|
| Birth Date: Dec. 24, 1884 | Birth Date:Mar. 22, 1881 | |
| Death Date: Sept. 23, 1963 | Death Date: Feb. 5, 1951 |
Jim´s grandfather, Henry Ausmus (1774-1849) married Malinda Price (1782-1864) in about 1796 when she was about 14 years old. With his young wife he settled near Speedwell, TN.
Jim Ausmus was the youngest in the family of about 13 children and the only boy. Jim´s father was William ("Bill") B. Ausmus (1834-1907), a captain in the Civil War. He had three wives(third wife Docas Branscomb May 20, 1862-Mar. 16, 1940), all are buried with him in the Ausmus graveyard in Speedwell. Jim´s mother was Adaline Cawood.
Matilda Edwards was born in Speedwell, TN. Her father was Sampson Edwards, (May 4, 1837-Apr. 21, 1914) who married Malinda Ausmus (Apr. 16, 1846-Dec. 26, 1924)
Jim Ausmus and Matilda Edwards were married in Speedwell, TN in what is known as the Back Valley. After marriage Jim worked in the coal mines at Middlesboro, KY.
While in Speedwell, TN these children were born to this union: Walter Laudy (Dec. 4, 1902-Aug. 10, 1942), Cassie Gertrude (July 24, 1904), Jessie Frank (Oct. 9, 1905-Dec. 9, 1943), Ira Carl (Sept. 3, 1907-Feb. 4, 1912).
It was not long until many Speedwell families had a desire to move west. This was true of Jim and Matilda. So, along with Frank and Malinda Edwards and their family, the group boarded a train and headed west for Texas.
When the train reached Memphis, TN, the Mississippi River had risen over the railroad tracks on the bridge. The engine was cut loose from the passenger cars and crossed the bridge alone to see if it would be safe to pull the coaches across. At this point many passengers got off the train, but Jim and Matilda and relatives stayed on and made the crossing safely.
They got off the train at Plainview, and the remainder of the journey was made with horse-drawn hacks and wagons to Crosbyton, arriving Jan. 1, 1908. About six months later, (June 8, 1908) Crosbyton was incorporated.
About the first place they lived was a two-room house with a half dugout on the back, and one of Jim´s first jobs was at the cement block factory which made the blocks the old Citizens National Bank building was made of.
Mar. 30, 1909 Lottie Leota was born and passed away soon afterwards, Oct. 23, 1911. Then on Feb. 4, 1912 Ira Carl died. They both are buried in Crosbyton cemetery, as are Jim and Matilda and other members of the family.
Jan. 10, 1913 Ernest Clyde Ausmus and Edwin Claude Ausmus were born. Clyde was born first, and as far as known, the first twins born in Crosbyton. They were born at 404 S. Durham.
In the early years of Crosbyton all supplies were hauled from Plainview. About every four to six weeks, horse-drawn hacks and wagons would go to Plainview and bring back coal, lumber, clothes, food, and other items, as well as new settlers.
In early June, 1918, Jim got "the westward ho" again. He had heard how good things were in Oregon. He loaded the whole family in a 1917 Studebaker, and with two or three other families, they started this long journey. After 28 days traveling and 2800 miles, they landed in Caravillis, OR. Jim had $1 left in his pocket.
While in Oregon Jim worked in a saw mill. They did not stay in Corvallis very long. The next year, 1918, they came back to Crosbyton.
Most old timers know that the C.B. Livestock Co. built the first railroad from Lubbock to Crosbyton. As long as the company owned the railroad, the train did not stop at Ralls. The reason was that a train was not required to stop within a 10 mile distance, so with Ralls being only nine miles from Crosbyton, the train stopped one mile west of Ralls at a place known as Cedric.
The C.B. Livestock Co. owned and operated a supply house in Crosbyton, selling lumber, coal, hardware, groceries, dry goods. If anyone wanted to go into a business on their own then the supply house would discontinue that item. My uncle, Ben Edwards established the first dry goods store in Crosbyton. This was about the time Edwards and Edwards had a grocery and Jim Ausmus, was a clerk there. He also was clerk in the old Palace Grocery, owned by Palace Smith. The store was located on the south side of the square about where Guy Thompson´s Cleaners is (1977).
(Taken from bio written by Clyde Ausmus)
Source Crosby County History 1876-1977
Funeral services for James C. Ausmus, 78, Crosby County pioneer were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Jesse Bass, officiated. Burial was in Crosbyton Cemetery under direction of King Funeral Home.
Ausmus was dead on arrival about 3:30 p.m. Monday at Crosbyton Clinic Hospital following a heart attack at his home.
A native of Speedwell, Tenn., he came to this area in 1909. He had been a truck driver for Gulf Oil company for many years.
Survivors are his wife, Martha; a daughter, Mrs. George Crump; two sons, Clyde of Crosbyton, and Claude, Fort Worth; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Fred Bartley, Speedwell; Mrs. Maggie Easterly, San Pablo, Calif.; and Mrs. Neil Lambert, Speedwell; and a brother, Conally of Knoxville, Tenn.
©Crosbyton Review, September 26, 1963
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
 |
Crosby County TXGenWeb Project
|
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my consent.
The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical research only and is not for commercial use of ANY type.
