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Warren Luther Botkin was the son of Dr. Richard Botkin. Dr. Richard Botkin married Amanda Barker in Laclde County, Mo.. The family moved to Bosque County where Warren Luther was born February 19, 1884.Katie Blackshear was born January 29, 1887 in Hill County,. She was the daughter of S. Q. Blackshear. S. Q. Blackshear came from Georgia to Anderson County. He served in the Confederate Army from 1861 to 1865 in the 1st Texas Infantry under General Hood. S. Q. served under General Lee while fighting in Virginia. In 1866, S. Q. came to Hill County and there he married Sarah Jane Ince. Katie married Warren Luther Botkin July 21, 1901.
Warren Botkin was known as one of the best baseball players in Hill County. He attended barber school at age 18. Warren left his family in Hill County and went to Fort Worth and barbered to pay his tuition through Southwestern Veterinary College.
Warren and Katie had seven children: Carl born May 10, 1902; Carrie born February 26, 1904; Ruth born March 4, 1906; Jimmie born July 28, 1908; Mary born January 20, 1911; Opal born October 27, 1913; and R. Q. born December 29, 1915.
Dr. Botkin and Katie lived in numerous communities in Hill and Bosque Counties. Dr. Botkin heard so much about the wonderful new country of West Texas that in 1926 he came to find out for himself. He was so enthused with it that he returned to Hill County and moved his family and settled in Ralls in January, 1927 to carry on his veterinarian practice.
Carl and Ruth did not move with the family. Carl had married Francis Rawlings February 22, 1925 and they lived in Abilene. Carl and Francis had one daughter, Dorothy Jeanne, born November8, 1927. Ruth married Grady Moseley September 26, 1926. The Moseleys moved to Ralls a year later.
Carrie had already graduated when the family moved to Ralls. Jimmie, Mary, Opal and R. Q. all attended school in Ralls. Dr. Botkin served several years as a school board member.
Carrie married Walter Williams March 3, 1931. Their son, James Edwin, was born January 1, 1933. Another son, Walter Jerrel, was born dead May 26, 1940. Walter Williams was a barber many years in Ralls. Carrie has been a long time teacher in several Crosby County schools. Walter died in 1968.
Ruth and Grady Moseley had a daughter, Doris Jane, born April 25, 1929 and died June 12, 1929. Another daughter, Betty Glenn, was born March 9, 1931. Grady worked for City Water Department in Ralls for many years. Grady died in 1967. He is buried in Ralls cemetery.
Jimmie married Tom Ed Benton September 18, 1929. A daughter, Billie Gwendolyn, was born May 20, 1930. Tom Ed and his father owned a grocery business and two drug stores in Ralls.
Mary married Earle Florence March 21, 1931. They have three sons; Dan Warren born May 24, 1933; Jackey Earle born September 30, 1935; and Rodney Karrell born September 4, 1939. Earle was a post office clerk in Ralls and Tax Assessor and Clerk for Crosby County, Earle Florence died in 1951. He is buried in Ralls cemetery.
Opal married Ulric Anstead September 15, 1935. They have two sons, Richard Jerry born September 29, 1936 and Ronald Ulric born February 21, 1942. Ulric owned several businesses in Ralls, one being a car dealership.
R. Q. married Martha Marshall April 15, 1949. They have two children, Connie Lou born June 23, 1950 and Richard Marshall born July 28, 1951.
The Botkins have 17 great-grandchildren.
When Doc Botkin cam to Ralls there were no paved highways or paved streets. In most back yards there were windmills and an outhouse. The Botkins lived to see much progress made in Ralls. Doc Botkin mad calls day or night from one end of the county to the other. A call to Bruce Spencer´s Drug or to Doc´s office at the barn would bring Doc Botkin as soon as he could drive his Ford to the sick animal.
Dr. Botkin was a member of Emma Masonic Lodge. W. L. and Katie were members of Church of Christ.
W. L. and Katie lived to have their 65th wedding anniversary. Katie died September 17, 1966 and W. L. died September, 1969 at the age of 85. Dr. Botkin practiced veterinarian medicine in Crosby County for 43 years. Both are buried in Ralls cemetery.
Source: "Crosby County History Book 1876-1977", Crosby County Historical Commission, ©1977
Transcribed by Cheryl McDonald
RALLS (Special) - Mrs. Katie Botkin, 79, long-time Ralls resident, died at 12:01 a.m. Saturday at her home.Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in the Emma Church of Christ in Ralls with Rene Woody of Fort Worth officiating. He will be assisted by James Eubanks of the Ralls church.
Burial will be in Ralls Cemetery under direction of Carter Funeral Home.
Born in Hill County, Mrs. Botkin came to the Ralls area 40 years ago from Whitney.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, C.E. of Abilene and R.G. of Muleshoe; five daughters, Mrs. Walter Williams of Ralls, Mrs. Tom Ed Benton of Hart, Mrs. Grady Mosely of McAllen, Mrs. Mary Florence of Austin and Mrs. Vera Anstead of Abilene; two brothers, Quince Blackshear of Houston and John Blackshear of Glen Rose; a sister, Mrs. Fannie Gist of Cleburne; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Sept. 18, 1966
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
RALLS (Special) - Services for Dr. W. L. Bodkin, 85, will be at 10:30 a.m. today in the Emma Church of Christ here. Officiating will be James Eubanks, minister, and the Rev. E.R. McGregor, of Roaring Springs.Dr. Bodkins, a longtime veterinarian here died early Friday in a local rest home.
Burial will be in Ralls Cemetery under direction of Carter Funeral Home.
A native of Hill County, Bodkin had been a resident of the Ralls area 43 years, coming here from Whitney. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Emma Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, C.E. Bodkin of Abilene and R.Q. Bodkin of Muleshoe; five daughters, Mrs. Walter Williams of Ralls, Mrs. Tom Ed Benton of Hart, Mrs. Grady Mosley of McAllen, Mrs. Mary Florence of Austin and Mrs. Ulric Anstead of Abilene; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, September, 1969
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
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