Gene Philip Russell

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
September 12, 2012, Page 9

Gene Philip Russell, 84, passed away on September 4, 2012 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was born January 30, 1928 in Milam, Texas to Viola and Rand Russell. He was a long-time resident of Hemphill until his retirement.

Gene could accomplish anything he set his mind to do. When he was young, he served in the Merchant Marines. While raising his daughter Phyllis and son Randy, he worked as a welder in the oil industry. Learning from his experience there, he formed Metals Lab Welding School in New Orleans which he owned and operated for many years. From there he formed Toledo Inspection Company, a very successful and respected company in the oil industry. Upon his retirement, he moved to Pass Christian, Mississippi and then relocated to Broussard, Louisiana.

He is survived by his daughter Phyllis Dreis and her husband William, his son Randell "Randy" Russell and his wife Tina, his three granddaughters, Cherie Burlet and husband Robert, Melissa Bellaci and her husband Ryan, and Jennifer Russell, one grandson Edward Lestrade III and his wife Sheila, and ten great grandchildren, Robert, Emma, Abigail, William, Timmy, Megan, Taylor, Anna, Alaina, and Maya.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jean Russell, his parents Viola Jane White and Randell Russell, and his two sisters, Anna Dixie Russell and Nona Faye McGown.
Visitation will begin at 9:00 on September 11, 2012, in the Starr Funeral Home, 510 Starr St., Hemphill, Texas, followed by a memorial service beginning at 2:00 PM in the Starr Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Joel Halbert Cemetery, Milam, Texas.

Gene was a life-long member of Bethany Baptist Church in Milam, Texas. Brother Robert Shaddock pastor of Bethany Baptist Church will be officiating the services. Pallbearers include William Dreis, Jr., Randell Russell, Edward Lestrade III, Robert Burlet III, Robert Burlet IV, and William Burlet.

From
www.sabinecountyreporterlive.com
Posted Tuesday, Sep 11, 2012

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Notes:

Shown as Ran on the 1900 census, and Ranson in 1910.

Name Randell Levie Russell
Event Type Death
Event Date 22 Oct 1960
Event Place Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, United States
Usual Residence rural General Delivery Milam, Sabine County
Gender Male
Marital Status Married
Birth Date 10 Jan 1897
Birthplace , Texas
Occupation Merchant
Father's Name A B Russell
Mother's Name Anna Dixie Mcgown
Informant Gene P Russell
Certificate Number 60731
GS Film number 2116475
Digital Folder Number 005145512
Image Number 02669



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3HS-V5S : accessed 10 Jun 2014), Randell Levie Russell, 22 Oct 1960; citing certificate number 60731, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2116475.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated April 26, 1930
ED 202-6 SD 17 Sheet 9B
Apr 28
191-204
Russell, Randle L Head M W 33 M Tx Ala Tx
Russell, Viola J Wf F W 30 m17 Tx Tx Tx
Russell, Nona F Dtr F W 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Russell, Anna D Dtr F W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Russell, Jean P Son M W 2 S Tx Tx Tx
Hamilton, Archie Boarder M Neg 37 S Tx Tx Tx Farmer

Randell married Viola Mae Smith about 1917. Viola (daughter of Giles Edward "Ned" Smith and Rosa "Rosie" Lee Rebecca Morris) was born about 1899 in Texas; died about 1988; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Kathi Freistat emailed that "I have a Viola Smith born 1900 to Giles Edward and Rosa Lee Rebecca Morris. I do not have the place of birth but there could be a possibility that she was born in Victoria. Some of my Smiths moved to that area after 1850 from Sabine County, Texas."

In the obituary of her son, Gene Philip Russell, she is referred to as Viola Jane WHITE. Did she remarry after the death of Rand in 1960? She was listed as Viola Mae Russell Smith on the birth index listing for Gene.

Notes:

His gravestone indicates he was in the Sons of Confederates of Texas.

Name A B Russell
Event Type Death
Event Date 18 Apr 1961
Event Place Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
Gender Male
Marital Status Married
Birth Date 09 Jun 1869
Birthplace Snowhill, Alabama
Father's Name Randall L Russell
Mother's Name Fannie Freeman
Informant Mr. Kirby Russell
Certificate Number 21780
GS Film number 2116713
Digital Folder Number 005145517
Image Number 00504



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3HQ-PPH : accessed 10 Jun 2014), A B Russell, 18 Apr 1961; citing certificate number 21780, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2116713.

A. married Anna Dixie McGown on 20 Jan 1892 in Sabine County, Texas. Anna (daughter of George Washington McGown and Ida H. Smith) was born on 26 Dec 1872 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 27 Apr 1921; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
At the time of the 1910 census, she was listed as the mother of five children, four of whom were still living.

Notes:

Farmer and cattleman.

Giles married Rosa "Rosie" Lee Rebecca Morris in 1898. Rosa (daughter of Jacob Dickens Morris and Theodocia J. White) was born on 9 May 1883 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 3 Sep 1970. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
"They have three daughters Mrs. Viola Russell of Beaumont, Mrs. E.W. Hyde of Houston, and Mrs. D.G. Coull Sr also of Houston." (Speights, p. 13)

Notes:

In 1870, he was listed at home with his parents and siblings, and not with (first wife?) Priscilla Jane Evans.

In 1880, he was remarried to an Ida, and living in Sabine County, Texas. The 1900 Sabien County census shows Ida as widowed, and living with son Drayton, one of her three living children. George was shown in the household--logical if Ida was a widow.

However the McGown cemetery has a double tombstone for George McGown (#27357164)and Ida McGown (# 27357205). The headstone, engraved with the words "Father" and "Mother" show that George was born 1852, and died in 1897. Ida was shown with a date of birth of 1850 (later than her birthdate per the 1900 census of Nov 1844) and date of death as 1905.

Are these discrepencies the result of errors on either/or the census and grave markers? Or could their have been two George and Ida McGown families, approximately the same age, in Sabine County.


(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County
Enumerated 22 Jun 1880
Page 9 SD 1 ED 85 Stamped 228A
85-86
McGown, Sam H W M 22 Farmer Tx Miss Tx
McGown, Mary E W F 21 Wf Keeping House Ark Miss Miss
McGown, Mary E Jr W F 2 Dtr Tx
86-87
McGown, George W M W 30 Farmer Tx Miss Tenn
McGown, Ida H W F 30 Wf Keeping House Ga -- --
McGown, Anna D W F 7 Dtr Tx
McGown, Ida G W F 4 Dt Tx
McGown, Idell H Jr W M 10 Son Farm Laborer Tx
Parish, Kit B M 8 Servant Tx

George married Ida H. Smith before 1872. Ida was born in Nov 1844 in Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. 8
Enumerated 5 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 5B
71-71
McGown, Ida H Head W F Nov 1844 55 Wd 3/3 Ga Sc Ga Farmer
McGown, Drayton P Son W M July 1883 16 S Tx Tx Ga Farm Laborer

Notes:

Grandson of Benjamin Garlington and Caroline Cynthia Vick of Newton County, Texas.

SABINE COUNTY REPORTER
June 1, 2005
Fairmount Cemetery marker dedication set

"Edward Smith served as a postmaster in Fairmount. He was also an ordained minister serving area churches for 31 years, including a tenure at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church located not far from Fairmount Cemetery."

SABINE COUNTY REPORTER
January 18, 2006
All Things Historical by Bob Bowman

Edward Smith deserves his own place in history. Born in Vernon Parish, LA, in 1845 he moved to Newton County, Texas with his parents as a small boy. When he reached 18, he enlisted in the Confederate Army to fight in the Civil War. When federal naval forces approached the Texas coast, Smith and others in his company pushed through the East Texas swamps to reinforce Lieutenant Dick Dowling and his Texas forces at Sabine Pass. With only 40 men, they helped beat back an invasion by federal troops. The battle, the only one ever fought on East Texas soil, saw Smith, Dowling and fellow soldiers outnumbered 100 to one. Despite overwhelming odds, the Texans had no deaths or injuries while the federal force of 27 ships had about 400 mend injured, captured or killed. The Texans were so fierce that the battle lasted only 45 minutes. Following the end of the Civil War, Edward Smith came home to Fairmount, served as its postmaster for 25 years, and became a Baptist preacher. He and his wife and many of their 13 children are buried in the Fairmount cemetery. So are his parents and his wife's mother. His descendants have another story of his bravery. Edward and his dogs were cornered by a bear in the woods near his home. Edward scrambled up a tree and when the bear started climbing after him, Edward whipped otu his pocketknife and slashed the bear's head and paws, while to dogs nipped at the bear's heels. After the dogs started to chase the bear, Edward was able to climb down and run home.

Edward married Mary Jane Smith about 1865 in Sabine County, Texas. Mary (daughter of Obediah Jackson Smith and Elizabeth Chapman) was born on 17 Jun 1847 in Louisiana; died on 11 Nov 1926; was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Yellowpine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also shown as born in Alabama.

Notes:

Married:
On the 1870 Sabine County, Texas census, Edward and Mary Jane Smith also had unnamed 1 month old twins.

Notes:

Virgie Speights, in OLDTIMES OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS wrote that "On Sunday, October 13, 1963 at Martin's Chapel cemetery, dedication services were held for two of Sabine County's illustrous Confederate Veterans, Moses Aiken Morris and his son Jacob Dickens Morris...the family moved to Sabine County in 1853. The father and son enlisting into the C.S.A. together on July 2, 1862. She also noted that Jacob and his wife, Theodocia White, raised a total of nine children, two of whom were still living (as of October, 1963)."

In her annotated transcription of the Martin's Chapel Cemetery, Kay Parker McCary notes that he has a military marker: Texas Pvt Co D First Texas Hv Arty Conferderate States of America

She adds that his wife, Theodocia "Docia" J. White is buried in the Halbert Cemetery

Jacob married Theodocia J. White between 1866 and 1868 in Sabine County, Texas. Theodocia (daughter of James White and Drucilla C. Watkins) was born in Apr 1849 in Louisiana; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Listings:

Household:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat 3
Enumerated 1 August 1870
Page 5, Stamped 21
533-533
Morris, Jacob 25 M W Farmer Ky
Morris, Doshia 20 F W Keeping House La
Morris, Mary J 4 F W Tx
Morris, Cordelia 2 F W Tx

1880 Census
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Jacob MORRIS Self M Male W 35 KY Farmer KY KY
Theodosia MORRIS Wife M Female W 31 LA MS GA
Cordilia MORRIS Dau S Female W 11 TX KY LA
Charls Th. MORRIS Son S Male W 9 TX KY LA
George MORRIS Son S Male W 6 TX KY LA
Martha E. MORRIS Dau S Female W 4 TX KY LA
Wm. A. MORRIS Son S Male W 3 TX KY LA
Aron B. MORRIS Son S Male W 1 TX KY LA
Felix REAGAN Other S Male W 21 LA Wks On Farm GA MS

Source Information:
Census Place Sabine, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255325 NA Film Number T9-1325 Page Number 218A

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct No. 8
Enumerated 5 June 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 5A Stamped 145
62-62
Morris, Theodocia Hd W F Apr 1849 51 Wd 11/9 La Miss NC Farmer
Morris, William A Son W M Jun 1876 23 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer
Morris, Aaron B. Son W M May 1879 21 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer
Morris, Fountain L Son W M Apr 1885 15 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer
Morris, Van J. Son W M Feb 1887 12 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer