John Riley Flowers 1863 AR-1916 TX, told family members that he was the original "Kid Jackson" of the Bass gang. While research shows he probably was NOT Frank Jackson, John DID serve time in Rusk Pen, Cherokee Co., TX from ca 1896 -ca 1905 for something. I am still trying to find out what it was.
In Denton Co., TX (Sam Bass H.Q.), there was a Flowers family. The widow Mary (Unknown) [Harris] Flowers, widow of Wyatt Flowers of Franklin Co., AR (who had a treason charge leveled against him in Fort Smith AR, but never served any time as far as I can tell). They did have a son named John Flowers born around the same time frame as John Riley Flowers, but I need further proof that their John is my John Flowers.
John Riley Flowers is listed on both the 1900 Comanche Co., TX Federal Census (with his family with a note in margin of "In Penitentiary"), birthplace AR x 3, and on the 1900 Cherokee Co., TX census, incarcerated, but listing his birthplace as OH x 3. Interesting, huh?
All the family knows is that our John Riley Flowers had a sister named Kate (Wyatt Flowers aso had a daughter named Catharine whom they called Katie, but had several other children who would be full siblings to John, as well as several half-siblings to John).
John Riley Flowers also told the family that when he was going to marry Mary Ann Cowden, daughter of James Cowden and Matilda Henry of Benton & Washington Cos., TX., that his mama sat him down, told him he was born a BUSTLE/BUSSEL and that he had a choice of names.

To continue - John Riley Flowers' mama told him that his real father was a Bustle/Bussel, and that he went to the penitentiary, and that John's then step-father Flowers helped she and her kids (i. e. John and Kate) to live while Bustle was locked up. WHen Bustle got out, he and Flowers got into an altercation, and Flowers killed Bustle in self-defense, and then married John's mama, and the children took the Flowers name. John reportedly said he'd been a Flowers that long- he was staying with it...
NOW - Wyatt Flowers was married at least twice, first to Mary J. ?, by whom he had children, then to Mrs. Mary (Unknown) Harris, who had two sons by Harris, then had children including the above mentioned John and Katie Flowers by Wyatt, as well as others. Could the family have mixed up the Harris and Bustle last names? Possibly...Any info would be appreciated!

I forgot to say that Mrs. Mary's middle name was Airy or Anny according to the census records.

Hello, my name is Nancy Dru Flowers and I am the Daughter of Walter Vernon Flowers born in Long Beach, California on 6-3-1916. I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to write out this info that I just found. I was just sent a geneology tree from my Niece, Renee Dru Flowers Harward. In it she has info going back to the 1700's about the Flowers side of our Family. You have really added to the background info we didn't have...thank you!

Okay, here is what is on my new chart. There is a Mary Jane Boren mentioned as being married to Wyatt Flowers. She was born "about 1822" in Tennessee. He also married Annie n. Neece, but I have no info of the dates or anything else.