On January 5, 1906, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, Samuel Venson Bilberry was born the second son of Eleck and Millie Stinnett Bilberry. Venson was named for his paternal grandfather, John Venson. John Venson and his wife, Nancy Ellen Bilbrey Bilberry were among the earlier settlers of Dickens County.In 1913, Venson moved with his family back to Dickens County where his father began farming. Venson learned to love the land, and his earlier memories are of his life on the farm, the Espuela School and the Espuela Baptist Church.
When Venson was 20 years old, he met the girl who was to spend the next 34 years of his life with him. Eva Dressel Bronson was born June 22, 1908, in Bell County, near Rogers, Texas. Her parents were Clarence and Neddie York Bronson. She had two brothers, Cecil and C.H. When Eva was 6 years old her father died, and her mother took the family to live with her father, W.D. York. In 1923 Mr. York loaded all the family and their belongings on a train and moved them to Dickens County and settled in the Dry Lake Community. Eva didn´t get much schooling because there was always work to be done in the fields. She pulled cotton one fall and made enough money to buy her wedding clothes. So on December 5, 1926, Eva and Venson were married. They continued to farm for Venson´s dad. In September their first child, Imajean, was born. (She is now married to Henry McGee, lives in Smithville, Texas, has 3 children, and 9 grandchildren.)
In 1931, Noel Lyndal was born and in 1933, Kenneth Dale was born. It was getting harder and harder to make ends meet so Verson moved his family to Brawley, California It was there they lost their first son, Noel Lyndal. They brought him back to Spur to bury him and Verson started farming again. In 1940, they lost Kenneth Dale. This was quite a blow but on June 2, 1940, God blessed them with another son, Harold Royce. (He now lives in Austin, works for the Police Department and has 3 children and 1 grandchild.)
Venson was a farmer by choice, and a carpenter by necessity. He farmed for different people in Dickens County, and he and Eva built and sold five houses in Spur.
Sammy Joe was born to them in 1942, but his life was short as he passed away February 20, 1945.
Venson and Eva were living in Spur when Frankie Don was born. (He now lives in Austin, works for the State of Texas, and has one stepson.)
It was on July 12, 1960, after 54 years of service to his family, his church, and his community that Venson passed away. Eva continued to live in Spur where she worked at Spur Memorial Hospital, 11 years in all. In 1965, she moved to Austin. In 1967, she sold the last home she and Venson had built and moved to Smithville, Texas, where she lived until 1980 when she married Rayman Grigg. She and Rayman now live in Marlin, Texas.
Source: "Dickens County, Its Land and People", Dickens County Historical Commission, ©1986
Funeral services were held Tuesday for Samuel Venson Bilberry, 54, who died in St. Mary´s Hospital, Lubbock, Monday morning.Bilberry, a retired farmer, had been ill for some time.
Rev. J.E. Lee officiated at the First Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. Billy Smith, Lubbock and R.d. Hill, Spur.
Bilberry had been a resident of Dickens county since 1910. He married Eva Bronson on Dec. 5, 1926, and was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, one daughter, Imajean McGee, Spur, two sons, Royce Bilberry, Dyess AFB, Abilene, and Frankie Don of Spur. His father, E.J. Bilberry, also survives along with one sister, Mrs. Bill Ponder, Corsicana and seven brothers: A.J. and E.A., Lubbock; Alvis and Bernice, Spur; Raymond, Brawley, CA; and E.J. of Brawley, CA.
Pallbearers included Ted Smith, Glen Jones, Paul Loe, Ray Caplinger, Lewis Ray Smith and Estel Hairgrove.
Interment was in Spur cemetery with Campbell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
©The Texas Spur, July 21, 1960
Obit submitted by Lillian Grace Nay
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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