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Gregg County People

If you have any Gregg County biographies you would like to see added, or information to add to the current biographies, please email:Etta, Sheila, & Elaine. Click on a small picture to see it full size.

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Sale- W.M. Sale owned and operated the Sale Electric Supply of Longview. They sold and installed electrical wiring and equipment, and were know as one of the most reputable companies of its kind. Longview was headquarters for W.M. Sale, but his work carried him regularly to cities throughout East Texas installing electrical equipment in many of the finest public and commercial buildings, and in many of the best homes. He played an important role in the developement of Longview by creating a safe athmosphere and in providing more employment and better payrolls.

 
Scott - In the early 1890's Eugene Couch Scott and wife Sallie Milam Butts traveled from Milledgeville, Georgia to Kilgore to make their home. Some relatives lived in the nearby Elderville Community. Their children were: Will, Rosa Berchmyer (married Frank Sory), Mollie (married J.C. Young), Tully C., Nellie (married Gay Fulton Glover) and Eugene S. (married Mrs. Lavina Freeman McQueen). [This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families]

 
Shepperd - Alfred (Doc) Fulton Shepperd was the son of John Henry & Ella Mackey Shepperd. His wife, Bertha Phillips was the daughter of Ben F. Phillips and Mattie J. Fambrough. Doc was born in 1885 and Bertha was born in 1886. Both of their families were among the areas pioneers to settle in the Gladewater area. They came in the late 1840's to the early 1850's from Georgia, Alabama & Tennessee. 

Doc graduated from business college at the Tyler Commercial College and Bertha attended Texas Christian University. She was a school teacher, bookkeeper and court reporter before she married Doc in 1912. Doc was a Mail Carried for 5 years, delivering more than mail. He delivered the mail by horseback or buggy, and everyone took advantage of any extra space he might have while on his rounds. He was often known to deliver medicine, groceries , messages, or anything else that needed delivering. 

Doc was a very enterprising fellow and in 1906 he opened his own livery stable. In 1912 he sold the livery stable and opened Shepperd's Hardware. He sold anything from nuts & bolts to caskets, and being the town's only funeral director, he had a horse drawn hearse complete with a pair of matching black horses. In 1916 he bought his first farm, which is where the Gladewater "Doc Shepperd Field" airport is now. Later he bought land all around a 3 county area. A.F. Shepperd General Merchandise opened in 1922 and operated in 3 different locations south of the railroad tracks until 1933. [This information was found among loose papers in the Gladewater Library]


 
(From left to right: 1st Picture: Gemett F. Shepperd. 2nd Picture: Mildred Oliver Bozman Shepperd. 3rd Picture: Albert Shepperd. 4th Picture: Alma, Anne & Ollie Shepperd)
Shepperd - Gemett F. Shepperd and wife Mildred Oliver Bozman, daughter of Benjamin M. Bozman, lived on a farm that Mildred inherited from her father who died in 1888. Mildred was a native Texan and lived her entire life within 3 miles of where she was born. Gemett and Mildred's living children were: Alma, Anne, Ollie and Albert. [This information was found among loose papers at the Gladewater Library]

 
Shepperd - (October 19, 1915 - March 8, 1990) A native of Gladewater, John Ben Shepperd began a law practice in Longview soon after his graduation from the University of Texas Law School in 1941. After service in World War II, he gained prominence as national president of the Jaycees. His public service career began in 1946, when he was appointed to fill his father's unexpired term as county commissioner. Governor Allan shivers appointed Shepperd secretary of state in 1950. He was elected attorney general in 1952 and was reelected in 1954. As attorney general, he attacked political corruption in Duval county and the misuse of state veterans land funds. After retiring from public office in 1957, Shepperd moved to Odessa where he practiced law and supported numerous civic and charitable endeavors. He was appointed to a number of state and national boards and commissions, including the Texas State Historical Survey Committee (now Texas Historical Commission). He was the driving force in the growth and development of the Historical Marker Program, which became nationally recognized during his term as chairman. He renovated his Gladewater boyhood home and farm after his retirement. He is buried in the family cemetery south of Gladewater. --Texas Atlas 

 
Shipp - E.C. & Flora Phillips Shipp lived in Gilmer in the beginning. They had married in 1892 in West Mountain at Flora's parents home, Ben & Mattie Phillips. They had 4 children in Upshur County before moving to West Texas. When the oil boom hit in 1931, the Shipp's pick up and moved to Gladewater. They owned a little B-B-Q stand on North Main & Quitman during the oil boom time, then retired on the old Shipp homestead in West Mountain. 

E.C. & Flora had 5 sons and 2 daughters: Edgar (married Evelyn Fry of Big Sandy), Leroy (married Bess George of West Mountain), Homer (married Exa Mae Vernon), Phil (married Alta Bearden), Twayne, Clara (married ? Paxton) and Mattie Ben (married a Simons).

Edgar owned the Whitehouse Grocery on S. Main St. Leroy had the first 2 story building on S. Main (later known as the board walk) that held a grocery store downstairs and a rooming house upstairs. Leroy also owned the Northside Grocery at N Main and Hwy 80. Homer & Phil later bought Whitehouse Grocery and Northside Grocery and opened 2 other stores (one in Wood Heights & one on Commerce St). They also owned the markets in several other stores in Gladewater. The Wood Heights store was the first in East Texas to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. [This information was found among loose papers at the Gladewater Library]


 
Shive- John E. Shive was born September 15, 1906 in Waxahachie, Tx. and attended local schools there. He went to the Shriner Military Academy at Kerrville, Tx. in 1925. John Shive's father had a feed business in Waxahachie for years and John learned the business working with his father. He arrived in Longview ca. 1934 and opened his own feed business, The Shive Grane Co., located at 111 East Cotton Street. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a member of the Rotary Club, and played a mean game of golf.

 
Sigmund- Leslie E. Sigmund was employed by a local Longview automobile agency, then owned and operated his own business in Longview in the late 1930's. He was considered one of Longview's outstanding and successful your business men. He took an active part in the affairs of clubs & civic organizations such as: Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Longview Kiwanis club, the Senior Chamber of Commerce and the Gregg County Free fair. 

 
Simmons - T.F. Simmons was a native of Many, Louisiana. He was a long time evangelist and minister of Longview, being pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church. His education came from Bishop College of Marshall, Texas, Prairie View College, Golden Gate Seminary of Berkeley, California and Union Theology Seminary of Nashville, Tennessee. His activities included: an American Woodsman, a member of the NAACP, a member of the Baptist Ministerial Union, a 32° mason, serving as a minister in California and Alaska, and working with the Boy Scouts of America. 

 
Skipper - Dozier Skipper, Jr. was a successful young clothing merchant in Longview. He gave up his business to run for the office of Districk Clerk of Gregg County in 1932, only a month before the first primary. Although he was not known politically, he was so well known as a businessman, that he beat out the three opponents to win the office. At that time the districk courts were so swamped with legal work that it seemed like an impossible task to do a competent job. Dozier Skipper began to reorganize the office, to put in a new record system, and managed to do such a good job in office that he shortly became established as one of East Texas' most popular public officials. After the public learned what a great job he was doing, he went a number of elections before anyone would even run against him.

 
Skipper - William Skipper and his wife Sarah Ann Moore traveled by boat to Jefferson, Texas. From there they found their way to Gregg County. William & Sarah were married in Greenville, Alabama in Dec of 1857. Their children were: William R. (married Mattie McVay), Frank B., Laurah (married William McVay), Vernilia (married Jesse G. Moore), Melissa (married William A. Moore), Ida, the twins Dora & Eugene and Dozier (married Mattie Elder). (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)

 
Smith - B.H. Smith was born in McKinney, Texas in 1904. He began as manager of the Duke and Ayres in Longview about 1930, but had been associated with them for a number of years before 1930. He was an active worker for the betterment of his community. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Knights of Pythias Lodge and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

 
Sosland - Morris Sosland was owner and manager of the Sosland Diamond and Gift Shop. He founded his career and reputation on selling only the best quality merchandise, which netted him the honor of having one of the finest shops of its type in the state of Texas. The people of Longview recognized his efforts which was shown by the growth his business has enjoyed. He was active in many civic affairs and various jeweler's organizations; Lions Club, Pine Crest Country Club, the Longview Chamber of Commerce, the Masonic Lodge, the Texas-Louisiana Jewelers Association and the American National Retail Jewelers Association.

 
Sterling - Chalmers Z. Sterling was born Jun 28, 1904 in Anna, Texas. He completed his High School education at Wesley College of Greenville, Tx., which was an academic school. In 1924 he went to Sherman, Tx. where he was employed  at a hotel, later going to Denison, Tx. where he was employed at a hotel. From there he went to Abilene, Tx and then to Longview, Tx. ca. 1934. Arriving in Longview, he was employed by Gay Glover as a salesman for the cleaners. 

 

 


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Thomas- J.J. Thomas was Vice President of the East Texas Refining Company and General Manager of the firm's large refining plant in Longview. Mr. Thomas was one of the finer examples of leadership and citizenship that the oil development brought to East Texas. He was Vice President, then President of the Longview Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership with the Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview launched a broad program for city and county public improvements, for expansion of commerce and trade, and for the further development of the city's advantages as an educational and residential center in East Texas.

 
Thompson - Benjamin Franklin Thompson (b.1803-d.1863) came from Georgia to Texas about 1844. He bought his first land in 1845 where Kilgore is now. He married Anna Martin (b.1810-d.1851) on April 27, 1826 and had the following children: John Martin (b.1829 Ga. d.1907 married 1853 Lucinda Adeline McCord 1st and 2nd Emily Holt), William Wirt and Meriah Isabella. [This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families]

 
Thompson- Craft Thompson was a registered pharmacist and manager of the Longhorn Drug Store of Kilgore and then in Longview. He was educated at the University of Tennessee. One of the best liked young men, he was a dashing and handsome figure. He played a large part in the communities social events, club life, church affairs and civic fraternities. 

 
Thompson - Earl & Irish Thompson arrived in Gladewater in 1931 and opened the Gladewater Pipe & Supply Co. at the corner of Commerce and S. Center Street. They had moved to Gladewater from Eastland, Texas and Gladewater became their home. In 1936 they moved the business to Hwy 80 (the Longview Hwy) and expanded the business to include trailers and pony carts. Earl & Irish had one child, Jim Thompson. [This information was found among loose papers at the Gladewater Library]

 
Thompson - William Thompson brought his wife Frances Evelyn Hendricks to Kilgore about 1900. They had the following children: Emma Sue (married Lee Williamson), Annabel (married Frank Compton) and Willie May.  (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)

 
Thompson - William "Willie" Drinard Thompson was born March 3, 1855 in Rusk County, Texas. He died December 28, 1914 in Dallas Texas. His 1st wife was Exa and they had one daughter Exa who married ? Pickney. His 2nd wife was Maria Louise Gladney. They had one son Hicks Ellington who married Irene Palmer. His 3rd wife was Ella Spears. They had a son and a daughter: Tom and Eula (married D'Costa Holt). His 4th wife was Miss Desdemonia Winn.  (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)

 
Turner - Ezra Turner was a native Texan, having been born in New Boston, Texas. He received his formal education at Bishop College in Dallas, Texas and Southwestern in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was a Baptist by faith and the pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He was Secretary of the Ministerial Association in Longview and was active in numerous religious and civic groups in the Longview area. 

 
Turner- Harry Turner was a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Longview. He was a well known Longview advocate of higher education and served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Longview Independant School District. He probably helped with the education of more children than any other man in East Texas. He was also closely associated with the civic and social life of Longview and the East Texas area. 

 
Turner - Jere Clemens Turner was an Arkansas boy, born in Helena in 1849. During the Civil War he delivered medicine to the soldiers since he was too young to actually join the war. When the war was over he went to Marshall, Texas. Then as the railroad went to Longview, he saw great opportunities and moved to Longview. There he bought up large amounts of real estate and married Frances Charlotte Harrison. They had the following children: Jere C. Turner Jr, W.S. Turner, Harry S. Turner, M.M. Turner, Fannie Turner (married a Norton), Annie Turner (married a Stewart), Lillian Turner (married a King), Lucy Turner, Laura Turner and Nelwyn Turner.

Jere built a home in 1874, on the now Methvin Street. Close by was a one room building that served as his children's school. He hired a governess to teach his children until they became college age. In 1885 they moved to a home just outside the city of Longview. It was there that Frances died in 1892. This home burned in 1897 and the family moved back into town in the house on Methvin Street. 

In 1894 Jere remarried to Mrs. Martha Gatlin Bowles. He was the first person to bring Jersey cows to East Texas. He and 3 of his sons ran a retail grocery business, which later became a wholesale grocery. When WWI started, they went into the cotton brokerage business. He retired in 1919 and died in 1923.

 

 

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