William Rufus Henderson and Dora Ladona Bilberry Henderson, Mother and Father of Luther were married Dec. 23, 1895. Rufus was born in Mason Co. and came to Spur in 1909. His ancestors was English. Dora came from Tennessee. She traveled by ferry boat to Galveston when she was 8 years old. Her family was Dutch. Rufus and Dora farmed all their married years. The couple had 4 sons and 3 daughters James Thomas (Bud), Viola Cordell (Sister), Luther Jackson (Luke), Anna Estelle (Stella), William Rufus Jr. (Bill), Lottie Charlotte, and E. L.
Luke was born in Peacock, Texas (Stonewall Co.) Sept. 20, 1903. He was born in a half dugout. Luke remembers that when the family moved, they traveled in covered wagons cmaping along the way. When he was 8 they moved to Ken County and then on to Spur in Dickens County when he was 12. He went toschool in the Steel Hill Community. He drove horse and buggy for his teacher Addie Mae Wells for three years.
Luke married Obera Christine Cross Nov. 14, 1926. Christine (Sug) was born in Callahan Co. (Cross Plains) May 7, 1911. She was the daughter of George Robert (Bob) Cross and Herod Ann (Polk) Wright Cross. Sug has 2 sisters and 1 brother: Lorendia Bell (Sis) Mitchell of Fresno, Calif., Robert Calvin (Son) of Morton, Texas, and vera Tom (Tommie) Lynch of Sacramento, Calif.
After Luke and Sug married they settled in Spur where they farmed. Due to bad crops they quit farming and went into the laundry business. In another venture they were partners with Seamon Reynolds in the O.K. Tire and Ruber Welders Store.
Luke remembers about the year 1934 he helped build Jones Stadium and football field. The workers hauled sand and gravel by horse drawn wagons. The seating section was blasted out of the hillside by dynamite.
The family moved to Jayton in 1940. They stayed only a short time before moving back to Spur. The moving fever caught up with them again and in 1946 they moved to Ralls, Texas. Upon their arrival in Ralls they bought a blacksmith shop but later went into the laundry business.
The couple have three living children. A son Kenneth Jackson born in 1932 lived only 7 days. They lost a son who died at birth and a premature infant daughter.
Norma Ruth was born Aug. 10, 1929 in Steel Hill Community. At that time the nation was in a great depression. After graduating from Ralls High School Ruth married Elmer Dalton Norris July 19, 1947. They have made their home in Ralls all their married years. They are in the Texaco Wholesale and Retail Business. Dalton and Ruth have three children:
Dennis Dalton , he is a Psyschologist and a Holistic Practioner living in Sacramento, Calif. He works in a Juvenile and retarded boys home. Dennis received his Bachelors Degree from Texas Tech University and his Masters Degree from Sacramento State University.
Terry Lane he is an R. N. graduating from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. Terry is employed by West Texas Hospital in Lubbock, Texas where he is assistant Director of Nurses. He is married to Glenda Sue Eddleman of Cape Girardeau, Mo. Sue is an R.N. working at West Texas Hospital in labor and delivery.
Teresa Renae graduated from Ralls High School and worked at banks in Ralls and Denton. She worked in the Advertising Dept. at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. Teresa married Kenneth David Trevathan of Sherman, Texas. They live in Houston, Texas where Ken is in business for himself distributing Snap On Tools. They have one daughter Melissa Erin .
Wylie Dean was born Dec. 20, 1931 in Spur at Steel Hill. After graduating from Ralls High School he enlisted in the Air Force, taking his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Eventually he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington. After his discharge in 1955 he went into the laundry business with his parents in Ralls. He married Billie Jean Crabb McHam in 1957. Dean has 3 step children:
Leona Jean McHam married Edward M. Walker of Conroe. They live in Conroe and have provided two grandchilden: Micheal David and Michelle Rene' Jeannie is a Dental Technician and Office Manager for Drs. Donaby and English of Conroe.
Jerry Don McHam is a Project Coordinator for Gulf State Utilities in Conroe. He is married to the former Angela Dacas of Edinburgh, Texas. Jerry has one daughter, Staci Diane .
Paula Gail McHam married Chuck Sonsteby of Houston, Texas. Chuck is an accountant. Paula is a Public Relationist and Recruiter for several hospitals in the Houston area.
Dean and Billie had two daughters: Deana Joyce born Oct. 19, 1958 and passed away in 1962 at the age of 4 years.
Diana Christine is a Dental Receptionist for Drs. Donaby and English. She attends North Harris County College majoring in Word Processing.
After living in Ralls several years Dean and Billie moved to Lubbock, then on to Montgomery near Houston. They have been in the nursery business - growers for Wolfe Nurseries and are presently in business for themselves. They own and operate a Convenience Store and retail gas outlet.
Cleo Ramona was born June 13, 1933 in Spur. Cleo is living in Sherman, Texas. She is a L.V.N. working in Shady Oaks Nursing Home. Cleo Petit Black has 4 children:
Randy Weldon Pettit is a builder. He married Mary Jane Cox of Sherman. They are now living in Sherman and have 2 children; Tina Marie and Jason Randal.
Lanny Dean Pettit lives in Sherman. He received his Bachelors Degree from North Texas State University in Denton. He is presently working on his Masters Degree. Lanny teaches and coaches football in the Denison Public School System, Denison, Texas.
Cynthia D'Ann Pettit lives in Sherman. She keeps books for a Texaco Dealer.
Kenny Don Pettit is a high school junior living at home.
Luke had to retire at an early age due to bad health. They moved to Lubbock, Texas in 1965. Sug went to Nursing School earning her L.V.N. License. Sug worked at Methodist Hospital in Lubbock until her retirement. They now live in Lubbock at 4115 E. 3rd St.
The family has many fond memories of their early years in Spur.
Submitted by Norma Ruth Henderson Norris
Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church for Mrs. Eldora L. Henderson Tuesday afternoon at three o´clock. Rev. H.L. Burnam was in charge of the services and was assisted by Rev. J.V. Bilberry and Rev. Aubrey Short. Interment followed in Spur cemetery with Campbell´s Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.Active pallbearers were: Benny Smith, Elmer Jones, Ernest McKenzie, Clarence Moore, Alvis Bilberry and C.N. Kidd, Flower Bearers were: Mrs. Benny Smith, Mrs. Seaman Reynolds, Ruth Hindman, Leona May Smith, and Mrs. Jack Hensley.
Mrs. Henderson was a native of Tennessee and was a daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Bilbrey. She was born in Middle Overton county, TN, December 13, 1871, and was in her 71st year. She came to Texas when just a girl and was married to W.R. Henderson in McCully county, December 23, 1895. The family lived in Kent county many years and moved to Spur in April of this year.
©The Texas Spur, October 22, 1942
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay
Funeral services for Willis R. Henderson, 72, who died at his residence in Spur, Sunday August 22, after a long illness, were held Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, with Rev. H. L. Burnham officiating.Interment was in Spur cemetery with Campbell Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were: Elmer Jones, Clarence Moore, Tom Henderson, Thodeous McClndon, Benny Smith, Seaman Reynolds, Flower bearers were: Bertie Jones, Mrs. Bennie Smith, Mrs. Seaman Reynolds, Leona Mae Smith, Mrs. Avis Smith and Mrs. Florence Smith.
The deceased was born in Van Zandt county, April 25, 1872, where he lived as a child; he was married to Miss Eldora L. Bilberry in 1894 in Mason county, where they lived before coming to Dickens County in 1914, where he lived up to the time of his death. He was converted early in life and joined the Baptist church in which he lived a consistent christian life. He was a loyal father, a good citizen, a man who stood for the finer principles in life.
Those surviving are five sons: Cordell, Jim, Luther, E.P., and Pvt. Willis Henderson, Jr.,; one daughter, Estelle Hill, and one half sister, Mrs. Maggie Davis.
©The Texas Spur, August 26, 1943
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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