James Howard Lawless
Submitted by Hal Stephen LawlessJames Howard Lawless was born in Dawsonville, Georgia in 1850. He died in Panola County, Texas, in 1913, and is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery (Panola). His parents were Wilburn Lawless and Margaret Ann Peggy Sutton Lawless. James married Sara Ann Harriet Jay October 28, 1877, in Georgia. Sara's parents were John Jay and Sarah Bramblett Jay from Georgia. Sara was born December 12, 1848, in Georgia. She died April 27, 1927, and is buried beside James in Mt. Zion Cemetery (Panola). Between 1886 and 1900, James Lawless and family moved from Dawsonville, Georgia, to Panola County and settled near DeBerry, Texas. James (Jim) bought 640 acres of land on credit for $200. The place that he bought was the old Harris place, which was ideal for farming.
James and Sara were blessed with eight children. The seven sons were Hilliard, Charlie, Earl, Luther, Clayton, Arthur, Joe, and one daughter, Myrtie, who died in early childhood. Luther died before marrying.
James and Sara's other sons were later married. Joe was the only son who was never married.
Hilliard married Willie Taylor, and they had six sons and one daughter. Charlie married Ella Tiller, and they had five sons and five daughters. Earl married Elsie Greer, and they had two sons and two daughters. After Elsie died, Earl married Vashti Jay, and they had one son and one daughter. Arthur married Edna Greer and they had one daughter. Clayton married Ora Tiller, and they had one daughter. Later, he married Belva Fergerson, and they had no children.
There are many descendants of the above families still living in the DeBerry/Panola, Texas area.