Copyright Cheri Mello. All rights reserved.

**The OFFICIAL John S. Damron Bio**

John Shultz Damron is my 3 great-grandfather. I have spent many years researching him and have amassed quite a bit of data on him.

John was born Sept. 14, 1818, in TN to John Damron, Jr. and Sarah "Sally" Elizabeth Shultz. On Dec. 13, 1844, John and his father, John Jr, both bought land as Mercer Colonists in NE Texas (see Gifford White's "Mercer Colonists," p. 3 and 13). By 1846, the area that John bought became Henderson Co, TX. A reference in the "History of Kaufman Co, TX" lists a commissioner's court meeting in William Ware's house, presided over by chief justice John Damron. It is unknown if this is John Shultz or his father, John Jr.

John Shultz Damron married Sally Daugherty (daughter of Nathaniel Daugherty and Nancy Sim(p)kins) on June 6, 1847, by Squire Wilson, in Henderson Co, TX (from the handwritten notes of Mrs. Fredericka L. (Bedford) Blackburn, granddaughter of John Shultz, written c. 1950s; originals in the possession of Nancy J. Kelly, copies in my possession). They became the parents of 10 children, 8 of which survived to adulthood. They are: Nathaniel Cass (1848-1854), Laura Louise "Lou" (1850-1944), John Randolph, Sr (1852-1933), Nancy Elizabeth (1853-1908), Joseph Warren (1857-1929), Amanda S. (1860-1936), Andrew Jackson "Jack" (1862-1932), Milton Wesley "Mit" (1864-1953), William Nathaniel (1868-1870), and Charles L, (1871-1942).

In 1851, John Shultz platted a town he called Trinidad, on the banks of the Trinity River. It was about 12 miles southwest of Kaufman, near Rosser (which is in present day Kaufman Co, TX) (source: Handbook of Texas Online). In 1856 and 1864, John was listed as postmaster of Trinidad (in 1864, it was listed as the Confederate States of America).

In the 1860s, John enlisted with the Confederates to fight in the Civil War. He would have been between 43-46 years of age during this time period. When he received the Southern Cross of Honor, he stated that he fought in the 12th TX Cavalry. A search of the Civil War records turns up a J.G.Damson, Private, Co. F, of the 12th TX Cavalry, enlisted Dec. 13, 1863 in Canton (that would be less than 40 miles from Trinidad). If this is John, then the birth of his son Milton "Mit" is in question (Mit was born Nov 6, 1864). Another search turns up a John Dameron in Co. C, Bourland's Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Bourland's "Border" Regiment." This John is a private, detailed to drive beeves on Dec. 20, 1864, until further orders. (copies of these records are in my possession and posted to the left. You have to click where it says "See 7 more" at the bottom of the photos).

The following story was written by John's granddaughter, Mrs. Fredericka L. (Bedford) Blackburn in the 1950s and edited by Helen Foster Snow for the book, the "Dameron-Damron Genealogy: "John S. Damron and his wife Sally, lost all the had (due to the Civil War). Together with their 7 surviving children left Trindad, Kaufman Co, TX for Sonora, Mexico. In San Antonio, Texas, they met up with a wagon train headed by Mr. Copeland, which was bound for California. After spending one night in San Antonio, they changed their minds and decided to join Mr. Copeland's wagon train. They sold their oxen and bought four mules and a wagon and started out, coming over the route known as the Butterfield Stage Route. They left with $300, lost many possessions in the Pegos River, including the drum played by Capt. John Damron in the Revolutionary War. On December 17, 1865, after being nine months on the road, they arrived in San Bernardino, CA. Annie Stockton, John Shultz Damron's sister, met them about 20 miles out. John's family settled near Redlands. Within two years, John had moved his family to Temecula, where he took up a homestead of 320 acres. By 1880, John moved his family to Santa Ana, which was then part of Los Angeles Co. During the 1880s, many ex-Confederates had lobbied for breaking the southern part of Los Angeles off to form a new, separate county. In 1889, they were successful, and Orange County, California was born from the secession from Los Angeles County.

The last two children of John and Sally were born in CA. In 1866, the post office at Trinidad, TX was discontinued.

On March 22, 1875, John Damron (may be indexed as John Damison) was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Newport (Beach), then Los Angeles County, CA by D.S. Mills. (Black, Susan Eaton. Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 6 vols. Provo, UT. 1996).

On May 1, 1878, John bought 155.5 acres of land in what became Orange Co, CA.

On Jan. 19, 1903, John S. Damron was awarded a "Southern Cross of Honor" by the Emma Sansom Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy. His service was given as Private, 12th Texas Cavalry, enlisted 1861 and discharged in 1865. He was a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, Hi Bledsoe Camp, 1201 in Santa Ana. (Note: The dates that he states on his application do not match those found in the records).

John died on March 3, 1905, in Santa Ana, Orange Co, CA. His obituary can be found in two papers:
From the "Santa Ana Evening Blade," Fri., Mar. 3, 1905, last page: DIED. DAMRON - In this city, this morning, March 3, 1905, John S. Damron, aged 86 years. Mr. Damron passed away suddenly this morning at his home at 1250 West Third street, his death being caused from heart trouble. He had not been in the best of health for the last year, but no anxiety was felt by the family. He ate a hearty breakfast this morning, after which he went outside. Later he was found by a member of the family, dead. Mr. Damron was a Santa Ana pioneer having come here in 1860 from Tennessee, that being his native State. He was born September 14, 1818. For the last ten years he has been engaged in the real estate business. Besides his wife, Mr. Damron leaves eight grown children: John, Joseph, Jack, Charlie and Milton Damron, Mrs. Lou Bedford, Mrs. H. S. Pankey and Mrs. Amanda Smith. The funeral will take place from the family residence, Sunday, March 5th, at 11 a.m. Rev. T. W. Williams of Church of the Latter Day Saints, of which deceased had been a member for twenty-six years, will officiate. Mr. Damron fought as a Confederate soldier, all through the war and was a member of Hi Bledsoe Camp, 1201, U.C.V.

From the "Los Angeles Daily Times," Sat., Mar. 4, 1905, Section II, page 10: SANTA ANA. PIONEER DAMRON PASSES. SANTA ANA, March 3. -John S. Damron, one of the oldest settlers of the Santa Ana Valley, died at his home at No. 1250 West Third street this morning from a sudden attack of heart disease. Mr. Damron, who was aged 87 years, seemed in his usual health this morning, and after eating breakfast, went out in the yard, where a member of the family later discovered him dead. The funeral will be held at the residence Sunday at 11 o'clock. the (sic) services to be conducted by Rev. T. W. Williams of Los Angeles of the Latter Day Saints' Church.
Mr. Damron first came to the Santa Ana Valley in 1860, crossing the plains from Tennessee by team and wagon. He has engaged in ranching and real estate during his long residence here. He is survived by a widow and eight children, Joseph, Jack and Charles Damron of Santa Ana; John R. and Milton W. Damron of Smith Mountain, San Diego county; Mrs. Lou Bedford of Los Angeles; Mrs. Amanda Smith of Tulare and Mrs. H. S. Pankey of Santa Ana.

(Copies of both obituaries are in my possession).

John was buried on Mar. 5, 1905.

As one can see, there are many discrepancies in the obituaries that can be contradicted with documentation.