The Halls of Cass County

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND HARRIET HALL Benjamin Franklin Hall, eighth child of John Cunningham and Mary Moore Hall, was born May 16, 1829 in Green County, Georgia. In 1830 the family moved to Troupe County, Georgia where they remained for several years. John C’s occupation was farming. Texas was a new State and there was a movement toward Texas at this time, James, and W. H. (Bee), two of the older boys had come to Texas and in correspondence with the family had recommended Cass County.

While the family of John C. Hall talked of moving to Texas, events were taking place that would have far-reaching effects on the lives of at least two members of our family.

On the 15th. of April, 1849 a boat landed at Jefferson, Texas, bringing the William Hollingsworth family from Bottesford, Leichestershire, England. The family consisted of William H., his wife Elizabeth, and six children: John William, Ancep, Harriet, Nelson, Emma, and Annie. On Aug. 3, 1855, William H. received a patent to 320 acres of land located six miles North of Hughes Springs in what is now the Friendship Community. He established a Church of Christ and a cemetery on this place, where he and several of his family are buried.

The John C. Hall family arrived in Texas in the winter of 1851 or in Jan. 1852 and settled about three miles North of Hughes Springs in the Holly Springs Community, Cass County. On Feb. 22, 1854 he purchased from J. D. Crawford his 640-acre headright certificate for One Thousand Dollars.

Harriet Hollingsworth, born Oct. 19, 1834, in England, married Benjamin Franklin Hall on Sept. 8, 1853. Their children were: Bettie, born Oct. 18, 1856, died March 10, 1912; Katie, born Sept. 29, 1857, died April 23, 1892; Bennie, born April 15, I860, died Dec. 19, 1925; Allie, born Nov. 26, 1863, died March 23, 1887; W. P. (Press) born 1867, died 1942 (Okla.); Robert E. born Jan. 26, 1870, died Dec. 30, 1947; Johnnie F., born Feb. 22, 1873, died March 17, 1902 (Okla.); Arvice Malvina (Mallie) born Oct. 29, 1875, died Feb. 4, 1950.

Benj. F. and Harriet bought land in 1856, a part of the John Cunningham Hall land in the J. D. Crawford Survey, which they later sold and bought land in the Henry Buckler Survey about 4 miles N.E. of Holly Springs near Hermitage. Here he lived the remainder of his life farming and raising his family.

Harriet died Oct. 18, 1883, Cass Co. TX. and left Frank with five unmarried children - the youngest only eight. Six months later he married Adaline Cameron. She lived only seven years and was buried in Hickory Hill Cemetery in Cass County, Texas.

On April 23, 1892 tragedy came to the family taking three members. Frank and his daughter Katie died the same day of small pox. Robert Robinson, Katie’s husband, died three weeks later of the same disease. The five small children of Katie and Robert survived but they carried the scars of smallpox to their graves.

Benjamin Franklin and Harriot Hall, Katie and Robert Robinson, Allie and Stephen Lewis, Robert E. and Minnie Hall and Johnnie Hall are all buried in Troup (Cornett) Cemetery. Several members of the Robert E. Hall family continue to worship in the Cornet United Methodist Church, a Church and Cemetery that our forefathers from Troup County, Georgia helped to establish.

ROBERT EDWARD AND MINNIE HALL Robert Edward Hall was born in Cass County Jan. 26, 1870 and died Dec. 30, 1947. On Feb. 6, 1896 he was married to Minnie Mary Fletcher, born Dec. 28, 1875, died March 18, 1947.

R. E. Hall was active in affairs of Troup and Cross Roads, serving as trustee of Cross Roads School and Steward of Troup (later Cornett) Methodist Church for many years.

In the early 1900’s R. E. Hall bought 1/2 interest in the community cotton gin which went under the name of Dennis S Hall. Later R. E. bought the entire plant and installed new machinery. From that time until they ceased operation in 1939 the gin was run under the name of R. E. Hall 6 Sons.

During the winter months when no farming could be done Papa and the boys ran a shingle mill. Also, we always had the grist mill to keep everyone busy on Saturday. I very well remember the one-gallon toll box that was filled out of each bushel of corn to pay for the grinding.

Following is the family of R. E. & Minnie Hall: Marvin, born 1898, died 1910; Floyd born Dec. 24, 1899, died Dec. 9, 1979, married 1st. in Feb. of 1924 to Ola Patman, 2nd. on April 21, 1940 to Mrs. Johnnie Parker; Ernest, born Jan. 12, 1902, died July 28, 1964, married Leone Parker Aug. 3, 1919; Era Lucille, born April 9, 1904, married May 22, 1926 to William Barney Currey; Velma Lois, born Oct. 7, 1908, married Doc. 24, 1931 to Arthur Murlin Lawless; Bernice Elmer, born Dec. 6, 1910, married Dec, 24, 1933 to Paulee Precise; Elsie Odelia, born June 10, 1913, married March 5, 1936 to Robert Milton Womack; Hazel Maxine, born March 27, 1915, married Feb. 18, 1937 to Woodson Thomas Walker.

ROBERT MILTON AND ODELIA WOMACK Robert Milton Womack, son of William Wiley and Emma Betts Womack, was born in Cass County, Texas August 16, 1912. On March 5, 1936, he married Elsie Odelia Hall, daughter of Robert Edward and Mary Minnie Fletcher Hall.

Marrying during the depression days, their first home, a white frame house, was built on a 100-acre farm in the Laney community at a cost of $500.00 (Including furnishings).

Bob, as he was commonly called, fanned, and later did public work until 1944. At that time, he bought the Carterville Mercantile Store from C. R. McPherson. Bob and Odelia ran the store for 18 years. On Sept. 10, 1960, Bob died of a heart attack.

On Jan. 1, 1963 Odelia became Cass County Clerk and held the position for five four-year terms.

Two children were born to this union. Jerry Bob Womack, born Sept. 23, 1939, married March 14, 1964 to Mary Beth Lee, born Nov. 4, 1944, daughter of Morris W. and Myrtie Lee Cox Lee. Their children are Jerry Bob, Jr. (Bobby) and Gina Lanae.

Marilyn Womack, born Oct. 8, 1943, married Aug. 26, 1966 to David Ford Sims, born Jan. 14, 1942, son of Francis A. and Pearl Lovelace Sims. Their children are Deanna and Jeff David.

- Odelia Womack.

WOODSON THOMAS AND HAZEL HALL WALKER Woodson Thomas Walker and Hazel Hall Walker reside on their farm which is 7 miles North of Hughes Springs in the Cross Roads Community.

Hazel is the daughter of the late R. E. (Bob) Hall and Minnie Fletcher Hall.

Woodson is the son of the late Stephen 0. Walker and Ada B. Tally Walker. He is a retired farmer and rancher and Reilly Tar and Chemical Corp. employee.

They were married February 18, 1937 and are the parents of two sons, W. T., Jr., and Larry Glenn. Larry Glenn was killed in an industrial accident at the Lone Star Steel plant August 2, 1969 at the age of twenty.

W. T., Jr. is a fireman for the City of Dallas. He is married to Nelda Faye Ivy Walker. They are the parents of two children, Stephen Russell age 16 and Jenifer Lynn age 9.

-Woodson Thomas Walker

BERNICE E. AND PAULEE P. HALL January, 1982. Bernice E. Hall, son of R. E. and Minnie Hall and grandson of B. F. and Harriet Hall, still owned and operated a part of the farm which his grandfather bought in 1858. An account of this record is found in the 1974 edition of the Texas Family Land Heritage Registry.

Bernice E. and his wife, Paulee Precise Hall, live in the Cross Roads Community in Cass County. He is retired from Lone Star Steel Company and Paulee is retired from teaching in Hughes Springs Elementary School. They have two children, Myra Nell and Bernice Elmer, Jr.

Myra Nell married Mark T. Finch who is now Colonel Finch, Staff Judge Advocate, Communication Command, United States Air Force. They have four children who are: Mary Katherine Finch Cassidy, Andrea Hope Finch Smith, Mark Thomas Finch III, and Anne Marie Finch.

Bernice Elmer Hall married Ruby Jean Pilgrim. They have three children: Laurie Ann Hall Dykens, Penny Lanae Hall, and Paul Cristopher Hall.

Laurie and Frank Dykens have given Bernice and Paulee their first Great-grandchild. He is Michael David Dykens, born September 22, 1981.