Walter James Hosch was born June 27, 1865, in Madison County, Alabama,
the son of William and Syntley (Smith) Hosch. He married Hesta Ann
Ayers in 1887 in Mississippi, the daughter of William and Matilda Ann (Drewry)
Ayers, and was born, April 25, 1868, in Tipper County, Mississippi.
They had 8 children:
(1) Lena Myrtle, July 20, 1888 near Rice in Titus County, married
Ed Price March 27, 1910 and they had 3 daughters: Zelda Roxie, Klyve Maurine,
and Hesta Ruth. Lena died April 24, 1966, buried in Fort Worth.
(2) Lillie Mae, born September 22, 1890 in Titus County.
Lillie never married and died December 24, 1970, buried in Santa Anna.
(3) Claudia Josephine, January 28, 1893 in Titus County, married Jimmie
L. Boggus, May 29, 1918. Claudia died November 17, 1976, buried in
Santa Anna.
(4) Virgia Ethel, February 24, 1896 in Titus County, married George
E. Vaughan, October 19, 1916. They had 3 children: Helene Vivian
(1921-1927); Mary Virginia (1917-1920) and George Ellis, Jr. (Bub).
Virgia is now living in a nursing home in Bangs.
(5) Lottie Jewel, May 6, 1899 in Coleman County, married Victor Frances
Carpenter, July 12, 1922. They have one daughter, Jo Frances.
Lottie died December 30, 1974, buried in Santa Anna.
(6) Roscoe Walter, November 5, 1904 in Santa Anna, married Texanna Willis,
August 15, 1926. They had 2 sons: Charles Roscoe (see James Felton
Martin) and James Donald. Roscoe died May 6, 1982, buried in Santa Anna.
(7) Norman Jessie, August 15, 1904 in Santa Anna, married Edyth Verne
Stephens, April 26, 1940. They have a son: Gary Norman (see James
J. Horner). Norman died February 14, 1973, buried in Santa Anna.
(8) Pascal Holland, February 22, 1907 in Santa Anna (see Pascal
H. Hosch).
Mr. and Mrs. Hosch moved to east Texas by covered wagon where they lived
in and around Navarro and Titus Counties. They moved to Coleman County
in 1898. Walter James owned and operated a restaurant in the early
1900’s, located under the old Masonic Hall. Later he owned a dry
good’s store where the City Cleaners is now located. For many years
he dealt in horses and mules, going to west Texas and shipping train car
loads of them to farmers in Tennessee and Mississippi. He managed
the furniture store owned by Grady Adams for several years, then called
“Santa Anna Furniture Company,” which he later bought along with the funeral
business. These he operated, with his sons, until his death.
The Hosch Furniture and Undertaking Company dates back to the first
business in Santa Anna. “The Gap” was built by a Mr. Walton and named
this because it was located in the gap of the Santa Anna Mountains.
The store was a 12 foot x 14 foot building with a dirt floor. Mr.
Walton sold this business to a Mr. Brooks, who then sold it to Grady Adams.
Grady Adams and a Mr. Childers were in a partnership in the business for
some time before the business burned and they moved the business down closer
to the railway. Adams bought out Childers and renamed the business
“Adams Mercantile.” When Mr. Hosch bought in a partnership with Mr.
Adams, they named the business “Santa Anna Furniture and Undertaking Company”
and when he bought out Mr. Adams, it was again renamed, this time to stay
for over 50 years as “Hosch Furniture and Undertaking Company.”
Walter died December 26, 1942 and Mrs. Hosch, December 2, 1947, both
buried in Santa Anna.
(Images to be added)
Lillie and Claudia Hosch, Firemans Picnic Parade in 1915.
Top: Roscoe, Virgia; second row: Lena, Lillie, Claudia; bottom row:
Norman, Lottie, Walter J., Hesta, and Pascal H. Hosch
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