John Horace Robey - Family Histories

     John Horace Robey was born in Mangun, North Carolina in 1834. In 1878 he purchased around 2600 acres in Coleman County, moved to the county and settled on his ranch just north of Hords Creek and stretched north. With him he brought his wife, the former Sallie Elizabeth Frizell, born in Meridian, Mississippi, in 1844, and his infant son, Benjamin Frizell, born in Franklin, Kentucky, December 1, 1878. John Horace and Sallie had married in Franklin, Kentucky in 1876. On March 9, 1884 a second son was born, William Allison. He never married and died April 10, 1926, buried in Coleman. When John Horace died in 1899, buried in Coleman, his son, Benjamin Frizell, left the University of Texas and came home to manage the ranch.

     On November 20, 1882, a baby girl was born to the family who lived just west of the Robey ranch, named Minnie Dibrell, the daughter of Charles Jenkins and Minnie Lucia Hinckley Dibrell (see C. J. Dibrell).

     Ben F. Robey and Minnie Dibrell married April 24, 1907, and after a honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls, they moved into the house at 416 West Pecan, Coleman. This house had been built in 1890 by Jim C. Dibrell. By 1907, he had moved to a large ranch at Echo. Another house that was already built on this street was the old Dorcas Warren house which was where the County Bank is now. West across the street was the Clow House, and this area of Coleman is now known as the Clow Addition.

     On May 1, 1908, the Robey's first son was born, Horace Dibrell. He attended school in Coleman and North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington. On July 23, 1937, he married Rhea Dillingham at Ingram. Their first son, Howard Winton, was born December 13, 1939, in Abilene.
In 1969, Howard married Linda Wallace in Arlington. Their second son, Herbert Morgan, born May 23, 1943, in Tacoma, Washington. Rhea died the next day and was brought back to Ingram to be buried. Her mother, Horace, and the two boys moved to Wichita Falls, where the boys were educated; Bert graduated from Midwestern University. On June 26, 1964, Herbert Morgan married Dee Ellen Booher. They had two sons to carry on the Robey name, Allen, born January 3, 1969, and Todd Morgan, January 15, 1971, both born in Beloit, Wisconsin. They reside in Griffin, Georgia.

     On August 30, 1910, a second son was born, Benjamin Frizell, Junior. He was in the first class to graduate from the High School building on South Neches Street. He attended the University of Texas. On October 15, 1939, Ben Jr. married Kathryn Miller in Dallas. They had two daughters, Margaret Benalyn, born in 1946, and Camille Rose, in 1951. Ben, Jr. served in the Army 20 years as Warrant Officer. Kathryn died May 18, 1974, just a few days after Camille had graduated from U of Texas at El Paso. She was buried in the Military Cemetery in El Paso.

     On January 28, 1912, Minnie Elizabeth was born to the Ben Robeys. She graduated from Coleman High in 1928 and from the University of Texas in 1934. By the time she had graduated, she had taught in the Coleman County schools three years. She continued to teach for one year at Pecos and three years at Crane before she married 1948. James Herman died in 1949. Shortly after his death, Minnie and young son moved back to Coleman to live with her mother and Dad, and began teaching at Novice. After four years, she joined the faculty of Coleman Junior High where she taught until her retirement in 1977. Minnie's son, Jimmy, graduated from South West Texas University with a B.S. and Masters degree. After doing six years of cancer research at the University of Texas Medical School, he entered the UT Dental School at San Antonio and received his DDS degree in 1981. On June 8, 1973, he married Barbara Zezula in Jourdanton. They were divorced eight years later. On July 1, 1981. Dr. Flippen opened his dental practice in Orange.

     On October 30, 1918, Erskyne Victoria was born. She graduated from Daniel Baker College and served as Band Director in Bronte, Three Rivers, and Bangs. On October 1, 1943, she married Francis Vernon Talbert in Colorado Springs. While he was serving in the war in Germany, Erskyne came back to Coleman and was living with her mother and dad when her son, Victor Steven, was born November 28, 1944. Erskyne and Steven moved to Carlsbad, California in 1957, where she was elected to teach. After ten years, she took a position in Corona, California, where she taught until she retired in 1978. After finishing college, Steven became associated with the Bank of America. On October 3, 1981, he married Susan Franklin, they live in San Francisco.

     While Ben Robey was raising his family, he was having a varied career: ranching interests, registered red Herefords; buying and selling wholesale grains and cotton; serving as postmaster for fifteen years; building and managing the Coleman Oil Mill in 1909; and the same year he was instrumental in getting the Santa Fe Railroad to make many improvements here. He was a member of the Methodist Church and served on the Board of Stewards; a member of the AF&AM 496, Royal Arch 287, Scottish Rite, Dallas; and Hella Temple Shrine, Dallas. He was a Republican to the last ditch. He served as a member of the County Board of Education for several years and was connected with the city school district for a quarter of a century in the capacity of secretary. He died November 13, 1949, buried in Coleman. Mrs. Ben Robey was a member of the Mutual Improvement Club, the Self Culture Club, Coleman Music Club, Shakespeare Club and a DAR. She died February 5, 1956, buried in Coleman.

(Images to be added)

Ben Robey, Postmaster

Ben F. Robey

Ben, Jr., Minnie and Horace Robey

Robey children: Minnie, Horace, Erskyne and Ben -1969