Davy Crockett Descendants (2024)

Granbury, Texas, November, 1879. - In a recent issue of the Courier-Journal, a correspondent writing from thisplace over the nom de plume of "Guppy," attempts to give a history of the descendants of the renownedColonel Davy Crockett in Hood County. The writer has failed to give anything like an authentic history of thisillustrious family, doubtless from a non-acquaintance with the subject with which he attempted to deal. To supplythe serious omissions contained in the article referred to is my object in addressing you this communication, knowingthat the State of Kentucky has ever held the name and fame of David Crockett in the most honored esteem, and knowingalso that her citizens will eagerly grasp after the most authentic information regarding his remaining descendantsand their whereabouts. A long and intimate acquaintance with the family in this county enables me to give a completeand reliable account of its different members, the accuracy of which can be sufficiently sustained by a consultationof the family records. Deeming these prefatory remarks sufficient, I will now proceed with the subject in hand:

ROBERT P CROCKETT
the only surviving son of Colonel Davy Crockett, has been living at his present homestead in this (Hood) countyfor about twenty-two years, having settled here when this part of Texas was a howling wilderness, but the howlsgenerally proceeded from hostile bands of Comanche and Klown(?) Indians. Immediately after the death of his father,at the fall of the Alamo at San Antonio in 1836, he left the state of Tennessee for Texas, where he enlisted underthe banner of the infant republic, and did good service in the ranks till the Republic of Texas at the Battle ofSan Jacinto. He then returned to Tennessee, married, and then emigrated to this part of Texas, where he has sinceremained. He is now 65 years old, looks hale and hearty, and doesn't look to be over 50. His physique is well proportioned,and time has made but few inroads upon him. His manner is decidedly modest and unassuming, letting others do thetalking and himself acting as spectator. He has been blessed with a large and interesting family, of which I willgive a brief sketch. He has been married the second time, but has had no children by his last wife. Farming hasbeen his occupation through life and I think the future has yet many years in store for him. Robert Crockett'soldest son,

JOHN B. CROCKETT
had reached the tender age of 16 when the war between the states broke out, and he enlisted under the Confederateflag. He fought through the four years' war, till the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, in Virginia. Althoughhe fought through many notable battles- Vicksburg, and others too tedious to mention - he came out unscathed, nothaving received a wound during his four years' service. At the close of the war, he engaged in running a tradingboat on the Mississippi River, at Bradley's Landing, Ark. He was just getting in a prosperous condition when hewas foully murdered by a negro desperado while alone one day in his trading-house. After plundering his house andgetting what money he could, the negro took a valuable gold watch from Crockett's person and departed, lockingthe door behind him. "john B. Crockett", the owner's name, was engraved on the inner casing of the watch.The murder was discovered, the murderer captured, and the watch, proved a clinching link of evidence in the trial.The negro was convicted and hanged. This watch is now in the possession of Mr. Ashley W. Crockett, of this town,a younger brother.

WM. H. CROCKETT
the second son of "Uncle" Robert's, is married and engaged in farming about twelve miles cast of Granbury.He is low in stature, square built, and has a strong constitution. He is jovial and pleasant in conversation, andpossesses a good deal of the quaint humor of his grandfather. William had triplets born to him about four yearsago, but has had the misfortune to lose two of them. The other is growing into a healthy child. Will carries onfarming in a systematic manner, using good judgment in all his operations. He gives promise of being a successfulman.

DAVID T. CROCKETT
the third son, is the smallest of the family in his physical make-up, but has enough of the go-ahead principleabout him to overbalance all this. He is married, has five children, runs a steam thresher, a steam cotton-gin,and a farm, and acts as Justice of the Peace during leisure hours. He has a natural brain for machinery. "D",as he is called, is hewing out a comfortable homestead seven east of town. He was christened in honor of Colonel"Davy" himself.

B.A. CROCKET
Avery, as he is called, is the most robust member of the family. He is the "son No. 4," heavy built,and somewhat fleshy. He is unmarried, and takes delight in running the farm for his aged father. He is rather afine looking young man, has a very agreeable disposition, and has a host of friends among the young ladies.

ASHLEY W. CROCKETT
is the fifth and youngest son. Showing at the early age of 13 a literary turn of mind, he entered the office ofthe Weatherford Times, 25 miles from here. He worked for nearly a year, when his health failed him, and he wascompelled to return to the farm. When the Granbury Vidette(?) was established at this place, in November, 1872,Ashley re-entered the business again as an apprentice. He mastered his trade, and for the past four years has beenconnected with this journal in the capacity of one of its editors and proprietors. He has contributed no littlein mind and muscle toward making it one of the leading journals in Northwest Texas. Ashley is gradually climbingthe ladder of literary excellence. He is about 22, and is of a tall and of rather slender build. He bears a strikingresemblance to his grandfather, Colonel "Davy," his features being as fine as a woman's and I will takethe liberty of saying that he is somewhat handsome. The greater portion of his leisure hours is devoted to readingand study. He is unusually well informed in national and State politics and general literary matters. He is married,and has carved out by dint of industry and economy, a home of his own. I predict the day is not far distant whenAshley will be as famous in the world of letters as was his distinguished predecessor for for martial prowess andeccentric backwoods humor.

In addition to the five boys named above, Colonel Robert has FOUR DAUGHTERS - the two elder of whom are married, and the two youngest are still single, and, by the way, tolerably prepossessingin appearance.

Mrs. Alvira Halford, a daughter of Colonel Davy Crockett, died at her home in this county a short time since atthe advanced age of 63. She had eight children, only two of whom are living.

Mrs. Matilda Fields, living in Gibson County; Tenn., is now the only surviving daughter of David Crockett. Shehas been married the second time, and has several children.

David Crockett's last wife is buried at the Acton Churchyard, in this county five miles southeast of Granbury.

In conclusion, I will state that I would not have ventured to occupy so much of your valuable space if I did notthink the subject was in every respect worthy of an article thus elaborate. The subject is one that commends itselfto the attention of Americans from Maine to California, as the name and fame of David Crockett are certainly worldwide.

J.N. Doyle