The Slaughter Family and related Families
Marble Falls, Burnett, Texas
William Ransom Slaughter and Family
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William Ransom Slaughter and Sarah Ann Smith
William Ransom Slaughter was born January 28, 1823 in Lawrence, Mississippi and he died March 7, 1908 in Burnet County, Texas. His parents were William Webb Slaughter and Nancy Ann Moore. He was buried in the Slaughter cemetery at the Slaughter home place northwest of Marble Falls. William Ransom went to East Texas and first married Sadie May Smith, bringing her back to his place, she died in childbirth at age 25 and was buried in the family cemetery along with their infant son, Walter, who had also died. William Ransom went back to East Texas and married Sarah Ann Smith (either his first wife's cousin or sister) before coming on to what is now Burnet County. Sarah Ann Smith who was born in Nacogdoches County, Texas on April 1, 1839, and died May 5, 1909, in Burnet County, and was also buried in the family cemetery on the home place near Marble Falls. After William Ransom and Sarah married they stayed in Nacogdoches for about one month so Sarah could learn to ride horseback, then he brought his new bride back to his home place in present day Burnet County where they reared their family in the log cabin he had built.
William Ransom Slaughter had settled on a part of the land which had been granted his father, William Webb Slaughter, by Anson Jones, president of the Republic of Texas, on August 6, 1845, for services rendered to the Republic of Texas. The grant was made seven years before Burnet County was established in 1852. However, William Ransom had arrived in 1850 and aided in the organization of the county. The deed included between 4,000 and 5,000 acre of land and included the present-day site of Granite Mountain. William Ransom's brother, George Webb Slaughter, received as his part the land containing Granite Mountain. George Webb Slaughter was a member of General Sam Houston’s army during the Texas Revolution and served as Houston's personal courier during that conflict. It was George Webb Slaughter who carried the order from General Houston to the Alamo to retreat, an order that was disregarded and resulted in the massacre of the entire garrison. A painting of George Webb Slaughter, who later became a Baptist minister, hangs on the walls of the Alamo in commemoration of his valor and deeds in Texas's struggle for independence.
After settling in Burnet County, William Ransom Slaughter aided greatly in the development of the livestock industry in that area. He also served as an Indian scout with Captain Jeff Maltby in the early days and freighted for Sam Houston. In later years, Sarah Slaughter could remember seeing Indians in the area many times and on one occasion could hear them grunting and talking while squatted outside her log cabin home in the chimney corner. Ransom and Sarah lived out the rest of their days in Burnet County, however, George Webb Slaughter later went to Breckenridge and his wife was killed by Indians near Weatherford. Family history says he sold the largest portion of the land including Granite Mountain, for a trunk of confederate money after the civil war ended. William Ransom had been kicked in the head by a mule and was bed ridden for several months before the sell took place. I read somewhere he sold the 4,000 plus acres (retained 600 acres)for $400.00 of what family history says was worthless money.
Children of William Ransom Slaughter and Sarah Ann Smith:
1. Mary Melvina "Mollie" Slaughter was born on 12 Dec 1856 in Burnet, Texas. When Mary was 21, she married Henry Layfette Sanders on 05 Sep 1878 in Burnet, Texas. They had several children. Mary Melvina "Mollie " Slaughter was also known as "Mollie" and was in the Witchita Mental Hospital for many years due to some mental health problems. Mary's cause of death was chronic health problems. She died on 04 Sep 1947 in Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas. Mary is buried in Temple, Bell, Texas in Hillcrest Cemetery.
2. Hiram Ransom Slaughter was born on 08 Jan 1858 in Burnet, Texas. Hiram never married and worked as a farmer at the Slaughter Family Ranch. He died on 30 Apr 1948 in Hays City, Hays, Texas. Hiram is buried with his sister Sarah Minnie Slaughter in Fairland Cemetery.
3. Martha J Slaughter, born about 1859 and died before 1880, daughter of William R and Sarah (Smith) Slaughter. Martha married to John McBride Perry They had four children; Ida May (Moore), Willam Clayborn, Henry Mack and Ella L. Perry. Martha and her husband John are buried in Tobey Cemetery in Marble Falls.
4. Lee Davis Slaughter was born on Dec 24, 1862 in Marble Falls, Texas. Lee was a cowboy of Texas in the early days, the first jailor of the new courthouse of Stephens County died following an illness. Lee moved to Breckenridge in 1914. He was connected with local law enforcement for 20 years. He was one of the few survivors who once drove cattle over the old Chisholm Trail, and used to tell of these drives which took six to eight months to complete. Le married his first wife, Frances Suspira (Webb) on Feb 21, 1886.They had three children; William Jackson, Carl Clinton and Clyde Vance Slaughter. After Frances died he married his 2nd wife Emma Luvina (Graham). They had eight children; Lora Lee (McLeroy), Lula Frances (Gray), Edwin Herbert, Sadie Clarice (Rhodes), Hyram Blankston, Cecil Chester, Ethel Rhaye (Goodwin/Gray) and Robert Lee Slaughter. Lee died Jan 17, 1943 in Brekenridge, Texas and is buried in Breckenridge Cemetery.
5. Jennie Lynn Slaughter was born on Aug 22, 1863 in Marble Falls, Texas. Jennie married Singleton Perry Graham on Feb 13, 1881 in Marble Falls, Texas. They had nine children,; Lille Lee (Nance), Nettie May, Singleton Anthony, Eva, Beerel May, Lucile Florence (Kolb), John Wesley, Ora Pearl (Wagenfuhr), Claryce Lydia (Hibler). Jennie died on April 12, 1950 and is buried in Fairland Cemetery with her husband.
6. Sarah Minnie Slaughter was born on Spet 8, 1868 in MArble Falls , Texas. She lived on the Slaughter Ranch with her brother Hiram. Sarah never married and died on Feb 21, 1948. She is burried in Fairland Cemetery.
7. Armelea/Amelia Slaughter - Have no information.
8. Elizabeth Slaughter (Tumlinson) was born March 1871 in Marble Falls. Elizabeth Slaughter married Jefferson Lee Tumlinson (after Elizabeth Slaughter died he re-married Mary Elizabeth Smith & Olla Mae Bennett). Elizabeth Slaughter and Jefferson had five children; Beulah Elsie, Clara Mae (Ferguson), William Avery, Alvin Lee, Gladya Irene Tumlinson. Elizabeth died on Nov 8, 1903 and burial is unknown at this time. Note: Elizabeth Slaughter often gets mixed up with Mary Elizabeth Smith in records.
9. Frank Slaughter was born on Oct 9, 1875 in Marble Falls and died on Feb 27, 1893 - No Information about him..
Picture of Slaughter Ranch in Marble Falls, Burnet, Texas
Minnie Slaughter's Estate
