Obituary

Obituary of Sarah Wilkinson Mooring (wife of Llewelyn Mooring)
[C. Avis Catalog Entry #311 ]



THE BRYAN EAGLE
Bryan, Texas  Thursday, August 11, 1892  page 8.


We regret to learn as we go to press of the death of the mother of Mr. J. S. Mooring, proprietor of the Exchange
hotel, who died at her home in Grimes county the past week at an advanced age.



From the Newspaper Collection: Barker Texas History Center,
University of Texas at Austin

Wichita Falls Times 10-14-1956
(C. Avis Catalog entry #623)


Pioneer Rancher's Widow Dies Here

Funeral services for 90-year-old Mrs. Mart Roberson, pioneer of this area, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Floral Heights Methodist Church. 

She died early Sunday morning at her home at 3012 Speedway.      
  
She was described recently as "typical of pioneers who opened the way for the modern civilization of Texas." Mrs. Roberson and her husband, who died in 1934, long were known as leaders in the cattle business in Texas.

Mrs. Roberson had lived in Clay, Archer and Wichita Counties since coming to this area 77 years ago.   

The Mart Robersons were recognized by fellow North Texans for their role in the history of this area when special tribute was paid them at the 50th anniversary celebration of Wichita Falls in. 1932.

Dr. Earl Hoggard, pastor, will officiate at the funeral services. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery directed by Hampton-Vaughan-Merkle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Oral Jones, Joe B. McNiel, Walter Morgan, Walter Ehlert Jr., Leon Denton, 1. W. Karrenbrock, P. S. Richardson, all of Wichita Falls, and Bruce Campbell of Knox City.      
 

Survivors include three daughters, Miss Jennie Roberson of 3012 Speedway, director of art education in the Wichita Falls public schools; Mrs., Jake Avis and Mrs. R. H. Gracey, both of Austin; two sons, L. C. Roberson of Houston, and H. R., Roberson of Albuquerque, N. M.; one brother, R. B. Thompson of Pampa; six grandchildren, and 11 greatgrandchildren.      

The administrative offices of the public schools will be closed from 9:45 a. m. until noon out of respect to public schools art director, Miss Roberson.      

Mrs. Roberson, the former Nora Herring, was born Aug. 28, 1866, at Savannah, Tenn. She came to Grayson County, with her family at the age of four, in 1870. In 1879 the Herrings sought additional western territory, and moved to Henrietta where young Nora Herring met young Range Rider Mart Roberson.

When the Herrings came to Texas in 1870, they traveled from Memphis, Tenn., to, Little Rock, Ark., by train. There a train of 17 wagons was formed by this and other families who came to Sherman by this mode of travel. For many years Mrs. Roberson entertained friends and family by recalling numerous incidents of these pioneer times in Texas.      
 

Nora Herring and Mart Roberson were married in 1885 and for a year following, Roberson worked with the Franklin Land and Cattle Company in Greer County - then a part of Texas, but now forming several Oklahoma counties. From there the couple went to the Indian Territory where they remained for some time while Roberson continued in the ranching business.      

From there the couple moved to the Davis Ranch on Turkey Creek where they remained five years. Later they moved to the L. F. Wilson Ranch in Archer County, remaining there 10 years.      

They then moved to Wichita Falls and until his death In 1934, Roberson remained active in the cattle industry. This pioneer cattleman had ranged the open country here more than half a century before that time, participating in long cattle drives north to market.      

Mrs. Roberson shared in the pioneer life of her husband, often remaining behind at home for as long as six months at a time when he was riding herd in broad unfenced areas in Texas and Oklahoma.      

Long a leader in her Floral Heights Methodist Church, Mrs. Roberson was elected official "mother" for the Women's Wesley Bible Class there several years ago.

Obituary of Mart Roberson
(C. Avis Catalog entry #67)

Wichita Fall Record-News 
April 25, 1934
Page 1

RITES TODAY FOR PIONEER

Mart Roberson, Range Rider for 50 Years, Dies

Funeral services for Mart Roberson, 75, active cattleman in the Wichita area for more than 50 years, will be held from the family home at 1821 Huff avenue at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.  The Rev. Finis Crutchfield, Floral Heights Methodist church pastor, will officiate.  Music for the service will be arranged by Mrs. George W. Thorburn.

Mr. Roberson died in a Wichita Falls hospital at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning.  He had been ill only a few days and was admitted to the hospital Monday afternoon.  Pallbearers for the service will be Eli Morgan, Leon Deaton, Oral Jones, Lestor Jones, W. W. Brown, and Carl Williamson.  The Merkle Undertaking company will direct burial in Riverside.

Mr. Roberson continued active in the cattle industry until his last illness.  He was a picturesque character and typical of early day Texans who braved frontiers in this section.  He experienced many early day adventures and watched the development of civilization where he had rode cattle ranges as a youth.  

Born Near Graham

The veteran cowman was widely known in this section and his character was strongly expressive of a successful range personality.  His readiness to discuss early day experiences brought to life the swish of sage brush against horsehide and cowboy yells of roundup days for many friends and associates.  

Mr. Roberson was born at Eliasville, near Graham, in 1859.  A son of pioneers, Mr. Roberson returned to the Wichita area in 1878 after his family moved to the Choctaw Indian area near Ft. Smith, Ark.  A youth of 19, he secured his first work in the new country with the H. & N. ranch south of Olney.  In 1882, when the first railway was built into Wichita Falls, Mr. Roberson accompanied Charley Akers to the Byers pasture to fence it and 
(Continued on Page Two)

Death Closes Half-Century of Activity for Mart Roberson, Pioneer Cattleman

(Continued from Page One)
he directed the drive of the first cattle to the pasture from Archer county.

Other range activities carried Mr. Roberson to the Indian territory near Chickasha, Okla., on a trail drive into Kansas with 1000 longhorns, and on many roundup drives over hundreds of miles of Texas panhandle country, during some of which he remained on the open ranges for months.  Mr. Roberson recalled frequently long periods of association with well known cattlemen including the Pat Leona?? the Waggoner, Burnett and Sugg????ge crews.

Married Henrietta Girl

Mr. Roberson was married in 1885 to Miss Nora Herring of Henrietta.  He worked for a year after the marriage with the Franklin ????? and Cattle company in old ????? county, Okla.  The firm was E????? owned and succeeded the Ha??????? & Ikard Brothers in controlling the Diamond F brand.  Later Mr. Roberson was associated with the Foster, Ikard & Phelps interest in supplying meat for soldiers stationed at Ft. Sill.  

After leaving the Indian territory, Mr. Roberson moved to the L. F. Wilson ranch in Archer county, where he remained 10 years.  Supplies for long cattle drives for the Wilson ranch were secured from Will Noland's general store in Holliday, Mr. Roberson after recalled.  He was residing in Holliday when the City National bank was robbed and came to Wichita Falls with Mr. Nolan two days later on Feb. 27, 1896, to see the two captured bandits hanged.  

The Wichita county courthouse was a plank structure located near the present site of the Wichita Falls Clinic hospital when Mr. Roberson made his first trip to the frontier village.  The occasion was to suppy bail for a cowboy who had been charged with returning a missing ranch horse to the corrall from the farmer's field.

Mr. Roberson is survived by his widow; two sons, Harry Roberson of Durango, Colo., and Clyde Roberson of Fort Worth; three daughters, Mrs. R. H. Gracey of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Jake Avis of Wichita Falls, and Miss Jennie Roberson, Art Supervisor in the Wichita Falls public schools; two brothers, Blunt Roberson of Fletcher, Okla., and Richard Roberson of Ellis, Okla.; and a sister, Mrs. Marie Windum of Oklahoma.

The Roberson children visited their parents for the first family reunion in 15 years for the holiday season in December, 1932.

Abstract of Obituary of Harry Roberson 
(C. Avis Catalog entry #70)

[cannot find original]

Abstracts of articles that were once in the Herring-Roberson scrapbook

Funeral Invitation: 
Harry R. Roberson 
10-5-1887 
10-12-1960 in Albuquerque

Article: 
Harry Roberson died at 73. Came 6 years ago from Alamosa, Colo. Associated with a bank in Santa Rosa from '07 to '20. Associated with a bank in Antonito, Colo. from '20 to '27. In Durango from '27 to '36 with a building and loan company. Then to Alamosa with a loan company. Was a Mason. Survivors include daughters: Mrs. Richard Carlisle, Mrs. Harold F. Allen; brother: Clyde; sisters: Jennie, Mrs. Jake Avis, Mrs. Rueben Gracey.

Obituary of Minnie Ola Bush Avis
(C. Avis Catalog entry #240)


<This article is the total contents of a file on Mrs. J. D. Avis at the Barker Texas History Center and the Univ. of Texas at Austin>

Wichita Daily Times, June 28, 1952

Mrs. J. D. Avis Rites Will Be Sunday

Funeral services for Mrs. J. D. Avis, 87, 1318 Tenth, a resident of Wichita County for 67 years, will be held Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Hampton-Vaughan-Merkle Funeral Home chapel.

Dr. Earle W. Crawford, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of which she was a member, will officiate. 

Active pallbearers will be J. D. Avis III, Clint Bailey Wood, Jake Avis Jr., Billy McCutchen of Corpus Christi, Marvin L. McCulloch, W. F. Bridewell of Tyler, W. U. McCutchen of Houston and Blair Baker.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Avis moved to Wichita Falls shortly after their marriage in 1885.  Mrs. Avis, the former Minnie Ollie Bush, came to Texas from Virginia as a child. 

Her husband was a freighter, Indian fighter, cattle dealer and a leading business man.  He served in the state legislature for a number of years.

They entered business in Wichita Falls in 1891, when he became proprietor of a grocery establishment.  He later sold the grocery store and established the Avis Hardware Company in 1909.  He died in 1935.

Survivors are the three sons, Dave Avis and Piner Avis of Wichita Falls and Jake Avis, Austin; three daughters, Mrs. Lillian Baum and Mrs. James B. Baker of Wichita Falls, and Mrs. W. F. Weeks of Tyler; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family has requested that no flowers be sent.

 

Obituary of Mineola Bush Avis in Scrapbook of Lillian Avis Baum 
(C. Avis Catalog entry #120)

Long-Time Resident Mrs. J. D. Avis Dies

Mrs. J. D. Avis, 87, a resident of Wichita County for 67 years, died Friday at her home, 1318 Tenth.  

Born in Parkersburg, W. Va., Mineola Bush, she was married March 2, 1885 at Montague, Texas and moved to Wichita County the same year.

Survivors are three sons, Dave Avis and Piner Avis of Wichita Falls, and Jake Avis, Austin; three daughters, Mrs. Lillian Baum and Mrs. James B. Baker of Wichita Falls, and Mrs. W. F. Weeks of Tyler; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hampton-Vaughan-Merkle Funeral Home.

The family has requested that no flowers be sent.

Obituary of Thomas G. Bush from Scrapbook of Lillian Avis Baum)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #94)


Granite Falls (Minnesota) Tribune

Final Rites for Thomas G. Bush

Funeral services for Thomas G. Bush were held from the Congregational church in this city Friday afternoon with interment in the City cemetery.  Rev. Mr. Wm. Frank Fleming officiated.

The death of Mr. Bush occurred at the Granite Falls hospital Jan. 16, his age being almost 93 years.

Thomas Granville Bush was born near Parkersburg, W. Va., Feb. 12, 1858, the oldest child of Isaac and Louisa Bush.  At an early age he migrated to Grayson county, Texas, where he grew to manhood.  As a young man he engaged in cattle ranching in northern Texas and Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

On Oct. 1, 1883, he married Mrs. Emma I. Richardson of Fort Sill, Indian Territory.  In 1885, they moved to Minnesota, settling on a farm in Renville county, where they continued to farm until they retired and moved to Granite Falls in 1913.  Mrs. Bush died Sept. 15, 1928.

Mr. Bush served as city assessor in Granite Falls for 16 years.  He was a student of politics and took a keen interest in local government.

Mr. Bush is survived by two sons and three daughters.  The sons are Archibald of St. Paul and Reuben of this city, while the daughters are Sadie Richardson of this city, Margaret of St. Paul and Minnie of Brooklyn, N. Y.  There are two granddaughters, Ione Bush of Duluth and Mrs. Chas. Medlin of St. Louis Park, as well as one great grandson.  There are also two brothers and a sister in Texas.

At the church service two solos were sung by Donald Daby.   The pallbearers included Henry Weflen, W. S. Anderson, Lester Harmre, Emil Formo, Raymond Johnson <article cut off here>

<added in margin:  Rock Of Ages & Abide with Me>

 

Obituary of Louise Miner King Bush
(C. Avis Catalog entry #98)

May 25, 1925  <added by hand>

At 7:20 o'clock Monday evening Mrs. Louisa Miner Bush departed this life after living to the unusual age of 91 years 4 months and 18 days at the Bush homestead at Farmington.  She was born in Pennsylvania, her parents being John S. and Charity King.  At the age of twelve years the family moved to Virginia.  One or two years after the close of Civil War she came to Texas with her husband, Isaac.  It will be remembered by many that Mr. Bush lost his life when his team ran away with him some 23 years ago.  Upon coming to Texas the Bush family located in Farmington where a family of eight children were reared.  The children are:  Mrs. H. C. McGlasson, of Fort Worth, Mrs. J. D. Avis, Wichita Falls, Mrs.  J. A. Hutchings, of Olney, Texas, Thos. G. Bush, of Granite Falls, Minn., Oscar R., Mike B. manager of the Telephone Co., here and Isaac B. with whom Mrs. Bush has made her home for the past 23 years.  One daughter is dead, Mrs. Ida Huggins.  In this family are 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren <changed by hand to 10 grandchildren>, and 1 greatgreatchild, the latter represents the fifth generation of Mrs. Bush's family.

When but a girl of 15 years Mrs. Bush united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and had lived a beautiful life for these 76 years which is a record very few people are permitted to make.  She had been a continuous subscriber to the Christian Advocate, the official paper of the Methodist church since its first publication.  

Funeral services were conducted at the Farmington Baptist church by her pastor, Rev. Ben Bell, of the Methodist church here.  A large company of friends were present and a beautiful floral offering.  Expressed in a small way the esteem of her acquaintances for her and for her family.

Burial was in Hall cemetery.  Blackburn & Slaughter had charge of the funeral arrangements.

Obituary of Sarah A. Broyles (from unknown newspaper)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #305)



For the Nashville and Louisville Christian Advocate

Sister Sarah A. Broyles, the subject of this memoir, was 
the daughter of Mr. John S. Broyles, and was born March 
23, 1820, and died August 17, 1852, at her father's 
residence in Hardin County, Tenn.

Sister Sarah was deprived, when very young, of the advice 
and love of her mother, and the care of her father's house 
fell on her, which she conducted with that prudence and 
order which is rare in one of her age.  She embraced 
religion at an early age, and joined the Methodist E. 
Church, South, of which she ever after lived a consistent 
member.  She was one of the most amiable and pious young 
ladies the writer of this ever knew.  She was beloved of 
all who knew her, and those who knew her best loved her 
most.  She died as she had lived.  Her death was peaceful 
and happy.

She requested all who were present to meet her in heaven. 
 May we strive to emulate her example, and meet her in the 
world of light.  Many more interesting things might be 
said about her, but her record is on high.

         "Let sickness blast, let death devour,
            If heaven must recompense our pain;
          Perish the grass, and fade the flower,
            If firm the word of God remains."

                                                 A Friend

Obituary of D. W. Herring 
(C. Avis Catalog entry #336)
(Document ID #412)

[D. W. Herring was a son of John Henry Herring by his first wife, Julia Williams.  Therefore, a half-brother of Nora Herring Roberson]

ESTEEMED AND HONORED CITIZEN PASSES TO REWARD

Judge D. W. Herring, Long Prominent in Local Affairs, Laid to Rest This Afternoon

Judge D. W. Herring, prominent citizen of Jackson, and a well known member of the Tennessee Bar Association died Sunday morning, Jan. 20th at his home on East Main street following an illness of several months.

Judge Herring some months ago went to Rochester, Minn., for treatment, and all the resources of medical science were sought to alleviate his suffering, but to no avail.

The passing of Judge Herring leaves a vacancy that will not be filled in the wide circle of friends and acquaintances which he had and especially in the fraternal orders in which he took so active a part.

The funeral was held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the residence by Rev. John T. Myers of the First Methodist church, and interment followed in Hollywood cemetery, where the many beautiful flowers that covered a wide space, were a symbol of the esteem in which Judge Herring was held in this city.

He was laid to rest with Pythian honors, the beautiful ceremony of that order being held at the grave.

The following acted as pallbearers: T. J. Murray, Sr., Claire B. Newman, S. J. Everett, W. T. Rogers, Neely Key, Dr. J. T. Herron and the entire membership of the Jackson Bar Association constituted the honorary pallbearers.

Judge Herring was born October 2, 1852 at Savannah, Hardin County, Tennessee, and began the practice of law there. He has been a prominent member of the bar in West Tennessee for about 40 years. He received his education and training _____of Hardin County, at Savannah. He received his early legal education in the office of his father, who was for many years a prominent lawyer at Savannah, Tennessee. After practicing his profession for several years at Savannah, he removed to the town of Purdy, in McNairy County, one of the most prominent and prosperous towns of West Tennessee, at the time, and continued to practice law there till 1886 when he was appointed by President Cleveland consul to represent our country to the Republic of Honduras in Central America. He continued in the work for four years and the official reports show that for the work done during his tenure of office, he was so painstaking, careful and efficient that his reports cover more than six times that of any other consul of the time. In the letter accepting his resignation, our state department, being then of a different political faith, expresses the thanks of the government in the following language, "Our State Department takes occasion to express the thanks of the Deparment for your faithful services to the government and for the many valuable and interesting reports you have prepared, and also the hope for your continued success and prosperity."

After coming out of the service of the government, he removed to Jackson where he spent the remainder of his life. He was appointed Attorney-General, being at that time the eleventh circuit, by Governor Buchannan and the records show that he did a splendid work.

In 1908 he was appointed by Governor Patterson to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Levi S. Woods and made a conscientious and painstaking judge. His charges to the grand juries covering the laws on night riding, and the use and sale of intoxicating liquors are both interesting and to be noted at this time.

In July, 1876, he married his boyhood sweetheart, Arabana Hamilton, and resided happily with her till the time of his death. He leaves the following children surviving him: Ethel, of Jackson, Mrs. Julia Barry of Clovis, New Mexico; Harry of El Paso, Texas, and Dan of New York, also the following brothers and sisters: one brother, J. H. Herring of Knoxville, one sister, Mrs. Mart Robinson, of Wichita Falls, Texas, and a step-mother, Mrs. Mattie Thompson of Cleburne, Texas.

For many years he has been very prominent in lodge affairs of the state, in the old Knights of Honor, Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias, and had many honors conferred upon him by these lodges. Being a fluent and easy speaker and having a rare touch of humor, caused him to be in much demand as an entertainer by the lodges that he was a member of.

He was a fluent and prolific writer of short articles on current events and his views were much read and discussed.

In the political arena he has served his party in many a hotly contested and well fought struggle, but he at all times came out as a Knight, with his shield untarnished. Bourne & Griffin in charge.