John Baxter (J.B.) and Celia Ann Masten

John Baxter (J.B.) Masten
was born on July 2, 1846 in Tennessee, probably near Nashville.  He was the oldest son of Wyle B. and Elizabeth Britton Masten.  J.B.'s early years were spent in Tennessee, but the family moved to Dade County, Missouri where he met, courted, and married Celia Ann Spain on May 23, 1869 in Lockwood, Missouri.  Celia Ann was the daughter of Lewis and Martha Penn Spain. She was born on September 19, 1849 in Dade County, and grew up during the Civil War.  Three of her brothers served in the Confederate forces.  Life in Missouri was extremely dangerous during that time.  In early, 1862, Union forces drove the Confederate troops out of Missouri, at which time pro-Confederate bushwhackers began a guerrilla war against the Union forces.  The bushwhackers also attacked civilians they suspected might support the Union. Conditions were clearly out of control, and people were killed independent of their beliefs about slavery or any other issue of the war.  One of the most ruthless massacres of the Civil War occurred near Centralia, Missouri - where the famous outlaw Jesse James was reported to be part of the bushwhackers.  In view of the situation, Celia's father moved the family from Missouri to Paris, Texas when she was 13.  However they moved back to Dade County as soon as the war ended.

Celia Ann (Spain) Masten
John Baxter (J.B.) Masten
J. B. and Celia Ann Masten were the parents of fifteen children.

    Gillar (8/29/1870 - 8/6/1951), who married John Henard
     Thomas Jeffereson (1/3/1872 - 10/12/1951), who married Mamie Neislar
     Minnie (4/3/1873 - 5/11/1966), who married Jim Sluder
     Viola Mae (9/1/1874 - 7/26/1955), who married Welcome Gower
     Lewis (1/23/1876 - 9/19/1970), who married Bertha Holder
     Wiley (9/11/1877 - 1963), who married Laura Jane LeGear
     Jesse E. (12/10/1878 - 1/25/1966), who married Mary Elizabeth Brewer
     Clinton (Clint) (3/10/1880 - 3/27/1966), who married to Lou Ella Wiggs
     Perry (8/25/1881 - 10/5/1947), who married Mittie Pearl Wheeler
     Monroe (12/10/1882 - 11/16/1970), who married Nannie Steadman
     Henry (8/4/1884 - 12/21/1941), who married Claudia Brooks
     Arthur (2/18/1886 - August, 1969), who married (1) Mary Snell and (2) Norma Chapman
     Buddy (10/10/1887 - 9/2/1888), died while less than one year old
     Johnie (3/17/1889 - 1931), who married Fannie Stinson
     Leona (9/13/1890 - 4/25/1963), who married Dupree Clampitt

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