Cherokee County

CHEROKEE COUNTY

Cherokee County, Texas

RUSK STATE PENITENTIARY 1910

Cherokee County Genealogical Society wishes to thank  Lou Ann Lunsford, 8310 Werner, Houston, TX 77037-3027,   281/447-8803,  Fax 281/447-2133  E-mail: [email protected] for contributing this material.

The main building of the present Rusk State Hospital was built in 1878.  The Penitentiary was receiving prisoners by January 1883 from the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, TX.  These prisoners were used as convict labor for the iron industry in the area at that time.  For more information on this institution, please check The Handbook Of Texas Online.

Texas became a state in October of 1845, and in 1846 there was only one family living in Rusk.  Rusk was chosen as the County Seat of Cherokee County and named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
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EAST TEXAS PENITENTIARY,  Rusk. Texas - Cherokee Co., TX 1910

PCT. 1 - Enumerator, Billy Hamilton, pages 43 & 44
From:  1910 CENSUS CHEROKEE CO., TEXAS.  Transcribed by Kathryn Hooper Davis, microfilm #1538, micro-copy #T624.  Published by Ericson Books, Nacogdoches, TX, June 1995.

This list has been sorted alphabetically for presentation to East Texas Roots for genealogical research and Cherokee County Genealogical Society.

Be sure to note all information in keeping with copyright of publications.  This information is for research only, not for publication or for sale without permission from the author as noted above.
 

Officers:
Acker, Joab A., 22, white, single, b. TX.  Father b. AL, mother b. TX.  Guard
Coswell, Henry C., 34, white, married 10 yrs., b. TX.  Father b. MS, mother b. SC.  Engineer, State R.R.
Ezell, George L., 60, white, single, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  Assistant underkeeper
Fryer, Jeff B., 48, white, single, b. MS.  Parents b. US.  Guard
Johnson, William W., 43, white, widower, b. TX.  Parents b. AL.  Guard at prison
Lawrence, Henry C., 59, white, widower, b. GA.  Father b. NC, mother b. GA.  Guard
Moore, William D., 45, white, single, b. TX.  Father b. TN, mother b. TX.  Guard
Munroe, Robert B., 51, white, single, b. MS.  Father b. Scotland, mother b. MS.  Night sergeant
Rozelle, Thomas C., 29, white, single, b. TX.  Father b. GA, mother b. TX.  Guard
Runnells, Edward S., 35, white, single, b. TX.  Father b. MS, mother b. SC.  Guard
Singletary, Joseph B., white, 62, widower, b. GA.  Parents b. NC.  Guard
Wilkins, Richard C., 32, mulatto, single, b. TX.  Father b. AL, mother b. SC.  Underkeeper at prison

Inmates:
Listed by name, race, age, marital status, years married (if noted), where born, birthplace of father, birthplace of mother, occupation, trade or profession in that order. (since there was no code used in the census for Spanish/Mexican these were noted as mulatto)

Keep in mind that even though these inmates have impressive trades or occupations, they are still inmates.  Their skills were needed in every phase of making a prison system work.  These men used their trade or special skills to do an assigned job.  Certain positions had to be filled and as you will notice it seems they were able to fill those positions with the inmates.  Prisoners were also used for many years by outside sources.  The variety of requests were unlimited, from picking the crops to digging roadbeds or repairing and clearing areas needed for building or working in mines.  Crews of men were a necessity in those days to get a job done.  There were no machines to do the work.   In all cases considering the times, it was “hard labor” until their sentence was finished, in some cases depending on the crime, until they died.

Allen, James, white, 29, b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  State RR laborer
Arnold, Reuben H., white, 59, married 8 yrs., b. KY.  Parents b. VA.  State RR laborer
Barza, Catarino, mulatto, 55, married 20 yrs., b. Mexico.  Parents b. Mexico.  State RR laborer
Bice, Thomas C., white, 40, married 18 yrs., b. LA.  Parents b. GA.  Prison carpenter
Blankenship, Walter M.V., white, 22, single, b. TX.  Father b. MO, mother b. MS.  State RR laborer
Bouton, George F., white, 47, single, b. LA.  Father b. NY, mother b. Germany.  Prison laundryman
Boydwilder, Joseph M., white 31, widower, b. TX.  Parents b. TN.  Prison cook
Brogdon, John C., white, 40, widower, b. AL.  Father b. Ireland, mother b. CT.  Prison gardner
Brooks, William B., white, 60 married 27 yrs., b. AL.  Father b. VA, mother b. AL.  Prison hostler
Broulette, Victor, white, 35, single, b. WA.  Father b. Canada, mother b. England.   State RR laborer
Brown, James M., white, 55, married 24 years, b. VA.  Parents b. VA.  State RR laborer
Brown, John, black, 72, widower, b. Sc.  Parents b. Sc.  Prison cook
Burklow, William L., white, 52, single, b. KY.  Parents b. KY.  State RR laborer
Burrows, Joseph N., white, 31, single, b. TX.  Father b. TX, mother b. US.  Prison molder (moulder)
Caldwell, William, white, 58, married 14 yrs., b. TX.  Father b. Ireland, mother b. LA.  State RR laborer
Campus, Luez, mulatto, 60, widower, b. Mexico.  Parents b. Mexico.  State RR laborer
Cannon, Oscar D., white, 58, married 20 years, b. AL.  Parents b. AL.  No trade listed
Carbough, Henry J., white, 53, widower, b. IN.  Father b. PA, mother b. TN.  Prison laborer
Carter, Joseph, white, 42, divorced, b. MS.  Father b. Ireland, mother b. NC.  Prison machinist
Casey, James E., white, 50, married 23 years, b. TX.  Father b. FL, mother b. TX.  Prison baker
Chancy, Falvey A., white, 33, divorced, b. TX.  Father b. Ga, mother b. TX.  State RR laborer
Chaney, Robert L., white, 22, married 5 years, b. TX.  Father b. TN, mother b. TX.  State RR laborer
Chapman, Abner N., white, 52, single, b. TX.  Parents b. TN.  Prison barber
Clifton, Edward, black, 73, widower, b. LA.  Parents b. unknown.  Prison soapmaker
Coffman, John, white, 56, married 32 yrs., b. AL.  Parents b. LA.  State RR laborer
Contreres, Jose, mulatto, 45, widower, b. Mexico.  Parents b. Mexico.  Prison shoemaker
Corley, James (? Spelling) white, 44, single, b. TX.  Parents b. TN.  State RR watchman
Cox, William G., white 34, single, b. TX.  Father b. TX, mother b. AL.  Prison dairyman
Crockett, Gratt, white, 35, single, b. Va.  Parents b. VA.  Prison nurse
Davis, John R., black, 32, single, b. TX.  Father b. LA, mother b. TX.  Prison fireman
Dies, John W., white, 25, single, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  State RR laborer
Duncan, Virgil L., white, 33, married 13 yrs., b. TX.  Parents b. MS.  State RR laborer
Ellingwood, George A., white, 60, widower, b. TX.  Father b. England, mother b. VA.  Prison painter
Ewing, Robert M., white, 28, single, b. TX.  Father b. TN, mother b. MS.  State RR laborer
Gaddis, John F., white, 49, married 22 yrs., b. GA.  Father b. GA., mother b. TN.  Prison chemist
Garza, Pilar, mulatto, 32, married 13 yrs., b. Mexico.  Parents b. Mexico.  Prison dishwasher
Girard, Charles W., white, 18, single, b. TX.  Father b. France, mother b. Germany.  Prison porter
Hall, Samuel M., white, 51, married 29 years, b. TX.  Father b. GA, mother b. IL.  Prison machinist
Hall, Nathan, black 25, married 3 yrs., b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  State RR laborer
Ham, Harvey B., white, 23, married 5 yrs., b. TX.  Parents b. AL.  Prison nurse
Hamilton, William H., white, 30, single, b. KY.  Father b. MA, mother b. IN.  Prison bookkeeper
Hamm, John W., white, 27, sinble, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  Prison machinist
Hancock, Lewis B., white, 32, divorced, b. KY.  Father b. VA, mother b. Ky.  Prison boilermaker
Hatcher, Charles, white, 29, single, b. MS.  Parents b. MS.  Prison carpenter
Hawthorne, William H., white, 63, widower, b. Ky.  Father b. KY, mother b. IN.  State RR laborer
Heirholzer, Henry, white, 50, divorced, b. OH.  Father b.Germany, mother b. Switzerland. State RR laborer
Henderson, James W., white, 55, widower, b. AR.  Parents b. AR.  State RR laborer
Howard, William D., white, 30, married 10 yrs., b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  State RR laborer
Hutchinson, George L., white, 22, married 4 yrs., b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  State RR laborer
Isham, Dan, black, 48, widower, b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  Prison laborer
Ivey, Oliver H., white, 22, married 2 yrs., b. MS.  Parents b. MS.  State RR laborer
Johns, Willy A., white, 49, married 26 yrs., b. AL.  Parents b. VA.  Prison electrician
Johns, Marshall V., white, 44, single, b. IN.  Father b. IN, mother b. IL.  State RR laborer
Johnson, Charles E., white, 30, single, b. TX.  Father b. LA, mother b. TX.  Prison cook
Keel, Thomas V., white, 29, married 16 yrs, b. KY.  Father b. KY, mother b.TX. Prison molder (moulder)
Keyes, Harry, white, 38, single, b. NY.  Parents b. NY.  Prison machinist
Kimberlain, Jacob, white, 54, married 18 yrs., b. IN.  Father b. IN, mother b. KY.  State RR laborer
Kirk, Manse F., white, 30, single, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  State RR laborer
Kirkpatrick, James L., white, 30, married 1 year, b. TX.  Father b. TN, mother b. AL.  State RR laborer
Lax, William H., white, 34, widower, b. AL.  Parents b. AL.  Prison molder (moulder)
Luder, Harry O., white, 59, widower, b. DC.  Father b. DC, mother b. PA.  Prison pattern maker
Magee, Solon, white, 28, single, b. TX.  Parents b. LA.  Prison molder  (moulder)
Manning, Frank j., white, 36, married 4 yrs., b. NJ.  Father b. IA, mother b. NJ.  State RR brakeman
McDaniels, Napoleon H., white, 56, married 21 yrs., b. AL.  Father b. AL, mother b. NC.  Prison machinist
McGill, John E., white, 29, single, b. TX.  Father b. MO, mother b. Il.  Prison molder (moulder)
McKinney, Jacob N., white, 34, married 9 years, b. TN.  Father b. TN, mother b. IL.  Prison machinist
Mendez, Savas, mulatto, 26, single, b. TX.  Father b. Mexico, mother b. TX.  Prison molder (moulder)
Mendez, Felix, 20, single, b. TX.  Father b. Mexico, mother b. TX.  Prison molder (moulder)
Menefee, Douglass, white, 24, single, b. TX.  Father b. MS, mother b. AL.  State RR laborer
Milam, Benjamin F., white, 39, single, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  Prison molder (record says moulder)
Mitchell, Charles D., white, 32, single, b. MS.  Parents b. AL.  Prison cook
Mobley, James E., white, 43, widower, b. MS.  Parents b. MS.  Prison laborer
Moonen, Jesse C. (? Spelling), white, 25, single, b. TX. Father b. MO, mother b. TX.  Prison blacksmith
Moore, George, white, 40, single, b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  Prison molder (moulder)
Nunley, James M., white, 37, married 13 yrs., b. TX.  Father b. TN, mother b. US.  Prison laborer
Parnell, Winton W., white, 25, divorced, b. AR.  Parents b. AR.  RR engine hostler
Pate, Walter W.,  white, 42, divorced, b. AL.  Parents b. AL.  Prison baker
Roberts, Oscar W., white, 42, married 7 yrs. B. TN.  Parents b. MS.  Prison molder (moulder)
Rodgers, Andrew L., white, 61, divorced, b. TN.  Father b. TN, mother b. NC.  State RR laborer
Rupe, Charles A., white, 32, single, b. MO.  Parents b. KY.  Prison patternmaker
Sherrod, William H., white, 61, widower, b. TN.  Father b. NC, mother b. TN.  State RR laborer
Sorrells, Joseph L., white, 26, single, b. TX.  Parents b. TX.  State RR laborer
Staffen, William E., white 41, single, b. PA.  Parents, b. PA.  Prison Machinist
Stanfield, Oliver A., white, 64, widower, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  Prison gardener
Swift, James M., white, 44 single, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  Prison fireman
Taylor, Thomas J., white, 44, single, b. CA.  Father b. NC, mother b. TX.  Prison molder (moulder)
Taylor, Thomas L., white, 36, widower, b. TX.  Father b. IL, mother b. TX.  Prison electrician
Taylor, Isaac S., white, 24, single, b. TX.  Father b. TX, mother b. AR.  Prison blacksmith
Thompson, Charles C., white, 44 single, b. VA.  Parents b. MD.  Prison engineer
Tomm, Leo, white, 35, married 10 yrs., b. CA.  Father b. France, mother b. Ireland.  Prison fireman
Tune, West P., white, 36, married 17 yrs., b. TN.  Father b. TN, mother b. IT*.  Prison carpenter. (Page note for *:  Born in Indian Territory-Cherokee)
Ursey, John F., white, 48, married 22 yrs., b. LA.  Parents b. AL.  State RR laborer
Vellerreal, Francisco, mulatto, 40, married 20 yrs., b. Mexico.  Parents b. Mexico. Prison molder (moulder)
Warren, Thomas M., white, 36, single, b. MO.  Father b. TN, mother b. KY.  State RR laborer
Weaver, Jesse, white, 40, married 15 yrs., b. AR.  Parents, b. MO.  Prison molder (moulder)
Whaley, George W., white, 31, divorced, b. TN.  Father b. TN, mother b. NC.  Prison laundry man
White, Media L., white 55, single, b. GA.  Parents b. GA.  Prison laborer
Wilkinson, Joseph L., white, 62, married 37 yrs., b. AL.  Parents b. AL.  No trade listed
Williams, Frank, black, 47, married 17 years, b. TX. Parents b. TN.  No trade listed
Williams, John A., white, 58, single, b. TN.  Parents b. TN.  Prison waiter
Wilson, James A.G., white, 28, married 9 yrs., b. KY.  Parents b. KY.  State RR laborer
Wilson, Lee C., white, 27, married 5 yrs., b. TX.  Parents b. KY.  State RR laborer
Yancy, John R., white, 47, widower, b. TX.  Parents b. GA.  Prison teamster

This concludes the listing for 1910 Texas State Penitentiary in Rusk, Cherokee Co., TX