Family Histories of Coleman County, Texas

Batsell Family
By LeAn Warren

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

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     John William Batsell was born to John Nichlas and Ellen (Whiteside) Batsell in 1861 in Franklin, Kentucky.  He moved with his parents to Holden, Missouri in 1883, where he taught school (see William J. Robey).  In 1887, he went to Kansas City, and worked in the post office.  In 1891, his heath failed and his doctor told him to seek a high, dry climate.  He came to Coleman and was soon over his illness.  He moved to Pecan Springs and went into the farming and sheep business.  In 1899, he married Annie Lousie O'Keefe. (See O'Keefe).  They made their home at Pecan Springs.  They had two daughters, Willie Louise, 1902-1940, buried near Blessing, and Verner Allene, born 1910.

     In 1911, he bought a farm 3 miles east of Talpa and in 1920, he and his family moved there from Pecan Springs.  Louise graduated from Talpa High School, attended Howard Payne, and taught school several years.  She married T. H. Ray about 1922.  They had two daughters, Katherine Louise and Dorothy Allene.  Louise was killed in a car accident in 1940.

     Allene graduated from Valera High School in 1928.  She attended a commercial college in Abilene, married Leo B. Gassiot in 1929. (See Gassiot).

     John died in 1952, and Annie Louise in 1964, both buried at Talpa.
  

pictures to be added

Annie, Louise, John and Allene Batsell - 1916


 
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