Fannin County TXGenWeb
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John Sylvester, or "Monkey John" Sudderth, as his friends around Leonard and Bailey called him, came to Texas from Georgia. He was only a teen-aged boy, but he had an older brother back in Georgia who bullied him, so he got tired of it and came to Texas in the late 1880's. He lived with his uncle Abraham (Abe) Sudderth and his cousins David and Bill until he married Minnie Lutishie Ross. Abraham Sudderth had settled near the old Leonard pool, which furnished water for the steam locomotives of that time. He had come to Leonard in the late 1850's or early 1860's from Gwinnett County, Georgia. Allen Sudderth, brother of Abraham, is thought to be John Sylvester Sudderth's father. He stayed in Georgia, to the best of this author's knowledge.
John Sylvester Sudderth married Minnie Lutishie Ross, and to this union nine children were born. Four boys were named as follows: Douglas Allen, who married Leona Moore; Gus Thomas, who married Martie Velma Bell; Ross who married Bernice Brand; and Henry, who married Anna Brown.There were five girls, named: Hattie, who married Claude Akard; Roxie, who married Albert Ivey; Rosa, who married a Holland first and an Ivey next; Minerva, who married Bill Smith; and Georgia, who married Bill Dries.
To the union of Gus Thomas Sudderth and Martie Velma Bell, one boy, Ray T. Sudderth (this author), and one girl, Melba Jean Sudderth, were born. Ray T. Sudderth was born in 1924 and married Serena Dale Sherrell. To this union four children were born: Joe Thomas Sudderth, Frances Elaine Sudderth, Harold Ray Sudderth, and Rebecca Jean Sudderth. Joe Thomas Sudderth married Luisa Marie Bilbao, and they had two children, Brian Thomas and Sheri Kay. A third, Wade Allen, was adopted, Prances Elaine Sudderth married Jerry Lee Davis, and they had three children, Dana Lynn, Oran Lee (Bubba), and John Dee. Harold Ray Sudderth married Donna Marie Duke, and they had two girls, Sandra Elaine and Tommy Raye. Rebecca Jean Sudderth married James Price first and had one boy, James Jeffery. She then married Boyd Chastain, and they had Cory Joe and Heather Ruth.
Melba Jean Sudderth, this author's sister, married Lee Moore first and had two boys, Gary Wayne and Stephen Lee. She then married Don Rishel and they had three children, Donald, Sheila, and Regina.
John Sylvester Sudderth was a teacher, railroader, and farmer. Gus Thomas Sudderth is a mule-skinner, farmer and carpenter, Ray T. Sudderth is a farmer, industrial supervisor and real estate broker in the Leonard area. Joe T. Sudderth is a building contractor and real estate broker in the Leonard area. Harold Ray Sudderth is a law officer and at present is a candidate for sheriff of Fannin County, Texas. Boyd Chastain is an electrician and is presently working for Oscar Mayer Company in Sherman, Texas
The wives of the last five above mentioned men are housewives and mothers of the eleven grandchildren. Nine of these grandchildren are attending the Leonard schools. Cory and Heather hope to join them as soon as possible.
by Ray T. Sudderth
