1864. According to the minutes of June 25, 1864, "Confarence was adjorned for the Church to meete at Father E Whites at 4 oclock for the purpos of hearing what the Lord had don for his precious sole, after hearing of his Experiance it was moved that Father E White be Received in Christian fellowship."

This experience must have caused him to evangelize, because on July 23d, 1865, "after preching, the privelege of the Church was Extended when too Servint Girls came forward, Amy belongin to Edward White & Charitee also belonging to Edward White. after hearing ther Experience was Received the church and then adjorned to the water" By September, 1865, Father E. White was Moderator of the Conference, though it appears he gave up this reponsibility quickly. He was replaced by Pastor John L Mills in October of 1865. His faith apparently never wavered as it was noted that he "Dyed Jan 13th 1871 in the Faith."

Notes:

Married:
Bears and Panthers and Sabine County Women

This story from the 1800s, as told by the master storyteller, J.Frank Dobie, gives another reason not to mess with Sabine County women:

"One winter day the White family on Bear Creek in Sabine County killed a hog, cut it up, put the meat in a wooden tub, and set it in a corner of the cabin, to be salted down and smoked on the morrow.

Then the man went off with his dogs to join the neighbor on a hunt.

That night while Mrs. White was chunking up the fire in the fireplace, the children covered up in bed and a quilt wrapped around herself to shut out the cold norther blowing through the chinks in the log walls, she heard a panther scream.

She knew it had smelled the fresh meat. It prowled under the puncheon floor and then leaped up on the roof, every once in a while letting out a scream. Then it went to clawing on the logs and finally got a paw through a crack near the tub of meat and took out a piece.

At this, Mrs. White threw her quilt over the tub, seized an axe standing just inside the door, and waited.

In a little while the panther put its paw back through the crack for another piece of meat. She had the axe raised and now she came down with it, cutting the paw clean off.
That panther did not bother around the cabin any more that night."

----- J. Frank Dobie, "Tales of Old-Time Texas"

Posted by Ronad Barlow on his Facebook group, Farm Road 1 - From one end to the other. It is not known which Mrs. White this story relates to.

Notes:

"The Gomer family came to Sabine County, Texas from Giles County, Tennessee between March 2, 1836 and August 19, 1836. He rec'd a Second Class land grant of 1280 A. located and surveyed in what is now Parker County. Evidently he never moved from Sabine County as records show that he bought land in 1844, located in the John Haley Survey, south of Housens Bayou near the Yellowpine community. James Frederick Gomer was typical of the average settler of his time, industrious, honest and determined to have a home in the new country. He raised his family by old fashioned standards, to obey their parents, honor God and country, and respect themselves and their neighbors. He owned a few slaves, according to the records, and a large slave cemetery is located near the Old Gomer Cemetery." (White and Toole)

James married Anna M. B. ??? about 1822 in Tennessee. Anna was born about 1803 in Georgia; died after 1870 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Often shown as Bateman, but not proven. Helen Gomer Schluter was said to have spent many years trying to discover her maiden name.

In a DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS PATRIOT ANNUAL ALBUM, by Turner Publishing Company (online at Google Books), it was noted that Anna was a well known midwife, nurse and "doctor" of the Housen Bayou area of Sabine County.