VINSON WALLER

The following bio was taken from page 427 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 Coordinator

Vinson (Vince) Waller, son of David Henry Waller and Martha Jane Williams, was born December 29, 1877. On January 2, 1905, he married Cordelia (Cordie) Barton. She was born April 4, 1888, the daughter of Elliott and Ellen Barton.

The couple bought land from John Waller, and Vince was a farmer all his live, harvesting cotton, corn and tomatoes. He had a syrup mill and became a big syrup maker. He and his sons planted sugar cane, made the syrup, and sold it. He even went other places to cook syrup. He went over to Louisiana to cook syrup for Dr. Jake Spivey. The Waller Syrup was quite sought after.

Vince and Cordie had seven children as follows. The first child, Ollen, born April 13, 1906, married Nita Hill and had three children: Aaron, Chinever, and Margie. He later married Mary Harris. U.L., born March 18, 1908, married Lora McClain and had three children: Josephine, Duana and Waymon. Clifford, born July 14, 1910, married Lorene Ballenger Pepper. Falvey, born November 24, 1912, married Myrtle Tha Pool. Mary Ellen, born September 6, 1915, married Gus T. Allenger and had three children: Ablelene, Billie Ruth, and Inell. She then married Rufus H. Millard. Josie Bell, born March 15, 1918, married Jim Standard, then Kelly Brown. Dewey, born April 16, 1927, married Grace Beauchamp.

Vince and Cordie’s family worshipped at First Baptist Church in Crims Chapel.

Vince bought his first car, a Chevrolet, in 1925. Two sons, Falvey and Dewey served in World War II in the U.S. Navy, both enlisting after Pearl Harbor. One grandson, Duane, served in the Korean War.

Vince Waller died May 10, 1957 and is buried at Crims Chapel. At this writing, Cordie, age ninety-three, still lives in the Waller home in Crims Chapel with her son Dewey. Two other children, Falvey and Mary Ellen, live nearby. Cordie spends her time crocheting, reading, and visiting with friends. Submitted by Mary Ellen Waller