William O. Barnett Family - Family Histories

     William Oscar Barnett was born September 15, 1876, in Goliad County to Newton L. C. Barnett and Edora Kuykendall (see Newton L. C. Barnett). He married Birdie Lee Fleming, born March 31, 1885, in Wilson County, daughter of Samuel Leroy and Mary (Molly) Josephine (Coburn) Fleming (see Fleming-Coburn). They came to Coleman County in 1904 and settled on the Weaver Ranch in northeast Coleman County on the Jim Ned Creek. They had three daughters and three sons: Millie Josephine (Josie), December 15, 1900-May 25, 1953, buried at Coleman; William Henry (Bill), June 6, 1903; Alonzo Franklin, August 16, 1906-August 14, 1971; Artie Arnold, April 15, 1908; Lela Edora, September 19, 1917; and Dacy Loraine, June 28, 1921. They attended schools at Bee Branch, Buffalo, Whon, Trickham, Doole and Coleman.

     In 1923, 100 acres of farmland was purchased near Whon and a grocery store was opened in the town proper about 1924. The entire family were members of the Whon Church of Christ. With the assistance of all the family, William O. continued to operate the farm and expanded to a grocery store in Trickham. In 1931, a grocery store was opened in Doole; and on July 3, 1932, the family had the grand opening of a grocery store and cabins on North Neches Street in Coleman. The grand opening was interrupted by the overflow of Hords Creek, July 4, 1932, when the water almost flooded the store. Oral tradition and Coleman County Deed Records indicate that this place of business was known as the "Barnett Camp," which is now the Bait Shop. William O. retired from the grocery business in 1942, and Bill Barnett assumed the operation. The grocery store at Whon and Coleman continued to be a family cooperation. About 1935, Alonzo closed the store at Whon, and moved to Coleman to assist with the grocery store and cabins. All the children of William O. and Birdie Lee lived and reared their children in the area of the "Barnett Camp." In 1944, a new grocery store (now the Coleman Sheet Metal Company) was opened across the street from the Barnett Camp. Bill operated the new store while Alonzo operated the camp area.

     (1) Josie married Elmer Doss Smith (July 21, 1896-February 8, 1968), December 25, 1919, they had three children: Oscar Eugene (December 31, 1920), Opal Lenora (March 28, 1924) and Doris Delores (December 29, 1928) all graduated from Coleman High School. Gene is presently engineer for KRBC Channel 9, in Abilene and married Betty Ware of Santa Anna, March 3, 1930. Opal married Frank Stokes, a carpenter and swimming pool contractor in Athens. Doris married (April 6, 1946) Lester Crawford of Coleman. After her children received their doctorate degrees, she married Raymond Norman, a postal employee of Hobart, Oklahoma, where they reside.

     (2) William H. (Bill) married first Lola Hatten (see Hatten). They had three children; Alonzo (born November 11, 1927, died November 17, 1927, buried at Whon), Arnold (born May 1, 1929), and Joann (born May 16, 1931). Arnold is a postal employee at Bowie; JoAnn is manager of TG&Y Department Store in Bowie, married to Delbert Martin. Bill married second Geneva Wells, born March 4, 1916. They have two children, Steven and Vickey, both graduates of Coleman High School. Steven is an employee of 3-M Company in Brownwood and Vickey married Gene Dobbins, an employee of Clark's Auto, Coleman.

     (3) Alonzo F. married Allene Loeva Bolton, born December 14, 1906, daughter of Canady Bolton, born October 21, 1881, and Della (Snider) Bolton, born November 13, 1882, in 1924, Alonzo was a groceryman. Alonzo and Eva had three daughters:

       (3a) Idella, born October 6, 1925 at Whon, attended Whon and Coleman schools, graduated in 1943 from Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio. In 1943, she married Thomas Wristen of Santa Anna, served in the photography department for the U.S. Navy in Galveston, a clerk at Sturges and Gibbs and Coulson Drug Store of Coleman. Thomas is a former County Commissioner, Mayor of Santa Anna and Past District Governor of Lion's Club International. They have two children, Lin and Lee both graduates of Santa Anna High School and all active members of the Santa Anna Presbyterian Church. Lin married Vikki Laws of Coleman, is with inventory with Gibson Department Stores. He and Vikki reside in Santa Anna. Lee married Anita McPhail, of Rockwood, is in overseas drilling and resides in Brownwood.

       (3b) Billie Raye, September 28, 1926, at Whon, attended Whon, Coleman, San Antonio Alamo Heights High School and graduated from Ball High School in 1944. She served in the drafting department for the U.S. Engineers, 12 years as draftsman for the Wm O. Leach Civil Engineers of Coleman, and presently is in the map department for the Coleman County Tax Appraisal District. In 1946, Billie married Montie L. Guthrie, Jr., of Santa Anna (see J. A. Guthrie). The family is active in the Santa Anna Presbyterian Church, where Billie is a Sunday School teacher, and member of Santa Anna Chapter No. 247, Order of the Eastern Star. She is active in all civic and social organizations, the most distinguished being Texas State President of the Auxiliary of the Rural Letter Carrier's Association.

       (3c) Avis June, September 26, 1933, in Santa Anna, a resident of Whon, attended schools in Coleman, San Antonio, Galveston, and graduated Coleman High School, married E. Lee Vaughan of Coleman and worked as a draftsman for the Lone Star Gas Company, Coleman. They have three sons and two daughters: (a) Lex Franklin attended Coleman and Santa Anna schools, graduated from International Schools of the Isle of Malta, married Mary Brash and is in overseas drilling, residing in George West. (b) Loy Allene attended schools in Coleman and graduated from International Schools on the Isle of Malta, presently resides in Coleman, employed by Johnson, Jones and Autry Attorneys. (c) Lance Arthur (George) graduated from International Schools of Malta, married the former Kathy Hambright of Coleman, is in overseas drilling (see John W. Hambright), residing in Early. (d) Ladd and (e) LeAnna are enrolled in Early High School.

     (4) Artie A. married Opal Baker, a descendant of the late J. L. Pearce Baker, pioneer residents of Coleman County. Artie served in Civil Service during World War II and returned to Coleman as a building contractor. They had one son, the late Artie Allyn, who served as a U. S. Naval Officer, college professor and photographer for Gidding's of Neiman-Marcus and returned to Coleman as a building contractor. They are members of the First Baptist Church, Coleman.

     (5) Edora married John Crye, an employee of George D. Rhone Company of Coleman. Edora, Wayne, and family are active members of the Elm Street Church of Christ and Donnie, Becky, and family are members of the Central Baptist Church, Coleman. (See Adawatt Crye).

     (6) Loraine married William Scott Cole of Coleman. Scott is a retired pipe line contractor. They reside in Coleman and have one son, Gary, a graduate of Coleman High School, who is serving in Germany as Postal Exchange International Director, and one daughter, Patricia, a graduate of Santa Anna High School and married to Bob Rutherford of Rockwood (see William Harvey Rutherford), presently serving as City Secretary of Santa Anna. Patricia and her two daughters are active members of the Santa Anna Presbyterian Church, where Loraine and Scott are regular participants.

pictures to be added

Birdie Lee and William O. Barnett

Mrs. Newton I. C. Barnett, William O. Barnett, Alonzo F.
Barnett, Mrs. Montie Lester Guthrie, Jr., Montie Lester Guthrie, III - five generations.