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Gregg County
BIOGRAPHIES

 If you have any Gregg County biographies you would like to see added, or information to add to the current biographies, please email:Etta, Sheila, & Elaine. NOTE: Click on a small picture to see it full size.

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Newman- D.C. Newman was born February 27, 1893 in Meadville, Mississippi and attended the local schools there graduating from High School in 1910. He served during WWI in the medical department in 1917-1919. He began his career in Vicksburg, Mississippe in 1920 working as manager of the Merger Furniture Company. He left the furniture business a year later to go into the insurance business in Vicksburg, only to leave the insurance business a year later to manage the Home Furniture Company of Vicksburg. Two years later he opened the Newman Furniture Company in Biloxi, Mississippi. From there he went to El Dorado, Arkansas to manage the American Furniture Company. In 1932 he arrived in Longview as manager, secretary, treasurer of the American Furniture Company on 212 East Methvin Street. Later he opened stores in Kilgore and Henderson, Tx. He was a member of the Longview Chamber of Commerce and the Baptist Church.

 
Nixon- A native of New Iberia, Louisiana, he was a pastor for 40+ years. A great civil rights leader and was the picked with the first civil rights group that met with President J.F. Kennedy. His activities included: Trustee of Bishop College, President of the Longview NAACP, the Bi-Racial committee of Civil Rights Act of 1954, a member of the National Baptist Convention Board, the National Southern Baptist Convention, a member of the St. Luke Masonic Lodge, and president of the Sunday School & BTU Congress.

 
Northcutt - John Alexander was from Cobb County, Georgia and ventured to Texas in 1870. He moved to Kilgore in 1872, where 5 of his children were born. He bought Lawson Keener's cotton gin, Grist Mill, mill house, cotton press, and everything pertaining to those businesses, including 2 acres of land where it was all located. He bought all of this from Mrs. Keener after Lawson Keener's death. The 5 children born in Kilgore were: George, Dixie, Naomi, Lucy Alexander and Exie. In 1894 John moved to West Texas. (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)

 
Northcutt - William George Northcutt was born 1837, Cobb County, Georgia. He married Julia Ann Moore, the daughter of Jeremiah Moore and Susannah Scurry. They moved into Longview in 1870 after staying for a year in Harrison County, east of Longview. William owned the Northcutt Hardware & Furniture Company. He also manufactured wagons in 1878, owned the monument works where they imported marble and finished and inscribed it, and owned the brickyard that made the very first bricks in Longview. He was mayor of Longview twice from 1898-1900 and a charter member of the First Baptist Church. William and Julia had 7 children: John Thomas, Jere E., William Davis, Sarah (married L.M. Markhan), Jessie (married E.B. Prothro), Dolly (married S.C. Forman) and Iba (married C.L. Taylor). 

 
(Left Picture: Dr. William Davis Northcutt. Center Picture: Eda Mauthe Northcutt. Right Picture: Their home built 1902 at 313 S. Fredonia street Longview.)
Northcutt - Dr. William Davis Northcutt married Eda Mauthe, daughter of Jacob Mauthe & Barbara Grund, in 1882. He was a graduate of Texas A & M and the University of Louisville Medical Department. He was a local physician and surgeon for the T&P, Sabine & Northwest, and I&G.N. railways for 35 years. He was a member of the following: Gregg County Medical Society, the Northeast District Medical Society, Texas Medical Assn, the American Medical Assn, the Longview Volunteer Fire Department, Longview Rotary Club, the Masons and the First Baptist Church. He served as the City Health Officer and served as Longview's mayor twice. Will and Eda had the following children: Leon, Emma, Dolly, Flossie (married W.R. Wheeler), William Jr., Eda and Jessie (married E.A. Brown).  

 
Norton - O.L. Norton was co-owner of the Norton-Barbee Grocery with Claude Barbee. He was considered to be a prominent Longview business man with an outstanding record of community service. He was Chairman of the Longview Community Chest, a Directory of the East Texas Exhibit Association, a member of the Pine Crest Country Club, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a member of the Rotary Club, a member of the Board of Directory of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Longview School Board (Chairman from 1934-1936), a Director of the First National Bank, President of the Salvation Army Board, and a President of the Chamber of Commerce.

 

 


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Oliver - E.B. Oliver was born December 15, 1891 in Longview and attended the local schools. In 1910 he went to work for the Gregg County News (the now Longview News & Journal) as a printer's devil. In 1918 he became the owner of his own business, Terrell's Drug Store. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a 1935 Director of the Rotary Club, a member of the Pine Crest Country Club, a member of the Masonic Lodge, 1927 President of the Lions Club, in 1928 and 1931-1933 President of the Retail Merchants Association, 1923-1926 Vice President and Director of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Texas Pharmaceutical Association, President of the East Texas Druggist Association, and President of both the Fredonia Oil Company and the Sabine Syndicate Oil Company.

 
Osborne - Gerald E. Osborne was the manager of the Longview Western Union office. He was recoginized as one of the city's leading civic and religious workers. He served as President of the Longview Rotary Club, was a member of the Longview Chamber of Commerce and was on the board of directors of the Deacons of the First Baptist Church. 

 

 


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(Left Picture: John Garland Pegues. Right Picture: Matte Rain Pegues)
Pegues - Phillip Austin Pegues & Mary Eliza Brown married in 1859 in Rusk County, Texas at Thorn Hill Plantation. In the early 1870's, they moved to Longview. The Pegues name was a well known name since they owned numerous businesses: the first Opera House, the first variety store, the Pegues Cash Store, the first commercial nursery in Gregg County, the first Ice & Light Company and the first livery stable. 

Their son John Garland Pegues was also a figure of Longview's future. He married Matte Rain in Marshall in 1904. He worked with the Ford Motor Company and became the first "horseless Carriage" dealer in Longview. It was originally known as the City Garage and later became the J.G. Pegues Ford Motor Company. Pegues Ford is still in operation in Longview today. 

John Garland became the largest stockholder in the Commercial Guaranty State Bank. He also became a member of the board of directors of the Rembert National Bank and one of the first board members of the Longview National Bank. 


 
Peterson - Neal Peterson and his folks moved to Lair Hill in 1875 from Lack Park, Georgia. Neal later married Nancy Baton and they had the following children: Sally (married Leslie Laird), Durham (married Susie Gunn 1st and Pearl Rice 2nd), Liza and Mamie (married Rob Russell). 

Neal's brother Dan M. Peterson married Miss Mattie Baton and had the following children: Benny, Crawford, Johnny (married George Alice Houston), Rosa May (married Jim Griffin). (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)


 
Petty - An Alabama native, she brought hard work and pride to Texas to become one of the areas outstanding leaders. She taught homemaking to the youth and served as Associate County Home Demonstration Agent for Gregg County. She has a long list of leadership and membership in Bethel Baptist Church, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Epsilon Sigma Phi, American Home Economics Association, National Association of Extension Home Economists, American Association of University Women,  Gregg County Literacy Council, East Texas Chapter of Alcoholism, Texas Nutritional Council and the Gregg County Service Council.

 
Pfau - Ennis Pfau was born in 1901 in Fayette Co., Illinois, attending the local schools of Pana, Ill., graduating from High School in 1920, and going to college at the University of Illinois in 1921. He arrived in Longview in 1936 as distributor of the Grand Prize Beer for Smith, Gregg, Rusk and Marion counties. He moved his office (the main office for the company) from Longview to Kilgore in the late 1930's.

 
Probasco - James A. Probasco came from Milford, Texas. He received his formal education at Columbia University and Prairie View College where he received his Master's Degree. He was a teacher for many years and a Methodist by faith. His many activities included: Steward & Treasurer of the McCabe United Methodist Church, a charter member of the Federal Teachers Alliance Credit Union, charter member of the Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a member of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the area, state and national Education Associations, and Scout Master of Cub Scout Pack 450.

 

 


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Rawlinson - T.L.N. (Noodles) Rawlinson moved to Longview on Aug. 24, 1921. He was transfered from Dallas as an employee of the Magnolia Petroleum Company, and made head of the company's sales department in Longview. He served over 30 stations in the Longview, Greggton, Kilgore and Hallsville area. Some of the stations he served were: Phillip Elder's station, Kilgore; Bill Hearrian's station, Kilgore; New Station, Hallsville; Jim Murray's station, Laird Hill. Noodles was also owner of Noodles Tire and Rubber Company, which distributed U.S. Tires and tubes and U.S. Batteries. He opened this business in April of 1937. He was a Steward in the First Methodist Church, a member of the Pine Crest Country Club, a member of the Meadowbrook Club, a member of the Longview Chamber of Commerce, a member of the K. of P. Lodge, a member of the Lions Club, a member of the Elbow Club, and a City Commissioner of the City of Longview.

 
Rembert - F.T. & Kate Womack Rembert. See link for bio.

 
Reynolds - Josiah Freeman Reynolds came to Kilgore in the early 1880's with his first wife Sarah Ann Chisholm. Josiah was the first superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School and a blacksmith by trade. He lived on the Old Hagan Road and had his blacksmith shop near his house. They had the following children: John Franklin (married Elizabeth Ellen Briggs whose mother was Martha Wilmouth Darden Briggs) and Ailsie (married John M. Acuff). 

Josiah married a second time to Mrs. Hattie Henderson Mackey. She had 2 children by her first husband, Allie Mackey (married ? Huffington) and Willie Mackey.  (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)


 
Robson - Earl Robson was co-owner of the Ohio Auto Parts and Accessories store located at 326 West Tyler Street in Longview. He was partners in the business with Pat Ferchill, with both of the men taking an active part in running the business. This was one of the oldest and largest automotive parts stores in East Texas, having opened in Longview in July of 1931.

 
Rosson - Jim Rosson and wife moved to Kilgore in 1895 from Danville. They were in charge of the dormitory at the Kilgore School. Their children were: Virgil (married Irene Palmer), Ernest, Mary (married Homer Fauset), Blanche, Will, Frank, Homer, Hallie and Jim. (This short bit of information was found in a book titled Early Kilgore Families)

 

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