Person Sheet
NameJohn C. Heathcock 
, G Grandfather
, G GrandfatherBirth14 Aug 1833, New Market, Madison Co, AL
Death1 Jun 1904, Sutherland Springs, TX Age: 70
BurialStockdale TX Cemetery
FatherAlfred Hathcock (1810-1885)
MotherElizabeth Cook (1815-?)
Spouses
1Mary E. Goodbread , G Grandmother
, G GrandmotherBirthca 1840, Marengo Co AL
Death26 Oct 1905, Sutherland Springs, TX Age: 65
BurialStockdale TX Cemetery
FatherThomas Goodbread (ca1815-1872)
MotherMalinda Brewer (ca1815-1877)
Marriage24 Jan 1856, Caldwell Co TX207
ChildrenElizabeth W. (1857-1900)
John (1863-1904)
James J. (1870->1902)
Josephine (1871-1917)
Thomas Creed (Twin) (1872-1955)
Jackson Hays (Twin) (1872-1954)
William Henry Bunker (1875-1944)
Phillip (1880-)
Notes for John C. Heathcock
On the spelling and pronunciation of the family name: The most common spelling of the family name was Hathcock until about 1870. The Madison County, Alabama group uniformly used Hathcock, and no doubt pronounced the name with a short a. In 1868, Alfred signed his homestead papers Alfred Hethcock. The spelling standardized as Heathcock between 1870 and 1880, although the name continued to be pronounced as heather rather than leaf, no doubt as a result of the earlier common usage of the pronunciation Hathcock.
Alfred's eldest son John Heathcock is much more conspicuous in the county records than is Alfred. John married Mary Goodbread, daughter of Thomas Goodbread and Malinda Brewer, in Caldwell County, Texas, in 1856. Caldwell County borders Guadalupe County on the Northeast.
Thomas Goodbread's eldest daughter Elizabeth married Jacob Degan in Bastrop County Texas in 1854, suggesting that the Goodbreads were in Texas prior to the marriage of John Heathcock and their daughter Mary. Their oldest daughter Elizabeth was born. They first appear on the Guadalupe County tax roll in 1859, when they had no property and were assessed a total tax of $ 0.75.142 The 1860 tax roll shows John Hathcock to be the owner of two horses and 300 acres of land valued at $300. The original grantee of the land was M. Goodbread. It is not known whether this referred to Mary Goodbread, John's wife, or Malinda Goodbread, his mother-in-law. There is no record in the General Land Office in Austin of either woman ever having been the recipient of a land grant. However, Malinda Goodbread was somewhat of a wheeler-dealer in land. For example, she later (1873) sold Catherine Hobbs, wife of Pleasant Hobbs, 200 acres of land, part of a 1280 acre tract that she bought from Phil Clabbron in 1866.143
John Heathcock and his bride Mary Goodbread settled in the Nockenut area in the period 1855-57. John Heathcock's name appears frequently in the records of both Wilson and Guadalupe Counties. He was a stock raiser and land speculator and often realized impressive profits in his dealings. For example, in 1875 he bought a 3 1/2 acre parcel for $35 in May and sold it for $450 in December. However, he also had a philanthropic side, and deeded land to the county for a school in 1880.165 John Heathcock ran both cattle and quarter horses on his farm near Sutherland Springs. His brand, traced from his branding iron, is shown as a graphic connected with this record.166 John and Mary Heathcock had a total of twelve children, several of whom apparently died while still young.
In 1880, John & Mary Heathcock lived in Wilson County, with eight children all at home. John and Mary are recorded again in the 1900 Wilson County census, in Sutherland Springs.167 John and Mary, along with son Thomas, appear as household 120, next to James Alford on one side and Joseph Clark and family on the other side. The census was taken on 12 June 1900. John's birth is given as Oct, 1833 and his age as 66; Mary's as Dec, 1839 and 60. Mary is said to have borne 10 children, of whom 7 were living at the time.
John died 1 June 1904168 and Mary died just over a year later, 26 October 1905.169 John is buried in the Stockdale cemetery under a tall granite stone inscribed "John Heathcock Sr., Son of Alford and Betty Heathcock." This gravestone was found and photographed in July, 1977, by the author, Steven Heathcock, and James F. Heathcock. Mary's grave site is unmarked.
Alfred's eldest son John Heathcock is much more conspicuous in the county records than is Alfred. John married Mary Goodbread, daughter of Thomas Goodbread and Malinda Brewer, in Caldwell County, Texas, in 1856. Caldwell County borders Guadalupe County on the Northeast.
Thomas Goodbread's eldest daughter Elizabeth married Jacob Degan in Bastrop County Texas in 1854, suggesting that the Goodbreads were in Texas prior to the marriage of John Heathcock and their daughter Mary. Their oldest daughter Elizabeth was born. They first appear on the Guadalupe County tax roll in 1859, when they had no property and were assessed a total tax of $ 0.75.142 The 1860 tax roll shows John Hathcock to be the owner of two horses and 300 acres of land valued at $300. The original grantee of the land was M. Goodbread. It is not known whether this referred to Mary Goodbread, John's wife, or Malinda Goodbread, his mother-in-law. There is no record in the General Land Office in Austin of either woman ever having been the recipient of a land grant. However, Malinda Goodbread was somewhat of a wheeler-dealer in land. For example, she later (1873) sold Catherine Hobbs, wife of Pleasant Hobbs, 200 acres of land, part of a 1280 acre tract that she bought from Phil Clabbron in 1866.143
John Heathcock and his bride Mary Goodbread settled in the Nockenut area in the period 1855-57. John Heathcock's name appears frequently in the records of both Wilson and Guadalupe Counties. He was a stock raiser and land speculator and often realized impressive profits in his dealings. For example, in 1875 he bought a 3 1/2 acre parcel for $35 in May and sold it for $450 in December. However, he also had a philanthropic side, and deeded land to the county for a school in 1880.165 John Heathcock ran both cattle and quarter horses on his farm near Sutherland Springs. His brand, traced from his branding iron, is shown as a graphic connected with this record.166 John and Mary Heathcock had a total of twelve children, several of whom apparently died while still young.
In 1880, John & Mary Heathcock lived in Wilson County, with eight children all at home. John and Mary are recorded again in the 1900 Wilson County census, in Sutherland Springs.167 John and Mary, along with son Thomas, appear as household 120, next to James Alford on one side and Joseph Clark and family on the other side. The census was taken on 12 June 1900. John's birth is given as Oct, 1833 and his age as 66; Mary's as Dec, 1839 and 60. Mary is said to have borne 10 children, of whom 7 were living at the time.
John died 1 June 1904168 and Mary died just over a year later, 26 October 1905.169 John is buried in the Stockdale cemetery under a tall granite stone inscribed "John Heathcock Sr., Son of Alford and Betty Heathcock." This gravestone was found and photographed in July, 1977, by the author, Steven Heathcock, and James F. Heathcock. Mary's grave site is unmarked.
Misc. Notes
1860 Census of Guadalupe Co TX
Name Age
Jno Hethcock 26 AL
Mary Hethcock 20 AL
Eliz M Hethcock 3 TX
1880 Census of Wilson Co TX
Name Age
John Heathcock 47 AL GA GA
Mary Heathcock 38 AL IN IN
Elizabeth Heathcock 23 TX AL AL
John Heathcock 16 TX AL AL
James Heathcock 10 TX AL AL
Josephine Heathcock 7 TX AL AL
Thomas Heathcock 5 TX AL AL
Jack Heathcock 5 TX AL AL
William Heathcock 4 TX AL AL
Phillip Heathcock 2M TX AL AL
Name Age
Jno Hethcock 26 AL
Mary Hethcock 20 AL
Eliz M Hethcock 3 TX
1880 Census of Wilson Co TX
Name Age
John Heathcock 47 AL GA GA
Mary Heathcock 38 AL IN IN
Elizabeth Heathcock 23 TX AL AL
John Heathcock 16 TX AL AL
James Heathcock 10 TX AL AL
Josephine Heathcock 7 TX AL AL
Thomas Heathcock 5 TX AL AL
Jack Heathcock 5 TX AL AL
William Heathcock 4 TX AL AL
Phillip Heathcock 2M TX AL AL
Notes for Mary E. (Spouse 1)
1900 Census of Justice Pct 3, Wilson Co TX
Heathcock, John head 66 Oct 1833 m(44) AL GA GA
---, Mary wife 60 Dec 1839 m(44) mother of 12, 7 living* AL GA GA
---, Thomas son 26 Dec 1878 s TX AL GA
The seven living children in 1900 were daughters Elizabeth Wiley and Josephine Parish and sons John, James, Jackson, Thomas and William. In addition to Phillip, there were four other children who are not accounted for. Since women in those days normally had children about every two years, the missing children were probably born in the six-year gap between Elizabeth (b 1857) and John (b 1863) and in the seven-year gap between John (b 1863) and James (b 1870). Unfortunately, the family was missed in the 1870 census, so it is not possible to know if there were young children at that time other than the eight who are accounted for.
Heathcock, John head 66 Oct 1833 m(44) AL GA GA
---, Mary wife 60 Dec 1839 m(44) mother of 12, 7 living* AL GA GA
---, Thomas son 26 Dec 1878 s TX AL GA
The seven living children in 1900 were daughters Elizabeth Wiley and Josephine Parish and sons John, James, Jackson, Thomas and William. In addition to Phillip, there were four other children who are not accounted for. Since women in those days normally had children about every two years, the missing children were probably born in the six-year gap between Elizabeth (b 1857) and John (b 1863) and in the seven-year gap between John (b 1863) and James (b 1870). Unfortunately, the family was missed in the 1870 census, so it is not possible to know if there were young children at that time other than the eight who are accounted for.