In 1851 Mary Townsend (Hope Hines Lessing) married cattle rancher, David Hope and had four children. David Hope died when he was only 34 years old. That was May of 1862 – the same month he signed up as a private in Griffin's Battalion of the Texas Infantry.
Their middle son, Larkin Hope, would grow up to become an infamous deputy sheriff, city marshal, and constable in Columbus, Texas and accused of killing John and Robert Stafford (wealthy cattlemen), but the charges were dismissed. Larkin Hope ran for sheriff in 1898 (against Sam Reese) but was murdered by Jim Coleman (a confederate of Sam Reese) before the election. The following year 1899, the younger son of David and Mary Hope, Samuel Marion Hope would be accused of the murder of Sam Reese, but again, the charges were dismissed. Later, Mary's youngest son by Joseph Lessing, Joe Jr., a dentist by trade was accused of the murder of Will Clements, but those charges were dismissed ( because the authorities could not locate the murder weapon - until years later). All of these murders were directly related to the Townsend-Stafford Feud that raged for 30 plus years in Columbus, Texas.
Contributor: Tracey Wegenhoft (50941500) • [email protected]
Their middle son, Larkin Hope, would grow up to become an infamous deputy sheriff, city marshal, and constable in Columbus, Texas and accused of killing John and Robert Stafford (wealthy cattlemen), but the charges were dismissed. Larkin Hope ran for sheriff in 1898 (against Sam Reese) but was murdered by Jim Coleman (a confederate of Sam Reese) before the election. The following year 1899, the younger son of David and Mary Hope, Samuel Marion Hope would be accused of the murder of Sam Reese, but again, the charges were dismissed. Later, Mary's youngest son by Joseph Lessing, Joe Jr., a dentist by trade was accused of the murder of Will Clements, but those charges were dismissed ( because the authorities could not locate the murder weapon - until years later). All of these murders were directly related to the Townsend-Stafford Feud that raged for 30 plus years in Columbus, Texas.
Contributor: Tracey Wegenhoft (50941500) • [email protected]
In 1851 Mary Townsend (Hope Hines Lessing) married cattle rancher, David Hope and had four children. David Hope died when he was only 34 years old. That was May of 1862 – the same month he signed up as a private in Griffin's Battalion of the Texas Infantry.
Their middle son, Larkin Hope, would grow up to become an infamous deputy sheriff, city marshal, and constable in Columbus, Texas and accused of killing John and Robert Stafford (wealthy cattlemen), but the charges were dismissed. Larkin Hope ran for sheriff in 1898 (against Sam Reese) but was murdered by Jim Coleman (a confederate of Sam Reese) before the election. The following year 1899, the younger son of David and Mary Hope, Samuel Marion Hope would be accused of the murder of Sam Reese, but again, the charges were dismissed. Later, Mary's youngest son by Joseph Lessing, Joe Jr., a dentist by trade was accused of the murder of Will Clements, but those charges were dismissed ( because the authorities could not locate the murder weapon - until years later). All of these murders were directly related to the Townsend-Stafford Feud that raged for 30 plus years in Columbus, Texas.
Contributor: Tracey Wegenhoft (50941500) • [email protected]
Their middle son, Larkin Hope, would grow up to become an infamous deputy sheriff, city marshal, and constable in Columbus, Texas and accused of killing John and Robert Stafford (wealthy cattlemen), but the charges were dismissed. Larkin Hope ran for sheriff in 1898 (against Sam Reese) but was murdered by Jim Coleman (a confederate of Sam Reese) before the election. The following year 1899, the younger son of David and Mary Hope, Samuel Marion Hope would be accused of the murder of Sam Reese, but again, the charges were dismissed. Later, Mary's youngest son by Joseph Lessing, Joe Jr., a dentist by trade was accused of the murder of Will Clements, but those charges were dismissed ( because the authorities could not locate the murder weapon - until years later). All of these murders were directly related to the Townsend-Stafford Feud that raged for 30 plus years in Columbus, Texas.
Contributor: Tracey Wegenhoft (50941500) • [email protected]
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Private, Company D, 21st Regiment, Texas Infantry
Confederate States Army
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