ARTHUR PERRY PIRTLE

 The following bio was taken from page 345 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

Arthur Perry Pirtle, the eldest child of Edward Pollard and Mary Lou Ann Wilson Pirtle of Nacogdoches County, Texas, was born January 8, 1891, near Cushing, Texas in 1901.  At the age of ten Arthur moved with father and mother to Minden, Texas.  He attended Rock Hill Institute of Minden as an “A” student who especially loved math and history.  During these years he helped with the family’s traditional occupations of syrup making, farming, and raising stock.

 On June 5, 1917, Arthur registered for the U.S. Army in service of his country during World War I.  He was sent to Camp Travis, Texas for his military training.  The war ended on November 11, 1918 before he had to go overseas.  He was released from his military service on November 28, 1918 with an honorable discharge and returned to his wife, Fairy Lillar Lee, in Minden to continue his family’s traditional occupation. He had married Fairy, the daughter of Thomas Howard and Susie Moreland Lee of Rusk County, Texas on July 8, 1917 in Minden just prior to leaving for military service at Camp Travis.  He had met Fairy at the Minden store and post office where she was temporarily working for her sister’s husband, John Welch.

 Arthur and Fairy had four children: Margie Elizabeth (January 1920), Hawood Lee (February 1922), Martha Ann (August 1924), and Hyla Opal (September 1926).

 In July of 1920, Arthur and his family moved to Tyler, Texas so that he could enroll in Tyler Commercial College.  While attending college, he worked in a drug store to support his family.  ON May 11, 1921 he received two diplomas, “Master of Accounts” and “Cotton Classing,” and two certificates of Award, “Salesmanship” and “Posting Machine.”  While at college he was an active member of the Fifty Thousand Booster Club and the Federal Board Student club.  After graduation he was offered a job in a bank in New Mexico.  He declined the offer and soon returned to Minden, Texas to make farming his life’s occupation. 

Margie married Austin Hudman of Mt. Enterprise, Texas in April of 1938. No children were born to or adopted by them.

 Hawood married Tommye Dawson of Minden in February of 1946.  He died on December 2, 1947 from injuries received in an oil derrick accident.  The couple had no children.

 Martha married Clarence Andrews of Dallas, Texas in July of 1943.  To this union four children were born: Barbara Gail (1944), Linda Carol (1948), Diana Lee (1951), and Jay Bruce (1962).

 Hyla married Billy Joe Griffith of Long Branch, Texas in January of 1943. To this union three children were born: Billy Ray (1944), Sharon Sue (1949), and Keith Edward (1950).

 On November 2, 1969 Arthur died suddenly while visiting his daughter, Martha, in Amarillo, Texas.  His body was brought back to Minden and laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery.

 Fairy continued to live on the family farm until her death January 1, 1978.  She was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery. 

Margie and Hyla still own the family farm and the memories of Arthur and Fairy continue to live on.

 Submitted by Margie Hudman