Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John McIver was in Morales on business and decided to spend the night at the house of N.B. Thompson. Thompson lived by himself except for an African American woman and child who lived in the kitchen area of the house. During the night six men in red flannel masks came to the house and asked the woman if anyone was home. She advised them that Sheriff McIver was in the house. They inquired as to which room he was in. They also asked where Thompson kept his money. They entered the house and she heard a pistol shot, and Thompson begging for his life, saying he would give them all of his money, and wanted time to pray. The woman heard another shot pistol shot, and heard nothing more of Thompson. The men set the house on fire and it burned down. The bones of McIver and Thompson were found the next morning. Thompson was reportedly about 75 years of age.
A public safety committee was formed in Jackson County on May 6, 1871 and issued a preamble and resolutions which were adopted. The resolutions condemned the murders; called upon the military and civil authorities to detect and arrest the guilty parties; concluded the outrage was committed for the purpose of obtaining money supposed to be in the possession of N.B. Thompson; and offered a reward of $500.
John McIver was appointed sheriff of Jackson County on November 1, 1867 by General J.J. Reynolds’ Special Order No. 195; re-elected December 3, 1869 and served until his death. He was survived by his wife. His place of burial is unknown at this time.
Sheriff John McIver was in Morales on business and decided to spend the night at the house of N.B. Thompson. Thompson lived by himself except for an African American woman and child who lived in the kitchen area of the house. During the night six men in red flannel masks came to the house and asked the woman if anyone was home. She advised them that Sheriff McIver was in the house. They inquired as to which room he was in. They also asked where Thompson kept his money. They entered the house and she heard a pistol shot, and Thompson begging for his life, saying he would give them all of his money, and wanted time to pray. The woman heard another shot pistol shot, and heard nothing more of Thompson. The men set the house on fire and it burned down. The bones of McIver and Thompson were found the next morning. Thompson was reportedly about 75 years of age.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
155 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff McIver gave the Jackson County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Edna community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John McIver is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jackson County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John McIver's cause is highlighted.
How John McIver Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John McIver is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John McIver was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Jackson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
