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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This page last updated December 15, 2007
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