James Jourdan Ward, Jr. came to what is present day Red River county Texas in 1820 from Tennesee. He came with his father James Sr. in the Wavell colony. James, Jr owned approximately 10,000 acres near the Riverview area. He left Red Rvier County around 1857 and ended up in Palo Pinto county, where claimed and ran cattle on all the land between Mineral Wells and Santo, Texas. Unsure about why he left, maybe the lure of open country and less people.

His contemporaries declared "He was too big for a man and too small for a horse." He died 29 March 1870 and is buried near Lone Camp, Texas in Palo Pinto county.


Thomas Benton Humphreys early resident of Red River county.


Tom and Sarah Humphreys, before 1898

Early setters of Red River coutny Texas. Thomas Benton Humphreys, uncle was William Humphreys, founder of Bogota. Sarah A. (Ward) Humphreys was born in Red River county near the Riverview area 9 August 1840. Her parents James Jourdan Ward, Jr and Hannah (Chandler) Ward came to Texas with the Wavell Colony in 1820.

 
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