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Descendants of John & Martha (Simpson) Gaylor

Generation No. 2


      2. Andrew Joseph "Jack"4 Gaylor (John3, John2, James1) was born 07 Jan 1846 in Warren Co TN, and died 19 Apr 1921 in Yosemite CA. He married (1) Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Pendleton 12 Sep 1867 in Farmersville(Collin) TX, daughter of Rev Pendleton and Jemima Kilgore. She was born Abt. 1837 in Rye Cove(Scott) VA, and died 26 Dec 1886 in Lander(Fremont) WY. He married (2) Margaret Rutledge(2) 04 Nov 1890 in Lander(Fremont) WY (Divorced). He married (3) Elizabeth "Lizzie" Shinholser(3) 11 Jan 1899 in Macon(Bibb) GA. She was born 04 Nov 1865 in Macon(Bibb) GA, and died 15 Nov 1949 in Macon(Bibb) GA.

Notes for Andrew Joseph "Jack" Gaylor:
Andrew Joseph "Jack" Gaylor was born 7 January 1846, probably near McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee & was the oldest son of John & Martha (Simpson) Gaylor. Jack's sister, Sarah Matilda was born 1847 & brother Abslom in 1849. Sarah Matilda was evidently named after her paternal & maternal grandmothers. During the 1850 census, John & Martha Gaylor were residing in Jackson County, Tennessee.
Jack's youngest brother John Thomas "Tom" Gaylor was born 1851 in Marion County, Tennessee, very near the Alabama/Georgia border where father John's relatives resided. Not much else is known about their father, but it is highly likely they journeyed back to Alabama and Georgia for a brief visit with relatives before beginning their long arduous trip to the Ozarks of southwestern Missouri. It is believe Jack's father John may have died along the trail to Missouri about 1853.
While in Barry County, Jack's mother Martha married widower William Brummett in September 1854. William Brummett was an older man, born about 1811, whose first wife Nancy Ray died around 1854. William had several children from his previous marriage to Nancy Ray. They were Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Narcissa, Martha, William, Johnson & John Brummett. Mr Brummett became the step-father of the Gaylor children.
Jack's mother Martha married William C. McCord in Collin County, TX on Sep 10, 1867. Jack married Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Pendleton 2 days later on Sep 12, 1867. During this same week, Jack's step-sister Narcissus Brummett married his wife Sallie's brother Melvin Pendleton.

"Sallie" Pendleton was born in 1837 near Rye Cove, Scott County in the southwest corner of Virginia and came to Texas in a covered wagon with her parents Rev. John and Jemima (Kilgore) Pendleton in 1858. Her father was a Methodist minister and farmer in that area of Virginia, but decided to move his family to Texas shortly before the Civil War started. This overland trip took about 64 days & passed through the states of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas & probably Indian Territory. Sarah's paternal Pendleton ancestors came from Norwich, England and settled in Virginia during the 1660's. Sarah's grandfather was Benjamin Pendleton, a Revolutionary War veteran, who settled in southwest Virginia after the war.

From "Scott County, Virginia and its people 1814-1991" article submitted by Maxine Pendleton Sanders:
"Rev. John Pendleton, a descendant of William and Elizabeth Tinsley Pendleton of Amherst County, Virginia, was born the son of Benjamin Pendleton- - - -As a farmer and Methodist Minister, Rev. John spent many years in that part of Lee, Russell and Scott Counties uniting in marriage many of the early Virginia settlers during the early 1800's. - - - -In 1858, Rev. John and his son John Craig- - - -and with other members of the family moved to Collin County, Texas. - - - -In a letter to Thomas Horton (1859), Rev. John described the new country as bountiful. "If I were young and back in Virginia and know what I know now about Texas, I could not be kept there." In his letters, Rev. John described his arrival in Texas as like "John in the Isle of Patmos. Almost banished from friends and no meeting houses." But he was invited to speak in homes schools, and the Masonic Hall in Farmersville, preaching every Sunday in Farmersville, Rev. John died Oct 11, 1861."

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30 Jul 1867 - Collin Co TX (Voter Registration)
A.J. GAYLOR, Born TN Left State
W.G. PENDLETON
(Note: Jack's future brother-in-law next to Jack on the register)

1867 - Collin Co TX (Marriage Records)
10 Sep 1867 -WILLIAM C. McCORD married MARTHA ANN BRUMETT
12 Sep 1867 - A.J. GAYLOR married SARAH E. PENDLETON
19 Sep 1867 - MELVIN PENDLETON married NARCISSUS BRUMETT
(J.M. Benge, Court Clerk; E.L. Angel, M.G.)

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Jack & Sallie Gaylor acquired about 49 acres on Hickory Creek, just north of the Pendleton farm which was inherited by Sallie's brother John Craig Pendleton after their father, Rev John Pendleton died in 1861. It is quite likely that Jack's mother & his siblings resided with them.
It seems evident that Jack Gaylor was also a horse wrangler as were many people of that area of Texas. During the early years of the "open ranges" with no fences, many unbranded maverick cattle & horses were rounded up and branded by ranchers and cowboys who sometimes "threw a wide loop." This was especially true after the Civil War, when a good horse was hard to come by, since the Federal army had confiscated most of them.
A Pendleton descendant, the late Jim Phillips of Dallas, TX spoke of a "family tradition" as told to him by an elderly relative who was one of Sarah Pendleton Gaylor's nephews. Jim wasn't sure it was true, but stated that this elderly man named Will Pendleton, the son of Sarah's brother John Craig Pendleton, told him that his aunt Sarah Pendleton was married to A. Gaylor and that A. Gaylor was mixed up in some horse dealings & had to leave town in a hurry, in the middle of the night.
Jim also stated in a letter to me: "I know very little about A.J. Gaylor and Sarah Pendleton. The horse stealing bit was told me by Sarah's nephew Will Pendleton. Several of Sarah's brother's and sisters are not accounted for and when I asked him about them he always said they went to Oklahoma. I doubt from what I have read about A.J. Gaylor that his horse stealing bit was anything other than a fabrication or an explanation that rose to the surface of Will's consciousness, when questioned."
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From "Collin County: Pioneering in North Texas", by Capt Roy F. Hall & Helen Gibbard Hall are the following excerpts:
"There were few horses left in the county as the army had taken them all but there was a surplus of bushwhackers. - - - The years immediately following the Civil War, or from 1865 to 1870 were perilous ones in this section of Texas. An influx of Carpetbaggers overran the country, bringing not only the Carpetbaggers themselves, but also many discharged Union soldiers, attracted at the prospect of taking over the land and property of Ex-Confederates, as had been halfway promised them. - - - - - Unwilling to lose their lands, the farmers, resorted to the guerilla tactics resorted to by the "bushwhackers" during the war. This is, they took to the thickets and fought back, some even took to banditry by preying on the Carpetbaggers, the JayHawkers from Kansas, and the scallawags-the fellow who had hid out as a Union sympathizer durng the war. In Northeast Collin County, with Blue Ridge as about the center, this warfare reached its peak in the Lee-Peacock feud, in which a good many men lost their lives.- - - - - -- - - - - - Lewis Peacock was killed from ambush on June 14, 1871, and Bob Lee died the same way on the morning of May 24, 1869. Both had been leaders in the feud, and both were good men but with widely divergent views. - - - - - - - there was a lot of right and a lot of wrong on both sides, but, as stated before, these were perilous times in Collin County."
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Ironically, Jack & his family were most likely caught up in this unrest and turmoil of post civil war Texas. The very reason they left Missouri a decade earlier. About 1867, Jack took his family, including his mother & siblings, as well as Mr McCord, back to Sugar Creek Township in Barry County, MO. The political turmoil of this area of Missouri had quieted down considerably after the war and evidently, the family still had a strong Mitchell family connection there. They remained there about two years and in 1869 backtracked into
Indian Territory probably using the same Texas & Osage trails they took a decade earlier to Texas. They most likely travelled as a group, settling near Ft Gibson of the Cherokee Nation.
During that year, Jack and wife Sallie went back to Texas to take care of some business. Sallie's mother Jemima Pendleton had died the previous year and it appears they felt it was safe for them to return to the area & sell their property on Hickory Creek. This they did with the help of Sarah's brother William Gaines Pendleton, but soon returned to the rest of the family at Fort Gibson.
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3 Mar 1869 - Collin Co TX (Sale of Land-Vol R, Pg 346)
"The State of Texas - Collin County. Know all men by these presents that for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars to us in hand paid by J.W. Throckmorton & Thomas J. Brown the receipt of which we hereby acknowledge A.J. Gaylor and his wife Sallie Gaylor have this day bargained & sold and by these presents convey unto said Throckmorton & Brown all of our right title or interest in and to the following described land towit: being part of a survey of land in said Collin County known as the STAATS SURVEY and on the waters of HICKORY CREEK beginning at the NORTH-EAST corner of said Survey, Thence SOUTH three hundred & seventy seven varas a stake. Thence WEST Seven hundred & forty one varas a stake. Thence NORTH three hundred & seventy seven varas a stake. Thence EAST Seven hundred & forty one varas to the place of beginning. To have and to hold unto said Throckmorton & Brown forever with all the rights and tenements to the same appertaining and I A.J. GAYLOR convenant with said Throckmorton & Brown to warrant and defend the title to said land unto them their heirs Executors and assigns against the claims of all persons whomsoever. Witness our hands this 3' day of March AD 1869. A.J. GAYLOR; SALLIE GAYLOR

"The State of Texas - Collin County - This day before me WM G. PENDLETON a Notary Public for Collin County personally came SALLIE GAYLOR wife of A.J. GAYLOR who is to me well known and acknowledge that she signed and delivered the foregoing deed for the purposes and considerations
Setforth and being examined privately and apart from her said husband after having the same fully explained to her, she declared that she signed the same freely and voluntarily and without any undue ?? or compulsion and that she does not wish to retract it. To certify which I hereto sign my name affix my seal of office this 3" day of March AD 1869. W.G. PENDLETON N.P.C.C. Txas;
Filed March 22 AD 1869 at 10 o'ccock AM, Duly Stamped G.W. Patterson, Clerk"
(Don's Note: Original owners Nelson & Henrieta Staats. The witness & Notary, W.G. Pendleton, was Sallie's brother)
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Jack & Sallie Gaylor's oldest daughter, Lenora "Nora" was born in 1871, probably at Fort Gibson. Jack was a scout & freighter throughout the Indian Territory & Arkansas during that time, however, about 1875 after the birth of their 2d daughter Abbie, he and his family traveled across the great plains to Placerville, CA where he mined for gold. It is believed that Jack's wife Sallie & the two daughters resided briefly in Sacramento while he was mining.
The next year, Jack and his family settled in Cheyenne, Wyo where Jack drove a stagecoach from Cheyenne to Deadwood SD. Their 3d daughter Emma died in infancy while they were in Cheyenne. According to his daughter Nora McKinney's biography on file in the Wyoming State Archives in Cheyenne, he was "quite proud of his six-horse outfit when he drove in the direction of the Black Hills region." He was a young 26 year old man in the prime of his life. During this 1876-1878 period when Jack drove this Cheyenne and Black Hills trail, the area was notorious for numerous robberies and hostile Indian attacks. Also during this period, Calamity Jane is said to have driven a stage along that route and Wild Bill Hickok made his famous trek from Cheyenne to Deadwood.
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1880 - Federal Census (Laramie Co WY/Cheyenne/ED 25 Sh 41)
GAYLOR, A.J. 32/TX/TN/TN (Freightor)
S.E./33/VA/VA/VA(Sarah)
Lenora 9 AR//Abbie 5 AR//Emma 1 WY     
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In 1880, Jack found employment with the War Department as a scout and wagonmaster/teamster at Fort Washakie, Wyoming. This was the year he evidently came to Fremont County. It was during this time that son Walter was born in 1881. Jack made many trips with the cavalry escorted freight outfits that departed Fort Washakie, hauling & supplying materials to the various cavalry outposts and other government agencies throughout Wyoming & the Dakotas. He served with the War Department at Fort Washakie for 2 years but in 1882 Jack became restless and again decided to seek his fortune in the gold mines. This time he decided that a trip to the gold fields of New Mexico might prove financially rewarding. He left New Mexico when the Indians became too dangerous and went to Boulder, Colorado, where he may have established some more mining claims. He soon returned to Fremont County & moved his family to South Pass where he established some mining claims.

With gold mining & "bull whacking" out of his blood, Jack Gaylor decided to establish a homestead in 1885 in the scenic Sinks Canyon area along the Big Popo Agie River near Lander. When Sallie died on this Sinks Canyon homestead the day after Christmas in 1886, Jack was left with the responsibility of raising 3 young children by himself. Before she died, Jack constructed a nice log house for his family and made many other improvements on the land which was required by the Homestead Act.
As another "family tradition" was related to me by family members, Sallie suffered terribly from an ulcerated stomach condition. Her inside organs could be seen from the open wound caused by the condition. She was buried in the family cemetery at Borner's Garden in Sinks Canyon. Her daughter Lenora (Gaylor) McKinney and son Walter Gaylor who both died many years later are buried near her. He married the widow Margaret Rutledge in 1890 but they were soon divorced after she deserted him because she was unable to get along with his daughters.
In 1893, both of Jack's daughters were married. Abbie married Charles Rhodes and raised her children on a ranch near Lander. Nora married Ed McKinney, a horse breaker & cowboy from the Sweetwater River country. Nora went to live with him in a small log cabin shared with partner Gus Lankin at Split Rock which was more than a day's wagon ride from Lander. Gus Lankin's diary mentions a Thanksgiving family gathering in 1894 when Nora's father "Jack", brother Walter & sister Abbie Rhodes & family visited for a week and had a feast of beef & venison from a deer they shot.
Jack Gaylor sold his homestead in 1895 and evidently moved to Rongis on the Sweetwater River. His daughter, Nora McKinney & husband Ed during this time operated the Upper Graham Ranch on shares with their good friend James Graham. Therefore, for a couple of years before leaving for the Spanish American War, Jack visited quite often with his daughter and family on the Sweetwater.
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11Jun1885 - General Land Office,EvanstonWY(Homestead Application #188) ANDREW J. GAYLOR settled on homestead in Sinks Canyon, Lander, Fremont Co WY (Homestead Certificate #133, Final Grant 29 Feb 1892). He sold this land to H.G. Nickerson, 18 Jan 1895.

26 May 1893 (Fremont Clipper, Lander, Wyo)
Note: A separate article briefly tells about a posse that captured escaped prisoners near Skull Gulch, on Twin Creek. Excerpt from The Local Department: "JACK GAYLOR, the intrepid, lent a helping hand in the endeavor to capture the fleeing prisoners."
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Jack Gaylor was also well known throughout Fremont County as a hunter and trapper. He provided meat for his family and supplemented his income by selling the pelts of the animals he killed. The following items were found in The Fremont Clipper:
January 21, 1888-"Jack Gaylor killed three elk and five mountain sheep last week."
April 7, 1893-"A.J. Gaylor brought the pelt and horns of a very large mountain sheep to town last week. He sold it to W.A. Feiser who took it to Cheyenne to have it mounted. The animal was killed within ten miles of Lander."
March 4, 1898-"A.J. Gaylor of Rongis was in town Saturday and Sunday, having brought in a wagon load of coyote and wolf pelts. Mr Gaylor is one of the best wolf trappers in the state. He informs us that he will soon start for Klondike in company with two Colorado miners, who are now on Sweetwater getting together an outfit. They will go overland via Fort Union and expect to reach Klondike about the first of September."
Mar 4, 1898-"WANTED, TWO DOGS - I will pay $25 each for two Russian Wolf Hounds that will weight 140 pounds delivered to me at Rongis, Wyoming, or at James Graham's ranch on the Sweetwater. Want them in the next three weeks. A.J. GAYLOR, Rongis, Wyoming"


During this period while Jack was in Wyoming, his brother "Tom" Gaylor , half-brother "Bob" Brummett and their mother Martha eventually left Ft Gibson and moved to an area of the Cherokee Nation on the Grand River NE of Wagoner later called Gaylor Bend. Sarah Matilda's husband, Ivera Wright, evidently died & she married blacksmith, Frederick McDonald Uhls & they remained under permit at Ft Gibson in the Illinois District. Frederick Uhls was an older man, born 1826 in TN, whose first wife had died. He came to Indian Territory about 1870 from Illinois. It is not known for sure what became of Jack's brother Abslom, if he died in TX/MO or came with the family to Indian Territory.
Sarah Matilda Uhls & brother "Tom" Gaylor applied jointly for Cherokee Citizenship in 1878, but were rejected, evidently unable to prove their ancestry. Sarah Matilda and Frederick Uhls later moved to Muskogee where they raised their children Cynthia, Florence, Emma W., Parthenia, Clarinda, George and Fred Jr. Sarah Matilda died in Muskogee in 1888 & is buried in Greenhill Cemetery. Her husband Frederick married 3d wife, a widow named Mary Jane Griffiths who helped raise the children, but he also died in Nov 1893. In October of 1894, daughter Emma Ward Uhls visited her uncle "Jack" Gaylor & family in Lander Wyo. She signed the guest register book of her 1st cousin Abbie (Jack's daughter) in Lander. This book is in the possession of Abbie's daughter, Georgia Hulett, of Dubois, Wyoming.
Jack's brother Tom Gaylor was a cattle rancher in the Gaylor Bend area for many years and also served as a scout from time to time for the cattle drives coming through the area. During the 1870's, a few years after after arriving in the Cherokee Nation, it is believed that Tom married his step-sister Martha Ann Brummett. They had a daughter named Josephine who died in 1887. After Martha died in 1880, Tom married a woman of Cherokee ancestry, Nancy Elizabeth Alberty.
Tom & Nancy had several children born during the 1880's, Lavena, Thomas J., David H., Grover C., and Perry A. Another daughter Abbie died in infancy in 1898. Nancy died that same year. A couple of years later, Tom married his 3d wife, Nancy Foreman. In about 1886, John Thomas "Tom" Gaylor & half-brother Bob Brummett made a trip to Lander, Wyoming to visit brother "Jack" Gaylor and family. A studio photo of Tom & another man, believed to be brother Bob, is in possession of relatives in Wyoming. Another photo of Jack's young son Walter was taken at this studio using the same drop cloth.
John Thomas "Tom" Gaylor died of pneumonia in 1902 and was buried beside 2d wife Nancy Alberty in the Gaylor Bend Cemetery. Mother Martha (Simpson) Gaylor, who died in 1887, is also buried there. This cemetery was later relocated to the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery near Wagoner during construction of Fort Gibson Reservoir in the 1940's. Half-brother Robert Brummett left the Gaylor Bend area and settled near Hulbert east of Wagoner. He & his first wife Lummie raised their children in the Hulbert area. After Lummie died in 1914, she was brought back for burial at the cemetery at Gaylor Bend.

More About Andrew Joseph "Jack" Gaylor:
Ancestry: ScotIrish/English
Burial: KnightsPythiasMercedCA
Cause of Death: Coronary Embolism
Military: 1880-1882(WarDept/CavalryScout&Packer-FtWashakieWyo 1898-1907SpAmWar(CivilianPackmaster-Cuba/Philippines/PresidioSF)
Occupation: Freighter/Scout/Miner/Rancher/Packer/ParkRanger
Religion: Baptist
Residence1: Warren Co TN (1846-1847)///Jackson&MarionCoTN(1847-1853)
Residence2: Barry Co MO(1853-1858)//Ladonia(Fannin)TX(1858-1865)/////Farmersville(Collin)TX(1865-1867)
Residence3: Back to Barry Co MO(1867-1869)//CherNation&Ark(1869-1875)/////PlacervilleCA(1875-1876)
Residence4: Cheyenne Wyo (1876-1880)/////Lander, Fremont Co WY (1880-1898)
Residence5: HuntsvilleAL/MaconGA(1898-1899)//Cuba&Philippines(1899-1901)
Residence6: SanFranciscoCA(1901-1905)/////YosemiteCA(1905-1921)

Notes for Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Pendleton:
It appears that Jack didn't get the "gold fever" completely out of his blood, because according to that March 4, 1898 Clipper article, he had made plans to travel to Klondike. He never had his chance, because the Spanish American War started about that time and his adventurous spirit led him to join Colonel Torrey and the "Rough Riders" as a civilian packmaster. He was nearly 50 years old at the time and had already raised his family, but the idea that he could see some action in Cuba probably appealed to him.
The following item was in the August 12, 1898 issue of the Lander, Wyoming Clipper:
Excerpt printed in above newspaper from a long letter sent by Jack Gaylor to the editor from Florida. "FROM THE ROUGH RIDERS - Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, FL, Jul 18, 1898. Dear Sir: As I am way down here in Florida, I would like to have the news, so I will enclose $1 to you, for which you will please send me the Clipper. I am one of the boss packers for the Rough Riders. We may stay here for some time as Col Torrey is still unable to walk. - - - - - - We had a bad smashup on our way down here & several of our boys were killed - - - - -- - - Well, anyway I did not get killed and I am still in the ring, and I am going to have a mule load of Spaniards' ears before I come back. - - - - - - -We take the long eared mules, with packs, out and drill every day. We expect to pack all of the grub and ammunition for our regiment. We will stay until the Spanish lads are conquered. - - - - - Yours truly, A.J. GAYLOR"
Jack soon transferred to the 7th Cavalry at Huntsville, Alabama and went to Cuba during the U.S. military occupation. While with the 7th Cavalry at Macon, Georgia, he met his third wife who was about 16 years his junior. They were very happily married for 22 years. From The Clipper, February 10, 1899:
Excerpt from a Macon, GA newspaper item sent by Jack Gaylor to the editor from Macon, GA:
"A PRETTY WEDDING IN SOUTH MACON, GEORGIA - We clip the following from a Macon, GA paper of January 12, which will be of great interest to many of the people of this section of the country. (Editor of Clipper)
A marriage occurred in South Macon last night with just a tinge of romance about it. The contracting parties were Miss Lizzie Shinholser to Mr A.J. Gaylor, chief packmaster of pack train No. 27, which is attached to the Seventh Cavalry in camp here. The groom is a native of Lander, Wyoming. He came to Macon with the Seventh Cavalry and shortly after arriving here met the young lady who subsequently consented to be his bride. Mr Gaylor has spent most of his life on the plains and as he stated last night, felt more at ease in a buckskin suit on the alkali plains of Wyoming than he did in a dress suit. - - - - -"
This was a very happy marriage for Jack and Elizabeth. She remained in Macon, Georgia while he went to the Philippines later that year. She also resided with her brother Ed, a railroad engineer, in Birmingham, Alabama as he was traveling thoughout Georgia & Alabama with the railroad. Jack & Elizabeth had no children from this marriage, but Elizabeth stood by him and patiently waited for him to return from his adventures, just at his first wife Sarah did. He was Chief Packmaster under General Funston and was stationed at San Isidro, Mueva, Ecija, in the Philippines. The capture of Aguinaldo, the revolutionary President, by General Funston in March 1901 at Luzon virtually ended the main insurrection, and Jack returned to the States the following year.
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1900 - Federal Census (Military Station-40th Vol/San Isidro, Philippines)
GAYLOR, ANDREW J B:Jan1853/Born: Fannin Co TX/Chief Packer
FatherBorn: Lamar Co TX////MotherBorn: Bary Co MO

1910 - Federal Census (Mariposa Co/Yosemite/ED 92 Sh 5A)
GAYLOR, ANDREW J 54/Texas/Ireland/Scotland (Forest Ranger)
Elizabeth/44/GA/GA/GA

1920 - Federal Census (Mariposa Co CA/Yosemite/ED 41 Sh 6A)
GAYLOR, ANDREW J 64/Texas/Ireland/Texas (Ranger NP Service)
Elizabeth
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Jack brought his young wife Elizabeth to California where he was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco. He was in charge of the cavalry pack trains that brought supplies to the various outposts in Yosemite National Park and northern California. He gained some experience in Yosemite at fighting forest fires, planting fish and some other ranger type duties while on temporary duty. He became acquainted with Major H.C. Benson who was the Acting Superintendent of the park before the National Park Service was established. Because of Jack's natural abilities and his love of nature, he was perfect for this type of ranger position and was consequently appointed as a Park Ranger at Yosemite by the Department of Interior in September 1907. The pay was $900 a year. At this time there were only 6 of these permanent "first rangers" who had to patrol the entire Yosemite area. The following is from the History of the Sierra Nevada, by Francis P. Farquhar:

"Beginning in 1898 a few forest rangers (afterwards called park rangers) had been employed, but it was not until 1914 that a permanent ranger force was established. Among these "First Rangers" were Charles Leidig, Archie Leonard, Henry Skelton and Jack Gaylor, who established a fine tradition of devoted public service."

Excerpts from a resume written 9 Mar 1916 by Jack Gaylor which was included in his Department of the Interior, National Parks Personnel File:
"My training and experience has led up to a Rangers duty since the Spanish War began in 1898, when I left Wyoming with Colonel Tory's rough riders as packmaster to Jacksonville, Fla. From there I was transferred to the 7th Cavalry at Huntsville, Ala. From there ordered to Cuba with the 7th Cavalry. I had a great deal of experience in teaching the civilian packers & soldiers to pack with the diamond hitch, which the Gov. requires all packers & rangers to use.
From Cuba I was transfered to Manila P.I. & was promoted to Chief Packmaster & was with General Funston doing his packing & packed any and everything from a cannon on down. From Manila P.I. I was ordered back to the U.S. and was with packtrain at Presidio S.F. - - - - - - -In the spring of 1907 was telegraphed and asked to come to S.F. and take charge of packtrain for Yosemite National Park service which I did. Remained with it packing supplies for Soldiers during the summer & helped them to fight forest fires also packing and helping Major Benson plant fish until Sept 9th 1907 at said date I received my appointment for Rangers duty in Yosemite National Park from the Dept of the Interior, and have remained with it ever since. - - - - (Andrew J. Gaylor, Asst Chief Park Ranger)
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WAR DEPARTMENT (Civilian Personnel Records Center, St Louis)
1Jul1880-1Jul1882 (Packmaster & scout at Fort Washakie, Wyo)
10May1898-1898(Packmaster Torrey's "Rough Riders"(2d USVol)Cheyenne/JacksonvilleFL)
1898-1Jun1900 (Packmaster with 7th Cav Huntsville, AL/Macon, GA/Pinar del Rio Cuba/Manila,Philippines)
1Jun1900-1Jan1901 (Chief Packmaster with Gen Funston's Command at San Isidro, Luzon,Philippines)
1Jan1901-10Sep1907 (Packmaster w/pack trains Presidio of SF/Camp Yosemite)
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (Civilian Personnel Records Center, St Louis)
10Sep1907-19Apr1921 (Park Ranger/Asst Ch Park Ranger Yosemite Nat Park CA)
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16 Aug 1910 - Mariposa County, CA (Voting Precinct Register)
"Yosemite Precinct
No.23 ANDREW J. GAYLOR/Age50/Occupation-Ranger/Address-Yosemite/Party Affiliation-Democrat" (Note: Jack fibbed about his age again. He was actually 64)
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1911 - Yosemite National Park (From the Merced Sun Star, dated 1 Mar 1986, Merced, CA) by Leona Lewis, Editor of Living Section
Excerpts: "Horses hit by lightning in 1911 during a thunderstorm near Glacier Point in Yosemite Valley were ordered burned on the spot by the one and only ranger on duty. - - - - - - - In 1911 a party of 10 women and 8 men felt the wrath of Mother Nature in Yosemite and lived to tell the story. The party of 18 sightseers traveled to Yosemite on horseback at a time before blacktop covered its roads and trails.- - - - - -On July 21, 1911, the caravan left the floor of Yosemite Valley - - - - -Just after they crossed Illilouette Creek, they rode by 370 foot Illilouette Falls, and were winding up the hill on a zig-zag trail when they came to a clump of tall pines. - - - - - -A bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree, then went down the trunk to the ground. This bolt either jumped across or passed along the ground. Anyway, it struck 10 mounted animals, killing seven horses and two mules. The riders were not hurt. - - - - the riders were insulated by their leather saddles. - - - -the lightning blew all the shoes off the horses - - - -According to reports, seven horses fell with their hooves and legs pointing to the center of a half circle. - - - - - -their jaws were cracked. - - - - --In 1911 there was only one ranger in Yosemite, JACK GAYLER. Staying with the party for 2 and a half days, he made them pile logs on the horses and burn all of them. Four five-gallon cans of kerosene were used to burn the horses - - - - -"

(Letter dated 27 Jan 1988 from Terry Wehrman of YELLOWSTONE NP Wyo to Tim McKinney of Lander, Wyo)
Excerpts: "- - - - -The two articles by your cousin Don were very enjoyable and by chance, I ran into a fellow up here who knows more stories about Jack Gaylor. He is Jerry Mernin, the district park ranger located at the south entrance. Seems he grew up in YOSEMITE NP where his dad was a ranger, and Jack Gaylor was his idol from the stories about him. A mutual friend had a Winchester of Jack's that Jerry coveted, but was never able to obtain as it was given to the park (at Yosemite). Jerry mentioned one story about Jack ordering a car to stop at one of the gates, and when they didn't, he leaped on his horse and upon catching up, shot the tires out on one side. Then to be sure, he rode around the other side and shot out the tires there.- - - - - -"

5 Feb 1916 (Mariposa Gazette, Mariposa County, CA)
Yosemite Valley (Weekly News Notes) excerpt: "- - - - - -on the occasion of the fancy dress ball at the Sentinel Hotel. - - - - Such a pageant Yosemite's social life has not seen before. Even the grizzled old veteran ranger, who in his long career has five times been shot, even he, Jack Gaylor, was a part of the gorgeous whole.- - - - - -"

(Geographic Place Names, Yosemite National Park Region)
"GAYLOR LAKES - A group of lakes northwest of Tioga Pass. Named for Jack Gaylor, a N.P.S. ranger who died in service April 1921. (From book on Yosemite by Farguhar, page 30)
Elevation 10,046, 10,350, 10,600
In a basin separated from Tioga Pass by a 500 ft ridge.
"GAYLOR PEAK - Elevation 11, 004. Farguhar, page 30
****************
Jack Gaylor never returned home to Wyoming after the war and his grown children, who remained in Wyoming, and other relatives in Oklahoma never knew what became of him. His daughter Nora McKinney inquired with the War Department and Red Cross to learn his fate, to no avail. Family tradition also suggests that his son Walter traveled to California after the war to try and locate his father, with no success. They all believed he probably perished during the war or succumbed to some injury or disease in San Francisco after returning from Cuba. He became a "family mystery" and no one knows for sure why he never returned home. They never knew that he later became Asst Chief Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park. He died of a heart attack sitting before his campfire while on a high mountain patrol at the park in 1921, many years after the war, and was buried in the Knights of Pythias section of the Merced, CA cemetery.
***********************
19 Apr 1921 - Yosemite, Mariposa County CA (Death Record)
ANDREW J. GAYLOR, Born Jan 7, 1854 in Texas, 67 years, 3 months, 12 days
Asst Ch Park Ranger, Yosemite National Park; Wife: Elizabeth;
Father: JOHN GAYLOR; Mother: MARTHA SIMPSON. Sudden death without physician. Coronary Embolism. Frederick L. Stein, M.D. Buried Merced, CA Apr 22, 1921 by Welch & Co Undertakers.
(Don's Note: Jack fibbed about his age through the years, probably to gain employment with the Government. His age in official records ranges from 1846-1860. He claimed to be born in Fannin Co, TX, but was actually born in TN.)

21 Apr 1921 - Merced Morning Sun, Merced, CA (Obituary)
"ASST CHIEF RANGER DIES IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - A.J. Gaylor, assistant chief ranger in Yosemite National Park, died suddenly at Merced Lakes Tuesday, April 19. The body will be brought to Merced for burial Thursday, April 21, and will be accompanied by Mrs Gaylor who was in Yosemite at the time of his death. The time for the funeral will not be fixed until the arrival of the body in Merced and will be under the auspices of Yosemite Lodge No. 30, Knights of Pythias, Mr Gaylor having been a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 4 of San Francisco."
22 Apr 1921 - Merced Morning Sun, Merced, CA (Funeral Notice)
"GAYLOR FUNERAL TO BE HELD HERE AT 10 A.M. TODAY - Funeral services for A.J. Gaylor, assistant chief ranger in the Yosemite National Park, who died Wednesday at Merced Lakes, will be held here this morning at 10 o'clock at the Chapel of Welch & Griffin, Eighteenth street at M. The services will be in charge of Yosemite Parlor, Knights of Pythias. Mr Gaylor was a member of Phoenix Lodge, San Francisco. Interment will be in Knights of Pythias cemetery."

Jack Gaylor was evidently a very charismatic, colorful, adventurous character and a self made man. He established his intrepid reputation while he was in Wyoming and his personality, one way or another, influenced those around him. Indeed, many of his exploits or adventures perhaps were not recorded or lost in ancient newspapers and publications that have not survived or have not been researched. Mr Stephen Mather, Director of the entire National Parks Service for the Department of Interior at Washington, D.C. during the 1920's, who was well acquainted with Jack Gaylor, sent a telegram to Jack's widow at Yosemite in which he stated:
"You have my sincerest sympahty in your loss, which is also ours. Your husband's fine personality had endeared him to us all. His faithful service of over 14 years will always stand as a splendid record."

(Excerpts from GUARDIANS OF THE YOSEMITE (Copyright 1961): A Story of the First Rangers, by John W. Bingaman) Brief excerpt from his biography of Jack Gaylor: " - - - - He died of a heart ailment at Merced Lake Ranger Station the night of April 19, 1921 while sitting before his campfire. He was on a high mountain patrol and died with his boots on just as he would ha. His last ride was down his favorite trail, across his saddle horse with both ends tied down. - - - -I remember him very well, patrolling the trails, always on the watch for law violators and forest fires. He always carried a 45 Colt revolver, and a Winchester Carbine and rode a fine mule for many years."- - - - - -

(Letter in 1985 from Retired Ranger John Bingaman to Don McKinney)
Brief Excerpt: - - - - - "Jack as I remember was a tall, handsome man, and when you met him, especially while he was on patrol in the saddle, he was man you never forgot, he was that "outstanding". He looked you straight in the eyes and you never forgot just what he was thinking. - - - - He was all for his love of the trails and mountains, always riding the trails, and was on all trails of Yosemite National Park. He was a sight to see - - - - "

Andrew "Jack" Gaylor was representative of the many types of bold, hard working, long forgotten individuals who helped settle the West. To sum up his philosophy of life is the following message, attached to a gift, he gave his son Walter before leaving for the Spanish American War: "Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe."
******************************************************************
Family Traditions: Myth or Reality

My Grandfather, Earl McKinney of Lander, Wyoming, oldest son of "Nora" Gaylor McKinney, told relatives that his mother was born in "Oklahoma", that her father was from there & was "part Indian". He stated that Nora's mother came from a "plantation in Virginia". He also said they left Oklahoma and settled in California before coming to Wyoming. This tradition as "remembered" by some other relatives in Wyoming claims that "Grandmother McKinney" had enough "Indian" blood to "draw royalties", but her pride would not allow her to do so. Nora always claimed in official records that she was born in Sacramento, California, but told her children that she was born in Oklahoma. Descendants of Nora's sister, Abbie (Gaylor) Rhodes, who also live in Wyoming, claim Abbie was born in Little Rock, Ark. It is believed that their father freighted throughout Indian Territory & Arkansas during the 1870's.
Records exist in Okla (1878-80) in which Nora's uncle "Tom" Gaylor & aunt Sarah Matilda Uhls applied jointly for Cherokee citizenship. These applications were rejected & evidently no substantial "proof" could be offered for their Cherokee roots. They could not prove their Cherokee heritage any more than we can, either because it wasn't true OR possibly because they didn't know the name of their Cherokee ancestor (probably female). It is also probable that if there were Cherokee ancestors, they did not register with the "Eastern tribes" of NC/GA/TN area. Many female Cherokees married white men and mixed in with the white population and did not march to the west (OK & ARK) on the trail of tears during the 1830's. If they didn't register on the various rolls, we will probably never be able to prove Cherokee heritage. If our Gaylor's were part Cherokee, they would have been related to the ones who stayed in the "East". Our Gaylor's were in TN during the 1840's & didn't move "west" (Barry Co MO) until 1853-1854. From there they went on to TX during the late 1850's and didn't get to the Cherokee Nation of Indian Territory (Oklahoma) until 1869.
In later documents, after "Tom" gained citizenship through marriage to a Cherokee woman named Nancy Alberty, there is a suggestion by one witness that "Tom" himself (unofficially) claimed some Cherokee blood. The basic tradition as told by my Grandfather is accurate but the "Indian" part of the tradition can still not be proven. This family tradition of Cherokee heritage may have come from "Tom" Gaylor's marriage to an "Indian" woman and somehow through the generations, became distorted to the claim that Nora Gaylor McKinney herself had Indian heritage when it was her cousins back in Oklahoma who were part Indian. Descendants of these Oklahoma relatives still live there today.
Several of Jack Gaylor's descendants in Wyoming, the children & grandchildren of Nora McKinney & Abbie Rhodes, held the family tradtion that their Grandfather, went off to Cuba during the Spanish American War with TEDDY ROOSEVELT's ROUGH RIDERS & drove the "pack mule trains", but was never heard from again. They thought he had died during the war & daughter Nora claimed, in an official WPA state sponsored biography of her life, that she & sister Abbie as well as their brother Walter Gaylor made every attempt through the War Department & Red Cross to learn his fate.
Actually, Jack Gaylor went off to the Spanish American War with TORREY's ROUGH RIDERS, the 2d U.S. Volunteers which recruited cowboys & adventurers from that area of the west. Teddy Roosevelt commanded another group, the 1st U.S. Volunteers, also called the "Rough Riders" who won all the glory and fame. However, an Oklahoma relative, Perry Clu Gaylor, grandson of Jack's brother "Tom" who remained in Olahoma, "remembered", as it was passed down to him, that their Grandfather's brother was named "SAM" Gaylor and "served under TEDDY ROOSEVELT in the Panama Canal deal" and "looked after the pack mule train". The Oklahoma relatives also thought he had died during the war. "Sam" was the name of another older relative, a nephew but not a brother of Tom Gaylor. Another of "Tom" Gaylor's grandsons, David Hogue Gaylor, Jr, related to me the tradition, as he "remembered" it, that both of his grandfather's brothers went to Wyoming. Actually, there was only 1 brother who went to Wyoming, the oldest brother, Andrew "Jack" Gaylor.
These younger generations in Wyoming & Oklahoma were not born when these events occured but tended to "remember" things incorrectly as the traditions were passed down to them from older family members. This is typical with most families. But the basic family tradition held by both the Wyo & Okla relatives remains true, that Gaylor ran the "pack mules", disappeared after the war and became a "family mystery". Family documents indicate that the Wyoming and Oklahoma relatives kept in contact during the 1880's and 1890's & even visited each other. After the "disappearance" of "Jack" at the turn of the century and the deaths of his brother "Tom" in 1902 and sister Sarah Matilda years earlier, the younger generations in Wyo & Okla lost contact and never knew about "each other".

More About Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Pendleton:
Ancestry: English/ScotIrish
Burial: BornersGardenLanderWyo
Religion: Methodist
Residence1: RyeCove Scott Co VA(1837-1858)
Residence2: Farmersville Collin Co TX(1858-1867)
Residence3: Barry Co MO (1867-1869)
Residence4: CherokeeNation,IndianTerr(1869-1875)
Residence5: Sacramento CA(1875-1876)
Residence6: Cheyenne, Wyo (1876-1880)
Residence7: SinksCanyon Lander Fremont Co Wyo (1880-1886)

Notes for Elizabeth "Lizzie" Shinholser(3):
(Telegram of Stephen T. Mather, Director of National Parks, to Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Shinholser) Gaylor, the day after Jack Gaylor's death)
- - - -
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, April 20, 1921
TO: Mrs Andrew J. Gaylor, Yosemite, California.
You have my sincerest sympathy in your loss, which is also ours. Your husband's fine personality had endeared him to us all. His faithtul service of over fourteen years will always stand as a splendid record. Stephen T. Mather

(Letter written by Lizzie to Stephen Mather)
- - - - -
Yosemite Calif, April 27th 1921.
Mr Stephen T. Mather, Washington D.C.
Dear Sir & Friend.
Your telegram extending your Sincerest Sympathy to me in my deep sorrow & grief received. Please accept my thanks to you for your most kind rememberance to me in my heart breaking trouble.
I will further add, and pray you won't think me hasty in doing So, that this subject to mention below was brought to my attention at this office yesterday and if I understand it right I need not expect any compensation from the Gov, but would be given time to Straighten up my affairs here.
It seems hard after my dear one had spent the best part of his life for the good of the Gov which was over 30 years put together in the different departments, that his Widow Should be cast aside without any compensation whatever by the Gov - Now Mr Mather if you have any influence in regard to this matter, will you kindly use it in my behalf, it will be greatly appreciated.
The Doctor told me that anyone in their declining age that had lived an active life as Mr Gaylor had done was liable to pass away as he did at any time, He also said that the spell of Flu which he contracted while performing his duty recently & recovered from had something to do with the hastening of his death, as it left an infection in his weakest organ. And I feel that the Gov Should do something for me after my deceased Husband's long & faithful service.
I am also enclosing some papers from his many recommends, If you think they can be of any service to you in this matter use them.
Mr Mather this is a confiential letter, and to beg of you to help me in this matter, and not think me hasty.
Please let me hear from you in regard to this matter at your earliest convenience.
Thanking you for all Kindness & courtesy you have extended to Mr Gaylor.
I beg to remain Yours Respectfully, Mrs Elizabeth Gaylor
*************************
(Letter written by Lizzie's niece in 1951 to Carl Russell, Supt. of Yosemite National Park)

Macon, GA, Dec 11 1951
Mr Carl P. Russell, Supt.
The enclosed piece of mail was received at my address several days ago. I am sorry to inform you that Mrs Gaylor passed away two (2) years ago last month (Nov 15)
The reason I did not answer promptly was, I was waiting to contact one of the men who had charge of Mrs Gaylor's business, which I did yesterday. He read the letter and advised me to answer. Mrs Gaylor was living with me at he time of her death, but if she was living I am sure she would deeply appreciate your interest in wanting Mr Gaylor's picture in your collection in Washington D.C.
I am sending some pictures of Mr Gaylor. I do not know his full name, as most people called him Jack. I do not know where he was borned but I did hear Mrs Gaylor say he was buried at Mercedes California. I think the date of his death April 19 1921 is correct as my husband died March 20 1920 and Mr Gaylor's death was a year later.
You ned not send the pictures back as here is others here, but these were the best ones. Hoping this little information and pictures will help some. I will again say if Mrs Gaylor was living I know she would appreciate having Mr Gaylor's picture among your collection.
Respectfully, Mrs Sulinda Bruner (Mrs Gaylor's Niece)
P.S. The house No. has been changed from 100 to 636 Piedmont Ave.
*************************
1900 - Federal Census (Jefferson Co AL/Birmingham/13thSt(ED139/Sh5)
GAYLOR, LIZZIE      B:Nov1866/GA/GA/GA     
Bro Edward Shinholster1858 (Engineer Locomotive)
SallieA1872SC(Edward's wife)     
EdwB1894GA/WmJ1895GA
MaryR1898GA/SusieK1899
(Lizzie's husband A.J."Jack" Gaylor of Wyo In Philippines during census)

Elizabeth SHINHOLSER Gaylor
Born: 4 Nov 1865            
Died: 15 Nov 1949
(Buried: Cedar Ridge Cemetery (Lot 2C5), Macon, Bibb County, Georgia)


     
Children of Andrew Gaylor and Sarah Pendleton are:
+ 6 i.   Lenora Sarah "Nora"5 Gaylor, born 19 May 1871 in CherNation,IndTerr; died 03 Feb 1947 in Escondido(SanDiego)CA.
+ 7 ii.   Abigail Anabelle "Abbie" Gaylor, born 02 Jun 1875 in IndTerr/Ark; died 14 Oct 1964 in Evanston(Unita) WY.
  8 iii.   Emma Gaylor, born 1879 in Cheyenne(Laramie)WY; died Abt. 1880 in Cheyenne(Laramie)WY.
  9 iv.   Walter Monroe Gaylor, born 12 Jan 1881 in Lander(Fremont) WY; died 27 Oct 1936 in Pasadena(LA) CA. He married Lillian in CA.
  Notes for Walter Monroe Gaylor:
1900 - Federal Census (North Fork, Fremont Co WY)
GAYLOR, WALTER M Jan1881/WY/IL/IL Single Farm Laborer
With Benj Koon family
(Note: Walter Gaylor's parents were born in TN/VA, not IL. Error made by census taker. Mr Koon was born in IL)


  More About Walter Monroe Gaylor:
Burial: Borners Garden, Lander WY

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