CHARLIE M. WHITEHEAD, SR.

The following bio was taken from page 442 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

Charlie Monroe Whitehead, Sr. came from Alabama to Homer, Louisiana, where he married Jane Elizabeth Berry (1839-1906) on January 20, 1859. They moved to Rusk County, Texas in 1876, and their children were: Bill, Fannie, Augustus, Orey Josephine, John, Mart, Robert Lee, Charlie Monroe,Jr., Cliff, and Austin.

Charlie Monroe, Jr. (1878-1933) was a farmer in Good Springs and married Minnie L. Stafford (1878-1972), who was the daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Stafford. Charlie M., Jr. and Minnie’s children are: Elizabeth, Johnny, Monroe, and William Austin.

The Whitehead’s first child, Elizabeth was born crippled and never married. Johnny (1905-1979) married Edith Lorene (born 1903). Their daughters are: Flora Mae (Kimmel), born May 10, 1926; Lorene (Austin), born November 3, 1928; and Hazel (Kornogay), born July 7, 1931. Monroe married Louise (November 24, 1924-May 18, 1968), a mail-order bride from Arkansas, and they had one son, Ricky. William Austin, born September 4, 1908, married Viola McAlpin, (August 19, 1918-May 2, 1975). William served Rusk County as deputy constable for eight years, two terms as sheriff (1945-1948), then as deputy sheriff. He was a good law officer, who was wounded several times in the line of duty, but was able to save quite a few lives and settle many disputes. After his career in law enforcement, he opened Whitehead’s Grocery and Market on Jacksonville Drive, and farmed until he retired.

Viola was the daughter of Elijah Richard McAlpin (1882-1927) and Mary Annie Brewer (1881-1962). Elijah was a farmer and a Mason in Flora, Mississippi and died young, leaving poor Annie with eight children during the depression. The children were: Lena, Clyda, Silvester, Bobby Charles, Viola, Ollie, Paul, Potter, and Silas. Lena and Clyda were married, so Viola and Ollie were cared for at the Masonic Home in Biloxi, and the boys helped Annie run the farm.

Six years after Elijah died, Annie met Taylor Whitehead, who was visiting relatives in Mississippi, and they were married and came to Rusk County in 1933, settling on Taylor’s farm in Good Springs. All of her children joined them later. This is where Viola met William Austin Whitehead and married him June 11, 1937. Their children are: Dolly Estelle, Charles William, and twins, Sandra Rose and Gerald Mac.

Dolly travels most of the time and has lived in nearly every state of the United States. Her children are William, Tonya and Kimberly.

Charles, born June 8, 1939, has traveled all over the world as a Senior Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He married Mary White (December 26, 1944) of Australia, and their children are Bruce, Sandra, and Helen.

Sandra Rose, born June 24, 1944 married Dr. Paul Nagy III and lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with their two sons, Scot and Vaughn.

Gerald Mac has always remained close to home and still loves to hunt the abundant game of Rusk County. He married Rosie Lewis, born December 20, 1947, the daughter of Luther H. Lewis (1892-1975), a farmer and businessman, and Cordle Caveness of Paris, Texas.

Gerald Mac and Rosie have built their home (which is furnished with many family antiques) on the land that William bought in 1949 for $25.00 an acre. Their children are Jody, born April 26, 1968; Billy, born November 19, 1974; and Starlette Diane, born December 19, 1976.

Submitted by Rosie Whitehead