J. W. Slayton Family - Family Histories

     The Slayton ancestors came to Coleman County in the late 1800's from Arkansas and Oklahoma. They did not migrate from Ireland or England. They were and are American Indians. J. W. Slayton or Joseph Wilson, was born in Black Rock, Arkansas, April 31, 1877, died in Oklahoma in 1959. There were eight in his family. J. W. married about 1900, Artie B. Mitchell, born April 23, 1883 in Lampasas to Francis Marion and Rebecca (Evans) Mitchell.

     They had eight children, one born in Arkansas, the rest in Coleman County. The oldest daughter died, leaving two small girls, Sylvia and Gerldene, which Artie raised like her own children.

   (1) Eddie Lean was born August 14, 1902, died on December 22, 1934, buried at Camp Colorado.

     (2) Lorene married Gus Jo Burkey in Oklahoma. They had twelve children. She now lives in Coleman and is married to Audria Casey (see William Joseph Casey).

     (3) Fannie Bell married Walter Keeney of Coleman. They had no children. She died June 26, 1958, buried in Coleman County.

     (4) G. J., December 24, 1904, married Gladys Keeney March 19, 1927, a double wedding with G. J.'s uncle, Archie Mitchell and Gladys' sister, Lula Mae Keeney (see William Michael Keeney).

     (5) Ruby married Homer Mow of Coleman. She is a widow and lives in Arizona. They had no children.

     (6) J. D. married Vera Morman (see John Tomlinson). They had five children, four boys and one girl. J. D died in 1979, buried in Coleman County.

     (7) V. V. married Ada Moore. They had three boys and one girl. Their oldest, Teddy Clark, was killed in an automobile accident, July 4, 1959, buried in Coleman.

     (8) Vera V. married Dave Davidson. They had a daughter. She now lives in Coleman. Sylvia
lives in New Mexico and Gerldene lives in Arizona. Both of them married Coleman boys.

     J. W. Slayton returned to Oklahoma and remarried. Artie B. Slayton died at the age of 94, July 18, 1977, in the Overall-Morris Memorial Hospital in Coleman, buried in Coleman.

     Some years later, Luke Mitchell, Archie's brother and G. J.'s uncle, married Gladys and Lula Mae's sister, Elizabeth Keeney. Their children are double cousins and they have uncles and great uncles. G. J.'s brother-in-law is also his mother's brother. G. J. and Gladys started out their married lives just before the Great Depression. We had hard times and good times, which is what it takes to make a close loving family. We lived in many places in Coleman County, the Cross Roads near Keeney oilfields, my Grandmother Belle Keeney's homeplace, Frank Dyers' place on Hords Creek south of Cross Roads about two miles. We also lived at Howard Newsom's place near Blackwell Crossing on the Jim Ned Creek, east end of the Santa Anna Mountain, Ben Yarbough ranch near Whon, Mrs. Draper's house on Third Street in Coleman, Mr. Hicks' house south of the Rodeo grounds, which used to be Jones turkey farm near Coleman, Gilliam house at the corner of the Rodeo grounds. We went to school in Santa Anna, Buffalo, Cross Roads, and Coleman. Always after the cotton pulling season was over, we spent many hours swimming and playing in creeks near the place where we lived. We had no money, but we were rich. We were taught to be proud, loving, and sharing children by proud, loving, and sharing parents. The things I remember my father doing through the years to support his family were being a Coke truck driver, a taxi driver, a truck driver, a roughnecker, and is retired from the cemetery department after many years of work at the age of 65 (mandatory). The things I remember my mother doing to help support our family were working at Leverett Wash House, Smittys Laundry, Birdwell Dairy King No. 1, Thate Bar-B-Que, Gilliam Laundry, and she retired as a lunchroom worker for the Coleman Independent School District in 1980. This was after we moved to town on Fifth Avenue around 1946 or 47. The family worked in the fields for farmers and ranchers hoeing and pulling cotton and heading maize. Mother worked on the tractors and kept us at our jobs until we moved to town to stay. The following are the children of G. J. and Gladys:

     (1) Louise, February 12, 1929, married William James Strength, July 12, 1950. He was born April 1, 1923. They are residing in Coleman. Their children are:

       (1a) Herbie Conrad, married to Janie Banta; have three children.

       (1b) Delbert James married Toni Mason, have four children.

       (1c) Wesley Nathan married Candy, have three children.

       (1d) Betty Leatrice married Tony Beal, have four children (see Gottlieb Ehrler);

       (1e) Johnny Ray married Judy Massey, have two children.

       (1f) Ginger Belle, married David Leibhaber, June 9, 1983.

     (2) Kemp, August 10, 1930, married (1) Janette Crocker, June 8, 1952. She was born July 7, 1936. Kemp is residing in Burkett. Their children are:

       (2a) Daryl Dewayne, February 9, 1954, married Pat Cope (see Virgil V. Cope).

       (2b) Garvin, August 10, 1955-June 7, 1968 from being electrocuted.

   (2c) Sidney Bruce, May 4, 1957, married Tammy, had one child.

       (2d) Deanna Earlene, October 31, 1958, single.

       (2e) Robin Renee, February 17, 1963, married Randy Watson, have two children.

       (2f) Kemp Monroe, February 28, 1962, married Becky ?.

     Kemp married (2) Peggy Screws, April 1, 1968. Their children are: Fredna Lynn, August 11, 1968; and George, June 4, 1970.

     (3) Fredna, July 4, 1932, married Rondo I. Horton, July 4, 1950 (see L.C. Horton).

     (4) Irene, March 5, 1935, married Willie Mathews, July 24, 1953. He was born on September 29, 1927. They are living in Coleman. Their children are:

       (4a) Billy Carl, married Becky Wilkins (see Langehennig-Wilkins), have two children.

       (4b) Darlene married Dan McRath, have two children.

       (4c) Frankie is not married.

   (4d) Rosemary is not married.

     (5) Francis, March 14, 1937, married (1) Roy Burl Montgomery of Odessa, October 12, 1955. He was born November 24, 1927. Their children are twins, Michael Aron and Jefylin Kim, June 12, 1956. Jefylin Kim died October 22, 1956. Michael Aron married Debra in 1980, have two children. Francis married (2) Jerry Bob McAllister of Coleman, March 19, 1972.

     (5) G. W., November 24, 1938, married (1) Paulette and their children are Lang Ray, Lance Jay and Leslie. G. W. married (2) Charolette, November 24, 1966, children Stasey and Guy Wayne. They are living in Early.

     (7) Sandra, September 8, 1943, married (1) John E. Casey, son of Pat Casey (see William Joseph Casey), December 23, 1964. He was born July 25, 1933. Their children are Melinda Kay, married Steven Hale of Glen Cove and they have two children. The other Casey children are Randall Marlin, Johnny Everett and Christy Dawn. Sandra married (2) Bo Wilson, son of Woodrow W. Wilson (see Walter William Wilson), in August of 1974, live near Rockwood.

     (8) Deloris, July 11, 1949, married Bobby Glen Fenton of Coleman, and they live in Johnson City. Their children are Missy, Becky and Sonya.

(Images to be added)

Sandra, Irene, G. W., Fredna, Kemp, Louise, Francis (back);
Delores, Gladys and G. J. Slayton Front).