Young County - Biographies - Green Washington Fields ****************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Carolyn Fields Collins [cfieldscollins@yahoo.com] USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************** Green Washington FIELDS, better known as GW to his family and friends plus all of north and central Texas, was born in Santa Fe, Maury County, Tennessee September 22 1849 to Abraham "Able" and Louisa Virginia THURMOND FIELDS. GW was eleven years of age, about 1859-1860, when the family left Middle Tennessee and crossed the Mississippi on a barge with one negro slave. They went into Sarcoxie, Jasper County, Missouri for a time and then moved on to Benton, formerly Washington, County, Arkansas. He met a young lady in Osage mills, Arkansas and courted her. He ran a footrace for her hand in marriage. Francis Julia FARMER and GW were married in Osage Mills January 13 1870 and left in a wagon for Texas that same day. Wade farmer, Julia’s father gave her a dowry of 700 dollars. GW and Fanny lived in Dallas, Tarrant County, Texas for a couple of years. Two of their children were buried there. They moved on to Jack County, Texas to an old sandstone rock house on the BALCH land. This was once a trading post and stage stop for the Butterfield Stage. Comanches were still in the vicinity, and stole horses from time to time. They built a home overlooking the rock house on a hill, that was based on the plantation style home, of John FIELDS, in Tennessee with a huge front porch with columns. It burned in later years, probably struck by lightening in a Texas thunder storm. GW was one of the first members of the Southwestern Cattleman’s Association listed with his brand in Young County in 1874. His brand was an F with a bar on top. The young men of Jack County were entertained by jousting tournaments and polo games GW and Fanny held on the BALCH and Lively Oaks land. Every Sunday the family loaded up (the wagon) and went to church, probably the Baptist church in Bryson, Jack County, Texas. He refused to bury his family in Rock Creek Cemetery, which was close to their home, because of another family he feuded with. So miles away they buried their loved ones in Cottonwood Cemetery. At 68 years of age he passed away, probably in Jack County, although there is no record found yet. He was buried in Cottonwood Cemetery. GW appears in the 1860 Missouri Federal Census in Sarcoxie, Jasper County, Missouri. During the American Civil War, this area was the scene of much bloodshed resulting from the atrocities of both the Jayhawkers (North) the Bushwhackers (South). In addition, there were regular army engagements at Carthage, nearby. Anecdote: Family lore has it that the family (of Abel Fields) were fleeing across the river during the Civil War. Looking back they saw their house in flames, burned by the Yankees. ©2006 Carolyn Fields-Collins.