Newsletter Issue

Gardner Wilbanks moved to Rusk County,
Texas from Tennessee in 1839. He fought in
the war which won Texas independence from
Mexico and was given a land grant in Rusk
County for his service. Gardner, his son,
Hiram Henry, and their families moved to
Johnson County before 1883.
Hiram enlisted in the Confederate service,
in Company B, Captain Childress’ command,
Stone’s regiment, in 1882. He was in the
Battle of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and was
later detailed to the mail service where he
served until the end of the war. Socially, he
was a member of the Masonic Order and the
Grange; politically. a Democrat; and religiously,
a member of the Christian Church
Hiram had fourteen children and has many
descendants now living in Johnson County.
Allen Manse1 Wilbanks, son of Hiram, was
born in 1858. Although a very small boy,
Allen had to serve as a look-out for Indians
during the War Between the States. The
older youths and men were away at war and
the community was in constant fear of Indian
raids. He married Rhoda Pierce who had
ome to Johnson County from Georgia by
covered wagon at the age of three.
In 1902, Allen and his family of eight

PIERCE WILBANKS FAMILY REUNION TO BE HELD THE THIRD SUNDAY
OF JUNE 2000 9:00 A.M.
AT THE GOATNECK COMMUNITY CENTER. THIS DATE IS JUNE 25 2000. AT THIS POINT NO CATERING OF FOOD/PICNIC ITEMS IS PLANNED. IF YOU WHO ARE COMING WANT A BUFFET PROVIDED WE MUST MAKE PLANS IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PICNIC TABLES AVAILABLE AND THE GOATNECK COMMUNITY CENTER HAS SEVERAL ROOMS AND KITCHEN WE CAN USE. THE GOAT NECK AREA
OLD TIMERS COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY BEEN HAVING THIS ANNUAL REUNION FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE....NOW US PIERCES ARE GOING. RSVP TO 800-398-5127
LD PIERCE SUGGESTED
805 Sante Fe Gage
Oklahoma 73483
Cleburne Chamber of Commerce 1511 West Henderson
Cleburne TX 76031 Chamber Telephone: 814-645-2455

JL Pierce, Uncle
George Pierce of Alice, and
Grandpa LD Pierce 1950's.

Jimmie Scott Pierce Pictured here
with Rube Wilbanks 1935.

Tombstone At Pierce Cemetery
for Andrew J Pierce, and Wife
Nancy E Abercrombie Pierce.

children, including two married sons, moved to Hansford County in the Texas Panhandle traveling by wagon foor sixteen days. One son, Andrew Jackson, had married Dove Oakes of Hood County. The other son, Allen Mansel, Jr., had married Ophelia Ewing of Johnson County. Allen had a contract to drill forty water walls on the XIT Ranch and had purchased four sections of land in Hansford County for two dollars an acre. This land is being cultivated by his descendants today. Allen’s two brothers, Earnest, married to the former Eva Mae Burran of Johnson County, and Floyd, married to tbe former Susan Bowden, also of Johnson County, traveled to the Panhandle and settled on adjoining land. Another brother, Arthur,died in Hansford County in 1908. He never married. Thomas Calvin Hazlewood an active businessman of Clebune, is the great-grandson of Allen Mansel. Mary and Calvin Hazelwood of Fort Worth are his parents. His grandfather was Howell L. (His) Wilbanks who was born in Johnson County in 1888. Hix was a pioneer farmer and rancher and was Sheriff & Tax Collector of Hansford County for twenty years. Thomas is married to the former Gail Gumm of Fort Worth who is the daughter Mary and Charles C. Gumm of Fort Worth and the Double Dollar Ranch near Rio Vista Tom and Gail have one daughter, Holly. Travis Hazlewood of Fort Worth, brother of Thomas, is married to the former Charwynne Bass, daughter of Fleeta and J.T. Basof Cleburne. Travis and Charwynne have onson, George Bass. Article F795 by Gail Hazlewood Johnson County History Book pg 835Reprinted Editors Note the the author's husband Tom Hazlewood is Mayor of Cleburne Tx Johnson County _________________________________

AM Manny Wilbanks and wife Rhoda Pierce Wilbanks _____________________________