AMMONS, J. B. “Rocky”, Beeville Bee, Friday, 15 Feb, 1901

A veteran of two wars, passes away. He was with Taylor and Scott in Mexico and the Third Texas Cavalry 
in the Civil war, was singularly fortunate in never engaging in either battle or personal encounter.  There 
died at the home of Mr. Jake HOLDERMAN, near Oakville on Thursday on the 7th of February, 1901, inst., 
one of the oldest citizens of the pioneer days in this section, Uncle "Rocky" AMMONS.

The deceased was well and favorably known in Beeville, having spent much of his time here, since the death 
of his wife in 1893, with Mr. J. L. HARKEY to whom he had stood in the relationship of a father since the death 
of Mr. Harkey's parents in his early childhood. This was one of the predominating characteristics of Mr. Ammons 
nature, his generosity and his kindness to orphans. Being childless, his heart and his purse was devoted to the 
welfare of those who had been bereft of parents, and though he left no lineage, his memory will love in the 
progeny of the half-dozen young men whom he reared as his own sons and by honesty and industry started 
on life's road for themselves.

Mr. J. B. Ammons, as was his proper name, the appellation "Rocky" Ammons having been given him in an early 
day from the name of a creek in Atascosa County on which his ranch is situated, being born in Simpson County, 
North Carolina, August 1826, and was consequently in his seventy-fifth year at the time of his death. In 1833, 
he with his father moved from that state to Georgia, where his family lived until 1842, when a move was again 
made, this time to western Florida. 

When the war was declared against Mexico in 1846, he was among the first to enlist, and was assigned to the 
Thirteenth United States Infantry, which was embarked at Fort Moultria, South Carolina, to reinforce General 
Taylor's army then moving against Matamoras. The first night out a heavy gale was encountered, the ship was 
blown out of its course and it was thirty-one days before it reached Brazos Santiago. Taylor, having in the 
meantime penetrated Mexico, the regiment was marched up the river about sixty miles, where the town of 
Edinburg now stands, and was there encamped for six months, where it was re-embarked at Brazos Santiago
to reinforce General Scott then advancing on the City of Mexico from Vera Cruz. The regiment did not get to 
participate in a single battle, however, as peace was declared shortly after its arrival. 

The regiment was mustered out at Mobile, Alabama, and Mr. Ammons returned to Florida, but in a short time 
the discovery of gold in California attracted him and he started thither. Stopping awhile in Claiborne parish, 
Louisiana he met and married Miss Mary Ann CUNNINGHAM, who was the sharer of the subsequent fortunes 
of his life, and who died seven years ago. Abandoning his intentions of going to California, in 1854 Mr. Ammons 
immigrated to Texas and first settled on the San Cristoval Creek, but the next year located at a point known as 
"Rocky" on the Nueces river, where he established a ranch and lived continuously until the death of his wife, 
since which he had traveled some or made his home alternately with the gentlemen, to  whom he had been a father.
 
During the Civil war, Mr. Ammons was a member of the Third Texas Cavalry and served with it continuously until 
the restoration of peace. The same good fortune seems to have followed him in this as in the Mexican war. His 
company never engaged in battle, and he was wont to jocularly refer to his war experience as a piece of luck on 
his part to serve under officers who seemed to have a special regard for the safety of their command. He also 
volunteered for special Texas Ranger service, both before and after the civil war, but never had an occasion to 
participate in a scene of bloodshed. In private life he was as singularly fortunate, never having had a personal 
difficulty except once to which he wont to refer to as the "fight" of his life, when as a boy he attempted to whip a 
boy smaller than himself and was himself whipped. In the days of outlawry, when cattle thieves were prevalent 
he took no part with the Regulators, though on more than one occasion, he asserted his readiness to aid in the 
enforcement of legal measures. He was a prototype of the man of whom he said he heard grew rich by "minding 
his own business", so lived a life of independence without selfishness, and generosity and without ostentation, 
and died respected and admired by innumerable friends and acquaintances.