Maloney   Maloney was located about five miles north of Avalon, near the crossroads of the Nash-Howard and Feaster Road, about two miles southeast of the Nash Community.  It was named for James M. Maloney. Maloney was born in 1846 and served in Company H., Third Georgia Cavalry, CSA, from 1864 to the close of the war.  He first lived to Hood County, Texas in 1870, McLennan County 1871,  finally moving to Ellis County in 1876, where he bought a farm in this community.  He married Miss Margaret Smyer in 1868 and had nine children - eight of whom were born in Texas. Malony built a gin in 1882 and a store in 1887.  He was responsible for the establishment of a postoffice, in 1888, which was named in his honor.  J. F. Smyer was appointed postmaster with Maloney his deputy.  The latter became postmaster Aug. 7, 1891.  We have no information as to when the service was discontinued. In November 1896, Rev. Sexton preached a series of sermons at Maloney and helped organize an "Old School" Presbyterian Church.  The church was amed Wood's Chapel and had more than twenty members. Officers were: J. H. Simpson and Henry Wood, ruling elders; W. R. Hobson, Dave Wood and Moffett Simpson deasons.  . The Maloney Cemetery (about 2.7 miles south of the Nash-Howard Road on Feaster Road) is the only landmark left in this old community.  In 1995, some descendants of the early settlers were responsible for clearing, fencing and restoration of the stones.  Many more stones were discovered at that time.  Maloney had one brother who came to this area and both are buried in the Cemetery.  Other early families were Abernathy, Claxton, Gailey, Gullett, Harp, McFarlan, Reynolds, Roberts, Seabolt, Shields and Tapp. References: Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas, Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, 1892. U. S. Postal Service Records, Washington, D. C. Ellis County History, Vol. XVIII, compiled by Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger & Rebecca Boyce Chapter DAR Cemetery Records   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:13 MDT