History of James Selen Stout and marker at Pine Forest Cemetery

HISTORICAL MARKER: Yes

LOCATION: 12 miles east of Sulphur Springs on IH-30, then 4 miles south on FM 269 (Weaver Rd.), then east on CR 3310 to Pine Forest Cemetery

DETAILS:

The memorial to James Selen Stout, located in Pine Forest Cemetery, stands as a testament to the remarkable life of a man who played a pivotal role in shaping the history of Texas. James Selen Stout was not merely a man of many titles; he was a Christian frontiersman, hunter, scout, explorer, founder, soldier, farmer, and family man. His indomitable spirit and unwavering character epitomized the strength and resilience required to conquer the untamed frontier that would eventually become the great state of Texas.

Born in the frontier town of Washington in the Missouri Territory, which would later become Hempstead County, Arkansas, James Selen Stout was carried across the Red River into the wilds of northeast Texas as a baby. Raised by his pioneer frontiersman father, Capt John Henry Stout, and his mother Sarah Talbot Stout, Selen acquired invaluable survival skills that would serve him well throughout his eventful life.

In 1836, at the age of 17, Selen embarked on a journey of over 300 miles to join Sam Houston’s Texas Revolution effort. He, along with two others, was entrusted with the personal responsibility of guarding the captured Mexican leader, Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, following the Battle of San Jacinto. Selen remained with the Texas Revolution forces for the remainder of that year, serving as a hunter scout in the T. J. Rusk Brigade of the Texas Cavalry along the Lavaca River.

After his service in the Texas Revolution, Selen returned to northeast Texas and became a member of his father’s unit of the Texas Rangers. It was during this time that he battled Indians and provided protection for settlements along the Red River. In the community of Blossom Prairie, Selen met his future wife, Elvira Richey, whom he married in 1840. The following year, they relocated to Daingerfield after his discharge from Texas Ranger duty.

In 1844, Selen led an expedition 50 miles west to survey land he had purchased several years earlier from his uncle, William B. Stout. Accompanied by family members and other settlers, they established the Stout’s Creek community, which would later evolve into the present-day Hopkins County community of Pine Forest. Selen’s contributions to the fledgling community were significant—he donated land for the Primitive Baptist Church of Christ and a local school, and he played a key role in establishing the rule of law in the county. Selen and Elvira were blessed with eleven children, all of whom were raised in the Pine Forest community.

When the Civil War broke out, Selen and two of his sons, John and Benjamin, enlisted in the Confederate Army in October 1861. They served together in Company F, 9th Texas Infantry, undergoing training at Camp Rusk in Lamar County and later at Camp Benjamin in Fannin County. Their unit traveled on foot to various locations, including Little Rock, Arkansas, and Iuka, Mississippi. They ultimately saw action at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee, where Selen sustained a slight wound. However, due to circumstances unrelated to his injuries, he was discharged for medical disability in May 1862.

Although primarily a farmer by trade, Selen was known as “Dr. J.C.” in the Pine Forest community. He inherited his mother’s knowledge of natural cures and often served as a healer, providing care to local residents who sought his expertise. In 1887, at the age of 68, Selen experienced the loss of his beloved wife, Elvira, with whom he had shared 47 years of marriage. He later married Mary J Miller, a widow and mother of two adult daughters, and remained with her until his death on July 19.

Citations:

Historical photo documented by June E. Tuck

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19995109/james-selen-stout

https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:James_Stout_(28)

http://saltillotexas.homestead.com/selens_story.html

http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Atlas/atlas_search_frame.html

Photo of Greenview Cemetery by Brandon Darrow