CHARLES LEWIS DENNARD

 The following bio was taken from page 176 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and

edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

  Charles Lewis Dennard (CLD) moved to Rusk County when he was five, having been born in the Jane Community, White Rock Township, McDonald County, Missouri in 1878.  He was the youngest of ten children of James Spurlock Dennard and wife, Lavenia Wealthy Lewis, all of whom arrived in Rusk County in 1883 (see Joseph  Nolen Boles Account).

 CLD married Dottie Velma Dillon at Caldonia, Rusk County in 1902.  She was born there in 1885, a daughter of Andrew Richard Dillon and Elizabeth Watts Dillon.  CLD and Dottie purchased a farm in the Lawsonville Community and owned a general mercantile store there until 1920.  Five of their children were born there.

 CLD and Dottie moved to Garrison in Nacogdoches County in 1920 and became owners of a general store on the square.  He served as a committee chairman of the First Baptist Church, which still is in use.

 In 1926 the family moved to Henderson and opened a grocery store on the square.  Later CLD operated a dry goods store.  During the oil boom he went into the coin-operated music business.  Dottie died in 1934 and he died in 1964, and both are buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Henderson.  He married Mittie Garrison Houston in 1953, and she survived him. 

 James Howard, born in 1904, was the oldest child.  He went to high school in Nacogdoches and attended Baylor University.  He was in business with his father in Henderson where he married Lucie B. Lilly in 1936.  They moved to Mineola and in 1948 moved to Tyler where he owned Dennard Supply Company, a hotel and restaurant supply business.  He purchased the Moore Grocery Company building, a five-story brick building on North Broadway Street.  Their children are Barbara and Kathryn.  He died in 1975.

 Alyne Elizabeth, born in 1906, attended C.I.A., now Texas Women’s University in Denton.  In 1928 she married William Warren Brown of Timpson and they lived there until 1930 when they moved to Henderson.  He was employed in the post office until 1942 when he entered the coin machine business.  He died in 1963.  She is a Master Flower Judge and member of DAR.  Their only child is Dottie Maurine.

 Rade Joseph, born in 1909, attended Henderson High School.  His hobby for many years was playing baseball.  He served in the U.S. Air Corps in WWII, including England.  He died in 1954.

 Charles Langston, born in 1915, attended Henderson High School.  He served in the U.S. Air Corps in WWII.  He is in the coin machine business.  He married Lovie Marie Bass in 1941, and their children are Maribeth, Charles Langston, Jr. and Margaret.

 Norris Dennard, born in 1919, is a graduate of U.T. Law School.  He served in the U.S. Army in WWII and is a Lt. Colonel in the reserves.  He practiced law in Henderson and since 1957 in Houston.  He married Vesta Mae Seiber, and their only child is David Norris.

 Joel Alvin Dennard, born in 1923, attended  Henderson High School and various service schools.  He entered the U.S. Air Corps in WWII and continued to serve until his retirement.  He served in England, France, Germany & Panama.  He married Jane Gray in 1941.  

Submitted by Norris Dennard