William Stephen Maxwell

Biography

     William Stephen Maxwell was born November 14, 1833 in Jackson County, Alabama. He and Sarah Jane Dame were married in Jackson County, Alabama on March 22, 1854. They became the parents of a large family.

     In the fall of 1861 Maxwell mustered in as a Private in Company F of the 42nd Tennessee at Camp Cheaton, Tennessee. He was captured at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, February 16, 1862 and later paroled. When Company H, became a part of Norwood's Battalion of Alabama, 55th Alabama Infantry, W. S. Maxwell was back with his fellow infantrymen. His brother Hugh P. Maxwell's records also show he enlisted in Co., F of the 42nd Tennessee and was discharged from Company H of the 55th Alabama Volunteers.

     After the close of the Civil War, Wm. S. Maxwell moved his family from Jackson County, Alabama to Falls County, Texas. He first appeared on the tax roll of Falls County in 1873. He settled near Powers Chapel on land of the Mary Prior League, which he acquired, from Mr. E. M. Wilder according to deed records of the county.

     Maxwell died January 9, 1886, in Falls County and was buried in Power's Chapel Cemetery.

     On September 13, 1909, his 75 year old widow, Sallie Maxwell, (living with her daughter Sarah Jane Curry, Rt. 3, Mart, McLennan County) applied for W. S. Maxwell's war pension. In May of 1910, her application, which included sworn statements from Maxwell’s lifelong friend W. W. Smith of Jackson County, Alabama and his brother Hugh P. Maxwell of Falls County, Texas, was denied by the Adjutant General's office of the War Department in Washington, D. C. Sallie Maxwell died about 3 years later at the age of 78 years old. The family has reason to believe, that she is buried by his side without a marker.
     The name William Stephen Maxwell was sometimes recorded as William Steven or William Stevenson Maxwell in the Confederate and other records. He signed legal papers in Jackson County, Alabama, concerning his father's estate as William Stephen Maxwell. His father's name was William Maxwell; therefore, he was called Stephen. The family had been near Stevenson, Alabama. These facts became
obstacles in family research.

Current Event

On Saturday, September 28, 2002, at 1:00 pm relatives of William Stephen Maxwell and select friends gathered in Powers Chapel Cemetery to dedicate a recently acquired Confederate Grave Marker.

Background Information

A great-great granddaughter of W. S. Maxwell, Margaret Weaver Meek and her husband Ron, of Duncanville, Texas have recently been researching and compiling family history information of all their relatives. Through this effort contacts were made with various family and friends, some also researching family history. Mr. Mike Watkins of Colorado, formerly of Cedar Springs, made available the record of application for Confederate Pension filed by Sarah Dame Maxwell in 1910. The data contained in the pension application was provided to Mrs. Dona Hatthorn, of Danbury, Texas. Dona applied many hours of research and negotiations to acquire a government issued Confederate Marker commemorating the service of W. S. Maxwell.

Event Program

The program for the event follows:

PVT. W. S. Maxwell, Co. F 42 Tenn.

CONFEDERATE GRAVE MARKING

PRESENTATION OF FLAGS - SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS 13th TX INFANTRY

PRAYER - RONALD MEEK

DEDICATION OF MARKER - DONA HATTHORN, U. D. C., LAMAR FONTAINE CHAPTER 33

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE - JOHNNY HATTHORN

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE - RON STRYBOS, 2nd LT. COMDR., TX DIV., SONS OF
CONFEDERATE VETERANS

MUSKET VOLLEY - SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS 13TH TX INFANTRY

SALUTE ARMS - SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS 13TH TX INFANTRY

"DIXIE" SUNG IN UNISON

Ron Strybos, in Confederate Uniform, directed the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, the Pledge to the Confederate Flag, and "Dixie".

Descendents

The children of William Stephen Maxwell and Sarah Dame were Mariah Angeline, Andrew Jackson, William Oliver, Dr. William Jesse, Sarah Jane, George Washington, Martha Jane, Lucy (or Luca), and Thomas. Contact was made with down-line descendents of all the children except those of Lucy and Thomas. There have been unconfirmed information that Lucy resided in Houston County, but no records of Thomas or his descendents have been located.

Attendees

     Those attending the commemoration on September 28, 2002 are: Sons of the Confederacy: Mickey and Dianne Boatught, Alvin, Texas, Ron Strybos and son Andy, Angleton, Texas, Cary Barton, Hillister, Texas, and Chris Hatthorn, Danbury, Texas. The family wishes to express a heart felt "Thank You" to this group for performing the program.

     Descendents of Mariah Angeline Maxwell attending were Johnny O. Hatthorn and wife Dona of Danbury, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. David Hatthorn, Michelle and Chris of Danbury, Texas, Renee Hatthorn Pruett of Houston, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Earnest O. Hatthorn of Freeport, Texas, and Larry M. Hatthorn of Angleton, Texas.

      Descendents of Dr. William Jesse Maxwell attending were George Wentzel and wife, Clara of College Station, Texas.

     Descendents of William Oliver Maxwell attending were Bobbie Maxwell Kellem and Shirley Maxwell Jolly and husband David, of Lott, Texas, John Kemp and wife, Linda of Houston, Texas, Joy Kemp Simons of Waco, Texas, Jan Simons Roach and son Samuel, of Robinson, Texas, Kenneth Maxwell of Waco, Texas, Barbara Weaver Szanto and husband Robert Jr. of Waco, Texas, Gail Maxwell Haak of Marlin, Texas,
Margaret Weaver Meek and husband Ronald of Duncanville, Texas.

     Other guests attending were Mary LaGrone of Lott, Texas and Cy Maresh of Angleton, Texas.

Genealogy inquiries may be addressed to:
Margaret Meek
7117 Oxford Drive

Waco, Texas 76712
or
Dona Hatthorn
P. O. Box 456
Danbury, Texas, 77534