Josephus Bryan Echols

Per William Walker Echols Sr.'s obituary (The Fort Worth Press December 19, 1933), he was survived by "three brothers, E. O. Echols, of Fort Worth; J. O. Echols, Del Rio, and Jim W. Echols, Clovis, N. M.; and six sisters, Mrs. A. J. Kemp, Clovis; Mrs. J. R. Coker, Westbrook; Mrs. Clarence Thomas, Kingsville; Mrs. H. H. Copeland, Abilene; Mrs. Deck Ward, Amity, Ark.; and Mrs. Lindsay Dennis, Olton, Texas"; thus, these are the children of Josephus Bryan Echols.

According to the The Pike County Archives and History Society's Annual Sessions of Caddo River Baptist Association Minutes, Josephus is mentioned repeatedly as "J. B. Echols" during the years he would have lived in Pike County:

• Oct 12, 13 & 14, 1872: "State of Religion"
• Oct 10, 11 & 12, 1873: "Documentation" and "Messenger"
• Oct 9, 1874: "Corresponding messenger" and "Messenger"
• Sept 11, 1880: "Preaching", "Appointed committee to redistrict association into four districts", listed as "J. B. Echols of Rock Creek" under "Licentiates", and "Messenger"
• Sept 10-12 1881: "Duties of Pastor to Church", "Licentiates" (as "J. B. Echols of Rock Creek"), and "Messenger"
• Sept 9-11 1882: "Licentiates" (as "J. B. Echols of Rock Creek")
• Sept 13 & 15, 1884: "Duties of Church to Pastor" and "Messenger"
• Sept 12-14, 1885: "Messenger"
• Sept 11-13, 1886: "Officers elected: … J.B. Echols and [sic?] Treasurer", "Executive Committee appointed", "School: Salem. Superintendent: J. B. Echols", and "Messenger"
• Sept 10-12, 1887: "Duties of Churches to Pastors" and "Messenger"
• Sept 8-10, 1888: "Documents" and "Messenger"
• Sept 7-9, 1889: "Deacon"
• Sept 13-15, 1890: "Deacon" and "Messenger"
• Sept 9-11, 1893: "Preaching", "Deacon", and "Messenger"
• Sept 7, 8 & 9, 1895: "Officers elected: … J. B. Echols as treasurer" and "Messenger"
• Sept 12-15, 1896: "School: Salem, Superintendent"

On February 2, 1848, Josephus Echols is born in Alabama to "J. W. Echols", as implied by 1860 Federal Census, Alabama.

In 1860, a 12 year old "Josephus Echols" is located at Beat No 4, Tallapoosa, Alabama, United States for the 1860 Federal Census, Alabama. He is grouped with "J. W. Echols" (his father), Lucy A. (his mother), and his siblings: "Nancy A.", "Celectus", "Anna", "Martha", "Mary J.", "John", and "Franklin".

In 1870, a 21 year old "Joe Echols" is located at Dadeville Bent No 7, Tallapoosa, Alabama, United States for the 1870 Federal Census, Alabama; his occupation is listed as "farm laborer." Now Lucy (his mother) is serving as the head of the house.

As implied by the above and below records, Josephus must have traveled from Tallapoosa, Alabama to Clark County, Arkansas between 1870 and 1872.

On December 19th, 1872, "Joseph Echols" marries "Martha E. Wilson" in Clark County, Arkansas (source: Clark. Marriage Records 1870-1877). The "E" stands for "Ellen"; this is important as some documents refer to Josephus' wife as "Ellen" or "Ella".

Circa 1876-1877, Josephus likely began a Homestead Act claim for 160 acres in Pike County, Arkansas: S1/2 NW1/4 and W1/2 SW1/4, Section 9, Township 5S, Range 24W. (implied by Bureau of Land Management: AR1490__.483).

In 1880, a 32 year old "Joseph Echols" is located at Clark Township in the County of Pike, State of Arkansas for the 1880 Federal Census, Arkansas; they have three children: Ida, Lelia, and Emma.

Under "List of Real Estate Assessed for Taxation in Co., Ark., for the Year 1880" (FamilySearch):

*note that these sections are empty; however, they are in the above columns and match later descriptions of the property.

On June 30, 1882, a federal homestead patent is issued to Josephus B. Echols for the 160-acre Section 9 tract (AR1490__.483). Just a couple months later, on September 9, 1882, a matching BLM/GLO entry appears for Andrew A. Dunn on the same Section 9 land description, suggesting Josephus may have transferred, assigned, or otherwise lost/sold the homestead soon after patent.

The 1890 census is lost. According to archives.gov, "Most of the 1890 population schedules were badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921."

Under "Record of Tax Receipts for 1893, Issued By … Collector … County, Ark." (FamilySearch) with some columns omitted:

Note that the 1880 and 1893 records match the same plots of land which is nearby but distinct from the BLM Homestead land.

As implied by the above and below records, Josephus and family must have traveled from Pike County, Arkansas to Scurry County, Texas in the 1890s. Based on the locations and dates of his children's births as well as his selection of "Superintendent" in Pike County's Caddo River Baptist Association, he must have traveled later than September 1896 (for Caddo) yet prior to October 1897 (so that "Occo" could be born in Texas).

In 1900, 51 year old "Joseph Echols" is located at Justice Precincts No. 5 in Scurry County, Texas for the 1900 Federal Census, Texas. Josephus is with the following: Ella, Lucy, James, Hattie, William, Penni, Edgar, and Occo.

Per findagrave, he is buried in Pyron Cemetery, Hermleigh, Scurry County, Texas after dying on October 7, 1901.

His tombstone is inscribed with following:

At rest

J. B. Echols

Born in
Feb. 2, 1848

Died
Oct. 7. 1901

Our darling has gone before
to greet us on the golden shore.

Source: findagrave

Prior to the birth of Josephus Echols in 1848, there was at least one other person by the name of "Josephus Echols". This Josephus Echols was active in the area around Georgia and Alabama. He is notably for building a dam in Russel County. Sources:

• Muscogee Genealogical Society
• Citizen of East Alabama

Additionally, there are estate records for a Josephus Echols who died in Alabama: FamilySearch.