THREE SOLDIERS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA

Pvt. EVAN W. HANEY

Sgt. FRANCIS MARIAN SHARP

Pvt. GEORGE JACKSON SPENCE

Evan W. Haney was in the Texas 18th Calvary. He died in Cotton Plant, Arkansas from measles on November 17, 1862. He had been born in Decatur County, Tennessee. He came to Navarro County Texas with his wife Caroline White Haney and their daughter, Mary, who would become the mother of Elizabeth Spence Sharp.

He was headed home for the birth of their fourth daughter when he died. Unfortunately, Caroline White Haney died in childbirth.

The four daughters were given to different families in Jasper County, Texas to rear. The Perkins family reared one. Another, Harriet Frances (Fanny) lived with Bluford Spence, brother of George Jackson Spence. She was the only one to get schooling. Amanda Spence was a school teacher. Fanny married the nephew of Mrs. Amanda Spence, George McDaniel Woodell.

ALL FOUR OF THE GIRLS and their husbands ARE BURIED IN HAYES SPRING CEMETERY ABOUT FOUR MILES WEST OF GRAPELAND. EVERYONE THERE IS A SPENCE OR RELATED TO THE SPENCE FAMILY.

Submitted by:  Sue Davis

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Francis Marion Sharp volunteered in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

He and his brother, William Baxter, were POWs at the end of the war in New Orleans where food was in short supply because the South had a blockade in place.

William Baxter was furloughed June 9 and Frank, June 10, 1865. Frank’s enlistment papers say that he was born November 7, 1831 in Merewether, Georgia, had auburn hair and was 5’8 ½".

He went back to Natchitoches to marry widow, Martha Davis Porter, who had a son, Walker Porter. They married 16 March 1865.

After being furloughed back to Natchitoches, Francis (Frank) and his brother, Jackson rode up to the Monk sawmill in Latexo, Texas looking for work.

Frank and Martha are buried in Crockett, Glenwood Cemetery with their sons, Walter Lee and Wert Sharp. All of the Sharp children were born in Texas. Walter Porter lived with them until he was an adult. He returned to Louisiana and married there.

Submitted by:  Sue Davis

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George Jackson Spence volunteered in Tyler, Texas with his brothers Winphred (Winford) and Bluford. Winphred was older and only served three months. Bluford was the cook for the officers through out the war.

George Jackson was called JACKSON by his family. So much so that people assumed that his name was Andrew Jackson. That is the name on the grave marker for Elizabeth (Eliza) Strickland Spence, his first wife…the mother of four children who is buried in Van Zant Co Texas in Frontier Red Hill Cemetery. Jackson’s sister Emaline Davidson buried by her. Eliza Spence died May 1, 1865 before Jackson was discharged June 10 in Hempstead, Texas. Jackson spent a lot of time in hospitals with diarrhea. He even went home for a while to get well. He fathered his fourth child, a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth at that time. Jackson, Bluford and Sarah died within two weeks of each other. Jackson and his other wives are buried in Hayes (Hays) Spring Cemetery about four miles west of Grapeland, Houston Co., Texas.

There are CSA markers on the graves of Frances Marion Sharp and George Jackson Spence. We have not found the grave for Evan W. Haney in Cotton Plant, Arkansas.

We spent years looking for Joe Evin Haney. All of this information was from the little orphan girls. We think Caroline’s name might be Josephene Caroline White Haney, and that is where the little girls – probably six years and younger – heard the names being used together gave them the name Joe Evin Haney. His army papers for CSA show it to be Evan W. Haney from Navarro County, Texas. We did find the 1860 census record for that county giving her initials as J.C. and daughters, Mary born in Tennessee and Martha born Texas. The spelling for Josephene was used in Jasper County by Evan’s brother’s daughter who was born soon after Caroline died.

Submitted by:  Sue Davis