Page 367 - Foy

On Monday, November 27, 1882 Judge Niles wrote, “It rained nearly or quite, all day and
harder than yesterday. Gyce........ running his beer shop. Andrew Boyd around and in it. Wm
P. Morrow died in Carthage (whisky) Clay Jordan, same complaint not long ago. Bob Hall
too before him.

Ranson Heowell testified in the Renfro case and was assailed as to credibility. His, the only
evidence amounting to anything against Renfroe. Granfield admitted him to bail in $1,000.00
which he afterward gave. Culver, Pat Haley, Andrew Boyd, et al tried to force themselves
on Major Miller, who refused to entertain them.”

The Renfro researchers also report that there was some information indicating that one
of the Renfroe girls was pregnant by Winfield Scott when their father, John Renfroe

was killed. Winfield Scott was killed June 9, 1865. A child was adopted by Winfield’s
widow in July 1865.

Whatever the true story about the killings is we only know for sure the following:
John J. Renfroe was killed in 1865 by having his head split open. Winfield Scott and
one of his ex-slaves was suspected. Members of the Renfroe family, namely Thomas,
Benjamin Franklin and, perhaps, Levi subsequently killed one or more members of the
Scott family. Thomas Renfroe was arrested in Texas and returned to Mississippi to

stand trial. He, soon thereafter, returned to Texas where he lived the rest of his life,
dying in 1922.

It is reported in the Renfroe’s traditions that Thomas, Frank and Levi kept their horses
saddled twenty four hours a day and tied to a tree in the front yard where they also
kept at least one gun. Allegedly that gun is still in that tree as the tree has grown
around it. There is at least one photograph of one of the Renfro relatives standing by
that tree with his hand on the gun.

One day the law came for the Renfro boys but they were warned and fled to Mexico.
Frank and Thomas later returned but Levi went to South America. He never returned.
Thomas stayed in Texas, was arrested for murder, taken back to Mississippi for trial

and acquitted. Frank spent the rest of his days running as an outlaw, spending much
of his time in New Mexico.

Although Frank Renfro was allegedly on the run for much of his adult life, we know a
little about him. He was born March 27, 1838 in Georgia. He married Emily Buttrill
in October 23, 1851 in Etaw, Limestone County, Texas. He died on November 11,

BROTHERS & SISTERS OF JOHN ELON FOY 12