CA324

Conversations with Gladys Roberson Avis
(C. Avis Catalog Entry # 324)

Sharp Roberson, her grandfather, traded in slaves, mules and horses in Tennessee before coming to Texas.  He had asthma.  Probably buried in Young County, Texas.

Martin Bowers Roberson, her father, moved to Young County, Texas as a young man and became a cowhand on the Chisholm trail for several different ranches.  He was working in Clay County when he met Nora Herring (she was living with the Foster family).  He went to Archer County and became the foreman on L. F. Wilson's ranch between Holiday and Archer City.  Clyde, Harry, Jenny and Gladys had already been born.  Zola was born in Archer County.  The family moved to Wichita Falls where the kids went to school.  Later, they moved to Amarillo where the boys finished school.  They stayed there one year while a home was built in Farwell, Texas.  Martin and Mr. Wilson became partners in two ranches on the Texas-New Mexico border (Texico) and near Ft. Sumner.  Later sold ranches and moved back to Wichita Falls.  Clyde and Harry were married at the time, so Harry stayed behind.  The ranches were adjoining the XIT ranch.  Mart Roberson traded in cattle until he suddenly died of diabetes.  Mart Roberson and wife Nora Herring Roberson are buried in Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Texas.

Gladys met Jake Avis in grammar school in Wichita Falls before she moved away.  

Gladys's brother Richard lived in Oklahoma.  

Other places the family had lived are:  Davidson Ranch at Jolly, Texas; Charlie, Texas; Holiday, Texas; Wilson Ranch, Archer County, Texas; in Wichita Falls on Wichita River, on Burnet St., on 5 acres on Cheshire St., on Indiana Ave., and 1911 9th St.; Amarillo, Texas.

Mart Roberson's ranch was near Wichita Falls, Texas in the Iowa Park area.  His cowboys called him "Uncle Mart".

Gladys took a bus from Austin to Wichita Falls when her father, Mart Roberson, was taken to the hospital.  She arrived at the family home while everyone was at the hospital.  He died the next day.