CHARLES GORDON RAYFORD

The following bio was taken from page 355 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

My grandparents were Charles Gordon Rayford and Cora Wynn Wilson Rayford.  Gordon was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1860, and Cora was born in Old Jamestown, Smith County, Texas in 1862.

As a teenager, Gordon left Mobile and came to Texas to join his father and his brother Arthur who had preceded him and were living in New London, Texas where they had established a shingle mill.

 Gordon and Cora Wilson were married in 1883 and lived in Overton until Gordon decided to move to Henderson for better business opportunities.  He worked for a time at Spharler’s Meat Market, but soon formed a partnership with Fred Cover and the two established a grocery store.  They also became the first Oldsmobile car dealers in Rusk County.  Gordon was a council member of the first city council of Henderson.

 fter leaving the grocery business, Gordon worked for Alford Brothers Motor Company until his retirement.

 Gordon died in 1946, and Cora in 1956.  They were survived by five children.  Their son Vernon L. was born September 8, 1884 and died May 6, 1959.    He was in the hardware and furniture business for a time and later served as auditor of Rusk County for many years.  He married the former Miss Margaret Still. They had two children, Vernon L., Jr., born in 1913, is retired and lives in Kilgore.  Lois L., born in 1911, for many years operated Rayford Florist.  She passed away in December, 1980.

 John Julian (Don) was born November 26, 1886 and died October 21, 1963.  He was a pharmacist with Hightower Drug Company for years; was in the cold storage business for a time but soon returned to his old love, the drug store, but not the first one.  Don also served on the city council.  In 1911 he married the former Miss Josie Beall Alford (September 3, 1887-October 14, 1953) (See Josie Beall Alford account).

 They had three children, John J. (Jack) Jr., who was born April 4, 1916, is engaged in the cattle business. Bessie Lou, who was born December 13, 1918,is retired from Kilgore College after thirty years as Assistant Registrar.  Jesse David was born November 25, 1923.  He is an interior designer and is the owner and operator of “The Rooster,” an art needlework shop in Henderson.

 The third child Ray, born January 15, 1890, was a Supervisor of Art in the Muskogee, Oklahoma schools for a number of years and held that same position in the Henderson school system for twenty years.  She is now retired and lives at 703 Richardson Drive.

 Lucille, born December 12, 1895, is a former teacher in Henderson.  She married Jess B. Alford in 1926.  They lived in Paris, Texas, where he was in the automobile business, and later was very active in cattle raising and civic affairs.  They had two children –Jess Jr., a commercial photographer in Dallas, and Mariwyn, who is married to Russell B. Watson, Jr. and lives in Tyler.  Some time after Jess’s death in 1973, Lucille returned to Henderson where she makes her home at 702 Richardson Drive.

 Elizabeth, born December 18, 1901, was a teacher for many years in the Arp and Henderson Schools.  She is now retired and lives at 1416 South Main. On June 15, 1927 she married Dr. John C. Allen, a prominent ophthalmologist who practiced for many years in Henderson.  They had one daughter, Mrs. Ann Allen Pate, who was born December 23, 1929 and died October 19, 1952.

 Submitted by Bessie Lou Rayford