Samuel Franklin VanHooser

Notes:

Samuel was born in Lamar County, Texas perhaps in Sylvan or Paris. He attended school at Wichita Falls in 1903 along with Lizzie and Mattie. He helped his father farm until becoming part of Wells Fargo on the railroad. He was with the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (called "The Katy") out of Wichita Falls. Samuel was born in Lamar County, Texas perhaps in Sylvan or Paris. He attended school at Wichita Falls in 1903 along with Lizzie and Mattie. He helped his father farm until becoming part of Wells Fargo on the railroad. He was with the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (called "The Katy") out of Wichita Falls. He was great friends with Carl E. Baker, another messenger, who told me of their carrying whiskey into Indian Territory in their "kit boxes" that contained their supplies and necessities. He met Vera when he visited Stella Lancaster, her sister, at Wichita Falls. They were married and he was moved to Woodward, Oklahoma, where both their children were born. They had been transferred back to Wichita Falls by 1922 and he was still with the Amnerican Railway Express Agency. He transferred the family to Amarillo, Texas in February 1927 and worked out of there on the Santa Fe until he retired in 1948. In Wichita Falls, we lived at 306 Morningside Drive and at 2101 Polk Street where I think they had bought the house. I remember their re-doing the kitchen and mother had a washing machine which had a wooden tub that you had to manually operate the dasher in the tub using a lever. In Amarillo we lived at 704 Mirror Street. Anywhere that we went, we walked because of no other transportation. We walked to visit the Carl E. Bakers and the D.T. Callahams who we knew in Wichita Falls. These families were the only people that we knew when we arrived in Amarillo. His job was classed as essential so he had no military time in either World War 1 or World War 2. Mother maintained that he had to stay out to support his Mother and Father. His job was on the Santa Fe railroad and his office was the baggage car where he handled all things that were shipped by American Railway Express.

Samuel married Vera Edna Burton 16 Feb 1919, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas. Vera was born 1 Sep 1898, Archer City, Archer County, Texas; died 29 May 1977, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. [Group Sheet]

1. Donald Edwin VanHooser was born PRIVATE.
2. Mary Frances VanHooser was born PRIVATE.

Notes:

From US Census, Tennessee 1860 William Frederick cannot be found until the 1900 Census in Texas. He farmed in the Lamar County area and did whatever else he knew how. From letters to him he was a contract farmer for a banker in the Whitewright, Texas area. He moved to live with us when I was in perhaps the 3rd grade at Sanborn School. He lived with us until his death which occurred after I was married. There was a period when he lived with a Mrs Dwight out near the Tri-State fairgrounds but this did not last because of a letter that she wrote to my aunt which caused great consternation in the household. In the 1900 US Census of Texas he and family were living in Wichita Falls. During this period until the 1920 Census they lived in Wichita County area where he was a farmer. He and Grandma Van came to Woodward in 1920 when Donald was born. Between 1920 and 1933 when he came to Amarillo, I do not know what he did. I do know that he and Vera his daughter in law did not get along. His daughter Minnie Lee was born in 1883 and died in 1889. I recall mother and dad talking about a young girl who broke her back when she fell from a tree. This could have been her. I did not know of her by name until I saw it in the ledger that was part of Isaac Jackson's possessions. I have this ledger at this time, very old and worn. A great deal of the entries for Grandpa Van denotes that they lived in Sylvan, Lamar County,Texas and he worked with his team between Blossom and Paris and Sylvan. Sylvan was a post office on Mulberry Creek in Lamar County eight miles southeast of Paris, the county seat and four miles west of Blossom Prairie the nearest railroad station. Paris was the nearest banking point. It was settled in 1867, contained three churches a district school, two steam grist mills and cotten gins. The population was 150, received mail daily; the Postmaster was J.M. West. GrandPaw Van's addiction was to Granger Roughcut Chewing Tobacco which he used as if it were chocolate candy, which Vera did not seem to appreciate. I think she thought him lazy and a sponge, which she maintained he became after Samuel got the job with the Railway Express Agency. W.F. Van Heuser is on the tax rolls Of Lamar County, Precinct 4, Texas in 1878 paying two poll taxes. In 1879 W.F. VanHooser appeared on the same county tax rolls in Precinct 3 with 2 horses/mules worth $125.00, 5 hogs worth $5.00, poll tax, ad valoream tax on value of $252.00 and had 35 dollars cash. All of this family except Minnie Lee and Mattie are buried in the family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Texas

William married Dora Frances Eatherly 3 Jan 1883, Wilson County, Tennessee. Dora (daughter of W. E. Eatherly) was born 1 Dec 1859, Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky; died 3 Aug 1923, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

There are two versions of the name Etherly/Eatherly. I have not been able to locate any data on her or her Father W.E. Eatherly. He was supposedly a Doctor in Bowling Green or someother Kentucky clime. There is supposed to be some descendants of her brothers in Paris, Lamar County Texas. Based on this,most likely she and Grandpa Van were in Texas because of this relationship. Dora Frances was born in Kentucky. Her mother was from there and her father was from Tennessee. Dora was probably born when her mother was visiting the family home. As of 1996 she has not been located on any Federal Census as an Etherly.

Notes:

Broderbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #3683, Date of Import: 3 May 1997 Isaac Jackson died of yellow fever or some other cause. He died on his 6th Wedding anniversary and left three children who were taken in by their grandfather Osburn Thompson. Isaac was everything from a farmer to a saddle and harness maker. I have a book that belonged to my grandfather William Frederick. It contains a lot of scribblings done by Nancy and Eliza J. And a lot of other stuff possibly entered by he and Grandma Van.

Isaac married Nancy E. Thompson 24 Jul 1848, Wilson County, Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of Osborn Thompson) was born 1830, Tennessee; died Between 1858 and 1924. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Broderbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #3683, Date of Import: 3 May 1997

Sally was the first of Felty's three wives. She and her son John died after his birth either of complications or of yellow fever which was rampant. Sarah was his second wife and it is from this union that our branch is descended. Delilah was his third wife who was 16 at the time of their wedding.

According to the 1790 National Census there were 218 Van Hoesens and other members in the thirteen colonies:
8 families in Massachusetts
17 families in New York
46 families in Pennsylvania
4 families in Maryland
1 family in North Carolina
1 family in South Carolina.
There were 45 heads of families which averaged 5.8 persons.

VALENTINE VANHOOSER'S WILL

I Valentine Vanhouser do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time made.

First, I direct that my funeral expenses be paid and all my debts as soon after my death as possible out of any money that I may die seized and possessed of or may first come into the hands of my executor.

Secondly, I give and bequeath to my present wife, DELILA VAN HOUSER, all my Estate, my land, stock of all kinds, household and kitchen furniture, farming and other tools, and all monies that may be due me at my decease; in find, everything of which I may die seized & possessed during her natural life; and she is to educate my children by her and provide for them the best she can.

Thirdly, at the death of my wife, Delila Vanhouser, all the pro-perty she may leave, which came to her from me, is to be equally divided between all her children by me--To Wit: LAVINIA C. VANHOUSER, ARENA VANHOUSER, ARDENA VANHOUSER, GENTRY S. VANHOUSER, AMANDA VAN-HOUSER, RUTHERFORD G. VANHOUSER AND WILLIAM R. VANHOUSER.

Lastly, I nominate and appoint Andrew J. Winter my Executor. In Witness whereof I do to this my Last Will set my hand and affix my seal this, the 29th day of April, 1861.

Signed, Sealed & Published Valentine Vanhooser (Seal) in our
presence:
Wm. B. Eagan
Isaac Peak
Uriah Peak
State of Tennessee )
Wilson County ) Court April Term 1873

The last will & testament of Valentine Vanhoozer, decd. was produced in open court and proved by the oath of Isaac Peak one of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded and filled.

Recorded April 28, 1873

Source: The Van Hoose, Van Hooser, Van Huss Family in the United States, Joyce Lindstrom, 1993, page 528-529.

Samuel married Sarah Rowland 15 Dec 1816, Wilson County, Tennessee. Sarah was born Between 1778 and 1805, North Carolina; died Abt 1837, Wilson County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Broderbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #3683, Date of Import: 3 May 1997

Marriage source "Tennessee Wills and Administration".
Marriage performed or witnessed by Joseph T. Williams, Wilson County,Tennessee