Living

Raymond married Lillie May Neil on 20 Mar 1924. Lillie (daughter of Hamilton Neil and Melissa Rosetta "Zettie" Hall) was born on 10 Aug 1896 in Farmersville, Collin County, Texas; died about 1994. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lillie attended Southwestern Normal School at Weatherford to obtain a teachers certificate. Lillie taught six years, first at Independence (earning $45 a month), then at Union Hill southeast of Vinson, earning $100 a month. During her second year there, a tornado blew the school off the foundation, and the school was closed. Her final year of teaching was at Merritt, west of Elk City, where she lived with her uncle William HALL and family and earned $75 a month.

Notes:

Married:
VINSON MEMORIES (Published by VINSON HISTORY BOOK COMMITTEE Christins Spurlin, Chairman, Copyright 1995) contains a biographical sketch, along with a picture, of the family of Raymond Thomas Francis and Lillie May Neil. His family moved to Oklahoma, three and one half miles from Vinson, when he was an infant. During World War I, he served in the Navy and was based in San Diego. Upon returning, he resumed farming and ranching with his father.

After Lillie and Ray married, they first lived with his parents, later moving to Blair in Jackson County. Ray, along with his brothers Forrest and Henry, opened a Ford auto agency and a general store. They later moved back to Vinson, and resumed farming and ranching with Ray's father. After his father died, they bought a motel in Elk City.

Notes:

The son of William Sebastian Robinson FRANCIS (1841-1876) and Nancy Ann (WITTEN) FRANCIS (1841-1929).

James married Beulah Lee Cole on 18 Jan 1885 in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas. Beulah was born on 15 Oct 1869 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee; died on 6 Jan 1962; was buried in Cave Creek Cemetery, Vinson, Harmon County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Stephen Wiley COLE (1845-1929) and Martha (HIGDON) COLE (1845-1915).

Notes:

Married:
They moved from Sherman, Texas in 1895 to settle three and one half miles northeast of Vinson.

Notes:

According to an article (courtesy of Jeanne Darnell) from The Farmersville Times, dated August 19, 1903, and published in the COLLIN CHRONICLES (Vol. IX, No. 1, Fall 1988):

(Near the close of the Civil War) R. D. Bumpass, orderly sergeant, was drowned in Red River, May 24, 1864, while trying to cross. He was succeeded by Robert Neil, a brother of HAM NEIL, who lives near Cowskin (Creek)."

Hamilton married Melissa Rosetta "Zettie" Hall on 21 May 1893 in Collin County, Texas. Melissa (daughter of Mashack Hall and Eliza Jane Neil) was born on 4 Dec 1867 in Farmersville, Collin County, Texas; died on 31 Dec 1955 in Mangum, Greer County, Oklahoma; was buried on 2 Jan 1956 in Cave Creek Cemetery, Vinson, Harmon County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
VINSON MEMORIES (Published by VINSON HISTORY BOOK COMMITTEE Christins Spurlin, Chairman, Copyright 1995) contains a biographical sketch, along with a picture, of Hamilton Neil and his wife Rosetta (Zettie) and their four children. It notes that the Neil's, along with their four children, moved by covered wagon from Farmersville, Texas to Oklahoma around 1898. Hamilton was teaching school in Collin County, Texas, earning $30 a month, when he and Zettie married in 1893. About five years later they moved to Granite, Oklahoma where his sister, Ella, and her husband, John SHERRILL and earlier moved. Hamilton helped build the railroad at Granite working two mules and a dirt dipper. Then he moved his family north of the mountain to farm. In the 1901 lottery, he drew 160 acres near Lawton, and moved there. In January, 1907 the Neils bought a farm one and one-forth miles east of Vinson and a half mile south. At Vinson, relatives of the NEILS within visiting distances were the SHERRILLS with whom they exchanged many overnight visits and a sister of Zettie's, SARAH JONES, who lived about 10 miles west of Vinson with her family. After Hamilton died, Zettie attempted to continue farming but she had some bad luck when one of her mules ate some grasshopper poison and died, and then later the barn burned. She gave up, rented the farm, and moved into Vinson.

Zettie and Ham Neil also raised her great-nephew, Jack Strong, whose mother Mary Ella Hall, died shortly when he was less than a year old.

Notes:

Appears to be the son of Patrick and Comfort Neil/Neal.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Collin County, Precinct No. 8, PO Farmersville
Page 182
1150-1206
Patrick, Neal 58 M Farmer Tenn
Comfort Neal 54 F Va
Hiram K. Neil 15 M Tenn Farmer
Robert H. Neal 30 M Farmer Va
Comfort Neal 4 F Mo
Patrick Neal 2 M Mo

1870 Census
Texas, Collin County, Farmersville
Enumerated 4 July 1870
Page 33, Stamped 337
212-243
Neil, Robert 40 M W Farmer 700 600 Va
Neil, Diana 25 F W Keeping House Mo
Neil, Patrick 12 M W Farm Laborer Mo
Neil, Hamilton 3 M W Tx
Neil, Trudy 1 F W Tx
Neil, Hiram 24 M W Farm Laborer 750 150 Va

1880 Census
Texas, Collin County, JP 2
Pages 11B S and 11C
SD 3 ED 21 Stamped 112
Enumerated 5 Jun 1880
76-88
Neil, R H. W M 45 Farmer Mo VA Va
Neil, Dianah W F 35 Keeping House Mo VA VA
Neil, Pat W M 23 Farmer Mo Mo Va (Son from prior marriage)
Neil, Hamilton W M 11 Farm Laborer Tx " "
Neil, Loudie W F 10 Tx " "
Neil, Fluella W F 9 Tx " "
77-89
Neil, Rebecca W F 7 Daut Tx Mo Mo
Neil, R J W M 3 Son Tx " "
77 89
Neil, Comfort W F 70 Mother Farmer Va Va Va

Robert married Diannah Jane Crawford on 15 Oct 1867 in Texas. Diannah was born about 1845 in Missouri; died about 1935. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Robert's wife, Dinnah Neil, applied for a Confederate Pension on 16 Oct 1931 based on Robert's service. She stated they were married on 15 oct 1867 in Collin County, Texas, and that Robert Died on 8 Jul 1881.

Notes:

Mash Hall was born in Tennessee circa 1830. His given name, Mashack, is probably biblical: From Daniel 1:7 "The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego." (NIV)

He and Eliza married sometime prior to 1851, when he was 19 and she 17. Their son Robert was born in Missouri circa 1851. Their next several children were also born in Missouri, the last one who was born in that state being Mary Ella who was born between 1856 and 1858. The Hall's relocated to Texas sometime before the 1860 Census.

Mash was a member of the C.S.A. during the Civil War. On July 31, 1862, the third company from East Collin County, Texas was organized. John K. Bumpass was elected captain.

According to an article (courtesy of Jeanne Darnell) from The Farmersville Times, dated August 19, 1903, and published in the COLLIN CHRONICLES (Vol. IX, No. 1, Fall 1988): "The company contained about 100 men, all matured which was very different to the two first. This company joined Martin's battalion which was afterwards organized into a regiment known as the 5th Texas Partisan Rangers. Gen. Albert Pike was its first division commander and later Gen. Sam Bell Maxey succeeded him. After the organization of the company it went to Shelly Springs in this county thence to Ft. Washita, Chicisaw (sic) Nation. Remained there some six weeks guarding Indians and disaffected whites. Their next destination was Skin Bayou, 20 miles north of Ft. Smith, in Cherokee Nation, but their headquarters were Sulleyville, Arkansas. Retired before the Federals to Cole Creek not far from where South McAlester now stands. In February, 1863 they reached here and camped on a high hill. The weather made one of its radical changes, the wind coming from the north and the snow falling to the depth of one foot. This caught the army without horse feed entirely and no rations for the soldiers except very coarse corn meal and very little bacon. Half of the horses died in a very short time, the commissary department losing 60 fine mules in one night. To stay there was next to impossible and they dropped down to Terrapin Creek, Choctaw Nation. At this place the battalion underwent the change into a regiment. The horses and mules were sent to Texas for the winter and the regiment remained there...(a number being granted a furlough who remained through the spring at home)...

At the coming of summer, camp was broken and the march was kept up till the neighborhood of Ft. Gibson was reached around which they rendezvoused till the battle of Cabin Creek in 1863. A small number of Confederates drove back about four times their number but the streams, which were swollen, ran down and they had to give back. In doing this James Hendrex was left behind. He had been shot in the thigh and could not escape but hid away from the Indians by lying in the water something like a week and probably would have died there had word not been sent in to the Federals at Ft. Gibson under flag of truce that he was wounded....and unable to care for him(self). The Union soldiers sent out and got him at once. The Federal physician took him to his home in Ft. Gibson and kept him until death relieved his suffering. Willam Candler, brother of Arch Candler was killed and MASH HALL who lives on Cowskin (Creek) was shot through the thigh...."

Other Hall families listed were: Caleb Hall, a 21 year old farm laborer born in Missouri; Oliver Hall, age 40, school teacher born in North Carolina; and Jesse Hall, a 32 yr old married farmer from Tennessee. The relationship, if any, of these Hall's to Mash and his family is unknown.

The Hall's were still living in Collin Count at the time of the 1880 Federal Census.
Son Robert lived next door, in household #34-38. Daughter Mary Ella Hall was living with her husband, Ralph B STRONG in Collin County in Enumeration District 28, Family 363.

Mash and his wife died sometime prior to 1907, as at this time a deed disposing of their land by their heirs was filed in Collin County. Charles Strong located this deed when he visited the Collin County courthouse. It was recorded in V 145, page 501-510. Page 509 was inadvertently not copied.

Heirs of Mash and Eliza Hall Co ?, Deed H.S. Carver The State of Texas, County of Collin

Know all men by these presents that the undersigned as the heirs at law of Mash Hall and his wife Eliza J Hall both late of Collin County, Texas deceased to wit: Jesse L. Hall, a son of Robert Hall, deceased joined by his wife Russell Hall, of Hunt County, Texas; Sarah Janes/James a feme-sole of Hunt county Texas; Jasie Ward joined by her husband J.R. Ward of Sutton county Texas; James H. Keener and wife I.R. Keener of Colorado county Texas; Essie B. Maxwell joined by her husband J.S. Maxwell of Caryell county Texas, Mash A. Keener of Hunt County, Texas; Wm A Hall and wife Mary Hall; Gussie Strong joined by his wife Gertrude Strong, Walter Strong and Lee Strong children of Mary Ella Strong deceased; Rosetta Neil joined by her husband H. Neil; P.N. Hall and wife Minnie Hall of Oklahoma Territory; Dara Terry joined by her husband W.B. Terry of Hunt County, Texas; Janie Pile joined by her husband C.J. Pile of Camp county Texas and H.N. Hall and wife Henri of New Mexico for and in consideration of the sum of six thousand three hundred and seventy dollars ($6370) to us and each of us cash in hand paid by H.S. Carver, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have granted bargained sold and conveyed and by these presents do grant bargain sell and convey unto the said H.S. Carver of Collin County Texas all that certain tract as parcel of land situated in Collin County Texas and being a part of the L.B. Outlaw survey and a part of that portion of said survey set apart and known as the widows share in the northeast corner of 203 acres deeded to Allen & Gard(?)..Thence south to the southeast corner of said 203 acres...thence east, north and west to the place of beginning So as to include 100 acres of land and being the same tract of land conveyed by William Fowler and wife Nancy Fowler to Mash Hall by deed dated March 10, 1865 and recorded Vol. P Page 204 Collin County Deed records.

Second tract: Beginning at the southeast corner of the above described tract of land formerly owned by Mash Hall...Thence north 31.60 chains to the northeast corner thereof...Thence east 12.60 chs a past..thence south 31.60 chs a past Thence west 12.65 chs to the place of beginning containing 40 acres of Land to have and hold the above described premises together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in any-wise belonging unto the said H.S. Carver, his heirs and assigns forever and we do hereby bind ourselves and our heirs executors and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the said H.S. Carver his heirs and assigns against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming as to claim the same as any part thereof: witness our hands this the 7th day of February, 1907:

J.R. Wood (sic) Josie Wood (sic) J.S. Maxwell Essie Maxwell Lee Strong Gussie Strong Gertrude Strong Walter Strong P.N. Hall Minnie Hall J.H. Keener I.R. Keener H.N. Hall Henri Hall W.B. Terry Dara Terry Jesse L. Hall Russell Hall Mash A. Keener Sarah Janes/James Janie Pile C.J. Pile William A. Hall Mary E. Hall H. Neill Rosetta Neill

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF DEED/NOTARIZATION LOCATION AND DATE:

Territory of Oklahoma, County of Comanche ...Lee Strong...21 Mar 1907...

State of Texas, County of Hunt ...W.B. Terry and wife Dara Terry...7 Feb 1907...

State of Texas, County of Hunt ...Jesse L. Hall and wife...and the said Russel Hall wife of said Jesse Hall...7 Feb 1907...

State of Texas, County of Sutton ...J.R. Ward and wife Jose Ward....1 May 1907...

Territory of Oklahoma, County of Roger Mills ...Wm A. Hall and wife Mary E. Hall....6 Mar 1907...

State of Texas, County of Colorado ....James H. Keener and wife I.R. Keener....10 Feby 1907...

Territory of Oklahoma, County of Comanche ...P.N. Hall and wife Minnie Hall....12 Feby 1907....

Territory of Oklahoma, County of Comanche ...Walter Strong..25 May 1907....

Territory of Oklahoma, County of Greer ...H. Neil and wife Rosetta Neil..1 Mar 1907...

State of (Texas), County of (Caryell) ...J.S. Maxwell and wife Essie Maxwell...12th day of Aug 1907...A.R. Williams Notary Public in and for Caryell County, Texas...

State of Texas, County of Hunt ...Mash A. Keener...4 Feby 1907...

State of Texas, County of Hunt ...Janie Pile wife of C.J. Pile...28 Feb 1907...

State of Texas, County of Hunt ...Sarah James a feme-sole...21 Feby 1907...

State of Texas, County of Grayson ...C.J. Pile...2 March 1907...

Territory of Oklahoma, County of Comanche ...Gussie Strong and wife Gertrude Strong...22 Mar 1907...

Territory of Oklahoma (sic), County of Roosevelt ...H.N. Hall and wife Henri Hall....(page missing, date not determinable)

The actual deed from the heirs of Mash and Eliza J Hall to H.S. Carver is recorded in V145, pages 501-502. The notarized statements verifying the acknowledgement of this deed by each of its signatories follow on pages 503 though 507. Page 508 was inadvertently not copied, but pages 509 and 510 were. It appears that a related deed acknowledging the sale of land by the Hall heirs to H.S. Carver began on page 508, continuing through page 509. This deed was signed by L.E. Bumpass as guardian of "C____(?) Hall and others." A notarized state acknowledging his signature in Collin County on the 23rd of July 1907 is included.

Immediately below this, beginning on page 509 and concluding on page 510, is a deed signed by R.B. Strong, Guardian of "Burton R. Strong, Claud E. Strong, Raleigh J. Strong, Earl E. Strong, and Earnest R. Strong" also to H. S. Carver and dated 6 August 1907. Ralph's signature is also notarized, but the Territory and County in which it was notarized is too faint to read. It was likely notarized in the Territory of New Mexico, Roosevelt County (where additional documents related to this transaction were notarized. These additional records can be found in the records of Collin County, Texas Vol A-3, pages 656-666).

(Research):1860 Census
Collin County, Texas (Farmersville), Page 177
#1124-1177
Mashack Hall 30 m Farmer --- $500 Tenn
Eliza J. 32 F Virginia
Robert H. 8 m Missouri
Sarah E. 7 m (sic) Mo
William A. 6 m
Comfort N. 5 f
Mary E. 4 f
Josephine 3 f
Endimion 6/12 m

1870 Census
Collin County, Texas (Farmersville), Pages 33 & 34
Mash Hall 41 M W Farmer $400 $600 Tennessee
Eliza 42 F W Keeping House Virginia
Robert 18 M W Farm Laborer Missouri
Sarah 16 F W
William 14 M W Farm Laborer
Comfort 14 F W At home
Ellen 12 F W At home
Josephine 11 F W at home
Ednemon 10 M W at home
Dora 6 F W Texas
Janie 4 F W Texas
Rosetta 2 F W Texas
Patrick 5/12 Texas

1880 Census
Collin County, Texas ED 21, Page 109, #34-38
Enumeration District 21, page 109, #34-38
Hall, Mash W M 48 Married Farmer TN TN? TN?
Hall, E.J. W F 46 Married Keeping House VA VA VA
Hall, W.C.? W F 25 son Farm Laborer MO TN VA
Hall, Comfort W F 23 dtr House Keeper MO TN VA
Hall, Dora B W F 16 dtr House Keeper TX TN VA
Hall, M.J. W F 11 dtr House Keeper TX TN VA
Hall, RosettaW F 9 dtr House Keeper TX TN VA
Hall, PatrickW M 7 son TX TN VA
Hall, Hinson (sic)W M 4 son TX TN VA

Mashack married Eliza Jane Neil on 25 Aug 1850 in Scotland County, Missouri. Eliza (daughter of Patrick Neil and Comfort Kilgore) was born on 18 Dec 1827 in Scott County, Virginia; died on 11 Feb 1901 in Collin County, Texas; was buried in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Farmersville, Collin County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]