Big Bend Genealogical Society

Curtis Hannold outlived his second Nina by 39 years. He was an adventurer-following his dreams of settling on a portion of Texas soil to call his own. His journey brought him, Nina and their family to Brewster County in 1908 , having traveled for some two months from Logan, Oklahoma. In that state he had participated in the Great Oklahoma Land Rush and secured homestead land . After some years and the loss of his first wife and marrying again, the colorful and exciting stores of homestead land in Texas lured him to the Texas frontier. A school teacher by trade, he taught school at Dugout Wells in what is today Big Bend National Park. As was somewhat common with pioneer settlers of this vast region, Curtis and his family learned how to survive in the desert and make a living by various means including-hunting, trapping, trading, selling horses and livestock, and ranching. While establishing a life at Cottonwood Springs (near Panther Junction), the family grew to love the area and were determined to stay and make a success of their new life.

Curtis, son of William Henry Hannold and Mary Chittenden, grew to adulthood in New Milford, Ohio. He attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. He was married a first time in 1896 to Winifred Evans. They had one child, Arthur Lee(Art) before her untimely death in 1899 of cancer.

After traveling to Oklahoma Territory, Curtis met the beautiful and very intelligent Nina Marie Seawell. Nina had great ambitions and desired to become a doctor. Instead, she settled for marriage to Curtis Hannold in 1901 and was soon to experience the adventure of a life-time. Children resulting from this marriage were William L.(Bill) and Gladys Lucille. Nina died September 30, 1911 from complications of her third pregnancy. At her request, she was buried near their home on a hill overlooking Cottonwood Springs. Her burial site has been preserved and marked in Big Bend National Park. Many visitors stop for a visit to the site where so much happiness and sorrow were experienced by the Hannold family.

Except for a brief stay in East Texas, Curtis Hannold remained in Brewster County until his death in 1940. Bill Hannold resided in the area until Big Bend National Park was being created. He sold his land and moved to Freona, Texas. In the 1970's he and his wife moved to Arizona where they both died. Daughter Luch married twice-her second husband was Buck Brubaker. She died in recent years.

After a prolonged illness of two years, one of which he spent in bed, William H. Harrison, veteran of the war between the states, died at his home in Alpine between 12 and 1 o'clock on the morning of July 4. He was buried in the Elm Grove cemetery, the REv. Buren Sparks officiating the same afternoon.

Mr. Harrison was quite an old settler and his life had been full of both interesting and dangerous incidents. The fact that he enlisted under the Confederate colors at the very outset of the war when was only 14 years of age and that he served throughout the four terrible years of struggle and privation shows his sturdiness. Mr. Harrison was 81 years of age at the time of his death and had lived in Alpine for the last 35 years of his life.

Three strokes of paralysis took the old gentleman's life. He suffered the first and second some months ago and just recently had the third. For the past week he had gradually been growing weaker and hd been unable to eat for ten days.

William H. Harrison was born in Newton County, Texas on February 7, 1850. The schooling he received back in the 1860's was very little and he enlisted in the Confederate army at the age of 14, serving the entire four years. After the close of the war he moved into New Mexico making Carlsbad his home for some time. While there he met and married Miss Cynthia Walker. The wedding ceremony was at Pecos on July 21, 1892. From Carlsbad the couple moved back to Texas, first settling at Valentine and later moving to Alpine where they have been for the past 35 years. Mr. Harrison was the manager of a ranch in Live Oak, Texas for a short time after his service in the war, but his main trade was that of carpentry.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. W. H. Harrison and six children. They are Milam, Walker, and Roy Harrison of Alpine. Mrs. B.P. Darnell of San Antonio, Mrs. Edgar Jacob of Laredo and Mrs. W. R. Sublett of Alpine. Two brothers Eli Harrison of Carlsbad, New Mexico and J. R. Harrison of Belton, survive his passing, as does one sister Mrs. Harriet White of Coleman. Mr. Harrison had eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren at the time of his death.

Of the six children, only one, Mrs. Edgar Jacob of Laredo, was unable to be here for the last service.

Mrs. C. E. Hatley, age 86, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Van Sickle, here Wednesday morning after a month's illness and was buried Thursday morning, following funeral services at the Van Sickle residence in charge of Rev. Buren Sparks, Pastor Baptist Church, assisted by other pastors of the town. She had been suffering with pneumonia. In the death of the aged woman, Alpine lost another of its oldest and most respected citizens. She had made her home here with her daughter the great part of the time for the past twenty years and was loved by all who knew her.

Born in Dresden, Tennessee, December 23, 1846, Carrie Elizabeth Etheridge moved with her parents to Texas when about six years of age, the family settling near Marshall, Harrison county, where they resided for many years. She was married to Richard A. Hatley, merchant and landowner of Marshall December 11, 1867, who died in 1873. Mrs. Hatley was a member of the Baptist church and had been a consistent Christain all her life. The many beautiful floral offerings attested the esteem in which she was held by the many people of Alpine and vicinity who knew and loved her.

Interment was made in Elm Grove cemetery following the funeral services which were held at 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning. Active pallbearers were Rev. H. T. Fletcher, J. W. Frazer, John Young, Anja Wilson, A. F. Robinson and G. W. Gaines. Honorary pallbearers were Rev. H. M. Smith, H. L. Kokernot, T. H. Etheridge and J. B. Etheridge all of San Antonio; Howard E. Perry, Portland, Maine; H. T. Etheridge and J. R. Derrick, El Paso, R. L. and Wayne Cartledge, Terlingua; Gilbert Bass, Hallsville; Dr. Dozier McPherson, Longview; T. M. Wilson and Dimmitt Wood, Marfa; Dr. Joel Wright, Harry V. Fisher, W. B. Hancock, W. J. McIntyre, Judge A. M. Turney, Jim P. Wilson and George A. Brown, Alpine.

Samuel Hensley at one time resided at Palvo(Redford) in Presidio County. He later moved to Marfa where he was involved with the New Era Newspaper. He also owned and operated his own little newspaper called The Town Talk. Samuel J. Hensley was a Confederate Veteran, serving in the Texas Calvary. He was borin in 1845 and died in 1918 and is buried at the Marfa Cemetery. He married Cleopatra Pena Hensley in 1898. Cleopatra was born in 1871 and died in 1920 at her home in Marfa. Known children of this couple are: Samuel J. IV, William N. and John.

Surrounded by his grief stricken children the spirit of William Jordan Hord, a veteran of the "Lost Cause," and one of Alpine's most respected citizens passed to the Great Beyond Saturday morning, September 16th at 2 o'clock. For many years Mr. Hord has been a patient sufferer and though at times he suffered excruciating pain he was always cheerful. For the past two years he has realized his condition and patiently awaited the Master's call.

Mr. Hord was born in the old town of Brazoria in 1842. At the age of 17 he entered the Confederate army serving with honor to his country and credit to himself until 1865. He was married in 1869 to Miss Crain of Calhoun county and shortly afterward moved to Goliad county coming from there to Alpine in 1902. He is survived by a brother, Mr. Jesse Hord of Presidio, a sister Mrs. H. L. Lackey of Alpine; two daughters, Mesdames Walter Garnett and Chas Stillwell, and four sons; Clarence of Alpine; Evan of Terlingua, Will of El Paso, and Ed of Wyoming; all being at his bedside at the time of his death except Edward.

W. J. Hord was a man of broad ideas and unusually charitable toward his fellow man. He was a christain gentlemen in every sense of the word and his death is a loss to the community at large. The funeral services were conducted from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Walter Garneet Sunday morning by his pastor, Rev. W. B. Bloys.

Obit-From Marathon correspondent-Alpine Avalanche June 13, 1902 Colonel L. G. Harman died here at 4:00 am May 1, 1902. The deceased was veteran of the Mexican War, in which he served in Company D, 7th Texas Cavalry; commanded by Colonel Joseph S. Gillett. He also served through the civil war in the Confederate army. He was Indian Agent for a number of years and was member of the legislature when the civil war began. He was a member of the Masonic order for fifth three years, and his last request that he buried with Masonic honors. The Alpine Lodge led by A. T. Winder, W.m., conducted the service in a very impressive manner at the home of his son Louis and at the grave. It was one of the largest funerals ever seen in the town. The Colonel left a wife three sons and a daughter to mourn his death. His father was one of the first settlers of Lamar County.

Note: Addition genealogical information---Colonel Lewis G. Harmon was married to Sarah Ann France and they were parents of five children and one adopted daughter. Sons were: John Troxtel; William "Mack"; Dr. James W.; John T. Lewis.

Lewis G. Harman, son of Colonel Lewis G. Harman arrived at a very early date in Brewster County-driving cattle by trail to the grazing areas. He married Zella Whitlock Hovis. Four boys and one girl blessed this marriage-Sarah, Homer, Hal, Johnnie, and Lewis. Lewis was mail carrier, rancher, scout and hotel owner in the Marathon area.

Meyer and Soloman Halff were wealthy merchants who lived in San Antonio. They established the Circle Dot Ranch south of Marathon. The site of historic Fort Pena Colorado was established on a portion of their ranch which was leased to the U S Government.

Green and Matilda Haver owned a bakery in Alpine in 1892. This black couple had previously resided in Ft Davis at the army post. It was their home where Catholic services were held in 1892.

W. T. Henderson and his wife Alice Stillwell were ranchers of Brewster County as early as 1890. Their extensive herds were located in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. Alice was noted for her bravery and daring feats when battling cattle thieves and bandits.

C. W. Hess arrived in Texas in 1873-later locating in Brewster County in 1884. He was a merchant in Marathon. His younger brother L. L. Hess later arrived to reside in the Marathon area.

John R. Holland was a native of Wharton County, Texas came to Brewster County in 1884 from brady where he had been engaged in ranching. Mr. Holland was a man of unusually fine business judgement and one of the great cattlemen of the Big Bend country.

During the early part of the century when Alpine was seeking to get the Orient Railroad to come to Alpine and the quicksilver mincing activity in Brewster County was booming, there was no respectable hotel in the community. John R. Holland determined to do something about the situation and in 1912 he constructed the Holland Hotel. This Hotel remains in operation in present day in downtown Alpine.

Mrs. M. L. Holland Succumbs Early Last Saturday Following Stroke Mrs. Mollie L. Holland age 77, died early Saturday morning following a stroke of apoplexy Friday afternoon.

Mrs. Holland's death marked the passing of another of Brewster county's pioneers, she having come to Alpine with her husband in 1885 and has resided here since. She had been in failing health for several years but was fairly active up to the time of her fatal stroke.

Mrs. Holland's husband, the late John R. Holland was engaged in the ranching business here for many years and was widely known over this section of Texas and in New Mexico. He accumulated considerable property before his death including several business buildings on Holland avenue in Alpine, which the widow still owned at the time of her death. He died Feb 12, 1922.

Clay Holland, owner and operator of the Holland hotel here, is the only living child.Other survivors include four brothers: Ace, John and Bart Fuller of Pleasanton, and Perry Fuller of Uvalde, and two sisters both of whom reside near Pleasanton. Also surviving are the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Holland, John, Virginia and Clay Jr, and another grandchild, Mrs. William Hatcher of Deming, New Mexico;and a great-grandchild. Mrs. Hatcher's daughter, Frances Louise.

Funeral services held Sunday morning at her home were attended by a large number of persons including many old-timers of this section. Th floral offerings were many and attested to the esteem in which she was held.

Rev. M. A. Buhler, pastor Christian church here, of which Mrs. Holland was a member, conducted the funeral services, assisted by Rev. J. T. Morrow, pastor of Presbyterian church.

Pallbearers were Gay Meriwether, Anja Wilson, G. B. Crawford, Frank Mangum, Lee Kokernot and Murphy Johnson. Interment was made at Elm Grove cemetery here.

Out of town relatives here for the funeral included: Mrs. Holland's niece Mrs. I.C. Billingsley,Uvlade; Mrs. Wm. Hatcher and little daughter of Deming, N. M.

Mrs. Mary E. Howell, widow of Robert Bledsoe Howell, moved to Texas in 1907 and is known to have lived in Presidio County as early as 1918. She lived with her daughter in Marfa. Her husband Robert was a Confederate Veteran serving with the Louisiana Infantry. She drew a Texas Confederate Widow's Pension (49574).

Mary E. was born July 7, 1849 in Barbour County, Alabama and died March 29, 1932. Her marrige to Robert was in Jackson Parish , Louisiana on February 28, 1866.