James W. CLOUD

     James W. CLOUD, son of Henry George Washington CLOUD and Mary T. Bateman, was born in 1845 in Alabama.¹ James W. CLOUD also went by the name of Jim.

James W. CLOUD appeared on a census, enumerated 13 November 1850, in the household of Henry George Washington CLOUD and Mary T. Bateman in Austin County, Texas.¹

James W. CLOUD appeared on a census, enumerated 14 June 1860, in the household of Henry George Washington CLOUD in Hempstead Precinct, Austin County, Texas.¹

James W. CLOUD appeared on a census, enumerated 19 October 1870, in the household of Henry George Washington CLOUD in Hempstead, Austin County, Texas.

Jim married Laura Frances BURT, daughter of Martin Ross BURT and Delilah Anne GRIFFIS, on 4 January 1871 in Autauga County, Alabama.²

Jim and Laura Frances CLOUD moved from Alabama to Hempstead, Waller County, Texas, sometime soon after their marriage.

James W. CLOUD and Laura Frances BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 10 June 1880 in Hempstead, Waller County, Texas. The household was listed as J. W. J. Cloud, age 34, farmer, born Alabama, parents born Georgia; L. F. Cloud [Laura Frances], age 33, born Alabama, dad born North Carolina, mom born Virginia; H. L. Cloud [Hattie], age 5, born Texas; W. W. Cloud [Willie], age 2, born Texas; and H. G. W. Cloud [father], age 70, blind, born Georgia, as were his parents.¹

James W. CLOUD appeared in a newspaper article 6 May 1886 in the San Antonio Daily Express. "HEMPSTEAD TRAGEDY: A Newspaper Man Killed by a Justice of the Peace. Mr. C. W. Newman, of the Express composing rooms, received a telegram yesterday from Hempstead informing him that his brother-in-law, J. H. Farr, editor of the Chronicle, had been shot and killed by James Cloud, a justice of the peace. No further particulars were given of the unfortunate affair other than as above stated. Mr. Newman will leave San Antonion for Hempstead to investigate the killing today. Farr was an old Confederate soldier, a member of Sibley's celebrated brigade when it made their famous march from New Mexico to San Antonio, almost naked and starved, and is said to have been a good man and brave."³

More on this story appeared 6 May 1886 in the Galveston Daily News. "HOMOCIDE IN HEMPSTEAD: Editor Farr Shot and Killed by Justice of the Peace Cloud. Special to the News. Hempstead- This afternoon about 1 o'clock, J. J. Cloud, justice of the peace of this precinct, shot and killed Joseph H. Farr, the editor of the Courier. The apparent cause of the killing is said to be the publication of editorials in the Courier reflecting on the official record of county officers, and Cloud is said to have been found behind in his accounts about $1000 by the late finance committee. The whole assembly of citizens and visiting firemen were thrown into great confusion by the tragedy... An inquest was held on the body of deceased at 3 o'clock. Mr. Farr leaves a wife and three children. The community is greatly excited over the affair."

Finally from the 29 July 1886 edition of the Brenham Weekly Banner. "... a Hempstead special to the Houston Post says, Judge McFarland, of Brenham came down yesterday (the 22nd inst.) to hear evidence in the case of J. W. J. Cloud charged with the murder of Joe Farr, on habeas corpus. After hearing the evidence as to Cloud's health only, he was admitted to bail in the sum of $10,000. It was shown that he had the consumption and perhaps would not live but a little while."

James W. CLOUD died on 17 September 1886 in Hempstead, Waller County, Texas.^1,3

His obituary appeared 19 September 1886 in the an unknown place , published in an unknown place , an unknown place . The Galveston Daily News. Hempstead, September 18... "J. W. J. Cloud, the man who killed J. H. Farr at last Miayday Festival, died of consumption and was buried today."³