biography – Page 19 – Texas History Notebook

Henrietta Chamberlain King and Her Family

Henrietta King died in 1925 and at the time, it was reported nationwide in the newswires. Today, there may be fewer people who know of her, but there are probably few Texas women who are as influential as Mrs. King was in their own part of the state. Born in Missouri in 1832, she lived most of her life in Texas, associated with the King Ranch. She moved to Texas with her blended family in 1850 where her father Hiram Chamberlain founded a Presbyterian mission church in Brownsville. She was well educated for her time and married Captain Richard King in 1854 when she was about twenty-two years old. Between 1856 and 1864, the couple had five children: Henrietta Maria (1856 – 1917), Ella Morse (1858 – 1900), Nathan Richard (1860 – 1922), Alice Gertrudis (1862 – 1944) and Robert E. Lee (1864 – 1883). The couple first made their home on the south Texas ranch in a crude block house. The ranch was located between Mexico and the more populated areas of Texas. Their wealth was tied up in the land at the time Richard King died in 1885. Mrs. King spent the next forty years associated with the farming and ranching operations which she and other family members managed. Under their leadership, the ranch prospered and grew, more than doubling in acreage.

Oliver Loving’s Family, Part 1

Oliver Loving was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky on December 4, 1812 to Joseph Loving (1786 – 1842) and Susannah Mary Bourland Loving (1788 – 1850). Joseph and Susannah were married in Kentucky around 1806. They had many children, most of whom remained in Kentucky, but Oliver and at least three of his siblings moved to Texas. Joseph and Susannah remained in Kentucky until their deaths.

Juliette Peak Fowler

Juliette Abbey Peak was born May 8, 1837 to Jefferson Peak, Sr. (1801 – 1885) and Martha Mavina Reser (1812 – 1900) in Warsaw, Kentucky. The children of this couple who lived beyond infancy were: Carroll Marion, William Wallace, Sarah Ann, Jefferson Jr., Juliette Abbey, Martha Helen (lived to age 13), Junius W., Worth, Florence, George Victor and Matthias L. The Peak family and their descendants were founding members of the first Christian Church in Dallas County. That early East Dallas congregation has relocated several times since then, but has ties to at least one congregation that continues today.

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.