OWEN TURNER SEARS
The following bio was taken from page 384 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
Owen Turner Sears, Sr., born September 25, 1821, in Georgia, was the son of Anderson and Martha Sears. He married Elizabeth Marian Rush (born May 6, 1827 in Georgia) October 25, 1849 in Alabama. She was the daughter of James Rush of North Carolina and Elizabeth Buckner of North Carolina and Georgia. They came to Texas by boat and settled in the Brooks Community. Their six children, who were born in Coosa County, Alabama, were: James Anderson Sears, Martha Ann Elizabeth, Henry Thomas, Riley Caswell, who died in Alabama, Owen Turner, Jr., and Marga Ann Amanda.Owen Turner, Sr., transferred his Masonic membership from Buckville Lodge in Alabama to Sharon Lodge at Pine Hill in 1869.
Their daughters married in Panola County and resided there. Their three sons married in Rusk County, south of Concord.
James Anderson (named for his grandfathers), was born April 12, 1851 and died January 6, 1912 at Sand Hill. He was a carpenter and a farmer. He was a member of Woodmen of the World and the Missionary Baptist Church at Concord. In 1872 he married Nancy Fredonia Chapman (born September 8, 1844 in Georgia and died March 15, 1922). Her father was James Chapman and her mother, Nancy Hoyle. James and Nancy are buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Rusk County.
The children of James Anderson and Nancy were: Owen Lafayette (Fayette) Sears, Esther Beatrice, Nettie Cordelia, an infant, and William Marion, all born at Brooks Community.
Owen L. was born July 26, 1873. At the Concord Baptist Church on June 8, 1902, he married Lola Eppie Gross (born November 11, 1887 in Tennessee). O.L. was a carpenter, a farmer, and a husbandman. He died March 11, 1962 in Houston; Lola died January 26, 1968 in Houston. Both are buried in Concord Cemetery in Rusk County.
Dora (Dorothy) Deane, the first child of Owen L. and Lola, was born August 13, 1903 in Lawsonville. Another daughter, Nellye Gray, was born December 19, 1905, at Concord. There were two sons: Dock Graham, born July 7, 1908, and Joe Alton, born December 12, 1920 at Concord. (See Gross-Wylie family account).
Henry Thomas Sears was born October 9, 1856. He married Ella M. Hoyle, who was born in December 1861. Their son, Caswell, married Fannie Brown. Their daughter, Mattie was afflicted: Emma, the next daughter, married Dust Turner. It is not known whom Frank married; Turner, Willie, and Brady remained single. This family moved from Rusk County. Thomas died July 25, 1901 and is buried in Waldrop Cemetery in Panola County.
Owen Turner Sears, Jr. (September 18, 1859-November 2, 1945) married Ida Malinda Rhodes (1869-February 24, 1928) on October 15, 1885. Both are buried in Concord Cemetery, Rusk County. Their children are: James Owen, who married Dijah Lee; Wesley Franklin, who married Lela Stanfield; Lillie Mae, who married Fred Nix; Pearle L., who married Turner Hudman; Ethel Lea, who married Tommy Lee; Esther L., who died young; Curtis, who died young; Mildred, who married first, Harvey Leslie, second, W.F. Martin; Vernon, who remained single; and Earnest, who died young.
Owen Turner, Jr., James Anderson, and Owen LaFayette were carpenters. They helped build churches, lodges, and homes in the area. They were adept farmers, owned their own homes, and participated in the affairs of the community where they resided. They were respected citizens.
Submitted by Dora D. Orr