Thomas Merritt Baxter, Sr.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34446778

Thomas M Baxter Born in Kentucky Thomas Merrit Baxter Birth: 29 Jun 1842 - Lawrenceburg, Anderson, Kentucky Marriage: 8 Feb 1871 - Mission, Kansas Death: 26 Feb 1924 - Stamford, Texas Parents: Emblem Baxter, Elizabeth Kennedy Spouse: Eliza Elizabeth Burris

Death Index: http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8YOliF94jGUMGM2NTJlNGQtY2EwYi00Njd...

He was listed as being 7 years old in the 1850 census. His name is listed as "Merrit"

He was listed as being 28 years old and a farmer in the 1870 census.

He was listed as being 38 years old, married and a cattle dealer in the 1880 census.

He was listed as being 57 years old, married and a farmer in the 1900 census.

His Confederate pension application lists him as being 71 years old. It indicates that he was in Company G, 6th Kentucky Regiment and he had honorably surrendered "1865, sometime about April or June". It indicates he had resided in Texas for 19 years at that point with 12 years in Jones County, Texas. The application states that his health was "not good" and that his right leg was paralyzed.

He was listed as being 77 years old and married in the 1920 census.

He was a Free Mason. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry

He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was in the 6th Kentucky Infantry, Co. G of the Confederate Army from 1861-1865. Enlisted on October 2, 1861 as a private at Camp Green River, KY, USA. He was later listed as a 1st Sergeant (appointed to this rank on May 10, 1862 at reorganization).

Civil War Military Data (see page 31, 32 and 33 of this scanned document): http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8YOliF94jGUMzUyYjJhOWQtMDA3Yy0...

He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. His brother Willis Milo Baxter served in the Union Army.

From: http://www.evermore.imagedjinn.com/home/1464/mckenneys-of-belmont-m... :

1875 - George Washington McKenney Jr. is boarded with Thomas Merritt Baxter in Osage Mission, Neosho, KS. Phillip Spoonamore was uncle to John Newton Spoonamore who married Amanda Baxter in 1853. Thomas Merrit Baxter was her brother. Thomas Merritt Baxter is given in one of the censuses as raising cattle. In Osage Mission, Neosho, Ks in 1870, Lydia Burris, sister of Eliza Burris who was married to Thomas Merrit Baxter in 1871, is living beside Joseph Carlock whose wife is Sarah Elizabeth McWhirt.

We already have a Spoonamore connection through the Ira Kelsey family that was living beside William McKenney in Van Buren, one that evolved via the Alpheus Cutler family in Fremont and Mary Cutler marrying George Washington Martin. It’s a significant relationship as we shall see in 1880 (below).

And now in Neosho, G. W. McKenney Jr. is boarded with relations of the Spoonamores.

Another connection may be had through Arthur Cheoweth and Elizabeth Baxter of Harrison County Ohio. Elizabeth Baxter was a first cousin of Emblem Baxter, Thomas Merrit Baxter’s father. In 1840 in Harrison County, Arthur Chenoweth (son of Arthur Chenoweth and Elizabeth Baxter) and wife Mary Delong are living next to John Gault in Harrison County, Ohio. This John Gault was married to Nancy McKinney, daughter of George McKinney Sr. and Mary Campbell of Harrison Co. Ohio, perhaps relations of my George W. McKenney Sr. See 1880 for this family’s connection to John A. Warner who moves to Mission, Brown, Kansas and marries Lavina Simmonds (a lot of Ioway descending).