Sam and Billy were twin sons born to Joel and Martha Gunn in Warsaw, Missouri. Sam was the puny boy, but outlived Billy, who died at eighty-six. Sam worked his way to Texas and at the age of twenty worked a cotton crop at Waxahachie. Sam and Billy entered the mercantile businesss; Sam went broke, married Anna Wright, had five children, took sick with pneumonia - was pronounced dead by the family physician. "I was dang nigh buried when somebody thought to pour whiskey over me." Sam often told this story with a laugh. After the death of his first wife, he married Mattie Drake.Sam Gunn brought his family to West Texas to 1891. He lived in Dickens for many years and was also in the dry good business. He stayed there in mercantile business, known as Love & Gunn Dry Goods Company. Sam Gunn once owned the drugstore in Ralls, now known as the Benton Drug, and had other stores in Dickens and Roaring Springs. About 1912 he sold out and moved to Roaring Springs and was also in the dry goods business. He stayed there until about 1930 and moved back to Dickens and "batched" in his old house on the west side of Dickens. He stayed here until he got to where he could not take care of himself and moved in the home of his daughter, Mrs. LA. Wicks, of Ralls. He celebrated his 102nd birthay at their home.
Mr. Gunn passed away at the age of 102 1/2, Crosby County's oldest resident.
Source: "Through the Years, A History of Crosby County, Texas" by Nellie Witt Spikes and Temple Ann Ellis ©1951; The Naylor Company, San Antonio, Texas, p. 430
Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971 p. 258
Graveside services were conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Dickens Cemetery for S.E. Gunn, 102, who died at 8:45 a.m. Friday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.A. Wicks of Ralls.One of the oldest South Plains residents, Gunn celebrated his 102nd birthday anniversary Sept. 27. He became ill about a week ago, but apparently was recovering. At the time of a stroke causing his death Friday he was sitting in bed smoking his pipe.
The Rev. W.R. Beard, Methodist pastor, officiated the graveside services Saturday. Gunn was buried beside Mrs. Gunn, who died in 1908. Marr Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
A native of Missouri, Mr. Gunn moved to Northwest Texas more than 50 years ago. He operated a drug store and was engaged in ranching and farming during his active career. He resided in Dickens many years, but had made his home with Mrs. Wicks in Ralls since his retirement.
Survivors include two other daughters, Mrs. Pearl McWhorter, of Lubbock and Mrs. Anna Dawson of Glendale, California; a son, Ed Gunn, of Reno Neveda; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were L.A. Wicks, Jr., S.E. Wicks, W.W. Wicks, and Billy Wicks, Jr. all of Ralls, Orvill Hall of Childress and Carroll Bowman of Antelope. All are grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Mr. Gunn.
The Texas Spur, January 12, 1950
Transcribed June 5, 2005, By Dickens County Historical Commission members.
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