Biography of David Baugh

David Baugh, 1803-1868, the son of Dorcas Mitchell and John Baugh, was born in Franklin County, Georgia on 9 December 1803. David was the ninth of ten children known to be born to Dorcas and John Baugh. David's brothers included William, Martin, John, Mitchell and Joshua. His four sisters were named Polly, Sally, Nancy, and Patsy Baugh.

John Baugh (born between 1765-1775 in South Carolina), was the son of William Baugh (born between 1740-1750).

William Baugh died at Laurens County, South Carolina. The will of William Baugh was dated 4 May 1787. William Baugh served as a Private in the Company of Captain Hewlett Sullivan of the 96th District of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Several descendants of David Baugh have gained membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), tracing their ancestry to William Baugh.

By 1833, David Baugh had moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where he married Pency Louisa Collins. Justice of the Peace John Boatrite married the couple on 11 July 1833.

Pency Collins was born 16 December 1816 in Georgia. Her parents were John Collins and Pency Dillon. Tuscaloosa County Land Tract Books recorded that David Baugh purchased tracts of land from the government on 21 January 1834 and 22 February 1836 in Township 24, North Range East. Land nearby belonged to Levin Collins, brother to Pency.

On 17 March 1838, David Baugh sold land to Levin Collins. The deed was recorded in Deed Book O, page 7, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Continuing in Deed Book O, page 48, an interesting comment is noted: On 20 May 1837, David Baugh verified that on this date he did bite off the left ear of John Stone in a fight. For this action, Stone sued Baugh for damages in the Circuit Court. A compromise was settled on 29 March 1838.

In February 1839, David Baugh served as a Trustee for Sand Mountain Meeting House, a church within the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America. Three acres of land were purchased by the Trustees from Nimrock Hendrick. Other Trustees noted were John Collins, Mitchell Baugh, William Addington, Jesse Morris. The deed was recorded in Deed Book P, page 145 on 19 February 1839.

David and Pency Baugh began their family while living in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The names of known children born in Alabama are as follows: John Baugh, born 1834; Marion Baugh, born 1835; Alabama Carolina Baugh, born 1836; Mary C. Baugh, born 1837; Harriet P. Baugh, born 1838; Mac Mitchell Baugh, born 1839; and Martha Elizabeth Baugh, born 1840.

1840 Tuscaloosa County, Alabama Census recorded on page 6, dwelling # 196 to be David Baugh, head of household. He had one son (Mac) and two daughters (Alabama and Mary) under age five, one son (John) between ages 5-10. His wife (Pency) was between age 20-30. David's age was between 30-40. He owned no slaves. David's son (Marion) and daughter (Harriet P.) had succumbed childhood deaths prior to the 1840 census. Pency Baugh was pregnant with Martha Elizabeth Baugh, to be born 22 October 1840. Census households nearby include John Baugh, John Collins, and Levin D. Collins.

David and Pency moved to Tippah County, Mississippi, after the birth of Martha Elizabeth Baugh. On 28 October 1842, Levin Powell Baugh was born. During 1842, the eldest son of David, named John, died at age eight. Two years later, on 5 November 1844, Amanda Virginia Baugh was born in Mississippi.

The migration westward inspired frontier spirit for land and the hope for economic advantages among many of the early settlers. Two of David Baugh's older brothers received land grants in Texas about 1848. John R. Baugh recceived 640 acres in the Dallas County area of Peters Colony. Mitchell Baugh, unmarried, received 320 acres in Tarrant County, near present day Fort Worth.

Mitchell apparently was not satisfied with frontier life, returning to Jackson County, Georgia by 1859, where he married and remained.

According to family tradition, when David Baugh moved his family to Texas, he brought with him three nephews. The names of these young men are believed to be William Lovett (Lovick) Baugh, Harvey Baugh, and Francis M. Baugh. These three are sons of David's eldest brother, William Baugh, a resident of Gwinett County, Georgia.

William Lovick Baugh eventually settled in Rusk, Bell, and Coryell Counties. Harvey Baugh is believed to have died about 1851. Francis (Franklin) Baugh is believed to have remained with David in Henderson/Kaufman county and later relocating in Brown County.

David Baugh moved his family westward to settle in Texas about 1846. Pency gave birth to a son named Amasin (Amerson) L. Baugh in 1846. This child appeared on the 1850 Henderson County, Texas, Census as their four year old son. A one year old son, named Frank M. Baugh, was also on this census. These two boys are not on future census records. They too died during early childhood.

Amazon S. Baugh, born 15 May 1847, was the first daughter of Pency and David Baugh to be born in Texas. Henderson County Agricultural Census for 1850 recorded David Baugh with 320 acres of unimproved land. He reported an additional 24 acres of improved land. He owned three horses, six cows, ten cattle, and eighteen sheep. Raising pigs may have provided his main income. He owned seventy-five swine. Farm crops were limited to 500 bushels of rye and 400 bushels of sweet potatos. Kaufman County history reports the census enumerator mistakenly recorded some of Kaufman County citizens erroneously in Henderson County. David Baugh was reportedly as one such household. David Baugh, household # 184, with 9 household members, resided south of Kingsboro, on Jones creek in Kaufman County during 1850.

By the fall of 1850, a daughter, Pency D. Baugh, was born 11 October 1850. In 1852, Samuel David Caufman (nickname Taut) Baugh was born. Two years later on 4 October 1854, Washington Morgan (nickname Morg) Baugh was born. When Morg Baugh was a young lad of nearly four years, his family moved from Kaufman County to settle on the Pecan Bayou in Brown County, arriving on 9 June 1858.

Family folktale recalls David Baugh stopped along the bank of Pecan Bayou, planning to rest before going on. Pency, weary from the trip, declared the site to be the new Baugh home. And so, the new Baugh home was established. A large pecan tree in the area became a landmark for years to come. Morg Baugh reportedly picked pecans from the noted tree on his birthdate for 51 years, to mark the Baugh arrival to Brown County.

Alabama Baugh, oldest daughter of David and Pency, with her husband (William L. Williams) joined the wagon train of her parents to move from Kaufman to Brown County. Alabama and William Williams brought with them their twin daughters (Pency and Mary, age 4) and America (age 2). David's sons Mac (age 19) and Levin (16) and nephew, Franklin A. (Frank) Baugh (age 20) assisted the family's move to Brown County. The younger Baugh children on the wagon train included sons Taut (8); Morg (4); Jesse Oscar (2); and daughters Mary (21); Martha (18); Amanda (14); Amazon (11); Pency (8) Baugh.

Upon arrival in the newly formed Brown County, David Baugh was elected county commissioner in the first election held in August of 1858. He was re-elected in 1862 to serve a second term.

Early Tax Rolls for Brown County listed David Baugh. 1860 Brown County Census, Brownwood Post Office, taken on 11 July 1860, Mr. E. B. Ellis recorded household 132-132 belonging to David Baugh, farmer, age 58, born in Georgia. His wife, Pency, was born in Georgia. She was age 45. Ten children were listed in the household, including: Amazon (13), Levin (18), Morgan (6), Mac (21), Amanda (16), Arizona (1) Kaufman (8), Ausker (Oscar) (4), Elizabeth (20), and Pency (10). David recorded his personal estate to be valued at $5,925. Mac and Levin are recorded as stockkeepers. David's nephew, Franklin A. Baugh (22), was listed as a stockkeeper in the 140-134 household of Israel Clements.

During the 1860's, David Baugh established his home on the Pecan Bayou, an area acquiring the name Baugh Ranch, where he pursued raising race horses and cattle. Family tradition believes David Baugh homesteaded 160 acres for each family menber; thereby acquiring some 11,000 acres in Brown County. During this time, he employed a number of cowboys among whom were Don and Polk Cox.

These two men married daughters of David and Pency Baugh. Don Cox married Martha Elizabeth about 1860. Polk Cox married Amazon Baugh prior to 1866. The 1861 Brown County Tax roll listed David Baugh among forty-six families living in the county. David owned the largest flock of sheep in Brown County during 1861, reporting 125 head of the total 494 total sheep in the county.

The year of 1861 brought joys, tears, and fears to the pioneer families on the frontier of Texas. Two grandchildren of Pency and David Baugh were born. These were William D. Brewer (son of Mary Baugh and Preston W. Brewer) and David S. Cox (son of Martha Elizabeth Baugh and Don Cox). Pency D. Baugh, eleven year old daughter of David and Pency, died following complications of the measels. She died 19 June 1861 and was buried in the Baugh (presently known as Roberts) Cemetery. Her grave is believed to be the oldest marked grave in Brown County. Comanche Indians frequently brought raids to the settlers along Pecan Bayou. The Indians sought to steal horses and other stock. Levin Baugh is known to have shot and killed an Indian near the Baugh home during a September night of 1861. Levin Baugh developed a keen hatred toward the Indians which was even increased when he lost two brothers-in-law killed by Indians.

Supplies for the early settler families were scarce and difficult to secure. Occasionally the men in the area would form a supply train of horses, mules, or sometimes oxen-pulled wagons to journey to nearby forts for the purchase of much needed supplies. A few men would be designated to remain at home for the purpose of guarding the women and children from marauding Indians.

The tension of the Civil War festered the early frontier settlers in Brown County. The voters of Brown County held an election on 23 February 1861 for the purpose of ratifying or rejecting the Ordinance of Secession of the State of Texas from the Federal Union of the United States of America. All sixteen registered voters in Brown County voted unanimously for secession. Voters included the following men: William Williams, G. Fisk, William Chancellor, George Isaacks, Moses G. Anderson, P. W. Brewer, Mc Baugh, Levi Roberts, B. F. Goat, L. Edmondson, I. Adams, Benjamin Smith, Thomas D. Harris, P. T. Anderson, William Connell. Four days prior to the vote of secession, nephew Frank A. Baugh resigned as the county's second elected sheriff to enlist in the Texas Confederate Army as a Private.

Frank Baugh served in Company A of Taylor's Battalion Texas Cavalry; also known as Texas Mounted Riflemen. Five months later, on 19 July 1862, Mitchell Mac Baugh enlisted. He served as a bugler in Company G of Texas Calvary.

On 30 January 1862, eighteen year old daughter, Amanda Virginia Baugh, married George Howard Adams. He was the son of Brown County pioneer settler, Ichabod Adams. George H. Adams had served as a Texas Ranger during 1858.

Approaching the end of the Civil War, Don Cox, was killed by Indians at the Battle of Dove Creek near San Angelo. This unfortunate battle occured on 8 January 1865. His widow, Martha Elizabeth Baugh Cox, was pregnant with their third child (Bud Cox). She and her children returned to live on the Baugh Ranch. She later married Samuel Patterson McInnis and raised a large family.

Alabama Baugh Williams was widowed in 1865. He husband, William Williams, became sick with fever following his attempt to care for his dying sister. Both William and his sister (Sarah Williams Lovell) died within weeks of each other. Alabama struggled through the rough times with seven young children. She remarried 1866 but was widowed a second time about 1868 when her husband, Edmund B. McReynolds was killed and scalped by Indians while on a trip to secure needed supplies.

In December of 1866, Amazon Baugh Cox gave birth to her first born, Marion McDonald Cox. She and her husband, Polk Cox, separated. Amazon returned to the Baugh Ranch to live. Amazon later married Samuel Robert Windham and together they had a large family.

Speculation on Mac Mitchell Baugh's whereabouts during the late 1860's is based on various family tales. What is consistent is that Mac disappeared from Central Texas leaving a wife in Comanche County, she believing herself to be a widow.

David Baugh's nephew, Frank A. Baugh, returned to Brown County following the end of the Civil War. Frank is believed to have been married and possible had a child, although no confirmation of such has been determined. Recorded history notes Frank Baugh, former sheriff of Brown County, was killed in a gun fight at Byrd's Store during the late 1860's. Family tradition recalls Frank caught his partner cheating during a card game at Byrd's Store. Frank accused the man of cheating. Tempers flaired, and the partner beat Frank to the draw.

The winter of 1868 was painfully difficult for the Baugh family. At age 65, David Baugh was grubbing stumps and became quite ill with pneumonia. Sam McInnis, David's son-in-law, rode night and day to Comanche to get old Dr. Montgomery, the nearest doctor in the area. The doctor arrived to render aid, but the Baugh patriarch died two hours later on 20 February 1868. David Baugh was buried in the Baugh Cemetery, known present-day as the Roberts Cemetery in Brown County.

At the time of David's death, Pency had four minor children still at home. These children were David Kaufman (16), Washington Morgan (14), Jessie Oscar (12), and Arizona (9). David Baugh had blazed the frontier trails for generations to follow.

In the fall of 1868, Levin Powell Baugh married Frances Elizabeth Moseley. They made their home on the Baugh Ranch, with his widowed mother. Martha Elizabeth Baugh Cox married her second husband, Samuel Patterson McInnis, about 1869. During the 1870's, Kaufman Baugh married Susan Moseley, daughter of Captain Daniel H. Moseley.

Alabama Baugh Williams-McReynolds moved her family from Brown County to settle in Bosque county during the spring of 1871.

Daughter, Mary Baugh Brewer resided in nearby Comanche County.

Amazon Baugh Cox married her second husband, Samuel R. Windham about 1871.

Washington Morgan Baugh married Canzada West Burnett on 19 December 1876.

The married Baugh children residing in Brown County, continued to live on land near the original Baugh Ranch. Levin, Morg, and their brother-in-laws (McInnis and Windham) became sizable land owners during the 1870's and 1880's. The 1880 Agricultural Census noted Levin Baugh as owner of 5,000 acres. He is noted to have been able to stand near his home, looking around in all directions while stating firmly: "All that I see, belongs to me."

By the turn of the new century, four of David and Pency's children, along with their spouses, had acquired land holdings in Brown County exceeding 16,850 acres.

Pency Collins Baugh survived her husband some twenty-four years. During which time, she witnessed and shared in the changes that furthured the development of Brown County. The Baugh family promoted the establishment of schools and churches in the county. Pency and David Baugh are known to have attended regular Methodist Church services in the home of Isreal Clements during the 1860's and 1870's. The Windham School House, also homed the Methodist Congregational Church, listed the Baugh's as charter menbers 1885-1892. The members included W. M. Baugh, J. O. Baugh, Elizabeth McInnis, Amazon Windham, and Arizona Baugh Sloan.

At the age of 79, Pency had canned fresh picked peaches all day and was found unconscious the next morning. She did not recover. She died on 8 September 1895. She was buried next to David in the Baugh Cemetery.

submitted by Barbara Cox