John Mason Polley

Notes:

A photo of Dan in uniform can be found on his Find A Grave memorial page. His military marker is inscribed as follows:

SGT US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II; Married Feb. 28, 1948

Gravesite Details dbl/w Claudia

Dan married Claudia Jeanette Gellatly on 28 Feb 1948 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. Claudia (daughter of Don Claude "D. C." Gellatly and Bena Norine Harris) was born on 14 Nov 1926 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Jul 2020 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in New Hope Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary

Claudia Jeanette Polley, 93, of Sexton, Texas passed away Sunday, July 26, 2020 in San Augustine, Texas.

Claudia was born in Milam, Texas on November 14, 1926 to Don C. Gellatly and Bena Norine Harris Gellatly.

Claudia was a superior homemaker and excellent cook. She was a member of the Hemphill High School Class of 1944 and also of Liberty Springs Methodist Church. She liked antiquing with her sister, she loved her family and she loved children. She saw the good in everything and everybody.

She is survived by her son, Don Polley of San Augustine; and sister, Bobbie Pratt of San Augustine. She is also survived and loved by her nieces, nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dan B. Polley, Jr.; infant son, John Mason Polley; brother, Robert Earl Gellatly; and sister, Merle Huff.

Graveside services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2020 in New Hope Cemetery, Milam, Texas under the direction of Starr Funeral Home with Bro. Buddy Pratt officiating.

Serving as pallbearers are Doug Fuller, Cole Fuller, Jerry Burrow, Joel Halbert, Amos Hanzel, and Ray Sheard.

Online condolences can be made and memorial book can be signed at starrfuneralhome.com.

Downloaded from Starr Funeral Home website, also published in The Sabine County Reporter, July 29, 2020, page 4.

(Research):

The Sabine County Reporter
October 22, 1997, Page 7

Class of 1944

Hemphill's Class of 1944 recently held a reunion at the home of Phillip and Loretta Sterle in Hemphill. Shown are, from left: Claudine Gellaty Polley, Philip Sterle, Onie Bell Grim Williams, Doris Stewart Walts, Eugene Procella, Margie Watson Nellus, LaTrent Walker, Melba Rue Isom Byley, Charlotta Kign Walker, Bertie Scott, Helen Strickland Murray, Betty Mae Ener McGraw and Patsy Pickley Becka. The Class of '44 donated $100 from their treasury to the J. R. Huffman Public Library.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, March 2011)

Notes:

(Research):
Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 5
Enumerated 20 and 21 January 1920
SD 326 ED 172 Sheet 18A
236-240
(Indexed as PALLEY)
Polley, D.B. He M W 28 M Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Polley, Mary Wf F W 23 M Tx Tx Tx
Polley, Lillian Dtr F W 4 3/12 S Tx Tx Tx

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP No 5
Enumerated April 16, 1930
ED 202-7 SD 19 Sheet 5A Stamped 89
93-100
Polley, Dan B Hd $4000 M W 39 M23 Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Polley, Mary A/G/C? Wf F W 32 M17 Tx Tx Tx
Polley, Lillian Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Polley, Dan Jr. Son M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Polley, Ruth J Mother F W 72 Wd 17 Tx TN TN

Dan married Mary Clifton. Mary was born on 28 Oct 1896 in Texas; died in Apr 1980 in San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3FF-NBS
name: Don C Gellatly
event: Death
event date: 19 Sep 1976
event place: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
gender: Male
marital status: Married
birth date: 21 Jun 1898
birthplace: , Texas
father's name: Claude Gellatly
mother's name: Ola Mason
certificate number: 76615
film number: 2243981
digital folder number: 005165872
image number: 00335
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Don C Gellatly, 1976

Don married Bena Norine Harris about 1918. Bena (daughter of Robert Earl Harris and Susan L. "Sudie" Pratt) was born on 24 Jul 1901 in Texas; died on 5 Jan 2000 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in New Hope Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

THE SABINE COUNTY REPORTER January 12, 2000

Bena Harris Gellatly, 98, of Milam died Wednesday, Jan 5, 2000, in San Augustine. Mrs. Gellatly was born July 24, 1901 and had been a lifelong resident of the Milam area. She was a homemaker and a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Survivors; daughters and sons-in-law, Claudia and Dan Polley of Sexton, Merle and Oscar Huff of Milam, and Bonnie and Larry Mobbs of Odessa, a sister, Elaine Brown of San Augustine; eight grandchildren a step-granddaughter; nine great-grandchildren; and four step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband D.C. Gellatly, and a son, Robert Gellatly. Funeral services were held Jan 7 at New Hope Baptist Church near Milam with Bro. Jim Moss and Bro. Lou Dane officiating. Interment followed at New Hope Cemetery. Starr Funeral Home Inc of Hemphill, Directors.

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender R
ace Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
John R. POLLEY Self M Male W 25 TX Wagoner GA AL
Ruthie POLLEY Wife M Female W 22 TX Keeps House SC SC
Mack POLLEY Son S Male W 3 TX TX TX
Willis POLLEY Son S Male W 1 TX TX TX

Source Information:
Census Place Precinct 5, Sabine, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255325
NA Film Number T9-1325
Page Number 244D

John married Ruth Jane "Duce" Bennett on 25 Nov 1875 in Sabine County, Texas. Ruth (daughter of Charles "Charlie" Milton Bennett, Sr. and Mary Louise Brazeale) was born on 7 May 1857 in South Carolina; died on 16 Feb 1939 in Sexton, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Polley Cemetery, Sexton, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A copy of her actual Texas Death certificate can be viewed online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976. The informant was Dan B. Polley, a son. Her parents were listed as Charlie Bennettt and Louise Brazille, both born in South Carolina, and her husband was listed as John R. Polley, with "Married Nov. 25, 1875" handwritten in the left margin of the death certificate . Her occupation was shown as housewife, and she was a resident of Sexton, Texas. At the time of the 1930 Federal census she was living with her son, Dan Polley, and his family in Sabine County.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JF4F-P2P
Name: Ruth J. Benett Polley
Death Date: 16 Feb 1939
Death Place: Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 81 years 9 months 9 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 07 May 1857
Birthplace: South Carolina
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name: John R. Polley
Father's Name: Charlie Benett
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's Name: Louise Brazille
Mother's Birthplace: South Carolina
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Sexton, Texas
Cemetery:
Burial Place: Sexton, Texas
Burial Date: 17 Feb 1939
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2117981
Digital Film Number: 4030418
Image Number: 2664
Reference Number: cn 9773
Collection: Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Milam Pr. 4
Enumerated 20 and 21 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 71 Sheet 11A
188-188
Gellatly, Claude D Head W M Apr 1873 27 M Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Oly A Wf W F Nov 1878 27 M 5 2/2 Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Carl J Son W M Oct 1895 4 S Tx Tx Tx
Gellately, Doney Son W M Jun 1898 1 S Tx Tx Tx
189-189
Gellatly, Peter Head W M Jan 1840 59 M 35 Tx Scotland Scotland
Gellatly, Josephine Wf W F Oct 1846 m 35 7/4 Ala Ala GGa
Gellatly, Robert Head W M Jany 1870 29 M 2 Tx Tx Ala Farmer
Gellatly, Ada Wf W F Apr 1878 22 M 3 2/2 Tx Ga Ga
Gellatly, Cecile E Dtr W F Dec 1897 S Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Rodney Son W M Sept 1899 S Tx Tx Tx

David married Abbie Ola Mason before 1895. Abbie (daughter of James G. "Governor" Mason and Susannah "Susan" Halbert) was born on 28 Nov 1875 in Isla, Sabine County, Texas; died on 4 Jan 1918; was buried in Mason Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated 25 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 134 Sheet 5A Stamped 155
65-66
Mason, James G Head m W 71 M1 46 Tx Ala Ala Farmer
Mason, Susanna Wf F W M2 46 11/7 Tx Ala Ala
Mason, Carey H Son M W 22 S Tx Tx Tx Teacher Public School
--/67
Gellatly, Abiola Head F W 31 Wd 5/4 Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Carl Jr. Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Don SOn M W 10 S Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Thelma Dtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Gellatly, Mason Son M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Neil, Austin J Nephew M W 19 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer

Notes:

(Research):
Census Information:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County
Enumerated 26 April 1910
SD 2 ED 134 Sheet 134 Sheet 5B
Harris, Robert E 42 m1 20 Tx Ala Miss
Harris, Sudie L 38 M1 20 8/7 Tx Al Tx (First Wife)
Harris, Earl P 19 S Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Harris, Mabel V 17 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Wallace D 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Bena A 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Daisy L 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Marie 3 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Robert W 1 S Tx Tx Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated 21 through 26 January 1920
SD 326 ED 171 Sheet 14B
Harris, Robert E Hd 52 Wd Tx Alabama Mississippi Merchant Dry Goods
Harris, Mabel Dtr 27 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Wallis Son 20 S Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Harris, Lucille Dtr 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Marie Dtr 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Windell Son 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Harris, Elaine Dtr 2 6/12 Tx Tx Tx

Robert married Susan L. "Sudie" Pratt on 1 Jan 1890 in Sabine County, Texas. Susan (daughter of Drayton Pratt and Mary Benena J. Low) was born on 30 May 1871 in Texas; died on 11 Jun 1911 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]