CAMPBELL COUNTY, GA - BIO James R. Kidd Family ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C.M. Wright writecjc@aol.com James R. Kidd lived in Campbell Co. GA from 1831 until 1857 when they migrated to Texas. James R. KIDD Our second Great Grandfather, James Randolph Kidd was born May 04, 1829 near Fishing Creek, York Co. SC to John L. & Sarah S. (Wallace) Kidd. James was their thirteenth child. In 1831, the Kidd Family decided to migrate to what was then Coweta Co. GA. The boundaries were changing and in a short time they were found in the newly formed Campbell Co. GA. John Kidd and his two older sons, Oliver Sr. and Lilburn L. bought land southwest of today's Fairburn, GA. This place was and is now called Antioch Community. Here they settled down farmed and gave lands for the Antioch Methodist Church, school and cemetery on Rivertown Road. In about 1835, the Bailey family moved into the community and bought lands south of the Kidd Family. Elijah J. Bailey was a Farmer by trade and helped build Methodist Churches in Campbell/Coweta, Counties in Georgia. Sometime before 1849, James R. Kidd then called Randolph, met and married the oldest daughter of Elijah; Malinda Bailey in Campbell Co. November 8, 1849. To their Union Nine Children were born, four in Campbell Co. and five in TX. They were: Ezekiel Calhoun (1850-1854), Lundy Lou (Kidd) Nabors (1852-1936), Lewis Berry (1854-1900) & Janet Malinda (Kidd) Johnson (1856-1878). In Upshur Co. TX were born; Jackson Aaron (1859-1905), {he was my Great Grandfather}, Julie Eljavia (Kidd) Odell (1861-1957), Mary Frances (Kidd) Nabors (1865-1941), LuLu Florence (Kidd) Coulter (1867-? ) and an unnamed Infant, (1870- 1870). In 1857, the Elijah Bailey Family as well as the Kidd's, Reeves and others migrated west to what was then Upshur Co. TX. Mr. Bailey bought about 1000 acres of land SW of Pittsburg and later sold some to Counce M. Reeves his son-in-law for which he later gave for the Community known as Reeves Chapel, Texas. In Texas, James R. Kidd used the initials J.R., and was known by that significantly. The Kidd Family moved on south of Pittsburg. Here my Great Grandfather Jack was born. They farmed and first appear on the Federal Census 1860, P.O.- Simpsonville. In late 1861-early 1862, it was clear that the War Between the States was evident. J.R. Kidd joined Company H, 18th Texas Infantry also known as Ochiltree’s Regiment Texas Infantry At Coffeeville, Texas May 6, 1862, under Captain J.W. Duncan. James in fact names Captain Duncan in his veteran papers. His Veteran Papers dated 11th day of September 1899, and approved the 10th day of February 1900, Cooke County, TX, Say in answer to the question “quote” my age and injury to back and left leg, (are a result) caused by a siege, Cannon fell on me during service in Louisiana. Another answer to a question says, “served three & one half years”. So Ensign/Private Kidd saw a lot more of the war then records show. In fact if he was hurt in Louisiana then he was with the Regiment when they were in Louisiana, April of 1864 at which time he was injured, went to the hospital and went home around September 1864 on leave and returned. He possibly went back to the hospital in early 1865. Military records say, Ensign/Private Kidd was in Greenwood, LA hospital February 1865 and by April 1865 the war ended. This information seems to add up for him to be home in a reasonable time to see his new baby daughter, Mary. Let me say that this is just a fair theory, about how it might have been in concern to James Kidd’s military Service, facts are not there. Now the exodus home. This part makes me think of when we read about John C. Porters Autobiography. He said something like I saw many men going home and anyway they could. Trains, wagons, horses and many on foot. He speaks of walking with others traveling home and passing many men on his way to Pittsburg, Upshur Co. TX. James went home to Simpsonville and started farming again. I read in “Texas Handbook Online,” that both Simpsonville and Calloway were doing well. James and Malinda Kidd moved to what was Calloway. They were listed in the Federal census 1870 P.O.- Calloway. It is apparent that the kidd’s were migrant workers as were his Son Jack and Grandson Jesse (my Grandfather). The 1880 Census lists, James and family near Pittsburg in Camp Co. here many of their daughters and sons married. My Great Grandfather Jack had moved in the early 1880’s to Greenville, Texas. Here he made friends with a family named Odell. They went for a visit back to Camp Co. and this is where it started, the relationship for Julie and Tipton (Tip) Odell. They married in Camp Co. in 1887. At some point after this the newlyweds went to Van Zandt Co. Texas. At some point, James and Malinda decided to travel along with their children. We have little information about the movements of James and Malinda between 1887 and 1899. The Nabors and Odell descendants claim that James and malinda lived with them at various times. The story goes, John Henry and Mary Frances (Kidd) Were living south of Dallas Texas, in either Ellis or Johnson County at the time in 1898. James and Malinda were also living with them at the time. In early 1899, a severe lightning storm came about. Malinda was in the house sitting when a streak of lightning Hit the chimney, traveled down and hit the stove of which Malinda was sitting beside. It killed Mrs. Kidd, the cat and the dog under the house. It is said that they had to bury her right away and placed her in a cemetery named Liberty. This cemetery has not yet been located because of the nature of them moving Around from one family group and place to place. About 2 weeks ago, July 15th 2002 we finally located James R. Kidd’s Veteran papers in Cooke Co. Texas. This revealed that James had been on the move again with family and were at Woodbine, Texas. We had been left with the impression, that James and Malinda had already went into one of the Territories of Oklahoma. The earliest we have been able to locate James is on a marriage In early 1907, in Roger Mills Co. OK. The Nabors went to Harrington, O.T. and started a General Store and Mary Kidd was the Postmaster during this time. The Nabors family had heard of better opportunities in California and decided in late 1910 early 1911 to go to Ontario. James R. Kidd was well-advanced in age and it looks like he did not want to make the migration. He decided to go and live with the Odell family who at the time lived 5 miles west of present day Dill City, OK. Here he lived with them about 6 more years. My Great Uncle Van Roper wrote me in a letter, that he was about 6 years old when he first saw J.R. Kidd. The reason for the visit is partly because these families had Intermarried. My Great Uncle went on to say, I saw your 2nd Great- Grandfather Kidd. He was sitting on the front porch and had a real Long white beard. I was surprised because we had never written to each other before and we had received the photo above a few weeks after my Great Uncle wrote me. So now we had an eyewitness, as having seen him and placed him on the farm west of Dill City, OK. James R. Kidd’s Granddaughters Julia Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Odell) Moore and Lou Ella “Ella” (Odell) Howard wrote letters and named a neighbor man, John Haggard who made J.R. Kidd’s coffin. They lined it with material available, sat up that night with the body and buried the remains on the East End of the South Burns Cemetery. This is located 1 mile west of Dill City on SH 152, 2 miles south on SH 44. Turn left and about 1/2 mile east on the left side of the road. They say his grave was marked with native rocks. The best that they could tell about 10 years ago was it was in row 3 or 4 of the cemetery now. James R. Kidd lived to be 87 years, 1 month and 17 days - young. Compiled by C.M. Wright writecjc@aol.com Citations: 1830 York Co. Census, 1840,50 Censuses Campbell Co. GA, 1860,70,80 Upshur and Camp Co. Texas, 1910 OK Census Roger Mills Co.,Land records Campbell/Fulton GA, Fulton Co. Couthouse, Atlanta, James and Malinda'a 1850 Bible, Beulah Odell Rozell(Grandaughter)-1928 research,Hunt Co. TX Census 1900, Civil War records J.R. Kidd, 18th Texas Inf. Veteran papers Cooke Co.TX, these mention when he came to Texas from GA.Many Kidd descendants...