CAROL ROSS YOUNG

The following bio was taken from page 463 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

The Rosses first learned of Texas by word of mouth and by friends there who wrote letters to them. They were trying to find a better way of life and avoid harassment from such forces as "the Night Raiders" in Tennessee, who lynched suspected Yankee sympathizers or just plain folks they did not like.

My family settled in the Rusk County area varying from the southeast, south and southwest portions of the county. Most of the immigrants derived their roots from the British Isles—Scotland, Wales, England, and perhaps Ireland.

I grew up in East Texas in Henderson and spent many days on the farm of my grandparents, Bill and Anne Lou Ross, in the Liberty Community near Martin’s Creek, which is now mostly covered by Martin Lake. My parents, William H. and Marie Whitehead Ross, had two children, Robert William "Bob", now deceased, and me, Carol.

I also spent time in Joinerville, Texas at the home of my maternal grandparents, Edgar Wilmer and Cleoric Hendon Whitehead. Their home is near the site of the "Dad Joiner" well.

In the Rusk County area I had a great many relatives from both the Ross and Whitehead sides. Many of my childhood memories revolve around Christmases at both my grandparents’ homes as well as Sunday dinners with aunts, cousins, uncles, and my immediate family. Many times my parents, my brother, and I would gather at the home of my Ross grandparents in order to butcher a cow or a hog, or even to can vegetables for the coming winter. It was a time of pulling together. My Whitehead grandparents always remembered my brother and me on special occasions. These were acts of special remembrance because there were many grandchildren, as my mother was one of twelve children. We were unusually lucky as children in retrospect, and we were totally surrounded by love and security. Family was always there even before self.

My school days consisted totally of attending the Henderson Schools. As most girls my age, I was involved in Camp Fire Girls, church, and club activities. I was also very active in baton twirling, being a majorette both in junior high and high school. After graduation I attended Texas A & M University and the University of Houston, from which I graduated.

According to word of mouth and census records, as a whole my ancestors on both sides of the family were people who tended the land. There were a few shopkeepers and a couple of doctors also. Sports played virtually no role in the lives of my ancestors.

My husband, Jess Young, and I met while he was attending Texas A &M and I was in high school. He is of a Rusk County family and also traces his ancestors to England via Georgia. We have stayed in Texas, which is a rarity today. Our son, Jeffrey, was born in Bryan, Texas, and Aimee was born in Houston, where we have resided for the past thirteen years.

My family is very engrossed in life here in Houston. Jess is a Certified Public Accountant here with his own firm located in Houston. I have taught English and social studies in several school districts in the Houston area and also operate a freelance interior design business. My hobbies, other than working, are traveling throughout the world, gardening, and creating stained glass pieces, all creative outlets for me.

When time permits, our family members gather and make the trek to Henderson for special occasions to renew family ties and friendships and to regroup our lives. My family has given my life and the lives of my children a stabilization that is irreplaceable.

Submitted by Carol Young