Private John Americas Stewart

John Americas Stewart

The Texas State Police were formed during the administration of Texas Governor Edmund J. Davis on July 22, 1870, to combat crime statewide in Texas. It was dissolved on April 22, 1873. On July 22, 1871, two men named Barnes and Kimble killed Joseph Philpot and robbed him. They were arrested and held in jail. On October 7, 1871, Kimble escaped from the Williamson County jail in Georgetown, Texas. Texas State Police Captain J. M. Redmon, Private John A. Stewart and Travis County Special Deputy Sheriff Day left Cooke County, Texas and entered the Chickasaw Nation (present day Oklahoma) accompanied by five Chickasaws with an arrest warrant for Kimble. They located Kimble, his brother and woman in a wagon, and when they attempted to arrest him, a gun battle ensued. Kimble jumped from the wagon and shot Private Stewart, mortally wounding him, and shot Deputy Day in both thighs. Captain Redmon shot and killed Kimble’s brother after he fired 4-5 shots wounding two of the Chickasaws. Kimble was arrested. Private Stewart died the next day from his wounds.

Stewart was married and had two children. He had enlisted in the Texas State Police in December 1871 and served only 5 months. He was elected tax collector of Burnet County in 1865 after serving in Colonel Burford’s Regiment, 19th Texas Cavalry in the Civil War. He was buried with Odd Fellow honors, but the location is unknown at this time.

Barnes and Kimble were convicted of the murder of Philpot in October 1872 and sentenced on March 7, 1873 to be hanged on April 11, 1873. The execution was delayed until April 14, 1873, when Barnes and Kimble were hanged in Austin.