John Wesley Dean
Father
1833-1918
John Wesley Dean (1833-1918) history,
by Milton Forsythe
After Lucinda's death John's siblings offered their assistance in caring for his children and also offered to take each child into their homes as a gesture of kindness. Although John realized he surely needed assistance he also assumed Lucinda would desire the family to remain intact. John thanked each of his siblings for their generosity however he politely refused their offer. Family records indicate in early July 1889 after the occurrence of several unpleasant incidents between himself and his children John accepted his sibling's offer of assistance with his children. The two youngest children were welcomed into the homes of John's two brothers. "W. B." Dean and Robert Alexander Dean and there resided several weeks. Although John considered his decision to be the best for his children the children disagreed and shortly thereafter were returned to their home near Brownwood, Texas. In 1889 John and his children packed their belongs into the old Dean family wagon departed Brown County and moved east to Van Zandt County, Texas. There John and his children resided near John's brother "W. B." Dean, living in the Wills Point, Township. According to Van Zandt County deed records John purchased a 100 acre farm north of Grand Saline Township and he and his sons farmed the land. Although the old Dean family farm was recorded in the Van Zandt County deed records most of the acreage lay north of Grand Saline in Hopkins County, Texas. Richard assisted his father in farming the land and there he first met his future wife, Lizzie Reeves.
Texas State Archives:
Texas Civil War Veteran (Enter "Dean, John Wesley"; John's second wife, "Ida M," then drew a widow's pension.)
Civil War Veteran:
At rest as a recognized Texas Civil War Veteran in Woodside Cemetery, Grand Saline, VanZandt County, Texas, Section 6A. (Section 6A, Near the back, stone in middle of open, grassy space.)
Woodside Cemetery, Grand Saline