JAMES THOMAS IRWIN

The following bio was taken from page 254 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 Brimley Mayfield, Cemeteries of Texas

Five miles west of Laneville on Farm Road 1798 in a white, two-story, five-gable house live Maude Rice, Mabel Irwin, and Leo and Lena Roberts. This house was built in the early 1920’s by James Thomas Irwin.

James Thomas Irwin and Lillie Irene Walker began their marriage on this same home site in March 1883. Their first home had only two rooms, but other rooms with a hall were added as the following children were born: Ira – 1884; Maude – 1886; Lena – 1887; Mabel – 1888; Grover – 1889; Inez – 1890; John Howard – 1893; Vera – 1895, Ina – 1897, and James Newton – 1903. Even Howard Brown Irwin, Civil War Veteran and father of "Little Jim" (as he was called by friends), spent some of his last days in this house before his death in 1918. Lillie Irene, along with Mabel and Vera, wanted a big house to replace their old home when it was destroyed by fire in 1922. This came to pass and the doors, windows, and hardware were purchased at wholesale from Jim’s brother, John, in Cushing.

After discussing with Lena and Melvin Gilbert her need for a young boy, Mrs. Irwin finally got twelve year old Leo Roberts. He had been living with his bachelor Uncle Jake Roberts, who consented for Leo to travel by train to Sacul, where he was met by Ina and Claude Jackson. Mrs. Irwin and the entire family were most delighted to have Leo as they felt he took the place of James Newton, who died at age six. Vera had several childhood diseases, and Dr. H. A. Gallaway gave her excellent care during the horse and buggy days. Mabel continued to teach school and postponed her marriage proposals to please her parents. Lillie Irene departed this life July 15, 1940, and Maude was persuaded to come back home to look after her dad. Mabel continued to teach school at New London and came home on weekends. Lena Rice, Maude’s younger daughter and only granddaughter born on Irwin Hill, continued to go to college at Stephen F. Austin State University and found her first school secretary’s job at Leverett’s Chapel in 1942. In the meanwhile, James Thomas had died December 14, 1941.

The James Thomas Irwin estate was finally divided in 1945 with the help of attorney friend and Judge Brachfield, along with Mr. Pete McNee and Mr. Lee Tipps.

Much anger and disappointment was shown by Maude and Mabel when Lee and Lena chose to marry December 18, 1945. To this family was born Jerry Ted Roberts September 30, 1949. Then Vera Jane was born January 5, 1955. Maude, Mabel and the Roberts family continued to live in the five-gable house, making improvements as needed.

Again, Maude, quite education conscious, was disappointed when Jerry Ted and Jadean Bolton married August 15, 1970. After Vera Jane and Charles Orr married June 29, 1973, she completed another year of college at Kilgore.

Six generations were very much connected with the five-gable house when Jaleesa Ann Roberts was born October 5, 1977. Then Angela Michelle Orr was born August 31, 1980, completing the sixth maternal generation. Living in Houston are Harry Lynn Rice, son of deceased Sam Irwin Rice, wife Kathy, Kelli, Candis, Kristi, Stephen, David and twin, Terri. Mary Grace Bell, Maude’s older daughter, Peggy Sue and Henry Grizzard, Mary Louise and Wymond McCosin. The Grizzards have a married daughter, Mary Kim, and Alisa Kay is still at home, and the McCosin’s sons are Heart, Health and Kurt.

As of October 1981, Maude lives satisfied that she has been granted a long life because she obeyed and honored her parents. She has two other living sisters: Lena Ruth Gilbert, age ninety-four, living in Nacona, and Vera Hoover, aged eighty-six in Henderson.

Submitted by Lena Roberts