Andrew Lincecum, Free Born

Andrew Lincecum was born 1853-1860, likely in Louisiana.  This 3rd cousin of mine was a son of Rezin Bowie Lincecum and Annise (Annis, Annisa) Bowie.

I have seen Andrew’s surname spelled many different ways:  Lincecum, Linceycum, Lynscum, Lincecom, and Linscomb.  And though I’ve seen him referred to as Andrew most often, Andy and André are also noted.

My family and family history (so far as I know) is very caucasian white.  So it was a mild surprise to see R. Lincecum, a white planter, married to Annise, noted as Black in the 1860 Catahoula Parish, Louisiana Federal census.  These were the parents of Andrew, so his “color” was given as mulatto.  A notation was added to the census for the children of this union:  Free Borne —

What might that mean? Per Wikipedia:

The term free people of color…in the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, at first specifically referred to persons of mixed African and European descent who were not enslaved.  The term was especially used in the French colonies, including La Louisiane…  In these territories and major cities, particularly New Orleans, and those cities held by the Spanish, a substantial…class of primarily mixed-race, free people developed.  These colonial societies classified mixed-race people in a variety of ways, generally related to visible features and to the proportion of African ancestry…

In the Thirteen Colonies, settled by the British, and later in the United States, the term free negro was often used to cover the same class of people – those who were legally free and visibly of ethnic African descent.  It included persons of mixed race…

On the flip side, Christophe Landry of Louisiana Historic & Cultural Vistas, notes the following:

From 1699 to 1868, mixed color marriages were expressly forbidden.

So I wonder, were Rezin and Annise “officially” married? I just don’t know the answer to that yet.

Returning to Andrew, specifically, his race was noted in a fairly consistent way across the census records taken over the span of his life:  1880 – mulatto; 1900 – black; 1910 – black; 1920 – mulatto; and 1930 – negro.

Andrew was occupied as a farmer the majority, if not all, of his adult life.  About 1887-1889, he married Minerva Maxwell, possibly a daughter of Jackson and Mary Jane M(c?)axwell.  Census takers considered her to be black, Indian, mulatto, and negro.  The couple had five children:  Wallace, Mary Ann (Anise), Roley, Otta (Ida), and Edward.

An interesting note might be that Andrew’s son Roley (Rollo, Raleigh, Rolle) lived to be more than 100 years old.

By the time the 1940 Rapides Parish, Louisiana Federal census was taken, Minerva was a widow.  She later died 22 September 1956.

Visit Andrew Lincecum’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

Creole: The History and Legacy of
Louisiana’s Free People of Color

WWI, Mexico, & an FBI Case File Involving Dr. Addison Lincecum

In the years leading up to the United States’s entry into World War I, Dr. Addison Lysander Lincecum (1874-1965) was occupied as the Assistant Health Officer for the state of Texas. In 1917, if not earlier, Dr. Lincecum began receiving odd and unsolicited letters from a man named Oscar J. Mayer. Mr. Mayer purported himself to be a physician in Tampico, Mexico.

The letters were suspicious enough to Dr. Lincecum that he reported them to the FBI (known then as the Bureau of Investigation). Dr. Mayer was looked into as being “very pro-German,” but his ties to Mexico at the time likely didn’t go unnoticed. Some background –

The Tampico Affair began as a minor incident involving U.S. sailors and Mexican land forces loyal to Mexican dictator General Victoriano Huerta during the…Mexican Revolution. A misunderstanding occurred on April 9, 1914, but developed into a breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two countries. As a result, the United States invaded the port city of Veracruz, occupying it for more than six months…

…In January 1917, Germany sent the so-called Zimmermann Telegram, which implied that a Mexican alliance with Germany against the US would result in Mexico regaining territory taken from it by the US in prior wars and that Germany’s forthcoming unrestricted submarine warfare campaign would guarantee defeat of the British and French. The British interception of Zimmermann’s telegram and the German unrestricted submarine warfare against US merchant ships, soon afterward, were effectively both final justifications that President Wilson needed to request a declaration of war against Germany, in April 1917.

Anti-American sentiment in Mexico from the Tampico incident was the chief reason that the government kept Mexico neutral in World War I. Mexico refused to participate with the US military excursion in Europe and granted full guaranties to German companies for keeping their operations open, specifically in Mexico City.

– From Tampico Affair via Wikipedia.org

Text of first report in the case file:

Report Made By: Erby E. Swift
Place Report Made: Laredo, Texas
Date: 6/26/17
Title of Case and Offense: Dr. Oscar J. Mayer / German Matter

At Laredo Texas:

If the number of unfavorable reports partly substantiated count for anything, the man listed in above caption is certainly playing a highhanded game of intrigue.

The Military, Immigration, Health and Customs Depts. have all stated to me that they believe Dr. Mayer is very pro-German. Dr. A. L. Lincecum, Asst. State Health Officer while here recently stated to me that he was actually afraid of the man as he was making from one to five trips monthly into the states from Tampico Mexico without apparent reason. That he writes him (Lincecum) letters of such a nature that if they were read by anyone it would be thought that he was an intimate personal and professional friend, while he hardly knows the man and has no business relations with him whatsoever. That these letters are written from all points in Mexico and the U.S. and refer to Colonization, Health, friendly meeting etc. and that he cannot explain such uncalled for letters except that Mayer is doing it with intent to make him a ‘goat.’

Attached to special Agent in Charge Barnes’ copy of this report are two original letters which Dr. Lincecum sent me as samples with the request that I bring them to the notice of the Dept. I will only quote one which I must admit certainly has an unusual compostition in view of the statement of Dr. Lincecum that he has no relations of any nature to in any way justify such mystifying letters which infer decided intimacy between the two. The one letter reads as follows:

“HOTEL CONTINENTAL
Monterrey, Mexico, May 24th, 1917.
Dr. A. L. Lincecum, Asst. State Health Officer, Austin Texas.
My Dear Doctor: Just to tell you that I am on my way to Mexico City where I will stay some 3-7 days. I may then have to go to Washington or return to Laredo prior to going back to Tampico. I will keep you informed so you are posted. Trusting you are attending to our mutual interests, I am, with best regards.
Yours very truly,
OSCAR J. MAYER”

In the other letter attached written from New York and date June 16th, last he informs the Dr. Lincecum that he is in Washington on matters of great interest about which he will acquaint him (Lincecum) when he seems him etc.

Lincecum assures me that the letters are absolutely unwarranted in their freedom of expression, apparent familiarity and the appearance of professional relations and that he believes this man Mayer may be simply using him as a protection.

Dr. Mayer is at all time interested in all Germans detained at the Detention Quarters of the Immigration. While he claims to have only a benevolent interest I distrust him as does every person who knows him.

His unwarranted letters to Dr. Lincecum, his too frequent trips to our cities of New York, Washington etc. from Tampico where he is simply a physician, his general appearance and the many reports from Tampico as to his anti-american stand there at which place he is the official physician of the German interned sailors causes me to consider him as up to dangerous work which he is “putting over” in a very delicate manner.

He crossed to Mexico through this port yesterday and will return soon. It is possible that more would be gained by closely watching him than in searching as he would be more apt at seeing someone than in carrying papers etc. Could I have instructions regarding him?

About 10 months later, another report was written on the subject of Dr. Oscar J. Mayer, Pro German Suspect, and his relationship with A. L. Lincecum, who had recently been called into active military service:

Report Made By: R. W. Tinsley
Place Report Made: San Antonio, Tex.
Date: April 27, 1918
Title of Case and Offense: IN RE: DR. OSCAR J. MAYER / PRO GERMAN SUSPECT

At San Antonio, Texas.

The following information from A. L. Lincecum, Capt. E.R.C. Co. 9, 3rd Battalion, Camp Greenleaf, Chickamauga Park, Ga, dated April 25, 1918, has been received at this office:

“In reply to your request for information as to the whereabouts of Dr. Oscar J. Mayer, formerly of Tampico, Mexico, I will state that I have heard nothing from or of him since last July or possibly August first. The last correspondence I had from him I sent to Mr. Swift by D. H. C. Hall of Laredo, Texas. I was in Tampico in September 1917, but Dr. Mayer was not there. Harry Greer of Tampico thought your department possibly had him in charge at that time. Dr. Mayer’s wife resides in San Francisco, and her brother in Chicago, so Mayer told me. My suspicions were first aroused by his scheme to colonise American-German farmers in the state of Vera Cruz adjacent to the oil bearing territory. He then began to wire me of his moves in Mexico and the U. S. Those telegrams I could find I sent to Mr. Swift.”

Copies of this report are being furnished the New York Office and Major Barnes, Intelligence Officer, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for their information.

The file contains further information about the searching for Dr. Mayer in New York. He was not located, but his brother Adolph was. Adolph claimed Dr. Mayer had been in New York, but left “several months ago” and “returned to Tampico, Mexico, where he is practicing medicine. At the same time [June 1918] he is engaged in selling oil lands around Tampico to people in the United States. About one and half years ago he was conducting some money transactions between the United States and Tampico, Mexico. This fact aroused suspicion and he went personally to Washington, where he succeeded to prove that the money belonged to people who bought property in Mexico…No other information is obtainable in this City at present.”

And so ends the file.

After the war, Dr. Lincecum continued to practice medicine in Texas. He died 6 December 1965 at Lavaca County. Visit Dr. Addison Lysander Lincecum’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

Mexico and the World Wars:
The History of Germany’s Efforts
to Involve Mexico in World War I
and World War II

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Freedmen in Name Only? 13 Enslaved on Barry Plantation.

Even though Mississippi’s infamous “Black Code” would not be passed for a few more months, this labor contract between Uriah Barry and thirteen recently emancipated men, women, and children shows that life was not much different for them in the months (and years) immediately following the Civil War.

This Agreement with Freedmen was especially interesting to me because it was created so soon after the end of the Civil War.  All the men, women, and children who signed on to be laborers on the Barry Plantation in Holmes County, Mississippi carried (possibly without choice) the surname of BARRY.  And the number of freedmen in the document (13) is the same number of individuals counted as enslaved of Uriah Barry for the 1860 U.S. Federal census.  Their pay under this “new” contract? Board, Clothing & Medical Attention.

The names of those who were (possibly, probably) enslaved by Uriah Barry just months before:

• Charles Barry, age 28
• Louisa Barry, age 24
• Luis Barry, age 70
• Ritter Barry, age 50
• Rachel [see dependents list below]
• Jackson Barry, age 22
• Lucy Barry, age 15
• Isaac Barry, age 9
• Mary Barry, age 8
• Amanda Barry, age 6

Those aged 15 and above signed with a mark of X.  A list of “Dependents” follows:

• Rachael Barry, age 40 – Decrepit
• Daniel Barry, age 5
• Alis Barry, age 4
• Luis Barry, age 2

Uriah Berry/Barry was my 1st cousin, 7x removed.  He was a son of Nancy Lincecum and William Green Berry.  A transcription of the agreement follows, but note images of this document may be viewed online at FamilySearch.org.

Agreement with Freedmen.

This Agreement, made this 12th day of August A.D., 1865, by and between Uriah Barry of the County of Holmes and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the person hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, part hereto of the second part, ——–

Witnesseth, That for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as the Barry Plantation in the County & State aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 12th day of August A.D., 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866.  The said Uriah Barry party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereafter mentioned on the part of the second part, agrees to furnish to the said laborers and those rightfully dependent upon them, free of charge, clothing and food of good quality and sufficient quantity; good and sufficient quarters; medical attendance when necessary, and kind and humane treatment; to allot from the lands of said plantation, for garden purposes, one acre to each family; such allotment to include a reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of the same; to exact only one half a day’s labor on Saturdays, and non whatever on Sundays.

And it is further agreed, That in case the said Uriah Barry shall fail, neglect, or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by ________, or shall furnish said part of the second part with insufficient food or clothing, or be guilty of cruelty to, he shall, besides the legal recourse left to the party or parties aggrieved, render this contract liable to annulment by the Provost Marshal of Freedmen.  And it is agreed on the part of the part of the second part that will each well and faithfully perform such labor as the said Uriah Barry may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours in winter, and in case any laborer shall voluntarily absent himself from, or shall neglect, or refuse to perform the labor herein promised, and the fact shall be proven in such manner as the Provost Marshal of Freedmen shall deem proper.

IT IS FURTHER AGREED, That any wages or share of profits due the said laborers under this agreement, shall constitute a first lien upon all crops or parts of crops produced on said plantation or tract of land by their labor.  And no shipments or products shall be made until the Provost Marshal of Freedmen shall certify that all dues to said laborers are paid or satisfactorily arranged.

[signed] Uriah Barry

Visit Uriah Berry’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

Go here for a specific example of a southern state’s Black Code.

The Republic for Which It Stands:
The United States during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896

Grandpa’s Little Picture Booklets

My grandfather B. J. Lincecum (1932-2014) was a diarist and picture-taker. Though his modus operandi changed with the times and technology, as far as I can tell he practiced those two family history chronicling pastimes for the bulk of his life. He was also a regular sightseer and traveler, so his images didn’t always only involve family.

— Some of B. J. Lincecum’s Picture Booklets

Though I’ve been through some of his photo albums before, I’ve only just begun delving into these picture booklets. I adore them for many reasons, of course, but a big one is each booklet tells a little story.

Here’s a picture of B.J.’s son (my dad) by a river “on the way to Marrakech,” taken when the family was stationed in Morocco.

— “Mike by the river on the way to Marrakech. We stopped by road to ‘rest.’ Was very pretty view.”

And here’s a crude image of the Saadian Tombs from the same 1957 trip to Marrakech (side-by-side with C. Messier’s work at Wikimedia Commons.)

What about a fun outing to a ballgame? Grandpa was at Sportsman’s Park / Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956.

— Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, in 1956.

Or we can get a peek into something a little closer to home. Delta (Cape Girardeau County, MO), where my great-grandparents owned and operated Lincecum Grocery, had to deal with a bit of flooding the latter part of May 1957. The bottom image in right side of collage shows their storefront.

— Delta, MO flooding in May 1957.

I treasure each image, and would like to share them with those who follow Lincecum Lineage. It is unlikely, however, that all will make it into the database. So I invite you to follow me on Twitter — I’m “southerngraves.” I have shared what you see above and more there, and will continue to share more as I uncover interesting images. (Full disclosure: I tweet about genealogy, all sorts of history, and cemeteries / tombstones. Every now and then a nature or book/reading tweet will make it onto the timeline. If we have similar interests, I’ll be happy to follow back.)

Hope to see you there!

Biographical Outline of John C. Roberts, Husband of Fernandella Lincecum

They who knew him best will bless his name
and keep his memory dear while life shall last.
(Inscription on John’s tombstone)

[First posted on previous platform August 2016.]

John C. Roberts was born on Christmas Day of 1837 in Winston County, Mississippi to Alexander Roberts and Sabra Vise.  Alexander Roberts [first] came to Texas in 1836, and helped the Texans fight the battles of the Republic for nearly four years, being in many engagements with the enemy, the most noted of which was the Plum Creek fight. This was written in a book by Dan W. Roberts, son of Alexander and brother of John C., titled Rangers and Sovereignty (first published 1914).

Sabra, on the other hand, thought the Texas frontier unsafe for her family.  She, more than once, returned with her children to Mississippi. The family, all together, finally settled at what soon came to be Caldwell County about 1843.

John C. was one of three Roberts boys to marry three Lincecum girls. His choice was Fernandella Brazoria “Della” Lincecum (1840-1933), daughter of Garland R. Lincecum and Emmaline Jones. They were married 9 August 1857 at Caldwell County. The couple went on to have six sons and one daughter: Jacob Garland, Alexander Chalmus, Daniel Brazos, Louada, James Travis, John B. J., and Sullivan Ross.

John C. Roberts was a farmer, and during the Civil War, a cattle driver. He died 25 March 1919 at his home “8 mi east of Lockhart” in Caldwell County, Texas. John C. was buried in Lincecum – Roberts Cemetery, sacred land originally owned by his father-in-law.

Individual Facts:

• Residence:  1839 / Texas
• Census:  11 November 1850 / Caldwell County, Texas
• Occupation:  June 1860 / Stock Raiser at Caldwell County
• Census:  20 June 1860 / Lockhart, Caldwell County
• Occupation:  August 1870 / Farmer at Caldwell County
• Census:  27 August 1870 / Lockhart, Caldwell County
• Occupation:  June 1880 / Farmer at Caldwell County
• Census:  12 June 1880 / Caldwell County
• Occupation:  June 1900 / Farmer at Caldwell County
• Census:  8 June 1900 / Caldwell County
• Occupation:  May 1910 / Farmer of a General Farm at Caldwell County
• Address:  May 1910 /  Union Grove Road, Caldwell County
• Census:  10 May 1910 / Caldwell County
• Occupation:  October 1914 / Farmer at Caldwell County, but not able to work
• Address:  October 1914 / RFD #1, Dale, Caldwell County

Notes:

• According to the 1870 Caldwell County, Texas Federal census, J. C. could not read or write.


• From October 1914 Indigent Pension Application (No. 28601) of John C. Roberts: When asked of what state was his command, he replied with Texas. John went on the say: “Enlisted at Austin July 1863. Served until May 1865…Was immediately detailed to serve in Subsistence Department and was put to work gathering cattle for Luckett’s Regiment. My entire time was put in driving Beeves for the command. I did not serve in any company as a soldier.”
  
  A Mortuary Warrant submitted by D. B. Roberts, John’s son, states John died of heart disease at home.


• John’s wife also submitted paperwork regarding his death as part of her Confederate Widow’s Pension Application. Image above, detailing burial expenses, was included.

Visit John Calhoun Roberts’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

The Ranger & His Wife:
Two Accounts of the Early Days of the Texas Rangers by a Married Couple
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Timeline Report for Fernandella Lincecum Roberts (1840-1933)

[Originally posted at previous platform July 2016.]

Fernandella “Della” Lincecum Roberts lived to the age of 93 years, and surely saw a lot in those 9+ decades on earth.  Della’s father, Garland Lincecum, was one of those who signed a petition to create Caldwell County, Texas.  Della lost her father at age 13, was married and had her first child by 18.  She would have her last child at age 45.  Della spent most of her life in the same Caldwell county, and was buried in a cemetery on land originally owned by her father.  (Courthouse image at right.)

Slavery was normal until she was 22.  She couldn’t vote until she was 79.

Pattern:  Year / Age – Event – Date / Place

1840 – Fernandella Brazoria Lincecum was born – 3 July at Lowndes County, Mississippi

1846 / Age 5 – Garland moved his family and settled at what would later be Caldwell County, Texas

1846 / Age 5 – Mexican-American War – 1846-1848 / USA, Mexico

1848 – California Gold Rush – 1848-1855

1850 / Age 10 – Della was enumerated for the 7th United States Federal census – 9 November at Caldwell County

1852 – First Lone State State Fair – May / Corpus Christi, Texas

1853 / Age 12 – Crimean War – 1853-1856

1853 / Age 13 – Della’s father, Garland R. Lincecum, died – 9 September at Lockhart, Caldwell County

1857 / Age 17 – Della married John C. Roberts – 9 August at Caldwell County

1858 / Age 17 – Della gave birth to son Jacob – 26 June at Caldwell County

1860 / Age 19 – Della was enumerated for the 8th United States Federal census – 20 June at Caldwell County

abt 1861 / Age 20 – Della gave birth to son Alexander

1861 / Age 20 – American Civil War – 1861-1865 / USA

1862 / Age 22 – Emancipation Proclamation – 22 September / USA

1863 / Age 22 – US Transcontinental Railroad – 1863-1869 / USA

1864 / Age 23 – Della gave birth to son Daniel Brazos – 7 April 1864 at Dale, Caldwell County, Texas

1865 / Age 24 – Assassination of US President Abraham Lincoln – 14 April 1865 / Washington, DC

1866 – Beginning of the era of Texas trail drives of cattle

abt 1867 / Age 26 – Della gave birth to daughter Louada

1869 / Age 26 – Suez Canal – Egypt

1872 / Age 31 – Della gave birth to son James T. – 11 February at Dale, Caldwell County, Texas

1873 – Buffalo Soldiers first posted in Texas

1876 / Age 36 – Della gave birth to son John B. J. – 13 October / Texas

1878 / Age 38 – Della watched her first son get married – 24 October at Caldwell County

1880 / Age 39 – Della was enumerated for the 10th United States Federal census – 12 June at Caldwell County

1886 / Age 45 – Della gave birth to her son Sullivan Ross – 13 January / Texas

1889 / Age 49 – Della’s mother, Emmaline R. Jones Lincecum, died – 7 July at Caldwell County

abt 1893 / Age 52 – Della watched her son Daniel get married

abt 1894 / Age 53 – Della watched her son James T. get married

1897 / Age 57 – Della watched her son Alexander get married – 27 October at Caldwell County

1898 / Age 57 – Spanish-American War – April thru August / USA, Cuba

1900 / Age 59 – Della was enumerated for the 12th United States Federal census – 8 June at Caldwell County

1900 – “Great Hurricane” kills 6,000 – 8 September / Galveston, Texas

1901 – Large discovery of oil in Texas – 10 January / Beaumont, Texas

1901 / Age 61 – Assassination of US President William McKinley – 6 September at Buffalo, New York

1903 / Age 63 – Wright Brothers First Flight – 17 September at Kitty Hawk, Dare County, North Carolina

1908 / Age 68 – Ford Model T Manufactured – 1908-1927 / Detroit, Michigan

1910 / Age 69 – Della was enumerated for the 13th United States Federal census – 10 May 1910 at Caldwell County, Texas

1912 / Age 71 – Titanic Disaster – April / Atlantic Ocean

1914 / Age 73 – World War I – 1914-1918 / Europe

1919 – Prohibition begins in Texas

1919 / Age 78 – Della’s husband of 61 years, John Roberts, died – 25 March at Caldwell County, Texas

1920 / Age 79 – Women in the United States receive the right to vote

1920 / Age 79 – Della was enumerated for the 14th United States Federal census – 2 January at Wilson County, Texas

1924 – First woman governor elected in Texas

1925 / Age 84 – Della’s son John B. J. died – 23 January

1929 / Age 88 – The Great Depression – 1929 until her death / USA and Europe

1930 / Age 89 – The Holocaust – 1930 until her death / Eastern Europe

1930 / Age 89 – Della was enumerated for the 15th United States Federal census – 9 April at San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

1931 / Age 90 – The Dust Bowl – 1931 until her death / Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

1933 / Age 93 – Fernandella Lincecum Roberts died – 9 September at San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.  She was laid to rest in Lincecum-Roberts Cemetery at Lockhart, Caldwell County.

Visit Fernandella Lincecum Roberts’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

Texas Historical Markers: Caldwell County: Lockhart, Luling, Martindale
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Taxi Driver Shot, Found on Steps: the 1932 Death of Robert H. Tamplin

Robert H. Tamplin was born 13 October 1895 in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas to R. H. Tamplin and Daisy Lincecum.  Young Robert spent his pre-adult years working as a stock clerk for the Joske Bros. department store.  He also completed a relatively short stint in the U.S. Army.  By the time he was 27, Robert was working as a chauffer / taxi driver in the San Antonio area of Bexar County, Texas.

Robert married at least once, but was divorced at the time of his death.  His untimely demise occurred less than two months after his 37th birthday, and just two weeks before Christmas. The crime and possible subsequent solving of it played out in the newspapers:

San Antonio Express (Texas)
12 December 1932 – pg. 1 [via GenealogyBank]

TAXI DRIVER SHOT, FOUND ON STEPS

Cab Found More Than Mile From Scene, No Witnesses Discovered

With a bullet wound in the back, the body of Robert H. Tamplin, 30, 306 North Street, was found upon the steps of the residence of Louis Granato, 410 Stonewall Street, Sunday morning, shortly after residents reported hearing a dispute and an automobile hastening away.  Granato telephoned the sheriff’s office there was a drunk man lying on the steps.

Mystery still clouded the shooting Sunday night as deputy sheriffs said they had been unable to find a clue and the fact that Tamplin’s watch, a ring and 80 cents in change was found on the body.  Residents of the house where the body was found could give no information as to how many men were in the party heard quarreling at the doorway and none had heard anything which was said.

Tamplin was a driver for the Yellow Line Company and was said to have left the office at 11:55 in answer to a call for a cab.  The call came from a pay station and person calling did not ask for any driver by name, it was declared, and simply requested that a cab be sent to the Riverview Apartments, 106 West Pecan Street.  Tamplin was not seen again alive by any one as far as the officers had found.

The cab which Tamplin drove was found early Sunday morning on South Flores more than a mile from the scene of the shooting, leaving officers to believe the man’s slayers had driven away in his own car and abandoned it later.  The car was not damaged.

Tamplin is survived by his mother, Mrs. Daisy Tamplin, of San Antonio, and two brothers, Lloyd Tamplin of Anderson, S.C., and R. D. Tamplin of Inglewood, Calif.  Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon with Rev. W. A. Pearson of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church officiating.

Robert’s death certificate via FamilySearch.org lists cause of death as Gun shot wound in right side of Back.  It was noted as Homicide.

Robert was laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.  A nice image of his government issued tombstone may be viewed on FindAGrave.  The inscription follows:

Robert H. Tamplin
Texas
Cook
Motor Trans. Corps
December 11, 1932

More About the Crime & Attempts to Solve It

San Antonio Light (Texas)
Tuesday, 13 December 1932 – pg. 11 [via GenealogyBank]

TAXI MURDER ROUNDUP FAILS.

Working upon the slender supposition that the slayer might have been a drug addict who sought money to buy narcotics, Sheriff Albert Hausser and his deputies Tuesday reported the rounding up of between 40 and 50 suspects overnight in an unsuccessful attempt to clear up the mysterious shooting early Sunday of Robert H. Tamplin, 37…

Tamplin, a taxi driver, was shot in the back as he sat at the whele. [sic]

RELEASE MANY.
The suspects were rounded up at several rooming houses and small hotels, but most of them had been released Tuesday morning.

…Finger prints on the taxicab were not those of Tamplin, it was ascertained Monday, but thus far no one taken prisoner in the round-up has had finger prints that match those found on the car.

SHOT IN BACK.
Tamplin was shot in the back, and the bullet which caused his death, a 38-caliber pistol bullet, was taken from his body, and is being held for evidence by Hausser, in the event his man-hunt unearths someone who owns a .38-caliber pistol, and is unable to give an account of himself for last Saturday night…

San Antonio Light (Texas)
Thursday, 15 December 1932 – pg. 9 [via GenealogyBank]

GANG REPRISAL, TAXI MURDER THEORY

That Robert H. Tamplin, 37-year-old taxi-cab driver, of 306 North street, who was mysteriously slain last Saturday night, may have been “taken for a ride” by bootleggers, was a new angle of the case being investigated Thursday by Sheriff Albert Hausser.

Hausser disclosed late Wednesday that he had information Tamplin recently aided federal prohibition agents in making a big haul of liquor, by tirning in two bootleggers. He said that he had a tip that the bootleggers had arranged for the killing of Tamplin, or had killed him themselves.

WITNESS FOUND.
He also disclosed that a witness had been found who said he had heard some loud talking in a parked car, and then heard a voice say:

“Take that,” and a pistol shot quickly followed…

— Houston Chronicle (Texas) – 19 December 1932 – pg. 2

Houston Chronicle (Texas)
Monday, 19 December 1932 – pg. 1 [via GenealogyBank]

DEPUTIES ARE EXONERATED IN GILL SLAYING

Woman Arrested After Bank Bandit Suspect Was Killed Is Taken Back to San Antonio.

Deputy Sheriffs George Andrew, E. T. Dinkins and Phil Traweek were exonerated by the Harris County grand jury Monday for their part in the shooting on the sixth floor of the Ben Milam Hotel, Saturday night, in which Handsome Frank (Fred) Gill, 20, was wounded four times and instantly killed when he “shot it out” with the officers.

…The officers went to the hotel to arrest Gill on receipt of information from San Antonio that Gill was wanted there on a bank robbery charge and was registered at the Ben Milam.

…E. A. (Jack) Bragg, 24, purported to be Gill’s “pal,” who was arrested in Dallas Saturday night shortly before Gill was killed in Houston, was being returned to San Antonio from Dallas Monday.

In the meantime, Associated Press dispatches from San Antonio indicated that an investigation was under way to link Bragg and Gill with a two-man crime wave there of more than a month’s duration, including the slaying of a taxicab driver.

…Comparison of an empty cartridge found in Miss Knippa’s [woman with Gill at time of his killing] room in San Antonio by deputy sheriffs with the bullet found in the body of Robert H. Tamplin, taxi driver, who was shot to death the morning of December 11, leads the sheriff to believe that the two men knew something of this crime…

San Antonio Light reports on same day the following: “With the slaying by officers at Houston of Frank Gill…, and the capture at Dallas of E. A. (‘Jack’) Bragg…, officers believe they have cleared up mystery of the holdup Thursday of the First State bank at South San Antonio, and the murder December 10 of R. H. Tamplin, taxi driver, as well as several other crimes. Both were charged with recent Plaza hotel holdup, and were at liberty under bond.”

— San Antonio Light (Texas) – 19 December 1932 – pg. 2

Visit Robert H. Tamplin’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

Cowboy Mafia

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Does the Life of Robert Tamplin (d. 1897) Typify the Wild West of the 19th Century?

[Originally posted on previous platform July 2016.]

A little research into the life of Robert H. Tamplin produced some very interesting newspaper articles.  (All found at The Portal to Texas History.) When I first started reading, I wondered to myself if the family was known as the Tamplin Gang or something such as that.  It seems father R. F. and his two eldest sons, Robert and Rufus, were always involved in something.  And that something seemed to often be pushing up against the law.  Maybe even crossing it.

I will say there were some instances where Robert was accused of things and later acquitted, or found not guilty.  And I did come across a short article noting the Tamplin family to be well respected throughout Washington County, Texas.

Who knows? Maybe Robert’s life does typify the era of the 1800s wild, wild west.  Remember, anything happening after 1888 (at minimum) had a direct effect on his wife, Daisy Lincecum, who was just 23 when she married Robert.

Notes:

– The Daily Banner (Brenham, Texas) Thursday, 27 February 1879

PRETTY CLOSE. — On Wednesday, after Mr. R. F. Tamplin [Robert’s father] had been fined in the mayor’s court for unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, he came up town and abused the officers who arrested him, and being warned by them several times not to create a disturbance, he displayed his pistol — which had been returned to him under the decision of the appellate court that no weapon should be confiscated — officer Buster informed Mr. Tamplin that he was doing wrong and to put the weapon in his pocket, or give it to his son.  He replied using abusive language, and the officers then arrested him, he showing fight.  His son Robert, about 17 years old, then drew and cocked on the officers a single-barrelled derringer pistol.  The city marshal grabbed him to prevent his shooting.  A scuffle ensued during which the derringer “went off” the ball entering a side-pocket in the marshal’s coat and severely wounding a pocket full of papers.  It was a very narrow escape.  Both parties were arrested and placed under bonds of $50 each for their appearance on Saturday next.

– Brenham Daily Banner (Texas) Saturday, 20 September 1884

GIN BURNED. — On Friday morning Robert Tamplin’s gin in the Gay Hill neighborhood was discovered to be on fire.  In a short time it was in ashes.  The gin and machinery were new having lately been completed.  It cost about $3000 and was insured for $1800 in the Southern and Hibernian companies of New Orleans.

[Robert’s father was shot and killed May 1883.  This may have been a “family” gin, originally belonging to the elder Robert.]

– Brenham Daily Banner (Texas) Thursday, 22 October 1885

District Court. Wednesday. — State vs. R. H. Tamplin, theft of cattle, continued by agreement.

– The Galveston Daily News (Texas) 5 December 1886

Dismissed by the Grand Jury. DALLAS, Tex., December 4. — Mr. Robert Tamplin, of Brenham, who was arrested and brought here last Wednesday, charged with stealing some clothes in this city last August, has been dismissed by the grand jury, after a thorough investigation of the charge.  Mr. Tamplin belongs to a most respectable family in Washington, and is considered one of Brenham’s best citizens.

– Galveston Daily News (Texas) 16 November 1891

Two Severe Cuts. BRENHAM, Tex., Nov. 15. — A rather serious affair took place at the Santa Fe saloon at 2 o’clock this morning, in which several persons were seriously hurt.

R. S. Farmer and Dr. Rufus B. Tamplin [brother of Robert] had had a difficulty up town early in the night, in which, it is said.  Dr. Tamplin drew a knife, but did not attempt to use it.  Farmer did not see the knife, but some one told him of it, and he procured a pistol and followed the docdor [sic] down to the saloon.

Eye witnesses say that immediately on entering the saloon door Farmer drew his pistol and told Tamplin to “hand over that knife.” Robert Tamplin, a brother of the doctor, was standing at the bar drinking a glass of water.  When Farmer presented the pistol at his brother’s head he threw the glass and hit Farmer on the side of the head.

The pistol was discharged at the same instant, the bullet going through the side of the house.  Robert Tamplin, after throwing the glass, followed it up by clinching with Farmer and pushing him out of the door.

Leslie Greyton, a bystander, jerked Farmers’ [sic] pistol out of his hand, and Dr. Tamplin rushed out to help his brother.  He drew a knife and stabbed Farmer twice, once in the left arm, making a gash from the point of the elbow to the wrist.  Another slash fell on the back of the neck, extending from the edge of the hair on the right side in a slanting direction clear to the middle of the left side of the throat, missing the jugular vein only narrowly.

The latter  cut went to the bone and is rather serious.

Harry Swain, another bystander, struck Robert Tamplin over the head with a heavy cane, knocking him loose from Farmer and the row ended.

After the difficulty it was found that Farmer had two bad cuts.  Robert Tamplin had a gash on the head from the cane blow.  P. A. Henderson’s head had stopped the glass as it glanced from Farmer’s head, and a good-sized lump was the result.  Two or three others were slightly cut on the face and hands from bits of broken glass.

– Brenham Daily Banner (Texas) 26 March 1892

LOCAL NEWS.

The Tamplin Case. The case of the State vs. R. H. Tamplin, charged with swindling, growing out of a mortgage made to Schmid Bros., on stock that Tamplin claimed died before the foreclosure and judgement against him, was called in the District court Friday morning, but Mr. Tamplin having gone out in the country about 16 miles was not able to get in on time and a forfeiture of his bond was entered, but upon his arrival at 10:15 the forfeiture of his bond was set aside, and the case went to trial.

District Attorney King opened the argument for the State, Judge Kirk appearing in an able argument for the defense, County Attorney Rogers closing.

Court adjourned until this morning, when the Judge will charge the jury in the case.

[Article in next day’s paper says jury returned a verdict of not guilty.]

– Denton County News (Denton, Texas) 30 March 1893

A Fatal Fight. GEORGETOWN, Tex March 24. — Hightower, a boy 17 years of age was killed yesterday.  Hightower and Bob Tamplin, living near New Liberty Hill, quarreled in the morning about Hightower’s sheep eating Tamplin’s corn.  About noon Tamplin took his gun and left home, saying he was going to shoot squirrels.  Soon after this shots were heard.  Hightower was found dead and Tamplin wounded in the shoulder.  Hightower’s clothing and one ear were badly burned.  He was a shepherd on a ranch owned by Dock Davis of Round Rock.  Tamplin has a wife and one child.  He has been arrested.

Robert died in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas 4 December 1897, aged about 34 years. His death left wife Daisy a single mother of three boys at age 32.

Vist Robert H. “Bob” Tamplin’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.

Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Luke Short and Others

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Timeline Report for Addison Lysander Lincecum (1874-1965)

[Originally posted on previous platform July 2016.]

Addison witnessed much during his lifetime:  6 wars, the assassinations of 2 U.S. presidents, the Wright Brothers’ 1st flight, the 1st manufacturing of the Ford Model T, the sinking of the Titanic, women’s suffrage in the U.S., the Great Depression, the Holocaust, the Dust Bowl, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the nuclear bombings in Japan, and the Civil Rights Movement.

His most eventful years were perhaps 1900-1903, ages 26-29.  Addison lost his father and helped Letha give birth to their 1st child about August 1900.  He officially became a doctor a couple of years later, and was part of the 1st graduating class of Baylor University.  Letha gave birth to daughter Ruth about this time, as well.

Image at right from The Houston Post (Texas), Vol. 27, Ed. 1 Sunday, 21 May 1911.  Accessed 3 July 2016, University of North Texas Libraries, “The Portal to Texas History,” texashistory.unt.edu .

Pattern:  Year / Age – Event – Date / Place

1874 – Addison Lysander Lincecum was born – 8 April at Long Point, Washington County, Texas

1880 / Age 6 – Addison was enumerated for the 10th United States census – 2 June at Lampasas, Texas

1897 / Age 23 – Addison married Letha Elizabeth Gandy – 24 October at Lavaca County, Texas

1898 / Age 24 – Addison witnessed the Spanish-American War – April thru August / USA, Cuba

1900 / Age 26 – Addison was enumerated for the 12th United States census – 23 June at Jackson, Texas

1900 / Age 26 – Addison’s father, L. G. Lincecum, died – abt August / Lampasas, Texas

1900 / Age 26 – Letha gave birth to Addison’s first child, a son, Barnabas Gandy Lincecum – 29 August at Lavaca County, Texas

1901 / Age 27 – President William McKinley was assassinated – 6 September at Buffalo, New York

1902 / Age 28 – Addison graduated from Dallas Medical College – 15 April at Dallas, Texas

1903 / Age 28 – Addison was part of the 1st graduating class of Baylor University – Waco, Texas

1903 / Age 29 – Letha gave birth to Addison’s first daughter, Ruth Elizabeth Lincecum – 28 August at Morales, Jackson County, Texas

1903 / Age 29 – Wright Brothers took their 1st flight – 17 September at Kitty Hawk, Dare County, North Carolina

1908 / Age 34 – the Ford Model T was 1st manufactured – September / Detroit, Michigan

1910 / Age 36 – Addison was enumerated for the 13th United States census – 28 April at El Campo, Wharton County, Texas

1912 / Age 38 – the Titanic sank – April / Atlantic Ocean

1913 / Age 38 – Letha gave birth to Addison’s 2nd son, Addison Turney Lincecum – 19 February at Long Point, Washington County, Texas

1914 / Age 39 – Addison became Assistant (Texas State) Health Officer – Austin, Travis County, Texas

1914 / Age 40 – Addison participated in World War I – Europe

1920 / Age 45 – women received the right to vote – USA

1920 / Age 45 – Addison was enumerated for the 14th United States census – 21 January at El Campo, Wharton County, Texas

1929 / Age 54 – stock market crash and Great Depression – USA, Europe

1930 / Age 55 – the Holocaust – Eastern Europe

1930 / Age 56 – Addison was enumerated for the 15th United States census – 19 April at El Campo, Wharton County, Texas

1931 / Age 56 – the Dust Bowl – Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

1936/ Age 61 – Addison was appointed U.S. Postmaster – El Campo, Wharton County, Texas

1939 / Age 65 – World War II – Europe, the Pacific

1940/ Age 66 – Addison was enumerated for the 16th United States census – 24 June at El Campo, Wharton County, Texas

1941 / Age 67 – Pearl Harbor was attacked – 7 December at Honolulu, Hawaii

1945 / Age 71 – Hiroshima & Nagasaki Nuclear bombings – August / Japan

1947 / Age 72 – Cold War

1950 / Age 76 – Korean War

1955 / Age 80 – the Civil Rights Movement – USA

1959 / Age 85 – Vietnam War

1959 / Age 85 – Letha, Addison’s wife of 62 years, died – 27 December at El Campo, Wharton County, Texas

1963 / Age 89 – John F. Kennedy was assassinated – 22 November at Dallas, Texas

1965 / Age 91 – Addison Lysander Lincecum died – 6 December at Lavaca County, Texas

Visit Addison Lysander Lincecum’s page in the Lincecum Lineage database.