My great-great grandfather, John W. Rich, was born in North Carolina July 27, 1823, the oldest of four children, to parents of the Methodist and Baptist faiths. After his father died, John helped manage the family farm and helped his mother, Nancy, with raising the younger children. We've run up against a brick wall trying to find his father's name but believe it could be Hiram, Elijah, or John.

When he was 26 John married Sarah Dene Stiles, who was born in 1816 in North Carolina and was the daughter of an oldtime Minister of the Gospel, Benjamin Stiles and wife Charity. While still in North Carolina, John and Sarah had one daughter, Nancy Jane. Nancy Jane (1850-1938) married Robert McDonald Fowler in 1871.

John and Sarah moved to Grayson county, Texas, in 1851, where John took a homestead of 320 acres which they farmed and raised livestock. It's likely that more of both sides of the family came to Texas at the same time. His mother, Nancy and the other children, Sarah, Martha, and Mary, moved to Texas the following year. Sarah's parents also moved to Texas. My great-grandfather, Benjamin Fuller Rich, was born in 1854 while John & Sarah were living in Grayson county. Fuller (1851-1937) married Malissa Jane Vermillion (1858-bef. 1910) in 1875. Malissa is the daughter of Reuben Vermillion and Mary Garrison. Their second son, John Adgealove, was born in 1855. John A. (1855-1922) married Sarah Anderson in 1877 and after her death he married Mary Cauflnan in 1889.

Children of Nancy Jane Rich and Robert McDonald Fowler are Callie 1871-, Sallie Anna 1875 Spanish Fort-1961 (married Edward Jackson McIntyre), and Cora 1881-1914 (married Henry McCurdy).

Children of Benjamin Fuller Rich and Malissa Jane Vermillion are John Benton 1875-1925 (married Mary Angeline Perry), Lillian Liola 1877-bef.1900; Rueben Fuller Theophalus (Oph)1880-1961 (married Susan Ellen 'Tunie' Perry); Lery Lora 1882-1971 (married William Benjamin Perry); Lona Eugene 1885-1980 (married Bill Nelson & Zebulon Franklin Chill & William Edward Miskel); Onah R 1899-1987 (married Jacob 'Jake' Allen Ridenour & Eugene F. Johnson).

Children of John Adgealove Rich Sr and Sarah Anderson are Walter 1879-1918 (married Bertha Brazier); John Adgealove Jr 1882-1959 (married Sarah Malone); Hiram 1884-1948 (married Katie Pearl Thompson); Nora 1886- (married B. 'Edward' Brown).

During the Civil War, John W. Rich served in Bourland's Regiment, Texas Cavalry, with headquarters in Gainesville. The duty of this Border Regiment was to guard the northern border of Texas. It was during this time that John Rich first visited the Montague county area.

In 1872, John sold the land in Grayson county and bought 500 acres in Montague county. There he platted a town and named it Burlington, which is current day Spanish Fort, TX. He also owned the land that the old fort was on. John W. Rich farmed and for several years operated Rich's Ferry, which he obtained a charter for in 1879, across the Red River. Around 1878 he opened a kiln and produced bricks for the town of Spanish Fort. A number of the stores on the square were made of his brick. In 1884, when the town voted to incorporate, John W. Rich was one of the two judges.

John W. died July 31, 1897 and is buried in the Spanish Fort cemetery. John also belonged to the Masonic lodge, the oldest in Texas, holding the title of JW which I believe means Worshipful Master. Sarah died in 1902 and is buried alongside John.

Next week: Spanish Fort: Fuller Rich

Source: Anna L Russell story about John W & Sarah in Montague County - It's Past & Present; The History of Spanish Fort, TX; Shelley Cain Way; Scott Black