LaNorma Mae Cordray

Notes:

LaNorma Mae Cordray Easley was born on October 7, 1928 in the community of Time near Milam, Texas to Eula and Judge Cordray, Sr.

Mrs. Easley attended Hemphill High School where she graduated in 1946. She married the love of her life, Wilbern Easley on August 9, 1947. During their marriage of 73 years, LaNorma enjoyed the privilege of being a housewife and mother to their four children. She was known for her excellent cooking, including her chicken and dumplings, dressing, biscuits, cream corn, coconut cake and lots of other sweet treats. LaNorma loved gardening and found great joy in growing vegetables and her beautiful blooming flowers. Just like the gardening she enjoyed, she also loved watching her grandchildren grow and play. She was a member of New Hope Congregational Methodist Church. There she taught young children's Sunday School for years and was also a member of the Women's Missionary Society. She was in charge of the church telephone prayer chain for many years. LaNorma loved the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys and could be found rooting her teams along.

Her great joys were visiting with family and cooking for them. She could often be found reading her Bible and looking forward to the next church activity. Everyone knew they could always call on LaNorma to pray for them. She took care of her family and her loving husband right up till her final days. Mrs. Easley was the true epitome of the virtuous woman.

LaNorma is survived by her husband, Wilbern Easley; daughters, LaWanna Smith and husband, David of Nacogdoches, and Rebecca Wilson and husband, Gary of Angleton, Texas; sons, Price Easley and wife, Lucy of Tyler, Texas and Mark Easley of Nacogdoches; brothers, Judge Cordray, Jr. and wife, Linda of Logansport, Louisiana and Pete Cordray and wife, Shirley of Center, Texas; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to all the caregivers at Texas Home Health Accent Care, especially Darian Herod, Teresa Rogers and our special caregiver, Eva Christopher.

The family strongly recommends the wearing of masks during the services for your protection and the protection of others.

The Sabine County Reporter, April 14, 2021, page 4

LaNorma married Morris Wilbern Easley on 9 Aug 1947. Morris (son of Audrey Gay Easley and Myrtle Lowery) was born on 27 Jan 1927 in Yellowpine, Sabine County, Texas; died on 22 Jul 2021 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried on 27 Jul 2021 in Yellowpine Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The Sabine County Reporter
August 17, 2011, Page 8

Anniversary

Wilbern and La Norma Cordray Easley of Nacogdoches celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9. They have four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Notes:

The SSDI shows that he final benefit payments were in Milam, Sabine County, Texas. McCary indicates that his gravestone had a Masonic Symbol.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1, Hemphill Town
Enumerated April 8, 1930
ED 202-21 SD 19 Sheet 2A Stamped 16
34-34
Cordray, Judge Head M W 28 M 23 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, Eula Wf F W 21 m 17 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, La Norma Dtr F W 1 6/12 Tx Tx Tx

Judge married Eula Mae Smith about 1926 in Texas. Eula (daughter of June Alvin Smith and Vessie Mae Brittain) was born on 19 Nov 1907 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Jun 1985 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"...now Mrs. Judge Cordray..." (Speights, Bio of June Smith, pg. 25).

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 8
Enumerated 11 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 12B
162-162
Cordray, Judge D Head M W Apr 1862 38 m 2 Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Cordray, Emma R Wf W F Sept 1868 31 m 2 1/1 Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Martha A Dtr W F Mar 1885 15 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Clara B Dtr W F Jan 1888 12 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Henry E Son W M Sept 1890 9 S Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Cordray, Zilla E Dtr W F Oct 1899 7/12 S Tx Ga Ga
Layfield, Landy D Servant W M Nov 1872 27 S Ga Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Weatherred Mack B M Oct 1877 22 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 23 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 137 Sheet 8A
119-123
Cordray, Judge D Head M W 47 m1 11 Ga Ga Ala Farmer
Cordray, Emma Wf F W 41 m1 11 Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Eugene Son M W 19 m1 1 Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Cordray, Lillian Dtr-in-law F W 16 m1 1 0/0 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, Zilla Dtr F W 10 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Judge Jr Son M W 8 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Aremel Son M W 5 S Tx Ga Ga

Judge married Emma Louise Layfield about 1898. Emma was born in Sep 1868 in Georgia; died in 1928. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):
The Sabine County Reporter
May 9, 2012

Myrtle Springs receives marker

An official Texas Historic Cemetery Marker was dedicated April 28, at Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery. The day was also the cemetery's annual homecoming......

The newly placed marker reads:
GENEVA MYRTLE SPRINGS CEMETERY

Situated North of the small, rural community of Geneva, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery serves as the primary resting place for pioneers, settlers of the area, and their descendants. Originally granted to Juan Ignatino Pifermo in 1794, the town of Geneva grew in the 1820s when pioneers began to settle there from the east. Geneva was first known as Shawnee village and later as Jimtown, after two early settlers of the are, Jim Halbert and Jim Willis. Originally surveyed for Daniel F. Renfro in 1838, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery is comprised of land granted by Levi T. ALLEN in 1879 for use as a church and cemetery. The Geneva Baptist Church was first located on the present day cemetery site, but later moved south of the area. In addition, a school was once located near the cemtery near Myrtle Springs, organized by William Thomas Arnold.

The general landscaping of the cemetery is traditional with brick, marble, sandstone, grantie, wood, and metal grave markers. The first marked grave is that of William J. JONE from 1888, but Bible records indicate that there were earlier unmarked graves, including that of Wiley William CROW (1845-1877). Among the many pioneer families interred at this cemetery, there are veterans of the Civil War, including Wiley CROW, Seth Marion LAYFIELD (1833-1906), and James T. MEADOR (1845-1933), as well as veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Iraq War. Burials for members of the fraternal organizations such as Woodmen of the World are present. Today, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association maintains and cares for the cemtery, while also serving the community of Geneva. Historic Texas Cemetery -2010.

Notes:

"Old Timers of Sabine County, Texas" by Virgie Speights
Page 23

June Smith October 3, 1963

June Smith sat on the porch of his home near Pineland and regaled more than 100 persons at his 80th birthday party with tales of early days in East Texas.

Born at Sabinetown, he was the son of Henry and Martha Ann Morris Smith, and grandson of Shadrach Morris, who gave 200 acres of land in the early 1830s to found Sabinetown. His great grandfather, Gideon Morris, had donated a like amount for the founding of Morristown, Tennessee in the 1700s.

His father Henry Smith who died before he was born, came from England to teach school at Milam and Sabinetown. As a boy, he grew up the hard way, but with lots of fun and frolicking. He recalls working hard, long hours on logging rafts, floating logs to Orange. He did the cooking before he was old enough to push logs.

Frank Davis, a mail contractor, hired him at the sum of $5.00 a month to carry the mail from Hemphill to Geneva, when he was just a boy.

At the age of 18, Mr. Smith helped to move his sister and family, the Ide Russells from Louisiana across the Sabine to Sabine County. There was a post office, a church, a school, a doctor, F.S. Love and 52 families. June Smith stayed there and farmed, first with his sister's family and then with his own until recently when he had to move nearer a doctor. His wife the former Miss Vessie Brittain, is an invalid since a fall a few years ago, which broke her hip. His was the last family to leave this now deserted community. He moved over to Pineland to live in a house owned by his son, Brittain Smith, who lives nearby. He does, however, still drive over regularly to care for his cattle, fix fences and dream of wonderful years when he was raising his family there.
Not long after he helped move the Russells in an ox-drawn wagon, he met and married Miss Vessie Brittain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Brittain. There was a church wedding in 1904 with Burnis and Mattie Lou Honeycutt Vickers as attendants.

The Brittains gave the couple 67 acres on which Ide Rusell helped his brother in law build a two room house with cypress shingles, stick and dirt chimney, big rooms and wide porches. There they worked hard, were self-sustaining and gradually prospered, buying more land, clearing and raising cotton for money crop, sheep for clothing, and hogs and cattle.

Mr. Smith refused to shear the sheep, but accommodating neighbors Abb Vickers and Perkins Harvey were willing to help out. He liked to raise hogs and trained his to come when he called. There was the whole country for the cattle, sheep, goats, horses and hogs to roam in, even being taken across the river into Louisiana when grass or cane shoots were better there.
Nothing was wasted. When land needed clearing, the whole community came in to help. Cooking went on for days, with food being cooked in huge iron pots. It was a frolic for the young people, who were expected to help in the work, though. The logs were used for houses, barns, rail fences, stove wood, etc.

At butchering time, the same community spirit prevailed and the same thrift and utilization of everything. Cold weather was necessary, and the meat saved by curing the smoke. Everyone had a smokehouse, quite large with a fire of hickory wood, kept smoldering for weeks in the center of the dirt floor. Meat was hung from the rafters to absorb that hickory flavor.

"They don't make that kind of meat these days," says Mr. Smith. They made what they called souse, now known as hogshead cheese. Excessive fat was trimmed off, after the sausage meat was set aside, and rendered into lard. Big iron pots outdoors over a fire were filled with these bits of fat, which were slowly stirred until nothing was left but cracklings. From these cracklings came the family soap. Lye, leeched from hardwood ashes, mixed with the cracklings, water added and cooked until bubbly thick. When cool, this soap was stored in crocks and used at laundry time. Clothes were boiled, after being soaked in soapy water, placed on a block and battled. This was to removed embedded soil from work cloths. The Smiths owned a "crackling squeezer", a luxury in those days, which squeezed the last bit of grease from the fat. Cracklings were also delicious cooked in cornbread. They also had a fine sausage mill.

Once Mr. Smith's four year old daughter, Eula, caught her finger in the sausage mill. Afraid to turn the mill for fear it would cut off her ginger, they carried her to Dr. Love, sausage hanging by a bit of skin. The doctor splinted it up and Eula, now Mrs. Judge Cordray, has her finger just a bit scarred.

Mr. Smith was active in church and community affairs. When the Rev CA Perkins an outstanding evangelist in the area, established the Methodist Sabine Circuit with both sides of the river as his charge, he credited Mr. Smith with being a factor in its establishment. He also owned the second car in Sabine County, a beautiful Model T Ford.

Besides Mrs. Cordray of Isla community, his children are Mrs. Zelma Blasingame of Garland, Texas, Reece Smith of the Sexton community, Brittain Smith of Pineland, and Aldous Smith, a Methodist Minister, of Dayton, Bulah, who married Roy Allen, died in 1930 and Clarence died in 1928. There are 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine, JP 5
Enumerated 16 & 17 of January 1920 by Callin A. McDaniel
SD 326 ED 172 Sheet 10 A
184-185
Smith, J.A. Hd M W 36 M Tx England English Tx Farmer Own Fa
rm
Smith, Vessie Wife F W 34 M Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Beulah Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Eula Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Myrtis Dtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Reece Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Britton Son M W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Clarence Son M W 10/12 Tx Tx Tx
Jones, Casey Servant M B 19 S Tx Ga Tx Farmhand

1930
Texas, Sabine County, JP 5
Enumerated April 14 & 15, 1930
ED 202-7, Sd 19 Sheet 4A Stamped 88
72-76
Smith, June A Hd Y M W 48 M 23 Tx England US Farmer
Smith, Docia M Wf F W 43 M 18 Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Reece T Son M W ? S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Smith, Britton L Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Smith, Zelma Dtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Aldus Son W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Britton, Margarett A Mother in law F W 68 Wd Tx Ga Al
Saupe?, Carme? Boarder F W 19? S Tx Tx Tx Teacher School

June married Vessie Mae Brittain about 1904. Vessie (daughter of Thomas Strouse "Bud" Brittain and Margaret "Peggy" A. Harvey) was born on 1 Oct 1886 in Time, Sabine County, Texas; died on 1 Oct 1968 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It appears that Vissie's mother, Margarett E. Britton, a 68 year old widow, born in Texas, was living with them at the time of the 1930 Federal Census. Her father was born in Georgia, and her mother in Alabama. Her Texas Death Certificate indicates she was the daughter of Bud Brittian and Peggy Harvey. The informant was Mrs. Judge Cordray, a daughter.

Name: Vessie Mae Smith
Death Date: 01 Oct 1968
Death Place: Pineland, Precinct 2, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: W
Death Age: 82 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 01 Oct 1886
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Bud Brittian
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Peggy Harvy
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Pineland, Precinct # 2, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Liberty Springs
Burial Place: Sabine County, Texas
Burial Date: 03 Oct 1968
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2137188
Digital Film Number: 4188418
Image Number: 2673
Reference Number: cn 73705
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Medical):Her death certificate also indicated she had been an invalid for about 40 years, with the cause unknown

Notes:

Married:
"There was a church wedding in 1904 with Burnis and Mattie Lou Honeycutt Vickers as attendants.

Notes:

White and Toole refer to him as Daniel Cordray, however on the 1870 Sabine County census he is listed as David, but as Daniel in 1880. His first wife died in 1878 (according to her headstone at the Cordray Cemetery), and he is listed with his second wife, Martha, age 44, born ca 1836 in Alabama, at the time of the 1880 census.

Could he have married third Dollie Wilson, sometime prior to 1884?

Dollie Cordray, a widow, age 33, can be found in the 1900 Sabine County, Texas Census with three minor children. The Texas Death certificate of the eldest son of the widowed Dollie Wilson Cordray, namely Cleveland Cordray, lists his father as Dan Cordray. Census records for the children show that their father was born in Texas, however, versus Georgia.

This does not appear likely, as at the time of the 1900 Sabine County, Texas census, Daniel and his second wife, Martha appear together.

Additionally, his widow, Mrs. Martha Cordray applied for a Civil War pension as the widow of D. C. Cordray on 8 May 1915 in Sabine County. She indicated that she married him on 10 Oct 1878 in Sabine County. Martha further indicated she was age 82, and was born in Dallas County, Alabama. having resided in Texas for 42 years. Her late husband, Daniel C. Cordray, was shown as dying on 30 Aug 1905. He was shown to have served the C.S.A. in the state of Georgia, for a period of five months, being discharged in April 1865. He was in the Infantry, Company A, Regiment 29.

On the Williams-McNaughten Tree at Ancestry.com, he is shown as the Uncle of Mary Emma Cordray McGown (1885-1973), her father John Lawrence Cordray also being a son of Jonathan Cordray and Elizabeth Tomlinson. He is likely related to her in some other fashion, perhaps a cousin, as Georgia Marriage records on Ancestry.com show that Elizabeth Tomlinson and Jonathan Cordray were not married until 2 Apr 1846 in Muscogee County, Georgia, eight years after Daniel was born. DM Veitch instead shows him as a son of Daniel and Celia Cordray of Muscogee County, Georgia. Veitch shows that his second wife was Martha Williams Honeycutt, a widow, no issue by Daniel.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat No. 2, Sabine Town
Enumerated 25 July 1870
Pages 7 and 8 Stamped 10
372-372
Cordray, David/Daniel? 37 M W Farmer 1000 1000 Ga
Cordray, Laura 32 F W Keeping House Ga
Cordray, Zella 12 F W Ga
Cordray, Judge 8 M W Ga
Cordray, John W 5 M W Ga
Cordray, Charles 1/12 M W Tx Dec
Cordray, Lewis 19 M B Servant Ga

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Fourth Precinct
Enumerated 14 Jun 1880
Page 2B SD 1 ED 86
12-12
Cordrie, Daniel W M 45 Farmer Ga Ga Ga
Cordrie, Martha W F 44 Wf Keeping House Ala Ga Ga
Cordrie, Judge D W M 18 Son Works on Farm Ga Ga Ga
Cordrie, John W M 15 Son Works on Farm Ga Ga Ga
Cordrie, Charlie H W M 10 Son Tx Ga Ga

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. 8
Enumerated 9 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 11A Stamped 151
143-143
Cordray, Dan??l Head M W July 1834 65 M 20 Ga Ga SC Faerm
Cordray, Martha Wf W F Jun 1836 63 m 20 5/5 Ala Ga Ga

Daniel married Louisa Melvine Williams. Louisa was born on 24 May 1839 in Georgia; died on 24 Feb 1878; was buried in Cordray Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Hillery Judge Williams.

Henry married Mary Ann Morris before 1868. Mary (daughter of Shadrach H. Morris and Mary "Polly" Sarah Nelson) was born on 18 Feb 1836 in Louisiana; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married 1st a Roberts (sic) and 2nd Henry Smith. (White and Toole, p 63).

On the 1880 Sabine County census, a Robert Patrick, step-son, is listed in the household as well. (White and Toole, p 33).

Peggy Choate emailed, in February 2012, that " . Mary Ann was married first to Henry Patrick and they had 3 children: Ida Alice, Henry Hood and Robert Patrick. He died after the 3rd child was born. After Henry Patrick, died Mary Morris married Henry Smith. She then became know as Grandma Smith. She was present at my father's birth in Zwolle Louisiana in 1922. Present were Mary Ann Morris Patrick Smith, her daugheter Ida Alice Patrick Burns, granddaughter Mary Annie Burns Henderson and gtgranddaughter Martha Henderson McCormick and baby Hugh McCormick (my Dad). It seems that the women of that family are long lived."



(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Hemphill Beat No. 1, PO Hemphill
Enumerated 28 Jun 1870
Page 6
Smith, Henry 42 M W Teacher 500 200 England
Smith, Mary A 29 M W Keeping House La
Smith (sic), Ida Alice 8 F W La
Smith (sic), Henry H 6 M W Tx
Smith (sic), Robert L 5 M W Tx
Smith, Margaret 2 F W La
Smith, Simon W 1 M W Tx

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated 22 Jun 1880
Page 8 SD 1 ED 85
73-74
Smith, Henry W M 53 School Teacher England England England
Smith, Mary Ann W F 40 Wf Keeping House LA Tn NC
Smith, Margarett W F 11 Dtr At Home Tx
Smith, Morris W M 6 S Tx
Smith, Fountain W M 5 Son Tx
Smith, Eben W M 2 Son Tx
Patrick, Robert L W M 14 Stepson Tx

Notes:

Tombstone inscribed "At Rest-We will meet again-Aged 53 years and 3 months."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 5
Enumerated 13 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 14A
186-186
Brittain, Thomas S. Head W M Oct 1858 41 m 19 Tx Ark Tx Farmer
Brittain, Margaret Wf W F Feb 1863 37 M 19 3/3 Tx La La
Brittain, Robert Son W M Jan 1883 17 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Brittain, Vessie M Dtr W F Oct 1886 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Brittain, Lena Dtr W F Sept 1892 7 S Tx Tx Tx

Thomas married Margaret "Peggy" A. Harvey on 26 Mar 1881. Margaret was born on 7 Feb 1862 in Texas; died on 2 Nov 1932 in Texas; was buried in Harvey Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]