Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Oklahoma Incident Date: Wednesday, May 15, 1872 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Hanged
The Texas State Police were formed during the administration of Texas Governor Edmund J. Davis on July 22, 1870, to combat crime statewide in Texas. It was dissolved on April 22, 1873. On July 22, 1871, two men named Barnes and Kimble killed Joseph Philpot and robbed him. They were arrested and held in jail. On October 7, 1871, Kimble escaped from the Williamson County jail in Georgetown, Texas. Texas State Police Captain J. M. Redmon, Private John A. Stewart and Travis County Special Deputy Sheriff Day left Cooke County, Texas and entered the Chickasaw Nation (present day Oklahoma) accompanied by five Chickasaws with an arrest warrant for Kimble. They located Kimble, his brother and woman in a wagon, and when they attempted to arrest him, a gun battle ensued. Kimble jumped from the wagon and shot Private Stewart, mortally wounding him, and shot Deputy Day in both thighs. Captain Redmon shot and killed Kimble’s brother after he fired 4-5 shots wounding two of the Chickasaws. Kimble was arrested. Private Stewart died the next day from his wounds.
Stewart was married and had two children. He had enlisted in the Texas State Police in December 1871 and served only 5 months. He was elected tax collector of Burnet County in 1865 after serving in Colonel Burford’s Regiment, 19th Texas Cavalry in the Civil War. He was buried with Odd Fellow honors, but the location is unknown at this time.
Barnes and Kimble were convicted of the murder of Philpot in October 1872 and sentenced on March 7, 1873 to be hanged on April 11, 1873. The execution was delayed until April 14, 1873, when Barnes and Kimble were hanged in Austin.
Pvt. Stewart, On today, the 150th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Texas.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol May 16th, 2022
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BO-US-TX-C3050864- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Private Stewart served with the Texas State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Americas Stewart served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Private John Americas Stewart is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas State Police, 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Americas Stewart's cause is highlighted.
How John Americas Stewart Compares
Offender Outcome
Hanged
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Americas Stewart is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Americas Stewart was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Texas State Police are honored on badge.nw.
