Selected Sketches of Foard Co., TX Families

    Silas Moore, born August 26, 1870, was a native of Missouri. Rachel McClary Moore is a native of Texas. As a young girl, she came to Foard County in 1892 and lived for two years with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Conner, who homesteaded a farm three miles east of Crowell in the Banister Community but later returned to Collin County.
    Silas Moore and Rachel McClary were married in Collin County in 1896 and lived there until they came to Foard County in 1908. Their daughter, Myrtle, and Son, Melvin, were born in CoUin County, Cecil Ray was born in Foard County.
    When the family moved to Crowell, Mr. Moore chartered a freight car for the household goods. When Mrs. Moore and her two children arrived in Crowell on one of the very first passenger trains, Mr. Moore, his brother, Frank Moore, and his half brother, Bob Gilland, were unloading their household goods. Their first home was two rooms with another family in the east part of Crowell, called Orient Heights. They built ahome in the southwest part of town. When the home burned in 1916, they moved to their farm in the Margaret Community were they resided until Mr. Moore's death on December 28, 1945. Later, Mrs. Moore moved to Crowell to make her home.
    From 1910-17, Mr. Moore served as City Marshall for Crowell.
    Silas and his daughter, Myrtle McMilhian are buried in the family plot in the Crowell Cemetery.
    Their family:
    Born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. McMillan, a daughter, Mary Katherine, in Crowell, June 27, 1926. Now, Mrs. Mike Barrington of Dallas and Mother of two daughters, Karen and Kay.
    Born to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Moore, a son, Billy Ray, June 26, 1936, lives at Andrews, Texas; has one son, Tracy Brian Moore.
    Born to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Ray Moore, a son, Sy Thomas, November 4, 1938. Sy Thomas lives at Happy, Texas and is the father of Sam Moore, Karen Moore and Jason Moore.
    The daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Ray Moore is Betty Ann, May 21, 1947, and is now Mrs. Gary Condra of Lubbock.
    Arthur McMillan lives in Tyler; Myrtle, deceased.
    Melvin, retired from Texaco Co. and his Wife, Bitty Middlebrook Moore, live in Crowell.
    Cecil Ray and his wile, Lois Evelyn Norris Moore, live at Plainview.
    Silas Moore's nephew, Sam Moore, came to Faord County in 1923 from Arkansas and lived with the Silas Moore family that year. In 1924, other members of the family, Fannie, Dixie, and Dave came to Foard County. They lived in the Margaret Community and attended school there.

    Family: father, John William Norris, deceased, mother, Safronia Louise (Farris) Norris, deceased; children, John Edward Norris, deceased; Mattie M. Norris, deceased; Samuel Ephriam Norris, William E. Norris, deceased; Alex Norris, deceased; Izacc Norris, deceased, Rene Norris, deceased; two infants, Mamie Louise and Alice Norris, deceased.
    The family came to Foard County in 1906 and lived in the southwest part of town. They formerly lived in Hamilton County, Texas. Their neighbors were M. O'Connells, Mr. and Mrs. Rucker, Duke Wallace, William B. Wheeler, R. P. Womacks, Silas Moores. John William Norris and sons were carpenters, painters, paper hangers, blacksmiths.
    Safronia Louise Farris was married to John William Norris in 1879 at Smithville, Texas. Mrs. Norris was born in Smithville, Texas, January 4, 1862. She died December 12, 1949, at Crowell, Texas, with interment in Crowell cemetery beside her husband who died in 1914 at Crowell. Mrs. Norris had five sisters and six brothers and was the last surviving member of her family.
    Mr. and Mrs. John W. Norris moved to Crowell about 1906 from Hamilton, Texas, in Hamilton County. To this union were born nine children, five sons, John Edward, Samuel Ephriam, William E., Alex, and Izacc; and four daughters, Mattie M., Rene, and two who died in infancy, Mamie Louise and Alice.
    Mr. John William Norris and sons were carpenters by trade. They built quite a few homes in Crowell that were destroyed by the tornado in 1942. They built a home for Dr. Hines Clark that was destroyed by the storm. Ed, Alex and Izacc Norris helped to build several Army bases in Oklahoma during World War I. Alex and Izacc Norris went to Norfolk, Virginia, during World War I and carpentered in the Naval ship yards there, helping to build ships. While there Izacc died of flu and pneumonia in 1918. He was brought back to Crowell and buried in Crowell cemetery. He was married to Grace Rucker of Crowell, Texas.
    Mrs. Rene (Norris) and William B. Wheeler II were married at Crowell and she died in 1914 in Crowell of typhoid fever.
    Mr. and Mrs. John W. Norris lived in the southwest part of Crowell, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. M. O'Connell were next door neighbors. Other neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Rucker (Mr. Rucker owned the first light plant for Croweli); Duke Wallace (who was a barber in Crowell); William B. Wheeler (ran a dray wagon; "Uncle Billy Wheeler"); R. P. Womacks; and Silas Moores (law officer).
    Of their children, John Edward Norris married Bamah Williamson of Hico, Texas; they had one child, Pearl Norris. They lived in the west part of Crowell. Samuel Ephriam Norris married Ada Vick. They lived in Black Community, then moved to a farm two miles northwest of Crowell. They had four children, Donald, Pauline, Bonnie and Lois Evelyn. William E. Norris married Alma Reeves. They had two children, Dezzy and Dorene. He later married Ruth Bevers and they had one daughter Shirley Louise, and they lived at Crowell. Alex Norris married Glenna Burns and they had one daughter, Virginia. They lived at Lockney, Texas. Izacc Norris married Grace Rucker; they had one son Maybry. They lived at Crowell. Mattie M. Norris married John T. Sumerford and they lived at Hamilton, Texas. They never lived at Crowell. She was married before her parents moved to Crowell. Rene Norris married William B. Wheeler II. They had one son, Wylie. They lived in the southwest part of Crowell, Texas.
    Bonnie Jones
    684-4922

    Mr. Samuel Ephriam Norris married Ada Vick May 10, 1905, in Pottsville, Texas, where their families lived. Mr. Norris was born September 3, 1883 His wife Ada (Vick) Norris was born August 25, 1879, and died August 4, 1932. Their children were: Donald Cary Norris, born December 7, 1907, died August 30, 1962; Pauline Marie Norris, born August 21, 1909; Bonnie Louise Norris, born February 18, 1913; and Lois Evelyn Norris, born August 9, 1919.
    The family came to Foard County In 1908. They first lived in the Black community northwest of Crowell in a rock house which is still standing. Then they bought a farm two miles northwest of Crowell on January 1, 1913. They came to Foard County from Hamilton County, Texas.
    Ephriam Norris was a farmer, carpenter and later a cotton buyer. He started buying cotton in the early twenties and continued until government farm programs took over cotton buying. He was a member of the Crowell Band during World War I, playing cornet. Arnold Rucker was Band Master. When he bought cotton all the sampling, classing and grading of cotton was done by hand.
    The family attended church at Crowell Baptist Church in the old "Tabernacle" building; three sides opened out in summer for cool breezes, but it also didn't fasten down very close in winter and was still plenty cool. Everyone sat around a coal burning stove to try and stay warm. Every Christmas they had a Christmas tree for all the children in the church.
    Miss Ada Vick was married to Samuel Ephrlam Norris May 10, 1905, in her family's home in Pottsville, Texas, Hamilton County. They made their home there in Hamilton County until 1908 when they moved to Foard County with a small son, Donald Cary, who was born December 7, 1907. They lived on a farm In the Black Community, northwest of Crowd, in a rock house which is still standing. Mrs. Norris returned to Pottsville in 1909 where a daughter Pauline (Norris) Beck was born, then returned shortly afterwards. They continued living at Black until January 1, 1913, when they moved two miles northwest of Crowell . where they had purchased a farm from J. W. Clifford and wife.
    On February 18, 1913, another daughter was born, Bonnie (Norris) Jones. In the fall of 1913 their home burned and Mr. Norris purchased one of the "Old Orient Heights" houses built by Orient railroad and moved it to the farm where it still stands today.
    Mr. Norris purchased his first Model T. Ford touring car in 1918. He refused to sell his horse and buggy because he didn't have confidence in the car, didn't think it would always run when needed.
    On August 9, 1919, another daughter was born, Lois Evelyn (Norris) Moore.
    In the early 1920's Mr. Norris began buying cotton at local gins and selling to cotton exchange firms in Galveston, New Orleans and New York, also to smaller firms close to Crowell. He sold cotton to buyers from foreign countries. All sampling, classing and grading of cotton was done by hand then; flow it is done by mechanical means. He continued to buy cotton until government programs forced individuals out of the business.
    During World War I he was a member of Crowell Band. He played cornet and slide trombone. Arnold Rucker was band master.
    He was always a farmer but did these other things too. He continued actively participating in farm work until about 1960.
    Mrs. Norris and small children would go in a buggy to visit her mother and father Laffette Augustus Vick, who had a blacksmith shop at FoardCity. She also visited her brother George Vick and family. They lived on the J. W. Allison farm east of Foard City. Mrs. Norris died August 4, 1932, at home, with interment in Crowell cemetery. Mr. Norris died July 27, 1969.
    Donald Cary Norris married Ela Pauline Blue on December 23, 1929; to this union one child, Donna Evelyn, was born June 11, 1938. Donald passed away August 30, 1962, with interment in Crowell cemetery. He resided at Crowell at the time of his death.
    Pauline Marie Norris married Orice Marvin Beck on October 23, 1937. 0. M. Beck passed away July 17, 1954, with interment in RaIls cemetery at Ralls, Texas. There were no children. Pauline resides at Big Spring, Texas.
    Bonnie Louise Norris married Glenn M. Jones at Crowell, Texas, January 28, 1932. To this union one child, Glenn Norris Jones, was born April 10, 1933. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn M. Jones reside in Crowell, Texas.
    Lois Evelyn Norris married Cecil Ray Moore December 23, 1937, in Altus, Oklahoma. To this union two children were born: Sie Thomas Moore, born November 4, 1938, and Betty Ann Moore, born May 21, 1947. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Ray Moore live at Plainview, Texas.

    Mrs. J. J. Traweek moved to the Foard City community in Foard County in 1913 with four of her six children, Fred and Orleans and three daughters Sallie, Ethel and Johnnie. One son, Clarence, was teaching in Gray County and Sallie was teaching in Hedley, but they were home part of the time.
    Clarence was the oldest child and a teacher when the family moved to Foard County and lived here only in the summers.
    Fred married Ethel Ledbetter in 1919 and they resided in the Foard City community from that time until now farming and ranching. Two children were born to this couple. Anita, married Bryan Darnell in 1946. Juanita married Dr. Lowell Campbell in 1946.
    Orleans never married but lived at home with his mother. He farmed in the Foard City Community until his death in 1943.
    Sallie taught in Hedley where she met her husband Chester Martin. They married at her mother's home in 1915.
    Ethel married Hoyle Essis in the family home at Foard City.
    Johnnie Traweek married Amos Lilly, son of S. T. Lilly, on January 1, 1917. They had lived on adjoining farms with their families since the Traweeks moved to Foard County. Johnnie and Amos lived in Foard County until 1942 when they moved to Central Texas.
    Boggs Traweek and Mrs. Marion Hord were step-children.
    Their families lived in Antelope Flat most of the years their children were at home.
    Grandma Traweek, as she was affectionately known, died April 22, 1951, at the age of 83. During the many years that she had her home in Foard City community she was a devoted mother and neighbor. Many ice cream suppers on Saturday night, at which the family and neighbors gathered, was a remembered delight to all who attended.