James Roswell "Jim" Arthur was born Sept. 11, 1882, in Erath Co. He married Francis Henerietta Shipman, who was born May 4, 1892, in Erath Co. Their wedding date was Jan. 1, 1911. Five of our children were born in Erath County. Elida Morene was born Jan. 14, 1912. Benjamin Samuel was born July 22, 1913. James Roswell was born Sept. 11, 1914. Philip Ernest was born Jan. 12, 1916, and Francis Oleta was born Jan. 26, 1918.
In 1919 we loaded most of our possessions into two covered wagons and headed for Jones County. Our iron bedsteads and plow tools had to be shipped by train. We settled eight miles from Anson. We stayed on this place for three years. We left Anson about 9 a.m. and arrived in Truby about sundown on a very cold day. There was nothing in Truby but a general store and a gin. We camped on the Brazos River bank for three windy and snowy days. Late the third day a man stopped to ask if we would pull cotton for him. We were glad to get the work because he had a house for us to live in. The house had three rooms but feed was stored in one. We happily lived in the other two. While here, Zora Lee was born Jan. 26, 1920.
We made two crops in Truby then headed west again. We traveled for ten days before reaching Lorenzo. It had rained on us nearly every day that we were on the road; some days we could only go six or seven miles.
We had five hundred dollars when we left Anson. In order to rent a place we had to have horses and some plows. We spent $450 for this equipment. We rented a farm in the Farmer community where we stayed for eight years. By this time we had Juanita, born June 16, 1924 and Uel, born May 3, 1926.
From Farmer we moved to the Nelson Place five miles northwest of Ralls. While living on this place in the New Home community, A.R. "Whizzer" was born Jan. 20, 1930.
James Roswell Arthur passed away June 17, 1957, and Francis Henerietta Shipman Arthur passed away June 6, 1973.
The story of moving to Jones County then onto Crosby County was written by Francis H. Arthur three years before her death.
Source: "Crosby County History Book 1876-1977", Crosby County Historical Commission, ©1977
Mrs. Francis H. Arthur, 81, over fifty years a resident of Crosby County, died Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Highland Hospital in Lubbock following a lengthy illness. Born Francis Shipman on May 4, 1892 in Erath County, Texas, she married James Roswell Arthur on January 1, 1911.
Known to their family and friends as "Big Mama" and "Big Papa," they drove across Texas in 1922 in two covered wagons pulled by mules and settled in Crosby County to raise a family of ten children.
Big Papa passed away on June 17, 1957, and Big Mama is survived by 5 sons, Ben Arthur of Gruver, J.R. Arthur of Borger, Philip Arthur of Borger, Uel Arthur of Ralls, and A.R. Arthur of Ralls; and 4 daughters, Mrs. W.B. (Morene) Phipps of Stephenville, Mrs. J.H. (Oleta) Moore of Ralls, Mrs. C.S. (Zora Lee) Kretzer of San Antonio, and Mrs. W.G. (Juanita) Lackey of San Antonio; 3 brothers, Morris Shipman of Oklahoma City, Mason Shipman of Gorman, and Street Shipman of Baytown; 22 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
Services were held at 3 o´clock Thursday at the Emma Church of Christ in Ralls with James Eubank, assisted by the Rev. Sam Estes of Lubbock Cumberland Presbyterian Church, officiating followed by graveside services at the Ralls Cemetery.
©Ralls Banner, June 13, 1973
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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