Thursday, September 21, 2023

Taft Byrdwell

 

Taft Byrdwell 
1906-1978

Taft Byrdwell (parental 3rd cousin 1x removed),  lived an interesting life. He was born in Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas in 1906. In 1925 he and a friend committed a robbery on a Western Pacific train in Oroville, California. The two were  later arrested and charged. 

 

The Sacramento Bee
September 19, 1923

Byrdwell spent time in Leavenworth federal prison (presumably for the assault and robbery on the train). In the 1930 census he said he was a musician. 


He was again in prison in the 1940 census. This time in West Virginia. He is described as a coal miner in the prison census. 

 

According to the 1950 census, Taft was in Texas living in the Houston area and working as a “tavern manager”. His father, General Byrdwell, was also worked in the tavern. The 29 year old woman living with the two of them, Ora Brady, was listed as a maid in the tavern. 

 

Bardwell again found himself involved in the criminal justice system In March 1960.  He was charged with murdering Joe Bob in the tavern he owned. 

 

Corpus Christi Times
March 21, 1960

Taft Byrdwell died of labored pneumonia in Baytown, Texas in 1978. He is buried in Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas.


Springhill Cenetery
Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas 

My relationship to Taft Byrdwell is through his mother, Gerry Bluett Byrdwell. 

Gerry Bluett Byrdwell 
1884-1913
 





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