James Thomas Morgan, Part 1

James and Maggie Thomas had 10 children, and the first five children are chronicled in this article.

James Thomas Morgan was born 31 Jan 1851 in Marshall County, Mississippi, son of James G. Morgan and Frances L. Morton Morgan. He died 30 Mar 1915 in Concord Community in Cass County and was buried in the Shelton- Rankin Cemetery.

James Thomas, called Jim Tom, was orphaned at the age of 7. His father had died when he was four, and his mother three years later. From this time on until 1872, he lived with relatives in Arkansas County, Arkansas.

Around 1868, David Delaney and his family moved from Illinois to the same community where the Morgans lived in Arkansas County. By the time Grandpa Delaney moved on up-state, looks like Jim Tom decided he didn’t want to part from Maggie Delaney, so he went too. They first moved to Franklin County, then to Crawford County. James Thomas Morgan and Margrett Catherine “Maggie” Delaney were married on 29 Aug 1872 in Franklin County, Arkansas.

We can’t be sure just when they first came to Cass County, but the first record of land purchased here by J. T. Morgan is a deed from J. R. and J. T. Dobson dated 01 Nov 1890, 143 1/2 acres in the Joel Hughes Survey (Concord Community). David Delaney purchased land in the Joel Hughes Survey from James Keasler on 30 Oct 1891.

Maggie Morgan lived to be almost 100 years old. They had ten children: 1. Charles David “Charlie” Morgan was born 12 Oct 1873 in Franklin County, Arkansas, died 14 Apr 1939 in Cass County’, Texas, buried in Shelton-Rankin Cemetery. He married (1) Victoria Boone, daughter of Josephine Beaty Boone, on 09 Oct 1901. Victoria, called Vee, was born 09 Jun 1882, and died 17 Apr 1904, buried Cave Springs Cemetery. They had two children: Maggie Morgan, born and died 12 Jul 1902; Madgie Morgan, born 09 Jul 1903, died 03 Jun 1904, both buried Cave Springs Cemetery.

Charlie Morgan married (2) Carrie Lela Peck, daughter of Elijah and Ozora McAlpine Peck, on 09 Sep 1906. Lela was born 18 Sep 1907 and died 17 Jan 1966, buried in Shelton-Rankin Cemetery. Charlie and Lela Morgan had eight children: (1) Maggie Ora Morgan was born 23 Sep 1907, died 07 Nov 1966. She married G. K. Neville, and they had five children: Bobby Joe Neville: Billy Gene Neville; Dorothy Rene Neville; Charles Wesley Neville; and George Neville. (2) Lola Mae Morgan was born 18 Dec 1908 and died 06 Dec 1967, buried Hughes Springs Cemetery. Lola Mae married Broud Tomberlain, and they had five children: Charles Waymon Tomberlain; Mary Virginia Tomberlain; James Marvin Tomberlain; Wanda Jean Tomberlain; and Came June Tomberlain. (3) Mamie Elizabeth Morgan was born 17 Dec 1910 and died 06 Aug 1997, New Boston, Texas. Mamie married Rev. Barnett Ray Shelton, and they had one child: Doris Shelton was born 29 Jan 1929. (4) Anna Lee Morgan was born 30 Mar 1912 and died 14 May 1987. She married Claude Davis Neville, and they had five children: Harold Glenn Neville; Claudine Neville; Mary Lee Neville; Larry Joe Neville; and Christine Neville. (5) James Cecil Morgan was born 01 Feb 1914 and died 10 Sep 1986 in Kinder. Louisiana. He married Jo Robin Parker and had two sons: Jimmy Darrow Morgan; and Mark Morgan. (6) Ida Opal Morgan was born 20 Jan 1916 and died 26 Aug 1989, buried in Dallas. Texas. She married John Alfred “J. A.” Goodson, and they had one child: Jerry Goodson. (7) Willie Faye Morgan was born 20 Jun 1918. She married Bernard Ferzelle Llewellyn, and they had three children: Patricia Ann Llewellyn; Danell Ferzelle Llewellyn; and David Ray Llewellyn. (8) Dorothy Morgan was born 11 Aug 1925 and died 30 Aug 1951, buried in Hughes Springs Cemetery. Dorothy married Jack Parker Teague. They had no children.

2. Ida Frances Morgan was born 17 Feb 1876 and died 14 May 1916, buried in the Shelton-Rankin Cemetery. She married (1) George W. Latham and had one daughter: Eunice M. Latham, born Mar 1894. She married Oscar Fitzgerald and had two daughters: Maggie Fitzgerald and Leara Fitzgerald. Ida Frances married (2) John C. James and had three children: (1) Anna Bell James, born Jan 1900. died single; (2) Onie James, born 1901; and (3) Charles Edward James, born 21 Jan 1904, died 19 Dec 1978. Ida Frances married (3) John H. M. O’Rand. They had three children: (1) Odessa O’Rand, born Nov 1909; (2) William Clyde O’Rand, born 22 Apr 1911; and (3) Collis O’Rand.

3. Julia Belle Morgan was born 21 Jul 1878 in Crawford County, Arkansas and died 18 Jan 1948 in Hughes Springs, Texas. Julia married William Arthur Watson on 25 Dec 1896. and they had eight children: (1) Myrtis Ray Watson, born 11 Jun 1989, died 16 Jun 1973. She married Elmer Martin Loyd’ on 23 Sep 1917. They had two children: Morris Willard Loyd, and James Thomas Loyd.; (2) Ona Lois Watson, born 12 Sep 1918, died 07 Mar 1978, buried Hughes Springs. She married Albert Franklin Henderson on 24 Dec 1916. They had two children: May Belle Henderson, born 28 Apr 1920, and Albert Seymour Henderson, born 08 Aug 1931.; (3) May-burn Watson, born 11 Aug 1902, die-d 22 Aug 1902, buried Shelton-Rankin Cemetery; (4) Flora Leon Watson, born 03 Mar 1906, died 08 Mar 1997, buried Bradfleld Chapel Cemetery. Morris County, Texas. Leon married Frank Turner Barrett on 05 Nov 1922. They had seven children: Dorothy Ladelle Barrett, Charles Arthur Barrett, Richard Jewel Barrett Corvin Ray Barrett, Mattie Cathryn Barrett, Frank Turner Barrett, Jr., and Bobbie Joe Barrett.: (5) Florine Cleo Watson, born 15 Dec 1907. Florine married Johnny Nathaniel Campbell on 24 Dec 1925, and they had five children: Ruby Lee Campbell, J. N. Campbell, Lela Bell Campbell, Edrey Eulalia Campbell, and Thelma Lorice Campbell.; (6) Corvin Colquitt Watson, born 01 Aug 1910, married (1) Neliena Gertrude Keasler on 20 Feb 1934 and had two children: Colquitt Watson and Helen Watson. Colvin married (2) Ann Elois Arden on 24 Dec 1940, and they had four children: Morgan Watson, Ronnie Watson. Roger Watson, and Sherry Watson. ; (7) Clarine Crystal Watson, born 07 Sep 1913, died 30 Oct 1993. She married Edward Grogan “Ralph” Button on 09 Dec 1929, and they had five children: Maty Elizabeth Sutton, Eddie Merle Sutton, Shirley Irene Sutton, James Edward “Buck” Sutton, and Barbara Sue Sutton.; and (8) Willie May Watson, born 08 Mar 1916, died 04 Sep 1918, buried in Shelton-Rankin Cemetery.

4. Minerva Anne Morgan was born 29 Dec 1880 in Crawford County, Arkansas and died 24 Jul 1958 in Linden, Texas. She married Robert Benjamin Rankin on 25 Dec 1901, and they had eleven children: (1) James Lester Rankin, born 11 Jan 1903, died 08 Feb 1905.; (2) Robert Jewel “Joe” Rankin, born 06 Feb 1904, died 24 Mar 1973, buried in Whittier, Orange County, California, He married (1) Purnie Orland Smith and (2) Oley Lee Kirby. Joe and Purnie had four children: Arnold J. Rankin, Iawanie Rankin, Billy Elvis Eugene Rankin, and Bobby Alvin Edmond Rankin.; (3) Ola Marteen Rankin, born 19 Aug 1905, died 09 Jan 1990. She married Ennis Walker Smith on 25 Nov 1923, and they had eleven children: Frances Maydale Smith, Clyde Glennon Smith, Grace Maxine Smith, Hazel Ruth Smith, Ennis Winford Smith, Walton Duane Smith, Cloyd Edwin Smith, Billy-Wayne Smith, Miggie Lynn Smith. Bobby Gene Smith, and Janice Marteen Smith.; (4) Claude Lee Rankin, born 22 Sep 1907, died 06 Aug 1976 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He married Georgia Elizabeth Ryan on 03 Mar 1932, and they had three children: Joyce Juanice Rankin, Meredith Ryan “Bud” Rankin, and Claude Wayne Rankin.; (5) Bernice Ofelia Rankin, born 01 Nov 1909, died 23 Jun 1996 in San Pablo, California. She married Fonnie Culvert Taylor on 25 Dec 1928, and they had four sons: Charles Lavem “Chuck” Taylor. Wayland Phenone Taylor, Robert Culvert Taylor, and Tommy Glenn Taylor.; (6) Maggie Ruth Rankin, born 04 Nov 1911 and died 10 Apr 1992 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Ruth married Chester Lee Bullington on 15 Nov 1929, and they had two children: Annabeth Bullington, and Patsy Lynn Bullington.; (7) John Brasher Rankin, born 29 Sep 1913, died 15 .Tun 1999, buried Hughes Springs. He married Bennie Mae Stach on 18 Oct 1932, and they had two children: Robbie Ann Rankin, and Johnnie LaNelle Rankin.; (8) Ina Rhea Rankin, born 12 Oct 1915. She married Willard “Bill” James Lawlis on 20 May 1940 in Gilmer. Texas. Ina had no children.; (9) William Floy “Doc” Rankin, born 12 Dot 1917. He married Dorothy Lucille Whitten on 19 Jun 1939, and they had three children: Floy Gene Rankin, Kathy Rankin, and Randall Reece “Randy” Rankin. They also raised a granddaughter, Robin Rene’ Rankin, as their own.; (10) Nona Jenkins Rankin, born 20 May 1921. She married William Arnold Henslee. They had no children.; and (11) Lennis Morgan “Bill” Rankin. born 06 Jun 1923, died 01 Sept 1989. He married Audrey Cook on 06 Jan 1943 and they had four children: Linda Dawn Rankin, Sammy Neil Rankin. James Paul Rankin, and Barbara Jill Rankin.

Submitted by Audrey Cook Rankin