Babb
Cemetery |
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In September of 2000 when we found Babb
Cemetery there were only 18 readable headstones (complete information at the bottom of this page).
It's hard to find back in the pasture and it's very grown up in brush and briars. I took
many pictures of the headstones and also the way in and the surroundings because of the
difficulty of finding this cemetery.
(Update -Fall of 2011- The mesquite trees in the
pasture going to Babb have grown up so you can't drive to the cemetery anymore.
We took Steve Quarrella (he GPS marks historical markers) in to find the
cemetery. The fence around it is hard to see now unless you know where to look.
Below, on this page, are some pictures we took in 2011.)
(Update - March of 2021 - Hanson
Aggregates sent a clean-up crew. See Pictures Below}
GPS at the cemetery gate = N 33 16.1467',
W 097 45.5000'
There's a historical marker on FmRd 1810 (about 1 mile east of Chico on the south side of the road) and also one at the cemetery (just to the right of the cemetery gate shown above). The text for both markers follows:
Indian Captives Dot and Bianca Babb
(Captured 2 miles south; this town on getaway route)
Two of Texas historys best-known
Indian captives, 13-year-old T.A. "Dot" Babb (1852-1936) and his 9-year-old
sister Bianca (1855?-1950) were stolen by Comanches from their home near here in September
of 1865.
While at play one day, the children were surprised by a raiding party
of 35 to 40 Indians. Mrs. Babb was killed and Dot, Bianca, and a Mrs. Luster (a visitor)
were taken to Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). After helping Mrs. Luster escape on the
way, Dot was very nearly executed, but so stoic was he in facing death that the Indians
admiringly spared his life.
For the next two years Dot and Bianca lived, in different tribes, as
adopted Comanches. Bianca later recalled that the Indians held a feast with coffee,
a luxury upon her arrival and that they colored her blonde hair with charcoal and
buffalo tallow.
Dot, after a winter as the squaws flunky, asserted has male
rights and thereafter spent his time taming horses. He was taken on raids against other
tribes and showed signs of becoming a fine warrior.
After two years, the childrens father ransomed them and a joyful
reunion occurred. Both Dot and Bianca spoke with sympathy, however, of many Indian customs
and of kind treatment during captivity. (1971)
Babb Cemetery
Established September 5, 1866 when Mrs. John Babb was killed by Comanche Indians. The party also captured a widow, Mrs. Luster (who soon escaped), as well as two of Babbs children, Dot and Bianca, who were held captive for two years before being rescued by their father.
About one mile east of Chico on Fm Rd 1810 take CR 1340 to the south and follow it for about a mile. Turn right (or south) on CR 1326 and you will soon come to an oilfield gate on the right (see picture). It says Elbert Bailey lease on the fence. There are several oil tanks visible from the road. (These 4 pictures were made in 2010)
Follow the oilfield road and go behind the old Bailey house (picture above from 2010) and barn (falling down in 2011). Behind the house and barn turn right toward the west and go out in the pasture as shown in the picture below. In 2010 we could drive some of the way, but had to walk for about a quarter mile when the mesquites got thick.
There are some large
oak trees in the cemetery, but there are other clumbs of trees in the area. The
fence is visible (picture above), but the best way to find this cemetery may be
to go by the GPS coordinates.
GPS at the cemetery gate = N 33 16.1467',
W 097 45.5000'
The picture above was taken in Sept 2000 when the grass, brush and trees were not so thick. One reason that the pasture has grown up is that the cemetery is right on the edge of one of the rock crushers and there have not been any cattle in the area for several years.
2 pictures taken in the fall of 2011
are below -
Picture 1-Mesquite trees have grown up in the
pasture. Picture 2-Fence around the cemetery is hard to see. It's behind Steve
Quarrella.
The 2 pictures below are of the Babb headstone that is
surounded by a rock fence. The first picture was made in 2000 and the second one
in 2010.
Below are 3 pages of an article from
the 2001 'Wise County Messenger'.
Click on these thumbnails to make them large enoutgh to read.
Map of the cemetery made Apr 15, 1996 by Billy & Linda Gamble (g-grandparents to Billy Gamble)
In March
of 2021 Hanson Aggregates sent a crew of 5
from T.J. Oilfield Services of Saginaw to clean up the cemetery. Some of their
men and Kerry Clower from the Wise County Heritage Museum also helped.
Below are several pictures of the clean-up. They are small thumbnail pictures
but they will enlarge if clicked on.
Table of information: Headstones are numbered # in no particular order (just as we came to them).
# | Name | Born | Date of Death | Information Notes | Link to Headstone Picture |
10 | Babb, Isabel A. | Aug 13, 1866 | Wife of J.S. - Aged 36 years | Babb-10.jpg | |
10 | Babb, Isabel A. | Additional Picture | Babb-10a.jpg | ||
10 | Babb, Isabel A. | Additional Picture | Babb-10b.jpg | ||
11 | Babb, John S. | July 14, 1883 | Aged 65 Years - Headstone with Isabel A. | Babb-11.jpg | |
11 | Babb, John S. | Additional Picture | Babb-11a.jpg | ||
11 | Babb, John S. | Additional Picture | Babb-11b.jpg | ||
11 | Babb, John S. | Additional Picture | Babb-11d.jpg | ||
11 | Babb, John S. | Additional Picture | Babb-11e.jpg | ||
9 | Bailey, J.M. | Apr 7, 1863 | Mar 16, 1884 | Babb-09.jpg | |
9 | Bailey, J.M. | Additional Picture | Babb-09a.jpg | ||
7 | Gamble, J.O. (James Oliver) | Aug 20, 1843 | Aug 13, 1882 | Babb-07.jpg | |
7 | Gamble, J.O. (James Oliver) | Additional Picture | Babb-07a.jpg | ||
6 | Gamble, M.M. (Margaret) | Oct 2, 1844 | Mar 16, 1885 | Wife of J.O. | Babb-06.jpg |
6 | Gamble, M.M. (Margaret) | Additional Picture | Babb-06a.jpg | ||
5 | Gamble, Robert P. | Mar 6, 1875 | July 1, 1892 | Son of J.O. & M.M. | Babb-05.jpg |
5 | Gamble, Robert P. | Additional Picture | Babb-05a.jpg | ||
8 | Hanna, F.A. | Oct 3, 1878 | May 9, 1883 | Babb-08.jpg | |
8 | Hanna, F.A. | Additional Picture | Babb-08a.jpg | ||
8 | Hanna, F.A. | Additional Picture | Babb-08b.jpg | ||
1 | Kay, Authur Arnold | June 6, 1883 | Apr 22, 1885 | Son of E.H. & S.E. | Babb-01.jpg |
1 | Kay, Authur Arnold | Additional Picture | Babb-01a.jpg | ||
1 | Kay, Authur Arnold | Additional Picture | Babb-01b.jpg | ||
Not Found | Lovejoy, Frank L. | Aug 10, 1866 | July 16, 1928 | Babb-No Picture | |
2 | Lovejoy, John L. | July 6, 1829 | June 18, 1905 | Headstone with Nancy | Babb-02.jpg |
2 | Lovejoy, John L. | Additional Picture | Babb-02a.jpg | ||
2 | Lovejoy, John L. | Additional Picture | Babb-02b.jpg | ||
2 | Lovejoy, John L. | Additional Picture | Babb-02c.jpg | ||
2 | Lovejoy, John L. | Additional Picture | Babb-02d.jpg | ||
Not Found | Lovejoy, Minnie A. | May 17, 1871 | 18?? | Wife of James Frank | Babb-No Picture |
3 | Lovejoy, Nancy | Oct 27, 1831 | Jan 15, 1921 | Headstone with John L. | Babb-03.jpg |
3 | Lovejoy, Nancy | Additional Picture | Babb-03a.jpg | ||
3 | Lovejoy, Nancy | Additional Picture | Babb-03b.jpg | ||
3 | Lovejoy, Nancy | Additional Picture | Babb-03c.jpg | ||
18 | Rehder, James T. | Jan 4, 1881 | Feb 24, 1881 | Son of E.W. & D.E. | Babb-18.jpg |
18 | Rehder, James T. | Additional Picture | Babb-18a.jpg | ||
18 | Rehder, James T. | Additional Picture | Babb-18b.jpg | ||
18 | Rehder, James T. | Additional Picture | Babb-18d.jpg | ||
Not Found | Spain, Alva Douglas | ? | ? | Babb-No Picture | |
4 | Spann, John Estrell | Jan 18, 1880 | Aug 23, 1883 | Son of J.W. & M.P. | Babb-04.jpg |
4 | Spann, John Estrell | Additional Picture | Babb-04a.jpg | ||
4 | Spann, John Estrell | Additional Picture | Babb-04b.jpg | ||
4 | Spann, John Estrell | Additional Picture | Babb-04c.jpg | ||
13 | Stubblefield, Albert | Apr 22, 1883 | Feb 11, 1902 | Babb-13.jpg | |
13 | Stubblefield, Albert | Additional Picture | Babb-13a.jpg | ||
17 | Stubblefield, Bertha L. | May 22, 1891 | Dec 29, 1936 | Babb-17.jpg | |
17 | Stubblefield, Bertha L. | Additional Picture | Babb-17a.jpg | ||
14 | Stubblefield, Infant | Oct 14, 1883 | Jan 13, 1884 | Son of R.K. & L.J. | Babb-14.jpg |
14 | Stubblefield, Infant | Additional Picture | Babb-14b.jpg | ||
14 | Stubblefield, Infant | Additional Picture | Babb-14c.jpg | ||
16 | Stubblefield, Janie L. | Mar 18, 1868 | Nov 7, 1940 | (Wife of Robert King) | Babb-16.jpg |
16 | Stubblefield, Janie L. | Additional Picture | Babb-16a.jpg | ||
15 | Stubblefield, Robert King | Nov 25, 1859 | July 19, 1923 | Babb-15.jpg | |
15 | Stubblefield, Robert King | Additional Picture | Babb-15a.jpg | ||
15 | Stubblefield, Robert King | Additional Picture | Babb-15b.jpg | ||
12 | Stubblefield, Sarah A. | Feb 26, 1857 | Mar 8, 1900 | Wife of John A. | Babb-12.jpg |
12 | Stubblefield, Sarah A. | Additional Picture | Babb-12a.jpg | ||
Gamble information taken from a map made Apr 15, 1996 by Billy & Linda Gamble (g-grandparents to Billy Gamble) | |||||
Not Found - from a listing by Mr. & Mrs. Homer L. Roper and Mr. & Mrs. Clint Morrow July 23, 1967 |