HENRY H. MORELAND

 The following bio was taken from page 313 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, Rusk County TX Coordinator

 Henry Hawood Moreland (December 18, 1825-January 11, 1900) and his wife Mary Sutton Moreland (August 5, 1825-January 18, 1916), with their five children – Louise Jane (1850-1927), Bettie Ann, Pocaah Huntas, Tibithia Ann and Susie Anna (February 12, 1859-May 31, 1945), natives of Alabama came to Panola County and made their home close to Clayton, Texas.

Jame married I.R. Dillard (1853-1937); Bettie married (name unknown) Harris; Poccah married Belew; Tibithia married Gillis; Susie married Thomas Howard Lee.

 Henry Hawood was a Panola County Civil War Veteran.  His widow drew a Civil War pension.

 Mary lived with her daughter, Jane, and her family, after the death of her husband in County Line Community, Rusk County.  Both are buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Clayton, Texas.

 Thomas Howard Lee was born September 25, 1854 and died May 7, 1927, in Georgia.  He came to Clayton, Texas, where he met Susie Anna Moreland and married her December 20, 1883.  They moved to the County Line Community in Rusk County, where all their seven children were born.

 Mary Irene (January 8, 1885-October 24, 1966) married John Turner.  They adopted a girl, Ruby Forence.

 Emma Frances (December 13, 1885-February 3, 1943) married Reverend John R. Welch, a Baptist preacher.  His former wife had died and left him with three small girls – Lillis, Gertrude and Mamie Grace.  Emma and John were parents of five children: Russel, who died very young, Clydell, Augusta, Mozelle, and Johnnie.

 Digah Elizabeth (March 3, 1888-September 18, 1970) married Jim A. Sears (August 12, 1886-September 12, 1970).  They had four children: Tommie, Garvis, Irene and Juanita.

 James Benjamin (November 17, 1889-January 14, 1967), married Lillie McElroy.  They had no children.

 Docia Augusta (April 14, 1881-August 24, 1981) married Murry Williams.  They had ten children: Clovis, George Lee, Grover, Imogene, Susie, Glen, Claborn, James Thomas, Dorothy, and Margaret.

 John Thomas (May 16, 1894-July 29, 1980) married Ethel Sears, August 26, 1896.  They had four children: Mahdeen, Neal, Fredia, and Charles.

 Fairy Lillar (March 21, 1896-January 1, 1978) married Arthur P. Pirtle, (January 8, 1891-November 2, 1969).  They had four children: Margie, Hawood Lee, Martha Ann, and Hyla.

 The Lee family settled on a large tract of land.  They dealt in lumber and farming and operated a cotton gin and a grist mill.  They were very active in the community and were members of County Line Missionary Baptist Church.  The family home was a gathering place for kinfolk, neighbors and friends.  After the children were grown, Tom and Susie moved to Minden, Texas, about 1918.  Later they bought land and a house and moved to the Sulphur Spring Community in 1923.

 Tom died in 1927.  Susie lived on with her son Tommie and his family until her death in 1945.  They are buried in King Cemetery, west of Mt. Enterprise, Texas.  Many relatives and grandchildren still live in Rusk County and East Texas. 

Submitted by Margie Hudman