Hansford County Obituaries

transcribed by Oneida Swickard Bynum

Hansford Plainsman
June 4, 1943
Front page

Death Separates Couple After 52 Years

C.C. Newcomb, 88, Hansford County Pioneer, Succumbs

Charles Craig Newcomb was born at Bunker Hill, IL., April 19, 1855 and died early Wednesday, June 2, at the age of 88 years, one month and 14 days, at his residence in Spearman, following a stroke.

When he was four years old, his father and mother Mr, and Mrs John Newcomb felt the urge to move to Texas with their two sons. They sold most of their possessions and started out in a covered wagon for the Lone Star State.

On the way the father fell ill and they stopped at a place called Hellbrant Mill. He died there and was buried in a field beside the road. Added to this terrible loss someone stole their money at was hidden under the dead man's bedding. Were it not for money the widowed mother had secreted on her person, the little family would have been stranded far from family and friend. When Mr. Newcomb was 8 years old he began to earn his own living and to help his only brother support their mother. He worked with grown and seasoned men and his first wages earned were $8 a month. Young as he was, he learned what it cost to live in the world of men in blood and sweat and tears.

Trail Herd

As the lad grew into a lanky cowboy he lost his mother. He felt no tie to hold him to anything then but his work and he put himself into it heart and soul. For days and days he saw no one and only once a year did he go to town, and that was at shipping season when he would help trial the herd to St. Louis, Mo., to market.

He married at the age of 35. This was the turning point in his life, from a lonely void to a life of real companionship, with someone to live for and to plan for.

On Christmas Day, 1890, he was married to Miss Lulu Baggett at her home in Archer County, Texas. Immediately afterward they went to work on the Half-Circle 10 ranch near Spur, Texas.

When he felt he had enough of a start of his own, he began to cast about for a home of his own. He had worked for many cattlemen, important in their day, and had served well but he wished to ride herd for himself on land of his own.

Unto this happy union were born four sons, Gus, Johnnie, Ernest and Robert, and two daughters Mary and Irena. Johnnie and Irena died in infancy.

Moved to Hansford County

In 1903 he came to the Panhandle of Texas, located on the Palo Duro creek in Hansford County, bought virgin land and stocked it with a herd of White-faced cattle. His herds multiplied with good and faithful care. He acquired more land, sowed wheat and planted row crops and harvested the dividends. He was a man happy and content in his lot.

Mr. Newcomb has been a Christian for more than half a century, and would often times tell married a good girl, and that was it came about. He said he a Christian and some times when he said something that wasn't right, he saw it hurt her and one day when he was riding alone in the pasture, he was thinking about her and of her Christian life, and felt he needed the same experience. He climbed off his horse, and knelt on the prairie alone with God and asked him to save him for Christ's sake. Many times afterward when he passed that place he would get down and do the same thing. It was an experience he kept in his life until the end and afforded him peace through the years.

Disposes Of Ranch

About 15 years ago, Mr Newcomb disposed of the ranch on the Palo Duro and moved to Spearman. He built another house for his wife with whom he had lived so happily and for so many years. He was glad for this, their last home. It was peaceful and quiet and they could sit together and relive the happy moments of their half a century visiting with their friends as they came to call.

Mr. Newcomb was a real friend and neighbor, and the kind of man that helped to build and develop the west. He loved the truth, cost what it may and his word was as good as his money. He lived the Golden Rule, and kept the Code of the West, and lived a life that he could look forward and unafraid and backward unashamed.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, 3 sons, Gus Newcomb of Guymon, Okla., Ernest Newcomb in the foreign service with the U.S. Army, Robert Newcomb of Wichita Falls, and one daughter, Mrs. Ed Stringfellow of Logan, NM. 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and a host of friends.

Gold Wedding Observed

Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1940 at Christmas. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the Union church by Rev. Sidney B. Rees, assisted by Rev. Mathew Doyel. Burial was in Hansford Cemetery.

Miss Grace Main sang a solo with Mrs. Emma Gunn at the piano. A mixed quartet by members of the Union church also gave a vocal selection. Pallbearers were Lee McClellan, D.M. Jones, Fred Brandt, Robert Martin, P.A. Lyon and A.F. Barkley.

Flower Girls were Mrs. Helen Etter, Mrs. Robert Martin, Mrs. James K. Hicks, Verna Gail Allen, Ruby Browne, and Wanda Smith.

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This page was last updated February 13, 2005.