Family Histories of Coleman County, Texas

CHARLIE BENTON JAMES FAMILY
by Russie James

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


Charlie Benton James, son of William D. James and Lizzie (Tip) Higgins, was born August 12, 1875 at Cooper in Delta County.  He married Katie Wickersham, daughter of George and Julia Wickersham, August 23, 1898.  In 1910, Charlie and Katie moved to Coleman County, near the Trickham Community.  They had five children: Harold Brady, Chleo Thomas, Chester Lawson, Glenna Faye and Julia Inez.  Charlie was a farmer, living various places in the Trickham area.  In the late 1920’s, he purchased the Clemmie Watson home.  Later he bought the McElwrath (McElwreath) place, located one mile north of Trickham on the Santa Anna highway.  Katie James passed away in 1939. A son, Chleo bought the farm in 1932.  After all the children married, Charlie and Harold left the farm.
(1) Harold married Oneta Wells in 1942.  Charlie made his home with them until his death in 1967.  Oneta and Harold have two daughters, Wanda Vee James and Donna Joy (Rae), both live and work in Trent, as elementary teachers.  Donna and Mike Rae have two daughters, Jaime, born August 31, 1977 and Mindy, July 17, 1980.  Harold died in Santa Anna, December 25, 1980.

(2) Chleo Thomas, born in 1906, was Introduction Administrator at the Veterans Hospital in Las Animas, Colorado for eight years.  He married Russie Martin, daughter of A. J. Martin of Trickham, August 31, 1934.  A daughter, Roberta, was born March 6, 1937 (see Andrew Martin).  The following year they moved back to Texas.  During WWII, Chleo worked as a heavy duty mechanic for Brown and Root Company at several army camps in Texas.  Russie taught school for 47 years beginning at Union Hill School in 1925, a one teacher school east of Coleman.  Ruth Stephenson taught at the Camp Colorado School, which was also a one teacher school.  They both boarded with the Ray McNamara family.  The McNamara home was located between the two schools, so each morning Russie walked west to school and Ruth walked east.  These small schools were very primitive with only a few conveniences.  Russie learned to make a fire in an old jacket stove which burned wood or coal.  Other schools in which Russie taught were Trickham, Woodland Heights Elementary near Brownwood, and Bangs Independent School.  She retired from the teaching profession in 1972.  In 1945 Chleo, Russie and Roberta moved to the farm to live.  Chleo also bought the farm on the north from Zay Shirley.  Later he bought the Lindley place to the east, from Bond Featherston.  He was a successful stock farmer, improving the farm by participating in many conservation practices, terracing, seeding much of the land to permanent grasses, digging tanks and stocking them with fish.

Roberta attended school at Bangs as Russie was teaching there.  She was active in 4-H club in Coleman winning many honors.  In 1953, she was the top winner of the 4-H Dress Review in Coleman.  This entitled her to compete in the state contest at College Station, being among the top 10 in the state receiving honors.  She participated in many school activities also, sports, band and piano.  She was chosen as the Football Sweetheart in 1954 and won the title of Youth Fair Queen. She was also salutatorian of her graduating class in 1955.  Roberta married Pat Parker McShan of Brady, March 29, 1956.  Pat was a band director in Menard, later becoming a partner of King Music Company in Brownwood and Roberta teaches school at Woodland Heights Elementary School.  Two children; (a) Cynthia Dawn, March 21, 1958 in Brady, married Kelly Hoffman of Brownfield, in 1980.  They live in Lubbock; (b) Pat II, September 12, 1960 in Brownwood, married Shannon Lea Watson, May 16, 1981.  One daughter, Erica Paige, August 17, 1982 in Andrews.  They live on the family farm at Trickham.
(3) Chester Lawson married Cleo Thompson, September 22, 1934.  They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with their three sons, Bobby Jack, Gerry, and Mike.  Like their father, two of the boys are employed with heavy equipment construction.  Bobby Jack is an engineer with the city of Albuquerque.

(4) Glenna Fae married Ray Owens of Santa Anna in 1935.  Four children: Donald Ray, Kay, Sue and Toni.

(5) Inez married Milton Johnson, September 30, 1939.  They lived on the John Johnson place, south of Santa Anna for many years.  Later the family moved to Fort Worth.  Four children: James Milton, Julia Margaret, Joanne and John Will.


(Images to be added)

Charlie and Katie James

James family, left to right: Chleo, Inez, Harold, Mr. James, Faye and Chester

Robert and Pat McShan, with children, Pat, Jr., and Cynthia Dawn

Pat McShan, Jr., Shannon and Erica


 
Families History Index
Coleman County Index
Please send additional links, comments or suggestions for articles to:

 
This page last updated November 30, 2005
© 1982 - 2005 Ralph Terry.  All rights reserved.