JOHN TURNER DUNKLIN

 The following bio was taken from page 186 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

 James Hillory Dunklin (1819-1910), son of John Dunklin (1801-1879) of Perry County, Alabama, was the father of John Turner Dunklin.  James Hillory married a beautiful red head, Cynthia, daughter of Reuben Brabham of Dallas County, Alabama.

 One of James Hillory and Cynthia Brabham’s sons, John Turner, married Emiline Tubbs, November 29, 1865.  In the fall of 1870 the family joined a wagon train headed for Texas and settled in Rusk County at Harmony Hill.  Their married children made their home in other parts of the county.

 Grandpa and Grandma Dunklin settled near Pleasant Hill, which was known then as the Farmers Institute Community.  Grandpa served in the Civil War.  (See James Hillory Dunklin account.)

 John Turner and Emiline had seven children.  Viola, their first child, married Willie Oliver and had four children:  Lela, Myrtle, Turner, and Tilmon.

 James Rook married Mary Sallie Jones, and they had two children, Julia Maude and George Turner (G.T.).

 Willie had no children.

 Malcolm married Sudie Chambless and they had two children, Willie Mae and Emory.

Anna Belle, who married Basil M. Crim, had two children:  Mable, who married Earl Blackwell (See Earl Blackwell account) and had one son, James Lee; the other daughter, Annie Belle, who was killed in the New London School explosion.

 Cora married Hugh Andrews and had one daughter, Valarie Andrews Scarborough of Bowie, Texas.

Nora, who married Jesse Barker of Dallas, had no children.

 Grandpa Dunklin was active in all community affairs, was Sunday school superintendent at the Farmers Institute School, which also served as a church.  Sunday school was every Sunday afternoon.

 Grandpa Dunklin was born September 22, 1842 and died October 27, 1932.  Grandma Dunklin was born November 10, 1844 and died November 5, 1914.  They are buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.  In the same cemetery many of this family are buried including my sister, Annie Belle Crim, who died in the New London disaster.

 Submitted by Mable Blackwell