Floyd Lane Renfro

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

Floyd Lane, son of John M. Renfro and Mary Ann Harmon, was born on 16 November 1890 in Cooper, Delta County, Texas. He married Jettie Carter.

Floyd Lane Renfro's WWI registration card states he was of McCaulley, Jones Co., TX, b. 16 Nov 1890 in Cooper, TX and that he had a wife and one child.

17 & 19 1920, Prct 5, Jones County, Texas:

62-64
Renfro, John M Head M W 68 M b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Mollie wife F W 59 M b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
63-65
-----William J. head M W 30 M b. TX fb. TN mb. TX
-----Mary wife F W 26 M b. TX fb. US mb. US
-----Naomi daughter F W 9 S b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
64-66
-----Floyd F Head M W 26 M b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
-----J? wife F W 23 M b. TX fb. US mb. US
-----Pauline daughter F W ? S b. TX fb. TX mb. ?
65-67
-----John Jr. Head M W 23 b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
Renfro Nannie? wife F W 20 M b. TX fb. US mb. US

7 April 1930, Pct 1, Jones County, Texas:

Renfro, Floyd L Head M W 36 M 19 b. TX fb. US mb. US
-----Jatee wife F W 34 M 17 b. TX fb. GA mb. US
-----Pauline daughter F W 14 S b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
-----Harlie son M W 8 S b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
-----Fay daughter F W 1 8/12 S b. TX fb. TX mb. TX

1940, Knox City, Pct 5, Knox County Texas:

Floyd L Renfro Head M 45 b. TX 1935 res: Hamlin, Texas
Jettie Renfro wife F 44 b. TX
Harley Renfro son M 18 b. TX
Faye Renfro daughter F 11 b. TX
Sam L Cooper s-i-l M 27 b.TX
Pauline Cooper d-i-l F 24 b. TX

Corrected birth certificate for Carrie Pauline Renfro, b. 23 Jan 1916 in rural Jones County, Texas. Father: Floyd Lane Renfro. Mother: Jettie Carter. Correction requested by mother Jettie Renfro of 409 North 6th, Brownfield, Texas on 13 Feb 1969
[Source: amended birth certificate]

Death certificate for Jettie Renfro:

Jettie Renfro d. 15 Jan 1974 in Brownfield, Terry County, Texas where she had been a resident for 27 years. b. 21 April 1895 in Fannin County, Texas. Married. Father: Jefferson Thomas Carter. Mother: Carrie Catherine McMillan. Informant: Mrs. Pauline Taylor, daughter. Burial: Terry County Memorial Cem, Brownfield, Terry County, Texas on 17 Jan 1974
[Source: death certificate]

F.L. Renfro is also buried in Terry County Memorial Cem in Brownfield, Terry County, Texas. b. 16 Nov 1893, d. 21 Sep 1976

Death certificate of Floyd Lane Renfro:

Floyd Lane Renfro, b. 16 Nov 1892, Cooper, TX; d. 21 Sept 1976, Brownfield, TX. Occupation: Furniture Dealer. Father: John Maddison Renfro. Mother: Molly Ann Harmon. Informant: Faye Garner, daughter. Burial: Terry County Memorial Cemetery, Brownfield, Texas.
[Source: death certificate]

Obituary for Floyd Lane Renfro:

Services for F.L. "Butch" Renfro, 83, of Brownfield will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Brownfield Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Rev. Pat Cummins, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Terry County Memorial Cemetery. Renfro died at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in Brownfield General Hospital after a lengthy illness. Born in Cooper, he grew up in Hamlin, and married Jettie Carter on Dec. 24, 1912, in Neinda. She died in 1974. They moved to Lubbock in the early 1930s, to Plainview n 1940, and to Brownfield in 1943. He was a furniture dealer prior to his retirement. Survivors include a son, Harley of Midland; two daughters Mrs. Gene (Pauline) Taylor of Brownfield and Mrs. Bunk (Faye) Garner of Spur; a sister, Mrs. Lilly Whittenburg of Hamlin; and three grandchildren.
[Source: Lubbock Avalanche Journal; Lubbock, Texas; Wed., 22 Sept 1976]

Obituary for daughter Carrie Pauline (Renfro) Cooper Taylor:

Pauline "Polly" Taylor, 92, of Spur and formerly of Brownfield, died Saturday Feb 23, 2008 at White River Care Center in Spur. Services will be 1 p.m. , Monday Feb 25, 2008 at Campbell Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Larry Burton officiating. Interment will be in Spur Memorial Cemetery. Polly was born Jan. 23, 1916 to Floyd and Jettie Carter Renfro in Neinda, Texas. She was a graduate of Hamlin High School, and a member of the Methodist church. Polly was very active in the Rebekah Lodge, American Cancer Society and Bluebonnets as well as many other organizations over the years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gene Taylor in 2007; and one brother Harley Renfro. She is survived by one sister, Faye Garner of Spur; one niece, Patricia Geeslin of Lubbock; one nephew, Bunky Garner of Austin; one step-daughter, Jean Biernachi of Nebraska; one step-son, Mike Taylor of Wichita, Kan.; and 16 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to a charity of your choice.
[Source: Lubbock Avalanche Journal; Lubbock, TX; Mon. 25 Feb. 2008]

Obituary for son-in-law Gene Taylor:

Ray Eugene "Gene" Taylor, 84, of Brownfield died Tuesday, Jan. 2007. Graveside services will be Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at Spur Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Larry Burton officiating. Serivces are under the direction of Campbell Funeral Home in Spur. Gene was born March 16, 1922, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio to Howard and Celeste Clinger Taylor. He had lived in Brownfield for the last 40 years, where he retired from the City of Brownfield. Gene was a WWII Army veteran and was a very active member in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years. He is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Pauline Taylor of Brownfield; two sons, Michael Taylor and wife Connie and Stephen Taylor; one daughter, Jean Biernachi and husband Phillip; four brothers; five sisters; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one special sister-in-law, Faye Garner of Spur.
[Source: Lubbock Avalanche Journal; Lubbock, TX; Thurs. 11 Jan 2007]

Obituary for daughter-in-law Virginia Barkley Renfro:

Virginia Barkley Renfro
Spearman- Virginia Barkely Renfro, 87, died Friday, May 16, 1997.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Hansford Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Lust, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Renfro was born in Hansford. She had lived in the Spearman area for 14 years, moving from Midland. She married Harley Renfro in 1955 at Lubbock. He died in 1983. She was a graduate of Texas Woman's University in Denton. She retired from the civil service and was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include two sisters, Reba B. Huffines of Amarillo and Gertrude B. Archer of Spearman; and a brother, Freeman Barkley of Spearman.
[Source: Amarillo Online Newspaper obits]

John M. Renfro

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

John Murphy Renfro, son of Joseph D. Renfro and Sarah Dial, was born 22 April 1852 in Tennessee. He married Emiline E. Dial on 4 Dec 1873 in Delta County, Texas. She was evidently deceased by 1880.

16 June 1880, Pct 4, Delta County, TX:

202-211
Renfrow, John M W M 28 widowed farmer b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Redey U. W F 5 daughter b. TX b. TN mb. TN

20 April 1900, Pct 1, Delta County, TX:

430-440
Renfro, Jno W Head W M Apr 1862 44 M 15 b. TN fb. TN mb. un
-----Mollie Wife W F Aug 1860 39 M 15 5-5 b. TX fb. TN mb. ALS
Renfro Nannie Dau W F Nov 1886 13 S b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----William Son W M Feb 1889 11 S b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----Lillie Dau W F Sep 1891 8 S b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----Floyd Son W M No 1892 7S b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----John Son W M Jan 1896 4 S
?ill Klaris hirehand W M - - M S b. un fb. un mb. un

18 April 1910, Just. Pct. 5, Jones County, Texas:

46-46
Renfro, Willie Head M W 21 M-1 0 b. TX fb. TN mb. TX
-----Mary wife F W 16 M-1 0 b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
47-47
Renfro, J.M. Head M W 58 M-2 23 b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Mary Wife F W 50 M-2 23 5-5 b. TX fb. US mb. US
-----Floyd son M W 16 S b. TX fb. TN mb. TX
-----Johnie Son M W 14 S b. TX fb. TN mb. TX

17 & 19 1920, Prct 5, Jones County, Texas:

62-64
Renfro, John M Head M W 68 M b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Mollie wife F W 59 M b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
63-65
-----William J. head M W 30 M b. TX fb. TN mb. TX
-----Mary wife F W 26 M b. TX fb. US mb. US
-----Naomi daughter F W 9 S b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
64-66
-----Floyd F Head M W 26 M b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
-----J? wife F W 23 M b. TX fb. US mb. US
-----Pauline daughter F W ? S b. TX fb. TX mb. ?
65-67
-----John Jr. Head M W 23 b. TX fb. TX mb. TX
Renfro Nannie? wife F W 20 M b. TX fb. US mb. US

7 April 1930, Prct 5, Hamlin, Jones County, Texas:

150-159
Renfro John M Head $1,600 M W 78 Wd b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
Cooper, Reba E daughter F W 55 M 17 b. TX fb. TN mb. TN

6 April 1940, Wichita Falls State Hospital (formerly Northwest Texas Insane Hospital) Wichita County, TX:

Renfro, John M Patient M W 88 Wd b. TN 1935 res: same house

Death certificate:

John Murphy Renfro, widowed,  death certificate #21390, b. 22 April 1852 in TN, d. Wichita Falls State Hospital, Hamlin, Wichita Co., TX, 16 April 1940. Father = J.D. Renfro b. TN. Mother = Sarah Dial b. TN, informant = hospital records, buried Hamlin, TX

John M Renfro b. 1852 - d. 1940 buried in Neinda Cemetery, Neinda, Jones County, Texas beside wife
Mary A Renfro b. 1862 - d. 1925

Children of John M. Renfro and Emiline E. Dial:

1. Redey U. [Reba E.] Renfro b. 1875 TX

Children of John M. Renfro and Mary Ann Harmon:

2. Nannie Renfro b. 1886 TX
3. William Renfro b. 1889 TX
4. Lillie Renfro b. 1891 TX
5. Floyd Renfro b. 1892 TX
6. John Renfro b. 1896 TX

James W. Renfro

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

James W. Renfro, son of Joseph D. Renfro and Sarah Dial, was born 15 Feb 1841 in Gibson County, Tennessee. He married Julia Smith on 10 Oct 1865 in Gibson County, Tennessee. His son Albert was interviewed in the early 1900s and presented valuable information about James W. Renfro's migration to Texas, but many of the dates are inaccurate. That interview can be read here.

14 Sept. 1870; Prc #5, Charleston, Hopkins Co., TX; p. 172:

94-94
Renfro, Joseph D. 57 M W Farmer $0-$120 b. TN
-----John M 19 M W Farm laborer b. TN
-----Joseph S 15 M W Farm laborer b. TN
-----Sarah C 12 F W at home b. TN
Renfro, James 27 M W Farmer $1,000-$100 b. TN
-----Julia 25 F W Keeping house b. TN
-----William 3 M W b. TN

12 June 1880; Pct #4, Delta Co., TX, p. 520:

163-69
Renfrow, James W. W M 37 Farmer b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Julia A. W F 31 Wife Keeping house b. AL fb. AL mb. AL
-----William J. W M 12 son attending school scrofula b. TN fb. TN mb. AL
-----Martha L. W F 10 Daughter attending school b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----Albert W M 7 Son attending school b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----Alfred W M 7 son attending school b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----Richard B. W M 5 son b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
Jones, George W M 22 Hireling Farm hand b. TX

In 1899, son Alfred was killed and it appears that Alfred's children may gone to live with their grandparents, James W. and Julia Renfro.

Shot in the Back
Cooper, Tex., July 10--Last night as Alf Renfro, who lives on Craig prairie, three miles east of Cooper, was going home from church, some unknown person rode up behind him and shot him twice, one shot hitting him in the small of the back.
[Source: Dallas Morning News; Dallas, TX; Wed., 12 July 1899]

Shot by Insane Man
Cooper, Tex., July 14--Alfred Rentfro is a young man with a wife and several children, living on Craig Prairie in the eastern portion of this county. While on his way home from church he was overtaken by Alonzo Lamb, a young man of the neighborhood, and shot in the back. Renfro with but slight hopes of recovery. Lamb is demented and has been in the asylum. He is in jail but is generally excused on the ground of insanity.
[Source: Fort Worth Morning Register; Fort Worth, TX; Sun., 16 July 1899]

Alfred Rentfro, shot by the demented young man Lamb, a full account of which was at the time published in the Register, is still in a critical condition. The X-rays will be brought to bear on the concealed bullet.
[Source: Fort Worth Register; Fort Worth, TX; Tues., 15 Aug 1899]

Wound Caused Death
Cooper, Tex., Nov. 17--Alf Renfro, who was shot in the back while going from church at Craig Prairie last July died last night.

The bullet lodged near the spine and was located and extracted about a month after the shooting and Renfro was able to walk about some little, but the effects of the shot finally caused his death.
[Source: Dallas Morning News; Dallas, TX; Sat. 8 Nov 1899]

Died of An Old Wound
Result of Shooting in Delta County Last Summer
Cooper, Tex., Nov. 16--Some four months ago at a country church in the eastern part of the county Alfred Renfro, a young farmer, was shot by a young man named Alonzo Lamb. The wound at the time was thought to be fatal, but Renfro was conveyed to his home, proper surgical aid was summoned, the ball by use of the X-rays was located and extracted, and for some time thereafter the wounded man was believed to be on the road to recovery., though still confined to is home and bed. A few days ago, contrary to expectation, Renfro took a turn of the worse, and last night he died. Lamb was at the time arrested and lodged in jail, where ever since he has been. It developed that Lamb had been in the asylum and was discharged as cured. It is stated that there had been no trouble between the young men and the grievance of Lamb was purely imaginary, and at the time of the unfortunate occurrence he was again laboring under mental aberration.
[Source: Fort Worth Morning Register; Fort Worth, TX; Sat., 18 Nov 1899]

Given Life Sentence
Cooper, Tex., Jan. 19--The case of Alonzo Lamb, charged with the murder of Alf Renfro last July, was taken up on Monday morning of this week, and lasted till near the adjournment of the court yesterday evening, consuming three days, and this morning the jury brought in a verdict for a life sentence.
[Source: Dallas Morning News; Dallas, TX; Sat. 20 Jan 1900]

Given a Life Term
Greenville, Texas, January 19--Alonzo Lamb, who killed Alf Renfro in Delta County last July, was tried in the district court at Cooper this week and given a life sentence. He had been in the insane asylum and pleaded insanity, but the jury decided otherwise.
[Source: Houston Post; Houston, TX; Sat. 20 Jan. 1900]

28 June 1900; Prct #1, Delta Co., TX:

556-576
Renfro, Jas Head W M b. Feb 1842 58 M 35 b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Julia A Wife W F b. Jan 1848 52 M 35 5-2 b. AL fb. AL mb. AL
-----Will A son W M b. 1868 32 b. TN fb. TN mb. AL
-----Rufan grandson W M b. Sep 1892 7 S b. TX fb. TN mb. un
-----Monora grandd W F b. 1895 4 S b. TX fb. TN mb. un
-----Ethial grandd W F b. Sep 1889 11 S b. TX fb. un mb. un

J. W. Renfro began appearing on the Cottle County, Texas tax rolls in 1902.

27 April 1910; Prect. 2, Cottle County Texas:

108-108
Renfro, James W Head M W 68 M-1 44 b. TN fb. TN mb. TN farmer
----- Julia A Wife F W 61 M-1 44 5-3 b. Al fb. AL mb. AL
Stone, Shelby  M W 24 M-1 8/12 b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
----- Nana A Granddaughter F W 14 M-1 8/12 b. TX fb. TN mb. TX
109-109
Renfro, Richard B Head M W 36 M-1 16 b. TX fb. TN mb. AL
-----Lucy L. Wife F  33 M-1 16 b. MS fb. MS mb. MS
-----Lulie L. ? M W 14 S b. TX fb. TX mb. MS
-----Carnie C son M  9 S b. TX fb. TX mb. MS
-----William C son M W 5 S b. TX fb. TX mb. MS

Death Certificate of James W. Renfro:

James William Renfro b. 15 Feb 1841, Trenton, Tenn.; d. 25 Oct 1918 near Paducah, Cottle Co., Texas. Widowed. Occupation: Farmer. Father: Joe D. Renfro. b. NC. Mother: Mary Alexander b. Scotland. Informant: E.A. Renfro. Burial: Paducah, Cottle Co., Texas.
[death certificate]

Note that the mother for James W. Renfro is Mary Alexander not Sarah Dial. Given that James was born in 1841, between the marriage of Sarah Dial in 1835 and the birth of younger brother John M. Renfro, whose birth certificate lists Sarah Dial as his mother, in 1850, it seems doubtful that James' mother was any one other than Sarah Dial. However, Mary Alexander must be a name that E.A. Renfro knew in connection with his family history, so it is worth noting her name. E.A. Renfro also made several errors in his recounting of the Renfro migration to Texas, indicating that he was listening to family stories, but not paying attention to details like dates.

Renfro burials in Garden of Memories Cem., Paducah, Cottle Co., TX:

J.W. Renfro b. 15 Feb 1841, d. 25 Oct 1918, bur. Garden of Memories Cem., Paducah, Cottle Co., TX

Julia A. Renfro b. 7 Jun 1850, d. 28 Sept 1919, bur Garden of Memories Cem., Paducah, Cottle Co., TX

William James Renfro b. 24 Feb 1868, d. 8 Mar 1917, bur Garden of Memories Cem., Paducah. Married to Emma Elizabeth Renfro.

Known children of James W. and Julia Renfro:

1. William J. Renfro
2. Martha L. Renfro
3. Albert Renfro
4. Alfred Renfro
5. Richard B. Renfro

Last updated August 3, 2015

Joseph D. Renfro/Rentfro

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

Joseph D. Renfro, son of John Renfro and an unknown wife, married Sarah Dial 24 Jun 1835 in Gibson County, Tennessee. He appeared on the 1836 Gibson County, TN tax list in district 12. He first appears as head of household on the 1840 census of Gibson County, Tennessee.

1840, Gibson County, Tennessee:

Joseph Renfro 1011-20001

one male under 5 = James Renfro
one male 10-15 = unknown son, either died or has his own household in 1850. Possibly a brother of Joseph or his wife Sarah.
one male 15 - 20 = Joseph Rentfro
two females under five = Nancy Rentfro, Mary Rentfro
one female 20 - 30 = Sarah Rentfro

27 Dec 1850, Dist #11, Gibson Co., TN, p. 298:

2406
Joe D. Rentfro 37 M Farmer b. TN [b.c. 1813]
Sarah 38 F b. TN
Nancy 14 F b. TN
Mary 12 F b. TN
James 7 M b. TN
Emily 3 F b. TN
John 6/12 M b. TN

J. D. Rentfro married Sarah A. McKeown 22 Jan 1857 in Gibson County, Tennessee. Evidently, Sarah (Dial) Rentfro was deceased by the end of 1856.

Sarah A. McKeown was evidently the widow of Green B. McKeown. She was named administrator of his estate during the May Term 1854 in Gibson Co., TN. Sarah signed with her mark.
[Source: Gibson Co., TN, Wills 1852-1856, Vol. E, p. 163]

On 10 Feb 1857, a report on G.B.G. McKeown's estate was made by Sarah A McKeown, showing payments back to 1854. No mention is made of his heirs. Also, Sarah is not recorded as being a Renfro at this point.
[Source: Gibson Co., TN, Settlements Vol. F, p.163]

On 7 April 1857, Joseph D. Renfro was named guardian of E [name runs out of sight into binding of book] and Nancy McKeown, heirs of G.B.G. McKeown.
[Source: Gibson Co., TN, Will Book F, 1856-1862, p. 43]

Joseph D. Renfro's father John Renfro wrote his will in 1858 and was deceased by the July Term of 1860. John's will named Joseph D. Renfro as his son and appointed him as one of the executors of the estate along with B. McClasin. Among the property that Joseph purchased on 12 July 1860 was a quilt and one "family bible." Three other bibles also sold at the estate sale, so it seems like Joseph literally bought John's family bible. If it contains a family record, it might be recorded on the end pages or in the middle of the bible between the New and Old Testaments. A bible of that age might not have a printed family register page like later bibles. It is my hope that a descendant of Joseph D. Renfro still has this bible, but may not know how it connects to his or her family. To date, I have found no descendants of Joseph D. Renfro who have connected their lines to either Joseph D. Renfro or to John Renfro. However, there are plenty of descendants of Joseph D. Renfro. When you stumble across these posts, please contact me.

Joseph D. Rentfro removed to  Missouri by 1860.

1860, Union District, Dunklin Co., MO:

Joseph Renfrow M 46 b. TN
Nancy Renfrow F 24 b. TN
Mary E Renfro F 22 b. TN
J.W. Renfrow M 17 b. TN
Emely Renfrow F 13 b. TN
John M Renfrow M 10 b. TN
Joseph S Renfrow M 6 b. TN

Notice that the children and their ages match the children in Joseph D. Rentfro's 1850 household with the addition of Joseph S. Renfrow, born in 1854. Joseph S. Renfrow would be the son of Sarah (Dial) Renfro. This means that she was still living as of 1854, but deceased by the time Joseph marries Sarah A. McKeown in early 1857. Sarah A. McKeown Renfro is missing from the household in 1860. Is she deceased or elsewhere? Take a look at this household in  back Gibson County, Tennessee:

1860, District 12, Gibson County, TN:

1839-1841
Sarah Renfro 37 F Farmer $1,900-$2,600 b. TN
Elizabeth 12 F b. TN
Nancy 8 F b. TN
Sarah 2 F b. TN

Elizabeth and Nancy are likely to be McKeowns, heirs of G.B.G. McKeown since Joseph D. Renfro was named their guardian in 1857.

By 1870, a Sarah C. Renfro, the same age as the young Sarah above was added to Joseph D. Renfro's household, which was located in Hopkins Co., TX.

14 Sept. 1870; Prc #5, Charleston, Hopkins Co., TX; p. 172:

94-94
Renfro, Joseph D. 57 M W Farmer $0-$120 b. TN
-----John M 19 M W Farm laborer b. TN
-----Joseph S 15 M W Farm laborer b. TN
-----Sarah C 12 F W at home b. TN
Renfro, James 27 M W Farmer $1,000-$100 b. TN
-----Julia 25 F W Keeping house b. TN
-----William 3 M W b. TN

Sarah A. McKeown is missing from this household. Is she deceased or have she and Joseph divorced?

By 1880,  Joseph D. Renfro had removed to Delta County, Texas. He began appearing in the Delta Co., TX tax lists in 1872 and continued on the rolls in until 1887. He married Piety Watson in Delta County on 9 Sept 1880. Evidently, Joseph was deceased by 1888 because Piety Renfro married L.B Herren in Delta County on 29 Nov 1888.

In 1880, Joseph Renfro was boarding with the James Keith family.

25 June 1880 Prct 4 & 5, Delta County, Texas:

355-368
Keith, James M W 36 M Farmer b. TX fb. Ind mb. Ind
-----Sarah A. F W 34 M Wife Keeps House b. AL fb. VA mb. KY
-----Henry F. M W 10 S Son b. TX fb. TX mb. AL
-----William O. M W 7 S Son b. TX fb. TX mb. AL paralyzed
-----Mary L. W F 5 Dau b. TX fb. TX mb. AL
Renfrow, Joseph M W (70) Wd. boarder b. VA fb. - mb. -

Given the misreported age and birth place of Joseph in this census it seems likely that one of the Keith's reported for him. Living nearby was the widow Piety Watson and her children.

29 June 1880, Prct 4 & 5, Delta County, Texas:

378-392
Watson, Piety W F 36 Wd Keeping House b. MS fb. mb. MS
-----Albert W M 7 S b. TX fb. VA mb. MS
-----Ara A W F 3 S b. TX fb. VA mb. MS

Most of Joseph D. Renfro's sons and his daughter Sarah C. can all be located in Delta County. The whereabouts of his daughters Nancy, Mary E., Emily are unknown. Presumably, they married shortly after the 1860 census was taken in Dunklin County, Missouri. They may have married and stayed behind in Missouri or Hopkins County, Texas, or they may have also removed to Delta County, Texas and are unidentified.

To recap the children of Joseph D. Renfro. The children of Joseph D. Renfro and Sarah Dial:

1. Nancy Renfro
2. Mary E. Renfro
3. James W. Renfro
4. Emily Renfro
5. John M. Renfro
6. Joseph S. Renfro

The children of Joseph D. Renfro and Sarah McKeown

7. Sarah C. Renfro

Each child will be continued in individual posts. Just use the links above to open their pages.

Renfro marriages in Delta County, Texas:

John M Rentfro married Emiline E. Dial on 4 Dec 1873 in Delta, Delta County, Texas
Catherine Rentfro married Jerremiah Kizer on 20 Oct 1876 in Delta, Delta County, Texas.
Mary Rentfro married C.C. Lee on 8 Oct 1879 in Delta, Delta County, Texas.
J.D. Rentfro married Piety Watson 9 Sep 1880 in Delta County, Texas
M.L. Renfro married Robert L. Hurley 1 Dec 1887
W.J. Renfro married M.A. Cooper 12 Aug 1888
Piety Renfro married L.B. Herren on 29 Nov 1888 in Delta, Delta County, Texas
T.J. Renfro married M.E. Mathews 2 Jan 1890
W.J. Renfro married Maggie Smith 13 Dec 1891
E.A. Renfro married Myrtis Rattan 8 Dec 1892
J.H. Renfro married Della Fowler 5 Jan 1893
R.B. Renfro married Lucy Foster 14 Oct 1894
T.J. Renfro married Emma Gentry 27 Jan 1901
Leonard Renfro married Pearl Singleton 21 Oct 1916

Last updated on August 3, 2015

Jane (Blakely) Stickle

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

Recently, I started a new blog that took a detour into the life of Jane (Blakely) Stickle, creator of the quilt that we know and love.  I thought I would research her using my genealogy background and tools. Among other things, I found a record of her marriage to Walter P. Stickle. You can read the result, which will probably be revised a few times in the upcoming months, at Flimsies and Frippery. My genealogy blog will continue here.

Thomas N. Yarberry's Photograph

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

I published this photograph in an early post. It is a copy of a photograph of Thomas Newton Yarberry that was sent to me by Kate Carson in the mid 1970s when I first started doing genealogy. I published it because it was of much higher quality that the photocopied version that I was seeing on the internet. I've noticed since then, that many on ancestry are using this clearer version, so it's nice to know that people really do read this blog. 

Thomas Newton Yarberry's accepted date of birth is 27 January 1813; the source is a family bible researched by Kate Carson. According to the census, Thomas was born in North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Renfro/Rentfro in Gibson County, Tennessee on 22 April 1841. They were in Hempstead County, Arkansas by the 1850 census.

This photograph has always intrigued me. One of the things that I've always wondered about was what on earth was going on with his coat. Was it really as tattered and torn as it looks? Why would someone put on his worst garment to sit for a portrait, especially since people had very few pictures of themselves made in the nineteenth century? In looking at the bottom of the portrait, I always thought I saw damage that suggested that this is an ambrotype that someone had opened, damaging the paper on the back. That would mean, Thomas's photograph was damaged not his coat. That, however, was just a theory. Until the actual photograph came along for someone to look at, I only had a semi-educated guess. I proceeded to wait....oh, about 40 years or so.

Then, as luck would have it, a reader of this blog, and distant cousin, contacted me and sent me a digital copy of the original to which she temporarily had access. Isn't it breathtakingly wonderful?

I requested that she take pictures that would allow me to see the full photograph and its case. In return, I received the following two pictures, showing both the inside and the outside of the case.

Inside of Thomas N. Yarberry's photo case:

Outside of Thomas N. Yarberry's photo case, which I think is probably embossed leather:

At last, I had enough information to begin trying to date this photograph. Why is that important? For starters it would give us a clue as to how old Thomas N. Yarberry was when the photograph was taken and perhaps some insight into the occasion for which it was made.

I started with that area at the bottom that always looked like damaged paper to me. I blew up the bottom edge which you can see below. Definitely looks like damaged, thick paper:

The presence of this black paper identifies this as an ambrotype photograph. Ambrotype photographs were only produced for a decade, between 1855 and 1865. The image was directly on the glass with a thick piece of black paper or cloth behind it that made the image visible. That narrows this photograph down to 1855 - 1865.

Can the date range be narrowed further? Yes. Before 1859 the mats around ambrotype photographs were plain. Beginning in 1859 they began using fancy, embossed mats like the one around Thomas N Yarberry's photograph.

In 1859, the preservers around the mats became more elaborate and ornate - like the one around Thomas Yarberry's photograph.

Based on the type of photograph and its setting, Thomas N. Yarberry's photograph can be placed in a narrower date range: 1859 - 1865. Based on the wide range of ages given on the census, Thomas N. Yarberry's birth date can only be narrowed to 1813 - 1818. He would have been 41 - 46  in 1859 and 47 to 52 in 1865. However, if we stick with his accepted birth date of 1813, he would have been 46 in 1859 and 52 in 1865. His photograph features a man with a receding hairline, but no gray. It is hard to say what the occasion is for the photograph. It could be the Civil War. Did he serve in some way? So far, I have not found a service record for him unless he is listed under some tortured spelling of Yarberry.  He was possibly too old to serve. Is it a photograph for a son to take to war with him? Is it for his 50th birthday? Still a lot of questions without answers.

I anticipate that people will use this photograph without permission. However, I do ask that you site this blog and that you leave a comment below.

Happy Father's Day to all our fathers, living and ancestral.

Eugene A. Hurt, Division Freight Agent

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

I was shopping in an antique mall in Waxahatchie, Texas when this little red souvenir glass railroad lantern jumped out at me. It was the perfect Father's Day gift for my Dad, who is a Santa Fe Railroad retiree. On the front is the name "Jean Hurt," and on the back it is inscribed "G.C. & S.F.R.R. 1915." After I got it home, I tried to locate information about Jean Hurt and struck out. Too many Jean Hurts on the 1910 and 1920 censuses, many of them women, and none of them seemed to fit any Jean Hurt who had worked for the Santa Fe.

I gave up, wrapped it up, and put in the mail to Dad. He opened it this morning and called to say thank you. He also told me that G.C. & S.F.R.R. was a division of the Santa Fe called Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad. He told me that their headquarters were in Galveston and suggested that I focus my search for Jean Hurt there. He also told me that the G.C. & S.F.R.R. division in the 1960s started at the Oklahoma border and ran south toward Galveston. Being able to focus my search in Texas was the bit of information that I needed. 

At first, nothing turned up in the census. How could Jean Hurt be a phantom? Then I started running through newspapers. The first item to bubble up to the surface was the following article, announcing the promotion of E.A. Hurt. 

I nearly ignored this article, but then it occurred to me, almost too late, that if Jean was short for Eugene, then E.A. Hurt might be my man. More searching revealed that his name was, in fact, Eugene A. Hurt. 

In amassing information on E.A. Hurt, I discovered that he was a native of Tennessee, who seems to have first found employment with the Gila Valley and Globe National Railroad in Arizona. In the spring of 1899, he was the assistant to the G.V.G. & N. superintendent, Benjamin Jones. They had just moved the superintendent's office from Geronimo, Arizona to Globe, Arizona:

By October 1899, Superintendent Jones was ill and E.A. Hurt became the Acting Superintendent:

By December 1899, Benjamin Jones had returned to work, and E.A. Hurt presumably returned to his position as assistant and cashier.

 By the spring of 1900, Superintendent Jones had resigned, probably due to his prolonged illness, and E.A. Hurt had become an agent. Note all the reassigned positions in the article below. A shake up was definitely afoot:

The article below indicates that E.A. Hurt had resigned earlier in January of 1900. Possibly, he had returned and resumed working for the G.V.G.& N. in March.

The U.S. census indicates that E.A. Hurt was still in Arizona in the summer of 1900:

3 & 4 June 1900, Ft. Grant, Bonita Towns, Graham Co., AZ:

Hurt, Eugene Head M W b. 1872 38 S b. TN fb. KY mb. TN - RR Station Agent

By 1901, E.A. Hurt had permanently left Arizona and was living in the Oklahoma, Indian Territory, working for the Santa Fe Railroad. In July of 1901 he was the agent at Dougherty, Oklahoma.

At the end of 1901, E.A. Hurt and his brother George C. Hurt married the Barnes sisters in a double wedding ceremony:

A briefer, clearer article about their wedding appeared in the Fort Worth newspaper:

Between 1901 and 1904, E.A. Hurt had moved to Sanger, Texas. In 1904, he was made agent for the Santa Fe in Midlothian, Texas:

The Hurt family continued in Midlothian for several years. Eugene A. Hurt's father William died and was buried in Midlothian in 1906. His mother was buried there in 1916. I have not researched his parents, so I do not know when they arrived in Midlothian.

19 April 1910, Midlothian, Ellis County, Texas:

105-105

Hurt, Eugene A. Head M W 37 M-8 b. TN fb. KY mb. TN - Agent, R.R. Station

-----, Rose C Wife F W 25 M-8 b. TX fb. KY mb. VA

In 1910, The 20th Century Protector Co., of Midlothian, TX published an advertisement, featuring E.A. Hurt, Agent G.C. & S.F.R.R.'s enthusiastic letter about their product along with a picture of E.A. Hurt in his convertible automobile!

In 1911, 20th Century Tire Protector Co. published an even longer and more enthusiastic letter from E.A. Hurt. It is possible that this is the original letter, and the 1910 letter was an abridged version.

In 1915, E.A. Hurt was still the agent at Midlothian. Click here to see a picture of him at the Midlothian depot. This would have been the same year that he received the little red, souvenir railroad lantern.

In 1916, Agent Hurt used his personal automobile to help stranded passengers acquire new tickets. His company loyalty was noted in the Santa Magazine. 

On 10 Jan 1916, the Midlothian Oil and Gin Co. caught on fire. E.A Hurt had several burning boxcars moved away from the building so that they could be put out. See link above for more information.

E.A. Hurt's WWI draft registration card revealed his full name: Eugene Augusta Hurt and a permanent address in Paris, Texas. This seems to have been a temporary relocation for the Hurts.

In 1920, E.A. Hurt was promoted to division freight agent and moved to Houston:

In 1922, E.A. Hurt was ill enough that it was noted in the Santa Fe Magazine that he was in the hospital at Temple, Texas:

By 1923, he was back at work. Apparently, enough bridges had been washed out that year that when they were repaired the Santa Fe felt the need to notify the public that repairs had been made and the railroad was ready to resume shipments north to Kansas and west to California.

By July 1923, freight was moving, and E.A. Hurt was overseeing shipments of watermelons from Lee and Lee, the largest watermelon growers in the world:

On 20 Dec 1924, E.A. Hurt's wife Rosa Cleveland (Barnes) Hurt died of complications after surgery. She was 40 years old. Apparently, they never had children. She was buried in Midlothian near E.A.'s parents. E.A. Hurt continued working as the Division Freight Agent for the Santa Fe in Houston:

Eugene Augusta Hurt died in Midlothian, Texas in Mar 1929 at the home of his sister:

He was buried in Midlothian beside his wife. His little lantern has been kicking around somewhere for the last 90 years but is now at home with another Santa Fe Railroader.