family of melania josephine merrell

MELANIA JOSEPHINE MERRELL was born February 16, 1861 in Irene, Hill County, Texas, and died August 25, 1943 in Irene, Hill County, Texas. She is buried at Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas. She married JACKSON J. DAVIS November 02, 1890 in Hill County, Texas-Bk. 5, p. 122, son of JOHN DAVIS and ELIZABETH. He was born December 07, 1850 in Georgia-parents born South Carolina, and died December 23, 1921 in Irene, Hill County, Texas. He is buried at Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas.

Notes for JACKSON J. DAVIS:

FROM A HISTORY OF HILL COUNTY TEXAS 1853-1980 PUBLISHED BY THE HILL COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION.

"In the late 1870s, a one room school was erected. The site of the school was where the gin stands today. This building was used for 20 years. In 1902, land was secured from J.J. Davis. Bonds were approved for the construction of a brick building with seven rooms." One of the Merrell family served as an Irene school superintendent during this time.

"Shortly after the first school building was built, Mr. J.J. Davis cleared a block of his land with a grubbing hoe so that the school boys could play baseball."

"Irene's first and only hotel was built in 1905 by Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Davis along with the other owners D.C. Hall, Lee Graham, T.M. Biggers and Edd Tucker. The building burned in 1910. The Davises continued to run a boarding house until the late 1930s."

"In 1912, T.M. Kay and his wife, Elmo, sold a block of land for the Irene Public Tabernacle. The trustees were J. J. Davis, J.F. Mason, L.W. Williamson, A.L. Winn and F.O. Pope. In the fall of 1923, the tabernacle was boxed in and used as a school building while the new building was under construction. Later the tabernacle was re-built and made into a gymnasium."

According to Jack's granddaughter, Betty, her father's mother was alleged to be Indian.

SARA JANE MERRELL was born September 25, 1862 in Jasper, Jasper County, Texas, and died March 14, 1943 in Irene, Hill County, Texas. She is buried in Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas. She married AMBROSE PARRIE NORTHERN. He was born November 02, 1854 in Heard, Georgia, and died August 05, 1929 in Irene, Hill County, Texas. He is buried in Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas. On 1900 Navarro County, Texas census SD 9, ED 106 ,sheet 27A, p. 146, household 456-463. On 1920 Navarro County, Texas census, PCT 5, SD 6, ED 162, sheet 12A, p. 153, household 207-208.

IDA MERRELL was born November 02, 1864 in Irene, Hill County, Texas, and died August 10, 1956 in Irene, Hill County, Texas. She is buried at Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas. She married THOMAS LUKE SHIRLEY. He was born April 03, 1864 in Irene, Hill County, Texas, and died April 02, 1948 in Irene, Hill County, Texas. He is buried at Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas. Per 1900, 1910 Pct 5, Sd 6, ED 95, sheet 1, p. 148, household 6-6 (Mertens & Emmett Road) and 1920 Navarro County, Texas census records, they lived at Frost. On the 1920 census, Pauline and husband Sears Cook were living with them with children Elaine? and Shirley.