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Biographical Sketches - F
FERGUSON,
WESLEY PLATT
was born at Selma, Alabama, June 30, 1852.
At the death of his mother, when he was a small boy, he left the paternal
home and moved to Fairview, Ohio, where, under the care of his grandmother, he
spent his early boyhood.
He came to Texas in the late 1860's
and settled at Port Sullivan, Milam County, Texas.
Port Sullivan in those days was a thriving town, with the Brazos River
navigable to this section, and furnished a means of transportation.
In the early 1870's he joined his
father at Port Sullivan and after a brief stay at this place he returned to Ohio
to complete his schooling in Springfield. Later
he came back to Texas bringing his sister, Miss Mary Augusta Ferguson, who later
was married to William Tillett Watt.
Mr. Ferguson moved from Port
Sullivan to Hearne when the H. & T. C. Railroad had been constructed to
Hearne and while Hearne was sparsely settled.
Indications were that Hearne would grow into a thriving township.
His first employment in Hearne was
with the firm of Franklin & Company and later he was employed by Hale Sc
Company. Following his association
with these firms, he became associated with his brother-in-law, William Tillett
Watt, in the hardware and banking business, Mr. Ferguson continuing for a time
in the private banking business after Mr. Watt's removal to Waco.
In 1892 Mr. Ferguson went to Waco
where for two years he was cashier of the Provident National Bank, this bank
having been organized by W. T. Watt. On January 14, 1892, Mr. Ferguson was
married to Miss Irene Barton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lem Barton of Calvert,
Texas. The young couple came to
Hearne in 1894 and established their home on Magnolia Street, on which home site
they continued to reside throughout their life together.
Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were: W. P. Ferguson Jr., C. B.
(Tony) Ferguson, Watt Ferguson, Augusta Ferguson, and Irene Ferguson.
Mr. Ferguson was instrumental
in organizing the First National Bank in Hearne in 1894 and became the first
cashier of this new bank. He served
this bank for twenty-six years as cashier and later president, assuming the
presidency at the death of L. W. Carr in 1911.
He retired from active business in 1920.
Active in all civic organizations, Mr. Ferguson figured in the affairs of
Hearne for more than a half century. He
was a Mason, a Knight Templar, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Wesley Platt Ferguson died February 8, 1930.
FERNEY, JAMES HALBERT, son of James Ferney
and Ruth Patillo Ferney, was born June 10, 1886 at Taylor, Texas. He
attended the Taylor public schools.
In 1903, he moved to Hearne, Texas
and worked for the I. & G. N. Railroad Company at Valley Junction. Later,
he established Ferney's Confectionery on Fourth Street in Hearne and operated
this business for several years. During the 1920s, he accepted employment
with the Humble Pipe Line Company and worked at the Hearne pump station of this
company.
In 1928, he moved to Baytown, Texas
to continue his employment with Humble and was a machinist at the Humble Oil &
Refining Company at Baytown at the time of his death October 5, 1937.
He was married to Marvel Mae Ayres,
daughter of Jim Ayres and Lula Jennings Ayres of Hearne, Texas, July 11, 1908.
Marvel Mae Ayres Ferney was born at Hearne, Texas, July 22, 1890. She
attended the Hearne public schools.
The following children were born to
James Halbert Ferney and Marvel Mae Ayres Ferney: Ruth Ferney, Maybell
Ferney, Florence Ferney, Jimmie Ferney, and Philip Ferney. Ruth Ferney was
married to Andy Andrews; Maybell Ferney married Howard Sheffied; Florence Ferney
married Jack Earley; and Jimmie Ferney married Royette Aquillard.
The following grandchildren were
born: Betty Mae Andrews, Charlie Andrews, Shelly Sheffield, Quentin
Sheffield, Paul Sheffield, Philip Ferney II, David Ferney, Halbert Ferney, Linda
Ferney, Jerry Earley, CArolyn Earley, and Franklin Earley.
James Halbert Ferney was a member of
the Baytown Baptist Church and a member of the Masonic Lodge. Marvel Mae
Ayres Ferney is a member of the Baytown Baptist Church and a member of the Order
of the Eastern Star and the Pythian Sisters.
FERRARA,
CHARLES
was born in Italy, January 5, 1896 and came to America in 1913, settling in the
Brazos Bottom near Hearne where he engaged in cotton farming.
He opened his first store in Hearne in 1921, leaving Hearne in 1923 to
open another store at Steele's Store in the Brazos Bottom and devoted his full
time to this business until 1929.
In 1929 he moved to Wood Switch and
was engaged in operating a store and became connected with his first cotton gin.
The year 1932 found him back at Westbrook where he remained until 1940
when he purchased the Hearne Fair Dry Goods Store, later opening stores at
Bremond and Franklin. He is an
extensive real estate owner in Hearne and land owner in the Brazos Bottom.
He and his family are active communicants of St. Mary's Catholic Church
where he has served as vice president of St. Mary's Catholic Men's Society.
He is a past director of the Hearne Chamber of Commerce, a former member
of the Mumford School Board, has served on numerous occasions on tax
equalization boards and is a stockholder and member of the Board of Directors of
the P. & M. State Bank of Hearne.
In 1914 he was married to Miss
Charlotte Trentacost of Bryan and three children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Ferrara: Fred C. Ferrara, Rosa Lee Ferrara Roffino, and Mary Stella Ferrara
Campise.
Charles Ferrara and his
success story after leaving his native home in Italy and coming to Hearne in
1913 is typical of many citizens of Italian nationality that made good in America. When he arrived in Hearne in 1913, he could not speak one
word of English, had only 25c in money, and carried identification papers
requesting that he be taken to his brother-in-law Tony Trentacost upon his
arrival in Hearne. By hard work and
good management Charles Ferrara has built up large land and property holdings in
this area and is one of the foremost citizens of the Hearne area.
FERRARA, FRED CHARLES,
son of Charles Ferrara and Charlotte Trentacost Ferrara, was born at Hearne,
Texas, January 26, 1920 He attended grade school at Mumford and Hearne and was
graduated from Hearne High School with the Class of 1939. He was awarded the
American Farmer Degree by the National Future Farmers of America organization at
Kansas City, Missouri in 1940, and served as a member of the State Executive
Board of the Future Farmers of America for two years.
After finishing high school in
1939 he farmed in the Hearne Brazos Bottom with his father and in 1942 he
purchased his first farm, a 260 acre tract of land in the Hearne Brazos Bottom.
In 1943 he bought an interest in a cotton gin in the Brazos Bottom and operated
this gin for one year. In 1944 he bought 100 more acres in the Brazos Bottom.
During
1946 he purchased an interest in The Fair Dry Goods Company of Hearne and later
bought an interest in this same firm in Franklin. In 1950 he bought an interest
in The Fair Dry Goods Company in Bremond. In 1951 he bought the entire interest
in the Fair Dry Goods Company in Franklin and in 1956 purchased the entire stock
of the Fair Dry Goods Company in Hearne. During 1956 he purchased 300 more
acres of land in the Hearne Brazos Bottom. He lived in Franklin for a short
time but returned to Hearne in 1951.
On February 16, 1941 he was
married to Anne Marie Denena, daughter of Leon Denena and Maria Corona Denena at
Hearne, Texas. Anne Marie Denena Ferrara attended school at Mumford and Hearne
and was graduated from Hearne High School with the Class of 1940. Three
children were born to Fred Charles Ferrara and Anne Marie Denena Ferrara:
Charlotte Ann Ferrara, Marie Bernadette Ferrara, and Madeline Ferrara.
Fred Charles Ferrara and Annie
Marie Ferrara are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He is a member of
St. Mary's Men's Club; a member of the Knights of Columbus; the Hearne Chamber
of Commerce; the Franklin Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Hearne Lions
Club; served as business manager for the first Girl Scout day camp to be held in
Hearne in 1958; and served as a member of the Board of Education of the Hearne
Independent School District. In 1939 he was the youngest member to ever join
the Hearne Rotary Club being 19 years old at the time he became a member.
FIESELER, BENJAMIN CARL,
son of William Fieseler and Emma Bertha Altman Fieseler, was born August 29,
1905 at West, McLennan County, Texas. He attended the public schools in
Lexington and Rockdale, Texas and was graduated from Thorndale High School with
the Class of 1923.
After finishing his high school
education he engaged in the grocery business. He moved to Hearne, Texas,
February 22, 1932.
He was married to May Guthrie,
daughter of John Wesley Guthrie and Addie Comore Turner Guthrie, of Rockdale,
Texas, November 2, 1929. May Guthrie Fieseler was born at Rockdale, Texas,
April 10, 1910. She graduated from Rockdale High School and was a member of the
high school Dramatic Club at Rockdale.
Ben and May Fieseler have been
active in the business circles of Hearne. They have been in the grocery
business, ladies ready-to-wear business, the service station business, and now
own and operate the Tot & Teen Shop on Market Street in Hearne. Ben Fieseler
has also been associated with several automobile agencies in Hearne. Prior to
moving to Hearne, May Fieseler taught in public schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Fieseler are both
active in church work being cornmunicants of St. Philips Episcopal Church where
he has served on the Vestry and as Church Treasurer. May Fieseler is a member
of the Hearne Garden Club and the Hearne Study Club.
FINDLEY, SIDNEY ALBERT,
son of Eppley Whitmire Findley and Joyce Wilson Findley, was born at Denison,
Texas, February 81 1901.
He
attended public schools in Denison and was graduated from Denison High School
with the Class of 1920. Upon completion of high school he attended Austin
College at Sherman, Texas for two years. In 1923-24 he taught in the Denison
public schools. In 1924 he accepted a job for the summer months with the H. &
T. C. Railroad at Ennis, Texas in the mail dispatching department. He did not
return to his teaching job in Denison in the fall of 1924 but accepted a job in
the accounting department of the H. & T. C. Railroad at Ennis and worked in this
position until 1928. During 1928 he was promoted to a secretarial position in
the office of the division engineer at Ennis and continued this employment until
1930.
He moved
to Hearne, Texas in April 1930 and was employed as Trainmaster's Clerk and
Division Car Distributor for the Dallas Division with his office being located
in Hearne. During 1932 he studied and completed a course in telegraphy and in
1936 when the Dispatcher's Office was moved to Hearne he qualified and was
promoted to Trick Dispatcher. He worked in this position until 1942 when he was
promoted to Chief Dispatcher. On September 12, 1954 he was transferred to
Ennis, Texas where he was employed as Second Trick Chief Dispatcher and on July
1, 1956 he was promoted to Chief Dispatcher at Ennis.
He
married Lelia Mae Reading, daughter of John M. Reading and Mina Elmore Reading
of Mart, Texas, September 2, 1937. Lelia Mae Reading Findley was born and
reared in Mart, Texas and attended the public schools there, graduating from
Mart High School with the Class of 1931. She attended Baylor University in
Waco, Texas and was graduated with a B. A. Degree in Education in 1934,
completing her college courses in three years. She taught in the Hearne
elementary school during 1934-35 and 1935-36. In 1936-37 she taught in the
Calvert elementary school. Two children were born to Sidney Albert Findley and
Lelia Mae Reading Findley; a son, John Sidney Findley, born October 3, 1942; and
a daughter, Leah Elmore Findley, born January 2, 1945.
Lelia
Mae Reading Findley died April 8, 1955. She was active in social and civic
organizations of Hearne, being a member of the Hearne Shakespeare Club, the
Hearne Music Club, the Parent Teachers Association, the Hearne Band Parents
Association, and the First Baptist Church.
Sidney
Albert Findley is a member of the American Train Dispatchers Association; a
former Member and past president of the Hearne Rotary Club; a charter member of
the Hearne Lions Club; former member and past president of the Hearne Chamber of
Commerce; past president and charter member of the Hearne Golfers Association;
served as District Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America; a former member of
the Hearne Parent-Teachers Association; and served as General Chairman of the
Hearne Alfalfa Fiesta in 1954. During his residence in Hearne from 1930 to
1954 he was one of Hearne's most active civic leaders.
FLEMING,
DR. JAMES PATRICK JR.,
son of Mr. and Mrs. James Patrick Fleming, was born February 19, 1917 at
Williamstown, Massachusetts.
He
was graduated from Wililams College and received his A.B. Degree in 1938.
He attended Johns-Hopkins and received his M.D. in 1942. Dr. Fleming served his internship at Henry Ford Hospital in
Detroit, Michigan and his residency was at the Palmerton, Pennsylvania Hospital
from 1945 to 1948.
During
World War II he was attached to the 30th Infantry where he met Dr. T. A. Searcy.
As a result of this friendship, Dr. Fleming moved to Hearne in 1948 to
join Dr. Searcy in the practice of medicine.
With Dr. Searcy, he established the fully staffed SearcyFleming Hospital
&- Clinic in Hearne in 1950.
He was married to Miss Mary
Bessemer, August 19, 1940 and they have three children: James Patrick Fleming
111, Timothy Michael Fleming, and Mary Jane Fleming.
The Fleming family are
communicants of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Hearne.
Dr. Fleming is a member of the American Medical Association, the Southern
Medical Association, the Brazos-Robertson County Medical Association, the Miles
Scriviner American Legion Post of Hearne, and he is active in the Hearne Chamber
of Commerce.
FOX,
J. HOWARD,
son of J. S. Fox and Frances West Fox, was born March 7, 1907 in Granger, Texas.
His parents were pioneer citizens of the Granger area.
After
attending the Granger public schools from 1913 he was graduated from Granger
High School with the Class of 1924. In
the fall of 1924 he entered Southwestern University of Georgetown, Texas.
He was graduated from this university with the Class of 1928 with a B. A.
Degree.
Upon
the completion of his college education he was employed by the South Texas
Cotton Oil Company and worked at the office of that company in Corpus Christi,
Texas as a weigher. In December
1929 he was transferred to the Hearne office of that company as cashier and
assistant manager.
In
1943 he became Manager of the South Texas Cotton Oil Company at Hearne and
continues his duties with this firm along with his farming and ranching
business. He has been quite active
in the business and civic activities of Hearne and the state as is evidenced by
the following positions and offices that he has been connected with: Member of
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity; Member of the Board of Stewards of Grace Methodist
Church; served as Chairman of the Board of Stewards for eight years; served as
Lay Reader and Associate Lay Realer of the Bryan District for ten years; member
of the Hearne Rotary Club; served as a member of the Board of Directors for the
Hearne Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years; a member of the Hearne City
Council for four years, 1943-1947; served six years as a Director of the Texas
Cottonseed Crushers Association; Vice President and President of the Texas
Cottonseed Crushers Association; appointed in 1947 for a six year term as a
member of the Brazos River Authority by Governor Beauford Jester and in 1953
re-appointed for another six year term on this board by Governor Allan Shivers
and is now serving as a member of the Executive Board of the Brazos River
Authority as Vice President.
He
is also a Director of the First State Bank of Hearne; a member of the Calvert
Country Club; a member of the Texas &- Southwestern Cattle Raisers
Association; a member of the National Cottonseed Products Association; a member
of the Texas Ginners Association; a member of the Texas Water Conservation
Association; and a member of the National Reclamation Association and the Texas
Farm Bureau.
In
1934 he was married to Miss Mary Schmoyer of Waco, Texas.
Mrs. Fox taught in the Hearne public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have three daughters; Helen Fox, Betty Fox,
and Susan Fox.
FOYT, THOMAS EVERETT SR., son of Charles Foyt
and Villa Thomas Pressley Foyt, was born in Rosebud, Texas, October 25, 1915.
He attended elementary school at Waco and Temple, Texas, later attending Temple
High School and graduated from Belton High School with the Class of 1934.
Later, he attended Veterans Agricultural Night School for four years at Hearne,
Texas.
On February 15, 1936, he
enlisted in the U. S. Navy. After completing his navy schooling, he
participated in the search for Amelia Earhart, famed American aviatrix who
disappeared while flying over the Pacific, while he was aboard the U.S.S.
Lexington. He also served aboard the U.S.S. Kokomo, the U.S.S.
Tuscaloosa, the U.S.S. Mississippi, the U.S.S.
Chaumont, the U.S.S. Wichita, the U.S.S. Mont Calm, the U.S.S. Kileiwen, the
U.S.S. Chateau-Thiery, and the U.S.S. Tomahawk. Later, he transferred to
the U.S. Navy SeaBees and served as an instructor with the rank of Ensign.
He was awarded campaign ribbons for participation in all theaters of World War
II and received good conduct and victory medals. When he received his
discharge from military service March 19, 1946, he held the rank of Lieutenant.
He served as Cargo Officer, Personnel Officer, Gunnery Officer, Military Science
Instructor, and Stevedore Officer.
In 1946, he moved to
Mumford, Texas in the Brazos Bottom and engaged in the business of farming and
ranching. In 1947, he purchased the H. O. Collier farm which consisted of
555 acres in the Brazos Bottom and in 1955 he acquired an additional 185 acres
from J. H. Collier. He has managed the J. H. Collier farm near Mumford
since 1948. The acreage that he owns and manages is the original tract of
Brazos Bottom land that was owned and operated by J. R. Collier, the father of
Judson Holt Collier. On this large farm, traces of the old plantation
style of farming are still visible. He has constructed on this farm the
first grain dryers and the first all-steel type farm buildings in this area.
Thomas Everett Foyt married
Frances Elizabeth Collier, daughter of Judson Holt Collier and Lillian Elizabeth
Welch Collier of Mumford, Texas, March 19, 1944. The marriage was
performed at Temple, Texas. Frances Elizabeth Collier Foyt attended the
Mumford elementary school and later attended elementary school in Hearne.
She was graduated from Hearne High School with the Class of 1937 and attended
Baylor University in Waco.
The following are children
of Thomas Everett Foyt and Frances Elizabeth Collier Foyt: Thomas Everett
Foyt Jr., born January 23, 1945, and Barbara Frances Foyt, born October 3, 1949.
Frances Elizabeth Collier
Foyt is a member of the First Baptist Church of Hearne where she is a member of
the church choir and a Bible school teacher. She is a Past President of
the Mumford Parent-Teacher's Association; a Charter Member of the Green Thumb
Garden Club of Hearne; a member of the Hearne Shakespeare Club; served as Camp
Committee Chairman of the First Girl Scout Day Camp ever held in Hearne in 1958;
has served as Post Supervisor for the Mumford Ground Observer Corps since 1955;
is a member of the Robertson County Cancer Society; served as Fund Chairman for
the Cancer Drive at Mumford for five years; and served as sponsor for the
Mumford Junior Music Lovers' Club.
Thomas Everett Foyt is a
member of the First Baptist Church of Hearne; is a member of the Board of
Education of the Mumford Independent School District; serves as Chief Observer
for the Mumford Ground Observer Corps; served as Scoutmaster; served as Troop
Committeeman for the Hearne Boy Scouts of America; an Eagle Scout; serves as
Board Supervisor for the Brazos-Robertson Soil Conservation District; is a
member of the Robertson County Farm Bureau; a member of the Hi-Y at Temple,
Texas; a member of the Army-Navy Club; a member of the Short Snorters; a member
of the Domain of Neptunus Rex; a member of the Red Cross Life Savers Club; a
member of the Mumford Parent-Teacher's Association; and a member of the Pearl
Harbor Golfer's Association.
FULTON,
SAMUEL ERNEST,
son of Edin Rivers Fulton and Nannie Etta Payne Fulton, was born in Calvert,
Texas, July 30, 1895.
He
attended school at Elmo Rural School three miles east of Calvert.
He later moved to Stamford, Texas where he attended the Sunny Side School
near that city.
On
October 20, 1917 he was married to Miss Dora Belle Karr, daughter of William
Isaac Karr and Sarah Bell Wooten Karr of Anson, Jones County, Texas. The marriage took place in Fort Worth, Texas.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fulton: William Cecil Fulton,
Ernestine Fulton, Maxine Fulton, and Etta Belle Fulton.
He
farmed in Jones County, Texas from 1911 to 1916 and when he moved to Franklin,
Texas and bought a livery stable. (Note: Ernest Fulton said that he didn't think
that anyone ever rode a horse or rode in a buggy after he purchased the livery
stable as he didn't do so good with this business and sold it and went into the
service car business).
On
July 18, 1917 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served eleven months in France
with the 111th Field Signal Battalion 36th Division.
He received his discharge from military service June 19, 1919 after World
War I and returned to Franklin and worked in a garage as a mechanic until July
1920. During 1920 he moved to Calvert, Texas and was employed by
Robertson County doing roadwork. He
later was employed at the Calvert Country Club. During 1921 he moved to the Hearne Brazos Bottom and worked
at a gin on the Christy Bryant plantation near Mumford. He was working at this gin during the fall of 1921 when the
great flood of that year wiped out so many cotton planters in the Brazos Bottom.
On
November 30, 1921 he moved to Hearne and was employed as a mechanic by a local
garage until 1926 when in partnership with Earl Shelman he opened his own
garage, this business being located on Fifth Street in the business district of
Hearne.
He
went to work for Humble Pipe Line Company November 23, 1926 and continued his
employment with that company until June 10, 1957 when he was retired on
disability after being employed for a period of nearly 31 years.
Mr.
and Mrs. Fulton are members of the First Baptist Church of Hearne and he is a
member of the Miles Scriviner American Legion Post and a member of the Golden
Rule Masonic Lodge of Hearne.
FUSSELL,
A. B.
was born in Washington Parish, Louisiana, June 12, 1885 and grew into manhood
and attended school there and in New Orleans.
After
completing business school he went to work for lumber companies in Southern
Louisiana, serving as accountant and credit manager in the commissaries.
He then became credit manager for a chain of four grocery stores and left
this employment to become manager of a Building & Loan Association in
Louisiana.
He later was associated with the
Federal Land Bank at Baton Rouge, Louisiana and left this position to move to
Hearne, Texas in 1936 and enter the retail grocery business in Hearne and Bryan.
Upon getting established in Hearne
he became active in the Chamber of Commerce and served that organization as
President. He was also active in
the Hearne Rotary Club for twenty years. He
is a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Board of Stewards of Grace
Methodist Church.
In 1906 he was married to Miss Mary
Lillian Hoell at Groosttete, Louisiana and two children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Fussell: a son, Robert Fussell; and a daughter, Jerry Fussell who married
Major Jack Richards of the U. S. Army.
After a business career in Hearne
for over a period of twenty-two years, A. B. Fussell disposed of his business
interests and retired in 1958.