Brandon, William Arthur Family - Family Histories

      On March 2, 1874, Lou, the second daughter of Rev. John and Florence (Huff) English, was born in Comanche County, married William Arthur Brandon, December 21, 1892, in Brown County. They moved to Coleman County to the Plainview community, on the Matthews place, in 1914, where they farmed. William Arthur died January 6, 1935. They had eleven children;

     (1) John Richard, October 24, 1894, in Brown County, spent his early years in and around Santa Anna on the Brandon farm. He entered the Army in 1917, serving in France and Germany, and returned home in 1919. He met Mabel Rose upon his return, and they were married. (See John Rose). They had three boys: Durward, Richard Gale and Ralph Deming. John Richard died in 1937. All three boys served in the Armed Forces in World War II. His family moved to California and began a new life there.

     (2) Henryetta Florence (Etta), January 3, 1896, in Brown County-February 15, 1984, buried at Bangs, married Jim Jones, June 29, 1914. They lived part of their married life in the Red Bank community and have two sons:

       (2a) Hershall, September 7, 1915 in Coleman County. He served in the Army in World War II, now resides in Waco with his wife, Alice.

        (2b) Troy, born in Brown County, January 13, 1922, married and lives in Pasadena. Jim died January 6, 1980, buried in Bangs.

     (3) Fannie Wright, attended school at Holder and graduated in 1915. She married Eligha (Lige) Gober, November 15, 1921, in Coleman County. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Santa Anna and the Eastern Star #247 of Santa Anna. She was a homemaker and a seamstress. She passed away May 26, 1977, in Abilene, buried in Santa Anna. (See J. L. Gober).

     (4) Daisy Dean, March 3, 1900, in Nolan County, married Wayne Sparks, March 17, 1930. She had two children by a previous marriage: Rev. A. B. Lightfoot of Houston, and Louise Oden of Garland. They live in Waco.

     (5) William Arthur, Jr., March 23, 1902, in Brown County, married Bernice Shannon, October 14, 1929. They lived in Coleman County a number of years, then moved to Stephenville where he retired from Cook Lumber Company. They had two children: John William and Willie Lou. Bernice died September 17, 1981, buried in Santa Anna.

     (6) Sam, September 24, 1904, in County, worked on a railroad in Illinois and later transferred to Fort Worth. He was killed by a train August 29, 1929, buried in Santa Anna. He never married.

     (7) Bessie Ida married Thomas Elton McDonald, November 10, 1925. They have farmed most of their married life. They have one daughter, Frances Oma Dean, born November 25, 1926. Frances married Richard Ralph Horner, July 1, 1944 (see J. J. Horner) and has three children:

       (1) Linda Carol, born May 13, 1947, in Coleman County, married Pete Simmons in 1966, a Santa Anna native. Pete has assumed the Superintendency of Howe Independent School District and Linda will be teaching Kindergarten. They have two sons: James David, January 31, 1967, and Jeffrey Dean, April 17, 1969.

       (2) Richard Elton (Dickie) married Gail Robinette, February 26, 1972. They live in Santa Anna and have two daughters: Brandie Lea, August 8, 1975, and Briana Lynn, June 20, 1979.

       (3) David Lynn married Melinda Dean, August 25, 1973, (see Rodney Dean) and have one daughter, Chinah Beth, October 8, 1982. They live in Giddings.

     (8) Melvin, May 16, 1909 in Brown County, married Eunice Hood, May 2, 1928. They had five children: Avaline A., December 8, 1928 - December 27, 1928; Lillian; Alwlyn; Wayne and Don. Melvin and Eunice lived a good many years in Coleman County. He died August 16, 1980; she died December 26, 1981; Don died about 1967, all buried in Santa Anna.

     (9) Sim Elsworth graduated from Santa Anna High School in May, 1932, married Alaire Sewell, January 12, 1936, (see Jesse N. Sewell). They had one son, Bobby Wayne, born July 22, 1937. He was in the service from 1960-1962. He died August 18, 1973. He had one daughter, Melanie, a student at Texas Tech.

     (10) Henry Alton, April 16, 1914, in Callahan County attended Santa Anna Schools. He entered the Army at Camp Bowie in Brownwood, October 16, 1940. He was in the 131st Field Artillery, 36th Division and taken Prisoner of War, March 8, 1942, on the Island of Java, and was a prisoner until July 29, 1945. He received an Honorable discharge March 26, 1946, and married Vi Marcurn, December 29, 1945. They have one daughter and two grandsons. Alton and Vi live in Fort Worth.

     (11) T. C., September 6, 1917, in Coleman County - December 22, 1918, buried at Santa Anna.