Howell Morgan HALE

The following bio was taken from page 221 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

John Ephram Elder, great-great-great-great-grandfather of Howell Morgan Hale, immigrated to American in 1669 as a stowaway on a ship. Hartwell M. Elder, great-grandson of John Ephram Elder, and his family moved to Texas in 1848.

Nancy Tignour Elder, first child of Hartwell N. and Pamela Tignour Elder, married Joel Whitehead Hale between 1836-1837. Their second child, Howell Pope Hale, married Sue Morgan Brown, April 6, 1865. They bought a farm near New London, Texas. Howell Pope and Sue Morgan Brown Hale had ten children. Their fifth child, Howell Morgan Hale, married Ida Alena Pilgreen. Ida Alena Pilgreen was the third child of Christopher Columbus Pilgreen and Frances Missouri Milstead Pilgreen. The Pilgreen family moved to Rusk County, Texas in 1874 and bought a farm near New London, Texas. Howell Morgan Hale and his wife, Ida Alena Pilgreen Hale, bought a farm adjoining his mother’s farm near New London, Texas. They had six children: Sue Frances Pauline, William Morris and Mary Helen (twins), Erette Morgan, Ida Alena, and Elizabeth Joel. Sue Frances Pauline Hale taught school in New London for approximately thirty-seven years until her death in 1966. William Morris Hale died just prior to his twelfth birthday.

Mary Helen (twin to William Morris) taught school in New London, Winnsboro, and Pharr, Texas, also in Dade City, Florida, and completed her teaching career in Henderson. She married Walter Anderson Ferguson, whose career was also in education. They have two sons, James Phillip and Walter Andy. Walter and both sons, Phil and Andy, served in the U. S. Navy.

James Phillip Ferguson teaches in Dallas. He and LaWanda have three children: Rad, Kevan, and Molly. LaWanda is a beautician. Walter Andy is in the insurance business. He and Pat have four girls: Pam, Polly, Jill, and Juli. Pat is a teacher.

Erette Morgan Hale was employed with the Texas Department of Public Safety for thirty-four years. He married Vivian Dudley, a teacher, and they have two sons: Jerry Don and Jack Riley. Errette served in the U. S. Navy three years.

Jerry Don Hale teaches band and piano at Kilgore College. He and Toni have one daughter, Maria. Toni teaches music in Henderson schools.

Jack Riley Hale is elementary school principal at White Oak. He and Paula have three sons: Jarrett, Jeffrey, and Justin. Paula is a teacher.

Ida Alena Hale married Jack Weldon Justice. They have two children, Weldon Hale and Polly Sue. Alena’s career was in secretarial science. She was Executive Secretary for Ethyl Corporation for twenty-four years. Jack’s career was in sales. Weldon Hale Justice’s career is data processing. He served in the U. S. Air Force four years. He and Reba Dene have four children: Paul, Cynthia, Ann, Patricia Dene, and Kelle Renee.

Polly Sue and her husband, Gail Pruitt, had four children: Sue Ann, William Justin, Julie Lynn, and David Alan. Polly is presently married to Frank W. Renner, a food broker, and lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Elizabeth Joel Hale married Charles Vaughn Roberts. They have one daughter, Rebecca Ann. Elizabeth taught school prior to her marriage. Charles’ career is in geology. Charles served in the U. S. Air Force four years. Elizabeth and Charles reside on the Morgan Hale farm in New London.

Rebecca Ann and Gerald Hicks have three children: Stephanie Ann, Patrick Scott, and Robert Morgan. Gerald is employed with Exxon in Houston. Rebecca Ann is a housewife.

Written by Alena Hale Justice