Kathy asked for more info: Here is some - more may follow: Taken from my father’s hand - John Paul Whitaker, son of John Harrison Whitaker, son of James Martin Whitaker. (I am Paul Harrison Whitaker - son of John Paul) And I quote: My great grandparents (James Martin’s parents) lived in North Carolina. Their plantation was ‘across the fence’ from the Baker plantation. James Martin married Sarah Ann Baker. During the war the yankee army took what they wanted in the way of cattle, food, whatever, then burned the rest. After the war, James Martin and co. moved in the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri. Sarah’s brother Jim was with them. They never married. Grandpa and Uncle Jim (Brothers-in-law) decided to go to Texas. The means for hitch-hiking were lacking so they walked all the way to Gainesville, Texas, just south of the Red River from Ardmore. When they came to rivers, creeks, etc., Grandpa removed his shoes and carried them then put them on again on the other side. Uncle Jim wore his shoes through the water, but his feet were cold all day. I don’t know what year grandpa and Uncle Jim went to Texas but the dates of the birth of the first child was 1870. My dad, the baby, was born in 1886. Uncle Bob was the oldest. He was born before they left Missouri. Gainsville seemed to be the main place of residence, but they moved about, for my dad (John Harrison) was born in Valley Mills, Bosque County, Texas. Grandpa was back in Gainesville. James Martin Whitaker was a cannoneer a lot of the time. In one battle he was firing a cannon to the Union side to a meadow across a river where two of his brotherss were firing at him. He used anything he could get for cannon fodder. He used pieces of log chain or whatever. He would light the fuse then quickly climb up a sapling. He thought that would ease the concussion to the ears. He fired so many times , blood would seep out of his ears. As a guard at the entrance to the army camp, Grandpa (James Martin) was posted guard. Everyone who approached the entrance had to dismount, give their name, rank and serial number and date of birth. A general on a horse came up and was stopped by grandpa with the rifle at the ready, “Dismount, give your name, rank, serial number and date of birth.” The general just would not and said, “Aw Whit, you know who I am”. Grandpa barked “at the count of three, I will fire! At the count of two, the general was on the ground, singing his song. As he mounted his horse, he chuckled and said, “Whit, you are a good soldier.” The last battle James Martin was in left him severely wounded. He was shot in the leg and his company thought he was dead so they left him. When the Union soldiers came he was setting up. They told him to march. He told them that when he walks, his wound bleeds. A soldier drew his gun and said he will shoot if he doesn’t march. Grandpa tried but fell down again. The soldier shot him in the same leg and left him for dead. Later a Union doctor found him and doctored him until he was well. The story has it that his brothers, who had been fighting against him, left him for dead. After his recovery and return to the homestead the brothers were reportedly mad and the parents were overjoyed. It is also said that he was a part of Stonewall Jackson's group under General Marmaduke. ==== For what it's worth. Paul Whitaker