Joshua Hopkins Speights

Notes:

"Joshua Speights was very prominent in early Sabine County history, founding, together with Hampton Pratt, the first store in Hemphill. He also served as Chief Justice of Sabine County and as Senator in the Texas Legislature." (White and Toole)

SABINE COUNTY REPORTER 19 October 1994, Page 5 Oil Painting of Judge Speights is donated to county museum

The Sabine county Museum and the Virgie Speights Memorial Library has received a gift from Mr. and Mrs. James C. Vanderbilt of an oil painting of Judge Joshua H. Speights.

James, a great-grandson of Judge Speights,painted the portrait from a black and white copy of a picture taken of the Judge found in the archives of the Texas Legislature in Austin.

Joshua, a citizen of the Republic of Texas, served Sabine County in District #22, State Legislature 1853-1854, and 1859-1860, and also served as Judge of Sabine County 1877-1882. he was also a merchant, lawyer, physician, and farmer though not at the same time.

James and Marguerite Vanderbilt have been patrons of the museum and library from the beginning. They have given gifts of family heirlooms, valuable books and many mementos honoring Joshua H. Speights, his mother Rebbecca Hopkins Speights, and their descendants and relatives. James Vanderbilt spent a year studying and working for the British National Gallery in London, England. He retired form the Navy after World War II as a Lt. Commander. His hobbies are many but oil painting is his first love.

The Sabine County museum is very proud to have the portriat and is open Wednesday and Fridays and by appointment to visitors.

SABINE COUNTY REPORTER 27 March 2002, Page 9 SRT honors Vanderbilt with memorial

On Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, the Sabine District Chapter #33 of Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT), dedicated an SRT memorial medallion at the grave of James C. Vanderbilt, deceased member of the chapter.

The unveiling ceremony of the historic marker was held at the Ft. Jesup National Park and Cemetery near Many, LA, in Sabine Parish. Sabine County Sheriff's Department proved the firing of the military salutes fo the occasion and the Sabine Parish Sheriff's Department provided an escort to the cemetery.

Vanderbilt was born April 15, 1915 in Ft. Jesup, LA. He was named at birth "Voyght Willard Boswell" and later changed his name to match his professional name as an artist.

James C. Vanderbilt was the great-grandson of Joshua Hopkins Speights, who came to Sabine County in approximately 1841. He was a professional artist and a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy.

Vanderbilt was a strong patron of the arts and was dedicated to preserving our history and culture. He was a key person in the founding of the Virgie Speights Memorial Library and Museum in Hemphill. He and his wife donated many gifts to enhance and maintain the Library and Old Jail Buildin

Vanderbilt was a tireless worker and patron of the Sonoma Depot Museum in Sonoma, CA, where he lived for many years. His paintings and art illustrations for the movie industry, plus his gifts to preserve history will be enjoyed by future generations.

This is believed to be the first medallion dedicated outside of Texas.....Recognition of descendants and acceptance of the marker was conducted by Bill Speights. Speights and J.E. Gooch unveiled the marker.

From the SSDI: JAMES C VANDERBILT 15 Apr 1915 11 May 1998 (V) 95476 (Sonoma, Sonoma, CA) (none specified) 550-28-5822 California

Joshua married Esther C. Leece on 8 Mar 1854 in Sabine County, Texas. Esther was born on 5 Apr 1835 in Louisiana; died on 7 Aug 1867 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joshua married Sarah "Sallie" Jane Youngblood before 1870. Sarah (daughter of Henry Youngblood and Sarah Miller Harvey) was born on 1 Sep 1840 in Louisiana; died on 25 Aug 1899 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter, Sept. 29, 1886, Hemphill TX.

Mary R. (Molly) Speights Boswell died at her home in Logansport, LA. She left two small children and her husband, G.S. Boswell. The Reporter states that G.S. Boswell called on the Reporter and told them he was moving from Logansport and that his two small sons would be cared for by Judge Speights.

Charles Royall cnroyall@wcc.net

Mary married Gabriel Sims Boswell on 23 Dec 1882 in Orange County, Texas. Gabriel was born about 1850 in Gordon County, Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The photo of her headstone, in Milam Cemetery, shows she was the wife of A. D. CAUSEY, and that she was born 1 July 1872 and died 2 Mar 1899.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54446744

Family/Spouse: Alfred D. Causey. Alfred (son of Solomon Causey and Harriet Louisa Harvey) was born on 1 Sep 1869 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 16 Apr 1912 in Texas; was buried in Milam Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VZXJ-XYV
Name: Sally Fussell
Titles & Terms:
Event: Death
Event Date: 11 Apr 1972
Event Place: Jasper, Texas
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Widowed
Certificate Number:
Collection: Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000

Sally married Deal L. Fussell on 24 Oct 1909 in San Augustine County, Texas. Deal (son of John Andrew Fussell and Sarah California Howard) was born on 28 Jul 1887 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 7 Jul 1962 in Kirbyville, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Springs Cemetery, Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to Sharon Speights, she married J. W. PARKIN, and they lived in the Dallas area in the 1960's.

Notes:

Shown as John A on the 1900 census, Alfred in 1910, and James A in 1930. Birth records of two of his sons simply show him as J A Causey. His tombstone is inscribed Rev. J. Alfred Causey. However, the obituary of son Leo shows his name as James Alfred, and this is assumed to be accurate.

Newton County Historical Committee, "Glimpses of Newton County History," (Nortex Press, Burnet, Texas, c. 1982) notes that Rev. J. A. CAUSEY was the first full-time pastor of the Church of God in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas. He pastored their for several years before resigning in 1925, leaving the church in care of the Rev. Henry Brooks.


(Research):

Census Listings:

1920
not located

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP No. 8
Enumerated April 19, 1930
ED 202-11 SD 19 Sheet 9B
185-192
Causey, James A Head M W 32 M 17 Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Causey, Eppie B Wf F W 33 M 18 Tx Tx Tx
Causey, James B Son M W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Causey, Alfred L Son M W 9 Tx Tx Tx
Causey, Mildred E. Dtr F W 7 Tx Tx Tx
Causey, Kate B Dtr F W 4 Tx Tx tx
Causey, Clide G Son M W 1 6/12 S Tx

Family/Spouse: Effie Beulah Stephenson. Effie was born on 9 Nov 1895 in Texas; died on 28 Apr 1990 in West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Threcia Marie Kirbos. Threcia was born on 15 Dec 1912 in Saline, Bienville Parish, Louisiana; died on 25 Jul 2015 in Kirbyville, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Kirbyville City Cemetery, Kirbyville, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JXH7-J62
Name: Lucille Grigsby
Death Date: 05 Dec 1955
Death Place: Kirbyville, Jasper Co., Texas
Gender: Female
Race: white
Death Age: 43 years 3 months 5 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 01 Sep 1912
Birthplace: San Augustine County, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: D.L. Fussell
Father's Birthplace: Texas
Mother's Name: Sallie Causey
Mother's Birthplace: Texas
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Kirbyville
Cemetery: Magnolia Springs Cemetery
Burial Place: Magnolia Springs, Texas
Burial Date: 06 Dec 1955
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2114548
Digital Film Number: 4163992
Image Number: 2132
Reference Number: 62078
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Family/Spouse: William Clarence Grigsby. William was born on 12 Feb 1922 in Kirbyville, Jasper County, Texas; died on 7 Mar 2012 in Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas; was buried in Davis Cemetery, Beulah Springs, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lois Fussell Rose

Lois Fussell Rose, 80, of Kirbyville died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1995 at a Jasper hospital.

A former longtime resident of Graham, she was a native of San Augustine County and had lived in Kirbyville 15 years.

Survivors: a sister, Florene Bierhalter of Kirbyville; and brothers, Lucian Fussell, Nay Fussell, and D. L. Fussell, all of Kirbyville.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, 1995, at Stringer Funeral Home chapel in Kirbyville. Interment and graveside rites were held at 4 p.m. Friday at Gooseneck Cemetery near Graham.

Published in The Sabine County Reporter, February 22, 1995, page 14

Family/Spouse: M. K. Rose. M. was born on 8 Dec 1916 in Young County, Texas; died on 11 Apr 1980 in Olney, Young County, Texas; was buried in Gooseneck Cemetery, Graham, Young County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jame J Bierhalter. Jame was born on 19 Jul 1918 in Texas; died on 5 Apr 1987 in Jasper, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Death Certificate notes he was killed in action Casin Italty, buried in Kirbyville

(Research):https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J69F-DMR
Name: Ray Fussell
Death Date: 08 Feb 1944
Death Place: Casin, Italy
Gender: Male
Race:
Death Age: 19 years
Estimated Birth Date: 1925
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: D. L. Fussell
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Sallie Causey
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Place of Residence:
Cemetery:
Burial Place:
Burial Date:
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2242622
Digital Film Number: 4167717
Image Number: 962
Reference Number: 1470
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Family/Spouse: Elester Van Pelt. Elester was born on 30 Jan 1925 in Blox, Jasper County, Texas; died on 31 Mar 2020 in Evadale, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Springs Cemetery, Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sally Pearl Thomas. Sally was born on 25 Feb 1927 in Blox, Jasper County, Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name or sex is not listed on the Family Search index, which simply shows the date and location of birth, 20 July 1920 in Hemphill, Texas, and the parents as J A Causey and Beulah Stephenson.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Mr. Alfred Leo (Al) Causey will begin at 2:30 P.M. Monday, January 9, 2006 in the Rose-Neath Southside Chapel. Interment will follow in Centuries Memorial Park. Officiating the services will be Reverend Billy Franks and Reverend Terry Arrington.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday, January 8, 2006 from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.

Mr. Causey was born July 20, 1920 in Hemphill, TX. He went to be with the Lord January 6, 2006 in Shreveport, LA. Mr. Causey proudly served our nation during World War II in the US Army. He was a carpenter. Mr. Causey was a member of the First Church of God in Shreveport.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Alfred Causey and Effie Beulah Stephenson Causey and one brother, Clyde Ivan Causey.

Surviving him to cherish his memory are his wife of 63 years, Margaret Causey; sons, Jerry Causey and his wife, Judy, and Jimmy Causey and his wife, Pam; one daughter, Dianne Griffith and her husband Greg; sisters, Mildred Harrelson and Blanche Garrett; brothers, J.D. Causey and Fred Causey; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be John Morrison, Eric Griffith, John Curlin, Doug Woodward, Brad Anderson, and Joey Dunning.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home
Southside Chapel 687-1256

SOURCE: The Shreveport Times, January 8, 2006

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VH81-F9X
Name: Causey
Event: Birth
Event Date: 12 Sep 1928
Event Place: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
Gender: Male
Father: J A Causey
Mother: Eppie Beula Stephenson
Certificate Number: 73244
Digital Folder Number: 004687600
Image Number: 00687
Collection: Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935