Joseph Jackson Family Biography

by Jerry Alsup

Joseph Jackson Alsup was born in Lincoln Co., Tennessee on 25 Nov. 1815, and married as his first wife Mary Susan Culbertson ( daughter of Hiram and Mary Hightower Culbertson) probably in Panola Co., Mississippi.  The two children by his first wife were Euphrasia, born 16 Jan. 1840, and Lois, born 25 Oct. 1844, both probably born in Panola Co.  Joseph Jackson Alsup came to Panola Co., Ms in the late 1830's and by the 1840's, his mother and three of his brothers had joined him there. 

Joseph Jackson was reported on the 1850 census record for Panola Co. with age listed as 35, born Tn., but no wife is listed, indicating that she had very likely died before this census.  The two daughters were included in the census.  Also living with Joseph Jackson Alsup were his brothers Robert H., Thomas H., and B. M. G. Alsup and his wife Rebecca.  This name is Brice Meredith Garner Alsup. 

This Alsup family, consisting of Joseph Jackson, Thomas H., Robert H., and B. M. G., left Mississippi in the latter part of the year of 1850 and relocated in Cherokee Co., Texas.  The following year they moved again to Gonzales Co., Texas near the towns of Gonzales and Hopkinsville.  While living near Gonzales, Texas in the county by the same name, Joseph Jackson met and married Mary Ann Watson on 14 August 1856.  Some time in late 1856 or early 1857, Joseph J. and Mary Ann moved to Nueces Co., Texas. There they were the parents of four children as follows: (1)  Agnes, born 22 April 1857, at Banquette, Nueces Co., Texas;  (2) Robert Reed, born 19 Aug. 1859, at Banquette; Elvira, born 24 April 1862, at Banquette; and Josephine, born 1 Aug. 1864, at Banquette. 

Joseph Jackson's brothers Henry and Thomas Alsup left Gonzales Co. and set up permanent residence in Live Oak Co., Texas.  When Bee County was cut from Live Oak Co. in 1858, Thomas Alsup was a member of the first grand jury for this new county.  He died in San Marcos in 1916, at the age of 88, after a long and productive life in Bee Co. 

Another brother of Joseph Jackson was B. M. G. Alsup who lived in Gonzales Co., Texas with his wife Rebecca McVea and their children.  They lived the rest of their lives in this county, and Alsup descendants still lived here in the town of Waelder, Texas. 

Ephraim Smith Alsup, another brother of Joseph Jackson, lived in Lincoln Co., Tennessee and moved to Panola Co., Ms in the 1840's.  He moved to Cherokee Co., Texas in 1850 before the census was taken and then to Gonzales Co., Texas with his other brothers.  He outlived several wives and died in this county before 1880. 

Robert Reed Alsup, father of Joseph Jackson Alsup, made a will in Lincoln Co., Tennessee dated 22 Aug. 1836.  He names only his three youngest sons Robert H., Thomas H., and B. M. G. in one section of the will and another son Ephraim S. Allsup was listed as executor of the will.  In this will, Robert Reed Allsup spelled his name with two "L's", but most of his sons only used a single consonant.  He stated in his will that he had three older sons, but they were not named.  The two sons not named in the will were Joseph Jackson Alsup and James C. Alsup.  James C. Alsup had a grandson several greats down the line who was a professor at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, and I have corresponded with his widow and son.  There is a building on campus named after this Alsup who was instrumental in developing a significant reading program for the University.  

On 31 October 1858, Joseph Jackson Alsup and J. R. Bass, both of whom lived in Nueces Co., Texas, entered into a written agreement or contract in which it was agreed between them that J. J. Alsup would take complete charge of a stock of cattle belonging to the said Bass,  and then running then on the ranch and range known as the Pintus Ranch located in Nueces Co., and adjoining territory, and look after said cattle and manage them and the ranch. 

Compensation for the services as stated above will be provided by J. R. Bass as follows: Bass agrees to allow and to give to Alsup annually, one-fourth of the increase of the cattle.  The cattle of Bass will be branded with the Bass mark and the cattle of Alsup will be branded with the mark established by J. J. Alsup.  Alsup moved into said Pintos Ranch in accordance with the contract and took complete charge of the cattle and also established his home on the ranch which continued to be known as the Pintos Ranch.

The little town or settlement which grew up thereabouts, became known and designated as Banquette, Nueces Co., Texas.  By constant application and good management, Alsup acquired in the next eight years, a large stock of cows and horses which he branded with his own brand in accordance with the laws of Texas, and duly registered the same, which was Brand "J", Mark, swallow fork in each ear.  Family members in later years remembered that the number of cattle belonging to J. R. Bass when they were delivered into the hands of Joseph Jackson Alsup numbered in excess of ten thousand head of stock cattle, exclusive of the horses. 

J. J. Alsup ran the cattle on open range from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande River.  This land was largely unappropriated public domain and fences at that time did not exist.  These cattle were simply branded and turned loose to graze on the open range; being rounded up from time to time, in groups of herds, as occasion might require.  

As this venture was moving toward its apex, the unexpected death of Joseph Jackson Alsup on 2 Nov. 1866.  J. J. Alsup was buried in the Banquette Cemetery in Nueces Co., Texas.  He was a Baptist and a Mason.  His death caused several changes to become necessary.  Mary Ann Watson Alsup continued to live at the Pintos Ranch, but she acquired new management in the supposedly capable hands of Josiah Elliff.  He was the husband of Lois Alsup Elliff, daughter of J. J. and Mary Ann Alsup. Josiah had been the administrator of the estate of J. J. Alsup and with the assistance of Mary Ann Alsup, continued to run the cattle on the range previously mentioned.  Josiah and his employees continued to handle and manage the stock cattle on the open range as was the universal custom.  

Starting on 4 July 1868, to the end of the year in 1873, at various times and on various occasions, Mexi can marauders, if not at the direction, at least with the knowledge of the governing powers of Northern Mexico, came across the Rio Grande River into Texas, and herded up and drove off across the Rio Grande River into Mexico, great numbers of cattle and horses belonging to the J. J. Alsup estate, or to his widow and children, until there were none left.  

Joseph Jackson Alsup was the father of Euphrasia, born 16 Jan. 1840 in Panola Co., Mississippi, married B. A. Bennett, and their two children were: Mike and Mary.  Both died at Banquette, Texas without issue.

J. J. Alsup's other child by his first wife was Lois who married Josiah Elliff.  Their children were: Sarah, John J., Zilla E., Mary Susan, Joe Si, Georgia, and Fred F.  (other info if needed)

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