Dora Browning, the sixth child of
Ben and Amelia Browning, was born in 1870.
She became the wife of James Woodville Houston, born 1862. Their active years were spent as farmers
north east of Keller. During retirement,
they lived in Keller with a son-in-law and daughter, Ralph and Evie Reed. Mrs. Houston died in 1955, Mr. Houston in
1958. Both are buried in Bourland Cemetery.
Their children were:
1)
Donie Houston, born September 10, 1887, was married to
James Thomas Smith, born February 13, 1879.
They lived several years in Oklahoma,
but returned to Keller and lived where the Bible Baptist
Church stands now. Later they moved to Fort Worth, where Mr. Smith died July 1,
1949. He was buried in Garden of Memories. Their three sons are Homer, Marion and Saint.
2)
Ruth Celeste Houston, born January 7, 1891, was married
to Johnathan
Blevins, born February 13, 1887, the son of Gaines and Mary Blevins. Mr. Blevins farmed in the Keller and Smithfield areas until he retired to live in Fort Worth. Seven sons and daughters of the family
are: R.J. Blevins; Eunice, who married
J.D. Stephens; Weldon who married Opal McLendon; Naomi who married B.F.(sic); Lester,
who married Betty Sherer; Morris who married Dorothy and Mrs. Geraldine
Blevins; and Lawrence, who married Anita Simmons.
3)
The third child of Jim and Dora Houston was a son
Willie, born December 25, 1894 and died on January 21, 1914. He was buried in Bourland Cemetery.
4)
Herbert Houston, born March 14, 1896 and died March 13,
1964. He was married to Bessie Reed,
born July 17, 1893. Their children were
John Paul and Loetta, who married Alvin Autrey.
5)
Lockey May died at the age of two and one half years
and was buried in Fannin
County.
6)
Mary Evie, born 1903 and died in 1966. She was married to Ralph Reed, born 1888 and
died in 1968. Both are buried in Bourland Cemetery.
7)
Zelma, born on January 12, 1909, was married August 28,
1924, to Henry Smith, born on March 19, 1902.
He retired as a captain, after forty five years of service in the Fort
Worth Fire Department. Their three
children are: Charles, who married
Glenda Rue Gugules; Jeana, who married Johnny Cate; and Wilma Joe who married
Richard Shergold.
8)
Raymond, born October 7, 1914, was married December 24,
1938 to Alene Helm, born August 23, 1917.
