Susanna "Susan" Hunter was the youngest child of Edward Colson and Elizabeth King Hunter. She was born in Washington County, Indiana on June 15, 1821. She married John Ribble on September 13, 1838 in Washington County, Indiana. Three of their children, Edward Jefferson (Edd), Ellen, and Harvey Washington (Harve), were born in Salem, Washington County, Indiana. John and his father, Joseph Ribble decided to move to Clarksville, Red River County, Texas. Susan and John had four more children, Elizabeth (Lizzie), John, William Alexander (Bill), and Thomas Jefferson (Tom). Between 1853 and 1855 they moved to Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas. Their youngest child, James, was born there. Soon thereafter, they decided to move close to the Brazos River Indian Reservation and Fort Belknap. They built a log cabin on Rock Creek. They settled on land that is now part of Young, Jack, and Palo Pinto counties. John and his son, Edd, went back to Honey Grove to get his father, Joseph Ribble. They found him very sick with typhoid fever. Soon John contracted it and both died of typhoid fever and are buried in the Vineyard Grove Cemetery in Honey Grove. Edd's granduncle brought back to Rock Creek.
Family stories tell of friendly Indians living at the Brazos Indian Reservation. They befriended the widow and her children. However, there were very unfriendly Indians that came from the other Texas Indian Reservation to the north. Several times Susan hid herself and the eight children under the cliffs of Rock Creek. William Alexander Ribble lived to be 97. He would tell his great grandchildren that he could hear the Indians above them and see little rocks and sand fall down to the ground from them stirring around on top of the cliff.
Due to Indian problems around Rock Creek, Susanna moved temporarily to Parker County. In 1859, Susanna married Jacob Cross, Sr. and had a son, Jacob Cross, Jr. (Jake). They only lived together a few years. There is no record of a divorce, but she went back to using the last name of Ribble.
Jacob Cross, Sr. is buried in an unmarked "pauper's grave" in Parker County according to Parker County records.
Susan's oldest daughter, Ellen, had some sort of disability that they referred to as an affliction. She was slow at doing things and learning things. During the Civil War when the older boys were gone, Ellen, was raped, possibly repeatedly. Ellen became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl, which she named Alice. Susan raised Alice. Alice married and Ellen lived with her mother the rest of her life. Susan died on July 27, 1912 at the age of 91. Ellen died the next day, July 28, 1912, at the age of 70. Her brothers decided to bury them together since they were so close in life. They are buried in Gooseneck Cemetery, Young County, Texas in a shared grave.
Alice's story has been passed down from her children to grandchildren through the generations. We recently became connected with her descendants and learned their story.
Sometime between 1866 and 1870, a rabid dog bit her son, John. He suffered a long time with rabies. Eventually, his brothers had to tie him to a four-post bed, a different limb for each post, to protect him and others from his aggressive behavior. Most of the time, he was delirious and not sure what was going on around him. When he had lucid moments he would beg his brothers to shoot him. None of them could bring themselves to kill him, although he was suffering greatly and they knew it. He finally died on March 6, 1870. They lived in Parker County close to the border of Hood County. John was buried in Long Creek Cemetery, which is in Hood County, but the closest cemetery to where his family lived.
In January of 1875 while they were living in Parker County, another rabid dog bit James, age 19, and his nephew, William Byla Ribble, age 4, one of Edd Ribble's sons. The story goes that James saw Byla in trouble with the dog heading toward him. James tried to rescue Byla but both were bitten, however, James was able to shoot the dog so he didn't bite anyone else. Byla died quickly, but James lingered for hours. He died after about 15 hours of suffering.
Susan's sons John and James, who died young, and Tom, are buried in Long Creek Cemetery in Hood County. Harve died in 1900 and is buried in Van Zandt County. Susan, Ellen, Edd, Lizzie, and Bill, are buried at Gooseneck. Jake Cross is buried at the Hawkins Chapel Cemetery in Loving, Texas.
Susan's father, Edward Colson Hunter, came over from Lincolnshire, England in the early 1800s, but was ready to fight the British in the War of 1812. He fought at Tippecanoe. Her grandfather, Thomas King, fought in the Revolutionary War. He was with Washington for a short time.
Family stories tell of friendly Indians living at the Brazos Indian Reservation. They befriended the widow and her children. However, there were very unfriendly Indians that came from the other Texas Indian Reservation to the north. Several times Susan hid herself and the eight children under the cliffs of Rock Creek. William Alexander Ribble lived to be 97. He would tell his great grandchildren that he could hear the Indians above them and see little rocks and sand fall down to the ground from them stirring around on top of the cliff.
Due to Indian problems around Rock Creek, Susanna moved temporarily to Parker County. In 1859, Susanna married Jacob Cross, Sr. and had a son, Jacob Cross, Jr. (Jake). They only lived together a few years. There is no record of a divorce, but she went back to using the last name of Ribble.
Jacob Cross, Sr. is buried in an unmarked "pauper's grave" in Parker County according to Parker County records.
Susan's oldest daughter, Ellen, had some sort of disability that they referred to as an affliction. She was slow at doing things and learning things. During the Civil War when the older boys were gone, Ellen, was raped, possibly repeatedly. Ellen became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl, which she named Alice. Susan raised Alice. Alice married and Ellen lived with her mother the rest of her life. Susan died on July 27, 1912 at the age of 91. Ellen died the next day, July 28, 1912, at the age of 70. Her brothers decided to bury them together since they were so close in life. They are buried in Gooseneck Cemetery, Young County, Texas in a shared grave.
Alice's story has been passed down from her children to grandchildren through the generations. We recently became connected with her descendants and learned their story.
Sometime between 1866 and 1870, a rabid dog bit her son, John. He suffered a long time with rabies. Eventually, his brothers had to tie him to a four-post bed, a different limb for each post, to protect him and others from his aggressive behavior. Most of the time, he was delirious and not sure what was going on around him. When he had lucid moments he would beg his brothers to shoot him. None of them could bring themselves to kill him, although he was suffering greatly and they knew it. He finally died on March 6, 1870. They lived in Parker County close to the border of Hood County. John was buried in Long Creek Cemetery, which is in Hood County, but the closest cemetery to where his family lived.
In January of 1875 while they were living in Parker County, another rabid dog bit James, age 19, and his nephew, William Byla Ribble, age 4, one of Edd Ribble's sons. The story goes that James saw Byla in trouble with the dog heading toward him. James tried to rescue Byla but both were bitten, however, James was able to shoot the dog so he didn't bite anyone else. Byla died quickly, but James lingered for hours. He died after about 15 hours of suffering.
Susan's sons John and James, who died young, and Tom, are buried in Long Creek Cemetery in Hood County. Harve died in 1900 and is buried in Van Zandt County. Susan, Ellen, Edd, Lizzie, and Bill, are buried at Gooseneck. Jake Cross is buried at the Hawkins Chapel Cemetery in Loving, Texas.
Susan's father, Edward Colson Hunter, came over from Lincolnshire, England in the early 1800s, but was ready to fight the British in the War of 1812. He fought at Tippecanoe. Her grandfather, Thomas King, fought in the Revolutionary War. He was with Washington for a short time.
Susanna "Susan" Hunter was the youngest child of Edward Colson and Elizabeth King Hunter. She was born in Washington County, Indiana on June 15, 1821. She married John Ribble on September 13, 1838 in Washington County, Indiana. Three of their children, Edward Jefferson (Edd), Ellen, and Harvey Washington (Harve), were born in Salem, Washington County, Indiana. John and his father, Joseph Ribble decided to move to Clarksville, Red River County, Texas. Susan and John had four more children, Elizabeth (Lizzie), John, William Alexander (Bill), and Thomas Jefferson (Tom). Between 1853 and 1855 they moved to Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas. Their youngest child, James, was born there. Soon thereafter, they decided to move close to the Brazos River Indian Reservation and Fort Belknap. They built a log cabin on Rock Creek. They settled on land that is now part of Young, Jack, and Palo Pinto counties. John and his son, Edd, went back to Honey Grove to get his father, Joseph Ribble. They found him very sick with typhoid fever. Soon John contracted it and both died of typhoid fever and are buried in the Vineyard Grove Cemetery in Honey Grove. Edd's granduncle brought back to Rock Creek.
Family stories tell of friendly Indians living at the Brazos Indian Reservation. They befriended the widow and her children. However, there were very unfriendly Indians that came from the other Texas Indian Reservation to the north. Several times Susan hid herself and the eight children under the cliffs of Rock Creek. William Alexander Ribble lived to be 97. He would tell his great grandchildren that he could hear the Indians above them and see little rocks and sand fall down to the ground from them stirring around on top of the cliff.
Due to Indian problems around Rock Creek, Susanna moved temporarily to Parker County. In 1859, Susanna married Jacob Cross, Sr. and had a son, Jacob Cross, Jr. (Jake). They only lived together a few years. There is no record of a divorce, but she went back to using the last name of Ribble.
Jacob Cross, Sr. is buried in an unmarked "pauper's grave" in Parker County according to Parker County records.
Susan's oldest daughter, Ellen, had some sort of disability that they referred to as an affliction. She was slow at doing things and learning things. During the Civil War when the older boys were gone, Ellen, was raped, possibly repeatedly. Ellen became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl, which she named Alice. Susan raised Alice. Alice married and Ellen lived with her mother the rest of her life. Susan died on July 27, 1912 at the age of 91. Ellen died the next day, July 28, 1912, at the age of 70. Her brothers decided to bury them together since they were so close in life. They are buried in Gooseneck Cemetery, Young County, Texas in a shared grave.
Alice's story has been passed down from her children to grandchildren through the generations. We recently became connected with her descendants and learned their story.
Sometime between 1866 and 1870, a rabid dog bit her son, John. He suffered a long time with rabies. Eventually, his brothers had to tie him to a four-post bed, a different limb for each post, to protect him and others from his aggressive behavior. Most of the time, he was delirious and not sure what was going on around him. When he had lucid moments he would beg his brothers to shoot him. None of them could bring themselves to kill him, although he was suffering greatly and they knew it. He finally died on March 6, 1870. They lived in Parker County close to the border of Hood County. John was buried in Long Creek Cemetery, which is in Hood County, but the closest cemetery to where his family lived.
In January of 1875 while they were living in Parker County, another rabid dog bit James, age 19, and his nephew, William Byla Ribble, age 4, one of Edd Ribble's sons. The story goes that James saw Byla in trouble with the dog heading toward him. James tried to rescue Byla but both were bitten, however, James was able to shoot the dog so he didn't bite anyone else. Byla died quickly, but James lingered for hours. He died after about 15 hours of suffering.
Susan's sons John and James, who died young, and Tom, are buried in Long Creek Cemetery in Hood County. Harve died in 1900 and is buried in Van Zandt County. Susan, Ellen, Edd, Lizzie, and Bill, are buried at Gooseneck. Jake Cross is buried at the Hawkins Chapel Cemetery in Loving, Texas.
Susan's father, Edward Colson Hunter, came over from Lincolnshire, England in the early 1800s, but was ready to fight the British in the War of 1812. He fought at Tippecanoe. Her grandfather, Thomas King, fought in the Revolutionary War. He was with Washington for a short time.
Family stories tell of friendly Indians living at the Brazos Indian Reservation. They befriended the widow and her children. However, there were very unfriendly Indians that came from the other Texas Indian Reservation to the north. Several times Susan hid herself and the eight children under the cliffs of Rock Creek. William Alexander Ribble lived to be 97. He would tell his great grandchildren that he could hear the Indians above them and see little rocks and sand fall down to the ground from them stirring around on top of the cliff.
Due to Indian problems around Rock Creek, Susanna moved temporarily to Parker County. In 1859, Susanna married Jacob Cross, Sr. and had a son, Jacob Cross, Jr. (Jake). They only lived together a few years. There is no record of a divorce, but she went back to using the last name of Ribble.
Jacob Cross, Sr. is buried in an unmarked "pauper's grave" in Parker County according to Parker County records.
Susan's oldest daughter, Ellen, had some sort of disability that they referred to as an affliction. She was slow at doing things and learning things. During the Civil War when the older boys were gone, Ellen, was raped, possibly repeatedly. Ellen became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl, which she named Alice. Susan raised Alice. Alice married and Ellen lived with her mother the rest of her life. Susan died on July 27, 1912 at the age of 91. Ellen died the next day, July 28, 1912, at the age of 70. Her brothers decided to bury them together since they were so close in life. They are buried in Gooseneck Cemetery, Young County, Texas in a shared grave.
Alice's story has been passed down from her children to grandchildren through the generations. We recently became connected with her descendants and learned their story.
Sometime between 1866 and 1870, a rabid dog bit her son, John. He suffered a long time with rabies. Eventually, his brothers had to tie him to a four-post bed, a different limb for each post, to protect him and others from his aggressive behavior. Most of the time, he was delirious and not sure what was going on around him. When he had lucid moments he would beg his brothers to shoot him. None of them could bring themselves to kill him, although he was suffering greatly and they knew it. He finally died on March 6, 1870. They lived in Parker County close to the border of Hood County. John was buried in Long Creek Cemetery, which is in Hood County, but the closest cemetery to where his family lived.
In January of 1875 while they were living in Parker County, another rabid dog bit James, age 19, and his nephew, William Byla Ribble, age 4, one of Edd Ribble's sons. The story goes that James saw Byla in trouble with the dog heading toward him. James tried to rescue Byla but both were bitten, however, James was able to shoot the dog so he didn't bite anyone else. Byla died quickly, but James lingered for hours. He died after about 15 hours of suffering.
Susan's sons John and James, who died young, and Tom, are buried in Long Creek Cemetery in Hood County. Harve died in 1900 and is buried in Van Zandt County. Susan, Ellen, Edd, Lizzie, and Bill, are buried at Gooseneck. Jake Cross is buried at the Hawkins Chapel Cemetery in Loving, Texas.
Susan's father, Edward Colson Hunter, came over from Lincolnshire, England in the early 1800s, but was ready to fight the British in the War of 1812. He fought at Tippecanoe. Her grandfather, Thomas King, fought in the Revolutionary War. He was with Washington for a short time.
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