RALPH DORSEY

 The following bio was taken from page 180 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

 My grandparents were Hess Dorsey and Nan Ellis Dorsey.  They came form Newton County, Georgia, around 1882 with their family of five girls and three boys.

 Being farmers, they bought 640 acres of land and settled in the Grandview Community, in Rusk County.

 The children of Hess and Nan Dorsey were:  Noah, who married Effie Bennett; Corney, who married Kate Young; James, who married Lena Poole; Mattie, who married Charley White; Effie, who married John Allen; Ludy, who married Dow Fryman; and Bessie, who married Newt Scarbrough; and Maggie, who married Sam High.

 My father, James W. Dorsey, lived to the age of ninety-three.  He and his wife, Lena Poole, raised eleven children.  They were:  Corney, Coy, Loy (twins), Claude, Rube, Horace, Beatrice, James, Clayton, Ralph, and Nadine.

 All the children have made their homes in and around the Grandview Community.  Three of my brothers were in the service during World War I.  Only one of them went into battle and he returned safely.

 I married Irene Jones.  We are native Rusk Countians.  Her ancestors came from Lumpkin County, Georgia. 

My first job was as a truck driver, hauling oil for the County Roads.  I operated the “Old Cooper” cotton gin on Highway 259, north of Henderson.  After there was no more cotton to gin, I became a carpenter.

 My wife and I are proud of our sons and their families.  Farrell is married to the former Fay Tillison, and their children are Deana and Dodd.  Roddy Marlin is married to Kay Rushton, and their children are Debra, Marlin, and Keith.  Maxie married Sue Saxon.  Channyce and Chance are their children.  Terry married Janet Smith.  He met her while he was in Germany serving in the Air Force Band.  Their children are Chris, Jay and Shannon.  Danny, married Barbara Beene.  Daron is their child.  They are all Christians and are active in their churches.

 There has been some musical talent in the Dorsey family.  We have the “Dorsey Gospel Singers.”  The group is made up of two sons, Max and Terry, two grandsons, Marlin and Chance, and daughter-in-law Kay Ann.  Besides having musical hobbies in the family, the men in the family restore old cars, rebuild airplanes, restore old furniture, hunt and fish, and most of them love to go camping.

 Irene and I have not seen much of Texas but don’t think we would like anyplace else.

 Submitted by Ralph Dorsey