Family and Desendants of William Wall Oliver Stanfield

Written by his son, Robert Wilshier Stanfield in 1924
                            Submitted by Joanne DeShong

Also see Stanfield Information

William Wall Oliver Stanfield signed his name W.W.O. Stanfield. He was commonly called by his neighbors Uncle Billy. He was born in Halifax county, Virginia the 29^th day of July 1809 and died at Aurora Texas March 20^th 1886, at the age of 76 years, 7 months, and 21 days. He left Virginia in 1833 and crossed the Red River into Texas with General Sam Houston on the first day of January 1834. He was in company with General Houston all during the war between Texas and Mexico. I do not know anything of my father’s ancestors except that they were descendants of the Old Jamestown colony. My father’s father’s first name was William. So my father told me not long before he died. His mother was said to be descended from the Wall family. Hence my father’s middle name Wall.

My mother’s name was Mary Ann Ramsdale. She was born in England, not far from London. They came to America when she was but a young girl, and finally landed in Texas. She and my father were married in the year 1836, when she was but 14 years old. Entirely too young to marry, but that was quite common in those days.

They raised a large family. They had 13 children in all. Three sons died in small childhood. The children were as follows. Thomas Liddle Stanfield, born Dec. 23, 1838, and died at Terrell, Texas Dec. 30^th, 1910, at the age of 72 years and 7 days. He was a lawyer and practiced law at Decatur for many years, then moved to Rockwall county and was elected prosecuting attorney, finally resigning and moved to Terrell and was for many years Attorney for the Texas and Pacific Railroad.

My mother was a descendant of one of the ancient Lords of England, Lord Liddle, hence my brother’s middle name Liddle.

Next came Milton Benjamin (we called him B for short). He was born Jan. 25, 1841. I do not know just at what place. He died at Joshua in Johnson county in 1897. I do not know the exact date.

The third was Ann Laura born June 3^rd, 1843, and died at Aurora, Texas Feb. 19, 1881 at the age of 37 years 8 months, 16 days. She was one of the most devotedly religious characters I have ever known. She was for quite a long while a teacher of a class of girls in Sunday school. I often heard her say that if she could see all of her class converted she would be one of the happiest women on earth, and she saw it. Rev. W.J. Gregory was holding a revival meeting at Aurora and 20 girls between the ages of 12 and 20 were converted in one service, and all my sister’s class. She had been married to a man by the name of McFarland, and it was found out afterward that this man was a traitor, and he fled the country, (and it was well) and was never heard of afterward.

The fourth child was Matilda Virginia, born Sept. 15, 1845 and died at Ft. Worth but was buried at Aurora , Aug. 7, 1889 at the age of 43 years, 10 months and 22 days. She was married to Dr. L.J. Randall when quite young and raised a large family. Her children are scattered so that I do not know the whereabouts of any of them. The Dr., besides being a doctor was for quite a while a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. He was buried at Aurora Texas a few years ago.

The fifth child was Isaac Oliver. He was born May 19, 1847, and died May 18, 1848 at the age of 11 months and 18 days.

Then came William Francis, the sixth child. Born Sept. 16, 1849 and is still living. He was always a very hard working man, but never did accumulate anything. He was twice married. First to Miss Bettie Jones, who died a little over a year afterward at Aurora, Texas. He was again married to Miss Maggie Elder, Feb. 14. They had 5 children, two of whom have died. His last wife died in Dallas, Texas, I think in 1923. She was buried at Aurora, Texas. He is now in the Home for Aged Masons at Arlington, Texas.

The seventh child was Mary Jane. Born June 30, 1851 and died at Peaster, Texas Jan. 17, 1896. She was married to C.C. Upton in 1884 and had two children, one of whom died quite young. The other, Mary Burney, is now living at Carter, Oklahoma. She is married to George Cain.

John Henderson was the eighth child, born March 3, 1854 and now lives at Ft. Worth, Texas, but I understand is not in good health. he was married to Miss Katie Kenedy and they have three children, all of whom live in Ft. Worth.

The ninth child was Spencer Solomon, was born Jan. 6 1856 and died Aug. 20, 1858. He was buried in a grave yard on Denton Creek about 18 miles west of Denton town.

Robert Wilshier, the 10^th child and 7^th son was born Feb. 2, 1858. [Died Oct. 8, 1934 at Ironton, Mo. Was a Presbyterian preacher his entire life.]

George Ewing the eleventh in the home was born Dec. 20, 1860 and died at Jacksboro, Texas April 9, 1863

James Herbert the twelfth was born at Jacksboro, Texas Jan. 2 1864 and died at Aurora, Texas, April 29, 1888.

Sarah Emma Elizabeth, the thirteenth, was born where the town of Rhome now is, March 16, 1867, and died at Aurora, Texas Dec. 6 1892. She was married to W.S. Woodward and had two sons, Herschel and Stanfield.

Thus it will be seen that all the ten children who lived to be grown had married except brother James Herbert. It may be well to remember also that the ten who lived to be grown there are at present, Jan. 1924 only three of us still living. William is at the Masonic home at Arlington, Texas, John is at Ft. Worth and I am here (Ironton, Mo.) but we cannot tell who will be the next one to go home. Those who have passed to the great beyond left abundant evidence of their readiness to go and be with the Lord.

At one time Rev. W.J. Gregory was holding a meeting at Aurora and having a communion service and my father and mother and nine children took communion together. That was one of the great days. There would have been ten children in the service if it had been so that my oldest brother Thomas was from some cause prevented from being there.