George Washington Stewart
& Frances P. (Dorsey /Dossey) StewartGEORGE WASHINGTON STEWART was born to JAKE and UNKNOWN on January 29, 1836 in Mississippi, and died January 22, 1915 in Gila County, Hayden, Arizona. He married FRANCES P. DOSSEY Abt. 1862 in Texas, daughter of WILLIAM P. (DORSEY / DOSSEY) and ELENDOR. Frances was born 1842 in Arkansas, and died Bet. 1900 - 1910 in Texas.
George Washington Stewart, (known also as G.W. Stewart) was born in the state of Mississippi on January 29, 1836 to Jake and Unknown. At 10 years of age, George moved to the state of Texas. There he remained the majority of his life. His father's birthplace and his mother's birthplace were in the state of Mississippi. About the same time of G.W.'s entrance into Texas, two other families came to East Texas. Their names were William & Thomas Dossey (Dorsey - Daucey) and their families. William & Thomas were the sons of William & Mary Dossey. The Dossey sons were born in Tennessee about 1810-1820. Both men became Baptist preachers. The Dossey Family settled in Limestone & Freestone County. William Dossey brought to Texas, his wife Elender born abt. 1815 in South Carolina, daughter Mary L. or Mary Jane born abt. 1836 in Alabama, James Henry born abt. 1839 in Arkansas, Frances P. born abt. 1842 in Arkansas, Ferdy (?) born abt. 1844 in Arkansas, Rebecca was born abt. 1848 in Texas. Also, William Dossey brought with his family another possible brother known as Malkijah Dossey born abt. 1827 in Alabama.
Records shows that George Washington Stewart first enlisted into the Confederate Calvary in Fairfield, Texas, Freestone County, in August 1861. A reenlistment record shows George Washington and Frances Dossey's brother, James Henry Dossey reenlisting into the same civil war unit. They both reenlisted on March 10, 1862 in Limestone County. George Washington Stewart's rank was noted as being a 2nd Sergeant. At the time, George Washington was 26 years of age and James Henry was 22 years of age. George had stated at the time of his enlistment that he had traveled 90 miles from Limestone County to reenlist. George brought with him a horse valued at $180.00 and $20.00 worth of equipment. Between April - July 1862, the 20th Calvary was stationed at Camp McCulloch, which was near Tyler Texas. On July 11, 1862 George Washington Stewart was paid by J,W. Johnson a $50.00 bounty for his service in the Confederacy. He served under Capt. H.H. Malloy & Thomas Coke Bass. This Unit was Company B, which was later reorganized under the Confederate Conscription Act. Many men over the age of 35 were discharged and sent home. Company B was then relettered as Company D of the 20th Texas Calvary. This unit served almost all of it's entire career in the Indian Territory. It was the only non-Indian Confederate unit of any size in the territory. This regiment served almost its entire career in the Indian territory. This unit was known as the Trans-Mississippi Unit. On September 20, 1862, the 20th Calvary went to Arkansas where it fought in numerous skirmishes north of Fayetteville. Among these skirmishes were Cassville, Missouri [September 21,1862], Elkhorn, Arkansas (October 16, 1962), and Cross Hollows, Arkansas (October 18, 1862 and October 28, 1862). About the first of November, the unit regiment was dismounted and served the remainder of the war as infantry. The 20th Texas Dismounted Calvary was present at the battle Of Prairie Grove, Arkansas (December 07, 1862) but it was part of a brigade that served as the Confederate reserves, and it appears not to have been in the action of the battle. From January to June 1863, the regiment served post duty at Ft. Smith Arkansas. In July 1863, the regiment served post duty at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. In July 1863, the regiment was sent to the Indian territory where it played a major role in the Battle of Honey Springs on July 17th. After Honey Springs, the troops of the 20th served as post soldiers for Fort Washita (near Durant, Oklahoma) and Boggy Depot (near present Atoka, Oklahoma). In March, 1864 the 20th was reorganized from an eight company regiment to a four company battalion under the command of Major Johnson. Company B was at Doaksville (near Fort Towson). The 20th Texas Dismounted Calvary Battalion was sent to Richmond (Fort Bend,Texas) about the first of April 1865. It served at Sandy Point station in Brazoria County, Texas until the battalion broke in late May 1865, which was shortly before the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department. This unit participated in more than 30 engagements during their career.
On September 10, 1863 some of the 20th Texas Calvary were captured and sent to Prison for a time. James Henry Dossey and George Washington Stewart was not one of these, but in their unit, another James Dossey, (James Knox Dossey) whom was at the age of 16 was caught. He went into prison and died a short time after his capture. The other Dossey men in the 20th Texas Calvary Unit were J. R. Dossey, and J. B. Dossey. When the TwentiethTexas Calvary finally surrendered in June 1865, with the rest of the troops in the Indian Territory it was among the last organized Confederate troops to lay down their arms.
The engagements were as posted:
Dates, Locations:
Dec 07, 1862 Battle Prairie Grove(Fayetteville, Arkansas) (Illinois Creek)
Feb 28, 1863 Action Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
Mar 12, 1863 Action Greenleaf Prairie, Indian Territory
Mar 27, 1863 Action Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
Mar 30, 1863 Skirmish Tahlequah Indian Territory
May 20, 1863 Action near Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
May 22, 1863 Skirmish, Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
May 25, 1863 Action Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
May 28, 1863 Skirmish Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
Jun 6-20,1863 Operations about Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
Jun 16, 1863 Skirmish, Greenleaf Prairie Indian Territory
Jul 1-2,1863 Engagement Cabin Creek Indian Territory
Jul 17, 1863 Engagement Elk Creek, near Honey Springs Indian Territory
Aug 26, 1863 Action Perryville, Indian Territory
Sep 1-14, 1863 Operations against Steele's Expedition against Little Rock, Arkansas
Sep 10, 1863 Engagement, Bayou Fourche and Capture, Little Rock, Arkansas
Sep 11-13, 1863 Retreat towards Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Dec 16, 1863 Attack Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
Dec 18, 1863 Skirmish near Sheldon place, Barren Fork, Indian Territory
Dec 26, 1863 Skirmish near Ft. Gibson Indian Territory
Feb 1-21, 1864 Operations in Indian Territory
Mar 23-May 03, 1864 Operation against Steele's Expedition from Little Rock to Camden Operation against Steele's Expedition from Arkansas
Apr 9-12, 1864 Action Preharden, Arkansas
Apr 15, 1864 Action Jenkins' Ferry
Apr 18, 1864 Engagement Poison Springs, Arkansas
Apr 25, 1864 Engagement Marks Mills, Arkansas
Apr 30, 1864 Engagement, Jenkins Ferry, Saline River Arkansas
Sep 02, 1864 Skirmish, Verdigris Camp, Indian Territory
Sep 14, 1864 Action, Prior Creek, Indian Territory
Sep 16, 1864 Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
Sep 18, 1864 Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
Sep 19, 1864 Action Cabin Creek Indian Territory
Mar 18-30, 1865 Operations against Expeditions from Ft. Gibson to Little Rock and Hillabee Indian Territory
Apr 24, 1865 Skirmish, Boggy Station Indian Territory
Jun 23, 1865 Surrender, Doaksville Indian territory
I am unsure as to the date of George Washington Stewart & Frances P. Dossey's wedding but it was about 1861. Maybe in was in Limestone County, Texas. The Limestone County Court House there burned down and lost many important records. On the basis of Frances having a religious back ground, I feel that they were united by God in marriage. During the Civil War, Frances & George Washington's first child was born. William Henry Stewart was born December 18, 1864. Francis Alford (known as Alford) Stewart would become their 2nd child. He was born on June 07, 1865. This was 16 days before George Washington Stewart's unit surrendered at Doaksville. Lucious Carey (known as Carey) Stewart was their 3rd child. He was born on December 12, 1867. Corintha, which was their their first daughter was born abt. 1869. By 1870, the family has moved to Bell County, Texas. It was noted that George Washington Stewart was a wagon maker. He had real estate valued as $300.00 and he had a personal value of $300.00. Frances and G.W.'s fifth child was born probably in Bell County. Her name was Viola Stewart. She was born abt. 1870 -1871. Mary Alice Stewart, the sixth child was born abt. 1872. James Pinkney (known as Pink) Stewart, their seventh child, was born June 12, 1875 in Montague County, Texas. The last known child was Birtha (known as Birdie) Stewart. By then, Francis and George Washington were blessed with 4 sons and 4 daughters. All children were born in the state of Texas. By 1880 George Washington Stewart and his family had moved to Henderson County, Texas. Census shows that George Washington Stewart was a laborer on the Rail Road. William Henry and Lucious were also laborers, Alford was also in Henderson County, Texas. Alford was living in another household with numerous other laborers. His Occupation was also a laborer. About 1883, George Washington Stewart and his family came to Tom Green County, Texas.
Mary Alice remembers the family crossing the Concho River. All of the family waded the river except Mary Alice, she stayed in the wagon. The river was deeper than they expected and the water went into the wagon. Out of the wagon floated Mary Alice on a husk mattress. Family members had to retrieve her down stream. Mary Alice was about 9 years of age. Two years later the family is settled into San Angelo, Texas, Tom Green County. On a Saturday night on July 11, 1885, a color woman named Frankie Jones committed a murderous assault with a razor on George Washington Stewart. She inflicted several severe cuts to his throat. The woman was charged with assault to murder and was in default of $1000.00 bail. So she was sent to jail. On September 09, 1885, William Henry Stewart (the first born son of G.W. and Frances) married Laura Harrell daughter of Ephraim H. Harrell & Elinis Anna Webb in Tom Green County, Texas. August 18, 1888, G.W. and Frances' fifth daughter, Viola Stewart, died with bilious fever. Family members shared with the family that Viola had been sick with the Flu or a Cold for an extended time. Viola feeling better decided to go to town to see the first train coming into San Angelo and she went out into the cold only to take a relapse, She died after a five week illness. The funeral occurred at the families' residence at 3:30 in the evening. On June 19, 1889 George Washington Stewart bought land from Jonathan Miles in the Miles addition of Tom Green County, Texas. The total cost of the land was $225.00. He paid $108.75 dollars down and $116.25 was still due. The land was described as lots 11 and 12 in Block 75.
(Note: MILES, TEXAS. Miles, on U.S. Highway 67, Farm Road 2872, and the Santa Fe Railroad, in southwestern Runnels County, was named for settler Jonathan Miles, who donated $5,000 for the extension of the railroad from Ballinger to San Antonio. The town has also been known as Miles City. This land was part of the land that was previously owned by George Washington Stewart.)
By January 01, 1890, Frances and George Washington Stewart's daughter, Mary Alice Stewart, married George Hartsell. George was a Choctaw Indian. This marriage lasts only for a short a time. Family members remember Alice recalling this story: George was a Philandering man. Mary Alice decides to catch George in the act of two timing her. Mary Alice heard that George had a date with another girl. They were going bicycle riding on a bicycle built for two. Mary Alice dressed up like the girl complete with made up freckles and the girl's long black veil. Mary Alice pulled the masquerade off and George and Mary Alice went bicycle riding. George pursued to throw sweet words of endearment Mary Alice's way, thinking it was the other girl. Mary Alice began to laugh and tipped over the bicycle. Her long black veil fell off. Choctaw George saw that it was Mary Alice and knows that he is caught. By July 03, 1895 Frances and George Washington Stewart were living in Rosswell, New Mexico. They sold their land in Tom Green County, Texas in the the Miles addition to Adolfo Varela for $300.00 thus making a $75.00 profit. Because of the lack of Frances' reading skills, she was taken aside and explained the bill of sale. She agreed to the sale. George Washington and Frances both had to sign this. George Washington by his name and Frances P. Stewart by making her mark thus indicating that she couldn't read or write.
By October 25, 1901, George Washington Stewart and Frances were back in Tom Green County, Texas. There George Washington Stewart applied for a Confederate Pension. The pensions states:
His name: G.W.Stewart
He is: 65 years of age
He han been in the county since 1883 except for 4 years in Indian Territory. It states that he had
never applied for a Confederate Pension before.
His physical condition: bad
His disability: varicose ulceration of his leg.
His unit and length of service: Co. B Col. Bass Reg. Texas Calvary for 3 years.
He noted that he didn't receive no pension or a donation land certificate before.
His property and personal value consisted of 1 wagon and 2 horses valued as $50.00.
He had no property or income.
He was unable to work and needed assistance.
He lived in Texas since 1846. Except for when he was enlisted in the service.
Milton Mays was the County Judge at the time.
The witnesses were:
Mrs. Frances P. Stewart and C.M Copeland
(Both Frances P. Stewart & C.M. Copeland made their mark)
The doctor that examined George Washington Stewart was C.D. Mays. Dr. Mays noted that G.W.
had varicose veins and ulcers of the leg and foot which disabled him from being able to work.
On February 20, 1902 his application was approved. The application was approved as #8802.
By October 01, 1902, Mary Alice Stewart Hartsell married James Nelson. By the year of 1910, Census records shows George Washington Stewart living with his son, Francis Alford Stewart in Whiteflat, Texas, Motley County. Frances had died. George was then a widower. He stated that Frances and G.W. were married for 49 years. This indicates that she probably died in the year of 1910. Alford was then married to Ida Elizabeth Nelson, a possible sister or cousin to James Nelson. Ida Elizabeth was born February 05, 1949 in Texas. Her father was Thomas Nelson. Alford and Ida were married abt. 1886. The census lists that Alford and George Washington Stewart were blacksmiths. In the household also were:
Callie Hope: a servant
Jim Hendricks: a laborer.
Information found on George Washington Stewart was that he was in a Texas Confederate home in Austin, Texas. It stated:
Name: G.W.Stewart
Place of Birth: Mississippi
When: 1836
Occupation: Blacksmith
Company: B
Army: Trans-Mississippi
Marital Status: Widower
Came to Texas: 1846
Residence: Whiteflat
Admitted to Home: September 30, 1912
Disability: Disability
Religious Persuasion: Baptist
Discharged: Dropped September 30, 1913
In case of death, Write to F.A.Stewart (Son) WhiteFlat
Facts about George Washington Stewart :
Birth date & Place: abt. 1836 = Mississippi
Entered Texas: abt. 1846
Census 1: 1870 Bell County, Texas
Census 2: 1880 Henderson County, Texas
Census 3: 1890 San Angelo, Texas, Tom Green County (poll tax)
Census 4: 1910 White Flat, Texas, Motley County
Confederate Records 1: August 1861 = 1st enlistment = Fairfield, Texas, Freestone County
Confederate Records 2: March 10, 1862 = Limestone County, Texas
Confederate Records 3: March 22-May 22, 1862 = a 12 mo. reenlistment Navarro County, Texas
Confederate Records 4: July 11, 1862 Bounty Pd. $50.00
Confederate Records 5: Commutation of Rations = $ 8.33
Residence 1: Bell County (1870)
Residence 2: Henderson County (1880)
Residence 3: June 19, 1889 Runnels County, Miles, Texas
Residence 4: San Angelo, Texas, Tom Green County (1900)
Residence 5: Rosswell, New Mexico
Residence 6: White Flat, Texas, Motley County (1910)
Residence 7 : Gila County, Hyden, Arizona (1913)
Religion: Baptist
Newspaper articles 1: San Angelo, Texas, Tom Green County = 1883
Newspaper articles 2: San Angelo, Texas, Tom Green County = July 11, 1885
Newspaper Articles 3: San Angelo, Texas, Tom Green County = August 17, 1888
Occupation: Blacksmith, Wagon Maker, Rail Road Worker, Farmer
George moved to Gila County, Hyden, Arizona abt. August 1913. He lived in the household with Francis (Alford) his son. George Washington Stewart died January 22, 1915 in Gila County, Hayden, Arizona. James Pinkley (Pink) his other son lived in the nearby county.
Submitted by: JOwens9034@aol.com