Veteran Bio
The Kemp Sketch
LITTON, JOHN - Born in South Carolina in 1812, a son of Lemuel and Annie Forester Litton. He came to Texas in 1827, as is stated in an unnumbered headright certificate issued to him for a league and labor of land by the Bastrop County Board in 1838. He was a member of Captain Jesse Billingsley’s company of Mina Volunteers but, as is shown on an army roll in the General Land Office, was among those who were at the Texas camp opposite Harrisburg on April 21, 1836. He was issued a Donation Certificate for 640 acres of land but the certificate is missing from the Land Office files. On May 16, 1838 he received Bounty Certificate No. 3406 for 640 acres of land for having served in the army from April 15 to November 15, 1836. Captain Billingsley certified that he served in his company from April 15 to July 15, 1836. He then joined in the ranging company, Burleson’s regiment, commanded by Captain John G. McGehee. In 1842 he participated in the battle of Plum Creek.
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Mr. Litton was married to Sarah Standifer, sister of William B., James W. and Jacob L. Standifer. Mr. Litton died July 4, 1856 and was buried in the “Hoy Eye” Cemetery, three miles southwest of Elgin, Bastrop County. His remains were removed on September 1837 reinterred in the State Cemetery at Austin and a monument erected at his new grave by the State of Texas. Mrs. Litton was born August 12, 1820 and died February 9, 1892. She is buried in the cemetery in Elgin.
Children of Mr. and Mrs. Litton were: Lemuel, who married Rebecca Owens; John Tom, who married Minnie Thomason; Martha, who married Calvin Turner; Anderson Tobe, who married Salena Hargis; James Harvey, who married Deltah Billingsley; Sarah, who was never married; William, who married Sallie Potts; Richard, who was never married, and Frances Jane Litton, who married J. E. Harling and resides in Belton, Texas.
Some of the surviving grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. John Litton are: Mrs. Sam J. Smith, 3210 Duval Street, Austin; L. C. Harling, Nacogdoches; Mrs. W. H. Carter, Elgin; Mrs. Mabel Condron, Elgin; Mrs. P. P. Wilhelm, Coupland; Mrs. Helen Berry, Waco; J. W. Litton, Wyola, Montana; Mrs. A. M. Felts, Austin; J. H. Litton, Jr., Los Angeles, California; F. O. Litton, Austin; E. R. Litton, Houston; Earl Litton, Austin; Miss Grace Harling, Austin; Mrs. Elsie Means, Belton; Hal Harling, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Mamie Harding, Fort Worth; Miss Ruth Litton, Fort Worth; Lee Litton, Fort Worth; Mrs. R. E. Kennison, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. W. O. Litton, Gilliam, Louisiana.
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Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.
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Battle Statistics
- Died in Battle: No
- Rank: Private
- Company: Capt. Gibson Kuykendall
Personal Statistics
- Date of Birth: 1812
- Birthplace: North Carolina
- Origin: Missouri
- Came to Texas: 1827
- Date of Death: 1856 July 6
- Burial Place: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas
- Comments: oldest child born and died in Runaway Scrape
- Bounty Certificate: 3406
- Wife: Sarah Standifer
- Children: Lemuel Litton; John Tom Litton; Martha Litton Turner; Anderson Tobe Litton; James Harvey Litton; Sarah Litton; William Litton; Richards Litton; Frances Jane Litton Harling
- Family at San Jacinto: Brothers-in-law Jacob L. Standifer and William B. Standifer fought at San Jacinto
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