HomeMy WebLinkAboutBGA v25-4 fall 2004Brazos Genealogist
CONTENTS PAGE
Brazos County residents...................................Bill Page 123
From the Editor’s Desk ............................................129
Pictures........................................................133
Business issue - Apr. 22, 1913 .............................Janis Hunt 135
Texas Correspondence ...................................Bill Page 138
W hite Elephant Passes to a Doubtful Record .................Ruth Hary 139
Mount Calvary Cemetery - Board of Directors ...........Regina Opersteny 144
When I was 21 .........................................Janis Hunt 149
A Few Baptist Churches ...................................Bill Page 155
Index compiled by......................................Allen Dean 156
BRAZOS GENEALOGIST
VOLUME XXV NUMBER 4
FALL 2004
BRAZOS GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION
P. O. BOX 5493 BRYAN, TX 77805-5493
OFFICERS 2004
PRESIDENT ............JANE HORN
email: jhorn@tca.net
VICE PRES ......................
SECRETARY .........VICKI SIMONS
email: victsimons@aol.com
TREASURER ...........RUTH HARY
email: rhary@txcyber.com
COMPUTER GROUP ...............
EDITOR ..............ALLEN DEAN
email: allendean@compuserve.com
PAST PRES ...........JOHN BLAIR
STAFF EDITORS
RESEARCH/QUERIES ....RUTH HARY
LOCAL HISTORY ........RUTH HARY
CONTINUING SERIES .....BILL PAGE
PRINTING/INDEXING ...ALLEN DEAN
MEETINGS
Meetings held the third Monday of each
month from 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm in the
Bryan Public Library. Please arrive early as
the library closes at 9:00 pm.
Membership is on a calendar year
basis, January through December.
QUARTERLY
The GENEALOGIST is published as
W inter, Spring, Summer and Fall Issues.
Each volume of the GENEALOGIST
corresponds with the membership year.
This publication is offered in print or
electronic (PDF) version. With PDF you
receive CD at end of year with four issues
plus copies of handouts from meetings.
$15.00 / year if printed version picked
up at meetings or PDF selected and CD
picked up.
$20.00 / year if quarterly mailed or PDF
version with CD mailed.
Checks for dues may be mailed to the
address at the top of the page.
WEB SITE
The web site for the Brazos
Genealogical Association is:
http://www.brazosgenealogy.org
EXCHANGE
The GENEALOGIST is available for
exchange with other organizations or
publishers who have publications to offer.
Send inquiries or samples to P.O. Box
5493, Bryan, TX 77805-5493.
SOLICITATIONS
W e solicit queries, family charts,
copies of Bible records, articles and
stories with Brazos Valley ties. Family
charts should be 8 ½” x 11".
EDITORIAL POLICY
Neither the Brazos Genealogical
Association nor the staff of the Quarterly
will be responsible for error of fact or
opinion expressed herein. Every effort is
made to publish reliable information. The
editorial staff reserves the right to accept
appropriate material with editing privileges
on a space available basis.
Members are encouraged to submit
pictures/articles of interest concerning the
Brazos Valley. Research pertaining to
deeds, Bible records, schools, churches,
and other groups or organizations are
desired. Research on material before the
turn of the century is especially welcome.
The Association will do limited local
Brazos Co. research for $10.00 / hour.
W rite for details and please enclose a
SASE.
123
Brazos Genealogist
Volume XXV Number 4 Bryan/College Station
Fall 2004 Texas
Brazos County Residents
by Bill PAGE
Sample of families who have lived in Brazos County. A continuing series.
14 Feb. 1996
P RES NAL family -- many family members buried at Alexander
"Mr. J. K. PRESNAL, having completed his house...," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 11 Feb. 1904,
p. 5, col. 6
"L. M. PRESSNAL Dead," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 8 Feb. 1912, p. 2, col. 1
"KERN-PRESSNAL," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 11 Jan. 1917, p. 7, col. 6. Miss Mary
PRESSNAL
"Mrs. PRESNAL, Mrs. PATTERSON W in Cake Prizes," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 22 Jan.
1925, p. 1, col. 6. Mrs. C. R. PRESNAL
"Burglars Enter Store of W ill PRESSNAL, Tabor," Bryan Daily Eagle, 20 Sept. 1928, p. 1,
col. 5
"Funeral Service for Mrs. PRESNAL to Be on Sunday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 11 Nov. 1933,
p. 1, col. 3. Mrs. Mollie Frances PRESNAL
[J. K. PRESNAL], Brazos Valley Cotton Grower, 1 (3):8 (Nov. 1941).
"87th Birthday of J. K. PRESNAL is Observed Sunday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 13 July 1942,
p. 2, col. 5
"Pioneer Citizen, J. K. PRESNAL, W ill be Ninety Sunday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 14 July
1945, p. 1, col. 6
"Bill PRESNAL `Mr. Farmer'," Bryan Daily Eagle, 12 Aug. 1964, p. 1, col. 1
"Susie Mitchell McCALLUM PRESNAL," Bryan-College Station Eagle, 21 July 1992, sect.
A, p. 5, col. 1
PRESTRIDGE family
"Death of Mrs. Marietta W ORLEY," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 15 Jan. 1914, p. 6, col. 6.
Maiden name PRESTRIDGE
PRICE family
*G. W . PRICE was a Millican school trustte, Galveston Daily News, 2 Aug. 1885, p. 2, col.
124
1
*G. W. PRICE was secretary of the Primrose Alliance, (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 2 Jan. 1890,
p. 8, col. 1
PRIDDY family -- family members buried Bryan
"Messrs. E. W . CRENSHAW and J. B. PRIDDY have purchased the grocery ...," (weekly)
Bryan Eagle, 21 July 1904, p. 2, col. 1
"For County Commissioner," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 30 Apr. 1908, p. 1, col. 3. J. B.
PRIDDY
"Mr. PRIDDY to Build," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 24 Feb. 1910, p. 4, col. 6. J. B. PRIDDY
"For County Treasurer," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 14 Mar. 1912, p. 8, col. 6. J. B. PRIDDY
"Ben PRIDDY Announces," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 16 Apr. 1914, p. 1, col. 6
PRINZEL family -- German Americans
"KELLER-PRINZEL," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 20 Jan. 1916, p. 5, col. 4. Miss Ella M.
PRINZEL
"Philip PRINZEL Dies at Kurten Residence," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 1 Nov. 1923, p. 1, col.
4
"Henry PRINZEL is Killed in Runaway," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 12 Mar. 1925, p. 3, col. 1
"Aged Kurten Man and Post Master Passes 77th Year," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 2 July 1931,
p. 3, col. 2. August PRINZEL
"Funeral Service Held Today for W oman of Kurten," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 10 Sept. 1931,
p. 6, col. 2. Mrs. Lizzie PRINZEL
"Aged Kurten Man Celebrates 81st Birthday Friday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 29 June 1935, p.
5, col. 7. August PRINZEL
"Kurten Residents Grieve at Death of Mrs. PRINZEL," Bryan Daily Eagle, 24 Oct. 1937, p.
1, col. 8. Mrs. August PRINZEL
PUGH, Marion C. (6 Sept. 1919-20 Nov. 1976). Buried College Station; member of
College Station city council in the 1950s; owned "Jubilee Junction", a local amusement
park; professional baseball player
"PUGH Signs W ith Miami Pro Club," Bryan Daily Eagle, 6 May 1946, p. 5, col. 1.
"Marion PUGH Condition Poor," Bryan Daily Eagle, 7 Apr. 1964, p. 10, col. 8
"W estern Town Opens In July," Bryan Daily Eagle, 13 June 1967, p. 1, col. 2
"W estern Town Receives Name," Bryan Daily Eagle, 15 June 1967, p. 1, col. 3
"Amusement Center Opens On Saturday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 July 1967, p. 1, col. 1
LUNIN, FANCHON, "Junction Starts W ith A Bang," Bryan Daily Eagle, 30 July 1967, p. 4
"Here's A Good `Un For Ripley," Daily Eagle, 26 July 1970, sect. A, p. 7, col. 1
P URYEAR, Charles (1860-Jul. 11, 1940). Dean at Texas A&M
Bryan Eagle: Film N 557
Battalion: Film N 560
"Acting President Chas. PURYEAR...," Bryan Morning Eagle, 14 June 1907, p. 5, col. 2
"Phi Beta Kappa Honors PURYEAR," Battalion, 20 Nov. 1929, p. 1
"PURYEAR Reported Better; at Home," Battalion, 23 Oct. 1930, p. 8
125
"Dean PURYEAR Reported to be Improving Slowly," Battalion, 7 Jan. 1931, p. 1
"Celebrates His 75th Birthday," Battalion, 1 Nov. 1935, p. 1
"Dean PURYEAR Has Had Intense Scholastic Activities During Lif e," Battalion, 25 Mar.
1936, p. 1
"Dean Emeritus of College Has Been Connected with A&M for 50 Years," Battalion, 29
Jan. 1939, p. 1
"Dean Emeritus Near Death," Battalion, 11 July 1940, p. 1
"Funeral Service for Dean PURYEAR," Bryan Daily Eagle, 12 July 1940, pp. 1, 6
"Dean PURYEAR Dies in Bryan," Battalion, 18 July 1940, p. 1
Soundex Code: P660
1920: Brazos Co.: ED 12, sheet 7, line 60
PUTZ family -- Polish American family
"Mrs. Jacob PUTZ, Jr.," Brazos Pilot, 2 January 1908, p. 6, col. 2
"Mrs. Jacob PUTZ, Jr. Dead," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 2 Jan. 1908, p. 8, col. 4
The 1920 Brazos Co. census (ED 12, sheet 4b, line 63) shows:
PUTZ, Jacob J.42 head of household
, Mary 32 wife
, Louie 12 son
Brazos County Deed Book 54, p. 616. J. J. PUTZ adopted Mary Josephine PUTZ, about
4 months old; dated 14 May 1921
"Mrs. Frank PUTZ Died Saturday," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 24 Dec. 1925, p. 3, col. 5. Mrs.
Carrie HANUS PUTZ
Mary Josephine PUTZ m. Tony S. PICOLLO, Jr., 2 Oct. 1938, Brazos County Marriage
Records, Book W , p. 130
"Funeral Service for Mrs. PUTZ , Aged Resident," Bryan Daily Eagle, 16 Feb. 1946, p. 1,
col. 8. Mrs. Mary PUTZ
*Jake PUTZ, aged 67, was survived by his widow Mrs. Mary PUTZ, a daughter Mrs. Tony
PICCOLO, & a son Louis PUTZ, "Funeral Services for Jake PUTZ to be W ednesday,"
Bryan Daily Eagle, 21 Oct. 1947, p. 1
RAHNERT family -- family members buried at Kurten
"Popular Bryan Girl is Wedded Sunday to Resident of Kurten," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 5 May
1937, p. 3, col. 1. Carl RAHNERT
"Fritz RAHNERT Services to be Saturday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 Feb. 1958, p. 10, col. 3
"Mrs. RAHNERT," Bryan Daily Eagle, 19 Aug. 1964, p. 14, col. 7.
RANDLE family
"Address of the stockholders of the Galveston & Red River Railway Company...,"
Galveston Tri-W eekly News, 1 July 1856, p. 2, col. 1. William RANDLE
"From Bryan," Galveston Daily News, 26 June 1874, p. 1, col. 2. Irwin RANDLE serve on
coroner's jury
*Solon RANDLE killed W illiam LIVINGSTONE, Galveston Daily News, 26 Sept. 1877, p.
1; Galveston Daily News, 2 Oct. 1877, p. 4
*PARKER-RANDLE case, Brenham Daily Banner, 24 Feb. 1878, p. 1; 5 Mar. 1878, p. 1
126
*Fight between W .R. KING & Solon RANDLE, Brenham Daily Banner, 25 Jan. 1879, p. 1,
col. 3; 26 Jan. 1879, p. 2, col. 1; 8 Feb. 1879, p. 1, col. 2
*I. G. RANDLE acquitted, Brenham Daily Banner, 19 Mar. 1880, p. 1, col. 6
*I. G. RANDLE on trial, Brenham Daily Banner, 2 Oct. 1880, p. 1, col. 5
*I. G. RANDLE & Thomas BOYETTE fight, Fort W orth Daily Gazette, 15 Feb. 1889, p. 2
RAO family
"Notice-Sheriff's Sale," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 9 Oct. 1913, p. 5, col. 6. Leo, Francis, Ned,
& Lucia RAO
RAWLS family
HARY, Ruth, & Janis HUNT, "BARNETT and RAW LS Families of Brazos County," Brazos
Genealogical Advertiser, 11(1):3-5 (winter 1990)
"Mrs. Ella RAW LS," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 23 Aug. 1906, p. 1, col. 6. Daughter of W . R.
PARKER
"RAMSEY-RAWLS," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 8 July 1915, p. 1, col. 3. Miss Leila RAWLS,
daughter of E. R. RAWLS
RECTOR family. Brazos Co. pioneers.
Josephine FOLEY married W . RECTOR
1850 Brazos Co. census: p. 415 (FOLEY family)
1860 Brazos Co. census: p. 82a (FOLEY family)
RECTOR burials in Brazos Co. include:
RECTOR, Clifford, d.12 Nov. 1885, aged 9 months, 4 days; infant son of N. W . and E. G.
RECTOR, buried Bryan
RECTOR, John P., d. 21 Apr. 1862, aged 12 years, 3 months, 9 days; buried Boonville
RECTOR, Presley, b. 26 Sept. 1789, d. 4 Sept. 1853; buried Boonville
RECTOR, Sivey, b. 14 Dec. 1796, d. 20 Sept. 1859; buried Boonville
Taken up & estrayed by Nelson W . RECTOR, Co. Commissioner for Brazos Co., a dark
brown horse, about 15 hands high, 9 or 10 years old, no brands to be seen. Texas
Baptist, 3 June 1857, p. 3.
"Lewis RECTOR v. Henry G. HUDSON," 20 Texas Reports, 234 (1857).
"Millican's, Brazos County," Galveston Weekly News, 14 June 1859, p. 2, col. 1. Shooting
took place near his home
*N. W . RECTOR attended firemen's convention, Waco Daily Examiner, 13 June 1883, p.
4
*N. W . RECTOR's barn (near Millican) burned, Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 26 Dec. 1886,
p. 1
John KOEHLER, aged about 30; killed by Capt. W . G. RECTOR, his father-in-law, at El
Paso, Tx.; KOEHLER allegedly seduced Miss Lee RECTOR, his 18-year-old
sister-in-law; KOEHLER was a blacksmith; RECTOR lived at Bryan until 1880, when
he moved to El Paso; KOEHLER left a 22 year-old widow & 2 small children; his wife
was pregnant with a 3rd child when he died. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 13 Apr. 1888,
p. 4, cols.3-4. Galveston Daily News, 13 Apr. 1888, p. 1, col. 4; 14 Apr. 1888, p. 3, col.
3; 18 Apr. 1888, p. 3, col. 4
127
"Letter from an Old Citizen," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 4 Nov. 1915, p. 2, col. 3. N. W.
RECTOR
"Former Resident, Mrs. Emma RECTOR, Dies at Abilene," Bryan Daily Eagle, 15 Jan.
1943, p. 1, col. 8. W idow of N. W. RECTOR
REDMOND family
"REDMOND-NORW OOD," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 20 Mar. 1914, p. 5, col. 6. E. J.
REDMOND
REED, Horace T. (15 July 1900-2 Aug. 1941). Buried Bethel; Brazos Co. sheriff; his father
was also sheriff
"Newlyweds Brought Into Court On Bench W arrant Charging Contempt; Were Paroled And
Made Gift Of China," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 26 Feb. 1931, p. 5, col. 1
"Son Of Sheriff Married Sunday; Occupy New Home," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 26 Feb. 1931,
p. 5, col. 2
"Constable REED Candidate For Another Term," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 4 May 1932, p. 2,
col. 3
"REED Gets Hunch; Result, Recovery Sack Of W atches," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 12 Oct.
1932, p. 1, col. 7
"REED Appointed City Policeman; on Duty Friday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 6 July 1935, p. 1,
col. 3
"REED Candidate for Nomination as Sheriff," Bryan Daily Eagle, 1 Apr. 1936, p. 6, col. 7
"W ife of Sheriff Goes Into Action on Emergency Call," Bryan Daily Eagle, 27 Apr. 1939, p.
1, col. 4. Mrs. Horace REED
"REED W ill Seek Second Term as Brazos Sheriff," Bryan Daily Eagle, 10 Apr. 1940, p. 8,
col. 4
"Funeral Is Held For Horace REED Sunday Afternoon," Bryan Daily Eagle, 4 Aug. 1941,
p. 1, col. 4
REGMUND family
"Horrible Death Near Smetana," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 22 Mar. 1917, p. 3, col. 6. Frank
REGMUND
"Mrs. Gobina BANJO Dead," Bryan Daily Eagle, 12 Sept. 1917, p. 1, col. 1. Daughter of
Frank REGMUND
"REGMUND Expects Thing to Be Over Pretty Soon," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 29 Aug. 1918,
p. 3, col. 3. Henry REGMUND
"F. F. REGMUND for Commissioner Precinct Number 3," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 7 Feb.
1924, p. 2, col. 7
"Custody of the Child is Given to Grandmother," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 1 Oct. 1925, p. 3,
col. 6. Lena BANJO, granddaughter of Mrs. Mary REGMUND
"F. F. REGMUND a Candidate for Commissioner," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 14 Jan. 1926, p.
3, col. 5
"Funeral Held for Miss Lois REGMUND," Bryan Daily Eagle, 14 Oct. 1927, p. 1, col. 4
"Former Bryan Man Pays Visit Here," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 Sept. 1928, p. 6, col. 5. Henry
REGMUND
128
"AM Short Course Highly Praised by Brazos Girl," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 3 Aug. 1932, p. 4,
col. 5. Emma REGMUND
"Smetana Club W oman Makes Prize Aid Kit," Bryan Daily Eagle, 30 May 1939, p. 2, col.
1. Miss Emma REGMUND
"Frank J. REGMUND Funeral Services Held on Thursday," Bryan Daily Eagle, 16 Oct.
1942, p. 1, col. 8
"REGMUND in Race for Commissioner of Precint No. 3," Bryan Daily Eagle, 6 Feb. 1946,
p. 7, col. 6
REID, David (29 Sept. 1885-11 May 1962). Buried Bryan; English grocer
"Business Change," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 4 Jan. 1912, p. 3, col. 2
"David REID & Co., Staple and Fancy Groceries," Bryan Daily Eagle, 22 Apr. 1913, sect.
2, p. 5, col. 5
"REID-GREEN," Bryan Daily Eagle, 26 June 1913, p. 5, col. 4
"John REID Sells Out to Go to the W ar," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 29 Nov. 1917, p. 3, col. 7.
John, brother of David REID
"Former Resident of Bryan Dies, Age 75, at W ashington Home," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 3
July 1919, p. 3, col. 3. J. W . ENGLISH, uncle of David REID.
"W hen I Was 21," Bryan Daily Eagle, 31 Dec. 1926, pp. 1, 4
"REID Grocery is Oldest in Trade Area," Bryan Daily Eagle, 19 Sept. 1933, sect. 2, p. 5,
col. 6
"Tribute is Paid David REID for Work in Church," Bryan Daily Eagle, 13 Jan. 1938, p. 6,
col. 4
"Former Resident, John REID , Dies in W ashington," Bryan Daily Eagle, 5 Aug. 1943, p.
1, col. 8. John, brother of David REID
SYPTAK, Virginia, "Reid Clock Doctor," Bryan Daily Eagle, 20 Nov. 1957, p. 1, col. 3
REID (or REED), J. S. -- African American doctor
*Acquitted of killing W . T. GREEN, Bryan Daily Eagle, 1 June 1896, p. 4, cols. 5-6; 4 June
1896, p. 4, col. 1; 25 Mar. 1897, p. 6, col. 4; 1 Apr. 1897, p. 3, col. 1
"Colored citizens of Bryan have organized a burial organization...," (weekly) Bryan Eagle,
22 Jan. 1903, p. 7, col. 5
"Two of the local colored doctors...," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 1 June 1905, p. 2, col. 3
"Two Fires," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 2 Sept. 1897, p. 3, col. 3
RESTIVO family -- Italian American family; family members buried Mt. Calvary
"Luke L. RESTIVO," in Astride the Old San Antonio Road, A History of Burleson County,
Texas, 1980, p. 389
"4-H Club Boy Enters Corn Contest to Win Prize at Legion Fair," Bryan W eekly Eagle, 10
July 1930, p. 5, col. 8. Sam RESTIVO
"Negroes Rob Cash Drawer in Steve RESTIVO Store," Bryan Daily Eagle, 12 July 1933,
p. 1, col. 6
"Funeral Service for Aged Citizen Held Here Today," Bryan Daily Eagle, 15 Nov. 1934, p.
1, col. 5. Sam RESTIVO
"Bonds Recovered by Police; Taken at RESTIVO Store," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 Mar. 1946,
129
p. 1, col. 6
"Police Search for Robber of Grocery Store," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 Feb. 1958, p. 10, col.
4. Joe RESTIVO grocery was robbed.
"Party to Honor Couple," Bryan Daily Eagle, 26 Jan. 1964, sect. 2, p. 3, col. 5. Andrew
RESTIVO
RHODES, W illiam Rufus (28 Oct. 1823-29 May 1899). Died in Bryan; born 28 Apr. 1823
in Green Co., Ala.; came to Tx. in 1850, settled at Huntsville; came to Bryan in 1869;
founded CHATHAM gin manufacturing business; Mexican American W ar veteran;
Baptist; Mason; survived by wife & children: Mrs. Fred M. CONNOR & Mrs. Jas. L.
CONNOR, of Madison Co.; Mrs. John Q. TABOR of San Antonio; Mrs. Lucy KING, Mr.
A. M. RHODES, Mr. H. G. RHODES, Mr. Sidney E. RHODES, & Miss Edith RHODES,
all of Bryan, & the last 2 unmarried & still living at home. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 25 May
1899, p. 7, col. 3; 1 June 1899, p. 7, cols. 4, 5
"Death of Mr. Sidney E. RHODES," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 25 June 1907, p. 1, col. 3. Son
of W . R. RHODES.
"Death of H. G. RHODES," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 28 Dec. 1911, p. 8, col. 4. Son of W.
R. RHODES.
1870 Brazos Co. census, p. 32 (book p. 64): Rufus RHOADES
1880 Brazos Co. census, p. 255a
From The Editor’s Desk
This issue is dedicated to the editors of the Brazos Genealogist. Obituaries of Mary
COOPER and Janis HUNT, who recently passed away, are below. A lot of work goes
in to publishing a quarterly: acquiring articles, formatting for the correct number of pages,
indexing, printing, labeling and mailing.
Perhaps you have a few tidbits of information about Brazos County, or a picture we
could use. If so, please contact us.
130
Janis Jones HUNT, a Bryan native, died at 7:30 p.m. on September 13, 2004,
at College Station Medical Center.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 16, 2004 from 5 to 7 at Hillier Funeral
Home and services on Friday, September 17, at 10:00am at the funeral home.
Interment will be at Bryan City Cemetery.
Janis was born in Bryan, Texas on November 5, 1940 to M. Linton JONES and
Erna Jay FREEMAN JONES. She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin
in 1962 and spent most of her working career as a Property Management Accountant
before her retirement.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bryan and
participated in several activities there.
She was an avid Genealogist and was a member of the Brazos Genealogical
Association and the Research Ramblers. She enjoyed researching her own Family
History and one of her greatest pleasures was in helping other people find their roots.
She volunteered at the Carnegie History Center and at the Brazos Cemetery
Association.
Both of her parents preceded her in death. Survivors are her husband, James
S. HUNT, a daughter and son-in-law, Dianna Ruth and Steve HERRING of Bryan, a
son David L. HUNT of Bryan, a sister and brother-in-law Merry and Jack W ATTS of
Arlington, and nephews Jeff and Jason WATTS of Arlington.
Memorial Contributions may be made to:
Brazos Genealogical Association
P.O. Box 5493
Bryan, TX 77805-5493
131
Services for Mary Evalyn COLLIE COOPER, 82, of Bryan are set for 10 a.m. Tuesday,
September 9, 2003 at Hillier Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Monday and
from 8:30-10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in
the Land of Memory Cemetery in Palestine, Texas.
Mrs. COOPER died on Saturday at her home. She had been a resident of Bryan since
1958, and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Bryan.
Mary COOPER had an extensive education, receiving many honors and degrees
during her lifetime with a B.A., B.S., and M.A. from Texas W omen’s University. She did
post-graduate work at Trinity University, Baylor University, Texas A&M University and others.
She taught elementary school as well as junior high and high school classes. W hen she
moved to Bryan, Mary worked at Texas A&M for a while and then got a job with the Bryan ISD
as a speech pathologist for 13 years. She moved to College Station ISD as an education
diagnostician where she worked for 10 years. She retired in 1968 after a total of thirty-five
years in the educational profession.
In 1974, Mary began her family research studies. In 1977 she began teaching classes
in Genealogy, first with the community education program and later from her home where
she’d created a classroom with materials she’d collected for doing research. Mary developed
and compiled materials from countless libraries and bookstores across the country on
Genealogy resources. Through the years, Mary has taught hundreds of people how to search
for their ancestors. In 1979, she organized the Brazos Genealogy Association and became
the editor and publisher of the Brazos Genealogical advertiser, which was a forty page
quarterly magazine until 1986. Mary also published several books including a listing of the
W illowhole and Keefer cemeteries, Brazos County 1860 Census (1842 tax roll and 1850
index), Brazos County 1970 census, Bryan city cemetery books 1,2,3 & 4 and wrote a novel
– Letters from Two Brothers dating from 1870 to 1973.
In 1990, Mary organized the Texas Research Ramblers, which is a local genealogy
organization that met monthly to do research and to take trips together looking for their
ancestors. The Ramblers were formed from class members that Mary taught and it continues
to grow having been taken over by other members since Mary became ill in June of 2003.
Mary belonged to several genealogical organizations including the National
Genealogical Society and several regional organizations. She was also a member of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the was of 1812, Daughters of
the American Colonists, Magna Charta Dames, National Society of New England W omen and
Americans of Royal Descent. Mary COOPER donated all of her research materials to the
Carnegie Library in Bryan so that it will be available for all that might wish to use it to do their
own research in finding their own ancestors.
Mary is survived by one son, Clyde Russell COOPER, Jr. and wife Vivian
EASLEY-COOPER; five grandchildren, Russell W ayne COOPER and wife Tina; Ronald Lee
COOPER and wife Bonnie; Robin Denise COOPER-GONZALEZ and husband Jose; Diane
Lynne COOPER-REYES and husband Lupe; and Donna Jean COOPER-ADAMS and
husband Robert. Seventeen great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Most of
the family resides here in Bryan, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Brazos
Valley, 502 W . 26th. Street, Bryan, Texas 77803, Still Creek Ranch, 6055 Hearne Lane,
Bryan, Texas 77808 or the memorial of your choice.
132
Table of Editors of the Brazos G enealogist
Year Editor
1979 - 1986 Mary COOPER
1987 Nadine BILLINGSLEY
1988 - 1989 to be filled
1990 - 1992 Nadine BILLINGSLEY
1993 - 1996 Janis HUNT
1997-2004 Allen DEAN
Thanks to Bill PAGE for the following pictures.
133
SANGER
134
W. T. CLARKE, W. A. SAYLOR
135
This issue continues another series on individuals in The Bryan Daily Eagle Business
Issue on April 22, 1913. Transcribed by the late Janis HUNT.
Villa Maria Ursuline Academy
The Villa Maria Ursuline Academy of Bryan, a boarding school for little girls and young
ladies, is a premier institution of its class in Texas. It is a branch of the Ursuline Convent
at Galveston, Texas, a pioneer establishment which in the long history of its splendid
achievements has numbered in the list of its graduates a large number of girls who in after
life left the lasting impress of their worthy example and potent influence upon the mental,
moral and spiritual development of the population of Texas. The Ursuline Nuns are justly
honored in history as the greatest and most successful educators of female youth, the far
reaching influence of whose benign teachings have been important factors in the
wholesome development of Christian civilization among all peoples who have received the
lasting benefits of their efficient and intelligent labors. No system of training so enduringly
impresses upon the student the tenets and virtues of a Christianity and the refinements of
an advanced civilization as does that adopted by the Ursuline Nuns while its salutary and
refining influence is noted in the wholesome, moral, and exemplary lives of their students.
Villa Maria Ursuline Academy, in the matter of the mental, moral and spiritual training
of young girls, follows strictly the methods and curriculum which have been successfully
tested for more than a century, the success and beneficial results of which are no longer
problematic nor a matter of speculation, and which wisely reckons with the uncontrovertible
fact that the efficient training and education of the young girls, destined in after life to
exercise a potent influence in holding and sustaining the tenets of Christianity, the purity
of home life and moral standards of social life, is the most important heritage that the
present owes the future generations.
The academy occupies a modern substantial and elegant main building three stories
high, supplemented by two annexes of two and three stories in height, respectively, of an
architectural beauty and design unexcelled in any like structures in Texas. Each story and
every apartment therein is comfortable, commodious, large, and well ventilated, the
building being lighted throughout by electricity and acetylene gas manufactured on the
premises at a safe distance from the buildings. All the buildings are constructed and
equipped in strict compliance with the underwriters fire regulations, thus insuring the safety
of occupants, and are steam-heated throughout with auxiliary flues for use in case of
accident to the heating plant. An ample supply of the purest cistern and city water is
provided for the use of the institution. The academy occupies a beautiful and picturesque
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locations on St. Ursula's Hill, a healthy and charming plateau of fifty acres about one mile
from the business district of the steadily growing and progressive city of Bryan.
The extensive and beautiful grounds, with its stately oaks, afford ample space for
outdoor exercise, and are provided with croquet, tennis, and basketball courts. The
orchard, vineyard, and kitchen garden are among the best and most productive in Brazos
County, supplying an abundance of the best, freshest, and most wholesome fruits and
vegetables for the table. The location of the academy is one of the most sanitary and
healthful in Texas, and during its history of twelve years has been entirely free form climatic
diseases. An important feature of the institution is that its location is such that its students
are sheltered from the distraction and disturbing influence of city life so necessary to
requisite study and reflection, but is within wheezy reach of all the residences and other
schools owing to the extension of the car line which has just been completed to this school.
The course of study consists of a primary department concluding in the academic with
branches of a collegiate course, and is systematic and thorough, embracing all that is
necessary for higher culture. Classes are divided into departments and each department
into first and second sections; the grading of the several classed receiving careful attention
and the pupils are placed and promoted according to efficiency, progress, and ability.
Blessed with exceptionally striking advantages as touching associations and
surrounding favorable to mental, moral, and physical development, a pupil of Villa Maria
must be benefited, and can hardly fail to acquire those virtues and accomplishments that
render a woman a blessing to the family and an ornament to society.
* * * * *
John M. SEBESTA - Dry Goods and Groceries
The dry goods, grocery and general merchandise establishment of John M. SEBESTA
is one of the successful enterprises of the city of Bryan. It carries an extensive stock of
well selected goods pertaining to the lines handles by it, and has enjoyed a large and
constantly increasing volume of trade during the man years of its successful activities in
this city.
John M. SEBESTA, the founder and proprietor of the business, was reared in Brazos
County, entering business seven years ago while quite a young man, and owing to his
superior business capacity and strict attentions to the details of his work, has advanced his
establishment to the front rank of prominent and prosperous enterprises of this city. In the
conduct of his business Mr. SEBESTA has been ably assisted by Mr. John OPRSTENY,
a native of Bryan, who has rendered valuable services for the house for seven years, as
also by Mr. Frank ELZNER, who although new in the business, is an energetic and capable
business man and justly popular with all who know him.
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* * * * *
C. C. SHELBURNE - Livery and Boarding Stable
The livery and boarding stable conducted by C. C. SHELBURNE has been in
successful operation here since it opened for business in 1902. This stable contains a
large livery barn and complete equipment for the care of houses, and keeps some of the
most reliable teams and elegant rigs of any stable in this locality.
Mr. SHELBURNE came to Bryan in 1889, and served with credit as Deputy City
Marshall until 1894, when he was appointed marshall to fill out the unexpired term of R. M.
NALL, elected Sheriff of Brazos County. Thereafter he served ably as City Marshall of
Bryan for several years.
He is one of the oldest, most reliable and substantial citizens of this city and is
esteemed by all.
In the conduct of his livery business Mr. SHELBURNE is ably assisted by his son Jack,
who is everybody's friend, and who has contributed very materially to the success of this
popular business.
The SHELBURNE livery is conducted exclusively for white patronage.
* * * * *
Dr. B. U. SIMS - Surgery and Diseases of Women
In the list of capable and efficient physicians and surgeons of this city, Dr. B. U. SIMS
is entitled to distinctive mention. His specialties are surgery and diseases of women, in
which he has attained enviable success.
Dr. SIMS is a native of Bryan. He received his professional education at Tulane
University in New Orleans, La., graduating in the class of 1901. He first entered the
practice of medicine at Bogalusa, La., subsequently removing to this city, where he has
acquired an extensive and remunerative practice. He is a most capable physician and
surgeon, and a popular, congenial, and pleasant gentleman.
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Texas Correspondence
from Bill PAGE
Milican [sic], Brazos Co., Texas, Feb.12
Editor Herald - As I see in your valuable paper items from all parts of the country, I thought
I would let your readers know that Texas is still alive and in the front. The only excitement
here is the silver dollar. Texas wants the old silver dollar, and the universal demand is, we
must have it. This part of the State is beautiful prairie, with narrow skirts of timber on the
small streams.
Bryan, the county seat of Brazos county, has 3,000 population, about one half being
freedmen. The country is filled up with northern men from Illinois and Missouri. The only
drawback on our county, is that we cannot raise small grain, no fruit, nothing but corn,
cotton, potatoes, cattle and horses. But it don't pay, for cattle are very cheap; milch cows
sell for $8.00 per head, horses $25 per head.
W e have a regiment of Texas Rangers station on the frontier from our county. Land is very
cheap, unimproved land sells for $3.50 per acre. Land in cultivation sells for $20.00 per
acre. Farmers are planting corn this month. The weather is as warm as I ever saw it in
Illinois. In some places roses are blooming. The prairie is covered with wild mesquito
grass, which makes splendid pasture for stock.
They have a very poor way of settling their troubles here. The pistol is the law. The most
of the men are outlaws from Northern States, and they rove from town to town, stealing
whatever they can get at. W e see such men every day. Our jails are full our State prison
is at Huntsville. There were fifteen thousand convicts hired out to planters at $6 per month.
They work them the same as they were worked in slave times.
Any person wishing information concerning Texas land, can get all information by writing
to M.M. Creery, General Land Agent, Milegan [sic], Brazos County, Texas.
S. M. CAMP
(from The Quincy (Illinois) Daily Herald, February 16, 1878, page 2).
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Article on Bryan-College Interurban Trolley written by Tabitha MILNER, daughter of
R. T. MILNER, who was President of Texas A & M during the period 1908-1915. Tabitha
was one of the early female students on campus, having attended classes during her
father’s administration as a “special student,” though of course she was not allowed to get
a degree.
Article appeared in Dallas Morning News, July 13, 1930. “Feature Section,” page 6.
Transcribed by Ruth HARY
W hite Elephant Passes to a Doubtful Record
In the Dear, Dead Days This Temperamental Trolley Hauled A. & M. College Students
Into Bryan and Vice Versa to the Continual Enlightenment of Everybody Concerned–Its
Perambulations Disrupted Households, Made Romances and Gave Muscular cadets
Something to Do. –With Almost Human Intelligence, W hen the Engine Sighted a Lowing
Herd on the Lea, It Sat Down and Rested Itself, and Then the Accepted Procedure W as,
“Ladies, Keep Your Seats, Profs Get Out and W alk and Cadets Get Out and Push.”
“Bryan Trolley Gives Up Ghost,” a recent copy of the Texas Aggie announced to a world
sympathetic or otherwise. For more than fifteen years the Bryan-College interurban had
hauled A. & M. students, professors and Bryan girls from college to Bryan and Bryan to
college, to dances, to football games, to numerous and various festivities, to shows and
shopping trips, and even sometimes to classes. It always ran at the most inopportune
times, and meals, dates, shows and classes had to be accommodated to the erratic hours
kept by the sole means of public transportation.
It began its career as a high-pooped gasoline motor car. The elite of Bryan and college
sat in the seats of the haughty in the rear end of the car, the riffraff and the overflow
reposed upon the huge boxlike platform that covered the extremely temperamental
gasoline engine that was supposed to propel the whole affair. If one should be impervious
to the mingled aroma of hot gasoline, whiskey, Ethiopians and the garlicky breath of the
local Bohemian farmers, the porch was fairly comfortable in winter. In summer – well, that
was another story. The mechanically-minded cadets chose to ride up there so they could
lavish free and unsought advice upon the motorman when he had – as he frequently did
– engine trouble, and some not so mechanically qualified did it for the same reason. In
looking back it seems to me that the various engineers of the Bryan trolley must have
been direct descendants of Moses the meek and Job the patient. They submitted to a
severe test when they put up with the vagaries of an engine that wouldn’t start and a host
of cadets who wouldn’t stop whatever it was that they were doing to vex and annoy the
poor motorman. Fortunately just about the time the man’s patience and good nature were
ready to snap the motor would begin a fusillade of back-firing that sounded like rifle
practice and under cover of the volleys and the terrified shrieks of the nervous females on
the car the remarks of the motorman were practically inaudible.
It Disrupted Everything
In those early days the most systematic housewives of college found their schedules
of daily chores torn to tatters by the trolley. The women who set out at 8:30 in the morning
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to attend a sale in Bryan at 9, expecting to scoop up a few bargains, buy the groceries for
dinner that night and return in ample time for lunch, often found themselves at 9:30
marooned at Dellwood or elsewhere, reached the sale after the Bryanites had skimmed
it of all the choice bargains, likewise the groceries, and if they were lucky reached college
again with the fresh vegetables for dinner in a sadly wilted state, and found the household
in wild disorder due to the all-day absence of the pilot. Maybe they had gotten back in time
to go to Mrs. So-and-So’s party, maybe Mrs. So-and-So had gone to town herself and was
not yet back for her own party. The most nervous Bryan parents became inured to their
daughters coming in at the most astonishing hours. It was not at all remarkable to have
daughter depart for a ball game on the 2:30 car and have her come back at 9:15 that
evening on foot, supperless and very warm and flustered because she saw only the last
quarter or the last two innings of the game, according to the season, and after running
clear across the campus with her beau they had caught the car by an eyelash, as they
thought, and then had sat on the edge of college for two hours while the refractory creature
refused to move and her date dwelt on the supper he was missing and become crosser
and glummer and glummer and finally they had had a magnificent fuss and she had broken
her date for the next dance she had promised to attend with him – and he had stamped
back to college and she had limped on in to Bryan, the car having succumbed for the third
time just a mile from home.
The favorite breaking-down place for the car was the big pasture just south of Bryan.
I means that site was the car’s favorite place; the passengers looked with equal disfavor
upon all scenes of delay. That pasture was a hazard as long as I rode the trolley and was
until the end, I suppose. Like all orthodox pastures, it was the grazing place of herds of
cows who for countless bovine generations, had held sway there against all comers, and
why they should have to tolerate the intrusion of a rackety vile-smelling gasoline monster
was a matter that never did become clear to them. W hen the creature came rattling and
clanging, hooting and tooting, feverishly over the hill the yearlings and smaller fry kicked
up their heels and capered awkwardly away or, at the boldest, alongside the track, but the
elder matrons stood their ground right between the iron rails and looked superciliously
down their noses, never missing a champ on the good old-cud. W hen the trolley was
college-bound, it wasn’t so bad, for the motorman could set his brakes, hop out and shoo
away the offenders, hop back on and then merely releasing his brakes the car would coast
on down the grade and pick up sufficient momentum to carry it on toward college, but if
bossy defied the Bryan-headed vehicle it was just too bad. The inevitable result of that
encounter was that the car had to slide back down to Dellwood and there get up enough
power to make the hill – and maybe the first cow wasn’t on the track but another would be!
Pepping Up the Lowing Herd
One summer the cadet who was subbing for the regular motorman with typical A. & M.
ingenuity, conceived the bright idea of arming himself with a squirtgun and a few gallons
of carbon dioxide (which would never be missed from the chemical laboratory) and the
cattle movement picked up. He braced his steering crank in place and clinging
precariously to the step, he liberally sprayed the lowing herds but there was no slow
winding o’er the lea when his liquid ammunition found its mark. Unfortunately before he
adequately had trained the cows to keep their distances the authorities intervened, not on
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the score of cruelty to dumb animals, but of man’s inhumanity to man. The spray from
the squirtgun was constantly blown back upon the travelers in the car and they contended
that it was just too painful to be borne.
How to Know a Hill
The stations on the interurban were Allen Academy at the north end of Bryan, Bryan
downtown, Hill Crest, two miles out; Dellwood, midway between Bryan and the college and
intended for a park but usually occupied in those early days by horse traders or gypsies;
Union Hill, commonly called Onion Hill by the students and the Agricultural and Mechanical
College, known simply as college. People from mountainous regions professed great
amusement at such designations as Hill Crest and Union Hill and said they were the
merest of elevations, but after helping push the car up either declivity a time or so they
didn’t guffaw half so noisily when some one spoke of the hills. Besides pushing the car up
hill it frequently became necessary to set it back upon the rails.
Clever of Them
Nothing short of a notary witnessed attestation would be believed as to the accuracy
of a count of the number of times per trip that the trolley left its track. On Saturdays and
other occasions when there were numbers of students among the passengers it was the
affair of but a few moments to heave ho and set it back in place, the regular routine being,
“Ladies keep their seats; profs get and walk, kaydets get out and push” or “lift” as the case
might be, but when the cadets were not along the whole outfit usually descended and
walked to the nearest station. On long spring evenings when the cadets had much loafing
time between 6 o’clock supper and dark, one of their preferred pastimes was to stroll a mile
or two down the track where they shrewdly suspected the car was derailed and after easily
reinstating it they won a free ride back to the campus.
Sir W alter Raleigh Stuff.
The conductor besides being a man of might in the sense of authority had also to be
a mighty man in the sense of physical ability. He not only had, at times, to decant
obstreperous individuals, he had also to function as a conductor who put on certain
passengers. One time I specially recall was on an extremely rainy day when a number of
Bryan girls were going out to college to a party and the feminine fares had the car to
themselves. The last girl to be picked up lived in the south edge of Bryan, but as the car
approached her corner she was not visible and the conductor, all unaware, made no effort
to have the car stopped. Not so his excited passengers: Two or three rang the bell.
“Stop! Stop!” Half a dozen commanded, “You have a passenger here.”
“I don’t see any,” the conductor protested, not unreasonably.
“Ring your gong,” some one recommended. The motorman stamped vigorously upon
it and in swift response, the door of a house seventy-five feet away opened and out
debouched the tardy passenger and her mother, the latter with an armful of newspapers
which she began to spread for her elegantly shod daughter to tread upon. It was soon
evidence to the onlookers that had Queen Elizabeth trod upon such mud, Raleigh’s head
would have been lost sooner than it was, but Nita never lost hers. She looked at the black
ooze squishing up, over and through the limp newspapers, measured the distance to the
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car and beckoned to the conductor, “You’ll have to carry me,” she ordered.
“Nita,” her outraged mother reproved but she wasn’t half as outraged as the astounded
public servant.
“Me? Carry you?” he protested. “Yes. Come on. I can’t ruin my shoes in that mud.
You will just have to carry me.”
Successful Portage
Nita’s most devoted and tactful admirers were never to infatuated as to characterize her
as petite and the poor conductor undoubtedly realized that he had an armful when he
obediently shouldered his fair burden and floundered back to the car. He was tottering the
last few feet of the portage and the interested girls on the car held their breaths. It would
be terrible if in her efforts to preserve the pristine beauty of her slippers Nita and her
preserver both fell full length in the bottomless mud of College avenue. Finally the man
flopped feebly against the side of the car and let Nita spring nimbly up the steps without
any assistance from him; as a first aider he had done his stuff and was inclined to call it a
day. He feebly rang for the motorman to start on and the car was almost in the college
precincts before he recovered enough to collect the fares.
His R-r-revenge!
He was trying to revenge himself, perhaps, a little later that same season when I had
five girls visiting me and we were going to a masquerade in Bryan on St. Valentine’s.
Since it was a masquerade the girls went unescorted and as usual the car came fifteen
minutes before we were ready for it. My smallest brother was sent to hold it for us and he
did. W e reached it in breathless haste and in all sorts of fancy dress, half dress and
undress, happily concealed by our wraps, and, as we were unused to going anywhere at
night without a beau, without a cent among the bunch of us. My eldest brother was
somewhere in the seething mob of cadets and young instructors likewise bound for the
dance, so when the conductor elbowed and pushed his way to us we told him to collect our
fares from my brother on the front platform. W hen the affair was checked up later we
found that he collected for the six of us from five different cadets, telling each one that I
had said for him to pay for us and that my bother would pay him. There was nothing
remarkable in the gallantry of the five cadets who came so nobly to the rescue, but we
always did wonder how that conductor located five cadets who were able to pay so many
fares at one time.
Romance Undone
The item I quoted from the Aggie said that many romances had been made possible
through the aid of the old trolley and that many had been the sprints put on to catch the last
car, but it wot not of the romances–one at least–unmade by sprinting for the last car.
There was a College professor who feared and suspected he had a very heavy and
dangerous rival for the affections of a popular Bryan girl who lived right on the car line. The
ardent “prof” always waited till he heard the car approaching before beginning his farewells
and one night it was so close before he began that his desperate spring just did enable him
to swing on. The encouraging cheers of the other night hawks changed to jeers that
embarrassed him deeply when they discovered that in his haste he had forgotten his hat.
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As it was not only a good hat but the only one he possessed, the professor took
advantage of a vacant period early the next morning to go in after his headgear. He
dropped off the car at the lady’s very front door and barged up the walk and into the front
door before she knew he was within five miles of her presence, but what he saw sent him
charging out as impetuously as he had come in, for on the hither-to ringless finger of her
slim left hand there now blazed the oft-rumored but never before discovered diamond of
the dangerous rival, and the car never stopped at that corner any more for him.
Dear Dead Days
In course of time the trolley really became a trolley when it was electrified, but it was
temperamental to the end and had no stability except for its characteristic for running at
unearthly hours. And now it is to be discontinued, dismantled, junked. Busses may be
surer as they bowl along over paved roads and are doubtless more convenient to hours
but I defy anyone to have half the delightful recollections of them that we have who rode
the interurban. The trolley riders constituted a fraternity, or several different fraternities.
There were the early morning travelers from Bryan who had to take the 7 a.m. car to be on
time at their work at College stat 8 or 8:30. Their password was one of abuse for the car
they must perforce ride at such an ungodly hour. There were school children who filled it
to the guards twice a day; there were women who chattered all the five-mile journey and
what they had to say about the service was calculated to scorch the ears of motorman and
conductor, and then in the evenings there were the hordes of boys going to the movies,
going to see girls, going to take girls places, going to do all the thousand and one things
that youth can find to do. And their passwords were as varied as their Interests, but to
them all the trolley was indispensable.
And So I Sign
And I defy any one to have half the fun on busses that we had on cold winter nights
when we ran panting across to the car and pulled ourselves on the last one out, on our
way home from seeing “The Man From Home,” or “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” or “The
Chocolate Soldier,” at the old Bryan Opera House. W e were packed in, three girls to every
seat, our strap hanging escorts swaying perilously in the aisle and piling up like a file of
pushed down dominoes when we jerked around a curve, all this to a strident
accompaniment of shrill feminine conversation and giggles, deeper masculine rejoinders
and the stags whistling or humming snatches of the show’s hits–then suddenly the abrupt
stopping of the car, its stubborn refusal to move on and the usual denouement with cadets
prompt to the rescue. Or on fragrant spring evenings when we were going home on the
open summer cars and the moonlight was so silvery magical that the motorman turned off
his lights and we rolled along through a scene so enchanting that we were held in a
thralldom of blissful silence except for the glee club quartet on the back seat, and so great
is the charm of being young that we loved their singing of “Sweet Adeline” or some other
of the classics in their repertory and never considered that it shattered for some the magic
of the night. Far be it from me to low rate busses–but I’m glad I have ridden the Bryan-
College Interurban. As an experience it is unique.
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Miss Tabitha MILNER, Writer, Club Woman, Buried at Henderson
Special to the News. HENDERSON, Texas. Jan. 2.–Miss Tabitha MILNER, daughter
of the late Col. R. T. MILNER, former president A. & M. and first Texas Commissioner of
Agriculture, was buried here Monday afternoon. She died Sunday night after a lengthy
illness. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. R. T. MILNER, and a brother, R. T. MILNER,
Jr.
Services were held at the First Presbyterian Church, with burial in Old Cemetery beside
her father.
Miss MILNER was prominently identified with club, literary and church work in
Henderson. She was graduated from Henderson High School, after which she attended
St. Mary’s College in Dallas and the University of Texas. During her father’s administration
as president of A. & M. College, she took special work at that institution.
Miss MILNER was well known over the State for her feature articles in The Dallas News
and other State papers.
Dallas Morning News, January 03, 1933, Section 1, Page 2.
Mount Calvary Cemetery - Brazos County
Board of Directors Established August 9, 1965
Regina OPERSTENY
On Monday, August 9, l965 at the K. C. Hall, Bryan, Texas the following minutes were
taken:
The first meeting to discuss forming a St. Joseph’s Cemetery Committee was open with
a prayer said by Father Tim VALENTA. Nomination of temporary officers followed:
CHAIRMAN: Frank E. HUBACEK nominated Frank VAVRA, seconded by A. C.
PLASEK, Frank VAVRA elected unanimously.
TREASURER: Irvin CARROLL nominated Edward A. PATKE, seconded by A. C.
PLASEK, Edward PATKE elected unanimously.
SECRETARY: Irvin CARROLL nominated James FICKEY, seconded by Frank E.
HUBACEK. James FICKEY elected unanimously.
Irvina CARROLL made a motion we have nine members on the cemetery committee,
seconded by Edward A. PATKE. Motion passed. Father Tim will select the two others
members. Discussion followed on various subjects. No definite plans were made until the
committee is complete. Chairman set next meeting for August 16, 1965. Father Tim
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St. Joseph Mount Calvary Cemetery Board of Director Minutes of August 9, 19651
closed with a prayer. 1
This first meeting started the current day Mt. Calvary Cemetery Board of Directors. But
why was it necessary to form such a group?
Let’s go back in history and look at what was going on prior to this first meeting.
Before 1965, the Pastors and their rectory staff and parishioners like Mr. Charlie
SOSOLIK and others whom we are aware of helped in selling grave spaces, keeping track
of records, and overall maintenance of the cemetery. As is the case so many times, too
much work for too few people or too much on one person. Lot owners were responsible
for the upkeep of their own lots. Some of the lots were well manicured while others had
tall grass and old flowers left over from funerals years passed, unsold areas were not being
mowed, the cemetery just needed a little attention. In early years, most parishioners were
farmers and local business people. They lived in a time when the pace was slower and
every-body knew everybody and the parishioners took care of the cemetery. After W orld
W ar II, life styles started changing, people were on the move and the pace has been
getting faster and faster. Some families moved away, some died out, some just didn’t have
the time, and some just didn’t care about taking care of the graves of their ancestors. The
Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.), Brazos County Commissioners and other groups
were called upon to help clean up the cemetery from time to time but as the cemetery got
bigger, the need for a group to oversee the cemetery was necessary.
All monies that were given for upkeep and sale of spaces were put into the Parish
Funds. They were not kept separate. Surely money collected did not cover expense used
to care for the cemetery. The Cemetery needed to be self sustaining and not a burden on
the Parish Funds which were already being taxed by St. Joseph Catholic School and the
other parish needs.
W hat else was going on in 1965? The new St. Joseph Church was finished in 1960
with that debt remaining. The Vietnam conflict was getting bigger. The major source of
funds for St. Joseph School was coming from St. Joseph Church. Nuns were still teaching
at St. Joseph School. St. Mary’s Church at Texas A & M was a mission of St. Joseph’s
Church. The Bishop of Austin Diocese was Louis J. REICHER. The following burials were
per year: 1963--43, 1964--23, 1965--43. This was a large number of burials compared to
2000--54, 2001--48, and 2002--42.
In talking with some of the original members of the Cemetery Committee, certain
subjects were reoccurring topics:
1. Purpose of the Cemetery Board was to manage all affairs of Mount Calvary
Cemetery.
2. To relieve the Pastor of the burden of running a cemetery.
3. To make the cemetery self sufficient and not a burden upon the already taxed
financial resources of St. Joseph Church.
4. To establish and keep up- to-date records of financial transactions, lot ownership
(Right of Burial), burial location, and other records pertaining to operation of a
cemetery.
5. To provide maintenance and upkeep of the whole cemetery year round.
146
6. To serve the owners of Right of Burial and their heirs to eliminate confusion and
problems in a families time of need.
One last note as to the Records that were available before the Cemetery Board. There
was a book that listed some names of lot owners which was incomplete and there was a
map that showed lot numbers which a lso was incomplete and not up-to-date and a 3x5
card file with the names and addresses for St. Joseph Parishioners. The Church Death
Register told who, and when, but only the cemetery, not where the burials were in the
cemetery.
In the early years of the Board of Directors, it is noted that Frank VAVRA, Frank
KOCMAN, Jr. and Frank KOCMAN Sr. and many other members of the Cemetery Board
spent a lot of time in inventorying existing burials in the cemetery and tracking down lot
owners. Frank KOCMAN, Jr. also set up the bookkeeping system, although it has been
modified to keep up with the times.
In 1988, Mount Calvary Cemetery entered the computer age. A computer was
purchased, and the slow task of customizing software and entering data was started. The
Cemetery now has the most complete listings of all burials ever, (who, when and where in
the cemetery they are buried), lot owners, drawings of the Mausoleum and a complete
detail layout of Mount Calvary - Smetana. All financial information is now on computer.
Financial statements, ledger, check ledger, and a general transaction ledger are all entered
and updated regularly.
These milestones were not accomplished easily, but all future Cemetery Boards and
pastors will benefit from them.
The following is a list of important events and discussions made by the Board from
1965 to 2004. These were taken from the Board Minutes.
August 9, 1965: Prices set for lot sales: $25.00 per space and $10.00 baby space.
December 14, 1965: Perpetual Care Approved - but not mandatory. Price set at
$300.00 per lot, $150.00 per ½ lot and $40.00 per space.
January 16, 1966: Trust Officers for Perpetual Care to be Pastor and others.
March 9, 1966: By-laws submitted and approved.
September 13, 1966: The start of the Cemetery Envelope.
January 24, 1967: Frank KOCMAN Jr. set up bookkeeping system.
June 19, 1967: Perpetual Care becomes mandatory with the sale of new spaces.
January 1, 1969: Frank VAVRA elected as Permanent Chairman. Mt. Calvary
Cemetery purchase 5 acres of land from Dansby Estate. Block 4 opened for burials on the
new 5 acre tract.
October 13, 1969: Rules and Regulations passed for Block 4.
May 11, 1970: Approval to start mausoleum.
July 26, 1973: Purchased unsold crypts from Southern Memorial Co.
October 5, 1973: W ithdrawal of all funds from Austin Diocese Credit Union they were
not insured.
July 19, 1974: Purchase repossessed crypts from Southern Memorial Co.
147
October l3,1975: By-laws revisions approved.
September 19, 1977 - September 22 1977: Monsignor Timothy J. VALENTA dies at
age of 70 after over 30 years of service to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Bryan, Texas. He
was the founder of the Cemetery Board of Directors. Burial was in the Msgr. Gleissner
Memorial Mausoleum
September 22 1977
October 20, 1977: Father W alter MATUS is welcomed as the Pastor of St. Josephs.
Price increases for new lots and lot dues. Sale price for a burial space went up from
$40.00 per space to $100.00 per space. Lot dues increased from $2.00 per spaces to
$2.50 per space, half lot from $5.00 to $7.50 and full lot from $10.00 to $15.00.
April 20, 1978: Father John DRISCOLL is new Pastor of St. Joseph Church. All burials
will require the caskets to be place in a container, minimal requirement of wood.
July 27, 1978: W ater line ran to Block 4.
April 26, 1979: All graves are to be dug by a bonded grave digger.
January 28, 1981: Oil lease for Mt. Calvary Cemetery - Bryan.
February 10, 1981: Antone M. W OLFE elected as permanent treasurer.
October 11, 1982: Oil lease for Mt. Calvary Cemetery - Bryan completed and oil well
drilling in Progress on Dansby Property. Dirt being hauled in from Babcock and W ilcox
Plant to fill in area behind the Mausoleum.
January 31, l983: Approval to pave all roads in Mt. Calvary Cemetery - Bryan was
passed.
May 10, 1983: By-laws were revised. Lot upkeep dues were increased as follows: Full
lot from $15.00 to $20.00, half lot from $7.50 to $10.00, single space stayed the same at
$2.50.
July 28, 1983: Perpetual Care prices also increased for existing lots as follows: full lot
from $300.00 to $400.00, half lot from $150.00 to $200.00, single space from $40.00 to
$50.00.
October 27, 1983: Elaine BERGER writes History of Mount Calvary Cemetery with
research by Antone M. WOLFE. Increased the cost of Baby spaces from $40.00 to
$70.00. Increased the price of spaces from $100.00 to $175.00.
April 27, 1984: Crypt preparation charge started at $50.00 per burial.
June 11, l984: R. T. MONTGOMERY was given the bid to pave the roads on St. Joseph
side of Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
April 29, 1985: Msgr. CHATHAM is now pastor of St. Joseph Church. Purchase of l
acre tract from Freddie Curry.
June 20, 1985: Frank HUBACEK retires from upkeep of the Mausoleum due to illness.
Mr. HUBACEK worked for the Cemetery Board for many years.
August l, 1985: Father Bobby HAJOVSKY temporary pastor of St. Joseph’s Church.
November 30, 1985: Father John McCAFFERY pastor of St. Joseph’s Church.
July 31, l986: Revision of Rules and regulations.
August 14, 1986: Approval to purchase l acre tract from Barron Estate.
October 29, 1986: Affirmed that Mt. Calvary Cemetery is open to all faiths and persons
wishing To be buried in it.
August 11, 1987: Frank VAVRA, permanent chairman of the St. Joseph Mt. Calvary
Cemetery Board Of Directors retires after 22 years service to St. Joseph Church and its
148
Parishioners. A special dinner was held in his honor. Bill ZIEREN was guest Speaker.
August 31, 1987: Vice-chairman, Bobby MANSEL takes over the duties of Frank
VAVRA.
October 21, 1987: Review of by-laws, revised and amended. No more permanent
positions.
February 11, 1988: Mr. & Ms. Don VITOPIL donate 11.9 acres for cemetery at
Smetana. Approval given to purchase a computer for the cemetery. The start of the
computer age for the cemetery.
April 26, 1988: Incorporation of Mt. Calvary Cemetery - Smetana into by-laws and also
setup guidelines for Mt. Calvary Cemetery Smetana.
October 26, 1988: The Perpetual Care money for the Mausoleum in the amount of
$17,117.00 was removed from the Austin Diocese and turned over to St. Joseph Mt.
Calvary Cemetery Board of Directors. The first burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery - Smetana
other than a member of the Cahill Family was Ms. Edward SIKORSKI.
January 26, 1989: Motion passed to have the two one- acre, tracts cleaned up and
prepared for burials and to install a fence in the same area. By-laws revised to update the
Mausoleum Perpetual Care Fund due to the fact that the Board now has control of the
money.
April 27, 1989: Proposal to consolidate all accounts into fewer accounts and use
computer to keep them separate on paper. This was approved. The Board started on a
project to straighten all the headstones throughout the cemetery. This project will take a
while.
October 26, 1989: Property owned by the Catholic Church was discovered in Millican.
Father John requested the Board look after this property due to the fact that one of the lots
found was given to the Church for the purpose of a Cemetery. Lot Mausoleums were
approved by the board. Replacement of the water system was approved.
April 26, 1990: Open and closing fee for the Mausoleum was increased from $50.00 to
$100.00, and also new security lights were installed in Block 4. The first loan was issued
by the Board of Directors to St. Joseph Church for the purpose of purchasing the Old
Travis Public School Building.
July 26, 1990: Security lights installed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery - Smetana, 1992.
1992: Last year that the Cemetery Envelope was included with the regular church
contribution package.
September 8, 1993: The Board of Directors approved the funds to start construction of
another Mausoleum next to the existing Monsignor Gleissner Memorial Mausoleum. The
Mausoleum will have a capacity of 252 burials.
April 7, 1994: Report was made to the Board of Directors of the death of Charlie Lee
BUSH, Jr. He served Mount Calvary Cemetery for 9 years before his tragic death. He will
always be remembered for the pride he took in the appearance of the cemetery.
July 27, 1995: Project to pave a road around both Mausoleums to facilitate ease of
access and parking was approved.
April 25, 1996: New flag pole was erected at Mount Calvary Cemetery thanks to the
efforts of Jack DeMUYNCK and Johnny HOELSCHER. Due to research on St. Joseph
Church by Joanne GLOWSKI to make St. Joseph Church the site for a Texas Historical
Marker, she found the old Catholic Church site in Millican had been sold in 1992 and the
149
Ibid2
Diocese had not notified Father John McCAFFERY of this.
July 24, 1997: Memorial Fund for Mt. Calvary Cemetery was established.
October 23, 1997: A joint meeting of the St. Joseph and St. Anthony Cemetery Boards
met and finalized a set of regulations for the whole of Mount Calvary Cemetery.
1998: Earnest Money Contract executed for property at 1610 Congo Street, 2.57 acres
from Petunia Smith Estate. Memorial marker in memory of unborn infants. Suggested by
KC #1834.
1999: Prices increased to $300.00 per lot.
2000: Roads resurfaced.
2001: Charlene Miller Elected Chairman of the Board. Bobby MANSEL retired after 17
years on the Board and 13 as Chairman. Charlene resigns and Liz ZEMANEK Elected
chairman. By-laws and regulations up-dated. Clean-up days designated. Records
transferred to the church. Allen ½ acres tract purchased.
October 16, 2002: Antone WOLFE resigns. A tree will be planted in appreciation for
his years of service on the Board. Ricky ALDERETE will be the financial secretary.
June 5, 2003: Letter received from Most Reverend Gregory M. AYMOND, Bishop of
Austin requesting that one Board of Directors govern the Mount Calvary Cemetery
properities. 2
January 1, 2004: A Board of all Catholic cemeteries is being formed in the Brazos
County with two representatives from each of the Catholic Parishes in the Bryan-College
Station area. The Parishes being; St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, Santa Teresa. St.
Mary’s Center, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
This series continues on individuals remembering what their life was like when they were
21 years old published in The Bryan Daily Eagle. Transcribed by the late Janis HUNT.
"W hen I Was 21" - December 8, 1926
Henry LOCKE
"W hen I was 21 I was running a confectionery by the name of LAW TON & LOCKE in
Bryan where HOLMES Bros. confectionery is located now," said Henry LOCKE, owner of
Model Tailors. He operated this place for two years it being destroyed by fire.
After the fire he was employed by Howard CAVITT in a drug store, where he remained
for six months. His next job was with the City National Bank, where he stayed a year.
Apparently being tired of changing jobs so frequently he went to work for A. M. WALDROP
& Co., where he remained for 13 years. "W as it a lucky 13?" we asked him. "Yes, for me,"
150
he answered.
Before he was 21 Mr. LOCKE worked in the LAW RENCE Grocery store, which means
that he has worked at almost every kind of business. W hen a boy he attended country
school at Cottonwood and later finished at ALLEN Academy.
In 1922 he opened up the Model Tailors, and has been up and at it ever since, having
built up an unusually large patronage. His business has increased every year, in good
times and in bad times.
October in Bryan is the best month in the year for the tailoring business, while August
is the poorest. The many big football games held in October are largely responsible for the
increase in business in that month. Another factor is the many old clothes that people dig
up out of the cedar chest and send down to have pressed for winter wear.
Mr. LOCKE's customers among the women are about as numerous as among the men,
his ladies trade being 50 per cent of the volume of business.
Bryan people may be good money spenders but they do not leave any of it around in
the pockets of clothes sent to the tailor. Mr. LOCKE said one time he found $64 in a man's
pants and the fellow was after the money before he could get the clothes pressed. He said
that men frequently left letters in the pockets and especially bills. Occasionally a valuable
lapel pin finds its way to the tailor shop. The ladies occasionally leave pins in their
dresses.
Although old men need most to have their clothes in good order, young men are his
best patrons by far. "If a man will keep his suit clean, its life will be greatly prolonged. A
suit should be cleaned every month, whether apparently it needs it or not. In former years
men never thought of having their suits cleaned--they wore them dirty until they were worn
out," said Mr. LOCKE.
* * * * *
"W hen I Was 21" - February 9, 1927
J. T. MALONEY
"W hen I was 21 I was in Dallas in the freight claim department for the Texas and Pacific
railroad," said J. T. MALONEY, former mayor of Bryan, who, in common parlance, has
knocked around quite a bit.
Mr. MALONEY was born in New York City, but hardly before he had his eyes open his
parents brought him to Bryan. His father, J. P. MALONEY, was agent for the Southern
Pacific railroad here in 1871.
151
Mr. MALONEY's first job was that of a messenger boy with the Missouri Pacific railroad
in St. Louis at the age of 15. He came back to Texas in 1888 when Governor Jim HOGG
forced the railroads to move their general offices back to Texas, Mr. MALONEY going to
Palestine. His next jump was to Sedalia, Mo., where he had a whirl with the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas railroad.
From St. Louis he went to Dallas, where he was working when he reached the age of
21. In that year he worked for Palestine and Greenville, and then went to Houston, where
he was employed by the Houston East and W est Texas railroad. In 1900 he was cashier
of the I. and G. N. railroad in Bryan. Two years later he was transferred to Palestine in a
smaller capacity.
In 1905 he came back to Bryan, where he has been a citizen ever since. That year he
went in to the drug business with E. R. EMMEL. Later he bought the Exchange Hotel and
operated it for a number of years. In 1908 he was elected mayor and held this position
until 1912, when he was elected county judge of Brazos county. He was county judge for
eight years, and during that period he also engaged in the dry good business. Since 1920
he has been in the insurance business in Bryan.
W hile mayor he made the surveys for the interurban to College, had the city to buy the
public utilities, and extended the sewerage system. He and Joe W . BATTS organized the
Chamber of Commerce. They went around to every business man and collected 50 cents
without telling the purpose of the collection. A mass meeting was then called and $10,000
was subscribed for the interurban.
Mr. MALONEY is a member of the Knights of Pythias, W oodman of the W orld,
Mascabees, A. O. U. W ., and Catholic church.
Bryan City Cemetery
Joseph T. MALONEY Born: 01 Jun 1870 Died: 15 Jun 1953
Mary R. (ROHDE) MALONEY Born: 05 Jul 1881 Died: 23 Dec 1959
* * * * *
"W hen I W as 21" - November 3, 1926
J. D. MARTIN
"W here were you born?" we asked J. D. MARTIN, the genial manager of the PARKER-
ASTIN Hardware Company. This, of course, is of little importance, especially when you
are a native Texan, but reporters ask the question as a matter of record. "I was born at
Steep Hollow," he answered. "W ell, then, since you were born in the county, you are
qualified to run for office." "No, no," he protested, I was (not) born in the Harvey
community--that is where all of our politicians come from.
152
W hen Mr. MARTIN was 21, which was about the time W illiam Jennings BRYAN
electrified the county with his "Cross of Gold" speech, he started in at the store, which has
since changed ownership, where he is now employed as manager. In those days the firm
was know as the Allen MYERS Hardware Store. His first monthly stipend was for the
unpretentious sum of $41.66, or at the rate of $500 per year. "And I was just flushed with
money. I thought I was in competition to the financial wizards of the day," he stated
facetiously. In his previous job he received $25 a month.
In 1892 Mr. MARTIN was a student of A. and M. College. He formerly had attended
school at Steep Hollow, where he worked on the farm in this spare time.
He was president of the Hardware Dealers' Association of Texas in 1921-22, and for
several years prior to that time he was on the governing board of the organization. The
hardware business has undergone fewer changes in the past 30 years than almost any
other line of endeavor. About the only changes are that in the late 90's they sold only 10
or 15 cultivators a year, while now they sometimes sell more than 200 cultivators of one
particular brand. In the "good old days" walking plows were the most popular. However,
they often sold 100 wagons a year.
Mr. MARTIN has watched a veritable human parade from the same location for 30
years, and he says that Bryan is improving wonderfully with each passing year.
Bryan City Cemetery
James Duncan MARTIN, SR.
Born: 1875 Died: 1955
* * * * *
"W hen I W as 21" - November 16, 1926
Rev. H. H. McCAIN
An account of the life of a minister is supposed to be quiet, calm, and placid, but in the
case of Rev. H. H. McCAIN, pastor of the First Methodist Church, he has had more bouts
outside the ring than Jack DEMPSEY.
"W hen I was 21 I was on a steamboat out of New Orleans bound for Montgomery to
start the practice of medicine. I had finished Tulane University in 1889," he stated.
After practicing medicine two years in Montgomery, he moved to St. Maurice, where he
practiced for six years. Rev. McCAIN explains that when he was a young man he had had
a call to preach, but failed to accept. W hile attending a revival meeting at St. Maurice, he
pledged to go into the ministry. Then came a five-year period of hardship and self-denial.
During this time he farmed and preached on Sundays as he prepared himself for the
153
ministry. He became an itinerant minister, and has preached at the following places: St.
Maurice, Shelbyville, Hughes Springs, Lake Charles, Houston, Rosebud, Henderson,
Conroe, and Bryan, and for seven years has been a presiding elder. He has been in the
pulpit for 30 years.
He has had some thrilling and dangerous experiences in his long service as a
clergyman. A good many years ago he was preaching in the Caddo oil fields, which
contained ruffians from Kansas City, Shreveport, and other cities. He was conducting a
revival campaign against drunkenness and debauchery in the community, which was
similar to the Borger field near Amarillo. W hile out riding one afternoon five thugs attacked
him and declared they were going to kill him for trying to break up their gambling dens and
other places of crime. They whipped him severely with the butts of pistols. After beating
him up. they held a conference and decided for some reason not to continue in their plan
of killing him, and he was allowed to go alive with a number of oaths from the ruffians. The
revival meeting continued to flourish.
Upon another occasion he was conducting a revival when a couple of drunks came into
the church and started to break up the service. After being reprimanded from the pulpit,
they remained in the church, resolved to "get him" after services. W hen Rev. McCAIN
walked out of the church, one of the drunks attempted to strike him over the head with a
heavy club. Fortunately, one of the church members saw the incident, and grabbed the
board in time to save Rev. McCAIN of perhaps fatal injury. The law dealt severely with this
thug, and he left the country.
Dr. McCAIN is an assiduous worker and a thorough student. He often gets up at 4
o'clock in the morning to read a helpful book, and pursues the pages of literature until late
at night. He says that being a pastor is harder than farming or practicing medicine, but its
rewards are greater. "You have to approach human nature from a different angle when
you are a minister," he said. He stated that the most discouraging part of the ministry was
to try to preach to a congregation of empty benches.
The fruits of his efforts have been many. He has converted more than 3,000 persons
during his ministry, and 25 of these converts later became preachers or foreign
missionaries.
* * * * *
"W hen I Was 21" - December 23, 1926
W. I. McCULLOCH
They say that experience is the best teacher. If this be true, then W . I. McCULLOCH
of the McCULLOCH-DANSBY Furniture Co., has had remarkable advantages.
154
"W hen I was 21 I was working for J. W. ENGLISH in Bryan, who conducted a grocery
establishment," said Mr. McCULLOCH. A number of former and present citizens also
received their pristine training under Mr. ENGLISH. Among the other who started under
him were the late W . B. ROMAN, who Mr. McCULLOCH describes as the best retail
salesman he ever saw; Marshall DANSBY, Milburn NEW TON, W ill THOMAS of the Fair,
Frank BITTLE, Ross MONTGOMERY, and George GRIFFIN.
Mr. McCULLOCH was born in Harvey, which is the Ohio of Brazos county politics. He
came to town at 18 and worked for the Farmers' Cotton Yard.
He worked for two years for Mr. ENGLISH, who sold out to DANSBY and DANSBY.
He worked for the new firm for six years. Then he and W ill HIGGS went into the grocery
business, but after a year he sold out to Mr. HIGGS and in turn purchased the HIGGS
farm.
A few months as a tiller of the soil were enough for Mr. McCULLOCH, and he soon
forsook the farm for business. The Farmers' Union W arehouse was organized and for two
years he was manager of it. He then bought out the grocery store of Charlie BULLOCK,
and after a year he sold it to COOPER & BROGDON.
The say that business and politics do not mix, so Mr. McCULLOCH abdicated business
and entered the political arena. In 1914 he ran for county tax collector and won by a
flattering majority. He served two terms and quit with the proud distinction of being Brazos
county's first office holder to step down at the end of his second term purely on his own
volition.
In January 1919, he bought out the furniture store of LEVY Bros. and when he
purchased this stock he says, "I did not know the difference between a chifforobe and a
chiffonir." In March of 1920 he and the late J. M. GORDON bought out the DANSBY
furniture store and consolidated the two establishments.
Mr. McCULLOCH says he likes the furniture business better than anything he ever tried
with the possible exception of the stock business. For a number of years he has owned
some stock which he has looked after in spare time. The furniture stores in which he has
been interested have shown a nice increase in business every year, and adds that the
people of Bryan and College demand high class furniture.
There have been a number of notable changes in this line of industry even during the
comparatively short time that he has been engaged in it. A few years ago golden oak bed
room suites were popular sellers, while today walnut and mahogany are in demand. Wood
stoves have been abandoned, and now 75 per cent of the stoves burn oil. In the way of
living room furniture duofold suites were the best sellers, while now sofas and chairs are
used. The public buys more expensive furniture all of the time, the people here having
been educated to quality furniture.
155
The undertaking business has come in for much more attention and now his firm has
a modern funeral home.
Bryan City Cemetery
W illiam Irvin McCULLOCH Born: 1878 Died: 1940
Bertha HIGGS McCULLOCH Born: 1884 Died: 1939
A Few Baptist Churches
by Bill PAGE
Over the years hundreds of churches have been located in Brazos County. Here are a few
references to some of the older Baptist Churches that can be found in the deed records.
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
On 30 June 1892, Mary A. W ILLIAMS and her husband David W ILLIAMS sold land to C.
T. and E. T. GRAHAM, deacons of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, for church
purposes and for "burial purposes" (Brazos Co. Deed Book 10, pp.468-469). Then, on 14
December 1892 J. M. POWERS and G. W. WILLIAMS sold land to C. T. DAVIS and E. T.
GRAHAM, deacons of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. This deed mentions "Bethel
Church and grave yard tract." (Brazos Co. Deed Book 9, pp. 576-577).
Cottonwood Baptist Church
In 1907, Robert HUDSPETH and R. H. HUDSPETH sold land to J. S. FRANCIS and Cyrus
KOONTZ, trustees for the "Baptist Church of Cottonwood", for "a place for the erection of
a church building" (Brazos Co. Deed Book 32, p.196).
Providence Missionary Baptist Church
On 31 October 1885, S. W . MONTGOMERY and his wife Alice MONTGOMERY sold land
to the Providence Missionary Baptist Church (Brazos Co. Deed Book 2, p.272).
Saints Rest Baptist Church
In 1873, H. MITCHELL, B. DAVIS, Thos. J. BEALL, and M. W . McCRAW sold 5 acres of
land in the J. W . SCOTT league to Saints Rest Baptist Church; trustees were --- W ILLIS
& Charles PETERS (Brazos Co. Deed Book O, pp.356-357). Then, on 30 January 1874,
Charles PETERS sold 6 acres of land in the Richardson PERRY league to Saints Rest
Baptist Church, J. W ILLIS, trustee (Brazos Co. Deed Book P, p.30):
156
W ellborn Baptist Church
On 17 Jan. 1887, Annie M. PERKINS (formerly Annie M. FLETCHER) and her husband
J. B. PERKINS sold land to the Baptist Church at Wellborn, for cash paid to them by W.
L. ORR and O. R. ORR (Brazos Co. Deed Book 3, p.267). On 30 Oct. 1889, A. HILL and
his wife Annie HILL sold land to the Wellborn Baptist Church (Brazos Co. Deed Book 6,
pp. 446-447). On 30 Oct. 1889, J. R. DONNELL, A. HILL, J. F. EAVES, and W . M.
FOLSON, trustees of the W ellborn Baptist Church, sold the land they got from Annie M.
FLETCHER to A. HILL (Brazos Co. Deed Book 6, pp. 448-449). Then, on 28 Feb. 1890,
the Wellborn Baptist Church trustees, who were J. R. DONNELL, J. F. EAVES, and A.
HILL, sold land to A. HILL and his wife Anna HILL (Brazos Co. Deed Book 7, pp. 268-269).
INDEX
ADAMS .............................131
ALDERETE .........................149
ALLEN .........1, 2, 132, 141, 149, 150, 152
ALLEN .............................150
ASTIN ..............................151
AYMOND ...........................149
BANJO ............................127
BARNETT ..........................126
BATTS .............................151
BEALL .............................155
BERGER ...........................147
BILLINGSLEY........................132
BITTLE .............................154
BLACK .............................141
BOYETTE ..........................126
BROGDON ..........................154
BROWN ............................126
BRYAN
...2, 123-131, 135-144, 147, 149-155, 160, 161
BULLOCK ...........................154
BUSH ..............................148
CAMP ..............................138
CARROLL ..........................144
CASH ..........................128, 156
CAVITT .............................149
CAVITT ............................149
CHATHAM ......................129, 147
COLLIE .............................131
CONNOR ..........................129
COOPER ...............129, 131, 132, 154
COOPER .......................129, 154
COTTON ...................123, 138, 154
CRENSHAW ........................124
DAILY ..........123-129, 135, 138, 139, 149
DANSBY ................146, 147, 153, 154
DANSBY ...........................154
DAVIS ..............................155
DAVIS .............................155
DEAN ..................1, 2, 124, 125, 132
DEMPSEY ..........................152
DeMUYNCK ........................148
DONNELL ..........................156
DRISCOLL .........................147
DUNCAN ...........................152
EAVES .............................156
EDGE ..........................140, 141
ELZNER ............................136
EMMEL .............................151
ENGLAND ..........................131
ENGLISH .......................128, 154
ENGLISH ...........................154
FANCHON ..........................124
FICKEY.............................144
FLETCHER .........................156
FLETCHER .........................156
FOLEY .............................126
FOLSON ............................156
FRANCIS .......................126, 155
FRANCIS ...........................155
FREEMAN ..........................130
FREEMAN ..........................130
FRITZ ..............................125
GERMAN ...........................124
GLOWSKI ..........................148
GORDON ..........................154
GRAHAM ...........................155
GREEN .............................128
GRIFFIN ............................154
157
HAJOVSKY .........................147
HALL...............................144
HANUS ............................125
HARY ........................2, 126, 139
HEARNE............................131
HENDERSON ...................144, 153
HERRING ..........................130
HIGGS .........................154, 155
HIGGS .........................154, 155
HILL ...................136, 140, 141, 156
HILL ...............................156
HOELSCHER ........................148
HOGG .............................151
HOLMES ...........................149
HOLMES ...........................149
HOUSTON ..................151, 153, 160
HUBACEK ..........................144
HUBACEK ......................144, 147
HUDSON ...........................126
HUDSPETH .........................155
HUDSPETH .........................155
HUNT ..............126, 129, 132, 135, 149
JAMES .....................130, 144, 152
JONES .........................130, 160
KELLER ............................124
KERN ..............................123
KING ...............................129
KOCMAN ...........................146
KOCMAN ...........................146
KOEHLER ..........................126
KOONTZ ...........................155
KURTEN ........................124, 125
LAWRENCE .........................150
LAWRENCE ........................150
LAWTON ...........................149
LEE ........................126, 131, 148
LEVY ..............................154
LEWIS .............................126
LIVINGSTONE .......................125
LOCKE .............................149
LOCKE ............................150
LUNIN ..............................124
MALONEY ..........................150
MALONEY ..........................151
MANSEL .......................148, 149
MARSHALL .....................137, 154
MARTIN ........................151, 152
MARTIN ............................152
MATUS ............................147
McCAFFERY ....................147, 149
McCAIN ............................152
McCAIN ........................152, 153
McCALLUM .........................123
McCRAW ..........................155
McCULLOCH ....................153-155
McCULLOCH .......................154
McKAY ...............................1
MEEK ..............................139
MILNER ........................139, 144
MILNER ............................144
MITCHELL ......................123, 155
MONTGOMERY ..........147, 152, 154, 155
MONTGOMERY .................147, 155
MYERS .............................152
MYERS ............................152
NALL...............................137
NEWTON ...........................154
NORWOOD .........................127
OPERSTENY ........................144
OPRSTENY .........................136
ORR ..............................156
PAGE
....1, 2, 123, 131, 132, 138, 139, 144, 155, 160
PAGE ..............................132
PARKER ....................125, 126, 151
PATKE .............................144
PATTERSON .......................123
PERKINS ...........................156
PETERS ...........................155
PICOLLO ...........................125
PICTURE ...........................129
PLASEK ............................144
POWERS ...........................155
POWERS ..........................155
PRESNAL ...........................123
PRESNAL ..........................123
PRESTRIDGE .......................123
PRICE..............123, 124, 146, 147, 161
PRICE .........................123, 124
PRIDDY ............................124
PRINZEL ...........................124
PRINZEL ...........................124
PUGH ..............................124
PURYEAR ......................124, 125
PUTZ ..............................125
PUTZ ..............................125
RAHNERT ..........................125
RAMSEY ...........................126
RANDLE .......................125, 126
RAO ...............................126
RAWLS ............................126
READ ..............................153
RECTOR .......................126, 127
RECTOR ...........................126
REDMOND .........................127
REED ..........................127, 128
REGMUND ......................127, 128
REGMUND .....................127, 128
REICHER ...........................145
REID ...............................128
158
REID ..............................128
RESTIVO ...........................129
RESTIVO ...........................128
RHOADES ..........................129
RHODES ...........................129
ROHDE ............................151
ROSS ..............................154
RUTH ....................2, 126, 130, 139
SCOTT ............................155
SEBESTA ..........................136
SHELBURNE ........................137
SIKORSKI...........................148
SIMS ..............................137
SMITH .............................149
SOSOLIK ...........................145
STREET ........................131, 149
SYPTAK ............................128
TABOR .........................123, 129
TABOR ............................129
THOMAS ...........................154
VALENTA ...........................144
VALENTA ..........................147
VAVRA .....................144, 146-148
VAVRA ............................146
VITOPIL ............................148
WALDROP .........................149
WATTS ............................130
WHITE .........................137, 139
W ILL
..2, 123, 127, 130, 131, 142, 144, 146-150, 154,
160
WILLIAMS ..........................155
WILLIAMS ..........................155
WILLIS .............................155
WOLFE ............................147
WOLFE ........................147, 149
WOOD .........................147, 154
WORLEY ...........................123
YORK ..............................150
ZEMANEK ..........................149
ZIEREN ............................148
PUBLICATIONS BY BRAZOS GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND MEMBERS
Persons interested in the publications of the BGA may order them at the address listed below. For information on
publications by members, contact the author at the listed address. Any charge for the publication of members will be
between the person interested in the publication and the author. W hen inquiring please enclose a SASE.
********
Title:"R ecorded Births in Brazos County, Texas 1850-1910."
Content:Recorded births in Brazos County plus some births in Madison and Grim es Counties.
A lphabetical by surnam e plus m aide n nam e index. 328 pa g e s . A u thor: N adine Billingsley,
706 Pershing, College Station, TX 77840.
Title:"Descendants of Joshua JONES of Alabam a and Solom on KING of North Carolina, 1771-
1994"
C onte nt:S tory of Joshua JO N ES of Alabam a and Solom on KIN G of N orth C arolina and their
descendants , 1 771-1994. O ver 8000 nam es, indexed. A u thor: N adine Billingsley.
Title:“Brand and Mark Registrations for Brazos County Texas 1849-1900"
Content:The registration of a m ark or brand m ay be useful to Genealogists as a finding aid when
developing a tim e lin e, and m ay confirm the existe nc e o f a pers on or fam ily in Brazos C ounty.
Registrations were compiled from Brand Book "A" and "B", and m ay contain such
inform ation as surnam e, first name or initials, date of registration, book, page, and any
com m ents m ade at the tim e. It h as 121 pa g e s , s o ft b o u n d , o ver 2 9 0 0 r e g is tra tions an d is
indexed. T he cost is $17.9 7. Auth or: N adine B illings ley.
Title:Index to Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1876-1909, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bryan,
Brazos County, Texas.
Content:Indexed, intended to assist the researcher in locating records at this church. 96 pages.
Com piler: Joanne Dom inik Glowski, 4131 Bethel, Houston, TX 77092.
T itle :M arria g e and D e a th R e c o rd s , 1 8 7 7 -1 9 0 9 , S t. J o s e p h C ath o lic C hurc h, Bryan, Brazos C o u n ty,
Texas.
Content:A com plete transcript of these records. Deaths start in 1894, with a few recorded before that
date . Includes a list of plac es of birth. 83 pages . C om piler: Joanne D om inik G lowsk i.
Title:"Italians of Steele's Store, Texas."
Content:Historical account of the Italian settlem ent at Steele's Store, Brazos County, Texas. Author:
Rosem ary DePasquale Boykin, 8407 Shadow Oaks, College Station, Texas 77845-4603.
Title:"Birds of Passage"
Content:An annotated listing of Italian im m igrants who departed Palerm o, Sicily and arrived at Port
of New Orleans, LA, 1859-1901. CD-ROM (MAC/PC com patible). Listing of 23,975 nam es.
C & R Publications. College Station, TX. 2001. $35 plus $2 for shipping/handling. Texas
residents add $2.90 for sales tax. Checks or money orders m ade payable to C&R
Publications, 8407 Shadow Oak s, College S tation, TX 77845. Brochure and order form at:
http://m em bers.tripod.com /~LW ink2/Birds">BIRDS OF PASSAG E. Author: Rosem ary
D eP as quale B oyk in
Title:"Italians of Steele's Store, Texas."
Content:Brazos Valley Italians. A Series of Interviews." 279 pgs. C& R Publications. College Station,
TX. 1996. $25 plus tax.
The Brazos County cemetery book has recently been published and is now
available. Included are 278 pages of names listed alphabetically from 85
cemeteries. Information listed includes (where available) name, date of birth, date of
death, inscription and cemetery.
Send your order to:
Ericson Books
1614 Redbud St.
Nacogdoches, TX 75961-2936
The price is $40. Add 8.25% Texas sales tax and $3.50 shipping/handling.
BRAZOS GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 5493
Bryan, TX 77805-5493
Vol. XXV No. 4, Fall 2004