Biographical Sketch for James F. Folk

James F. Folk was born in Germany about 1841. His early life remains somewhat of a mystery. The names of his parents are unknown. Family stories are that they died very soon after immigrating to the United States from Germany. The first record of James is the 1850 Harris County, Texas, Census. He is listed as nine years old, born in Germany, and is obviously an orphan. He is listed in the household of Talcott Patching. He has one sister, Hannah, who is living with another unrelated family.

Throughout his life the spelling of his name changed a number of times which may indicate that he never received a formal education and the spelling was left up to whoever was recording it at the time. The name has been spelled FOULKE, FOAK, FOAKE, and finally FOLK, which is the final version and the one used by his children.

James Folk enlisted in Terry's Texas Rangers, Company A, Eighth Regiment, Texas Cavalry in September, 1861, at Wilderville, Falls County, Texas. Capt. Harrison enrolled him. James served for the duration of the war and was recorded as being on sick leave once, that being in Nashville, Tennessee, as of November 20, 1861. He managed to make it through the entire war without receiving a wound.

Upon his return to Falls County, Texas, he married Elizabeth Ellender "Bettie" Driver, the daughter of Simeon W. and Mary Ellender W. Fleming Driver, on December 29, 1873. There were six children born to this union - Mary Ella ca. 1874, James Emmett, 1876, Paul and Pearley Elizabeth (twins) 1878 (Paul died shortly after birth), Jennie ca. 1880, Annie, ca. 1882. Shortly after the birth of Annie, James died of a heat stroke. He was approximately 42 years old. He is buried in Falls County although the exact location of his grave is unknown.

James, also known as "Jim", was a carpenter and a farmer. His name is listed in a publication entitled, Power's Chapel - Gleanings, Falls County, Texas, by Pauline Ray Brooks, as one of the early pioneers of Falls County. Since this is a publication about the history of a church, Jim and has family were likely active church members. All his children were faithful Christians.

Following his death, his widow, Bettie Driver Folk, remarried twice more and outlived all her husbands. She died March 20, 1935, in the Confederate Women's Home in Austin and is buried in the Confederate Veterans section of the State Cemetery. Her tombstone reads "Bettie W. wife of J. Folk 1849-1935".