Person Page - 47

Myra Estell Wolfe¹

• Marriage*: She married Robert Hamilton Walker, son of Maj. Samuel Hamilton Walker and Sallie Lucretia Brady, in 1913.

• Last Edited: 21 Dec 1996

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Isaac Walker and Elizabeth Stuart

Bertha Florine Walker¹

• Father: Maj. Samuel Hamilton Walker b. 7 Jun 1844
• Mother: Sallie Lucretia Brady b. 1 Nov 1853

• Birth*: She was born in 1887.

• Last Edited: 29 May 2000

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Isaac Walker and Elizabeth Stuart

Caryl Hayward Walker

• Father: Maj. Samuel Hamilton Walker b. 7 Jun 1844
• Mother: Sallie Lucretia Brady b. 1 Nov 1853

• Birth*: She was born on 3 May 1892 in Washington, D.C.^1,2
• Marriage*: She married Max William Winter, son of Philip Ernst Winter and Alta Sara Kauffman, on 4 December 1912.¹
• Death*: She died in May 1987.³

• Note*: She lived in Casper, Wyoming.¹

• Last Edited: 6 Apr 1998

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Isaac Walker and Elizabeth Stuart

Janet Gibson Walker¹

• Father: Maj. Samuel Hamilton Walker b. 7 Jun 1844
• Mother: Sallie Lucretia Brady b. 1 Nov 1853

• Birth*: She was born in 1894.

• Last Edited: 21 Dec 1996

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Isaac Walker and Elizabeth Stuart

Max William Winter

• Father: Philip Ernst Winter
• Mother: Alta Sara Kauffman

• Birth*: He was born on 24 June 1885 in Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska.¹
• Marriage*: He married Caryl Hayward Walker, daughter of Maj. Samuel Hamilton Walker and Sallie Lucretia Brady, on 4 December 1912.¹
• Death*: He died in May 1972 at age 86.²

• Last Edited: 7 Apr 1998

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Isaac Walker and Elizabeth Stuart

Philip Ernst Winter¹

• Marriage*: He married Alta Sara Kauffman.

• Note*: They lived in Casper, Wyoming.

• Last Edited: 21 Dec 1996

Alta Sara Kauffman¹

• Marriage*: She married Philip Ernst Winter.

• Last Edited: 21 Dec 1996

Frances Emeline Neill

• Father: John C. Neill¹ d. a Jul 1842
• Mother: Juda Louisa Bartlett² b. 10 Sep 1818, d. Nov 1861

• Birth*: She was born on 7 September 1839 in Washington County, Texas.^3,4,5
• Marriage*: She married William R. Powers on 29 April 1858 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^6,7,5
• Death*: She died on 10 February 1861 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, at age 21.^8,5

• Obituary*: "OBITUARY.
     "Frances Emeline Powers was born in Washington county, Texas, Sept. 7th, 1839; educated at M'Kenzie Institute, near Clarksville, Texas; embraced the religion of the Savior and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, soon after she had attained the age of thirteen years; was united in matrimony to William R. Powers in Corsicana, April 29th, 1858, and departed this life after a brief illness, of congestion of the brain, at the residence of her mother and step father, C. M. Winkler, in Corsicana, on the 10th day of February, 1861, at 10 minutes past 1 o'clock A.M.
     "The writer is not prepared to speak in appropriate terms of the many estimable qualities of the deceased. The Christian graces which she possessed in an eminent degree, will long be cherished in the memory, and held up as an example worthy the imitation of her numerous acquaintances and friends. Her affectionate attachment will never be forgotten by her husband, her mother, her sisters and other relations, and her early departure will be sadly mourned by many a dear one; yet those who knew her well, have no reason to doubt that her gain has been infinitely greater than their loss, and rest in confidence that her once lovely form now sleeping beside her little Emma Lou in death, will, at the resurrection, be raised in immortal beauty, and with all the faithful enter upon the eternal joys of heaven."⁵

• Last Edited: 19 Jun 2022

• Charts: Descendants of Jesse Bartlett and Frances Callaway

Josie M. Love

• Father: Joseph A. Love d. 19 Aug 1859
• Mother: Frances Callaway ('Fannie') Bartlett b. 17 Dec 1840, d. 6 Mar 1913

• Birth*: She was born on 18 May 1860.¹
• Death*: She died on 23 January 1867 at age 6.²

• Last Edited: 18 Apr 1997

• Charts: Descendants of Jesse Bartlett and Frances Callaway

Louis Wade Clopton

Main gate, Rice Cemetery, Rice, Tex. Photo was taken by Dave Bell, Lubbock, Tex., and is used here with his permission.

• Father: Samuel Walter Clopton^1,2,3 b. 14 Jul 1859, d. 13 Jan 1926
• Mother: Idaho Church^4,5 b. 10 Feb 1863, d. 30 Sep 1929

• Birth*: He was born on 16 March 1889.⁶
• Death*: He died on 10 June 1889 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^7,8,9,10
• Burial*: Interment was on 12 June 1889 in section D, Rice Cemetery, Rice, Navarro County, Texas.^11,12,13,14

• Last Edited: 23 Oct 2011

• Charts: Descendants of Benjamin Clopton and Agnes Morgan

Alexander Jonathan McKnight

• Birth*: He was born on 15 October 1859.^1,2
• Marriage*: He married Angelina Hester Clopton, daughter of John Anthony Clopton and Lucy Wade Martin, on 8 February 1893 in Navarro County, Texas.³
• Death*: He died on 27 March 1942 in Johnson County, Texas, at age 82.^4,2
• Burial*: Interment was in section D, Rice Cemetery, Rice, Navarro County, Texas.^5,6,1

• Note*: • He was a conductor for the Cotton Belt Railroad and lived in Hillsboro, Texas.
  • One source gives 3 Feb 1893 as their marriage date.^7,8

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Charts: Descendants of Benjamin Clopton and Agnes Morgan

Preston Owen

• Father: Lloyd Nelson Owen^1,2,3 b. 7 Aug 1812, d. 27 Jan 1879
• Mother: Jerusha White^4,5,6,7 b. c 1815, d. 19 Aug 1899

• Birth*: He was born on 8 August 1844 in Montgomery County, Texas.^8,9,10,11,12
• Marriage*: He married Anna Eliza Fortson, daughter of Benjamin Joseph Fortson and Elizabeth Ann Titus Holliday, on 22 October 1872 in Chatfield, Navarro County, Texas.^{13,14,15,16,11,17,18,19,20}
• Death*: He died on 22 September 1910 in Kerens, Navarro County, Texas, at age 66.^21,22,23,24
• Burial*: Interment was in Jimmerson Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas (near Kerens).^{25,26,11,27,28}

• Obituary*: "Kerens Banker Dies.
     "Kerens, Navarro Co., Tex., Sept. 22 [1910].—Preston Owen, president of the First State Bank at this place and a citizen of this immediate vicinity for fifty years, died suddenly this evening at 7:30 o'clock from heart failure."²⁹
• Note*: • He arrived in Navarro County, Texas in 1852, at about age 8, with his family. As a young man he supplied beef to the Confederate Army in 1862-1864, then enlisted and served in Company A of Johnson's Battalion. After the war he farmed around Kerens in Navarro County. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and president of the First State Bank in Kerens. In 1893 his assets included a $3,000 inheritance, 2,000 acres of land, 60 head of cattle, and 150 head of horses. Some sources give 28 Aug 1844 as his birth date. There is even more disagreement about his death date, with 10 Sep 1910, 22 Sep 1910, and 24 Sep 1916 also appearing in various sources; a contemporaneous newspaper obituary supports 22 Sep 1910.
  • “PRESTON OWEN (born 8-28-1844, died 9-22-1910) married Anna Fortson on October 22, 1872. They had five children. He moved to Navarro County in 1852 and settled in Kerens in 1883. He was elected to the first City Council as an Alderman in 1888. His house (BLOCK 114) has been restored and is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Doane L. Fessenden, 407 SW 5th Street, Kerens.”.^{30,31,32,33,34,23,35,36}

• Last Edited: 22 Jan 2022

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Lloyd Nelson Owen^1,2

• Father: Samuel Owen^3,4
• Mother: Hattie Prather^5,6

• Birth*: He was born on 7 August 1812 in Oppelousas, Saint Landry Parish, Louisiana.^7,8,9
• Marriage*: He married Jerusha White, daughter of Solomon White and Mary _____, in 1835 in Louisiana.^10,11
• Death*: He died on 27 January 1879 in Navarro County, Texas, at age 66.^7,8,12
• Burial*: Interment was in Owen Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas (south of Kerens).⁸

• Note*: The family was in Montgomery County, Texas by 1846, and he operated a freighting business in Harris and Montgomery Counties. They moved to the Wadeville area of Navarro County by 1852. From the Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro [et al.] Counties, Texas: "He was a man of limited education, but acquired an extensive general knowledge, was universally recognized as a man of sound judgment, and was a devoted member and Steward of the Methodist Church."^13,11

• Last Edited: 2 Jan 2010

Samuel Owen¹

• Marriage*: He married Hattie Prather.

• Note*: They were from Kentucky but moved to Louisiana "very early."^2,3

• Last Edited: 2 Jan 2010

Hattie Prather¹

• Marriage*: She married Samuel Owen.

• Note*: She was a native of Kentucky. Her name may have been Hettie.²

• Last Edited: 2 Jan 2010

Pearl Owen

• Father: Preston Owen^1,2,3 b. 8 Aug 1844, d. 22 Sep 1910
• Mother: Anna Eliza Fortson^4,5,6 b. 22 Oct 1852, d. 6 Apr 1928

• Birth*: She was born in August 1884 in Texas.^7,8
• Marriage*: She married Charles Allen French on 18 January 1901 in Navarro County, Texas.^9,10,8
• Death*: She died on 30 December 1966 at age 82.^11,12
• Burial*: Interment was in row 3, section G, Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.¹³

• Last Edited: 21 Aug 2015

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Charles Allen French

• Birth*: He was born in 1875 in Texas.^1,2
• Marriage*: He married Pearl Owen, daughter of Preston Owen and Anna Eliza Fortson, on 18 January 1901 in Navarro County, Texas.^1,3,4

• Last Edited: 7 Jul 2006

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Minnie Mae French

• Father: Charles Allen French b. 1875
• Mother: Pearl Owen b. Aug 1884, d. 30 Dec 1966

• Birth*: She was born on 6 November 1901 in Navarro County, Texas.^1,2,3
• Death*: She died on 23 February 1992 at age 90.⁴

• Last Edited: 2 Mar 1998

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Geraldine French

• Father: Charles Allen French b. 1875
• Mother: Pearl Owen b. Aug 1884, d. 30 Dec 1966

• Birth*: She was born on 18 January 1904 in Navarro County, Texas.^1,2,3
• Death*: She died in March 1983 at age 79.⁴

• Last Edited: 6 Mar 1998

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Ann Earle French

• Father: Charles Allen French b. 1875
• Mother: Pearl Owen b. Aug 1884, d. 30 Dec 1966

• Birth*: She was born on 30 March 1909.^1,2
• Death*: She died on 7 November 1994 at age 85.³

• Last Edited: 23 Dec 1999

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Charles Allen French Jr.

• Father: Charles Allen French b. 1875
• Mother: Pearl Owen b. Aug 1884, d. 30 Dec 1966

• Birth*: He was born on 8 November 1914.^1,2
• Death*: He died on 10 May 1922 in Navarro County, Texas, at age 7.^1,3,2
• Burial*: Interment was in row 3, section G, Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.⁴

• Obituary*: "EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY DROWNED NEAR JEWISH CEMETERY
     "_____
     "CHAS. ALLEN FRENCH, JR., SON OF MR. AND MRS. C. A. FRENCH LOST LIFE
     "_____
     "Chas. Allen French, Jr., 8-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. French, living on West Third avenue, was drowned in a small hole of water near the Jewish Cemetery this afternoon.
     "The child went in swimming, and two other boys who were a little further down the branch knew he had gone in the hole, and coming to the hole found the child’s clothing, but could see or hear nothing of him.
     "They at once ran to the French home, near a half mile, and gave the alarm.
     "Mrs. French went at once to the scene and got a negro man near to go into the hole of water, which was not more than three or four feet deep, and bring the child’s body out.
     "An auto rushed the body to Johnson’s drug store and doctors were summoned and the pulmotor brought, but all was too late as the child was dead, having been in the water at least half an hour.
     "The accident is a heartrending one, and Mr. and Mrs. French have the sympathy of all in their great distress."⁵

• Last Edited: 21 Dec 2016

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Minnie Lee Owen

Gravesite of Minnie Lee Owen Matthews, Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Tex., courtesy of Eva Whearley. Click on the picture to enlarge it

• Father: Preston Owen^1,2,3,4 b. 8 Aug 1844, d. 22 Sep 1910
• Mother: Anna Eliza Fortson^5,6,7,8,9 b. 22 Oct 1852, d. 6 Apr 1928

• Birth*: She was born on 27 April 1874 in Kerens, Navarro County, Texas.^{10,11,12,13,14}
• Marriage*: She married Frank Matthews, son of Thomas Miller Matthews and Emma Grogaard, on 5 November 1893 in Navarro County, Texas.^{15,16,17,18,14}
• Burial*: Interment was on 13 October 1922 in row 3, section G, Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^19,13,20,21
• Death*: She died on 13 October 1922 in her home, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, at age 48.^{22,23,24,12,25,26,14}

• Obituary*: "FORMER CORSICANA WOMAN DIED TODAY FUNERAL SATURDAY
     "Mrs. Minnie L. Matthews, aged 48 years, for many years a resident of Corsicana, but who has been making her home in Dallas for the past few months, died at her Dallas home at an early hour this morning and the remains will be brought to Corsicana Saturday morning arriving here at 10:40 o'clock over the H. and T. C.
     "The funeral will take place from the residence of her sister, Mrs. Pearl French, 1740 West Third avenue, at 2:30 o'clock with burial in Oakwood cemetery. The Rev. D. K. Porter, pastor of the First Methodist church will conduct the services and the following will act as pall bearers:
     "Active—P. C. Townsend, W. M. Elliott, Lawson Coulson, N. C. Ross, Dallas; Joe B. Fortson and John T. Fortson.
     "Honorary—Dr. J. W. Bourland, Dallas; J. S. Callicutt, E. K. Keinbal, Dallas; Guy Tate, Dallas; Charles Rankin, Dallas; Dr. L. E. Kelton, Luther A. Johnson, Hawkins Scarborough, W. M. Huggins and G. J. Geflin.
     "She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Anna Owen of Kerens; a sister Mrs. Pearl French of this city and a brother, Earle F. Owen of Kerens and the following children: Owen Matthews, Dallas; Mrs. Maurice Underwood, Dallas; Mrs. Anna Lee Thompson, Teague; Lloyd Matthews, Dallas, and Frank Matthews, Dallas.
     "Mrs. Matthews enjoyed a large circle of friends in Corsicana and Navarro county and her unexpected death has caused much sorrow."²⁷

• Last Edited: 22 Aug 2015

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Frank Matthews

• Father: Thomas Miller Matthews¹ b. 6 Mar 1830, d. 1912
• Mother: Emma Grogaard² b. 22 Dec 1838, d. 8 Nov 1915

• Birth*: He was born on 25 December 1869.^3,4,5
• Marriage*: He married Minnie Lee Owen, daughter of Preston Owen and Anna Eliza Fortson, on 5 November 1893 in Navarro County, Texas.^6,7,8,5,9
• Death*: He died on 30 May 1916 at age 46.^3,4,5
• Burial*: Interment was in row 3, section G, Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^3,4,5

• Last Edited: 22 Aug 2015

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Earl Fortson Owen

Earl Fortson Owen's obituary, reprinted here with permission of Corsicana Daily Sun.

• Father: Preston Owen^1,2,3,4,5,6 b. 8 Aug 1844, d. 22 Sep 1910
• Mother: Anna Eliza Fortson^{7,8,9,10,11,12} b. 22 Oct 1852, d. 6 Apr 1928

• Birth*: He was born on 5 November 1892 in Kerens, Navarro County, Texas.^13,14,15,16
• Marriage*: He married Dolly Allison.^17,18
• Death*: He died on 26 February 1955 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at age 62.^{19,18,20,15,16}
• Burial*: Interment was on 28 February 1955 in Jimmerson Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas (near Kerens).^21,22,23

• Obituary*: "Monday Services For Earl F. Owen
     "KERENS, Feb. 28—(Spl.)—Earl F. Owen, 62, of Dallas, died of a heart attack in Houston Saturday night.
     "Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p.m. from the Inmon Funeral Chapel here with burial in the Jamerson cemetery south of Kerens. The rites were conducted by Rev. Thomas Tribble, pastor of the First Methodist church.
     "Born, Nov. 5, 1892, in Kerens, the son of the late Preston and Anna Owen, he graduated from Kerens High School and attended Allen Academy. He made his home here where he operated extensive farming interests until about 20 years ago when he moved to Corsicana, later going to Dallas.
     "Surviving are his wife, Polly Keathley Owen, Dallas; a sister, Mrs. Pearl French, Norman, Okla., and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
     "Pallbearers were A. W. Keathley, Zack Keathley, Richard Keathley, H. H. Hodges and Richard L. Thompson, all of Dallas, and King and Clifton Seale, both of Kerens.²⁴
• Note*: • The 1900 census says he was born in Texas in 1893.
  • Other sources say he was born on 6 Nov 1898 without naming the place.
  • "Earl Owen, who had been so sick at Kerens was greatly improved." He probably had the Spanish flu, as this newspaper mention was in 1918, which was during the time of the Spanish flu pandemic.
  • He died in 1955 of a heart attack.^{25,26,27,28,29}

• Last Edited: 7 Mar 2020

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Lloyd Nelson Owen

• Father: Preston Owen^1,2,3,4,5 b. 8 Aug 1844, d. 22 Sep 1910
• Mother: Anna Eliza Fortson^6,7,8,9,10 b. 22 Oct 1852, d. 6 Apr 1928

• Birth*: He was born on 31 July 1876 in Navarro County, Texas.^{11,12,13,14,15}
• Death*: He died on 11 October 1880 at age 4.^16,17,18
• Burial*: Interment was in Jimmerson Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas (near Kerens).^17,18

• Note*: The inscription on his grave marker reads, "How much of light, how much of joy, is buried with a darling boy."¹⁸

• Last Edited: 22 Aug 2015

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

William Preston Owen Jr.

• Father: Preston Owen^1,2,3,4,5,6 b. 8 Aug 1844, d. 22 Sep 1910
• Mother: Anna Eliza Fortson^{7,8,9,10,11,12} b. 22 Oct 1852, d. 6 Apr 1928

• Birth*: He was born on 29 February 1880 in Navarro County, Texas.^{13,14,15,16,17}
• Death*: He died on 6 April 1883 at age 3.^18,15,19,20
• Burial*: Interment was in Jimmerson Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas (near Kerens).^19,20

• Note*: The inscription on his grave marker reads, "A little time on earth be spent, till God for him his angel sent."²⁰

• Last Edited: 22 Aug 2015

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Latitia Fortson¹

• Father: John Fortson^2,3 b. 6 Feb 1794, d. 6 Dec 1860
• Mother: Sarah ('Sally') Moore^4,5 b. 13 May 1792, d. 27 Jan 1847

• Birth*: She was born circa 1823.⁶
• Marriage*: She married _____ Bramlett.⁷

• Last Edited: 9 Jan 2000

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

_____ Bramlett¹

• Marriage*: He married Latitia Fortson, daughter of John Fortson and Sarah ('Sally') Moore.²

• Last Edited: 24 Nov 1997

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

James Smart¹

• Birth*: He was born circa 1836 in Texas.²
• Marriage*: He married Julia Ann Catherine Fortson, daughter of Benjamin Joseph Fortson and Elizabeth Ann Titus Holliday.^3,2
• Death*: He died before 1880.²

• Last Edited: 6 Jul 2006

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Mary Pauline ('Molly') Cravens

• Father: John Earle Cravens^1,2

• Birth*: She was born in 1854 in Texas.^3,4
• Marriage*: She married Benjamin Franklin Fortson, son of Benjamin Joseph Fortson and Elizabeth Ann Titus Holliday, on 1 July 1873 in Navarro County, Texas.^5,6,7
• Marriage*: She married Halkert Alford Halbert, son of Lucius Nash Halbert and Rebecca Alford, on 14 December 1884 in Navarro County, Texas.^8,9
• Burial*: Interment was in Coleman City Cemetery, 1600 East Ninth Street, Coleman, Coleman County, Texas.¹⁰
• Death*: She died in 1924.¹⁰

• Last Edited: 19 Jan 2009

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Benjamin Cravens Fortson¹

• Father: Benjamin Franklin Fortson^2,3,4 b. 1846, d. Jan 1883
• Mother: Mary Pauline ('Molly') Cravens^5,6 b. 1854, d. 1924

• Birth*: He was born on 21 May 1874 in Texas.^7,8
• Marriage*: He married Elizabeth Earle Johnson, daughter of Samuel Wister Johnson M.D. and Kate Beaton, on 26 June 1907 in Navarro County, Texas.^{9,10,11,12,13,14}
• Death*: He died on 1 January 1921 in his home, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, at age 46.^15,16,17,18
• Burial*: Interment was on 3 January 1921 in Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^19,20

• Scrapbook*: "S. A. Pace Speaks in Eloquent Praise of Ben C. Fortson
     "Mr. S. A. Pace is at home from the Baptist Sanitarium, Dallas, where he has been for several weeks. Speaking of his condition, he said: 'I had the careful attention of Dr. Baird, his assistants and a corps of good nurses. I have made special efforts to recover from my illness and while I do not think I have made much progress I know very well that I have improved. This much I would like for my friends to know.'
     "Turning from himself Mr. Pace said:
     " 'What I want to say to you is in reference to our mutual friend, Ben Fortson. He came to me when he was a mere boy and made application for position and I took his name as I always did when I had application made to me, and told him that when I had a vacancy I would let him know and it was only a short time, perhaps a month or so, when he came to me. He was with me for a number of years. When my business was incorporated, he was made secretary and treasurer. Of course, at times we had friction, but he was an honest and manly man and we always made up our troubles and I am glad to say that when he died he was one of the best friends I had.
     " 'He came to me when I was leaving for Dallas and I noticed he was suffering from some cause. I hoped it was only temporary. I have never known in my business experience a more honorable character than Ben Fortson. There was no more honorable man living, and this I want to say to my friends, knowing that I know him just as well and perhaps better than anyone else can know him.²¹' "
• Obituary*: "GROCER FOUND DEAD OF GUNSHOT WOUND.
     "Special to The News.
     "Corsicana, Texas, Jan. 2.—Ben Fortson, 46 years old, president of the Fortson Grocery Company here and prominent in business and social circles, was found dead in his home last night with a gunshot wound in his head. A single barrel shotgun was under the body.
     "He is survived by his wife, who is a daughter of Dr. S. W. Johnson of Dallas, three small children, his mother, Mrs. H. A. Halbert; two half-brothers, Albert and Lucien Halbert, the latter of Plainview; two sisters, Mrs. Willington Gober and Mrs. Garland Woodward, both of Coleman, and three cousins, Tom, John and Joe Fortson, all of Rice, this county.
     "He had been in bad health for some time and since the death of his sister, Mrs. J. M. Adams, who was burned to death by a gasoline explosion in Plainview recently, he has been very despondent. The body was found between 11 and 12 o'clock last night in a closet in his residence.
     "Mrs. Fortson had been away from the house during the afternoon and when her husband did not return for supper she became uneasy and caused a search to be made with the above result. Justice of the Peace J. J. Sullivan after viewing the remains rendered a verdict in accordance with the above."²²
• Note*: His birth date is also given as 22 May 1874 and 21 Jul 1874. He was a wholesale grocer in Corsicana and Fort Worth, Texas and died from a gunshot wound that apparently was self-inflicted. His survivors included his wife, three small children, his mother, two half-brothers, and two sisters.^23,24,25

• Last Edited: 29 Jun 2016

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Hollis P. ('Hallie') Fortson¹

• Father: Benjamin Franklin Fortson^2,3 b. 1846, d. Jan 1883
• Mother: Mary Pauline ('Molly') Cravens⁴ b. 1854, d. 1924

• Birth*: She was born on 23 July 1879 in Chatfield, Navarro County, Texas.⁵
• Marriage*: She married Jesse Martin Adams on 29 December 1898 in Coleman, Coleman County, Texas.⁶
• Death*: She died on 14 December 1920 at age 41.⁵
• Burial*: Interment was in Plainview Cemetery, Plainview, Hale County, Texas.⁵

• Note*: They lived in Coleman and Plainview, Texas. She died in a gasoline explosion at home.^7,6

• Last Edited: 2 Jan 2019

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Elizabeth Earle Johnson

• Father: Samuel Wister Johnson M.D.¹ b. 11 Feb 1853, d. 7 Jan 1922
• Mother: Kate Beaton b. 1856, d. 1905

• Marriage*: She married Benjamin Cravens Fortson, son of Benjamin Franklin Fortson and Mary Pauline ('Molly') Cravens, on 26 June 1907 in Navarro County, Texas.^2,3,4,5,6,7
• Death*: She died on 4 January 1962 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.⁸
• Burial*: Interment was on 6 January 1962 in Hillcrest Mausoleum, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.⁸

• Obituary Abstract*: Mrs. Earle J. Fortson of Fort Worth, Texas died Thursday, 4 Jan 1962, at her daughter's home in Dallas, after a long illness. Native of Ennis, Texas and spent most of her life in Fort Worth. Widow of Benjamin Fortson, who was a wholesale grocer in Corsicana and Fort Worth. Member of prominent Corsicana and Fort Worth families. Well known for her work with First Methodist Church in Fort Worth. Funeral at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, in Wynne Chapel of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, with Dr. Eugene Hawk and Dr. Arthur V. Boand officiating. Entombment in Hillcrest Mausoleum in Dallas. Survivors include a daughter, a son, two sisters, a brother, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.⁹
• Note*: Known as Earle Fortson, she was from Corsicana, Texas and lived most of her life in Fort Worth, where she was a member of the First Methodist Church. She was survived by a daughter, a son, two sisters, a brother, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.^10,8

• Last Edited: 12 Aug 2014

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Samuel Wister Johnson M.D.^1,2,3

Samuel Wister Johnson, M.D.

• Birth*: He was born on 11 February 1853 in Dawsonville, Dawson County, Georgia.^4,5,6
• Marriage*: He married Kate Beaton, daughter of Maj. Alexander Beaton and Elizabeth Jane McKinney, on 7 July 1881 in Navarro County, Texas.^7,8,9,10,11
• Death*: He died on 7 January 1922 in his home, 3405 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, at age 68.^12,13,14,15
• Burial*: Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^12,10

• Obituary*: "Dr. Johnson Dies at His Home in Dallas After Long Illness
     "Dr. S. W. Johnson, one of the first men engaged in developing the oil fields in Texas, at Corsicana, died early Saturday morning at his home, 3405 Oak Lawn avenue. He had been ill for several months. His brother, Cone Johnson of Tyler, arrived a short time before his death.
     "The body will be taken to Corsicana, his former home, Sunday morning, leaving Dallas at 9 o'clock, and funeral services will be held in the First Methodist Church of Corsicana at 2 p. m. The active pallbearers will be Albert Berry of Mexia, Haron Ferguson, Elmer Butler, R. B. Johnson, William Clarksson, Frank Drane, Arthur Elliott and W. G. Baker, all of Corsicana.
     "The honorary pallbearers names are Pat O'Keefe, W. T. Henderson, Cullen Thomas, Julius Germany, Curtis Scoville, Royal A. Ferris, Frank H. Blankenship, Duncan Culbreth, Grier Taylor, the Rev. Horace Bishop, Max Hahn, Dr. J. C. Calhoun and Dr. Henry Winans, all of Dallas; Dr. Heb Beall, Dr. Frank Beall and H. C. Lampe of Fort Worth; John Fortson of Rice, J. C. Webb of Shreveport and Finis Lindsey, Gus Hoover, J. D. Jackson, Dr. J. H. Black, Tom Ray, Frank Wood and Dick Highnote of Corsicana.
     "Samuel Wister Johnson was born at Dawsonville, Georgia, Feb. 11, 1854. He graduated from the Atlanta Medical College, Bellevue, N. Y., and went to practice his profession at Ennis in 1880. Soon afterward he    "was married to Miss Kate Beaton of Corsicana, and went to that city, where he practiced for many years.
     "Started Oil Development.
     "Dr. Johnson was one of the first to realize the possibilities of the oil field of Corsicana and to undertake developments. He was prominently identified in the business of Corsicana as president of the Corsicana National Bank. He served as Mayor of Corsicana and was for many years president of the School Board.
     "Dr. Johnson's first wife died in 1904, and a few years later he moved to Dallas. He married Miss Sarah Pace of Dallas twelve years ago. On coming to Dallas Dr. Johnson organized the Lone Star Life Insurance Company and was president of the company until its consolidation with the Great Southern Life. Since that time he has been retired.
     "Dr. Johnson is survived by his wife, three daughters, Mrs. W. G. Clarkson and Mrs. Emily Pearl Polk of Fort Worth and Mrs. Earle Fortson of Corsicana; a son, Samuel Mercer Johnson, 10 years old; two brothers, Cone Johnson of Tyler and Dr. Clay Johnson of Fort Worth, and two sisters, Mrs. W. E. Matchett of Dallas and Mrs. H. M. McHan of Georgia. He was a Mason and a Knight Templar."¹⁴
• Note*: He graduated from Atlantic Medical College and did his internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. He served one term as mayor of Corsicana, Texas, from 1900 to 1902, as president of the Corsicana School Board, and as a member of the board of directors of the Texas State Orphan's Home in Corsicana. He was the first doctor to serve as mayor, and during his term the city established a public library. He retired from active medical practice in 1898 and moved to Dallas in 1910, where he became president of Lone Star Insurance Company.¹¹

• Last Edited: 9 Feb 2020

Kate Beaton^1,2,3

Kate Beaton Johnson's home, Corsicana, Tex., from 1906 postcard, courtesy of Ed Williams.

• Father: Maj. Alexander Beaton⁴ b. 19 Feb 1820, d. 11 Jun 1899
• Mother: Elizabeth Jane McKinney⁵ b. 4 Jan 1832, d. 14 Nov 1923

• Birth*: She was born in 1856.^6,7
• Marriage*: She married Samuel Wister Johnson M.D. on 7 July 1881 in Navarro County, Texas.^8,9,10,11,12
• Death*: She died in 1905.^6,7
• Burial*: Interment was in row 2, section S, Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.^6,7

• Last Edited: 9 Feb 2020

Benjamin Johnson Fortson¹

• Father: Benjamin Cravens Fortson² b. 21 May 1874, d. 1 Jan 1921
• Mother: Elizabeth Earle Johnson³ d. 4 Jan 1962

• Marriage*: He married Katherine Luckett.
• Birth*: He was born in 1908.^4,5
• Death*: He died on 27 March 1941 in Grady County, Oklahoma (near Chickasha).^6,7
• Burial*: Entombment was on 28 March 1941 in the main mausoleum, west corridor, section C 9, level A, Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.^8,9

• Obituary*: "BEN J. FORTSON, FORMER CORSICANAN, ACCIDENT VICTIM
     "J. H. CLAYTON OF CORSICANA SERIOUSLY INJURED IN OKLAHOMA ACCIDENT
     "CHICKASHA, Okla., March 27 [1941].—(AP)—Ben J. Fortson, 31, Fort Worth, Texas, was killed and J. H. Clayton, Corsicana, Texas, was seriously injured today when their automobile plunged off a highway on a curve hear here, overturning three times.
     "Fortson was in the oil business in Fort Worth and the lumber business in Oklahoma City.
     "His widow is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kayser of Chickasha, and was visiting here at the time of the crash.
     "Funeral services for Fortson, a former Corsicanan, will be held in Fort Worth Friday morning at 11 o’clock, and the body will then be carried to Dallas for burial Friday afternoon.
     "Surviving are his wife, two children, Ben Fortson III and Kay Fortson, all of Oklahoma City; mother, Mrs. Earl Johnson Fortson, Fort Worth; a brother, Earl Fortson, and a sister, Carolyn Fortson, both of Fort Worth, and other relatives."¹⁰

• Last Edited: 6 Jan 2020

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Caroline Fortson¹

• Father: Benjamin Cravens Fortson² b. 21 May 1874, d. 1 Jan 1921
• Mother: Elizabeth Earle Johnson³ d. 4 Jan 1962

• Birth*: She was born on 6 November 1915.⁴
• Marriage*: She married Kenneth H. Wasson.^5,6
• Death*: She died in May 1992 at age 76.⁷

• Last Edited: 12 Aug 2014

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Ulysses ('Ulys' or 'Eules') S. McAllister

• Father: Barnabas McAllister^1,2,3,4 b. 1765, d. 1838
• Mother: Elizabeth Moore^5,6

• Birth*: He was born on 20 January 1807 in Abbeville, Abbeville County, South Carolina.^7,8
• Marriage*: He married Sarah Frances Fortson, daughter of John Fortson and Sarah ('Sally') Moore, on 13 July 1836 in Greene County, Alabama.^9,10
• Death*: He died on 19 August 1880 in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, at age 73.^7,8
• Burial*: Interment was in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi.⁸

• Note*: He moved from Alabama to Monroe County in 1836 and married Sarah Fortson soon thereafter.¹¹

• Last Edited: 26 Aug 2005

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn

Mary Eugenia ('Jennie') McAllister

• Father: Ulysses ('Ulys' or 'Eules') S. McAllister¹ b. 20 Jan 1807, d. 19 Aug 1880
• Mother: Sarah Frances Fortson² b. 7 Dec 1818, d. 2 Oct 1897

• Birth*: She was born on 10 January 1842 in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi.³
• Marriage*: She married Edmond Ironsides Higgason, son of Dr. George Higgason and Mary Davis, on 10 September 1868 in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi.^4,5,3
• Marriage*: She married Burgess Burkitt in 1880.⁶
• Death*: She died on 1 July 1905 in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, at age 63.^7,3
• Burial*: Interment was in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi.³

• Note*: She attended Aberdeen Female Seminary and was a musician and artist. One source says that she was born in 1847 near Aberdeen, Mississippi.^6,8

• Last Edited: 14 Sep 2002

• Charts: Descendants of Lt. Thomas Fortson Jr. and Rachel Winn