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Cival War Veteran, Union Army in the 10th Missouri Calvary Regiment, 1862-1865.John came from Virginia and Malinda Garrison came from Missouri. John married Malinda Garrison Oct. 3, 1850 in Crawford Co. Missouri. John, born in Virginia to Benjamin Franklin Askins and Elizabeth Watters. His father was called Franklin, and farmed 1150 acres in Missouri. In 1861 John joined a company of volunteers during the war. He was a stout, healthy man in the beginning but became very sick and left to die. Eventually he recovered and became a farrier, caring for the sick and tending livestock. Later he moved to San Saba, TX where his daughter Rebecca met and married Benjamin F. Brock on Oct. 18, 1875. Brock and Askins owned and operated a diner in the town of Dickens.
John and Malinda were recognized as being the first settlers in Dickens City around 1882-1883. He had a trading post here. Dennis Shaw shared this family story: "within two years after John [Askins] and his family settled in what would become Dickens Co., one of the girls saw a couple of riders near the homestead. Upon telling John, he announced that the place was getting too crowded so they might as well open up a store, and as you probably know, they had the first general store in Dickens."
He arrived in the Dickens area with his family, two partners, and a herd of sheep. There were two buffalo hunters here, but they soon left. The partners left a short time later, and Jno. Askins settled at a spring south and east of Dickens. He surveyed the original townsite and laid out the original town of Dickens. His maps were later used by another man, but abstracts show the original town is in the Askins survey. One of Jno. Askins´ sons, Uncle Jim Askins, had a dugout at what is now known as Dickens Springs. He carved the original steps down to the springs out of the stone wall.
John and Malinda's children were:
- F Mary E Askins 1852 Missouri, USA
- M John F Askins 1854 Missouri, USA
- F Rebecca B Askins 28 Feb 1858 Steelville,Crawford,MO,USA 07 Dec 1918 Dickens, Dickens, TX, USA
- M James Madison Askins (Uncle Jim) 3 Aug 1860 Steelville, Crawford, Missouri, USA 17 Sep 1948 Dickens, Dickens, Texas, USA
- M George Askins abt 1865 Missouri
- M Thompson Askins abt 1868 Texas
- F Melinda Catherine Askins "Cassie" 14 Sep 1871 San Saba, Texas, USA 7 Feb 1940 Dickens, Texas, USA
- M Buddy Askins abt 1876 Texas
Matilda Askins aka Malinda:
Note: Declaration for Widow's Pension, Act of April 19, 1908 identifies as Malinda Askins, widow of John A. Askins.
A letter written to the Commissioners of Pension dated FEb 20, 1912 identifies as Malinda Askins.
Marriage book, Crawford Co., Missouri identifies as John Askins and Malinda Garrison Thursday 5 Oct 1850.
Bureau of Pensions form identifies her as Malinda Garrison Askins, wife of John Askins.
J.A. Askins - Birth: 1830 11 Feb Culpeper, Virginia, USA
1860 Residence Steelville, Crawford, Missouri
1870 Residence Mulberry, Franklin, Arkansas
1880 Residence Precinct 1, Taylor, Texas, United States
1900 Residence Justice Precinct 1-4, Dickens, Texas
1910 10 May death of John A. Askins, Dickens, Texas.
It again becomes our duty to chronicle the death of another one of the pioneer settlers of the county. One by one these old settlers are passing out.Mr. Askins was four score years and three months old at the time of his death. He was one of the first settlers of Dickens county, and the first resident of the town was preempted by him.
After a lingering illness of several months, J.A. Askins passed away at the home of his son-in-law, Ben F. Brock, Wednesday evening, and his remains were laid to rest in the Dickens Cemetery Thursday evening at 3 o´clock. His remains were followed to the cemetery by a large crowd of sorrowing friends and relatives, and upon reaching the grave that had been prepared for the interment, an interesting sermon of warning to his survivors was delivered by Rev. W.A. Wilson, after which the body was consigned to its last resting place.
In his death Mr. Askins leaves an aged wife and several sons and daughters and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren to mourn his death.
The Item deeply sympathizes with the bereaved ones in this sad hour, but the only comfort we can give is to point them to the great Comforter, who said in his Beatitudes "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Source: Dickens Item, May 20, 1910
Another of the pioneer citizens of Dickens passed away last Saturday night at the home of Ben F. Brock, in Dickens. Grandma was preceded in death by her husband just a few months ago.Grandma had lived in Dickens for many years, her husband being one of the founders of the town and one of the original owners of the townsite. Thus these old pioneers are passing away and leaving behind for our enjoyment this fair land which has cost them many hardships to bring it up to its present state of development. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of the people of this community.
Source: The Dickens Item,January 6, 1911
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