Grady Monroe Tatom

Notes:

His Texas Death certificate, viewable online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, lists his mother's name, in error as Harriet Dealy...when she was in fact Harried Adelia "Delia" White. The information was obtained from his VA records. His usual occupation was that of a farmer. He was a veteran of World War II. He was showsn as a resident of Hemphill, Texas, but he died in Houston.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

From OLD TIMERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS by Virgie Speights

WILL TATOM March 28, 1963

When Will Tatom celebrated his 89th birthday Sunday, more than 150 persons attended the annual all-day celebration. A new 50 foot long table had been built in the yard of his home near Pineland, where he has lived for the past 50 years. Fifty-four of his 70 descendants were present including all nine of his children.

Mr. Tatom was in the midst of all the hubbub, chipper as could be, greeting friends and relatives from far and near, including several sets of twins these being scattered throughout the family. The little Saver twins, exactly 85 years younger than he, perched one on each knee while he remembered about his early life.

Born in the community in which he has lived his whole life, just southwest of Hemphill, he told of his early ancestors being early Sabine County settlers. His mother, the former Ella Dent, was a native of Georgia, but his father, Samuel Plummer Tatom was born at old Sabinetown, of parents who came from Mississippi. The family claims Indian ancestry, and Mr. Tatom does seem to possess the dignified bearing of an Indian chief.

Mr. Tatom has the reputation of being a steady, enthuisiastic worker. His first job was hauling freight by wagon and mule team before the days of railroads in Hemphill. He hauled freight from Many, Louisiana and Bronson, Texas for the early Hemphill merchants, including Ed Pratt, J.O. Toole and Taylor Morris. He still remembers the day he made his biggest paycheck. From Bronson he rushed to a printing press to Hemphill and then sped back to Bronson with a gasoline motor. For this long day's work, he received the magnificant sum of $10, which was really a handsome sum in those days.

Most of his livilhood was earned on the farm and he owned quite a sizable portion of land in his community, his holdings stretching from near Hemphill to quite close to Pineland.

As each of his children married, he gave 40 acres as a wedding present. For the boys, he added a horse. All except two of his children still live in this area, in the Pinehill and Plainview communities. Mrs. Ola Kemp, a daughter lives in Beaumont, Texas, and W. C. Tatom, a son, lives in Buna, Texas.

Mrs. Vernon Dubose, her husband and two children, live with her father in the old home. The others, who live near are Dewey, Elmon, Clyde, Claude, Grady, and Mrs. Edna King.

Mr. Tatom married Miss Delia White, also a native of Pinehill, in 1896. She died in 955, after 59 years of marriage.

(Medical):Senelity, Diabetes Mellitus

Samuel married Harriet Adelia "Delia" White on 7 Jan 1896 in Sabine County, Texas. Harriet (daughter of Amazia Vardeman "A. V." White and Ary Adney "Addy" Davidson) was born on 19 Dec 1874 in Pine Hill, Pineland, Sabine County, Texas; died on 6 Mar 1955 in Pineland, Sabine County, Texas; was buried on 7 Mar 1955 in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Medical):See attached sources.

Samuel married Elizabeth Ella Dent about 1870 in Sabine County, Texas. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard Hezekiah Dent and Elizabeth Walker) was born in 1855 in Alabama; died after 1900. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Enrolled in the District 6 School in Sabine County in 1854.

Civil War Veteren. Company F, 11th Texas Regiment, CSA.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Justice Prect No. 1
Page 23 SD 1 ED 84 Stamped 219
5 and 6 July 1880
202-211 Henry and Laura Carlton
203-212 Wm and Nancy Strickland
204-213
White, Vardeman W M 36 Farmer (La-Crossed thru) Miss Ala Ala
Whie, Atna W F 32 Wf Ala Tenn Va
White, Thomas J W M 6 Son Tx Tx Tx
White, Attalia W F 4 Dtr Tx Tx Tx
White, Martha W F 3 Dt Tx Tx Tx
White, Nora A W F (sic) 4/12 Jan Dau (sic) Tx Tx Tx

Amazia married Ary Adney "Addy" Davidson. Ary (daughter of William Madison Davidson and Martha Claiborne Goodrich) was born on 17 Aug 1847 in Alabama; died on 24 Nov 1910 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown as "Alma" on the 1880 census transcription. In 1910, she was living with her son and daughter-in-law, John M. and Kate White, in JP 1 of Sabine County, Texas. Her older brother, Jefferson Oliver Davidson, was living with the family as well.

George married Nancy ???. Nancy was born about 1829 in Mississippi; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

1850 Census
Georgia, Wilkes County
Enumerated 19 Oct 1850
Stamped 312
364-364
Ric'd H. Dent 33 M Farmer $800 Geo
Elizabeth Dent 26 F Ga
Lydia A Dent 7 F Ga Attended School during the year
Margaret L Dent 5 F Ga
Wm. (sic) T. Dent 3 Ga
Infant Dent 1 F

1860 Census
not located

1870 Census
Georga, Chattahoochee County, Cusseta Dist
Enumerated 8 Jun 1870
Page No. 8
54-54
Dent, Richard H 52 N W Farmer & Lab $2000 $1370 Ga
Dent, Elizabeth 46 F W Keeping House Ga
Dent, Margaret 24 F W Housework Ga
Dent, John T. 22 M W Farm Lab Ga
Dent, Leonora V 17 F W House Work Ga
Dent, Elizabeth E 15 F W House Work Ga
Dent, Frances L 12 F W House Work Ga
Dent, Albert G 4 M W Ga
Wilkinson, John R 12 M W Ga

1880 Census

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Robert H. DENT Self M Male W 63 GA Farmer MD ---
Elizabeth DENT Wife M Female W 57 GA Keeps House GA GA
Albert DENT Son S Male W 14 GA Works On Farm GA GA
Source Information:
Census Place Precinct 5, San Augustine, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255325 NA Film Number T9-1325
Page Number 251C

Richard married Elizabeth Walker on 30 Dec 1841 in Georgia. Elizabeth was born on 4 May 1824 in Georgia; died on 20 Sep 1882 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On the Sabine County 1854 Scholastic Census, H.S. White was shown as of household with five (5) children between the ages of 6 and 16 enrolled at School District No. 6. They were: Edward, Vardamenn, Mary, Hanibal, and Arrilla. Who was Arrilla, and who was her mother? Could this have been Hanzel, his daughter by Eliza Jones?

Henry S and Mary E White (third wife) were among the 11 founding members of the First Baptist Church of Hemphill, all of whom gathered on the banks of the Housen Bayou, drawing up 12 articles of Faith and 24 articles of Decorum. Henry served as the clerk to the church, recording all church proceedings for a period of some 12 years (from 1858 to 1870), as a delegate to church conferences, and as the moderator of church proceedings. In November, 1868, he was ordained as a Deacon of the Church. The MINUTES 1858-1890 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HEMPHILL, TEXAS were transcribed and indexed by Di Ann Vick in 1982, and are available for purchase from both Ingmire Publications, 10166 Clairmont Dr St. Louis MO 63136 and Ericson Books 1614 Redbud St Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.

In 1876, H S and Mary E White left the First Baptist Church and were among the founding members of the Antioch Baptist Church in the Gravel Hill Community of Sabine County. According to a plaque on the front of the Antioch Church, J. S. Lambert and J J Roundtree were the organizers. Other founding members included: George Conn, John Anderson, T.D. Burkhalter, John De Weese, L.W. Hoard, Hosie Baldree, Ann Mason, Sophie H. Wallace, Mrs. C.A. Hoard, C. Baldree

Per the book "Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records" by White and Toole, "Henry S. White Sr. was Judge of Sabine County from 1869-1875, serving with Solomon Arthur. (They were called Chief Magistrates until the new State Constitution went into effect at the end of their term). Henry S. White was also a member of the Littleton Fowler Masonic Lodge. As the White Plantation lay just west of Hemphill, he was one of the last of the "Paderos" for the return of run-a-way slaves."

I have been unable to locate a CSA service record for Henry. It is probable that he was considered too old for service, he was almost 50 at the outbreak of the war.

His tombstone indicates he was a Mason.

Note in the 1920 Sabine County, Texas federal census, there was a 50 year old mulatto farmer named Jesse White (#594-616). He noted that his father was born in Mississippi and his mother in Georgia. What is his relationship, if any, to the other White's in Sabine County, Texas?

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Louisiana, Sabine Parish
13 Sept 1850
305-307
Henry White 37 M Farmer 900 Ga
Anne White 26 F Miss
H J 13 M Miss
Mary White 11 F Miss
Will White 8 M Miss
A. V. White 6 La
Edward White 3 M La
Jno. White 3/12 M La

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. No 1
Page 15C and 16D SD 1 ED 85 Stemped 231\\
Enumerated 26 and 28 Jun 1880
155-156
White, Henry S. W M 68 Farmer Ga Va Ga
White, Mary E W F 59 Wf Keeping House Miss Tn NC
Wallace, Sophia W F 30 StpDtr Farm laborer Miss --- ---
White, Eunice W F 28 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx --- ---
White, Ann E W F 25 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx --- ---
White, Ruth T W F 19 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx --- ---

Henry married Ann Vardeman before 1842 in Mississippi. Ann (daughter of Amaziah Vardeman and Una (Eunice) Carter) was born about 1824 in Mississippi; died after 1852. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per "1850 Census Sabine County, Texas with added Family Information and Corrections," William Madison Davidson owned 16 slaves. Per OLDTIMERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS he fought along with his son-in-law Amazia Vardeman White in Company F, 11th Texas Infantry. He died on the way home, somewhere near Marshall, and the irony of it was that he volunteered after he was past the age of 55, in anothers place, in exchange for a slave.

He was said by White and Toole to be the son of William "Squire Billy" DAVIDSON and Jane BIRDWELL, and a brother of Blackburn Davidson, who married Harriet Goodrich. White and Toole show him as a grandson of Wm. Davidson, b ca 1755, in N.C., lived to be 96. When members of his family loaded their wagons in 1849, and departed for Texas, never to return, the old grandfather, nearly blind, stood by the side of the road and waved until they were out of sight. He had begged to be taken to Texas with them. SABINE COUNTY GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, pps 84-87, contains details of various early Davidson families settlers in Pennsylvania, Virginia and the Carolinas. Gen. Samuel Houston was the grandson of a Margaret Davidson. Thomas Whitfiled Davidson, a Texas state senator and Lietut. Governor, was claimed as a relative of Jefferson Oliver Davidson of Sabine County (personal interview with Beulah Davis Hughes). (White and Toole, p 87).

Other researchers show him instead as a son of William DAVIDSON (born 1779 Va, d. 1860 Texas) and Nancy ALBRIGHT (born 1779 Va), and an Uncle of Blackburn Davidson.

William married Martha Claiborne Goodrich about 1839. Martha (daughter of Thomas Benton Goodrich and Martha Smith) was born on 22 Jan 1814 in Virginia; died on 18 Nov 1895; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lived with her son, Jefferson Oliver Davidson, at the time of the 1880 census.