biography – Page 19 – Texas History Notebook

Walter Prescott Webb

Walter Prescott Webb was born April 3, 1888 to Casner P. Webb (1862 – 1940) and Mary Elizabeth Kyle Webb (1855 – 1949) in Panola County, Texas. His father Casner’s occupation was listed as a school teacher in the 1900 census and as a farmer in the 1910 census. Most likely, Casner supported his family by teaching and farming. The family moved a number of times to tenant farms while Casner also served in local schools as a teacher. Walter Prescott Webb was one of three siblings of Casner and Mary Elizabeth Webb to reach maturity and was the middle child between two sisters. He attended high school in Ranger and earned an undergraduate degree at University of Texas in Austin. He later earned a master’s degree there and was awarded a doctorate from University of Chicago for his literary work.

Lottie Deno (Carlotta Thompkins Thurmond)

There were a number of colorful female characters in the early days of Texas. Lottie Deno was the nickname of a woman who appears in fictional tales and historical accounts of the Old West. In reality, she appears to have been Carlotta Thompkins Thurmond (1844 – 1934). She is widely mentioned to have been the inspiration for Miss Kitty, a character on radio and television in the two series, both named “Gunsmoke,” that each ran for many years. In Texas, she is also mostly associated with the shanty town that grew up around Fort Griffin on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.

Thomas Loyd Burnett

Thomas Loyd Burnett was the son of Samuel Burk Burnett (1849 – 1922) and Ruth Bottom Loyd (1853 – 1913), and was born to the couple on December 10, 1871 in Denton County, Texas. Burk and Ruth had both a son and a daughter after Tom was born, but neither child survived beyond one or two years of age. They were followed by another daughter, Anne Valliant Burnett (1876 -1914). Burk and Ruth divorced in 1892 and Burk subsequently married Mary Sue Couts (1857 – 1924). Their union produced a son, (half brother to Tom and Anne) Samuel Burk Burnett, Jr. (1895 – 1916). Burk, Jr. died of cancer when he was almost twenty-one years old after a short illness. Tom’s sister Anne had previously died in 1914.

Mabel Gilbert and family

Mabel Gilbert was a Texas resident for most of his adult life. He and his family only lived in Dallas a few years, but they were contemporaries of the Beemans and John Neely Bryan and other early settlers. The Gilbert family story begins with Mabel himself. Mabel Gilbert was born on March 4, 1797 in what is now Dickson County, Tennessee. At that time, however, it was still part of North Carolina. According to genealogy records, his parents were William Gilbert/Gilbreath (1764 – 1827/1836) and Nancy “Nicy” Morris Gilbert/Gilbreath (1770 – 1840). Mabel is believed to have been the third son of the couple. The origin of his first name is unknown as Mabel is generally considered to be a feminine name. Mabel was followed by Temperance Gilbert, a daughter, and at least three more sons. The Gilbert childrens’ years of birth range from 1790 to 1810.

Sallie Chisum

Sallie Lucy Chisum Robert was born May 28, 1858 in Bolivar, Denton County, Texas to James Thomas “Jim” Chisum (1827 – 1908) and Ara Josephine Wright Chisum (1830 – 1875). Jim Chisum was the brother of John Simpson Chisum (1824 – 1884).