JOHN BURL WALLER

The following bio was taken from page 425 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

John was born the seventh of eight children of Jonas Memory and Mary Washington on June 14, 1847 in Tennessee when the family was moving to Millville, Texas. Other known ancestors were Jonas B. Waller and wife, Mary, daughter of William Madding, and Martha’s parents, Henry and Betsy Cheshire Emmerson. All were of Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

John lived in the Stagecoach Inn at Millville on the family farm at Oak Hill and was the "man of the household" during the Civil War when a wolf came to the door while the men were in service.

John married Mary Jane Varnon, daughter of Mary Adline Reed and William C. Varnon and stepdaughter of Elliot M. Barton. After Mary gave birth in Rusk County to eight children – Lula, Mary, Della, Jonas Memory, John Homer, Cora, Alma, and Jane—she died and was buried in Barton Cemetery in Rusk County, August 14, 1885.

On March 2, 1888, John married Nancy Elizabeth of Crims Chapel, daughter of Rebecca Hay and John Nix and stepdaughter of William Graham. Elizabeth and her brother, Thomas Henry, were born in Alabama about 1865. Their half sisters—Ida, Mattie, and Bea—were born in Rusk County.

John and Elizabeth’s children—Henry, Lottie Mae, William, and John Alton—were born in Rusk County.

About 1900, John moved his family just across the county line into Gregg County and became active in the community and Forest Home Baptist Church. Joseph and Marvin were born here. They played with matches and started a grass fire in which Marvin burned to death.

Jane died before the family left Millville. Memory died a young single man. Henry and Joe died single in their old age. Homer and his sisters reared large families. John Alton married but had no children. William married John’s stepdaughter and fathered two sons sixty-two years after the first grandchild was born.

John was a farmer all his life. From his father’s estate November 12, 1884, he bought a wash pot- $1.50, bell-.15, pistol- $3.85, bee hives-$1.65 each, 5 plows-$1.00, mule-$85.00, cow and calf-$24.00.

John died in his home on March 20, 1921. Elizabeth died on April 14, 1928. Their graves are marked in Danville Cemetery as are those of his children, except those of Lula and Jane in Millville and Mary in Crims Chapel.

John’s descendants now live in many states and have served in the Armed Forces in many countries. They have many different occupations and professions. John was a good citizen and an active Christian and had self-respect and a good sense of humor.

Willis Kilgore’s son, Buck, went from the Stagecoach Inn to Kilgore first. John’s descendants have stayed longer and enjoyed more benefits.