Near Newcastle in Young County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Joseph Alfred Woolfolk
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Woolfolk joined a home guard Texas Rangers unit, and in late 1862 transferred into the regular Confederate Army. Captured by Union troops in West Virginia in July 1863, he spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp in Ohio. Upon his release in 1865 he returned to his native Kentucky where he married Elizabeth J. Lewis (1846-1922). They became the parents of nine children.
The Woolfolks returned to Texas in 1867 and settled in Weatherford. In 1871 Woolfolk gained notoriety when he was appointed by the court to defend Satanta and Big Tree, Kiowa Indians on trial for murder in the infamous Salt Creek Massacre near Jacksboro.
Woolfolk moved his family to a ranch in Young County in the late 1870s. He again served as county attorney in 1881. He and Elizabeth are buried in a private family cemetery near this site.
Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12698.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 33° 10.565′ N, 98° 46.084′ W. Marker is near Newcastle, Texas, in Young County. Marker is on U.S. 380, half a mile west of Miller Bend Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newcastle TX 76372, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Two Miles Southwest to Fort Belknap (approx. 1.6 miles away); Military Road (Fort Belknap - Fort Phantom Hill) (approx. 2.3 miles away); Tonkawa Scouts, C.S.A. (approx. 2.3 miles away); Old Fort Belknap Powder Magazine (approx. 2.3 miles away); Camp Belknap, C.S.A. (approx. 2.3 miles away); Major Robert S. Neighbors (approx. 2.3 miles away); Fort Belknap (approx. 2.4 miles away); Fort Belknap Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newcastle.
Also see . . . Joseph Alfred Woolfolk. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on March 30, 2016.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 652 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 30, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.