MONCURE, JOHN J.

MONCURE, JOHN J. (1829–1909). John James Moncure, also listed as Montcure, farmer, surveyor, sheriff, Confederate officer, and state representative, was born in Caroline County, Virginia, on March 16, 1829, the son of William A. and Lucy A. (Gatewood) Moncure. Moncure was raised in Virginia, and received his education at religious schools in Hanover County , as well as at the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1851 . During this time he also engaged in farming and surveying. In 1852 Moncure immigrated to Texas, arriving first at Galveston, and then relocating to Harris County, where he briefly taught school. Later in 1852 he moved to Bastrop County, where he settled a homestead and began farming and stockraising . Moncure was active in community affairs as well, winning election as county surveyor, in 1854, and as county sheriff, in 1858 and 1859 . In 1855 Moncure married Julia Deckard. This couple had nine children, only three of whom—one son and two daughters—survived childhood. In the summer of 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Moncure volunteered for service in the Confederate Army, enlisting in Highsmith's Bastrop Cavalry. This company was initially mustered into Parson's 12th Texas Cavalry Regiment. During a reorganization of units, however, Moncure and his original company were folded into the 34th Texas Cavalry Regiment, with Moncure assigned to Company I as a second lieutenant. He remained with this unit for the remainder of the war, seeing action at the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Yellow Bayou. He achieved the rank of major prior to the Confederate surrender. At the conclusion of hostilities, Montcure returned to Bastrop County and resumed farming. In 1866, he won election as representative for Bastrop County to the 11th Texas Legislature. On December 27, 1871, following the March 1870 death of his wife, Moncure married Ann Deckard. This couple had three sons and four daughters. By the 1880s, Moncure had expanded his homestead to over 1200 acres. He died here in 1909, and was buried at Moncure Cemetery in western Bastrop County. Moncure was an active member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and was a member of the A.F.A.M. Bastrop Lodge No. 244 .