Family Histories of Coleman County, Texas

The Akin(s) Family
by Elsie Acrey

From A History of Coleman County and Its People, 1985 
edited by Judia and Ralph Terry, and Vena Bob Gates - used by permission
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Sometime after the birth of their youngest daughter, Fannie Mae, February 26, 1907, Nancy Ella (Bell) and James children moved from Avalon, Ellis County, Texas, to the then thriving community of Gouldbusk.  While attending Gouldbusk schools, one or two of the Akin children added an "s to the name, making it Akins.  The family was of Scotch, Dutch and Cherokee Indian ancestry.  Grandfather Samuel Akin was from Tennessee died September 1, 1906, buried in Talpa.  One Grandmother was from Holland.  Grandfather Thomas Bell was born in Ireland in 1820 and lived to the age of 86; his wife's name was Susanna Hart.  He was an engineer on Mississippi River steamboats.  The boat on which he was an engineer won the famous race between the Natchez and the Robert Lee.  James William died in 1919 at Gouldbusk and Nancy Ellen, December 11, 1870-May 31, 1934, both are buried at Gouldbusk.

     Several of the Akin children left Gouldbusk to live with relatives near Yuma. Arizona.  While in Yuma, Vern became Vern Carlisle; Tom became the local Ford dealer.  James (J. H.) returned to Coleman but moved to San Marcos in the 1930's.  In 1923, Fannie Mae married Claud Ray Acrey in Yuma, Arizona. (See John T. Acrey).

     This is what happened to the children of Nancy and James William Akin.

     (1)  Maud and Homer Monroe farmed in the Talpa area. (See Samuel Milton Monroe);

     (2)  Vern lived in Long Beach, California, for many years.  She'\ managed a restaurant and had three daughters;

     (3)  Fannie Mae died in Clovis, New Mexico in 1965;

     (4)  Ben remained in Gouldbusk:

     (5)  Tom died in Yuma, Arizona;

     (6) Fred lived at San Luis Obispo, California;

     (7) James lives in Pueblo. Colorado



 
Families History Index
Coleman County Index