Transcribed by
Cathryn Jex Millburn

JOHN WILFORD ERSKINE

JOHN WILFORD ERSKINE AND HIS SECOND WIFE, SARAH JANE (SNIPES) ERSKINE

JOHN WILFORD ERSKINE AND FAMILY ca 1894
Submitted by Jeanette Jordan 

     John Wilford Erskine, b February 10, 1840 in McMinn County, Tennessee, d October 8, 1913 at Odds, Texas and buried in Tidwell Cemetery, Limestone County, Texas - was a son of Hugh and Jane (Richards) Erskine - natives of South Carolina. In 1853, John W. Erskine came to the Blue Ridge Community (present-day Stranger) of Falls County, Texas, with his parents, siblings, and other relatives. He attended school in the Blue Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church building as a boy - located two and a half miles north of the present-day Methodist-Presbyterian Union Church at Stranger.

     In 1867, John Wilford Erskine purchased 100 acres of land near Odds - later adding another 350 acres to his holdings. On October 13, 1869 in Falls County, Texas, John was married first to Nancy Griffith, b ca 1852, d 1877 - a daughter of Leonard Lenore and Sarah (Owen) Griffith, who moved to the Stranger Community after the Civil War. Nancy was a member of the Stranger Baptist Church, while John was an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Stranger, and later in the Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

     John Wilford and Nancy (Griffith) Erskine reared four of five children:

     Martha Alice Erskine, b ca 1870, buried in Kosse Cemetery, Limestone County, Texas - married in Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church in July 1889 to William Glover, of Stranger.

     Robert Richards Erskine, b August 29, 1872, d May 4, 1951 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - married Mary Tennessee Hammond, b October 7, 1893, d September 2, 1979 in Marlin, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery there.

     Carrie L. Erskine, b August 16, 1874, d April 19, 1959 - married in December 1890 at Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church to James E. Coleman, b February 8, 1868, d August 11, 1970 in Marlin, and buried in Calvary Cemetery.

     Arthur D. Erskine, b ca 1876 - married ca 1900 in Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church to Minnie Williams -moved to Evant.

     Rosa E. Erskine, b 1877, died young.

     In 1879, John Wilford Erskine was married second to the young widow of Eli Posey, Sarah Jane (Snipes) Posey, b August 26, 1852 in Macon, Georgia, d September 6, 1938 and buried by John in Tidwell Cemetery -a daughter of William C. Snipes, b December 30, 1818, d March 13, 1905, and his wife, L. S. Snipes, b July 18, 1822, d November 27, 1886 - and both also buried in Tidwell Cemetery. Sarah Jane had a son, William E. Posey, by her first marriage, who moved to Waco, Texas.

     John Wilford and Sarah Jane (Snipes) Erskine had seven children in their marriage:

     Edgar T. Erskine - a twin, b ca 1880, d before 1938 - no further information.

     Edward M. Erskine - a twin, b ca 1880 - married Tommie McDaniel, and lived in Marlin, Texas.

     Nancy L. Erskine, b 1883, d 1923 - married Bruno C. Morgan, b 1879, d 1937, and buried in Calvary Cemetery at Marlin, Texas.

     John Chester Erskine, b March 9, 1885, d March 20, 1964 and buried in Criswell Cemetery - married Della Petura Criswell, b October 1, 1886, d August 12, 1965, and buried in Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas.

     Jasper Clinton Erskine, b June 23, 1888, d April 9, 1968 and buried in Criswell Cemetery - married Bessie Mae Criswell, b May 16, 1891, d May 11, 1966 and buried in Criswell Cemetery, Falls County.

     Mortimer M. Erskine, b 1890 - moved to Bryan, Texas. No further information.

     Leonard W. Erskine, b 1893 - married Mrs. Lucille Hale. She had children by her prior marriage, but she and Leonard had no children. They lived in the Odds Community.

     Sarah Jane (Snipes) Erskine lived a long life, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She had lost her sight before her death, but still possessed a joy of living - especially when her grandchildren were around.

Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing the bios of these Falls County Families to this web page.
"Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 138, columns 1 & 2.
Member of the Falls County Historical Commission