Drayton Bennett Speights

Notes:

Sabine County Reporter
August 10, 2005

"On the Bright Side: "I Remember" Part 2"
By Mary Howell

He taught school in Rosevine and served as County School Tax Assessor. Drayton had an uncanny sense of humor and loved to pull pranks on his friends. One time he even master-minded the building and landing of a UFO and even put a letter written in a foreign language in his contraption. He situated it so that his croquet-playing friends would find it. News of Hemphill's UFO spread like wildfire throughout East Texas.

Drayton married Virginia "Virgie" Louise Collier on 10 Dec 1928. Virginia (daughter of Nathan Plympton Collier and Lula Blanche Chambers) was born on 18 Jul 1908 in Many, Sabine Parish, Louisiana; died on 8 Feb 1986 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Drayton Bennett Speights, Jr. was born on 23 Sep 1928 in Sabine County, Texas; died in Jun 1979 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Baby Girl Speights was born on 11 Apr 1930 in Dallas County, Texas; died about 1930 in Dallas County, Texas.
3. Living
4. Living
5. Living
6. Living
7. Mary Elizabeth Speights was born on 11 Jun 1949 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 12 Jun 1949 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Justice Precinct No. 1
Enumerated April 28 and 29 by Hugh M. Ireland
ED 202-3 SD 19th Sheet 20A Stamped 42
62-65
Speights. Tom G. Hd M W 45 M20 Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Speights, Arlis Wife F W 45 M 20 Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Elton Son M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Anna Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Rudolph Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, John H Son M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Sallie L Dtr F W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Gloria Dtr F W 1 S Tx Tx Tx

Thomas married Arley Emmaline Bennett on 12 Jul 1905. Arley (daughter of Jesse Archibald "Archie" Bennett and Anna Eliza Huffman) was born on 16 Mar 1885 in Texas; died on 3 Oct 1964 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

An actual copy of her Texas Death Record can be viewed online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976. She is shown as the daugbhter of J. A. Bennett and Anna Huffman, and is listed as widowed, and a housewife and mother. The informant was D. B. Speights, presumably her eldest son. Her first name is shown as Arley, though some other sources show her as Arlis.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

(Research):
Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 1
Enumerated 4 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 68 Sheet 1A Stamped 92
4-4
Speights, John W Hd W M Oct 1856 M 16 Tx Miss Miss Farmer
Speights, Sallie Wf W F July 1865 34 M 16 5/5 Tx Ga Tx
Speights, Tom G Son W M Feb 1885 15 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Speights, Dora E Dtr W F Feb 1886 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Orin W Son W M Feb 1887 13 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Speights, Mermod L Son W M Dec 1891 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Speights, Buford A Son W M Jan 1898 2 S Tx Tx Tx

John married Sallie Wilson on 20 Jan 1884 in Sabine County, Texas. Sallie (daughter of William Cregg Wilson and Bethie "Bettie" H. Lawhorn) was born in Jul 1865 in Texas; died about 1904 in Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Some researchers show that they also had a daughter named Emily Ann that died young.

In an article dated September 12, 1963 about Susan Arnold Nichols, Virgie Speights stated that on one trip home "they stopped by the home of a cousin, out on Palo Gaucho Creek, Dr. Johnny Speights and his wife, Sally Wilson Speights." Susan was the daughter of Jim Arnold, and granddaughter of Hanna Davis and J. M. Arnold. He was also a godson of Cadwaller Davis and Amelia Lee. (Speights, Old Timers of Sabine County, p. 21).

Notes:

An actual copy of his Texas Death Certificate can be viewed online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976. He was listed as married to Anna Eliza Bennett, and a son of Adam Jackson Bennett (born Pennsylvania) and Jane Harvey (born Alabama). His usual occupation was that of a lifelong Farmer (retired in October 1930). The informant was Mittie Easley of Yellowpine, Texas, a daughter.


(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 2 May 1910
SD 2 ED 131 Sheet 12A Stamped 177
191-193
Bennett, Jesse A Hd M W 45 m1 25 Tx La La Farmer
Bennett, Anna E. Wf F W 43 M1 25 5/5 Tx NC Ga
Bennett, Posey A Son M W 18 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Home Farm
Bennett, Mittie A Dtr F W 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Bennett, Zina B. Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Bennett, Benjamin P Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Davidson, Henry hirehand? M W 28 S Tx Ga Tx Laborer General Farm

(Medical):See attached sources.

Jesse married Anna Eliza Huffman. Anna (daughter of Christopher "Kit" Bryant Huffman and Angelina Jones) was born on 16 Mar 1866 in Texas; died on 12 Jan 1948 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sharon Speights Varney quotes Virgie Collier Speights as writing "John was a small child when the family moved to the Mississippi Delta along with his brothers and sisters. John married Emily Scott. To this union were born Tom, John "Doc" and Dora. His wife died and her amrried a Miss (Rebecca) Holbert. To this union were born Mandie in 1866, an infant that died, and Robert Joel on September 11, 1870. The second wife died and he married Lizzie Davis. To this union were born Exa in 187, Mattie, Minnie, and an infant that died. Johns third wife died and he lived a widower approximately 35 years. John hired a man to take his palce in the confederate army, however after one year he was assigned to making salt. John joined the Campbellite Church during his old age. He died in 1912 and was buried in Lowe Cemetery in Sabine County, Texas."

Jonathan married Emily Ann Scott on 1 Nov 1853 in Woodville, Tyler County, Texas. Emily was born on 20 Mar 1832 in Mississippi; died on 10 Jan 1862 in Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to be a daughter of John and Martha Scott.

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Nacogdoches, Chireno Beat No. 4
Page 7 SD 1 ED 50 Stamped 237
61-61
Wilson, William C M W 36 Saddle and Harness Maker Disability Lost left Leg Tx Tenn Ala
Wilson, Bettie H W F 32 Wf Keepig Hous Ga Unk Ga
Wilson, Sallie W F 14 Dtr At School Tx Tx Ga
Wilson, Dolly C W F 12 Dtr Tx Tx Ga
Wilson, Martha W F 9 Dt Tx Tx Ga
Wilson, Allen A W M 4 Son Tx Tx Ga
Wilson, William K W M 21 Son Tx Tx Ga

William married Bethie "Bettie" H. Lawhorn. Bethie was born about 1848 in Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"2nd Lieut. in Co. K in the Mexican War." SABINE COUNTY GENEALOGICAL RECORDS by White and Toole

Kay Parker McCary, in the transcription of the tombstone, writes that he was Born in West Feliciana Parish, LA, Removed to Texas Dec 1842

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 30 Oct 1850
Stamped 320
146-146
Adam J Bennett 35 M Farmer $400 La
Mary J. E. Bennett 24 F La
Mary Ann Benett 9 F La
Henry L. Bennett 8 M La
Burtus C. Bennett 6 M Texas
Sarah Jane Bennett 4 F Texas
William H Bennett 3/12 M Texas

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Patroon Beat No. 5. P. O. Box Milam
Page 30 Stamped 333
225-225
A. J. Bennett 46 M Farmer $1600 $3190 La
Mary J. Bennett 37 F La
Mary A. Bennett 20 F La
Henry Bennett 18 M La
Bertis C. Bennett 15 M Tx
Sarah J. Bennett 12 F Tx
William Bennett 10 M Tx
A. J. Bennett 7 M Tx
Robert Bennett 5 M Tx
Major A. Bennett 1 M Tx


1880 Census
Adam J. Bennett Self M M W 65 La Farmer La La
Mary J. Bennett Wf M F W 58 SC Keeps House SC SC
Arch Bennett Son S M W 16 Tx Wks on Farm La SC
Alva Bennett Son S M W 11 Tx Wks on Farm La SC

Texas, Sabine, Precinct 5
FHL Film # 125535 NA Film # T9-1325 Page # 250C

Adam married Mary Jane Elizabeth Harvey on 1 Aug 1839 in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. Mary (daughter of Seth Harvey and Zelotus Margaret Ann Boyd) was born on 17 Dec 1821 in Louisiana; died on 8 Mar 1901 in Pine Hill, Pineland, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Bennett Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Kay Parker McCary, in the transcription of the tombstone, writes that she was Born in Pitt Co., North Carolina, Moved to Texas Dec 1842 (Mary Jane Elizabeth Harvey - Daughter of Seth Harvey & Zelotus Margaret Ann Boyd - Married 1 Aug 1839 h Adam Jackson Bennett, Sr.) The 1880 census shows her state of birth as South Carolina, and early census records instead show her as being born in Louisiana.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 5
Enumerated 14 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 15B
205-205
Bennett, Burtis Head W M Apr 1845 55 Wd Tx La La Farmer
Bennett, Mary J Mother W F Jan 1823 77 Wd La --- NC

Notes:

Married:
Virgie Speights, in OLD TIMERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS, in a column about Pearl Chambers Lord Greer, dated January 30, 1964, wrote that "Adam Bennett and Mary Jane Elizabeth Harvey, came with their slaves from Louisiana, just ahead of the sheriff. He was chasing them to take away their slaves in connection with some sort of lien connected with the estate of Mrs. Bennett's mother. They barely made it to Texas and safety in time to camp in the 'sand field' now known as "Bennet Field," just on the Texas side of the Sabine. The Louisiana authorities camped on the opposite side of the river before frustratedly returning home the next day. Then Adam staked his claim atop a nearby hill with gently sloping fields towards the river. The place is still called the "Bennett Place." There is a family graveyard nearby. The elder Bennetts had come to East Feliciana Parish from Alabama, and his father, a silversmith, had come from Germany." In a later article, this one profiling Abbie Della Bennett Travis, January 27, 1966, she added that the lien was due to "a matter of a few unpaid debts. The slaves were to be confiscated, so the Bennett's, their two children, and Zelotus Margaret Ann Boyd Harvey raced to the Sabine River and safety which they attained just before dark."

Notes:

"The father of "Kit" Huffman was thought to be John [Huffman]...also the father of Asa (Jasper Co.) Owen Huffman who also came to Sabine Co. and Leah and Penny who remained in N.C. The family emigrated from Germany and spelled their name Hoffman."

Was shown on the muster roll of Captain J.M. Burroughs Company of the Sabine County Volunteer Infantry, CSA, and was enlisted at Hemphill, Texas by Drury Field for 3 months duty on January 15, 1863.

At the time of the 1810 Federal census, he was enumerated with his daughter and son-in-law, Callie and Thomas McBride, in Sabine County, Texas.

Christopher married Angelina Jones on 2 Feb 1854 in Jasper County, Texas. Angelina (daughter of Mary ???) was born about 1827 in Florida; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They also had "twins that died young." (White and Toole)