Francis Marion and Mary Ann Poteet

Francis Marion and Mary Ann Poteet. . Francis Marion and Mary Ann Davis Poteet left N.W. Arkansas in 1857 on the Fancher-Baker wagon train bound for the gold field of California., The caravan was ambushed in southern Utah. 128 related family members perished in what is known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre., Francis Marion Poteet and his small entourage missed the fate of his relatives by leaving the group one day previous to their entry into the meadows. Francis Marion had fortunately saved a Mormon mans life, one who was aware of the impending ambush. Forewarned, the small Poteet group proceeded the hard way around the meadows and journeyed on to the gold fields. They successfully mined for gold in the Sonora, California - Carson City, Nevada area., They left on their return journey eastward in 1860. Francis Marion left his family in Pleasanton Texas in 1862 to join the Army of the Confederacy at Camp McCullough near Dripping Spring, Texas, he was an army scout for the 1st Texas Partisan Rangers which later became the 30th Texas Cavalry Company A. His group fought in 25 engagements in the Oklahoma, Indian Territory and in Arkansas., Francis Marion, upon discharge in 1865, purchased properties in the area that would later bear his name, Poteet, Texas. He was a pioneer, explorer, army scout, post rider, storekeeper, miller, farmer, rancher, he ran the first stage exchange, and was the first chartered postmaster of Poteet, Texas., Francis Marion and Mary Ann Davis Poteet had fourteen children. The first three children were all under 5 years of age during the California trip. The next two children were born on the trip. All of the other children were born in Poteet, Texas.