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Post by MissyS on Feb 25, 2017 17:22:13 GMT -5
I read some things but not alot about Brushy living in Gladewater Tx. before he moved to Hico, and before he met Morrison, some persons that knew him then remembered him showing off his guns skills, telling stories and I believe someone claimed that he seemed to be hiding a secret? I wonder if anyone had read anything more about his stories, or anything he may have told while living there? It seems after his move to Hico is when he really revealed his secret, but I believe he could have revealed things before Hico?
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Post by mckinley412 on Feb 25, 2017 20:25:59 GMT -5
I think he was living in Hamilton when Morrison first approached him. Not sure anymore. But his house in Hamilton was still standing as of 2010 I believe.
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Post by Wayne Land on Feb 26, 2017 1:06:50 GMT -5
He was living in Hamilton when Morrison met him but later moved to Hico and the house in Hico is still there. I've been there. Here's a photo from 2006 .  BTW, that's me in the photo, not Brushy! |
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Post by mckinley412 on Feb 26, 2017 1:29:56 GMT -5
And the house in Hamilton is probably still there for those of you that want to go down that rabbit hole. I saw it once upon a time. I can get you the address if you promise to go and take pictures.
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Post by mckinley412 on Feb 26, 2017 1:31:59 GMT -5
P.s. I just drove past it because I was on a very tight schedule.
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Post by MissyS on Feb 26, 2017 2:33:42 GMT -5
I'm a bit confused Hico is in Hamilton County, then there's Hamilton Tx that's also in Hamilton County, whenever persons spoke about Brushy living in Hamilton I thought it was the County. Did he ever live in Gladewater TX before meeting Morrison? Maybe it was persons in Hamilton TX that I read about that remembered Brushy telling stories and showing his shooting skills, I thought it was long before Morrison met him? That house in Hamilton I hope the Historical Society will keep it protected, does it have a Historical Marker saying "Brushy Bill lived here"? , it would be cool if it did, are there people living there? I wonder if there was if the residents would check the attic for a Brushy's trunk or something? I know odds it won't ever happen, but I wonder if there could possibly be something left from Brushy in the attic of any old houses he had lived?
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Post by mckinley412 on Feb 26, 2017 3:48:51 GMT -5
He lived in Hamilton before Hico. They are both in Hamilton County. Neither house is a historical marker. I'm not sure where Gladewater is but I think it was a different house. I think the house in Hico was for sale. The one in Hamilton was a house like maybe a log cabin type with people living in it.
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Post by nmjames on Feb 26, 2017 16:18:08 GMT -5
MissyS
Brushy lived in Gladewater from about 1935 until after 1940. You can find him in Gladewater on the 1940 census. It also states on the censu: Residence in 1935 Gladewater, TX. Gladewater is in North-East TX. It is 12.5 miles from Longview, TX. Longview is where DeWitt Travis lived. Hico is about 20 miles from Hamilton more in center part of Texas. I have a newspaper article from June, 1942 that states: Gladewater Rodeo Opens on Tuesday. : Gladewater roundup association said a prade led by Postmaster ----------- and including an old-time westerner, "Brushy Bill" Roberts.
nmjames
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Post by Texas Truth Teller on Feb 26, 2017 18:14:24 GMT -5
After his wife, Mollie Brown died in Little River County, Arkansas in 1919, Brushy Bill returned to Van Zandt County. He was living in Van Zandt County in 1920 on the Wills Point - Jackson Road when the census was recorded. His age was reported as 41 (indicating he was born in 1879). His name was recorded as Oliver P. Roberts (although W. C. Jameson, in “Beyond the Grave”, p. 109, said Brushy Bill NEVER used the alias of Oliver P.). He was a farm laborer living with the family of James C. and Allie Murff. He later married Loutecia Ballard, mother of Allie Ballard Murff. Oliver, age 52 (born about 1878), and Lutisha, age 57, were living in Van Zandt County when the 1930 census was recorded.
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Post by MissyS on Feb 27, 2017 14:01:38 GMT -5
Thank You All,
I guess I should have titled the thread "Brushy before Hamilton". That's cool Brushy was mentioned as being in a parade. I never knew that, when he lived in those towns before he met Morrison did he do anything more like tell townsfolk stories of who he was or practice his skills with his guns or handcuffs or anything that brought attention to the townsfolk that he was extra ordinary so to say?, I'm trying to win a debate with someone I know (not on the board) that Brushy had a history before he met Morrison of saying things etc. , anyway that it didn't just start when or after he met Morrison as what the person believes. I couldn't find reference to what town or towns it was before Morrison met him, I just remember reading a few things about him living in Gladewater and residents there mentioned him saying some things and shooting his guns, but couldn't find where I read it. I know now a few counties and towns he lived before, thanks to you, I can now look for articles, not just to win an argument but I'd like to learn more of what he did and said in the places he lived before.
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Post by nmjames on Feb 27, 2017 21:59:57 GMT -5
MissyS
You may have read a article by Van Craddock from Aug. 2015 about Brushy Bill in Gladewater and Longview. It is in the Stephen F. Austin State University archive. You should be able to find it. If not let me know and I will PM you the site. I do feel Brushy told a lot of stories through his life but I don't think he told anyone he was Billy the Kid until Morrison. I seem to remember one of his family members saying he use to tell them he was Billy the Kid but they would just laugh as they knew he wasn't. (or something like that). I have a newspaper article from 1949 that states Brushy said his father was one of the oldest members of the James gang and that he himself was a member for a time in his late teens.
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Post by Texas Truth Teller on Feb 28, 2017 12:37:44 GMT -5
MissyS,
Brushy Bill said he married Mollie Brown. Oliver Roberts married Mollie Brown in Van Zandt County, Texas, in 1912. Tunstill thought Henry Oliver Roberts was the uncle of Brushy Bill. Henry Oliver Roberts and and his wife lived in Van Zandt County in 1910. Brushy Bill registered for the WWI draft as Oliver Pleasant Roberts in Little River County, Arkansas, in 1918. He and Mollie lived in Arkinda. Henry O. and Elizabeth Roberts lived in Arkinda, Arkansas, when the 1920 census was recorded. Mollie died in 1919, and was buried in the Pauley Cemetery, Cerrogordo, Little River County, Arkansas. The widowed Brushy Bill returned to Van Zndt County where he was recorded in the 1920 census.
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Post by MissyS on Feb 28, 2017 16:41:30 GMT -5
nmjames,
I did find that article, I do believe it's the one I remember reading, thank you, Van Craddock refered to Brushy as Ollie L. In the article, the old timers remembered him telling about adventures and having gun demonstrations living there, they said he was quite handy with a gun, cool article. and I can add that he rode in a parade. He may not have told his secret of being BTK while living there but it seems to me that he was busting at the seems to tell someone before he met Morrison. Thank You all for the help.
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