WHITAKER Family of Eastland County


James Perry WhitakerMy Great Grandfather, James Perry WHITAKER (born 1855), bought the Rising Star Record from Charles SPANN and renamed it the Rural Light. He was shot and killed on September 29, 1896 in Rising Star, Eastland, Texas during an argument with Parilee James Perry WhitakerGeorge KORNEGAY, a rival newspaper man. Mr. KORNEGAY claimed it was self defense because he thought that Mr. WHITAKER was reaching in his pocket for a gun when he was just reaching for his pipe, thus the jury found him not guilty. A few months later on 25 Mar 1897, James Perry WHITAKER's wife, Parilee Jane PERRY WHITAKER (born 1855), died in childbirth. James WHITAKER's sister Crosha LYNES (1863-1952) adopted Lena, Georgia Alice, James Stanly, and John Perry WHITAKER and his brother William WHITAKER adopted Ora Lee and Beuleh Jane WHITAKER. Cora Augusta WHITAKER, my Grandmother, was raised in the Masonic Orphans Home. She ran away at age 16 to the Oklahoma Territory and, ultimately, to Kansas where she met and married my Grandfather, Archie William HUNT. Story contributed by Arch William Hunt, III


James Perry WHITAKER and Parilee Jane PERRY were married on April 4, 1877 and their children were;

The Whitaker FamilyAdeline WHITAKER
Ida Viola WHITAKER born on December 18, 1880-She married Clark WILEY on February 10, 1900
Ora Lee WHITAKER born on March 23, 1883-She married Charles W. BATES on January 14, 1901
Lena WHITAKER born on February 12, 1886-She married H. Ernest CROW on September 1, 1909
Cora Augusta WHITAKER born on May 5, 1887-She married Archie HUNT
Georgia Alice WHITAKER born on February 15, 1890-She married Cliffton Carnine ROW on August 27, 1911
James Stanly WHITAKER born on February 25, 1892-He married Minnie Mae SHOWALTER on June 13, 1920
Beulah Jane WHITAKER born on March 16, 1894-She married C.W. FEWEL and Charles LITTLE
John Perry WHITAKER born on July 8, 1895-He married Bernice Harmon CHENOWETH on January 13, 1917
Ernest WHITAKER born on March 15, 1897-He married Delia FARRAR on April 17, 1953

James Perry WHITAKER was the son of Robert WHITAKER who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and they are both buried in the Rising Star Cemetery. James donated the land for the Church of Christ in Rising Star.  Parilee Jane PERRY, was born in 1855 in Mobile, Alabama, and was the daughter of Jack PERRY and Martha Ann KELLY.

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