JESSIE MOON

 The following bio was taken from page 311 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

 Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

 Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of TX

 Jessie Marion Moon was born November 16, 1871, in Buena Vista, Georgia.  He was a farmer and worked in the cotton mills in Columbus, Georgia.  In 1892, he married Quennie Golden of Buena Vista, Georgia.  She was born April 3, 1875.  They lived in Columbus until 1895, then moved to Galveston, Texas.  He worked in the cotton mills there until the latter part of 1896 when the couple came to Rusk County and settled in the Shiloh Community where they reared their seven children.  Jessie was an old-timer fiddler.  He and his three older sons would entertain at school functions and other socials with their all-string instruments.

Jessie, our dad, always had good horses.  One day he saddled a horse to carry some corn to the gristmill.  On the way he saw a horse he liked and made a trade.  While on his way home he found that the horse had heaves, so he took the saddle off and his sack of meal.  My family and I could hear him calling for help before he got home.

 Another time we were sitting around the fire one night though it was not very cold and had the doors open.  In came what Dad thought a black cat.  After hitting with a fire poker, Dad discovered that the “cat” was a skunk.  It was several days before we could breathe well.

 Mother was a housewife and was always around when we needed her.   She died July 22, 1944.  Dad died February 22, 1953.

 The first child born to the Moons was Charlie, December 28, 1894.  He married Lula Parker December 24, 1916.  He was a farmer.  He and his wife reared seven children.

 The second child of the Moons was Virgil, born March 1, 1898.  He attended Tyler Commercial College and went to work for Southern Pacific Railroad at Garrison, Texas as a telegrapher clerk.  He married Vera Parker April 20, 1919.  He was laid off the railroad during the depression and worked for Paul Rogers Tire and Battery Store for three years.  He went back to Southern Pacific Railroad at Nacogdoches  as a telegrapher operator for five years, then to Garrison as station agent for fourteen years.  He was sent to Lufkin as agent for S.P., T.S.E., A & N. R. and Cotton Belt Railroad.  Vera was employed by Southern Pacific in 1943 during World War II.  They both retired in January, 1966, she with twenty-three years and he with forty–seven years of service.  He was a deacon in the Baptist Church, a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Lions Club, and a Mason.  They moved back to Minden after retirement. Virgil died November 11, 1973.

 Walter (Tobe) Moon, the third child, was born December 2, 1900.  He married Merline Chapman, daughter of Joe and Epsie Kelly Chapman.  Their only child is Walter Don Moon.

 Walter attended public school in Rusk County.  After their marriage, he and Merline attended Stephen F. Austin State College.  They received their Bachelor of Science degrees from S.F.A.  Walter graduated from Sam Houston State College with a master’s degree.  Merline received her master’s from S.F.A.  They both taught school at Sweetgum, Minden, Corsicana, and Houston for a total of forty years each.  They moved back to their home in Minden since their retirement in 1971.  Both of them stay busy with caring for their cattle and growing vegetables.

 Don Moon graduated from Minden High School.  He attended Texas A and M for three years, where he played varsity basketball.  He taught school in Houston for several years.  He married Brenda Gail Hayner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hayner of Karnack, Texas.  Brenda finished high school in Karnack and business school in Lufkin.  She worked for  Tennessee Gas before she married.

 Don and Brenda earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stephen F. Austin University.  Don is principal at the Carlisle School in Price.  Brenda teaches in the Middle School in Henderson.  They have two sons, Walter Don, Jr. (Donny) and Toby Jack.  Donny is a sophomore at Carlisle High School.  He is a member of the National Honor society.  Toby is in the eighth grade and is very active in sports.

 The first daughter of the Moons, Berta, was born December 4, 1903.  She married Marvin Kelly, who was a carpenter and worked for the school system.  During World War II he also worked at a shipyard.  He died July 5, 1950.  They had five children.  Their daughter, Vonice, married W.M. (Pete) Arnold, who worked for Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt Railroad as a signal maintainer.  They have three children -  Paula, Paul and Mack.  Pete died May 9, 1974.  Vonice married Denver Patton in 1980, and she and her husband live in Houston.

 The Kelly’s son, Glen, born October 19, 1933, married Lucy Greer in North Carolina.  He was a manager of a clothing factory.  He died October 4, 1980.  They have two daughters, Glenna and Tresa, who live in Jacksonville.

 Shirley, the Kelley’s second daughter, married Leon Clark, who is employed with Kraft Company.  She is a beautician.  They have three boys – Terry, Kenneth, and Marion.  The Clarks live in Rowlett, Texas.

 Jean, the third daughter, married Frank Sanders. He works as a pattern cutter for a clothing company.  They have four children: Louis, Donald, Carol, and Waylon.  They live in Jacksonville.

Ann, the fourth daughter, married Edward Boatman.  He is in the timber business and she is a housewife.  They have two sons, Glenn and Keith and live in Garrison, Texas.

 Andy Moon, the fifth child of the Moons, was born May 12, 1906.  He was a farmer and never married.  Andy died April 16, 1976.

 Ethel Moon, born June 20, 1909, married Chap Griffin, who worked for Atlantic Oil Company, Temple, Texas.  He retired in 1969, and he and Ethel  moved back to their home in the Minden Community.  She was a housewife.  Ethel died March 1, 1972.

 Jessie Aaron, the youngest child of the Moons, born September 21, 1917, married Avis Burd.  He retired from the Texas State Department of Health and she from Mental Health and Mental Retardation of Texas, Big Springs, Texas in 1979.  They returned to Henderson to live.

 Submitted by Ava and Vera Moon