John Marion Selman, Jr.

Birth: Jan. 30, 1875

Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, Texas, USA

Death: Mar. 31, 1937

Rockdale (Milam County), Milam County, Texas, USA

John Marion was 4 when his father left Shackelford County and his mother died February 24 1879. He was taken to the J. C. McGrew family in Brown County and on September 15, 1879, guardianship of the person and estate of Henry Selman, William "Billy" Selman, Margaretta Selman and John Marion Selman, minors, was granted to J.C. McGrew and the property sold for 800.00, which was to go for the support of the children.

In 1881 John sent for his family. McGrew let John and William go. Keeping Henry and Margaretta. The two boys 11 and 6 traveled 285 miles to San Pablo where there father and new step mother Niconora Zaraate lived. She was a teacher and educated John. John had the small pox while in San Pablo and Niconora nursed him through.

In John's teenage years he began to call himself John Jr. In 1888 charges were dropped against his father John Henry, and they left Mexico and headed for El Paso. When he got to El Paso he, and his father and brother all worked for A. S. & R.

John Henry ran for Constable in 1892 and got the job. He hired John Marion aka John Jr. as a police officer. In the same year John Henry married Miss Romula Granadion. She was 15 and John was 54. Her guardian swore she was 16. This marriage was stormy and John Marion was called on may times to break up the fights. Ashamed of their father's actions, John Marion, and William moved uptown away from their father. Their stepmother was younger then them.

John Marion was acting constable when his father was away. John Marion was around 19 and was well know around El Paso. The newspapers frequently spoke well of him.

John Marion described his life in an unpublishrd manuscript preserved by his descendants.

Info from the book John Selman Gunfighter by Leon Metz