William Sanders Baxter Family - Family Histories

     William Sanders Baxter (April 4, 1839 - July 5, 1904) came from Alabama to Lavaca County, Texas about 1841; married Nancy Catherine Lockett (August 18, 1846-July 3, 1921) in June, 1861. Two months later, he enlisted in the Army of the Confederacy where he served for four years with the First Texas Legion. In Lavaca County he was a farmer and rancher. Will Baxter made his first trip to Coleman County in 1876, but returned to Lavaca County because of Comanche and Kiowa Indians in this area. He returned with his wife and four children in 1877. The Baxter's first home was at Trickham. Will continued farming and ranching.

     For a time, the Baxters lived in the Cleveland Community. In about 1900, the family moved to Santa Anna and operated a boarding house in the Chamber's house. In 1904, they moved into the house at the southwest corner of S. First and Willis.

     The Baxter family were early members of the First Christian Church in Santa Anna. Children:

     (1) Wiley Richard, married Maud Kirkpatrick in 1894. Early in their married life they moved to San Saba, where he operated an irrigated farm. They reared five children, two of whom still live in San Saba.

     (2) Marietta Georgia, married J. Wallace Kirkpatrick in 1893. Yes, she was named for the town in Georgia. Her father saw the town during the Civil War and was so impressed by its beauty that he gave the name to his first daughter (see Kirkpatrick).

     (3) Jessie Josephine (Josie) never married. She taught school in the Oklahoma Indian Territory and in the local county schools Josie operated a millinery shop in Santa Anna. She was very active in the Christian Church and as a Sunday School teacher. She was an ardent prohibitionist.

     (4) William Stafford, married Effie Shoaf. He and E. E. Polk operated a furniture store for many years. Stafford owned the Ford Motors Agency in Santa Anna for a time, and later operated the Mobil Service Station at the corner of North First Street and Wallis Ave. They had two children: W. S., Jr. (Bill) of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Marilyn (Mrs. Arthur Williams). They both graduated from high school in Santa Anna. Bill and his wife, Berniece, have two children, and Marilyn and Arthur have two children.

     (5) Mayme, the first of the Baxter children born in Coleman County, married E. E. Polk (see Samuel Monroe Polk). Mrs. Polk wrote many poems and published one volume of them.

     (6) Julie Lee married Dr. Jason Tyson (see Tyson).

     (7) Wyatt Edward (Ed) (see Wyatt Edward (Ed) Baxter).

     (8) Kathryn (Kittye) was never married. After graduating from Santa Anna High School, Kittye attended "Summer Normal' and received a teaching certificate. She attended summer school enough to keep her certificate valid and taught in the local schools. Summer school and correspondence courses earned her a B.S. Degree from Howard Payne College and later a Master's Degree. For 37 years, she taught in Waco. From 1907 to 1957, Kittye never missed a year of teaching.

     W. S. (Will) and Nancy Catherine Baxter are buried in Santa Anna. Annetta Tyson Bailey, Modora K. Gilmore, and Lucile K. Wylie are the only Baxter descendants now living in Coleman County.

pictures to be added

William Sanders Baxter Family - Family Histories - Coleman County, Texas

Standing, Stafford, Josie, Mayme; Seated, Lee, Wiley and Marietta

Polk and Baxter Store, about 1900