The Camp Family

 

Submitted by Anna Beth Anderson Ward

                                                                                                                

 

            South Carolina was the beginning point for Loyal Dean “Doc” Camp before he and the Camp

Family made the trek to Texas.    He was born in Spartanburg on April 14, 1875, the son of John

Thomas Camp and Margaret Jane (Clement) Camp.    The family came to Lamar Co., Texas., first,

followed by 10 years in Hunt County and finally they went to Collingsworth County.   Doc returned to

Wolfe City to court Sallie Lee Benge, a former neighbor.   They were married April 8, 1902

           

            Shortly after their marriage, Doc and Sallie moved to Wellington.  His father had died in 1889

and Doc wanted to help his widowed mother on the farm.     Sallie had been accustomed to the finer

things of life and had to adapt to a harsher pioneer life.   They moved to Yoakum County about 1904

and filed on Section 811 in January, 1906, living in a half-dugout near Sligo.    Their neighbors included

Pat McHugh and the J. S. Webber family.    Hauling water and using cow chips for fuel in their

woodburning stove were new experiences for Sallie.   She served as Post Master for about a year

when they moved to Plains and Doc owned a store and operated the Post Office.    

 

            Sallie was the fifth of 11 children born to William Lister Benge and Martha Marena (Hill) Benge.
Her birth occurred in Hunt County, Texas., on June 21, 1880, where her parents were prominent members

of the community.   

 

            Because of Sallie’s health, Doc moved often and they lived in Millersview, Paint Rock, East

Bernard, Beeville, Wolfe City and Lamesa before returning to Plains in 1916.    Her long heavy hair

turned white overnight while the family lived at Millersview.  She suffered from severe headaches
attributed to the weight of her hair and it was during one of those headaches that her hair changed
color.   When it was shortened, the headaches lessened.

 

            After returning to Plains, they joined the Plains Baptist Church in 1916 where Doc served as
church clerk, treasurer and custodian and their home served as headquarters for visiting preachers
regardless of denomination.    Sallie’s layered angel food cakes which she sold were a treat for
weddings and socials.   And she enjoyed canning in-season fruits and vegetables.   Doc farmed,
raised stock and carpentered.   Many of the early day structures represented his handiwork.

 

            They suffered through a bad year in 1918 when a January blizzard caused them to lose many
cattle and a nail flew up and hit Doc on the arm meant a serious infection which nearly cost him
his arm.    And Sallie had a near fatal attack of influenza during the epidemic.    But, even though
the family moved in 1925 and lived in Lamesa, Borger and Amherst, they returned once again to Plains
and celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary in 1952 while living with their daughter, Martha, near
Denver City.     Doc was a member of the Woodmen of the World and Masonic Lodge.   He died
August 13, 1953.   In 1966, Sallie suffered a serious illness and in 1972 she died on August 29^th.
She and Doc are buried in Plains Cemetery.

 

            The children of Loyal Dean “Doc” Camp and Sallie Lee (Benge) Camp were: Gracie Keleta Camp born June 17, 1903, died January 3, 2001, married James Albert Rushing;  Frankie Dean Camp, born February 15, 1907 died July 21, 2003, married Jaudon Cobb; Martha Gwendoline Camp born May 7, 1909, died February 5, 1988, married Walter Earl Anderson;  John Thomas Camp, born February 21, 1914, died April 30, 1994, married Mabel Olene Morris.

 

© June 2004

 

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