According to census records, neither George Jackson Spence or Francis Marion Sharp ever had slaves, but like so many others wanted to be able to sell their cotton as they pleased not like the people in the northern states decided. Their families suffered many hardships while they were away.

George Jackson Spence was born 1837 in Thomas County Georgia to Isaac Spence, a veteran of the War of 1812, but moved to Van Zandt County in 1855 with his wife Elizabeth Strickland and their two young sons, Moses S. and John Wesley. Another son Andrew Jackson, and a daughter, Sarah E., were born in Van Zandt County.

Called Jackson by his family, he lived near his sister Emaline, wife of John Davidson, and brother Winphred (Winford). We have not found brother Bluford, on the census records for 1860. Another older brother, Isaac Rowan moved to Trinity county from Van Zandt County before the war. Isaac died around 1870 in Trinity County. His widow and some of their children are buried in Hays Springs and Grapeland Cemeteries.

The Spence brothers lived in Van Zandt County, but rode horseback to Tyler TX March 15 1862 to volunteer for the Confederate Army. George Jackson served with Winford (Winphred), who was the grandfather of Mary Spence Wootters and Robert Spence,Jr., and Bluford, in Company I of the 22nd Texas Infantry (also known as Company C, Hubbard’s Battalion, Captain or Col. Ed Sharp’s Company) for three years, returning in June of 1865, one month after his wife, Elizabeth Strickland Spence, died leaving four little children, Moses S., John Wesley, Andrew Jackson, and Sarah E., who became Mrs. John Whitescarver. It is believed that Jackson was discharged in Hempstead Texas.

The Spence family moved to Houston County before the1880 census where they lived for many years. Only A.J., great grandfather of Corrie Mae Ainswoth, moved permanently to Post, Texas, and is buried there. Some of A .J.’s children are buried in Conner cemetery in Houston County. George Jackson died March 26, 1886, just three days after his daughter, Sarah Whitescarver. Both are buried in Hayes Springs Cemetery. Less than a week later Bluford died, April 1, 1886. He is probably buried in Freestone or Jasper County.Brother Winphred is buried at Wesley Chapel, Houston County. Winphred served only until June 1862. He was thirty-nine years old and had fought in the Indian Wars in Florida with brother, Isaac Rowan. Bluford, who was a cook for the officers, served until the end of the war.

By the 1870 census Bluford lived in Jasper County and in 1880 he, wife Amanda, and his household, which included orphan Harriet Frances Haney, lived in Freestone County. Perhaps they lived on the land that the Haneys had acquired around 1860.  

 In his enlistment papers, Frances Marion Sharp says he was born in Mariewether, Georgia on November 7, 1831 was 5’8 ½" high with red hair- (which remained red until his death), hazel eyes and fair complexion. He Volunteered for three years or the war whichever came first.

Francis Marion Sharp volunteered in Natchitoches, Louisiana. At the end of the war. he was a Sergeant in Company C of the 11th Louisiana Infantry. He and his brother, William Baxter, were taken as prisoners of war in May 1865 and were not released until June 10, (Lee had surrendered April 9, 1865.) Francis and his brother, Jackson, came to Latexo in 1865 to work at the Monk sawmill. Soon Francis Marion brought his wife, Martha Davis Porter Sharp, from Louisiana to Texas. All of their children were born in Latexo. The children were John, James, Leonard Hamptom (Stell), Walter Lee, Wert, and Laura Virginia.The Sharp and Spence families were joined when Leonard Hampton (Stell) Sharp married Elizabeth Spence, daughter of John Wesley Spence in a double wedding with her sister, Beulah and James Pennington on February 7, 1897. Both Sharp and Spence are buried in Houston County Texas.

At the end of the war, he was a Sergeant in Company C of the 11th Louisiana Infantry. He and his brother, William Baxter, were taken to New Orleans as prisoners of war in May 1865 and were not released until June 10, (Lee had surrendered April 9, 1865.) (William Baxter had been captured at Vicksburg and freed in exchange for Union prisoners.)

Francis and his brother, Jackson, came to Latexo in 1865 to work at the Monk’s sawmill. Soon Francis Marion brought his wife, Martha Davis Porter Sharp, from Louisiana to Texas. All of their children were born in Latexo. The children were John, James, Leonard Hamptom (Stell), Walter Lee, Wert, and Laura Virginia,The Sharp and Spence families were joined when Leonard Hampton (Stell) Sharp married Elizabeth Spence, daughter of John Wesley Spence in a double wedding with her sister, Beulah and James Pennington on February 7, 1897.

The Sharp family moved to Alabama before moving to Louisiana.

Two of his brothers also served. Jackson who was under age, served in a hospital and William Baxter was a POW in New Orleans with Francis and was paroled with Francis back to Natchitoches, Louisiana. Francis is pictured with the CSA soldiers reunion in the Houston County History Book and at the Depot Museum. According to Bebe Ulrich’s book about early Crockett newspapers, Francis is listed with this group. (October 9, 1891)

Francis died August 24, 1913 and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery with his wife, Martha, and sons, Lee and Wert. Daughter, Laura Virginia, who married R.C. Stokes is buried with the Stokes family in another part of Glenwood Cemetery.