Robert Bruce Merrell and Frances
(Fanny) Cate, whom he married later, grew up in Dallas County
with a rich heritage of childhood memories.
Robert was born March 26, 1845. Wagon
trains went twice a year to San
Antonio to get sugar, coffee and other merchandise. On one trip, Fanny’s father brought her
enough calico for a dress, her first store bought material.
Her Grandfather Cate and
Great-Grandfather Minter, had many contacts with Indians, friendly and
unfriendly, and often brought tribal trinkets home to their families. They were in the last Comanche raid near
Pilot Point.
In 1867, when Robert Bruce Merrell
was twenty two years old, he was married to Fanny Cate, born March 3, 1850 and
died November 27, 1918. She was the
daughter of James Cate and his wife, Elvira Fay Minter and the granddaughter of
Green W. Minter, 1803-1887, Methodist Minister for whom Minter’s Chapel is
named and his wife Jane, born March 20, 1806 and died July 15, 1887.
The first home was near Minter’s
Chapel, was a farm, a gift from the bride’s father. The move from Minter’s Chapel to the Keller
Community was made between 1882-1887 and they bought land known now as the Jess
Berry farm.
The children of Robert Bruce and
Frances Cates are:
1)
Benjamin Lee was married to Nora Speer.
2)
James was married to Permelia.
3)
John Brinkley was married to Etta Flemister.
4)
Eugene Victor never married.
5)
Arthur Eli was married to Elsie Sweatman.
6)
Frances Myrtle, born March 6, 1882, was married to
Marvin Harding.
7)
Mildred Wallace, born December 14, 1887, was married to
Robert L. Seay, born March 31, 1888, on December 23, 1912 in Dallas, Texas
by Rev. Martin.
When Mildred was born, her mother
was seriously ill with pneumonia. Dr.
Wallace took the baby to his daughter, Mildred (Mrs. Frank Hovenkamp), who
cared for the infant along with her own child until the mother was
recovered. During this period of foster
care, Mrs. Hovenkamp gave her own name to the Merrell baby.
After the death of Robert Bruce on
December 5, 1891, the mother and children continued living on the farm until
1897, when she established a home in the Polytechnic addition of Fort Worth. This move was made to secure better schooling
for the two young daughters, Frances Myrtle and Mildred Wallace. The son, John, continued farm operations
until he went into the mercantile business with Cade and Smith.
The church affiliation of the
Merrell family in Texas
was predominantly Methodist. Robert
Bruce Merrell is buried at Minter’s Chapel.
Children of Mildred Wallace Merrell
Seay’s paternal grandfather, Eli Merrell are:
With first wife, Nancy McCrary Merrell
(1789-1837) (widow of William Merrell)
1)
Charles, his descendents are in Utah.
2)
William, his descendents are in Missouri.
3)
Eli married Elizabeth Cope.
4)
Johnathan married C. Conley and ___ Horton.
5)
Elizabeth
6)
Phoebon
7)
Benjamin, 1820-1864, married Margaret Flemming and
Sarah Ann Manning.
Children with Mary McKay are:
1)
Olivia married W. D. Webb.
2)
Julia married W.W. Wright.
3)
Nelius
4)
Margaret Ellen married Martin Dickerson
5)
John married Susan Jane Swetman.
6)
Tom married Susie Burch.
