Willcox Family Genealogy

Tales of the Willcox family of Charles City County, Virginia

NAME INDEX

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PLACE INDEX

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The Last Third

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One by one, Chiles’ children start their own lives.  Lena married in 18871 and gave Chiles his first grandchild. She moved to Texas shortly after her marriage but visited her father from time to time.2  As mentioned above, Dennis, who had also moved to Texas,3 married in 1891.4  Augustus married in 18985 and remained in Dallas County.  Hannah, living in Texas, also married in 1898 and eventually moved to Little Rock, Arkansas.6 Nancy, also living in Texas, married in 19037 and remained in Texas.  Berry, living in Little Rock, married in 19128 and remained in the Little Rock area.

Chiles was the grandfather to 30 children, most of whom were born during his lifetime.  Each birth must have brought him great joy.  Unfortunately, amidst those joyous occasions were tragedies and sadness.  Chiles lost his oldest son, Dennis, in 1901 to pneumonia9 as well as two of those precious grandchildren, Forrest Franklin Rutherford10 and John Willcox Rountree.11 He also lost two daughters-in-law, wives of his son, Augustus.

During the 1890s, Chiles sold all of his land.  Most of it was bought by his children, Lena and Augustus. In 1891, Augustus purchased 80 acres for $10012 which included 40 acres of swamp land that Chiles purchased in 1857 and 40 acres that was given to Chiles by his mother in 1871.  In 1896, Lena purchased 200 acres for $50013 which included some of the land that her grandmother, Jane Davies Wallis Willcox purchased in 1853 (SW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 12, Township 9S, Range 18W).  Purportedly, the land Lena purchased included the original home place14 which was probably her childhood home.

CONFEDERATE SOLDIER PENSION RECORD15

In 1910, Chiles applied to the state of Arkansas for pension benefits as a Confederate soldier.  His application stated that he:

  1. Belonged to Co. E 29th Regiment of Arkansas
  2. Served as a soldier from April 1862 to May 1865
  3. Was honorably discharged
  4. Was incapacitated for manual labor by reason of old age
  5. Did not own property exceeding $400 in value or had income exceeding $150 per year

Chiles was examined by a physician in Dallas County who deemed him totally disabled due to old age and rheumatism.

That same year, the Pension Board of Dallas County certified Chiles’ claims and, based on his indigent circumstances, granted a $50 pension to be paid annually.16 Two years later, in 1912, Chiles applied for an increase. The pension board granted a $100 pension.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock, Arkansas has the original application and some accompanying paperwork from Chiles’ pension records.  It was a thrilling moment to hold the document which he had held and to see his original signature in his own hand.

FINAL DAYS

Chiles lived at least the last twenty years of his life with Lena and her family,17 presumably in the home that he sold to her.  Not much is known about what he did during this time.  He died of old age on August 12, 1920, at his home, attended to by his son-in-law, Thomas F. Rutherford.18  His obituary stated that “Judge Wilcox was one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Dallas County, having lived continuously at his late home for more than 60 years.  He served through the Civil War under Gen. Forrest.  He was a member of the Baptist Church for many years.”19

Both his obituary and death certificate state that he was buried in Rock Springs Cemetery in Dallas County.  I have searched this cemetery numerous times for his marker but have never found one.  Many other members of the Willcox family are buried here and I believe he was as well.  Perhaps his marker was damaged or there never was a marker.  Dr. Rutherford petitioned the Pension Board for funeral expenses shortly after his death.20 This could indicate that there was not much money available for a marker.  As for his three wives, I have not found their final resting places either.  I presume that his first wife, Susanna Chaney Rambo, was buried in Rock Springs Cemetery simply because both of her parents (who predeceased her) were buried there.  Perhaps Mary Archer Hayes and Martha “Mollie” Dunn were buried with their respective families.

I have found neither a will nor probate records for Chiles. Considering his indigent status (as certified by the Pension Board), I presume he had no assets at his death. 

THE MODEL CITIZEN

From time to time, Chiles would appear in the newspaper, mostly in the society section.

  • 1883: He and his good friend, George S. Dunn, were two of Dallas County’s best citizens.21 
  • 1884: He gave a masque party at his home that was reported as “well attended and nicely conducted.”22 
  • 1893: A rather humorous description of him and some friends comes from a newspaper article about a community Thanksgiving dinner.  The writer reported that “we really felt sorry for our friends, Judge Willcox, A. W. Littlejohn and Mike O’Neal in the manner in which they put away the good things set before them.  We thought we were pretty hearty eater[s], but they took the cake on this occasion.”23 
  • Several times over the years, Chiles was referred to as Judge Willcox in the local newspaper (including in his obituary).  He was appointed as a Judge of Election in 1878 (see below) and perhaps this is where the title originated.  Official records from the Arkansas Secretary of State confirm that he was not an elected judge.24

Chiles was also found in the pages of the Dallas County Court records fulfilling various civic duties.  He was noted as serving on a jury more times than can be referenced.

  • 1877: Chiles was appointed School Director for Manchester Township (School District No. 31) along with his good buddy George S. Dunn.25
  • 1878: Chiles was appointed one of the three election judges for Manchester Township.26
  • 1888: Chiles and his sidekick, George S. Dunn, were appointed by the Court to “view, survey and lay out a road beginning at a point at or near G. S. Dunn’s on the Camden and Arkadelphia Road running on the most direct and practicable route to Dalark.”27

ONE FINAL TIDBIT

While scanning the Dallas County Court records I came across this intriguing entry: “C. M. Willcox 2 cat scalp … 2.00.”28 CAT SCALP?  Is this what I think it is?  Yes. Yes it is.  On October 5, 1885, the following was entered into the court records:

Wild Cat and Panther Scalps
Premium for Wild Cat Scalp $2.00
Premium for Panther Scalp $10.00

It is ordered by the Court that any person killing a Wild Cat within the limits of Dallas County shall be entitled to a premium of $2.00 and that a premium of $10.00 shall be paid to any person killing a Panther provided that the parties killing either of the above mentioned animals shall comply with the Law now in force or that may hereafter be in force in this state relative to the same.29

These fierce animals had destroyed the livestock of Arkansas settlers on a large scale.  Cattle, hogs and colts were wiped out and people were afraid even for their own lives.  Something had to be done in order to preserve and protect these valuable assets that so many people depended on for their livelihood as well as for feeding their families.  Hunters were incentivized to track down and kill the cats, remove their scalps (usually also including the ears) and present them to the local authorities for payment.  The scalps were then usually burned so as not to be presented a second time for payment.

Since Chiles owned cattle, hogs and horses,30 he had a personal interest in eradicating the threat.  I have not scanned all of the Dallas County Court records to see how often he presented cat scalps but did find two other instances in 1891 (August31 and October32) where he was paid for at least one cat scalp.

See posts in chronological order

  1. Clark County, Arkansas, “Marriage Records, v. M,” 317, Thos. F. Rutherford and L. S. Willcox, 10 November 1887; “Marriage records, 1818-1970; indexes, 1818-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-YDSH-YG/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Marriage records, v. M 1886-1888, 1901-1904> image 237 of 715; citing Clark County Clerk, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. ↩︎
  2. Mrs. Thomas Rutherford visits family, The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 28 June 1889, page 3, column 2; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/288902732/ : accessed 27 August 2026). ↩︎
  3. “Dennis Willcox Dead,” The Bonham News, Bonham, Texas, 1 March 1901, page 3, column 6; imaged, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth976075/m1/3/?q=willcox : accessed 1 September 2026). ↩︎
  4. “Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977,” database with some images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLX1-3LJ/: accessed 4 September 2026); D. T. Willcox and Nannie Robinson, Fannin Co., 1 September 1891; citing Texas State Library and Archives, multiple county Clerks. ↩︎
  5. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, v.  G,” 186, A. E. Wilcox and Elma Smith, 26 February 1879; “Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-665S-C8R/ : accessed 31 August 2026) > 4325950 > image 211 of 424; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  6. “Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977,” database with some images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLXL-ZJC: accessed 4 September 2026); J. L. Atkins and Hannah Wilcox, Fannin Co., 9 May 1898; citing Texas State Library and Archives, multiple county Clerks. ↩︎
  7. “Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977,” database with some images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX9R-VXD: accessed 4 September 2026); T. D. Rountree and Nancy Wilcox, Lamar Co., 1 July 1903; citing Texas State Library and Archives, multiple county Clerks. ↩︎
  8. “Pulaski County, Arkansas, Marriage 1838-1999,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61797: accessed 4 September 2026) > Marriage Record > 01-99 > 53-54 > image 935 of 1297, B. J. Willcox and Cora Beasley, 18 December 1912; citing Pulaski County Clerk, Little Rock, Arkansas. ↩︎
  9. “Dennis Willcox Dead.” ↩︎
  10. “Death of Forrest Rutherford,” Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 26 September 1918, page 5, column 6; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/288944034/ : accessed 27 August 2026). ↩︎
  11. Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138192270/john_willcox-rountree/: accessed 1 September 2026), “John Willcox Rountree” (1918 – 1918) memorial created by “Holly Bonorden Jentsch,” with tombstone image by “Holly Bonorden Jentsch”; citing Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam County, Texas. ↩︎
  12. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Deed Record v. R,” 91, C. M. Wilcox, 9 December 1891; County Clerk’s Office, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  13. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Deed Record v. T,” 363, C. M. Willcox, 2 March 1896; County Clerk’s Office, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  14. Richter, Wendy Bradley, Clark County, Arkansas : Past and Present (Clark County Historical Association, Arkadelphia, Arkansas : 1992), 680. ↩︎
  15. Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas;  MS.000464; Confederate Pension Applications, 1891-1936; Chiles M. Willcox; Application #17370. ↩︎
  16. Encyclopedia of Arkansas; Steven L. Warren (North Little Rock, Arkansas) Civil War Pensions (https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/civil-war-pensions-6396/ : accessed 15 October 2026). ↩︎
  17. 1900 U.S. Census, Dallas County, Arkansas, Manchester, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 18, sheet 8-B (penned), dwelling 99, family 101, Childs M. Willcox in Thos. F. Rutherford household; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/ : accessed 5 October 2026). ↩︎
  18. “Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61777/: accessed 31 Aug 2026) > 1920, 047-062 > image 1528 of 3030, certificate 467, entry for Childs M. Willcox, Dallas County, 12 August 1920; citing Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Certificates. ↩︎
  19. “Judge Childs Wilcox,” The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 19 August 1920, page 4, column 2; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/288984966/ : accessed 15 October 2026). ↩︎
  20. Jacobs, Duane, Civil War Pension Papers of Dallas County, Arkansas: a Comprehensive Index (Privately printed, 2005), 49. ↩︎
  21. Mr. George S. Dunn and C. M. Wilcox, The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 8 September 1883, page 3, column 3; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/281668644/ : accessed 27 August 2026). ↩︎
  22. Judge Wilcox masque party, The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 10 January 1884, page 3, column 2;  imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/281672031/ : accessed 27 August 2026). ↩︎
  23. Judge Wilcox a hearty eater, The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 8 December 1893, page 3, column 3; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/280302614/ : accessed 27 August 2026). ↩︎
  24. Harper, C. Armitage, Historical Report of the Secretary of State (State of Arkansas, C. G. Hall, Secretary of State, Little Rock, Arkansas : 1958), 458-9. ↩︎
  25. Dallas County, Arkansas, “County Court Record v. C,” 456, C. M. Wilcox, 5 April 1877; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-V36Y-K9DF-5/ : accessed 3 October 2026) > County Court record, v. C 1869-1884 > image 304 of 494; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  26. Dallas County, Arkansas, “County Court Record v. C,” 520, C. M. Wilcox, 20 July 1878; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J36Y-K9HN-J/ : accessed 3 October 2026) > County Court record, v. C 1869-1884 > image 340 of 494; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  27. Dallas County, Arkansas, “County Court Record v. D,” 259, C. M. Wilcox, April Term 1888; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J36Y-K989-Z/ : accessed 3 October 2026) > County Court record, v. D 1884-1892 > image 182 of 398; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  28. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Court Record, v. D,” 498, C. M. Willcox, January 1891; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J36Y-K98Q-2/: accessed 5 October 2026) > County Court record, v. D 1884-1892 > image 322 of 398; citing Dallas County Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  29. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Court Record, v. D,” 123, 5 October 1885; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J36Y-K98Q-3/: accessed 5 October 2026) > County Court record, v. D 1884-1892 > image 103 of 398; citing Dallas County Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  30. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Tax Book 1883,” unpaged, C. M. Willcox, Manchester Township, 1883; “List of persons and property assessed for taxation, 1865-1893,” database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99XF-LQLV/: accessed 5 October 2026) > Assessments, A-Z 1885-1886 > image 45 of 156; citing Dallas County Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  31. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Court Record, v. D,” 518, C. M. Willcox, August 1891; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J36Y-K9Z1-W/: accessed 5 October 2026) > County Court record, v. D 1884-1892 > image 335 of 398; citing Dallas County Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
  32. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Court Record, v. D,” 536, C. M. Willcox, October 1891; “County Court record, 1852-1892,” database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-V36Y-K9X9-H/: accessed 5 October 2026) > County Court record, v. D 1884-1892 > image 345 of 398; citing Dallas County Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎

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