James Preston Matlock

James was the son of Rev. Jason and Elizabeth Hicks Matlock. He married Catherine Campbell about 1844-'45, for their daughter, Sarah Jane was born 6 June 1846. Catherine was the daughter of Evan and Sarah Campbell who also lived in Polk County, TN.

One of the best family researchers was Miss Mayola Davis of Forth Worth, Texas, a great granddaughter of James and Catherine. She had access to a Family Bible, and in 1966 wrote Sudie Clemmer, a prominent historian who lived in Polk County, "James and Catherine Matlock both died soon after their son John was born, and their Campbell grandparents took the children in." John and Sarah appear in the household with Evan and Sarah in the 1860 Polk census.

Catherine undoubtedly is buried in Old Ocoee in unmarked graves, or the old stones are now illegible. Her parents are both buried here, as are any of the Matlocks who remained in Polk County when the rest of the family went to Texas before 1870. James' father Rev. Jason Matlock was the first pastor here and probably still was at the time of his passing. He and Betsy are buried in the Matlock Cemetery located on their homeplace about three mile on up the same road as Old Ocoee (Hwy 314), but it was not established yet.

However it is not true that James died about the same time as Catherine, for he remarried a Longley down in Dalton Georgia and they moved to Barry County, Missouri, died and are buried there.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 22 2020, 19:16:38 UTC