Leaton Cole Smith Martin

birth: October 12, 1895
location:
death: February 4, 1975
location:

father: Cole
mother:

spouse: Robert Ewell Smith

spouse: Martin

burial

Cyrus Delonguve Boyd

birth:
location: Alabama
death:
location: Henderson County, Texas

father: Wiley Boyd
mother: Ann

spouse: Nancy A. Collins Welch

1870 census

1900 census

1910 census

1940 census

burial

George W Murphree - 1940 census

1940 census
location: Henderson County, Texas
date: April 10, 1940

George W Murphree  head  male  white  56  married  Texas
Addie O Murphree  wife  female  white  47  married  Texas
George R Murphree  son  male  white  11  single  Texas
Cyrus D Boyd  father-in-law  male  white 83  widowed  Alabama
Pearl Darrough  lodger  female  white  40  divorced  Texas

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KWK6-13S : accessed 30 Oct 2014), Cyrus D Boyd in household of George W Murphee, Justice Precinct 5, Henderson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 107-20, sheet 5A, family 78, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 4061.

Wiley Boyd - 1870 census

1870 census
location: Sanford County, Alabama
date: June 15-16, 1870

Wiley Boyd  46  male  white  farmer  Mississippi
Ann E Boyd  40  female  white  keeping house  Georgia
Eliza C Boyd  16  female  white  at home  Alabama
Cyrus D Boyd  14  male  white  works on farm  Alabama
Robert A Boyd  12  male  white  works on farm  Alabama
Leroy L Boyd  8  male  white  Alabama
Mary J J Boyd  6  female  white  Alabama
George B Boyd  3  male  white  Alabama
Samuel W Boyd  8/12  male  white  Alabama

"United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHK1-HTG : accessed 30 Oct 2014), Cyrus D Boyd in household of Wiley Boyd, Alabama, United States; citing p. 15, family 102, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545538.

Michael Mekalip - 1910 census

1910 census

location: Smith County, Texas

date: April 25, 1910

Mike Mekalip  head  male  white  55  married - 27 years  Poland  farmer  immigration year: 1884

Josie Mekalip  wife  female  white  married - 27 years 11, 9  Poland  immigration year: 1884

Mart Mekalip  son  male  white  22  single  Texas

Katie Mekalip  daughter  female  white  16  single  Texas

Texy Mekalip  daughter  female  white  14  single  Texas

Lee Mekalip  son  male  white  12  single  Texas

Joe Mekalip  son  male white  10  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2SR-GJ3 : accessed 24 Oct 2014), Josie Mickilp in household of Mike Mickilp, Justice Precinct 4, Smith, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 81, sheet 5B, family 89, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375602.

W. Michael Mekalip

birth: September 29, 1854
location: Poland
death: January 29, 1939
location: Smith County, Texas
burial: Wood-Verner Cemetery, Tyler, Smith County, Texas

father: W. Mekalip
mother: unknown

spouse: Josephine Fabianski

1900 census

1910 census

1920 census

1930 census

death

burial

children with Josephine:

Frank Mekalip - 1879
Mary Mekalip Frederick - 1884
Martin Mekalip - 1886
Ella Mekalip - 1888
Francis Mekalip - 1890
Johnny Mekalip - 1892
Katie Mekalip Isham - 1894
Texie Mekalip Matysiak - 1896
Lee Mekalip - 1897
Joe Mekalip - 1899

Mike Mekalip - 1930 census

1930 census
location: Smith County, Texas
date: April 2, 1930

Mike Mekalip  head  male  white  75  married  age @ first marriage: 30  Poland  farmer
Josie Mekalip  wife  female  white  73  married  age @ first marriage: 28  Poland
Lee Mekalip  son  male  white  33  single  Texas  farmer
Beatrice Stevens  granddaughter  female  white  16  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HV8F-16Z : accessed 24 Oct 2014), Beatrice Stevens in household of Mike Mekalip, Precinct 4, Smith, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0032, sheet 6A, family 105, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2391.

Minnie Lee Clayton Kidd

Minnie Lee Clayton Kidd

birth: November 18, 1881

location: Texas

death: March 3, 1922

location: Texas

father: Columbus M. Clayton

mother: Leanna Boles

spouse: Coleman Kidd

marriage to Coleman Kidd

1900 census

1920 census

burial

children with Coleman Kidd: 

Paul Clayton Kidd - 1898
Earl L Kidd - 1901
Era Maude Kidd - 1903
Evilee Kidd - 1905
John Hollan Kidd - 1907
Elton Herman Kidd - 1908
Johnnie Mae Kidd - 1910
Neal B Kidd - 1913
Juanita Kidd - 1915
Jack Willard Kidd - 1917
Verdon Kidd - 1920

Mary Alice James Morris

Mary Alice James Morris

birth: July 11, 1859
location: Colorado, Texas
death: January 15, 1943
location: Van Zandt County, Texas

father: Nathan James
mother: Elizabeth Causey

spouse: Joseph Lumpkin Morris

1860 census

marriage to J.L. Morris

1880 census

1900 census

1910 census

1920 census

burial

children with Joseph Lumpkin Morris:

Frances Ellen Morris - 1877
Georgia Ann Morris - 1879
Oscar Otilla Morris - 1882
Wakefield Kirby Morris - 1884
Lora S Morris - 1887
Irving Morris - 1891
Sidney Morris - 1896
unknown Morris

Book Review: Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias by Susan Cayleff

Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. By Susan E. Cayleff. Women in

American History. (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, c. 1995. Pp. xiv, 327. $29.95, ISBN 0.252.01793-5.) 

She was arguably the greatest female athlete of the twentieth century. Babe

Didrikson Zaharias was also the media’s favorite target, in good times and bad. In Babe:

The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Susan E. Cayleff attempts to illuminate the carefully constructed private life and the flamboyant public life of one of America’s greatest female athletes of all time. Babe Didrikson was born in East Texas to working-class Norwegian immigrants. A gifted natural athlete, Babe dominated women’s track and field events at the 1932 Olympic Games. Battling gender norms of the 1920s and 1930s, Babe retired from track and field and soon began to dominate another sport: golf. Babe was known throughout her career for her self-promotion and flamboyant personality. Her marriage to wrestler George Zaharias seemed to quiet speculation of her lack of feminism, but then a close relationship with fellow golfer Betty Dodd cast doubts on Babe’s deliberate attempts to prove her womanliness. Cayleff compares the life Babe actually lived to the life Babe tried to invent through the media. Cayleff leaves readers with her interpretation of the two drastically different lives. 

Perhaps Cayleff’s greatest accomplishment in Babe is her portrayal of Babe through the years she desperately tried to create and manage her feminine character. Cayleff argues that one of the main reasons Babe took up golf was because of the sport’s notoriety as a ladylike sport. Prior to her transition into golf, Babe was repeatedly put on display by the media as a tom-boy, muscle moll, as being of a third sex, and as dressing and acting like a man. As her marriage to George Zaharias and career in golf coincided, Babe intended to show everyone that she was a lady who could compete at the highest level, but at the same time was the epitome of a womanly wife. “All the while I was enjoying being Mrs. George Zaharias. That’s what I’ve been ever since we were married, whether I was keeping house or playing in a golf tournament.” Babe proved she could play both characters. 

Cayleff makes plain the fact that Babe was a bully and mean-spirited towards most women she competed against, but what legacy did she leave competitive female athletes after her untimely death? Certainly Babe paved the way for many female athletes, especially in the realm of self-promotion, but Cayleff provides little evidence of this. Even though Babe had a significant hand in creating the Ladies Professional Golf Association, it was not created because Babe wanted to leave any kind of lasting female golf legacy. Babe helped create the LPGA because she was looking for other opportunities for competition. More exploration into what Babe accomplished for female athletes in general would have added to this work. 

Given the better acceptance of homosexuality today’s society, contemporary readers want an answer to the question: Did Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Betty Dodd have a sexual relationship? Although Cayleff alludes to such, no explicit answer is given. Cayleff should not bear the fault given Babe’s not-so-subtle measures to hide any evidence of a sexual relationship existing. The truth is that there was no answer for Cayleff to uncover. Twenty-first century readers would, however, demand an answer and find Babe lacking in this regard. 

Cayleff suggests that Babe’s intentional cover-up of her sexual life led to a generation of lesbians losing a self-proclaimed lesbian hero. Given the male/female cultural norms and Babe’s desire to appear normal, it is no surprise that she hid her private life and never gave explicit answers regarding her relationship with Betty Dodd. Cayleff rightly states that Babe was too busy shouldering other, mostly athletic, burdens. Even with all of her charisma, trophies, and championships, Babe realized society’s prejudices towards lesbians was an opponent she could not defeat. 

Babe Didrikson Zaharias left Texas with a lasting sports legacy. Indeed, her hometown proudly hosts the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum Foundation, an annual golf tournament in her name, and numerous scholarships in her name. Interestingly, in keeping with Babe’s determination to hide her sexual relationship with Betty Dodd, the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum website never mentions Betty Dodd’s name, and while not proclaiming an undying love between Babe and George, George’s name is mentioned in several places. 

Jaycie Smith

The Raven, by Marquis James

The Raven. By Marquis James with an Introduction by Henry Steele Commager. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1929. Illustrations, introduction, notes, recapitulation, index. $16.64 paperback). 

In his 1929 Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Sam Houston, Marquis James sets out to provide history with an encompassing account of the life of Sam Houston. James’s Houston was a man of many titles: governor of Tennessee, brother to the Indians, Commander of the Texan Army, President of the Republic of Texas, United States Congressman and Senator, Texan trailblazer, husband and loving father. Given the year of first publication of The Raven, it is not surprising that James writes in true traditionalist form with clear biases. The Raven succeeds in giving modern readers a murky vision of the true Sam Houston. 

One of the most compelling aspects of Houston’s life is his tangled relationship with Eliza Allen. James plays the relationship out similar to a Greek tragedy. He builds up the eleven-week marriage between Houston and Allen on a swell of true love, and then lets the sudden separation crash down in secrecy. James is only able to speculate on the cause of the separation, in part because of Houston’s undying honor. However, James’s inability to ascertain more reasoning behind the failed marriage leaves a void in the biography. In addition, James’s speculation that Houston was able to visit Allen while in disguise and without her being able to recognize him on two different occasions is comical, at best.

James claims Eliza Allen changed the face of American history more than any other woman. Sam Houston did retreat into a self-imposed exile with Native American Indians after his separation from Allen. Years later Houston did leave the Indians for Texas. But, James makes a bold proclamation that the unsuccessful marriage with Allen spurred Houston’s claim on Texas. Houston had spent much time with the Indians before, and it is likely he would have again during his lifetime. Houston’s first thought was to settle in Mississippi, not Texas. No one can say what Houston might have done had the marriage lasted longer.

The Raven  is concerned more with the political climate surrounding Houston than with many aspects of Houston’s personal life. James delves into critical points when recounting in sweeping detail both the loyalties and the treacherous relationships of men involved in the United States government and in the founding of Texas. James devotes an enormous amount of space to Houston’s dalliance with Anna Raguet, but put little effort into the courtship of Margaret Lea, his future wife. Not to mention, very little is disclosed of Houston’s second wife, Talina. 

More than anything, James’s biography of Houston emanates traditionalist history. The white male, Houston, is portrayed. Events are described only from Houston’s point of view as the main character. Women play minor roles and most minorities seem non-existent. Much of The Raven centers on Houston’s Texas exploits, and gives very little consideration of his governance of Tennessee or the details of his life spent with the Indians. Slavery from the perspective of a Houston slave is non-existent. Indeed, James does not even refer to Houston’s slaves as such, but instead calls them either a driver or “a surplus negro.” This biography could be read without explicit understanding that Houston owned a single slave. 

James relies heavily on Houston’s own autobiography, Authentic Memoir, for much of The Raven. James readily admits that Houston changed or omitted facts in his Authentic Memoir. It is also common for James to cite as sources second-hand retellings of events years after they actually occurred. Houston’s daughter, Nettie Houston Bringhurst, seems to have been a wealth of information to James, despite the fact that she was a child when Sam Houston died. Other sources originate from elderly people fifty years after events took place. This type of information can not be depended upon for an accurate, balanced account of Houston’s life. A line from the introduction by Henry Steele Commager sums things up nicely: “He (James) has taken folklore and unwritten legends and transformed them into history.”

The Raven comes to an abrupt end with the death of Sam Houston. James draws no conclusions on the life Houston lived, nor the legacy he left to Texas. Where did Houston get his devotion to Texas? What was the significance of Houston’s marriage to Talina? What were the effects of Houston keeping his military plans secret? Readers desiring a better understanding of Houston’s eccentric life would be better served by reading Sam Houston, by James L. Haley. 

Leagueville Then and Now

Leagueville Then and Now

13 Sep 2008

By: Wayne Smith

A land certificate that originated in 1848 was patented in 1850 by Aaron York, surveyor for a league of land in Henderson County, TX, located west of the River Neches on Flat Creek. This area was referred to as "The League" and it is thought "ville" was added possibly to secure a post office. The record of Leagueville (formerly Hopewell) Baptist Church gives the church meeting at the League School House to organize in 1880. By 1855 the Sublett family had gained control of the land and sold it to Matthew Cartwright in 1857. In 1871 B.T. and Annie (Cartwright) Roberts had acquired rights to the property. B.T. died in1887 and Annie in 1903. In 1871 the York heirs sued to regain control of the property but lost on appeal in 1875. The Roberts deeded three acres for school purposes in 1884. Research by Historian Judy Jacobson shows a register of Doctors in the county in 1904 with Leagueville having two.

The litigation slowed the development of the area and only became a community in the late 1800s. Burials had begun on the School property as early as 1863 and it is thought the school moved across the road in the late 1800s where it remained until consolidating with Brownsboro in 1934, transportation making this possible. At the time the roads were un-paved and practically impassable in wet weather. Voluntary help was required to maintain the roads before the County assumed the responsibility. F. M. 607 was built in 1946 and F.M. 317 in 1950, greatly improving accessibility. Clint Gideon and Buell Taylor were the first bus drivers. Later ones were Jess Forrester and Howard Adair, when busses were over-nighted in the community. 1881-1884 records list Georgia Watkins, J.A. Hall, and W.H. Whatley as teachers and G.F. Brownlow, C.G. Hudson, W.R. Murphy, Phelps Smith, and John Rash, trustees.

A Post Office was established on the 30th of March 1899 and closed in 1907. Joe Shelton picked up the mail and placed it on the train at Brownsboro or Murchison. At one time there were two general stores, church, two cotton gins, blacksmith shop and grist-mill; the latter known to have been operated at one time by Rial Adair. A broken and discarded millstone remains and has been placed around the Historical Marker by the cemetery. The I.A. Barton cotton gin moved to Brownsboro about 1915 and remained in operation for many years. The cotton gins were powered by steam and two were said to have burned. Wes Adair fired the boiler for the last time in 1915. Access to the Rail Road precipitated the move and church members moved also and organized First Baptist Church as an Independent Baptist Church in 1909 as it has remained to the present. G.L. Parker was a charter member of both Leagueville and Brownsboro churches.

The blacksmith shop was run by Black Dean and stores were operated by John Adair, J.D. Browning, Will Cooper, John I. Hollingsworth, and Vern Massey. Later owners were Dee Richardson, George Hudnall, Wood McQueen, Garrett Darden, Alfred Kirkpatrick, Russell Williams, Durward Dingler, Robert Tillison, Harrison Arnett, Dewey Williams, Doug Williams, Gip Nichols, Elliout Reagan, Preston Gideon, Horton Epperson and Jack Poore. The old store building burned in 1978 and the church bought the property. The store is now a Kidd-Jones .02 east of the church.

The coming of the Rail Road through Brownsboro in the late 1800s left Leagueville off the beaten path. Highway 31 was built alongside the railroad and Leagueville's hey-day was over. The old deeds call the road through Leagueville the Athens to Tyler road.

The cemetery was expanded in 1946, 1960, and 1998 and contains approximately four acres. There are 800 known graves which include 10 veterans of the Civil War, 7 W.W.1, 46 W.W.2 and 15 Korean, Viet-Nam, and other conflicts. For many years the grounds were hoed and the graves mounded up, but because of erosion and time required in maintenance, mowing was begun in the late 50s or early 60s. Sam Reagan, grandfather of former County Judge Winston Reagan, kept the cemetery for many years and recalled helping dig the first grave. There are many un-known graves as well as some possibly un-marked. An Historical Marker has been placed largely through the efforts of Fran (Adair) Bethea and the Henderson County, Historical Commission. A Memorial Day is observed on 2nd Sunday in June each year. A board of trustees is responsible for the up-keep. The cemetery was incorporated in 1998. The cemetery was recently transcribed by Don Adair, grandson of Rial Adair, and included in the Henderson County, web-site directed by Bunny Freeman. C.L. Gideon compiled a list of the known veterans and flags are placed and re-placed for Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November by the Athens Post of the V.F.W. The cemetery maintenance is funded through donations. During the time of the last expansion an old Dipping Vat was found. This was used by the community for tick control in cattle.

The church, begun as "Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Christ" in 1880, remains in the original location and was preceded by Rock Hill and New York churches. Charter members were: G.L. Parker and wife, C.G. Hudson and wife, R.O. Echols and wife, J.M. Echols and wife, B.B. Mitchell, Texana Echols, S.E. Parker, Ann Garrett, F.L. Shelton, Susan Lawrence, and M.R. Hopson. Organized as part of Saline Baptist Assn., forerunner of the Southern Baptist Convention chose to become Independent in 1905 and has remained so to the present time. The church currently has 200 members on the rolls with attendance at 150-200. A Parsonage was erected in 1958 and continues in use. With the last addition the plant contains approximately 20,000 sq. ft. at an estimated value of $ 1,000,000.00. Tom Bragdon serves as pastor, with Justin Bragdon as youth pastor and Selman Parker as music director.

Malachiah Reeves, an early settler and Civil War veteran was well known in the area and served as Postmaster in 1906 and 1907, when it closed. He was licensed to preach at Leagueville Baptist Church and was the first pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Black Jack. He is interred in Leagueville Cemetery.