Obituary

Obituary of Mart Roberson
(C. Avis Catalog entry #65)
(Document ID #376c)

PIONEER RANCHMAN AGED SEVENTY-FIVE DIES AT HOME HERE

    Mart Roberson, 75, of 1821 Huff, a pioneer Wichitan, died Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock in a local hospital. He had been ill for sev­eral days, and was carried to the hospital Monday afternoon. Funeral arrangements have not been made. 
    Mr. Roberson was born in 1859 at Eliasville near Graham. The Roberson family moved at the close of the war between the states to a point 20 miles south of Fort Smith, Ark., in the Choctaw Indian area. At the the age of 19, in 1878, Mr. Roberson returned to this section and went to work near Olney.
    With Texas so sparsely settled land the cattle industry the major activity, Mr. Roberson soon went into the cattle business and pioneered in the driving of cattle north to market. The first drive was not successful, due to a shortage of feed and the herd of 1,000 steers, which he was driving north to the range was almost a total loss. Later, however, while he was still with Pat Leonard in the cattle business, he trailed a herd from North Texas to the Kansas market.
    Mr. Roberson was married in 1885 to Miss Nora Herring of Henrietta. He was working at that time for the Franklin Land and Cattle company in Greer county; then a part of Texas but now a part of Oklahoma due to state border changes.
    In 1896, when he family was living near Holliday, the City National bank here was robbed and Cashier Frank Dorsey was slain. Mr. Roberson accompanied another man to Wichita Falls to witness the death of Kid Lewis and Foster Crawford, who were hanged by infuriated citizens following the robbery and killing.
    During the Golden Jubilee held in Wichita Falls in Sept. 26-28,1932, the Robersons were honored as a typical family of the pioneers who were instrumental in developing the country into the present state from an uninhabited and new land.
    In December, 1932, the Roberson family held its first reunion in 15 years.
    Survivors include the wife, two sons, Harry Roberson of Durango, Colo., Clyde Roberson of Fort Worth; and three daughters, Mrs. R. H. Gracey of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Jake Avis of Austin, and Miss Jennie Roberson of Wichita Falls; two brothers, Blunt Roberson of Fletcher, Okla., and Richard Roberson of Ellis, Okla.; and one sister, Mrs. Marie Windum of Oklahoma.

Obituary of Nora Herring Roberson
(C. Avis Catalog entry #63)
(Document ID #443)
 

Monday October 15, 1956

Wichita Falls Pioneer
Mrs. Mart Roberson, Dies

    Mrs. Mart Roberson, 90-year-ol Wichita Falls pioneer whose life history is interwoven with that of the growth and development of the Southwest, died at her home at 3012 Speedway early Sunday morning.
    Described recently as "typical of pioneers who opened the way for the modern civilization of Texas," Mrs. Roberson and her late 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.    
    Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a. m. Tuesday from Floral Heights Methodist Church of which Mrs. Roberson was a charter member. Dr. Earl Hoggard, pastor, will officiate and interment 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 Deaton, I. W. Karrenbrock, P. S. Richardson 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.
    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.

Funeral of James Rudd
(C. Avis Catalog entry #335)
(Document ID #491)

Temple Telegram
Temple, TX
5-9-1921
p. ?

[…]AY MORNING, MAY 9, 1921

Due Homage Paid To Memory of a Pioneer Citizen

  Simple, plain and unaffected. In complete keeping with his manner of living, were the obsequies of the late James Rudd conducted yesterday afternoon and attended by hundreds who came to breathe a last message of esteem and place a flower on the bier of an old, tried and true friend. 
  Nature was in complete harmony with the setting of the scene. The day opened in storm and gloom, fitting symbol of the tempestuous early career through which the doughty warrior had fought; then in the afternoon as if synonymous with the evening of his life, the storm broke, the clouds cleared away, the sun shone in softened splendor, field flowers tilted their heads aloft and the birds twittered their sweetest carols, all nature reclining to peaceful quietude.
  When the final moment arrived at the family home when eternal farewells were to be spoken and the casket closed over the rugged, honest features, tears flowed unrestrained. Pent up emotions struggled with their bonds. A choir sang in softened cadences, "Lead Kindly Light," after which Rev. L. E. Selfridge spoke in earnest and sincere words of the goodly traits and qualities of the departed husband, father, neighbor and friend
  The cortege was then formed with hundreds of vehicles in line taking up its solemn procession to Hillcrest where in a tomb adorned with choirest flowers and the wealth of fields of green, the casket was tenderly lowered as the strains cf "Sweet Bye and Bye" mingled with the fragrance of a perfect day and all that was mortal of a good man was laid to peaceful and eternal rest.

Funeral of Dr. Charles D. Chiles
(C. Avis Catalog entry #333)
(Document ID #517)

Birmingham Age-Herald
Birmingham, AL
9-8-1923
p. ?

Dr. Chiles Buried

Funeral services over the remains of the late Dr. C. Dwight Chiles were conducted Friday afternoon from the residence on Parkway. Dr. Edward G. Mackay officiated. The interment was at Elmwood. The esteem in which Dr. Chiles was held in this district was in a measure reflected by the unusually large number of friends at the funeral and the extraordinarily beautiful floral offerings. The latter filled several automobiles. Dr. Chiles, who was chief dental surgeon of the Employers hospital of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, is survived by his widow; a son; his mother and one brother and sister.

Obituary of Margaret Mooring Rudd
(C. Avis Catalog entry #780)
(Document ID #553

Mrs. James Rudd, 
Former Templeite, 
Dies At Austin

    AUSTIN, Jan. 28—Funeral for Mrs. James Rudd, 1509 Rainbow Bend, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the University Presbyterian church here with Dr. W. M. Logan officiating. The body is at the Cook funeral home.
    Mrs. Rudd, 86, died in a local hospital early Saturday after a long illness. She was born in Grimes county and was a descendent of one of the members of Moses Austin's colony. She had been a lifelong resident of Temple until 1935, at which time she moved to Austin.
    Mrs. Rudd was active in many patriotic organizations, having served on the state board of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in the early 1920's. She was an honorary member of the William B. Travis chapter of the DRT and of the Albert Sidney Johnston chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was past regent of the Betty Martin chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Temple, and was a member of Thankful Hubbard DAR of Austin. She was a member of the University Presbyterian church and a life member of the Woman's Auxiliary of the church.
    Survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Dwight Chiles of Austin, Miss Mae Rudd of Spartanburg, S. C, Mrs. T. J. McElhenney of Austin, and Mrs. L. V. Ragsdale of Fall River, Mass., one sister, Mrs. J. Thomas Hall of Nacogdoches; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
    Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Temple.

Obituary of Mart Roberson
(C. Avis Catalog entry #740)
(Document ID #383)

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, Lester 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 sagebrush against horse-hide 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 Fort 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

Death Closes Half C[]
For Mart Roberson, P[]
(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 1,000 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 Sug[ ]ge crews.

Married Henrietta Girl
    Mr. Roberson was married in 1885 to Miss Nora Herring of Henrietta.  He worked for a year after [] marriage  with  the  Franklin [] and Cattle  company  in  old [] county, Okla. The firm was [] owned  and succeeded the  Har[] and Ikard brothers in controlling the  Diamond F brand.  Later Mr. Roberson was associated with the Roster, Ikard and Phelps interests in supplying meat for soldiers stationed at Fort 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 ofter 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 supply bail for a cowboy who had been charged with returning a missing ranch horse to the corrall from a 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.

Obituary of Harold Martin Roberson
(C. Avis Catalog entry #741)
(Document ID #374c)

ROBERSON. — Baby Harold Martin Roberson went to live with God and the angels May 11, 1907, aged 2 years, 2 months and 10 days. He was the son of Martin B. and Nora Roberson. He appeared as a sunbeam and his voice rang merrily in the home for awhile, then the sunbeam vanished, and the sweet voice became silent forever. He had all loving care and medical attention, but in vain. The little spirit returned, to God who gave it, and never more will fever scorch his tender brow, or parch his infant lips, for in heaven there is up sickness, pain or death. Parents and loved ones, sorrow not; be thou faithful, and with your darling you shall be crowned in glory.
MRS. NANNIE MILLER BEARD.

Obituary of Harold Martin Roberson
(C. Avis Catalog entry #738)
(Document ID #382c)

Obituary.
    Harrold Martin Roberson, s[on] of Martin B. Roberson and No[ra]Roberson, was born Februa[ry] 25th 1905, and departed this li[fe] to be with the good, May 11th 1907.
    Mr. Roberson is a success[ful] business man well known [in] Texas and New Mexico. Sis[ter] Roberson is a member of  [?] Methodist church at Wichita Falls, Texas.
    We would say to sorrow[ful?] ones weep not, for little Harr[old] has only exchanged this world for a better one. Our Heavenly father has just called him home to to dwell with Him in glory, where we can meet him; he is just waiting on the other shore for papa and mama, brother.and sister.     Goodbye  Harrold—we […