James Francis Hillis

Crosby County
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Crosby County Biographies

James Francis Hillis

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Birth Date: 1/28/1866 Death Date: 7/30/1909

Biography

He was the son of (?Andrew?) "Jackson" HILLIS (b-1815/17,TN.) & his second wife, Mary Ann SHELTON STURGEON (b-ca 1831,AL.) who seemed to alternate back and forth between Giles Co.,TN. & Lauderdale Co.,AL. Jackson´s parents are unknown, but Mary SHELTON´s parents were Mark & Elizabeth (HOWARD) SHELTON. He apparently brought his family to Texas between 1892 and 1894; Went to Lawton,OK. about 1905, where he and his son worked as part of the threshing crew, for Alfred Burton WARD (his future dt-in-law´s father); and returned to Texas by 1910 (1910 census; Crosby Co,TX.)
James F. HILLIS was married to Mary Luiza MARBUT (b-1871, Giles Co.,TN d-1931, Nolan Co,TX.),1886,Giles Co,TN., dt. of Daniel Francis Lihue MARBUT,II & his wife, Lydia Lora "Ester" Ann WEBB.
James & Mary (MARBUT) HILLIS had 9 children:
1) Cullom Lihugh HILLIS, b- 1888,Giles Co,TN d-1968, Nolan Co,TX.
        m- 1) Gertrude Louisa WARD, 1909  div´d 1923 [his wife
               during the time he lived in Crosby Co,TX., and the mother
               of my father, Alvin Burton HILLIS,b-1910,Emma,TX.]
        m- 2) Wretha Lee WELLS TRIBBLE ADAMS, 1923
2) James Olas/Olles HILLIS, b-1890,TN.
        m- Bulla Sutherland
3) Maud HILLIS, b- 1892,AL.
        m- George BUTLER,1907
4) Mary Ella HILLIS, b-1894,TX.
        m- Richard Ross GANDY,1909
5) Dezzie/"Daisy" L. HILLIS, b-1896,TX.
        m- Roy E. CLENDENNEN
6) Minnie L. HILLIS, b-1898,TX.
        m-Virgil Arthur RATTAN,1917,Crosby Co,TX.
7) Rufus L. HILLIS, b-16 Oct 1902,TX.
        m- Ruby Faye SULLIVAN,1925
8) Luther D. HILLIS, b-16 Oct 1902,TX.
        m- Bertha
9) Myrtle I. HILLIS, b-1905,TX.
        m- Clarence G. GANDY,ca 1919
It has been said that part of James ("Jim") Francis HILLIS´ given name was "Lafayette" and "Burton", but so far, I have not been able to document that. It is entirely possible, tho... as he was twin to Julia Louisa Mary "Ellen" HILLIS, who married James Henry Franklin ("Frank") FAVORS in Alabama.
A family story about his death was that he was driving a freight wagon, and when he did not come home, a search was initiated. He was found sitting by/or under the wagon...dead. Nearby was an open tin of fish, and it was thought that he died of food poisoning. But when I sent for, and received his death record, the cause of death was recorded as "Sunstroke". He died 30 July 1909 - in the midst of a sweltering Texas summer! I´m sure his family was even more devastated, as they had just lost the newborn grandson ("Baby HILLIS") on 23 July 1909!
Submitted by Minnie Hillis Reagor