OSWALD HUNTER HALFORD

The following bio was taken from page 224 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, Cemeteries of Texas

My husband, Oswald Hunter Halford, better known as "Fred", our daughter, Martha Eloise, and I moved to Hilltop, close to Reids Switch, Rusk County, Texas in April 1931. My husband built and operated a small general store across the street from unusually good people, Henry & Blanche Morris. We operated, during our years there and on a very small scale, a short-order café, gasoline pumps, ice house, and a sawmill, and sold dry goods and groceries. The operation was called Halford General Merchandise Store. When we moved there my husband and I were thirty-nine and thirty-four years of age, respectively. We have moved from Tullos, Louisiana, but were natives of Mississippi.

Our small store extended much credit. We made many lasting friendships but did much hard work for a small income. We remember numerous occasions when we placed our radio in front of the store on a stump and neighbors and friends gathered to listen to boxing events, political events, or other special news. Games of dominoes and checkers were enjoyed in our store and in the store yard. Truck drivers and oilfield personnel often awakened us in the early morning hours asking for a short order meal. At first, we went from house to house, took orders and delivered our goods.

Our daughter, Eloise, is married to H. A. Jepson, with whom she graduated from high school. Her husband’s father, H. O. Jepson, also operated a small general store not far from Leverett’s Chapel High School. Eloise’s two daughters are Martha Cynthia Gordon Bond and Karen Elise Gordon Bush. Cynthia’s husband is R. W. Bond, and their three daughters are Janette Eloise, Tonya Melissa, and Ashley Andrea, and their son is Travis Jepson. Karen’s husband is Charles C. Bush, Jr., M.D., and they have three daughters: Amanda, Emily Alison, and Melisa Anne.

A son, Travis Edward, was born to my husband and me September 8, 1937. Travis is married to the former Faye Halfacre of Granville, Tennessee. They have one daughter, Kristi Faye, and one son, Trent Edward. Their home is in Atlanta, Georgia.

From 1931 until 1941, our store remained at Hilltop. In 1941, after being turned down for active service because of age, my husband worked in Mississippi shipyards until 1944. Then we moved back to East Texas, reopened our store, and soon moved the store building to Oil Center, just out of Kilgore, and remained in business there until my husband’s death in 1956.

My husband was a World War I veteran and was very active in the American Legion. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and a Mason. I am an Eastern Star member and have always been active in the Baptist Church.

From 1957 until 1974, I resided in Jackson, Mississippi, with my daughter. She had been transferred there with Gulf Oil Corporation. In 1974, we moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, because of a company transfer. Since 1976, we have resided in Overton, Texas. After my daughter retired from Gulf Oil Corporation and her husband retired from Exxon Corporation, we returned to our home in East Texas.

Submitted by Mrs. O. H. Halford