ROBERT EMMIT YOUNG

The following bio was taken from page 465 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

There is a family tradition that a man named Samuel Young was a ship builder who lived in Liverpool, England. He built ships and sent them to America to be sold. Three of his sons came at different times on these ships. These sons settled in America. It is said that from this branch our Youngs descended.

Russell (Dock) Young, the son of Augustin and Cathrine Pounds Young, was born in DeKalb County, Georgia, May 10 1827. His early life was spent in Paulding, now Polk county. In 1850, he decided to go to Texas, as his older brother, William, had already settled there. He married Mahala Ballenger and reared a large family. His children were Bob (R.T.), who married Willie Robertson; Russell, James, Kate, John, Walter, Jessie, and Perry. James Young was elected to Congress from his district and served from 1911 to 1921.

Dock served four years in the Confederate Army. On his return from the army, he started life all over again. He had indomitable energy and perseverance, was a universally esteemed citizen, and was one of the wealthy men of his county at the time of his death July 16, 1883. He was buried in Church Hill Cemetery.

Bob Young settled in the New Prospect Community before moving to Tatum. He was the owner of the telephone company of Tatum. He also owned several tracts of land. He was a charter member of the Baptist Church and was one of the leaders who helped to lay the foundation for what the church has become today. It is said he had the patience of Job. To Bob and Willie were Augustus (Gus), Robert Emmit (Dock), William Russell (Bill Russ), Mary Jim, and Malcolm Graham (Mack). R.E. "Dock" Young was born at Prospect, November 6, 1882 and died August 26, 1954 and was buried at Harmony Hill Cemetery.

Although his name was Robert Emmett, he was called "Dock." During his early years, especially in politics, he was Mr. Dock; in his later years he was affectionately called Uncle Dock and with good reason. People at the courthouse and in his precinct felt a kinship with him because of his affability and willingness to help. He was a positive thinker but was always warm and outgoing. There were few men in Rusk County who did not know Dock Young. His love of right and his devotion to principle were never questioned. He was blessed with many, many friends. He had great strength of mind, good judgement, great energy, and boundless hospitality. He never complained. He was always the same gentle, kind, and accommodating friend.

The first few years of his term in the County Commissioner’s Office, Dock rode a horse from Tatum to Commissioner’s Court in Henderson. On his return trips home, he would stay overnight with Mr. Lewis and Miss Clara Wright, father and mother of John, Bennie, Willie, and Fred Wright. Miss Clara would wrap hot irons and have Mr. Dock put them in bed to warm his cold feet. During this period in Rusk County history, Mr. Reagan Stone tells how mules and fresnos (large scoops) were used to maintain the roads used by wagons and buggies. During the lean years on his many trips to Henderson to take care of County business, his car was always filled with people needing transportation to Henderson.

Paul Crume, writer for the "Dallas Morning News," wrote in his column: "When the oil field was being developed in Tatum, Dock Young told Ross Weaver that he was able to save on electricity. At night he didn’t have to turn on his lights—just raised the window shades. Plenty of light from all the oil derricks".

Mr. Dock served sixteen years as County Commissioner for Precinct 2. These were the sixteen happiest years. He had a deep love and appreciation for people. He was an excellent commissioner, and Rusk County and Precinct 2 made immeasurable progress under his leadership. He made numerous trips to Austin and helped to secure many State Highways and miles and miles of Farm to Market roads for Rusk County. Cherokee Lake was built during his tenure in office. Also the new courthouse was built. He helped to get the two-year term for Commissioners changed to four-year terms. He was elected for the first four-year term but did not live to serve.

He was married to Miss Minnie Bell Menefee, daughter of Dr. A.O. Menefee and Effie Gladney Menefee. He was a kind and generous husband and father. He taught his daughters to love God and to appreciate nature.

Miss Minnie Bell Menefee was born in Harmony Hill on May 13, 1892. She graduated from Wesley College in Terrell and lived with her uncle, Dr. Sam Gladney and her Aunt Lizzie while he was attending college. She taught music in Tatum many years and was also an artist. Miss Minnie Bell was a great lady. She stood for the finer and nobler things of life. She was the undisputed epitome of dignity, character, and breeding. She was the lady. She was a Christian and was God’s servant. She was a loving daughter to her parents as well as a loyal and devoted wife to her husband. She filled the lives of Mary Effie and Margaret with love.

In addition to her other talents, Minnie Bell had business ability. When she filled the office of County Commissioner for four years at the death of her husband, she was well schooled in the needs of the precinct. She kept up the roads and built new ones. She traveled those roads and supervised her work. She helped to make her community and country a better place to live. She died November 6, 1979 and is buried in Harmony Hill Cemetery.

Mary Effie, whose birthday is December 28, was the first daughter of Minnie Bell and Dock. She was a firm believer in going to church. She received a gold dollar when a child for perfect attendance at Sunday School for a year. She passed her belief on to her three sons. Mary Effie graduated from Tatum High School, attended East Texas Baptist College, and received her B.S. degree from East Texas State University, Commerce. She taught school in Tatum thirty-two years before retiring. Mary Effie married her principal, Curtis R. Smith, while teaching. Her life revolved around the activities of her three sons—Curtis Larry, Ross Menefee, and James Robert. The happy surprising thing that happened on her honeymoon in New Orleans was that a telegram wishing her "Happy Birthday" from her Aunt Agnes and all was delivered to the newlyweds while they were dining in the Roosevelt Hotel.

Margaret Young graduated from Tatum High School and attended East Texas Baptist College, where she met and fell in love with Francis J. Murray, captain of the football team. His mother and father were from Scotland. Francis was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Francis and Margaret married December 6, 1942. Francis was purchasing agent for H.K. Ferguson Company. They have had many interesting years living all over the United States—New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Toledo, Jacksonville, Florida; Williamsburg, Virginia; Memphis, Tennessee to name a few of the cities in the seventeen states where they lived. Margaret has traveled around the world. The most impressive trip was a visit to the Holy Land, and most recent trip was in 1981 to the Orient. Margaret received her B.S. degree from East Texas State University, attended Boulder University, Colorado; Arizona University; and William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia.

Margaret was given the opportunity to teach fourth grade at Gaston (now West Rusk) in 1934. Gaston was, in those wonderful years, the world’s largest rural school and one of the wealthiest. How fortunate to teach such wonderful and outstanding students for fourteen years and to be associates with such fine and wonderful people. Margaret stated that she had received true joy in thirty-three years of teaching and is still grateful to the trustees at Oak Hill for her first teaching position, for during the depression years since there seemed to be more teachers than positions to be filled, teachers with experience were usually hired first.

Margaret, after teaching school in Marshall, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Williamsburg, Virginia, returned to Rusk County and Montgomery School in 1973. Because of the goodness and kindness of people everywhere, teaching has been her joy. It has been her hope and prayer that her students will live a better, richer, and fuller life as a result of her teaching.

The life of Dr. A.O. Menefee and his family is written in another part of this book. Dr. Menefee’s daughters were: Minnie Belle, Grace, and Agnes; and the sons were Albert and Tate. There is a deep love and respect for and many beautiful memories of these wonderful people.

Although Margaret has no children, she has three nephews to love and adore—Larry, Menefee, and Jim Bob.

Margaret’s family is one with a glorious heritage.

Submitted by Margaret Young Murray.