Big Bend Genealogical Society

Mrs. L. Raborn, a resident of Alpine for the pat 21 years, died at her home on East Avenue C. last Sunday evening at 11 o'clock following a paralytic stroke a month previous and was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery Monday afternoon following funeral services held at the Methodist Church at 5 o"clock. Rev.s. J. T. Redmon, Pastor Methodist Church, and Buren Sparks, Baptist pastor, officiated.

Mrs. Raborn, whose maiden name was Bethena Pitner. was born in Union County, Georgia in 1849. She was married to Reuben Mincy in that state in 1865. To this union seven children were born, three of whom still survive, as follows: Mrs. Lula Murphy, Alpine; Eugene Mincy, St Louis; Floyd Mincy, Oklahoma City.

Mrs. Mincy came to Texas with her fami8ly in 1877, settling in the northern part of the state where they resided until 1911 when she moved to Alpine. Mr. Mincy died in 1892.

Eight years ago, she was married to Louis Raborn in Alpine, Mr. Raborn preceding her in death some two years ago.

Mrs. Raborn was united with the Methodist church when 14 years of age and always lived a practical and consistent Christian life. She was known for her kindness to those in need and as a considerate and thoughtful neighbor. Many incidents concerning her acts of kindness have been recounted by her scores of friends since she was stricken a month ago and hopes for her recovery abandoned.

Her two sons were unable to be here for the funeral but had spent several days with her immediately after she was stricken a month ago.

Came to the United States from Mexico in the early 1900s. His father worked in the silver mines at Shafter until 1918 when he moved his family to Alpine. Soon after arriving in Alpine about 1910 Mr. Ramos opened a barber shop which has continued in the family until the present time. In 1913, he married Josefina Cobos, daughter of Dario Cobos, one of the earliest Mexican=American settlers in the area. Mr. RAmos died in 1954.

Born in Tennessee in 1860, came to Texas as a young man to work on cattle ranches. He arrived in Alpine about 1900 to ranch in the area. He also purchased the Alpine Furniture store which had been established by a Mr. Rex in 1904. He never attended school and was taught to read and write by his wife Mary Pearl York Rector. Mr. Rector was a good business man and always helped financially with worthy causes. He was one of the major contributors for the construction of the Methodist Church in Alpine. Mr. and Mrs. Rector both died in 1932.

J. V. Reed applied for a Texas Confederate Pension in 1899 as a resident of Brewster County. Not a lot is known of this CSA veteran except that he had come to Marathon, Texas about 1896 and was a freighter and farmer. He and his three sons owned a herd of cattle and mules. He and T.A. Wilson of Shafter were in the same unit in the War Between the States. They served in Company 1-4th Arizona Brigade-Organized at San Antonio, Texas. He was born about 1829 and died about 1900.

Charles King Reeves was born June 6, 1810 in Pike County, Georgia and died May 6, 1902 in Lavaca County, Texas. He was a veteran of the War Between the States serving in the Griffin Light Guards-Georgia. He moved to Texas after the War was ended. He married Mary Vanham in 1894 in Lavaca County.

Reeves was a passenger agent for the Stage lines before the railroad put them out of business, being stationed at Jefferson, Marshall, Dallas, and San Antonio. After this time, he received a commission in the U S Army as a quartermaster and was stationed at Murphyville, Presidio, and Marfa.

The entire community was saddened last week when Death claimed honored citizens, Mr. and Mrs Gordon Ridout, who passed away within two days of one another, the wife being called Saturday morning, to be followed by Mr. Ridout on Monday. The following account in the pass was contributed by a close friend of the family and is repreduced by the Sentinel:

Ella Clark was born in the good old state of Alabama on May 17, 1853 and was transplanted to the home above from her home in Marfa, Texas, April 28, 1934. She was the only daughter of a family of five children, and was the last surviror of her family.

She was married to Gordon Ridout, March 3, 1875 in the town of Lockhart, Texas. Mrs. Ridout had been married 59 years without a death in her family, until she herself passed away on Saturday morning.

The funeral of Mrs. Ridout was held at the residence in Marfa, Sunday afternoon, April 29, where a large gathering of her friends and relatives gathered for the service which was conducted by her pastor, Dr. W. Newton Carl, of the First Methodist Church, after which she was tenderly laid away in the Marfa Cemetery under the flowers and tears of her relatives and friends.

Peace to her ashes and the blessings of Him who she served upon the sorrowing ones.

Gordon Ridout was born in the state of Alabama, June 2, 1848 and departed this life from his home in Marfa, Texas, April 30, 1934. Mr. Ridout moved with his parents to Lockhart, Texas when a child and grew to manhood in that same community. When the Civil War came on, he enlisted as soon as he could go in and served to its close.

He was married to Miss Ella Clark at Lockhart March 3, 1875 and lived happily with her for more than 59 years and he was only preceded by her in death by a little more than two days. Up to the time of the passing of Mrs. Ridout, there had not been a death in their immediate family. Being the son of a Methodist preacher, it is not surprising that Mr. Ridout united with his father's church early in life and that he died in the faith.

He leaves as his survivors seven children, twenty-four grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

The funeral of Mr. Ridout was conducted by Dr. W. Newton Carl, pastor of the First Methodist Church, at the family residence, Tuesday morning at 10:00 o'clock and interment was in the Marfa Cemetery. Many friends were in attendance and the floral offering was most gorgeous at both the funerl of Mr. Ridout and his wife.

Isaac Roark was born May 9, 1844 in Kentucky and died January 18, 1926 in Alpine, Texas. He is buried in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Alpine and his grave is marked with a Confederate States of America Medallion. He served in Company A 14th Texas Regiment-Cavalry Mounted Volunteers. He married in 1869 to Ellen Glass He and Ellen had six children: Will, Jim, Fannie, Corna, Bud, Waldo.

Roark moved from Kentucky to Cook County, Texas in the 1870's, later moving to Wise County. In 1892, the family settled in Oklahoma where I. M. homesteaded land in the Indian Territory. He was a scout, guide, and surveyor. His daughter Gertrude married O. W. Bennett, son of Milo C. Bennett who came to Brewster County. Milo Bennett, a Yankee, and Isaac Roark, a patriotic Confederate, were book friends and both retired to Brewster County area after the deaths of their wives. They frequently "strongly discussed" their sentiments concerning the "Late Great War". See Stories and Legends section for interesting data about Roark and Bennett.

Frances Rooney died in 1945. This pioneer rancher arrived in Texas from Ireland as a child. He grew to adulthood around Ft Stockton and Brewster County. He owned and operated several ranches before acquiring properties in the Chisos Mountains in what is now Big Bend National Park. He married Seleta M. Chambers in 1894 in Marathon. Five children were born to this couple: John M., Kathryn, Francis P., Walter, and Ann.

Jesse Carter Roberts, born 12-8-1833 in Arkansas and died 11-10-1888 in Brewster County, came to Texas with his family in 1849 and settling in Corsicana, Navarro County. He was married twice-first to Rebecca Catherine White in 1852. She died and Jesse married a second time to Mary Isabell Doolen in 1869 in Navarro County.

Children from marriage to Rebecca were: Mary, Willis H., Idella J., William D., Lorena, John C., R. G.

Children from marriage to Mary Doolen were: Beulah, Sarah C., James Jesse, Homer L., Daniel C., Wesley N., Oscar D., Oran M.

Jesse Carter and his two brothers Hawkins and James all served in the Confederate forces during the War Between the States. James was killed in Virginia. hawkins is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana. In the fall of 1885, the Roberts family moved to the Ft Davis area and then to the Marathon area in 1887.

James Jefferson Rogers and Cemanthia J. were married January 9, 1872 in Kaufman County, Texas. He died June 23, 1883 in Kaufman County, Texas. He served in the CSA forces during the War Between the States in the 3rd Texas Grays Cavalry Company G, enlisting in Dallas in 1861. Mrs. Cemanthia Rogers resided in Brewster County when she applied for a Texas Confederate Widow's Pension.