JOHN S. NEWMAN, the present sheriff of Jack county, is a native son of the Lone Star state, his birth occurring in Parker county in 1874, a son of G. S. and Nancy (Bedford) Newman. Many years have passed since the father located within the borders of western Texas, and his name figures conspicuously on the pages whose records perpetuate the principal events from early days to the present time. Prior to the Civil war he located in Parker county, and at the opening of that conflict he enlisted in the state troops, but on account of the Indian raids they were kept at home to protect the homes of the settlers. His life has been spent in the cattle and stock farming business, and for several years past he has made his home in the western part of Jack county, near Bryson, where he is the owner of a valuable stock farm. Mrs. Newman is a native of Kentucky.
John S. Newman was principally “raised in the saddle” and started cow punching in his early boyhood, in which occupation he traveled over Western Texas and a large part of New Mexico and Colorado. In his early days as a cowboy the fenced pastures which have since developed were unknown, the business being conducted on the great free range country, requiring constant out-door life month after month over large stretches of country. He thus passed through all phases of cowboy life and experience. He first went with the outfit of Kuhn & Hittson, taking a bunch of cattle over the trail from Texas to Kansas; was next with Taylor & Company of the Voux ranch in New Mexico and with the same outfit in Colorado; and then became a cowboy for the Loving Cattle Company, remaining with them for several years and in fact most of his life on the plains was spent with that company, which was formerly one of the largest in Texas, founded by Oliver Loving, and whose interests centered largely in the famous Loving Valley lying in Palo Pinto, Parker and Jack counties. In November, 1904, Mr. Newman was elected the sheriff of Jack county. The regular Democratic nominee for that office withdrew from the race and removed from the county, and Mr. Newman was called on to take his place, thus announcing his candidacy only twelve days before the election, but notwithstanding this and without being able to make a personal canvass of the county he was easily elected, this being due no doubt to his high standing and popularity and his wide acquaintance over the country engaged in the cattle business. The confidence reposed in him has never been betrayed, and his fidelity to the public trust in the discharge of his official duties has been most marked. He is still engaged with his father in the cattle business and is widely and favorably known in Jacksboro and surrounding country.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. I, pp. 590-591.