City Marshal Jackson T. Barfield
End of Watch: Monday, December 3, 1877
City Marshal Jackson T. Barfield responded to a disturbance at a store owned by J. J. Stubbs. Alfred "Alf" Rushing, Frank Carter and Harv Scruggs, all armed with shotguns, were accusing Stubbs of taking a pistol from their saddlebags left in the store a few days earlier. Marshal Barfield talked to the men and seemed to be pacifying them. The three men mounted their horses and Marshal Barfield turned to walk away. Alf Rushing fired his shotgun striking the marshal in the back, killing him instantly. The three men attempted to escape but a posse of citizens gave chase and wounded and captured Frank Carter. Court records show that Rushing, Carter and Scruggs were all charged with murder, but the file is missing and the disposition of the charges is unknown. Rushing was reported at large as late as 1898 with a $1,000 reward for his arrest and detention.
No survivor information was located on Marshal Barfield. He is buried in the Crouch Cemetery in rural Limestone County.
End of Watch: Monday, December 3, 1877
City Marshal Jackson T. Barfield responded to a disturbance at a store owned by J. J. Stubbs. Alfred "Alf" Rushing, Frank Carter and Harv Scruggs, all armed with shotguns, were accusing Stubbs of taking a pistol from their saddlebags left in the store a few days earlier. Marshal Barfield talked to the men and seemed to be pacifying them. The three men mounted their horses and Marshal Barfield turned to walk away. Alf Rushing fired his shotgun striking the marshal in the back, killing him instantly. The three men attempted to escape but a posse of citizens gave chase and wounded and captured Frank Carter. Court records show that Rushing, Carter and Scruggs were all charged with murder, but the file is missing and the disposition of the charges is unknown. Rushing was reported at large as late as 1898 with a $1,000 reward for his arrest and detention.
No survivor information was located on Marshal Barfield. He is buried in the Crouch Cemetery in rural Limestone County.
City Marshal Charles Powers
End of Watch: Monday, September 23, 1878
On Saturday, September 21, 1878, Frank Polk, who lived in the Pisgah Ridge community in Navarro County about eight miles northwest of Wortham, Freestone County, was arrested by Wortham City Marshal Charles Powers for a misdemeanor. Polk was a noted desperado who was friends with John Wesley Hardin. Polk was released on bond and stayed in town until Monday, September 23, 1878. Shortly before his trial he rode out of town. Marshal Powers and Constable Wingfield rode after him and arrested him. He was brought back to town and paid his fine. Polk left town but returned around 6:00 p.m. and rode back and forth in front of the store of Mayor W. M. Seely, who was also a Freestone County deputy sheriff. Polk dismounted with his Winchester rifle outside the store. Marshal Powers and an unnamed assistant city marshal approached Polk and told him to surrender his weapon. Seely then came out onto the street armed with a Winchester rifle. Polk started backing up with the lawmen following him. Suddenly Polk fired on Marshal Powers. Powers returned fire as he fell. The assistant city marshal shot Polk two times and Seely fired seven shots, hitting Polk three times. Both Powers and Polk died instantly.
Nothing is known about Charles Powers despite efforts by former Sheriff Sonny Sessions and the Freestone County Historical Society. No place of burial has been located.
End of Watch: Monday, September 23, 1878
On Saturday, September 21, 1878, Frank Polk, who lived in the Pisgah Ridge community in Navarro County about eight miles northwest of Wortham, Freestone County, was arrested by Wortham City Marshal Charles Powers for a misdemeanor. Polk was a noted desperado who was friends with John Wesley Hardin. Polk was released on bond and stayed in town until Monday, September 23, 1878. Shortly before his trial he rode out of town. Marshal Powers and Constable Wingfield rode after him and arrested him. He was brought back to town and paid his fine. Polk left town but returned around 6:00 p.m. and rode back and forth in front of the store of Mayor W. M. Seely, who was also a Freestone County deputy sheriff. Polk dismounted with his Winchester rifle outside the store. Marshal Powers and an unnamed assistant city marshal approached Polk and told him to surrender his weapon. Seely then came out onto the street armed with a Winchester rifle. Polk started backing up with the lawmen following him. Suddenly Polk fired on Marshal Powers. Powers returned fire as he fell. The assistant city marshal shot Polk two times and Seely fired seven shots, hitting Polk three times. Both Powers and Polk died instantly.
Nothing is known about Charles Powers despite efforts by former Sheriff Sonny Sessions and the Freestone County Historical Society. No place of burial has been located.
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These fine officers, and so many others, have given their lives in the line of duty. Visit the memorial pages at
The Officer Down Memorial Pages
God bless them.
The Officer Down Memorial Pages
God bless them.
