Newton Russell Altum enlisted in Knoxville, TN on 1 Aug 1861 for 12 months in
the Confederate Service, Ashby's 2nd Cavalry Co. H, 2nd Regiment of Tennessee
Cavalry under James W. Gillespie. He was present for the company muster near
Tunnell Hill Georgia on 13 March 1864. On the muster roll for Nov. and Dec. of 1864 it
was stated that he had enlisted 20 March of 1864 for the duration of the war, but had been
absent without leave since Nov. 8, 1864. This was not unusual for the time and the place,
this was the end of the Civil War, when it had become evident to the Confederate
soldiers that they had lost the war, they simply stopped fighting and went home to try
to put in their crops. The formalities of surrender they left to the officers, the most
important thing to them was to pick up their lives. They and their families were facing
starvation, they were exhausted and sick to death of the constant fighting. Tunnell Hill,
Georgia was in Murray County, as was Pisgah, where the family Bible states that
Newton Russell Altum married Elizabeth Irene Watson. No marriage record has
been found, but that would not be unusual either, the South had many records
lost or burned. This family is on the 1870 census of Murray Co. GA. with first two children,
1. Obedience born 1866, and
2. Margaret Elizabeth born 1869, the 3rd, F. Belle, was born 1872 in Texas.

This family came to Texas and to Coryell County, to the part that is now part of
Fort Hood, seven children in all; 4. were twins, John Thomas and 5. Mary Jane,
called Dollie, 6. James F. in 1876 and Samuel Newton in 1878 were reared and they
contributed greatly to the settlement of this part of the country. This family joined with
Farris, Beasley, DeLord, Kinsey, Palmer, Netherlin, Edgar, Shelton, Gallager,
Edgar and other families of Coryell County, Texas. Newton Russell Altum died
17 April, 1918, Elizabeth Irene, known as "Rene" died 29 October, 1923. Both were
buried in the Shiloh cemetery, near their home and were moved in 1945 by
military to Restland in Gatesville. By James Ross, great-great grandson of
Newton Russell Altum and Elizabeth Irene Watson Altum.
From book "Farris Facts" 1996 by Bobbie Ross