Joe Horace Benson

Notes:

(Research):The image of his actual Texas Death certificate can be viewed online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976. He was listed at the son of Frank Benson and Janie Hardwick. He was shown as married, with his usual residence at 3400 Meadow Oak Drive, Fort Worth, Texas. He died at the Wichita Falls State Hospital of recurrent pneumonia from a chronic lung infection, and was shown as disabled. He was bured at the Fort Worth Cemetery.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Joe married Alpha Fay Rackley before 1950. Alpha was born on 5 Jun 1917 in Texas; died on 24 Mar 1996 in Boyd, Wise County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Nat married Janie Hardwick about 1904 in Oklahoma. Janie (daughter of John David "Dave" Hardwick and Lucretia "Crecy/Cresy" Harney) was born in Jul 1885 in Indian Territory; died on 12 Mar 1960 in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also shown as Jennie or Jincy? Lissa Johnston shows that she married Nat BENSON. She is not listed as a child of Dave and Crecy's by Jon Eastman Hardwick.

(Research):Census Listings:

1910 Census
Oklahoma, Marshall County, Willis Twp, Chickasaw Reservation
1-1
Benson, Nat F Hd M W 29 M1 6 Miss Miss Miss English Farmer
Benson, Jannie Wife F Ind 24 M1 6 2/2 Ok Ark Ok
Benson, Hamp Son m Ind 4 S Ok Miss Ok
Benson, Jewel Dtr F Ind 1 1/2 S Ok Miss Ok
2-2
Marriman, Cressie
3-3
Brit and Minnie Hardiwick

1920 Census
Oklahoma, Bryan county, Speairs
Enumerated 3 January 1920
SD 3 ED 27 Sheet 1B
2-2
Benson, N.F. Hd M W 38 M Miss Miss Miss Farmer General Farm
Benson, Jannie Wf F In 33 M Ok Ok Ok
Benson, Hamp Son M Ind 14 S Ok Miss Ok
Benson, Jewell Dtr F Ind 10 S Ok Miss Ok
Benson, Maria Dtr F Ind 6 S Ok Miss Ok
Benson, Horace Son M Ind 2 S Ok Miss Ok


1930 Census
Oklahoma, Bryan County, Speairs Twp
Enumerated April 2, 1930
ED 7-35 SD 13 Sheet 1A Stamped 21
2-2
Benson, Frank N Head M W 46 M@21 Miss Miss Miss Farmer
Benson, Vira B Wf F W 36 M@19 Tx Tx Tenn
Benson, Marrie Dtr Ind 15 S Ok Mix Blood Chickasaw
Benson, Jorrice Son M Ind 12 S Ok Mix Blood Chickasaw
[Note: Nat F appears to have remarried a Vera, born in Texas]



1930 Census
Oklahoma, Choctaw County, Wilson Twp, Fort Towson Town
Enumerated April 7, 1930
ED 12-6 SD 13 Sheet 5A Stamped 43
114-124
Benson, J. Hamp Hd M Ind 24 M 19 Ok Mixed Blood Choctaw Salesman Dry Good Store
Benson, Jewell Sister Hd F In 20 S Ok Miss Oklahoma Saleslady Dry Good Store

Notes:

John David "Dave" Hardwick might actually have been born early than 1852, as two month old John Hardwick is listed with his parents and brother James at the time of the 1850 census. Or did that earlier census record actually relate to Joseph, said to have been born in 1850?

"Pioneers of Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory Volume II"; compiled and edited by Nova A. Lemons, contains a sketch of the Hardwick Family submitted by Jon Eastman Hardwick of Baird, Texas (now deceased). He stated that John David Hardwick was an U.S. mashal and was killed in the line of duty. John and Creacy were both buried in the old Harney graveyard. He thought that the cemetery was moved to near Woodville at the time Lake Texoma was built.

The FORT SMITH CRIMINAL CASE FILES, 1866-1900, references a case involving Dave Hardwick. It related to an incident that took place 23 January 1883 in Texas "on the Indian Nation." Charles CRISWELL testified that on that night a party of five men, including Milton B. OVERTON, Brit WILLIS and Dave HARDWICK came to his home and asked to stay the night and have their horses fed. They also wanted supper. He went to feed the horses and then Milton Overton "got after my wife (Sarah CRISWELL)" ----she jumped the fence and ran into the smokehouse. He grabbed her by the ankle, and Charles tried to push him away. Milton pulled out his pistol and Sarah CRISWELL hollered because she was afraid. Then HARDWICK came out with a pistol. Charles told him to put up the gun so no one would get hurt. HARDWICK told OVERTON to "behave himself and let the Woman get supper". The defendants later said they came from Sherman and had rented the horses out of the stable Charles said he was born in South Carolina and he was an Irishman. His wife was born in Grayson Co and was a White Woman and not an Indian. CRISWELL reported that Milton OVERTON told him the next morning that he was a Chickasaw, he said they were all Chickasaws. Charles said that he married his wife about 5 or 6 months previously in Grayson county. She was 35 and had been married once before. He said that HARDWICK did not molest his wife that night, and that as quick as Brit WILLIS got off his horse that evening, he had said he was sick and went straight to bed and did not attempt to molest his wife. Lewis COLBERT also did not attempt to molest his wife in any way---none of the defendants attempted to molest his wife in any way except Milton OVERTON. CRISWELL also said that he had heard later from a neighbor that the defendant Dave HARDWICK was an officer. Dave HARDWICK testified he was Constable in the Chickasaw Nation. He said he had four men with him as a posse to assist in making an arrest. They were Milton OVERTON, Brit WILLIS, Frank McLISH, and Lewis COLBERT. Milton Overton was 19 or 20 years of age and they "were all sober." He said he "did not see or hear nor was not Informed of any ??? between Milton and Mrs. Criswell on that night. I did not see Milton use any Improper Language or Conduct towards Mrs. Criswell. I did not tell Milton at any time that might to put up his pistol or behave himself when I went out to see where our Horses were and came back I said to Milton 'Come and lets go to bead that was all I said to him.'" HARDWICK further testified that he and Milton slept in the same room all night, that they had breakfast the next morning with the CRISWELL's and then paid for their keep and left. Charles CRISWELL was recalled to the stand and testified that they men were drinking something from a flask.

B. F. OVERTON, the father of Milton Overton, posted appearance bonds for everyone involved. He was Governor of the Chickasaw Nation at the time.

From About Ft. Smith Criminal Case Files, 1866-1900
Database of criminal case files

This database consists of criminal court cases of such famous outlaws as Wyatt Earp and "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby. Many of these 50,000 cases were heard by the famous "hanging" Judge Isaac C. Parker, appointed by President Grant to bring law and order to the territory of Arkansas. The descriptions provide the first and last name of the defendant, the type of crime, the year, the jacket number, and other information.

Coverage Dates:1883 - 1883 Part Of:Series: Defendant Jacket Files for U.S. District Court Western Division of Arkansas, Fort Smith Division, compiled 1866 - 1900 Access Restriction(s):Unrestricted Use Restriction(s):Unrestricted General Note(s):See also criminal defendant case file for Overton, Milton.

Variant Control Number(s):NAIL Control Number: NRFF-21-3W51-19696

(Research):From National Archives M2086 Roll 1

1878 Chickasaw Annuity Roll Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory

#64-Hardwick Dave 1 Male, 1 Female Head of Household 1 Female Child (Self) 3 Family Members Total

The above listing appears to be for John David Hardwick, with his wife, Crecy Harney. Is the Female child listed their newborn daughter, Ida? Or could it possibly be the older child born to Dave by his first wife, Sarah Dunephin? If this listing is for an older child, it would very possiblty be Mary T. "Mollie" Hardwick, born ca 1872, parents currently unknown. It is known, however, that Mary/Mollie was a member of the Chickasaw tribe by blood.

#65 Hardwick George 1 Male Head of Household 1 Family Member Total (Brother)

#193 Hardwick J C 1 Male, 1 Female Head of Household 1 Female Child (Self) 3 Family Members Total (Brother)

John married Lucretia "Crecy/Cresy" Harney on 30 Nov 1876 in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. Lucretia was born in Mar 1860 in Panola County, Indian Territory; died on 22 Apr 1915 in Kingston, Marshall County, Oklahoma; was buried in Hardwick Plot, East Of Kingston, Marshall County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Pioneers of Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory Volume II"; compiled and edited by Nova A. Lemons, contains a sketch of the Hardwick Family submitted by Jon Eastman Hardwick of Baird, Texas (now deceased). He stated that Crecia (Crecy) Harney "was a half blood Chickasaw, born 1860. Creacy died in Kingston, Pickens County."


TWO WOMEN SLAIN IN FAMILY FEUD

Marshall County Farmer's Home Scene of Double Tragedy

MADILL, Okla., April 22 - (Special)-

Mrs. Creacy Merriman, aged 60, and Mrs G. M. Mutz, 35 years of age, were shot and killed Thursday morning by J. W. Honeysuckle, 27, at the latter's home, about three miles northeast of Kingston.

Honeysuckle fired two pistol shots into the body of each woman. Immediately after the second shot was fired into the body of Mrs. Merriman, she ran out of the house to the front porch where she fell dead. After Mrs. Mutz had been shot the second time she ran out of the room, and sat down by the side of the house. Mrs. Honeysuckle took the wounded woman back into the house
and placed her in bed, where she died fifteen minutes later. Honeysuckle came to Madill and surrendered three hours later. He is now in the county jail here.

According to Honeysuckle the double killing was the culmination of a quarrel over the guardianship of his three step-children. Honeysuckle had been married just one week when the killing occurred.

According to Honeysuckle's statement, Mrs Merriman was the grandmother of his step-children, and Mrs. Mutz was his sister-in-law, her first husband having been his brother. At the time of the killing, Mrs N. F. Benson [Jennie Hardwick], a daughter of Mrs Merriman, and Mrs Honeysuckle, wife of the slayer, were the only other persons in the home. Honeysuckle says that there had been previous domestic trouble in the family.

According to his statement, Mrs. Merriman and Mrs. Mutz drove up to his house during the rain about 9 o'clock Thursday morning. He says that he went to the door and invited the women to tie their team, and to come into the house, while it was raining. The women accepted the invitation, he says, and as they were entering the door one of the women made a remark which caused Mrs. Honeysuckle to object to their presence in the Honeysuckle home. The women entered the house, over the protest of Mrs. Honeysuckle, and attacked Mrs. Honeysuckle, knocking her down, says
Honeysuckle, who alleges that while his wife was on the floor she was kicked by Mrs. Mutz. He says that he pulled the women from his wife and that they assualted him, pushing him back of a stove and against the wall.

"Mrs Merriman picked up a butcher knife and started toward me," says Honeysuckle . "I warned her away several times and kept repeating, 'Don't make me hurt you.' The women kept crowding in on me. I drew a pistol and fired twice, one shot striking Mrs Merriman, the other hitting Mrs Mutz. The women grappled me, and while we were struggling I fired twice at Mrs Merriman, one of the bullets striking Mrs.Merriman, the other going wild and striking Mrs Mutz," says
Honeysuckle. Mrs. Honeysuckle's three children, over whom the trouble occurred, are of Indian extraction by her former husband, Brit Hardwick, a son of Mrs Merriman.

Mrs Merriman is a widow.

(Courtesy of Debra Usry, copied from a Rootsweb/Ancestry message board)

(Research):Census Listings:

1890 Chickasaw Census Pickens County, Indian Territory Mrs
. Dave Hardrick (sic) Woodville age 33 Chickasaw by Marriage 1 Family Member (assume this is Lucretia "Crecy/Cressey" Harney)

From "Who Was Who Among The Southern Indians", (Page 204)
a genealogical notebook, 1698-1907 by Don Martini, 929.314, printed in
1998, Falkner, MS. It is a guide to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek Indian
tribes and the relatives/possible relatives.

(Transcription by Lola Crane, original not viewed)

1900 Census
Indian Territory, Chickasaw Nation, Twp 6
Enumerated 11 July 1900
SD 73 ED 127 Sheet 34B
19-19
Merriman, Crecy Hd In F Mar 1860 40 M6 6/4 IT Ala Miss Land Lady
Hardwick, Walter C Son In M May 1880 20 M o IT Ark IT Farm Laborer
Hardwick, Eastman Son In M Sept 1882 17 S IT Ark IT
Hardwick, Jennie Dtr In F July 1885 14 S IT Ark IT At School
Hardwick, Minnie D-in-law W F May 1882 18 M 0 0/0 Tx Mo Mo
20-20
Mutz, George Hd W M Jan 1870 30 m 6 Il Il Mo Farmer
Mutz, Ida Wf In F Jan 1878 22 M 6 2/2 IT Ark IT
Mutz, Ada Dtr In F Mar 1896 4 S IT Il IT
Mutz, Fred Son In M Nov 1898 1 S IT Il IT

1910 Census
Oklahoma, Marshall County, Willis Twp, Chickasaw Reservation
SD 4 ED 178 Sheet 16A
2-2
Marriman, Crisser Hd F Ind 49 Wd 3/3 Ok Miss Miss
Swert, Jessie Adopted Son M W 9 B Ok Ark Ark
3-3
Hardwick, Brit Hd M Ind 29 m1 11 Ok Miss Ok Farmer
Hardwick, Minnie Wf F W 27 M1 11 Tx Mo Mo
Hardwick, Marietta Dtr F Ind 9 S Ok Ok Tx
Hardwick, Dave Son M Ind 6 S Ok Ok Tx
Hardwick, Agnesy Dtr F Ind 4 S Ok Ok Tx
Hardwick, Joe G Son M Ind 1 6/12 S Ok Ok Tx

Dawes Enrollment Cards from Rootsweb Database:
http://userdb.rootsweb.ancestry.com/nativeamerican/
Card No 1020 Roll No 3062

Hardwick Dave P (Parent) M
Hardwick Minnie P (Parent) F
Harney Maulsie P (Parent) F
Harney Will P (Parent) M
Merriman Crecy BB (By Blood) F 38 1/2
Merriman Tate BB (By Blood) M 36 IW
Hardwick Brit BB (By Blood) M 18 3/8
Hardwick Eastman BB (By Blood) M 15 3/8
Hardwick Janie BB (By Blood) F 12 3/8
Hardwick Mayetta BB (By Blood) F 1 3/16

Notes:

Married:
Hardwick, David [John David] Harney, Cresy [Lucretia] 11/30/76 Robert S. Bell, minister Pickens Co. Pickens Co. Records
http://www.chickasawhistory.com/g_mar_2.htm


Posted to Rootsweb by J.L. Christian, now deceased, on 7 June 2004:

Searching for Descendants of John David HARDWICK and Lucretia (Crecy) HARNEY

HARDWICK, John David was born 1852 in Mississippi, Marshall County, and died 23 October 1889 in Paris, Texas, Lamar County. He married Lucretia HARNEY 30 November 1876 in Pickens County, Indian Territory, daughter of Will HARNEY and MAULSIE UNKNOWN. She was born March 1860 in Panola County, Indian Territory, and died 22 April 1915 in Kingston, Marshall County, Oklahoma.

Children of JOHN HARDWICK and LUCRETIA HARNEY are:

HARDWICK, Ida, b. April 1877; d. 22 April 1915, Kingston, Marshall County, Oklahoma.

HARDWICK, Brit, b. 04 May 1880, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; d. 04 March 1911, Kingston, Marshall County, Oklahoma.

HARDWICK, Eastman, b. 15 September 1883; d. 23 December 1950, Baird, Callahan County, Texas.

HARDWICK, Janie, b. 10 July 1887; d. 13 March 1960, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.


"Pioneers of Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory Volume II"; compiled and edited by Nova A. Lemons, contains a sketch of the Hardwick Family submitted by Jon Eastman Hardwick of Baird, Texas (now deceased) also showed that Dave and Crecy were the parents of an Ada Hardwick, born 1888 and died March 27, 1964 in Ardmore. He showed that she was married first to Mr. Russell and had a son, Charles. She married second to Dawes Bixby Cummings.

However, the "Jones/Johnston Ancestors" tree at WorldConnect instead shows that Ada, born ca 1888, was actually the daughter of Ida Hardwick and George Mutz. She was shown as marrying first a Russell and later Dawes Bixby Cummings.

Notes:

Hardwick, John C.- white resident among the Chickasaws, was possibly the
last white man to marry a Chickasaw in Mississippi. He married Elizabeth
Jane Boyd (born February 3, 1828), daughter of James M. and Nancy Boyd,
in Marshall County, Mississippi. on November 25, 1844 (1). The couple
lived in Tippah County, Mississippi, in 1850, but moved west in 1852.
When they died is unknown, though they were in Pickens County in the
Chickasaw Nation in 1870. they were the parents of James (1847), Joseph
C. (1850-1884), John David (1852-1889), George D. (1854-1889), and Nancy
(married John T. Huff) (2).

(1) Garland, 130-134.
(2) Ibid. John C. Hardwick was probably related to the Bourlands.
John B. Bourland, son of Ebenezer Bourland, was born in Hopkins County,
Kentucky, and married Nancy R. Hardwick, daughter of James Hardwick of
Tennessee and wife Nancy Melar (Speer and Brown, ARK:35).
That is the only Hardwick listed. There are no Hardricks...

From "Who Was Who Among The Southern Indians", (Page 204)
a genealogical notebook, 1698-1907 by Don Martini, 929.314, printed in
1998, Falkner, MS. It is a guide to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek Indian
tribes and the relatives/possible relatives.

(Transcription by Lola Crane, original not viewed)

Lissa Johnston shows he was the Sheriff of Pickens County, Oklahoma in 1870. She cites Marie King Garland's book, "Chickasaw Loves and Allied Families" as the source of her information about the Hardwick family.

In April, 1872, J.C. Hardwick was summoned as a witness on a (judical) case and paid $5 for his services.

On October 16, 1872, the County Judge appointed J.C. Hardwick County Treasury of Pickens County.

On the 21 of May, 1873, J.C. Hardwick was ordered to pay himself $1000 for building and furnishing a court house for Pickens County.

(Research):Census Listings:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Tippah County, The Third Division
Enumerated 9 September 1850
155-155
John Hardwick 35 M Farmer Tenn
Jane Hardwick 28 F Miss
James Hardwick 3 M Miss
John Hardwick 2/12 M Miss

1860 Census
The Choctaw Nation, Indian Lands, Arkansas, P. O. Skullyville
Enumerated 29 October 1860
Page 19
216-216
James M. Boyd 63 M Farmer Mississippi
Mat Ault 30 M Miller Pennsylvania
John Ireby 31 M Wagoner Alabama
Christopher Wagoner 30 M Sawyer in Mill Germany
John C. Hardwick 35 M Carpenter Tennessee
J.W. Beam 31 M Carpenter S. Carolina

John married Elizabeth Jane Boyd on 25 Dec 1844 in Marshall County, Mississippi. Elizabeth (daughter of James M. Boyd and Nancy Mahota Love) was born on 3 Feb 1828 in Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jon Eastman Hardwick wrote that Elizabeth Jane Boyd was baptized at Martyn Mission.

Notes:

Married:
J.L. Christian, now deceased, posted the following query to a rootsweb message board:

Looking for leads to John C. HARDWICK parents, siblings, etc. in Tennessee. Was able to traced him back only to the Sept. 9, 1850 census in Tippah County, Miss. No trace before that time. John was Born abt. 1815 in Tennessee. He died before 1878?, Chickasaw Nation, Pickens County, Indian Territory. John married Elizabeth Jane BOYD 25 December 1844 in Mississippi. Elizabeth Jane BOYD a daughter of Nancy Mahota LOVE. Nancy LOVE was a daughter of Thomas LOVE and Homahota (Chickasaw Indian). Elizabeth was born 03 February 1828 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. John and Elizabeth children were;

1. James HARDWICK, born abt. 1847.
2. Joseph C. HARDWICK, born 31 March 1850.
3. John David HARDWICK, born 1852.
4. George HARDWICK, born abt. 1854.
5. Nancy L. HARDWICK, born 08 October 1858.

Notes: When John and Elizabeth left Mississippi (date unknown), they moved to a place called Poteau Hill near Fort Smith, Arkansas. It appears they lived near Elizabeth's parents for a while. On 16th of December 1854, they purchased a farm in Pickens county, I.T. from Robert H. LOVE, Bob LOVE had purchased the farm from his half brother's ( Ben LOVE) widow Charlotte CHOATE. It was known as the Cow Pen place in the lower Cross Timbers. (Source: Chickasaw Nation Records, Book 59, page 70). The farm was located on the west side of Horse Creek near its mouth and alone the north bank of Red River in Pickens County, C.N. and upon sections 16-15-21, Range 4, Township 7 east and south of
Arbuckle. (Source: Chickasaw Nation Records, Book 48, page 87)

John C. HARDWICK served as sheriff of Pickens County in 1870 and as County Treasurer from 1872 to 1874. In 1870 John was commissioned to build the Pickens County Court House. He received $1,000. John and Elizabeth are probably buried near Powell, in Marshall county, but no markers remain. (Source: Chickasaw Loves and Allied Families, by Marie King GARLAND.)

Jon Eastman Hardwick, in his article in "Pioneers of Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory Volume II" cited only three known children born to John C. Hardwick and Elizabeth Jane Boyd, James, John David and Joe C. Hardwick. He noted that they were believed to be buried near Powell, Marshall County, Oklahoma, but with no stones remaining.