(I first sent this to my Giddens group, but decided to send it to the RR Co list also) (feel free to delete if not interested) Giddens research: I have just read in a book (Gateway to Texas) of pioneer families that legend has it that John W Stiles was the first white person born in Red River Co., Aug 30, 1833. My records show that the 6th child for Richard F & Jane Giddens, John Giddens was born in Red River Co. May 18, 1833. This John Giddens married Sarah J Stiles, May 1, 1853 in RR Co. John died as a CSA soldier in Aberdeen, Miss. Not sure if he died of wound or of disease. I have had to assume that John was buried in Aberdeen but have never found documentation on that. Sarah J Stiles Giddens is buried at the English Cemetery. The books also states John Wesley Stiles joined the 27th Cavalry and assigned to Company F. I have a copy of the Company Muster Roll. It show John Giddens was in the same 27 Cav. of Texas and in Co. F. John Giddens enlisted March 7, 1862, He was listed absent in June, 1862 and in Aug roll was listed under remarks: Died July 11 Aberdeen Miss. John Wesley Stiles parents were John Stiles and Sarah Reed Stiles that are both buried at Concord only a few feet from my GGG GF Richar F Giddens and his wife Jane. The elder John Stiles was known for being a friend and host of Sam Houston & Davie Crockett. He was a veteran of the Tex Rev War. The land of these two men were sepeared by the land owned by Edward Hughart. Seems to me it is a good chance that John Giddens was the first white person born in Red River Co. This John Giddens is a younger brother of my GG GF Wiley W Giddens Another brother James Richard Giddens was a Lt in the CSA and died of wounds received 9 days earlier at the Battle of Dove Creek on the Indian frontier in Jan 1865. The batte was a few miles west of what is now San Angelo, Tx Jim Giddens Paris, Tx