Sam Houston Thompson

Following family tradition, S.H. Thompson became a farmer and land owner.  A survey bearing his name is located near the Smithfield Road, a few miles south of Farm Road 1709.

He was married to Mary Ann Stevens September 14, 1865.  She was born in Louisiana on October 26, 1847.  Their home was built of hand hewn logs.  There were two rooms on the ground floor and two above.  A large fireplace provided heat and a way to cook.  Cranes attached to the wall supported iron kettles.  Hot coals were pulled from the fire onto the stone hearth; there bread was baked in a dutch oven.  At a later date, a “lean to” was added to the south side of the house to make room for the newly acquired luxury item, a cook stove.

Near this large log house, there was a brush arbor, where Church of Christ revival meetings were held each summer.  The frame work was more durable than the roof, so it became a seasonal chore to put on a new covering of green branches every year.  A shallow well dug by the road side was equipped with a hand pump and drinking trough.  This was done to provide a place where travelers could water their teams.

S.H. Thompson built a small log house in his front yard for Grandma Byas, the mother of his wife.  Present day descendents have fond memories of visits to this cabin.  The door stood open in warm weather and a sun bonnet hung on the door latch.  Since there were no screens, a small bird built a nest in the bonnet.  Grandma and her grandchildren protected the nest until the eggs hatched and the baby birds were old enough to fly away.  Descendents believe that Grandma Byas would not have exchanged such simple pleasures for a modern way of life with screens, closed windows, air conditioning and color television.

During her terminal illness, Grandma Byas was attendee by Doctor C.H. Colley, who recorded her death in the vital statistics of Tarrant County.  A gravestone in Mt. Gilead Cemetery bears the following inscription:  Melvina Byas, born August 8, 1822; died October 31, 1906.

The Thompson’s were the parents of nine children.  The mother died February 14, 1898 and was buried in Mt. Gilead Cemetery.

Her husband, S.H. Thompson continued to live in the family home, sharing his life with friends and relatives.  In the early 1900’s, he remodeled his smoke house into a garage and bought an automobile.  When he thought he had mastered the art of driving, he took several of his grandchildren for their first ride in a horseless carriage.  All went well until he returned home and drove into the garage.  From force of habit, he pulled back on the steering wheel, said “whoa” and drove through the back wall.  Not one to be easily discouraged, he corrected his mistake and continued an active life two months beyond his seventy eighth birthday.  He died on August 9, 1923 and was buried beside his wife.

Statistics regarding the children of Sam Houston Thompson and his wife, Mary Ann Stevens Thompson, are as follows:

1)      Charles J. Thompson, born in 1866 and died 1933.  He was married to Quitera Smith, born in 1871 and died in 1943.  Both are buried at White’s Chapel.

2)      Taylor H. Thompson was married to Effie _______.  They established their home in Oklahoma.

3)      Martha Telitha, born February 24, 1870 and died January 25, 1912.  She was married to M.J. (Jocky) Blevins, born June 21, 1869 and died July 1, 1922.  Both are buried at Mt. Gilead.  The children of M.J. and Martha Telitha Blevins are:

a)      Dora, who married Rudolph Deer

b)      Charles, who married Mamie Davis.

c)      Hugh, who was married Eula Stateham, and later to Pearl Buffington.

d)     Barney never married.

e)      Lowell, who married Minnie Lee Jones.

f)       Ernest, who married Dovie Medford.

g)      Earl, who married Vernie Brown.

h)      Jewell, who married Bill Bullard.

4) Rosa Thompson was born about 1878 and died May 23, 1927.  She was married to William Harve Harris, born August 11, 1875 and died June 7, 1949.  Both are buried at Mt. Gilead.    Their children are:

a) Edress, born July 15, 1906 and died in 1970.  She was married to Vernon Gandy on March 12, 1927.  He was born in 1899 and died in 1954.  They are both buried at Bourland Cemetery.

b) Thelma, born April 25, 1908.  She was married to John Carmichael.

c) Wilma was born December 23, 1918.  She was married to J.C. Back.

5) William B. Thompson, born March 1, 1881 and died January 6, 1910.  He was married to Ida Scott.  They had one son, Harold Thompson.  They are both buried at White’s Chapel.

6) Georgia May Thompson was born in 1885 and died in 1960.  Her first marriage was to Charlie Cross and her second was to William Moses Buffington.  Both are buried at White’s Chapel.

7) Alice Thompson was married to Frank Gandy and lived in Wise County.

8) Annie Thompson was born March 1, 1872 and died April 26, 1908.  She is buried at White’s Chapel.  She was married to J.T. Shivers.

9) Amanda Thompson was born November 28, 1874 and died December 27, 1920.  She was married to Calvin (Bud) Haire on November 16, 1890.  Calvin was born April 12, 1872 and died April 10, 1940.  Both are buried at White’s Chapel.  Their children are Mary Ethel, Rufus Martin and Allie Neva Nell.

Source:  Rootsweb.com - birthdate