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
|
|