Family Histories of Coleman
County, Texas
THE WILLIAM JASPER IDOL FAMILY
by Marjorie Cox
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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There are relatively few Idols in the United States. They came
to this country from Switzerland, where the name was spelled Eitei.
William Jasper “Jap” Idol was born August 19, 1861 in Winston Salem, North
Carolina, married Elizabeth McIlvain in Missouri. She died February
15, 1885. They had no children. W. J. came to Coleman County
about 1888, married Mary Frances McIlvain, sister to his first wife, February
10, 1889. Her parents, the Moses McIlvains, had moved to Coleman
County in 1887. The W. J. Idols farmed and ranched in the county
the rest of their lives. He died March 4, 1921, Mary Frances “Mollie,”
March 9, 1932, both buried at Gouldbusk. They had five children who
went to school in Rockwood and Coleman; all graduated from high school
in Coleman. As young people they attended parties, dances and picnics,
especially in the southern part of Coleman County, on the Colorado River,
occasionally venturing across the river to attend dances in the Fife community.
These dances were held upstairs over the Fife Post Office. This was
in the early 1900’s and traveling was by horse and buggy.
(1) Stella Lee, born December 30, 1889 in Rockwood, married
Joseph Lester Cox, December 23, 1914 in Gouldbusk (see John W. Cox).
They went to the Lester Cox Ranch, just across the river in McCulloch County.
A home was later bought in Coleman, where the children attended school
after having started school in Stacy and Doole. Stella kept teachers
in her home during the children’s school years. “Miss” Stella was
well known by many, as she worked in Shipman’s Department Store during
the 1940’s and 1950’s. Lester came in from the ranch just on weekends
until his retirement. Stella continued to live in Coleman until the
last year and a half of her life. She died at her son’s home, on
the ranch she went to as a bride. (According
to the Social Security Death Index, Stella Cox died in October 1977.)
(2) William Francis, born July 12, 1891 in Rockwood. He was in
Europe in WWI. He married Mabel Dickinson of Stacy. Bill lived
and farmed in the Gouldbusk area for a number of years. Part of this
time he was associated with Tom Hunt. Then in 1947, he moved to the
Cox Ranch near Doole where he and his nephew, John Will Cox, were partners.
Bill was “the farmer in the family;” farming was the “love” of his life.
He died August 27, 1974, buried at Gouldbusk. There were no children.
(3) Edna Ruth, born July 15, 1894 in Huberville, Missouri. The
family had gone back there temporarily during the drouth in Coleman County.
Her brothers and sisters always teased her about being “the foreigner”
in the family. Edna married J. E. “Lige” Taylor of Shields, February
25, 1913. Lige lost his right arm in an accident at the Rockwood
gin in 1914. Edna and Lige had three boys born in Coleman County;
the fourth son was born after the family moved to the Rio Grande Valley
in 1923. They were in the Valley for over forty years before coming
back to Coleman. The boys are Eldon (deceased); W. S. “Sealy Bob,” now
living in Georgetown; Hoyt, in Carrizo Springs; and Basil, in Seattle,
Washington. Lige died September 28, 1976, buried in Gouldbusk.
Edna is living in Coleman. (According to her
tombstone, Edna Taylor died in January 25, 1987, buried at Gouldbusk.)
(4) Harris Elijah, born June 17, 1897 in Rockwood, married Audrey Lee
Ward of Gouldbusk. They lived and farmed in that area until they
left Coleman County in the 1930’s, settling eventually in Llano where they
lived for many years. Three children were born to them before they
left Coleman. They are: Billy (deceased); Elizabeth Renfro, lives
in Bedford; and Ward, in Houston. Audrey Lee and Harris are deceased,
both buried in Llano. (According to the Social
Security Death Index and family members, Harris Idol died July 24, 1981.)
(5) Joseph Creamer (Jack), born September 16, 1903 in Rockwood.
After finishing high school in Coleman, he graduated from A&M, married
Lucille Tiller of Luling. They went to Benjamin where they are still
engaged in ranching and farming. They have two sons: Jack of Abilene
and Bobby of Vernon. (According to the Social
Security Death Index, Jack Idol died July 27, 1992.)
(Images to be added)
W. J. “Jap” and Mary Frances (McI/vain) Idol, about 1910
W. F. “Bill” Idol, about 1915
Jack Idol hauling cotton to gin, about 1918
J. F. “Lige” and Edna (Idol) Taylor with sons, Basil, Hoyt and W.
S. (Sealy Bob), 60th Wedding Anniversary - 1973
Stella Idol Cox with her children, Ruth Newton, John W. Cox, and
Sarramae Collins - 1973
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