James Madison Chamness

(January 18, 1814-April 14,1874)

Joab Chamness of Purdy, Tennessee was the father of James Madison Chamness,   . On June 14, 1841, he married in Tennessee Mary Ann Richardson (July 29, 1821 - February 19, 1894) . James Madison was buried at Harmony Hill Cemetery, however, Mary Ann was buried at Harris Chapel Cemetery because of the high water in the Harmony Hill area.

James and Mary met at a spring and eloped from there. When their fifth child was a year old, they came to Texas by ox wagon. This was the latter part of 1850.Six weeks on the road brought them to Rusk County, a few miles west of Tatum. They lived near Mary's brother, Brooks Richardson. In 1868 they moved to Harmony Hill where they went into the mercantile business, and remained there until Mr. Chamness's death.

The Chamness had thirteen children,including two sets of twins: Stephen Matthews, Benjamin Clay, Nancy, Permelia Fannie, Harriet Sofronia, William Riley,Susan, James Berry, Mollie Perry, George, Henry Thomas, Sarah, and Laura.

Stephen Matthews, born in 1842, married LauraJones,who was born in 1847. They had four children: Matt, Mabyn, Stephen and Ima.

Benjamin Clay, who was born in 1843,married Amanda Adams, who was born in1848. They had nine children: Benjamin,Emmie, Carrie, Virginia, Knox, Phillip. William, Susan, and Martha. Amanda died and Benjamin then married Mary Frances Conway in 1856. Their children were Roscoe, Melinda, Laura, Wesley, Henry and Bessie.

Nancy, who was born in 1845, married J.A. Coats and they had three children:Cary, Vinson and Plea.

Permelia Fannie, born in 1847, married Jim Grigsby. They had one son, Will.

Harriet Sofronia, born in 1849, married Tom Crawford. They had seven children: S.A., Mrs. E.L. Sims, Mrs. G.M. Liles, Mrs.E.C. Escoe, Mrs. R.W. Brooks, and Mrs. W. L. Wyatt. One son died in 1891. William,who was born in 1852, did not marry.

Susan (Sudie), born in 1852, married John Winford Bowen, who was born 1852   also. They were parents of seven children; Sterrett, Madison, Jetta, John,Dowels, Wesley and one unknown.James Berry, born in 1854,married Mollie Barber, who was born in 1867. They had two children, Elmer and Euel. James Berry later married Charity Williford Pierce. They were parents of Matt, Atsie, Cary, Ralph, Ruth, and Norene.Mary Perry, born in 1854, married William Craig, and they had two children, Lois and Lawrence. George, born in 1856, married Laura Board, who was born in 1855, and had one In 1881 Henry Thomas (1858-19l7) married Maggie Jane Brasher (1860-1911) . Their children were Casper, 1882;Mollie Lee, 1883- 1967; Orel, 1886; Effie, 1887; Myrle, 1890; Mahulda, 1892; Margaret, 1895; Tommie, 1900; Henry then married Elizabeth Copeland and they had one daughter, Mildred who was born 1913 In 1905 Mollie Lee married Benton Montgomery Chadwick (1874- 1946) . They were parents of Grady Linwood, Tom Ben, Oral Chamness, Jetta Beatrice, and Cary Comer.

Jetta Beatrice Chadwick married Odis Harrington in 1934. He was the son of Thomas Edgar and Kizzie Cora (Hunt) Harrington of the Pirtle Community. They have one daughter, Joyce Dene. She married Randall Gene Keeling and they have two sons, Steve and Stan, ages 24 and 23. Joyce and Randall have one grandson, Nickolas, born September 8, 1981.Odis Harrington passed away March 10,1970. He was the twin brother of Ottis Harrington. The Harringtons have always lived in Henderson, Texas. Subrnitted by Jetta Chadwick Harrington.