Orphans and Widows Fund
WIDOWS & ORPHANS FUND The material below was kept by Olive Ann Frances Trammell and at her death her daughter Stella Jo Ballard had saved it. Shortly before Stella Jo's death she gave this material with other old letters, deeds, papers of many descriptions, and old photographs to her nephew Bill McCool who has loaned it to me to use in our Trammell family history. Very little of the material below will be of use in a family history, but there are others who may be searching for the dates this material contains. I hope it will be of benefit to others who had ancestors that lived in Henderson Co, Tx in this time period. Submitted by Pauline Mitchell Pierce The cards begin with No. 22 and a few are missing. On the 7 Oct 1907 they had a membership of 560, and the membership varied up and down, but by 16 July 1918 which is the date of the last card in the stack the membership was only 180. This organization evidently ceased to exist after this date, or Levi and Ollie Trammell dropped out. These notices from 1907 until Oct 1914 were mailed out on a one cent McKinley postal card. In Jan 1915 the Jefferson one cent post card was used and the last one mailed had a one cent Washington one cent stamp added to it, cost two cents. Each of these cards are a little different, so I have typed each one just as they are. No. 763 W. & O. Fund, OF HENDERSON COUNTY TEXAS This is to Certify That L. T. Trammell has this day been admitted to membership of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of Henderson county, Texas, and belongs to Company A. He has agreed to fully comply with the tenets of the order and to meet each assessment with in fifteen days from date of notice or stand suspended. That he has named Mrs. O. F. Trammell as beneficiary, and it is expressly understood that said beneficiary is only entitled to one dollar from each Member of this company in good standing at the death of this policy holder and the said L. T. Trammell must be him self in good standing or else this certificate shall become null and void. No assessment shall be made except when a death occurs and shall not exceed $1.05. JR Blader President. HL Parsons Secretary. Athens, Texas 2 / 8 19 07 Mrs. O. F. Trammells' is the same except her number is 764 and the names are reversed. Office of W. & O. FUND No. 22 Athens, Texas, August 2, 1907. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. W. G. Holloway, who died at his home six miles South of Athens on July 31, 1907. H. L. Parsons, Secretary Office at Athens National Bank. No. 23. Athens, Texas, October 7, 1907. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. W. M. Hughes of Stockard, who died at her home on the night of October 3, from the effects of blood poisoning. Pleasse notice change of secretary. I cannot call on you. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Office at Richardson Bros'. Stone. Present membership 560. Office of No. 24 W. & O. FUND Athens, Texas, November 8, 1907 This notifies you of the death of our member Mr. S. J. Scott who was killed November 7. He resided in the Post Oak community. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Present Membership 578. Office at Richardson Bros.' Store. W. & O. FUND. No. 26 Athens, Texas, December 10, 1907. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Laura Tidmore, who died at her home at Murchison, R.F.D. No. 2, of pneumonia. Chas. A. Richardson Sec. Present membership 550. Office of W. & O. FUND No. 27 Athens, Texas, June 1, 1908. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Sarah Canady, who died at her home at Payne Springs on Friday night, May 29. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Presnet membership 608. Office of W. & O. Fund. No. 28. Athens, Texas, June 15th, 1908 This notifies you of the death of our Member, Mrs. J. C. Johnson, who died at her home near Martins Mill June 2. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. OFFICE OF W. & O. F. No. 29. Athens, Texas, July 6th, 1908 This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. C. S. Gist who died June 24. Mr. Gist was a charter member and he lived two miles west of Athens. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. No. 30. Athesn, Texas, July 28th, 1908. OFFICE OF W. & O. F. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. Joe Bell, who died at his home at Catfish, July 25. This makes our order cost a little more than usual this year but there is no telling who will be the next one to collect the money. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'y. Present Membership 576. Athens, Texas, Dec. 30, 1908. No. 31. -- Office of W. & O. F. This notifies you of the death of our member, G. T. Martin, who died Dec. 25, of La Grippe. You will see by the present membership that our order is growing and let every member who is now in the county, try and help push it to the limit by the middle of next year. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Present Membership 601. Athens, Texas, Jan. 15, 1909. No. 32. This notifies you of the death of our member, J. N. Wood of La Rue, who died Jan. 7, of La Grippe. No. 33. This notifies you of the death of our member, Jo Martin of Malakoff, who died Jan. 9, of pneumonia. Take notice of the two assessments at once. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Athens, Texas, Feb. 19, 1909. OFFICE OF W. & O. F. No. 35. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. J. J. Birt, who died Feb. 1st. of La Grippe. No. 36. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Gus Garrison, who died Feb. 6, of paralysis. Notice double assessment. Cannot give present membership for a few days, but our order is holding up good. Will give membership in next week's issue of Review. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'y. Athens, Texas, Apr. 13, 1909. OFFICE OF W. & O. F. No. 38. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. W. J. Fife who died Apr. 8. No. 39. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. W. F. Jordan who died Apr. 12. Notice double assessment. Present membership 593. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'y. Office of W. O. W. Fund _______ No. 37. ATHENS, TEXAS, 5-6-'09 This will notify you of the death of our member, W. L. Darden, who died April 11 of pneumonia. There was a mistake in the numbers of last assessment, as W. J. Fife should have been No. 37 instead of No. 38. I cannot give the present membership now, as I have some to see in town who have not paid yet. Will tell what Mrs. Darden and Jordan get in next issue of Review. Chas. a. Richardson, Secretary. W. & O. FUND No. 40 Athens, Tex., June 22, '09 This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Jennie Register, who died at LaRue June 18, of catarrh of the stomach. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'y. Present membership 561. No. 41 W. & O. FUND ATHENS, TEXAS, July 14, '09 This will notify you of the death of our member, Miss Bennie Story, who died June 29. All members who can, meet me at the court house Friday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m., as we want to talk about having a regular examination for new members and appoint a doctor to examine same. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'y Present membership 551. Office of W. & O. F. Death No. 43. Athens, Texas, April 21, 1910. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. W. S. Knight, who was Mrs. Carrie Gafford. Mrs. Knight joined February 22, 1905, and has been in good standing since. She died at Warren, Okla., April 5th, of pneumonia. Let's all pull together and try to get our Order to the limit by the first of the year. Chas. A. Richardson, Present Membership 568. Secretary. Office of Widows and Orphans Fund Assessments No 44-45. Athens, Texas, May 9, 1910 Assessment No. 44. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. E. H. Willis, who died at Vinson, Okla., May 1st. Mr. Willis joined Sept. 30, 1902. Assessment No. 45. This notifies you of the deat of our member, Mrs. Ella Miller, who died at her home here May 3. Mrs. Miller joined Feb. 7, 1903. Notice double assessment. Chas. A. Richardson. Sec. Office of WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' FUND No 47. Athens, Texas October 7, 1910 This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. M. G. McCoy, who died Sept. 4. Every member who can get some one to join and let's run our order to the limit this fall. Present membership 553 Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Office of W. & O. F. No. 48 Athens, Texas, November 10, 1910. This notifies you of the death of our member, F. P. Richardson, who died at his home in this city, November 8, 1910, of pneumonia. Uncle Frank was a charter member, and a great believer in our little order. We are gaining a few in membership. Let's all pull together and try and get it to the limit by the first of the year. Present membership 564. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Office of W. & O. F. No 49 Athens, Texas, Dec. 29, 1910 This notifies you of the death of Mrs. Mary Walker of Murchison, who died Dec. 26th, of brain trouble. You can see by membership that our order is still growing. If I have been checking you up, you will have to make some other arrangements, as I will not be able to check any one up next year. Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year, I am, Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Membership 561. Office of W. & O. F. No. 50 Athens, Texas, January 30, 1911. This notifies you of the death of our member, A. M. Edwards, who left town late Saturday evening for home with a heavy load. In some way he fell out of his wagon and was run over. Just after assessment No. 49, when he paid up, he was talking to me about how much he thought of our little order. Little did he think he would be the next man to collect. Let every member who possibly can, get some one else to join this year and we will soon get it to the limit, and then organize Company B, and by having Company A to the limit of 750 members and organizing anohter Company, anyone can carry a lot of insurance at actual cost. This is the cheapest and best insurance any one can carry. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Office of W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, February 1, 1911. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. S. W. Wright of Brownsboro, No. 51 who died Jan 29th of inflamation of the stomach. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. J. F. Jackson of Malakoff, No. 52 who died Jan 29th of dropsy. Notice the double assessment. These two policies will have to be held till money is collected. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary, Membership 560. Office of W. & O. F. No. 53. Athens, Texas, February 15, 1911. This notifies you of the death of our member, B. F. Walls of Athens, R.F.D. No. 5. Mrs. Edwards got No. 49, assessment on hand, $560.00; Mr. Wright will get No. 50 on Feb. 20; Mr. Jackson will get No. 51 on March 2; Mrs. Walls will get No. 52 on March 2, and some one whose name I have written to-night might get No. 53. It may be you or myself. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. No 55. Office of W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, 8 - 16 - 11 This notifies you of the death of our member Mr. W. T. Collins who died Aug. 13. Mr. Collins and wife joined our order Oct. 22, 1903 and have been very prompt members since. Let every member who can get some one to join this fall and we will soon get the order to the limit, Then we can organize Co. B of the same order. Present membership 555. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. No. 56. Office of W. & O. FUND. Athens, Texas. 9 - 12 - 11. This notifies you of the death of our member Mr. B. P. Colvin, who died at his home in Athens today of dropsy. C. A. Richardson, Sec. Present membership, 552. OFFICE OF W. & O. F. No. 57 Athens, Texas, Oct. 25, 1911 This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. Meredith, who died at his home yesterday. Mr. Meredith held policy No. 115. He paid the first assessment in the order, hving joined May 15, 1901, has been a member for 10 years and has been out $58.80 in assessments -- what can beat this for cheap insurance. Lets all try to get a new member each between now and Jan. 1st so we can organize Company B of our order. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Present membership 556. Office of W. & O. FUND No. 58 Athens, Texas, Nov. 11, 1911 This notifies you of the death of our member Mr. W. A. McLeod of Murchison, who died of pneumonia Nov. 16. (Something is wrong with this one, he died Nov. 16, yet the card is dated Nov. 11. These cards were printed at a print shop, so I am not reading it wrong, pmp.) He joined the order March 9, 1906, has paid out $43.05 and gets $557.00. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Present Membership 557 OFFICE OF W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, 4-22-12 No. 62 This notifies you of the death of our member Mr. J. T. Wilbanks, who died at his home north of Malakoff, April 15. No 63. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. W. H. Partin, who died at his home north of Athens, April 18. Notice double assessment. We want to have a call meeting sometime soon and all meet again. Chas. a. Richardson, Sec'y. Present membership, 533. Athens, Texas, Oct. 2, 1912. No. 65 --- Office of W. & O. F. This notifies you of the death of our member, Roscoe Nowlin, who died at his home here yesterday from the effects of a burn caused by a lamp exploding. There is no telling who will be the next or in what way we will go. In Roscoe we lose a good member and one of our best citizens. Present Membership 545 Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Office of W. & O. Fund Athens, Texas, Nov. 5, 1912. No. 66. This notifies you of the death of our member Mrs. A. S. Robbins, who died at her home here Nov. 2. She joined the Order Sept. 16, 1905, on Assessment No. 14 and has missed paying an assessment. Let's try to get the Order to the limit of 750 this fall. Every member who lives in this county see some one who does not belong and try and get them to join. We have the best little insurance tht any one can carry. In fact it is insurance at actual cost. Let's all work together and try to put it to the limit by the first of the year. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. No. 67. Athens, Texas, Dec. 14, 1912 OFFICE OF W. & O. F. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. R. W. Burnes, who died at his home in the Western part of the county Dec. 11, of blood poison. Present membership 547. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Athens, texas, June 30, 1913 No. 69 Office of W. & O. F. This notifies you of the death of our member Mr. J. O. Denton who died at his home at Murchison, Texas, of cancer. Let every member who lives in this county talk ot some one and get them to join our order and lets all pull together and try and get it to the limit by this fall so that we can oranize Co. B. Chas. A> Richardson, Secretary. ATHENS, TEXAS, Feb. 23, 1914 No. 72 ~~ This notifies you of the death of our member. Mr. B. B. Floyd, who died at his home, R.F.D. No. 1, Feb. 17, of heart trouble. No. 73 ~~ This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. G. H. Harvill of Malakoff, who died Feb. 19, of Pellagra. Notice double assessment. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'ty. Present Membership 543. OFFICE OF W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, July 21, 1914. No. 76. -- This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. D. R. Murchison, who died at his home here July 17. Membership 533 Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. Athens, Texas, April 8, 1914. No. 74 ~~~ This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. J. W. Otts, who lived at LaRue. He died March 8, at Haskell, Texas, whee he was visiting his brother. On last double assessment our membership dropped some. Let's all who live in this county try and get a new member. Present membership 528. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec ty. Number 77. Athens, Texas, August 24, 1914 This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. G. J. Mitcham, who died at Weatherford, Texas, August 13, 1914. Mr. Mitcham had been a member a long time, having joined when he lived at Malakoff. Present membership 513. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Office of W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, Sept. 16, 1914. No. 78 --This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Mary Jordan who died Sept. 12. She held policy No. 131 in order and joined Aug. 9, 1901. Let all members be on the lookout for new members. We want to put our order to the limit this fall and organize Co. B. and by this time next year have both companies to the limit of 750 each. This will be good insurance for any one. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'ty. Office of W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, Oct. 19, 1914. No. 79. -- This notifies you of the death of our member, A. J. Richardson, who died at Bradford, Sept. 18, of rheumatism. No. 80. -- This notifies you of the death of our member. Mrs. R. W. Derden, who died at her home here Oct. 7, of kidney trouble. Notice double assessment. Our order is holding up good for deaths to come so fast. Let's all work for the order and try and put it to limit by first of year. To members who live in county -- Youg neighbor may not be able to meet the premium on his insurance that he carries in some other company and intends to drop it. See him and get him to join our order. Present membership 517. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec'ty. No. 81 Athens, Texas, January 18, 1915 This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. O. Olson, who died at Brownsboro, January 9th. Let us all try and build up our order back to where we once had it. We can do it with just a little work from every member. Present membership 495. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary No. 82 Athens, Texas, April 7, 1915. Office of W. & O. F. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. J. H. Derden, who died at his home here, April 3. Present Membership, 497. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary Office of Athens, Texas, June 3, 1915 W. & O. FUND No. 86. -- This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Davidson, who died May 1. No. 87. -- This notifies you of the death of our member, W. P. Calhoun, who died May 6th. No. 88. -- This notifies you of the death of our member, W. P. Wilson, who died May 19. Notice the three assessments. Settlement will be made on No. 86 on June 18. No. 87, July 3; and No. 88 July 20. Membership 445. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Office of W. & O. F. Athens, Tex., Jan. 12, 1916. No. 93 -- This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. F. M. Wood of Kemp, Tex., Route No. 3. No. 94 -- This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. Polly Steward, of Athens, Route 6. No. 95 -- This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. M. E. Schrader of Big Springs, Texas. Notice the three assessments. You can pay all three assessments at once or pay No. 93 by Feb. 1st, No. 94 by Feb. 15, and No. 95 by March 1st. Our death rate has been heavy for the past year, and several have died who had let their insurance drop. Wishing you a happy and prosperious year for 1916. I am, Present Membership 390. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary. Athens, Texas, June 1, 1917. No. 104--This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. H. R. Lewis of Eustace, Texas. No. 105--This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. C. H. Hart. No. 106--This notifies you of the death of our member, Mr. W. W. Royall. No. 107--This notifies you of the death of our member, Dr. Percy Larkin. Notice FOUR assessments. Time will be up on these as follows: No. 104, June 15; 105, June 30; 106 and 107, July 15, or all can be paid atonce, which will save extra postage, and settlement can be made on policies sooner. To members who live in the county at other towns besides Athens, get some new members and get your doctor, who is an examiner for some other insurance company, to examine them and we will accept their examinations. This makes our death rate high for this year, but no telling who will make next collection. Some one is sure to. Chas. A. Richardson. Office of W. and O. F. Athens, Texas, December 19, 1917 No. 109. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. T. J. Lawrence of Chandler. No. 110. This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. I. W. Starnes, of Malakoff. No. 111. This notifies you of the death of our member, S. T. Crosley, of LaRue. No. 112. This notifies you of the death of our member, Geo. W. Meredith, of Athens. NOTICE--Four assessments. Let's all try and be as prompt in remitting as we can, so as to be able to pay all four claims off as soon as possible. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous Year for 1918. I am, Present membership 290. Chas. A. Richardson, Sec. OFFICE W. & O. F. Athens, Texas, July 16, 1918 No. 117 --This notifies you of the death of our member, Mrs. E. B. Dean, LaRue, Texas. No. 118 -- This notifies you of the death of our member, S. G. Stringer, of Murchison, Texas. No. 119 -- This notifies you of the death of our member, W. T. Davis, of Athens, Texas. Chas. A. Richardson, Secretary Present Membership 180. Transcribed by - Pauline Mitchell Pierce
Miscellaneous Records of Henderson Co. Texas
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