Cleve ‘Buddy’ Fortune family

My grandfather Cleve “Buddy” Fortune was born August 20, 1913 in Cass County and died there April 12, 1977. He was the son of Edgar Marshall Fortune and Elizabeth Anne Peck. He married Danie Futruel Daniel August 05, 1937 in Cass County. She was born July 07, 1918 in Cass County and died February 19, 1989 in Longview, Gregg County, Texas. She was the daughter of William Eguart Daniel and Emma Mae Williamson of Cass County. Cleve was in the CCCs. Granddad was pretty much bed ridden for as long as I knew him. But occasionally he did take us grand kids on a ride in an old jeep he had. Out on the country roads that weren’t paved. We thought this was the grandest thing, probably because his health didn’t permit him to do much with us except that. I could always tell how much he enjoyed those trips. He grew up in the house he and Granny lived in, and he would tell us those old back roads used to be “old wagon trails.” Then there wasn’t another house for miles. He used to take his walking cane and try to catch us with it, as we’d run by his bed. Granny had placed his bed in the front room for convenience and so he wouldn’t miss anything. We always knew when he was tired because he’d catch us. We knew it was time to go outside and play for a while so he could rest. Granny and Granddad were married in a double ceremony with Aunt Daughty (Ava Geraldine Daniel) and Uncle Diddy (Willard Fortune). Two brothers married two sisters. Cleve Fortune was a Charter member of Bible Baptist Church Hughes Springs, Texas. He died at home after a stay in the Linden hospital. He is buried in the Hughes Springs Cemetery.

Cleve’s father Edgar Marshall Fortune was born September 17, 1880 in Cass County and died there January 16, 1949. He was the son of Benjamin Franklin Fortune and Mary Jane Culp of Cass County. He married Elizabeth Anne Peck August 20, 1911 in Morris County, Texas. Elizabeth Anne Peck was born April 22, 1891 in Cass County and died there September 21, 1934. She was the daughter of Elijah L. “Tobe” Peck and Ozora McAlpin of Cass County. Edgar Marshall Fortune and Elizabeth Anne Peck are both buried at Turkey Creek Cemetery. Edgar’s WWI draft registration card describes him as medium build, short, gray eyes, and black hair. Cass County land records reveal Edgar was in Cass County by 1912. Other children of Edgar Fortune and Elizabeth Peck were: Pleas Fortune was born September 07, 1912 in Cass County and died January 30, 1992 in Upshur County, Texas. He married first Eunice Marie Amox January 05, 1937 in Morris County, Texas. She was born January 29, 1913 and died March 22, 1990 in Gregg County, Texas. He married second Augusta Perry, widow of Piney Morgan on October 27, 1990 in Upshur County, Texas. She was born about 1916. Pleas is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Hughes Springs.

Ruby Lee Fortune was born June 25, 1915 in Cass County and died there January 28, 1982. She married Arthur Samuel Patterson November 17, 1934 in Cass County. He was born March 17, 1907 and died January 07, 1982 in Gregg County, Texas. Both Ruby Lee and Arthur are buried at Union Hill Cemetery.

Willard “Diddy” Fortune was born June 20, 1916 in Cass County and died December 27, 1974 in Longview, Gregg County, Texas. He married Ava “Daughty” Geraldine Daniel August 05, 1937 in Cass County. She was born May 29, 1920 in Cass County and died there in January of 1987. Both Willard and Ava are buried at Hughes Springs Cemetery.

Edgar’s father Benjamin Franklin Fortune was born 1848 in Anderson County, Kentucky and died March 02, 1921 in Cass County. He was the son of Zachariah Fortune and Julianna Humphreys of Cass County. He married Mary Jane Culp March 29, 1874 in Cass County. Mary Jane Gulp was born November 18, 1857 in Texas and died April 26, 1945. She was the daughter of Amos Franklin Culp and Amelia Caroline Mahoney. Mary Jane died in Orange County, Texas and her body transported back to Cass County by Ortmeyer Funeral Home. She is buried at the Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. Voter Registration for Cass County in 1874 lists B.F. Fortune.

Other children of Benjamin Fortune and Mary Culp were: William Henry Fortune was born April 10, 1874 in Arkansas. He married Lucy V. about 1899. She was born December 1878 in Texas and is now deceased. He was a Paper Hanger.

Levi Spivey Fortune, born Aft. 1874. Lillian Amelia Fortune was born January 07, 1875 in Cass County and died there February 13, 1961. She married William Oscar Phillips December 24, 1891 in Morris County, Texas. He was born December 14, 1872 in Atlanta and died there March 26, 1963. Lillian and William are both buried at the Hughes Springs Cemetery. Julia Ann Fortune was born October 20, 1878 and is deceased she presumably married Hall Walker November 16, 1893 in Cass County.

Walter Douglas Fortune was born January 05, 1883 in Georgia and died September 25, 1976 in Howard County, Texas. He married Mary Ever Irwin January 01, 1902 in Morris County, Texas. She was born March 25, 1884 in Georgia and died February 22, 1970 in Howard County, Texas. Walter Douglas Fortune is buried at Stanton Cemetery, Martin City, Texas. Amos Franklin Fortune was born April 19, 1885 in Cass County and died July 09,1954. He was a Private in 27 company Depot Brig. WW1 that is indicated on his tombstone in the Hughes Springs.

Viola Arminta Fortune was born October 27, 1887 in Hughes Springs and died December 1980 in Redlands, San Bernardino, California. She married first Charles P Polvadore in Cass County. He was born March 05,1873 in Tennessee and died November 27, 1940 near Sevenson, Stonewall County, Texas. She married second Mr. Campbell. Charles P Polvadore is buried in Aspermont, Stonewall County, Texas.

George Lester Fortune was born December 31, 1889. Farley Mahoney Fortune was born December 25, 1891 in Cass County.

Oscar Mills Fortune was born April 03, 1893 in Cass County.

Charles Fredrick Fortune was born February 02, 1895 and died November 10, 1923 in Morris County, Texas. He married Maud Allen November 20, 1921 in Morris County, Texas. Charles Fredrick Fortune is buried at the Hughes Springs Cemetery. WWI draft registration card describes him as medium height, medium build, brown eyes, and brown hair. I think Maud may have remarried March 4, 1925 to Loyd Freeman.

Benjamin’s father Zachariah Fortune was born about 1803 in Nelson County, Virginia and died before 1870 presumably in Cass County. He was the son of Zachariah Fortune and Elizabeth Burnett. He married Julianna Humphreys February 12, 1835 in Shelby County, Kentucky. Julianna Humphreys was born between 1820 - 1830 in Kentucky and died after 1880. Family lore tells us she was Native American.

Other children of Zachariah Fortune and Julianna Humphreys were: Mary Jane Fortune was born about 1836 in Kentucky and died December 08, 1879 in Cass County. She married first James H. Boston March 10, 1852 in Anderson County, Kentucky. He was born about 1832. She married second John Robert Teague December 23, 1855 in Cass County. He was born 1827 in Moore County, North Carolina and died January 08, 1880 in Cass County. Mary Jane is buried at Old South Union Cemetery, Morris County, Texas.

Elizabeth Fortune was born about 1838 in Anderson County, Kentucky and married Philip Cook September 03, 1856 in Anderson County, Kentucky. He was born about 1835 in Jessamine County, Kentucky.

Amanda M. Fortune was born about 1841 in Kentucky. Nancy M. Fortune was born about 1844 in Kentucky. She married J. T. Markam December 26, 1860 in Cass County.

Paralee Fortune was born about 1845 in Kentucky and married Charles Warren Beacham after 1846. He was born 1824 and died 1889 in Cass County.

William T. Fortune was born about 1847 in Kentucky and married Sarah Fulgram May 11, 1870 in Davis (now Cass) County. She was born about 1846 in Arkansas.

M. A. Fortune was born about 1853 in Cass County. Helen Fortune was born about 1858 in Cass County and married there Madison A. Martin December 16, 1877.

Benjamin’s Fortune ancestors migrated from Virginia to Kentucky with his parents Zachariah Fortune and Julianna Humphreys coming to Cass County between 1850-1860. Benjamin’s ancestors date back to the 1750’s in Virginia. Many family members buried in the Fortune Family Cemetery at Fortune’s Cove, Amherst County (now Nelson), Virginia.

Shown in photo: Cleve “Buddy” holding his son Joe, Danie and daughter Brenda.

Submitted by: Dana Thomas of Hughes Springs, Texas.