William Jefferson Scogin and wives Celia Grimes and Mary Ann Richardson

William Jefferson Scogin was born August 1, 1826 in Conecuh County, Alabama, a son of Wright and Susan Hawthorn Scogin.

The family appears in the 1830 Census in Conecuh County. For the 1840 Census, they are in Monroe, Alabama.

William married Celia Grime in March of 1848 in Monroe County, Alabama.

Celia Grimes was a daughter of Allen and Elizabeth Grimes. She was born February 11, 1830 In Alabama. Her brother Monroe Grimes married Sarah Scogin, sister to William Jefferson Scogin.

William and Celia are in Monroe, Alabama for the 1850 Census as William Scoggins and Selah. Daughter Susan is 1 year of age.

The 1860 Census shows William and Celia in Nacogdoches County, Texas with children Susan E. (age 11), John (age 8), and James (age 6). They are on the same census page as his father Wright Scogin, and a page after his brother Joshua Scogin. Two other children had been born and died in infancy prior to the census: Allen R. Scogin (January 3, 1857 - January 23, 1857) and Mary C. Scogin (August 2, 1858 - May 7, 1860).

Celia and William had a sixth child, William Tolliver, on October 1, 1860. Celia died a month later, on November 1, possibly of complications from the childbirth. She was buried at Old North Church.

Mary Ann Richardson was born in Walker County, Alabama, probably on July 15, 1839. She appears in the 1840 census with father Josiah Richardson as a female under 5 years old. The 1860 Census shows her as age 10 with the Josiah Richardson family in Walker County, Alabama.

Mary Ann married B. H. Self in Walker County, Alabama, probably in 1853. In 1854, the Richardsons moved to Nacogdoches County, Texas, settling near the Old North Church north of Nacogdoches. Mary either came along or followed later. She was divorced from B. H. Self in Nacogdoches County, Texas, possibly on July 3, 1861. She appears in the 1860 Census with her father's family in Nacogdoches County as Mary Seff.

Mary Ann and William Jefferson Scogin were married on October 9, 1862 in Nacogdoches County, according to Pauline Shirley Murrie in "Marriage Records of Nacogdoches County, Texas 1824-1881." However, William had enlisted for Confederate service on September 29, 1861 at Camp Sibley near San Antonio. His records show him as being in the army at the time he married Mary Ann.

William served as a Private and then Sergeant in Company H, 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment, which was the 1st Regiment, Sibley's Brigade. Several of the Scogin, Sutphen, Richardson, and Oxsheer relatives were in that company. William survived the Sibley's terrible New Mexico campaign. He was captured at Bayou Teche, Louisiana in April of 1863, and was paroled May 11, probably as part of a prisoner exchange. The Regimental Return slip dated December 1863 notes "absent without leave since Dec 1/63," and the Muster Roll of January 1864 shows him as "absent without leave 62 days." The last record in his file shows that he was admitted to the CSA General Hospital in Shreveport in April of 1864 with "diarrhoea."

William returned to Nacogdoches after the war. He and Mary had three children between 1869 and 1874: Mary Annah, Charlie, and Robert Lee.

The family has not been found in the 1870 Census, although they are probably in Nacogdoches County. The 1880 Census shows the family still in Nacogdoches County, Precinct 1. Listed with William and Mary Ann are Willaim T (age 19), Mary Anna (10), Robert Lee (8), Charley T. (6), as well as Sayler Scoggin (black, age 45, servant), Martha Crawford (Mulatto, age 25, servant), Ella Crawford (Mulatto, age 2), and W. B. Clark (age 24, White, stock raiser).

On July 31, 1879, William purchased 640 acres of land in Stephens County from T&P Railroad. (Stephens County Deed Book C-2 page 536). The family moved to Stephens County, Texas between 1880 and 1885.

William filed a quit claim deed on July 13, 1887, giving all rights of the 320 acres comprising the East half of Survey 11 Block 3 made by T&P Railroad to his wife Mary. (Stephens County Deed Book J Page 207). On the same day, Mary Scogin filed a quit claim giving up rights to the West half of Survey 11 Block 3 (Deed book J Page 194). Also on July 13, 1887, a separation agreement was filed in Stephens County Deed Record Book J, Page 195. All three records were witnessed by the Justice of the Peace on July 25, 1887. The following is a transcription of the separation agreement:

This indenture made and entered into this the 23rd day of July, 1887, by and between W. J. Scogin, and his wife Mrs. Mary Scogin all of the County and State aforesaid witnesseth that have this day, and by these presents do make, and enter into the following agreement, that is to say, the said W J Scogin on his (post?) agrees promises and stipulates with his said wife that it shall be lawfull for her to reside wherever she may choose, and that he will not demand or claim any of her property which she name hers, or may henceforth aquire in any manner whatever; but that his said wife may use, enjoy, and dispose of the same as she may see fit and proper. The entire property now belonging to the said W J Scogin and his wife, being community property, it is by the said Scogin and his said wife agreed in relation (?) as follows to wit, that the said W J Scogin hereby conveys to his said wife the following property to wit one half of a tract of land situated in Stephens County Texas the title to which is secured to the said Mary Scogin by deed duly executed this day by the said WJ Scogin, and to which reference is here made. In regard to the personally property, It is agreed and the said W. J. Scogin hereby conveys to his said wife the following of the personal property jointly owned by himself and his said wife, and which the said Mary Scogin hereby accepts as a full settlement of her interest of all the Community Estate between herself and her said husband. Six head of cattle and a one half interest in the following to wit Nine head of horses four head of hogs Six plows One waggon, One lot of spades and hoes, One pulverizer One lot household and kitchen furniture, 10 or 12 acres in Millet and 12 acres in Corn, and the said W. J. Scogin hereby agrees to pay off and discharge all debts of evry name and nature which are (?) in existence which is, or might become a charge against the community property of himself and wife, this the said W. J. Scogin is to pay out of his own separate means.

William Jefferson Scogin died April 30, 1896 in Tabor, Brazos County, Texas, and was buried in the Tabor Cemetery. He was likely living with his son, James Harrington Scogin, at the time.

Mary Ann is in Baird, Callahan County, Texas for the 1900 Census. She is renting a home, and living with her are her son Robert Lee ("Bob," age 26, single) and J. W. Woods, a boarder. She appears in the 1910 census as "Mary Scrogin" on Second Street in Baird as the keeper of a boarding house she owns. Her boarders are Eliza Hammans and her daughter Elouise. The 1920 Census, also of Baird, shows her as "Mary Scrogins." There are two families renting rooms from her: The Fewells and the Ramseys.

She applied for a Confederate Widow's Pension in March 1917, and it was approved April 5, 1917 as File # 33990.

Mary Ann Richardson Self Scogin died June 23, 1928 in Baird, Callahan County, Texas. Her death certificate shows "effect of accident" as the cause of death, and as being under the doctor's care since June 1. There are several discrepancies on the death certificate, including the spelling of her name (Scroggins) and her mother's maiden mame, which was given as Mary Richardson. The informant was her daughter, Mary Annah Scogin Sutphen. Mary Ann was buried in Ross Cemetery in Baird.

From "Reflections of the Past" by Eva Sutphen Sweatt:
"I used to have to stay with Grandma Scogin to help her with her boarders. She had a big ten-room house in Baird and kept boarders for a long time.... I was lots of help to Grandma as I helped with the dishes and set the table. Grandma had a cow and chickens in those days, so I would feed the chickens, gather the eggs, and also vegetables for the table."

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