Pioneer family honored with County park

Pioneer family honored with County park

By Jim Dawson Saturday, 07 October 2006

This article was compiled by Jim Dawson from notes of Ruby Hull, great-great granddaughter of John Champion

In November, the Williamson County Commissioner’s Court will give the final okay for development of Champion Park, a 33-acre area that sits along the Williamson County Regional Trail between the trailhead at Brushy Creek Road and Great Oaks Drive. The park is named after the Champion family, whose family cemetery is on the park property.

John “Jack” Champion (1817-1908) moved to Texas around 1850. He married Naomi Jane Standifer in August of that year. Theirs is thought to be the sixth marriage license issued in Williamson County. Naomi Jane was the daughter of Col. James S. and Caroline Standifer, one of the first families to settle the area. Her sister was Harriet Standifer Cluck, the first woman to travel on the Chisholm Trail.

Champion served as a private in the Civil War in the 27th brigade of Williamson County. He also served in 1869 for three months as county sheriff filling out the unexpired term of Leroy B. Lord. Jim Boutwell, long time Williamson County sheriff from 1978-1993 was the great grandson of Champion.

However, it is perhaps some of his and Naomi’s nine children who gave a lasting and colorful name for the Champion family through their courageous life in Johnson County, Wyoming. Their son, Nathan David “Nate” died in Johnson County during the Johnson County War. Movies have been made about his involvement in the war between the Cattle Barons, the Regulators, the homesteaders and ranchers.

Another son, Rufus Dudley was killed by the man accused of killing his brother Nate. A third brother, Ben is also buried in Buffalo, Wyoming.

Naomi died in 1862. Hers is the oldest of the marked graves in the Champion Cemetery. John next married Mary Eliza Hotchkiss and together they had 12 children.

The park’s opening is planned for Memorial Day 2007. To see a rendering of the park, visit wcportals.wilco.org/parks/images/Champion_Concept_Plan.jpg