James Jasper Cloud was born January 30, 1865 in Milam county, TX. when a very young man, he moved away, finally settling in the Indian Territory. He married Mandy Bohannan in 1889. She died in 1894. there was one child born to them, Bonnie Cloud of Waco, TX.J. J. made the "Cherokee Run" in 1893 when the federal government opened up the Territory to "homesteaders".
After the death of his wife, Mandy, he met and married Mattie Bell in December, 1895. Two boys were born to this marriage, Huddle C. Cloud of Wichita Falls, and Jim J. Cloud of Lubbock.
After the marriage to Mattie, the family later moved back to the Indian Territory. In November 1907, the same month, Oklahoma was admitted to the Union. The family left there by covered wagon, with their milch cows and horses following, for West Texas and New Mexico. They did not go very far into NM as signs of prosperity were not too good. They turned back toward TX. He settled in Fisher County for a while. From there he came to Dickens County and camped in a tent on what was known as the Johnson Grass farm owned by the Swensons. He did custom plowing and freighted in wagons from Rotan to Dickens. In November, 1909 when the Townsite of Spur was surveyed out, and the railroad came to Spur, he purchased a lot on Hill Street and built a home where the family lived until april, 1914. They bought a farm four miles north of Spur. It was just across the section line from Soldier Mound, North. The boys continued to go to Spur school by buggy or horseback.
Our family, as well as all other families of that day did everything in the way of honest work to pay for their homes and to make a living. Our land was the sandy type and would grow crops of all kinds to perfection. While the hard, dry land would burn during the hot dry winds we had in July and August, farmers from miles around would come to us to buy feed for their stock. Our farm was known for the good fruits and watermelons which we sold by hauling them to Spur and Dickens in a wagon during the cotton picking season in the fall.
Many interesting incidents could be told during these enjoyable trying years on this sand hill farm. J. J. Cloud was not an outward appearing religious warrior of the early days, and he advocated only two theories, honesty and hard work. In February 1936, after the boys were grown and married, he and mother moved to Spur, where they worked for a living. Dad died in 1948, and mother in 1962.
It was people like these that brought our standard of life to what it is today, with good roads, homes, fine churches and schools.
Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971
Funeral services for James Jasper Cloud, pioneer of Dickens County, who died at his home in Spur Tuesday morning, February 17, were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Spur, with Rev. C.N. Gilbert, officiating.
The deceased was born in Rockdell, Texas January 31, 1865, was married to Miss Mattie Bell December 17, 1895, at Milano, Texas.
Moved to Dickens County in 1908, settled on what is known as the "old Cloud Farm" six miles north of Spur, Here his three boys grew to manhood.
He was converted and joined the Baptist Church in Spur in 1912, where he remained a member until his death.
For the past several years Mr. And Mrs. Cloud have resided in Spur.
He leaves to survive him, his widow, three sons, A.B. Cloud, H.G. Cloud, and Jim Cloud, Jr; 9 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren.
As silent messenger of sympathy the large floral offering attested the high esteem in which the deceased was held.
Pallbearers were O.D. Thompson, A.C. Hull, Lawis Lee, Geo. Sloan, Joe Long and Frank Watson.
Campbell Funeral Chapel in charge.
©The Texas Spur, February 19, 1948
Funeral services for Mattie Bell Cloud, 85, were held Monday in the First Baptist Church, Rev. W.L. Kite officiating.Mrs. Cloud died Sunday morning in Goodnight Hospital, Lubbock. She had been ill since April.
Born in 1877 in Rome, GA she first came to Dickens County in 1908. She made her home in Spur. She married J.J. Cloud in Milano, Texas in 1895. She was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons; A.B., Waco; Huddle C., Wichita Falls; and Jim of Lubbock; one brother, P.G. Arnold, Rising Star; one sister, Mrs. Mary Dunaway, Bannerdale, Ark.; one stepsister, Mrs. Nannie Hairgrove, Spur.
Nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren also survive.
Pallbearers were Frank Watson, Gene Roberson, Carter Robinson, Olie Hindman, Floy Watson and Horace Hyatt.
Interment was in the Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, August 23, 1962
From the records of Lillian Grace Nay, Spur Museum, transcribed by Becky Hodges, August 13, 2004
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without consent. |
