James Franklin Cannon, or Frank as his family called him, was born on October 8, 1854, on a farm near Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. His parents were John Milton Cannon and Elender Malinda Rich Cannon. When Frank was seven years old, his father left home to fight in the Civil War. He was 10 when his father died in a prisoner of war camp in Indianapolis, Indiana. So Frank had to grow up quickly and be of help to his mother and siblings on the family farm.

When he was 15, in November 1869, Frank's mother decided to pack her belongings and her children on a wagon train and start a new life in Texas. Frank enjoyed the excitement of the move to Texas. His family settled first in Hunt County, and it was there or in neighboring Kaufman County that he met the love of his life--Frances Etta Hunt.

When he was 27, Frank married 17-year old Frances. Their wedding day was November 24, 1881. The couple had eleven known children--John Milton II (named for Frank's father), Myra Malinda "Linnie" (Malinda in honor of Frank's mother), Samuel "Sam" Monroe, Hulda (named for Frank's sister and aunt), Lela, Richard, James Franklin, Jr., Ellen Victoria, Nina Rachel, Joseph "Joe" M., and Josephine "Josie." Their children were all born in Kaufman County, Texas, where Frank supported his family by farming while Etta took care of the children and home.

Tragedy entered their lives when their baby Nina Rachel Cannon died on the day of her birth on September 17, 1903. [If anyone knows of the location of her grave, please contact "Lynn" through findagrave.com.]

Although the couple was happy in East Texas, they made the decision to move their family to the Texas Panhandle where many of Frank's family were settling. They farmed and ranched there, and Frank captured and tamed wild horses with his brothers. The brothers were known as "The Wild Bunch" because of their work with wild horses.

Frank died when he was 93 in Donley County. His wife Etta had died two years earlier. They were both buried in Citizens Cemetey in Clarendon, Donley County.


Note: the grave of Nina Rachel Cannon has not been located. Please contact Lynn with any information that you have.