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TXGenWeb Robertson County Books & Master's Theses |
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H E A R N E O N T H E B R A Z O S |
Century Press Of Texas, San Antonio, Texas
© 1958 by Norman Lowell McCarver
Lone Star Printing Company, San Antonio, Texas
Used with permission of Norman Lowell McCarver, Jr. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format by other organizations or individuals. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the written consent of McCarver family relatives.
Biographical Sketches - L
LAGRONE, ARTHUR
WASHINGTON(click for updates), son of
George Washington LaGrone and Alice Eugenia Moseley LaGrone, was born
November 7, 1882 in the Cyclone community in Bell County, Texas.
His father and mother were born in Alabama and came to Bell County,
Texas in 1869. During his early days, Arthur Washington LaGrone
attended the rural school at Cyclone and farmed with his father.
In December 1916, he accepted employment with the
U.S. Government and worked on the construction of the lock and dam on
the Brazos River at Port Sullivan, Texas. He worked on this
project until November 1919.
In September 1918 with his family he moved to
Hearne, Texas to make his home. In December 1919, he was employed
by the Humble Pipe Line Company at Hearne and worked on this job for
one year. In 1921, he was employed as foreman of the Lewis Farm
near Valley Junction and worked for Tom F. Peel. He witnessed the
great flood of the Brazos River in 1921 when both of the Brazos Rivers
met and completely covered the Brazos Bottom area.
In 1922, he again worked for the Humble Pipe Line
Company at Hearne and Groesbeck, Texas. In 1923, he accepted
employment with the City of Hearne in the Street and Sewer Department
and continued this employment for the next 34 years. He retired
as Street & Sewer Department foreman of the City of Hearne July 1,
1957.
Arthur Washington LaGrone married Ora Haynes,
daughter of Thomas Jefferson Haynes and Virginia Thompson Haynes of
Bell County, Texas, September 9, 1906. Her father was a native of
Georgia and her mother was from Illinois. Children born to Arthur
Washington LaGrone and Ora Haynes LaGrone are: George Thomas
LaGrone, born September 16, 1909, who married Monta May Fulton; Clara
Ethel LaGrone, born May 30, 1911, who married Ennie Barnett; Verna Lou
Virginia LaGrone, born June 9, 1917, who married Carol Rose; Doris
Louise Rose, born August 17, 1922, who married Dixon Perry; Mavis Irene
LaGrone, born October 9, 1924; and Ercelle LaGrone, born October 14,
1926, who married Donald L. Boyd.
Arthur Washington LaGrone and his wife are members
of the Baptist Church. He is a former member of the Woodmen of
the World and served over 20 years in the Hearne Fire Department.
He has served the citizens of Hearne in a faithful manner during his
many years of service with the City of Hearne.
LAHM,
LOUIS E.,
son of Louis S. Lahm and Ettie L. Crowder Lahm, was born April 17, 1906
in
Clarkston, Washington.
He
attended grade school in Clarkston, Washington, Hereford, Texas, and
Amarillo,
Texas. He graduated from Amarillo
High School with the Class of 1925. Upon
graduation from high school he enrolled at Texas Technological College
in
Lubbock, Texas and was graduated with a B. S. Degree.
After
finishing college, during the depression of the 1930's, he worked for
the Santa
Fe Railroad, Sinclair Refining Company, and various odd jobs including
surveying
jobs in and around Amarillo, Texas.
In
1933 was employed by the Texas Company, refining department in Amarillo.
He was made chief chemist of this company in Amarillo in 1938
and worked in this position until 1944 when he was transferred to The
Texas Company Dallas
Refinery as assistant chief chemist. In
1948 when The Texas Company constructed the Hearne Products Terminal,
he was
transferred to Hearne, Texas as Chief Chemist.
In September 1950 he was promoted to Assistant to the Division
Superintendent and was made Assistant Division Superintendent in 1953.
In September 1957 he was made Division Superintendent of The
Texas
Company with Hearne headquarters.
He was married to Miss Mildred L. Hammer,
daughter of Schuyler W. Hammer and Carrie E. Ellison Hammer of
Amarillo, Texas, August 31, 1940.
He is a member of the American Chemical
Society; a member of the Presbyterian
Church; and a member of the Hearne Lions Club.
LAMPSON,
ANTHONY MIKE,
son of Mike Lampson and Minnie Todardo Lampson, was born in Brazos
County,
Texas, December 27, 1912. His
father was born in Salemi, Sicily and his mother was born in Louisiana.
He
attended grade school in Bryan, Texas and when the family moved to
Hearne in the
Brazos Bottom in 1925 he attended the Hearne Public Schools graduating
from
Hearne High School with the Class of 1931.
During his high school days, he was a first string left end on
the Hearne
Eagles football team.
Upon
completing high school, he became a cotton farmer in the Brazos Bottom.
He was married to Miss Mary Stella Trentacost, daughter of Pete
Trentacost and Frances Antone Trentacost, October 9, 1933 at Dallas,
Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Lampson have a daughter, Minnie Marie Lampson
Scarmardo.
Mr.
Lampson is engaged in extensive cotton raising in the Brazos Bottom and is a Director and Stockholder in
the Westbrook
Valley Gin Company; a Stockholder in the Calvert Co-op Gin; a member of
the
Hearne Chamber of Commerce; and a member of the Robertson County Farm
Bureau.
Both
Mr. and Mrs. Lampson are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church where he
is a
member of St. Mary's Church Men's Club.
LANE,
JUDGE JOHN FELTON
was born in Longview, Texas, April 23, 1872, the son of W. T. Lane and
Dorothy
Florede Felton Lane. He was a
grandson of John S. Lane, soldier of the Republic of Texas, and was
married to
Miss Molly Wooley at Longview, Texas on April 23, 1893, and was that
same year
admitted to the bar.
After serving two years
as assistant
county attorney of Gregg County, Judge Lane with his wife came to
Hearne in
1895. He practiced law in Hearne
continuously from 1895 to 1942, a period of 47 years.
During the many years
that he
practiced law in Hearne, Judge Lane formed several professional
connections.
Lane & Bishop, Lane & Wood, Lane, Johnson &
Killough, Lane
& Reed, Lane & Grace had constituted the firm name over certain
periods.
He was an active member
of the Texas
Bar Association, the Robertson County Bar Association, and honorary
member of
the South Central Texas Bar Association.
Judge Lane was
appointed by Governor
Campbell to the post of District Attorney of the 20th judicial District
which
position he held two years and from which he voluntarily retired.
He served as Special District Judge in Robertson County in 1901;
was
appointed by Governor Neff to special Associate Justice of the Court of
Civil
Appeals.
He held many positions
of trust and
honor throughout the years he was known to Robertson County.
He served as City Attorney for Hearne from 1896 to 1942; was
attorney for
the Hearne Building SC Loan Association, and Chairman of Robertson
County
Democratic Executive Committee.
Judge Lane was widely
known as
editor and publisher of the Hearne Democrat over a period of 24 years.
He was a member of the National Editorial Association and
attended press
meetings and conferences held in the state.
As a highly esteemed
citizen of
Hearne, Judge Lane was active in civic, social, and religious affairs
and in
each connection is known to have always given his best efforts and much
of his
time.
He was a charter member
of the
Hearne Rotary Club and served as President of this organization; a
member of the
Sons of Confederate Veterans, and a life-long member of the Baptist
Church.
Mrs. Lane passed away
in 1935. Judge
and Mrs. Lane had a daughter, Marguerite Lane Gatling, and two
granddaughters;
Jean Gatling who was married to Fred Phillips; and Molly Ann Gatling.
Judge Lane was a man of
scholarly
attainments and of kindly impulses. He
had the happy faculty of winning friends among the old and young and
was
democratic enough to recognize the good in all.
In his long life he
gave freely of
his time to serve his fellowman and will always be remembered for his
kindly and
unselfish deeds. He had the respect
and love of all that knew him.
High marks were
attained by Judge
Lane in two professions ... Law and journalism.
His favorite parting
expression was,
"Goodbye friend, and Good Luck."
Known throughout Texas
as the
"Tall Sycamore of the Brazos" because of his six feet and seven inches
of height, Judge Lane's services as a public speaker were in great
demand.
Throughout his lifetime, Judge Lane impressed his fellow-editors
so much
that he was the landmark which distinguished the town of Hearne, and
when you
mentioned Hearne someone was sure to remark, "Oh, yes, that's where
Judge
Lane lives."
Many hundreds of times
during his
life he cheered the poor, humble people with a fatherly pat on the back
and a
word of encouragement and timely advice for which he charged no fee.
Judge John Felton Lane died June 22, 1942.
LARKIN,
AUGUSTUS M.
was born in 1860 and was married to Lula Eugenia McGaw on February 13,
1889.
Mrs. Larkin was born in Benton, Yazoo County, Mississippi,
January 18,
1865.
Mr. Larkin engaged in
farming and
ranching during his lifetime in Hearne and at one time was one of the
larger
ranchers of this area.
Seven children were
born to Mr. and
Mrs. Larkin, two died in infancy. Other
children are: Gussie Larkin Reed, Floy Larkin Waltmon, Alva Larkin
Preston,
Lillian Larkin Hoefer, and Lula Larkin Henry.
Grandchildren of
Mr. and Mrs.
Larkin are: Roy Larkin Henry, Carol Henry Stodsgill, Paley A. Reed Jr.,
Lucien
L. Reed, and Fay E. Hoefer Jr. Mrs. Larkin died July 7, 1903 and Mr.
Larkin died
in 1937.
LAUGHLIN, ALVIN FLOYD, son of
Robert Madenson Laughlin and Dora Jane Sharp Laughlin, was born
November 26, 1893 at Eddy in Falls County, Texas. He attended the
public schools at Eddy and Chilton, Texas. In 1901, when he was
eight years old, his mother died and he made his home with his
grandparents. After finishing school, he farmed in Falls
County. In June 1917, he entered the U.S. Army as a volunteer at
Waco, Texas. He received his military training at Camp Bowie near
Fort Worth. In July 1918, he was sent to France and served during
World War I until April 1919 when he received his discharge. He
returned to Chilton and worked for various construction companies in
Chilton, Jacksboro, and Burkburnett through 1921. During the
years 1922, 1923, and 1924, he farmed and operated a meat market at
Chilton, Texas. On March 20, 1925, he began his employment with
the Humble Pipe Line Company at Chilton, Texas and worked as a helper,
line walker, oiler, and engineer. In 1930 he transferred to
Fairfield, Texas where he worked for Humble until August 1933.
From August 1933 to March 31, 1941, he worked in Chilton and from April
1, 1941 to July 31, 1950 he worked at Pittsburg, Texas. Later, he
worked for Humble at Valley Mills, Texas and on November 22, 1950, he
moved to Hearne, Texas to continue his employment with the Humble Pipe
Line Company as an engineer at the Hearne pump station. He
retired from Humble Pipe Line Company, July 1, 1958, after service 33
years, 3 months, and 10 days with this company.
Alvin Floyd Laughlin
married Pearl Fulton, daughter of John Jones Fulton and Isadora Jane
Smith Fulton of Chilton, Texas, January 30, 1923. Pearl Fulton
Laughlin attended the public schools of Chilton, Texas and later
attended business college in Waco. She has been active in the
communities she has lived in since her marriage being a member of the
Community Study Club of Humble Women; the Ready Club; History Club
(Federated); and a member of the First Baptist Church where she is
active in the Women's Missionary Union. She has been a member of
the Baptist Sunday School since childhood.
Alvin Floyd Laughlin is
a member of the First Baptist Church; the American Legion; the I.O.O.F.
Lodge, and in 1933 received from the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Bureau of Mines, Certificate of First Aid Training. In 1941, he
purchased the Fulton estate property near Chilton, Texas and for a
number of years raised horses and registered Hereford cattle. In
1958, he continues to own this ranch property and maintains an interest
in ranching at this location.
Since his retirement on
July 1, 1958, Alvin Floyd Laughlin and his wife Pearle Fulton Laughlin,
continue to live at their home at 201 Calvert Street in Hearne, their
adopted hometown, and enjoy the cool breeze that comes across Loss
Creek near their home.
LESLIE,
RALPH E.,
son of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Leslie, was born in Monticello, Arkansas, on
January
7, 1895. His early schooling was in
Monticello. With his family he later moved
to Corsicana, Texas where he
graduated from High School.
After
completing his high school education he entered business college at San
Marcos,
Texas completing this phase of his education just before entering
military
service during World War I.
He
was discharged from the U. S. Army in August 1919 and then began his
working
career with the Humble Pipe Line Company in March 1920 at Breckenridge,
Texas.
He was also located at Brownwood, Cisco and Satsuma before being
transferred to Hearne, September 13, 1941 as Station Foreman.
He
was married to Miss Nola Milton of Houston, Texas, February 18, 1925
and two
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Leslie: Thomas M. Leslie who
graduated from
Hearne High School in 1942 and entered Texas A&M College and served
with the
armed forces during World War II; and Betty Jane Leslie Casey who also
graduated
from Hearne High School in 1947.
Mr.
Leslie is a Steward in Grace Methodist Church and a former Chairman of
the Board
of Stewards; a former Director of the Hearne Rotary Club; a member of
the Hearne
Golfer's Association; and a member of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce.
LESSOR, JOHN LAMAR
SR., son of Jim Richard Lessor and Mary Florence Reed Lessor,
was born at Althiemer, Arkansas, July 26, 1893. He attended the
public school and high school at his hometown in Arkansas.
He began his railroad career when he was 14 years
old. He worked for the Gulf Coast & Santa Fe Railroad at
Galveston, Texas; the Missouri-Kansas & Texas Railroad, the Rock
Island Railroad; the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad, and the Frisco
Railroad.
On December 28, 1913, he hired out to the old Hearne
& Brazos Valley Railroad which had been purchased by the Houston
& Texas Central Railroad Company in 1900. This railroad was
commonly known as "The Jack." His first job on this railroad was
assisting with the clean up after this line had been badly damaged by
the flood of 1913. He served as assistant foreman on this job to
restore service to this line. His employment with the H. & T.
C. Railroad Company continued until his retirement on November 30,
1957. He completed 50 years of railroad service and at the time
of his retirement, he was Roadmaster for the S. P. Lines with Hearne
headquarters.
John Lamar Lessor married Mary Etta Billings,
daughter of Algenon Sidney Billings and Ella O'Neal Billings, September
9, 1922 at San Antonio, Texas. A son, John Lamar Lessor Jr. was
born to John Lamar Lessor and Mary Etta Billings Lessor.
John Lamar Lessor constructed a home on Magnolia
Street and moved his family to Hearne, Texas, June 15, 1927. John
Lamar Lessor Jr. attended the Hearne public schools and graduated from
Hearne High School. He was married to Lottie Avis Payne, daughter
of Jimmie Franklin Payne and Lottie Carolyn Thompson Payne. A
son, John Lamar Lessor III, and a daughter, Mary Carolyn Lessor, were
born to John Lamar Lessor Jr. & Lottie Avis Payne Lessor.
John Lamar Lessor, one of the most experienced
railroad men this country has produced, was well known in railroad
circles, and was highly respected by his fellow railroad
officials. He was the rough and ready type of railroader who
could get the job done well and efficiently. He formed many
lasting friendships in the Hearne area and was considered on of
Hearne's most substantial citizens. He was a member of the
Roadmasters Association during his active days of railroading.
LEVINE,
ISAAC
was born in Poland, July 16, 1863 and came to America to make his home
during
early manhood.
He
came to Hearne in 1900 and was active in the business of owning and
operating
his dry goods store until his retirement.
He
was married to Miss Rosa Cohen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Cohen.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Levine: Pansy
Levine,
Beatrice Levine, Fanny Levine, and a son Ralph Levine.
Mr. Levine was highly respected by his fellowman, and as
successful in
his business. He died April 17,
1957.
LEWIS,
COLONEL CHARLES. Although a number of
settlers had taken up their abode within
the present limits of Robertson County, prior to the Texas Revolution
in 1835-36
and others continued to do so during the succeeding years of the
Republic, it
was not until a much later date that the Brazos portion of the county
began to
fill with the thrifty class of planters whose intelligent and well
directed
labors did so much towards developing the wonderfully rich soil of that
section
and in giving to the county the excellent reputation for agriculture
which it
has since enjoyed.
The year 1852 is
marked in
the history of the state as the one during which occurred the greatest
immigration previous to the Texas Revolution.
Robertson County received its proportion of that immigration,
and from
that year dates the advent in the county of many who were afterwards
distinguished for their thrift, wealth and good citizenship.
Of this number was Colonel Charles Lewis of Hearne.
Colonel
Lewis was born in Farmington, Connecticut, April 14, 1820.
His father was Calvin Lewis and his mother was Martha Root,
both of whom were natives of Connecticut and descendants of early
settler New
England families. Mr. Lewis was
educated and reared in his native state and received an excellent
education.
At the age of 24 years,
he left
Connecticut on account of ill health and went to Louisiana, taking up
his
residence in Bozier Parish. There
he met, and in March 1846 married Miss Adeline Hearne, a daughter of
William and
Nancy Hearne and sister of Ebenezer and Horatio Ransome Hearne, in
company of
the latter two of whom he came to Texas in 1852 and settled at Wheelock
in
Robertson County.
Mr. Lewis was engaged
in planting in
Louisiana and immediately on settling in Robertson County, he opened a
plantation on the Brazos. He gave
his attention exclusively to this interest until after the Civil War up
to which
time he resided at Wheelock. After
the Civil War he lived a year on his plantation, then at Houston for
six years,
and when the town of Hearne was being laid out he moved to Hearne where
the
remainder of his life was spent.
He was one of the first
to locate in
Hearne and erected the first business building and the first dwelling.
He was one of the earliest and always one of the most steadfast
supporters of the town of Hearne and all its interest.
His own interests and pursuits were of a somewhat diversified
nature,
though chiefly agricultural. In the
course of years he developed a large plantation in the Brazos Bottom
and
acquired a considerable amount of property.
Born and reared in a
cold climate,
the vigor of his intellect lost nothing by transplanting while he added
to it
habit of unweary exertion and sound practical business methods.
His reputation was that of a safe, steady-going,
straight-forward man of
business and his judgment always commanded respect.
He represented
Robertson County two
terms in the State Legislature and proved an able and acceptable
representative.
He had but little inclination, however, for public affairs and
gave way
in such matters to those more eager for popular applause and political
preferment. A Democrat in politics,
he always gave a cordial support to the men and measures of his party. He was a strong sympathizer with the South
during the Civil
War and though not in military service, he lent the cause very
substantial aid
of a kind it stood most in need of.
Mr. Lewis was made a
Mason in early
manhood and took great interest in the order.
He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at Hearne that he
subsequently served as Master. He became a
member of the Presbyterian Church at the age of
16 and supported his church and all worthy purposes.
Mr. Lewis died October
22, 1880.
He had a son, Henry L. Lewis, and two daughters; Fannie Lewis
who married
Frank A. Glass, and Willie Lewis, who married Dr. A. C. Moreland of
Atlanta,
Georgia.
LIPSITZ,
SAM
was born in Europe in 1856 and came to the United States in early life.
He
was married January 23, 1887 to Miss Lizzie Cohen, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs.
Simon Cohen. Four children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Lipsitz: Louis Lipsitz, Tillie Lipsitz Oderbolz,
Hortense
Lipsitz Friedlander, and Mrs. Adolph Schepps.
He engaged in the
mercantile
business in Hearne for 33 years and then moved to Houston and later to
Calvert
where he lived at the time of his death.
During his active
business years in
Hearne, Mr. Lipsitz was honored by the citizens of Hearne by being
elected to
serve on the Hearne City Council. He
will long be remembered in Hearne for his calm and happy disposition
and the
cheery greeting he had for all who passed his way.
Always ready to cooperate in movements for the benefit of his
chosen
town, he took a deep interest in current state and national affairs
which he
enjoyed discussing with his friends.
His
life in Hearne was a constant accumulation of friends and esteem.
He died in 1934.
LITTLE, WILLIAM ODIS, son of
William Thomas Little and Gertie Lee Brice Little, was born December
10, 1912, in the LaSalle community near Groesbeck in Limestone, County,
Texas. His family were pioneer Mississippians who came by wagon
train to settle in Limestone County in 1849. The LaSalle
community is near Fort Parker Lake. Gertie Lee Brice Little was
born at Prairie Home, Oklahoma. Relatives of William Thomas
Little were massacred by Comanche Indians during the attack on Fort
Parker. Other children born to William Thomas Little and Gertie
Lee Brice Little are: Olean Little, Opal Liddle, Ovel Little,
Onita Little, Ola Little, Oreater Little, Olen Little, and Orland
Little.
William Odis Little
attended the public schools of Groesbeck. After finishing school,
he was employed by the Magnolia Pipe Line Company in 1926 and worked
for this company for two years. In 1928, he returned to the
family farm in the LaSalle community and farmed for six years.
During 1934 and 1935, he served in the CCC at Coolidge, Texas.
In 1936 and 1937, he
worked for the Humble Pipe Line Company at Marlin, Texas. From
1938 to 1946, he farmed in the LaSalle community. During 1946, he
entered the construction business. He moved to Hearne, Texas,
November 28, 1946 to make his home and he worked at Texas A & M
College. In 1948, he became associated with the C. & S.
Grain & Lumber Company of Hearne and continued his construction
work with this firm until January 1958 when he entered the construction
business independently.
William Odis Little
married Minnie Ola Dossey, daughter of William Green Dossey and Mary
Elizabeth Mead Dossey of Groesbeck, Texas, June 5, 1935. Her
father was a native of Arkansas and her mother was born and reared in
Texas. Minnie Ola Dossey Little attended the rural schools of Los
Prairie and LaSalle in Limestone County, Texas. Her relatives
also were pioneer settlers of the LaSalle community and Lost Prairie in
1849.
William Odis Little is
a member of the Golden Rule Masonic Lodge No. 361 of Hearne and in 1958
serves as Junior Warden. He is a member of the Knights of
Pythias; a member of the Bethany Baptist Church; a member of the
Robertson County Gun Club; a member of the Hearne Quarterback Club; and
serves as President of The Hermit Club.
Minnie Ola Dossey
Little is a member of the Bethany Baptist Church and a member of the
Order of the Eastern Star. She has been active in the business
activities of Hearne having been employed as cashier for the Red &
White Grocery, a clerk with The Famous Dry Goods Company, cashier for
Brady's IGA Store, and a teller for the First State Bank of Hearne
since September 1957.
LOCKETT, VICTOR LEE, son of John Lockett and Sarah
Elizabeth Riley Lockett, was born June 16, 1887 at Hearne, Texas.
His father was born in North Carolina and his mother was born at
Hackberry near Halletsville, Texas.
Other children born to John Lockett and
Sarah Elizabeth Riley Lockett were: Arthur Lockett, Nettie Lockett, and
Albert "Shad" Lockett. Nettie Lockett married Sam C. Brown, early
day Constable in Hearne. The following children were born to Sam
C. Brown and Nettie Lockett Brown: Travis Brown, Mervin Brown and
Elizabeth Brown.
Victor Lee Lockett attended the public
schools of Hearne. After finishing his schooling he became a
bricklayer under the supervision of J. H. Wilson and John Robb early
Hearne building contractors. He was employed in this work during
the construction of many of the fine old homes of Hearne and also
employed on the construction of the South Texas Cotton Oil Company oil
mill at Hearne. After the disastrous fire in the business
district of Bremond, Texas in the early 1900's in the employment of J.
H. Wilson and John Robb he helped in the rebuilding of the business
district of that town.
In 1904 he accepted employment with the
Webb Cotton Compress Company with headquarters in Minden, Louisiana and
worked in all of the southern cotton states in the construction of
cotton compresses.
In 1917 he enlisted in the U. S. Army
and served in France and Germany during World War I. He was discharged
as a Corporal on August 7, 1919 at Camp Pike, Arkansas. He served
with the 4th Division Combat Engineers.
After receiving his discharge from
military service he returned to his job with the Webb Cotton Compress
Company at Galveston, Texas and helped in the construction of a cotton
compress in Galveston. He later was employed by Harris &
Eriby Cotton Compress Company of Galveston as Chief Engineer and worked
for this firm until 1930. During 1930 he moved to Houston where
he was employed as engineer for the Manchester Terminal Compress &
Warehouse.
In 1933 he returned to Hearne, Texas and
engaged in the construction business. He is a member of the Miles
Scriviner American Legion Post of Hearne and was a charter member of
the Woodmen of the World Lodge that was organized in Hearne in 1908.
Victor Lee Lockett, a bachelor, is one
of Hearne's oldest native born citizens and continues to make his home
in Hearne during his retirement.
LORD,
WILLIAM JACKSON
was born in Jackson County, Georgia, July 25, 1853, and continued to
live in his
native state until 1902 when he and his family moved to Hearne to take
charge of
properties inherited from John N. Sailors, a pioneer resident of Hearne.
He
was married to Miss Nannie Louise Martin on January 15, 1874. Mrs. Lord was a native of Jackson County,
Georgia.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lord; two children died
in
infancy and a daughter, Mrs. H. D. Gober died in 1927.
Other children of Mr. and Mrs. Lord were: J. T. Lord, 0. G.
Lord, W. E.
Lord, Lela Lord, Nezzie Lord Sisson, Nannie Lee Lord Sedwick.
Mr. Lord engaged in
farming and
livestock raising up to the time ill health forced him to retire.
He was a consistent and faithful member of the Baptist Church
and was a
good citizen of Hearne. Mr. Lord
died in October 1934 and is buried in Norwood Cemetery in Hearne, a
community
where both he and Mrs. Lord formed many friends with the older
generation.
LUKE,
JOHN,
son of Albert and Mary Johnson Luke, was born in New Castle, Durham
County,
England, March 15, 1866.
In
1878, at the age of 12 years, he came to America to make his home, the
Luke
family locating in Eagle Lake, Texas. After
attending school in Eagle Lake, John Luke went to work for the
Galveston,
Houston & San Antonio Railroad Company in 1886.
He worked for this railroad until 1891 when he moved to Houston,
Texas
and became a locomotive fireman with the Houston & Texas Central
Railroad
Company.
Later
he was promoted to locomotive engineer for the H. & T. C. Railroad.
He moved to Hearne, Texas in 1898 where he ran as extra engineer.
Most of his years of service with the H. & T. C. Railroad
was spent
in the Hearne yards as an engineer on the switch engine.
One
of the most interesting incidents in Mr. Luke's railroad career was the
occasion
when the first airplane flew over Hearne in the days prior to World War
I. He
alarmed the citizenry with repeated blasts from the whistle of his
switch
engine.
He
retired from the railroad in 1928 after 42 years of active service as a
locomotive fireman and engineer.
In
1892 he was married to Cornelia Morris of Hearne.
The marriage took place in Hearne, Texas and the ceremony was
performed
by The Reverend Williford, a Methodist minister. Mrs.
Luke was born in Alabama, August 18, 1868.
She was a sister of E. J. "Fuller" Morris and a half sister to
William Worth Bivin, pioneer citizens of Hearne.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Luke: a daughter, Marie
Luke who
was born in 1900 and who married Frank Nixon, a locomotive fireman with
the H.
& T. C. Railroad; and a son, Edward W. Luke, who married Jimmie
Brown,
daughter of Thomas Greenwood Brown and Beulah Carolyn Tamplin Brown.
A son, Thomas Edward Luke, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward W.
Luke.
He married Marion Feather of Chicago, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edward Luke have a son, Thomas Edward Luke
Jr.
Edward
W. Luke was employed by the H. & T. C. Railroad as a switchman in
the Hearne
yards and also as a brakeman running from Hearne to Houston and from
Hearne to
Ennis. He served in the U. S. Army
during World War I; is a former member of the Hearne Volunteer Fire
Department;
and was affiliated with the Brotherhood of Railway Tainmen during the
time he
was employed in railroad work.
John
Luke was an active member of the Hearne Volunteer Fire Department for
27 years.
An amusing incident happened during his service as a volunteer
fireman
that he got quite a kick out of telling and re-telling.
It seems that during the process of answering an alarm Edward W.
Luke was
driving the Model T Ford fire truck and B. G. Talmadge, a long-time
member of
the department who stuttered, was riding on the front seat with Ed Luke.
John Luke was riding on the rear of the fire truck.
The truck took the corner on Fourth and Market Streets on two
wheels and
John Luke was slung off. Mr.
Talmadge attempted to tell Ed Luke of the happenings as follows:
"Eeee-d,
y-you s-s-slung y-y-your d-d-daddy o-off the t-t-ruck b-b-back
t-t-there."
It seems that Mr. Talmadge kept trying to tell the driver of what had
happened,
but the fire truck had reached the scene of the fire before Mr.
Talmadge could
make Ed Luke understand just what had happened.
When he did, Mr. Talmadge said: "H-h-h--l its t-t-too
l-l-late n-n-now."
John
Luke was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hearne and a member of
the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.
After his retirement in 1928 he continued his interest in
railroading and
quite frequently was seen visiting with his old "buddies" near the
roundhouse and in the railroad yards.
John
Luke died February 10, 1944 and Mrs. Luke died August 6, 1950.
LUSK,
DOCK ALEXANDER
was born in the Henry Prairie Community in Robertson County, Texas in
1881, the
son of Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Lusk, farmers in that area.
He
spent his early boyhood days working on his father's farm and attended
the
country school there.
After
leaving the family farm, he was employed by the Missouri Pacific
Railroad
Company and worked as a car repairman at Valley junction.
On
January 19, 1902, he was married to Miss Lillie Mae Nash, daughter of
Mr. and
Mrs. W. P. Nash of the Edge Community in Brazos County, Texas.
After
completing his service with the railroad, he engaged in the cafe
business until
his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Lusk
moved to Hearne in 1910 to make their home and both of them remained
citizens of
Hearne for the remainder of their lives. They
were both lifetime members of the Baptist Church.
Children born to Mr.
and Mrs. Lusk
are: Hubert A. Lusk, William Oscar Lusk, Ora Mae Lusk Metras, John
Travis Lusk,
Ethel Lusk Smith, Robert Wesley Lusk, and Myrtle Lusk Rott.
Mrs. Lusk, who was born
April 25,
1880, passed away August 18, 1949 and Dock Alexander Lusk died in 1948.
LYNN, WILLIAM ANDREW, son of
Andrew Asbery Lynn and Mattie Ferguson Lynn, was born September 26,
1892 at Elkton, Tennessee. With his family he moved to Texas and
attended the rural schools at Italy, Texas; Canton, Texas; and
Stranger, Texas. After finishing his schooling, he farmed from
1911 to 1923.
On June 16, 1923, he
began his career with the railroad and was employed as a telegraph
lineman by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Mexia, Texas.
During his career with the railroad, he worked as a telegraph lineman
at Baldwin, Louisiana; Skidmore, Texas; Del Rio, Texas; Marfa, Texas;
Yoakum, Texas; Giddings, Texas;, Mexia, Texas; and Hearne, Texas.
He retired from active duty with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
November 1, 1957, after completing 34 years of service. He moved
to Hearne, Texas to make his home October 1, 1928.
William Andrew Lynn
married Ola Lula Davlin Cox, daughter of Hugh Davlin and Susan Ramby
Davlin, September 8, 1928. The marriage was performed at Bryan,
Texas. Ola Lula Davlin Lynn was born and reared in Robertson
County, Texas and moved to Hearne, Texas, June 19, 1928 from Franklin,
Texas.
William Andrew Lynn and
his wife Ola Lula Davlin Lynn, are members of the First Baptist Church
of Hearne where she is active in the Womans' Missionary Society.
William Andrew Lynn is a former member of the Woodmen of the World; the
I. O. O. F. Lodge; and during his railroading days was a member of the
American Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
State Coordinator:
Gina Heffernan
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