Babb Cemetery
Wise County, Texas
Layout Map, Table of Information & Links to Headstone Pictures below on this page

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(Click Here to go to Listing & Pictures of All Wise County Headstones)

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 history’s 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 children’s 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 Babb’s 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.

Babb1.jpg (298737 bytes)   Babb2.jpg (245663 bytes)   Babb3.jpg (303276 bytes)  

Map of the cemetery made Apr 15, 1996 by Billy & Linda Gamble (g-grandparents to Billy Gamble) 
Babb-BabbCemDrawnMap.jpg (1269588 bytes)

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.

2021-03 Babb Cem Gate.jpg (3615483 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem - Babb Graves.jpg (3824655 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem -Kerry + Bo Smith.jpg (3947669 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem Looking Out to NE1.jpg (4285998 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem Lovejoy corner.jpg (3334723 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem Lovejoy graves.jpg (2575531 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem -Rock Circle.jpg (4166095 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem NW Corner.jpg (3936762 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem SE Corner1.jpg (4119861 bytes)  2021-03 Babb Cem SE Corner2.jpg (4013686 bytes)

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