The GARY Family

The following bio was taken from page 208 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

In the early days of the Civil War, Roderick Harrison Gary and his brother, William H., came to Texas from their parents’ home in Eufaula, Barbour County, Alabama. Rod (1838-1921) enlisted with a Texas Company. He was injured at Chickamauga. He was sent home to recover. After recovering he returned and served until the end of the war. Following the war, they were joined by their younger brother, Benjamin Harper Gary. William (1844-1929) married Josephine McClure (1844-1881) on December 16, 1866. Their children were: Mattie (1867), Bobbie (1869), James (1871), William L. (1875), and Alton (1876). They were engaged in agricultural businesses and made their homes in the Millville area. Benjamin Harper (1845-1890) married a woman named Alice. They had a daughter named Benjie. Roderick Harrison Gary married Mary Susannah Harris on August 23, 1869. Mary (1851-1936) was the daughter of Job Weston and Mary Elizabeth (Patrick) Harris. They made their home in the Compton Community. To this union were born fourteen children: Roderick (1870), Emmit (1872), Robert (1874), Homer (1875), Columbus (1877), Deason (1878), John (1880), Ollie (1882), William (1885), Ora (1886), Mary (1889), Eva (1892), James (1894), Adeline (1896). Roderick was also engaged in agricultural businesses. His sons also followed in agricultural pursuits. Written by Mrs. Adeline Hager