Texas History Notebook

The Waggoners and the Halsells

The Halsells and Waggoners were twice related by marriage. Daniel Dale “Dan” Waggoner was the husband of Sicily (sometimes spelled Cicily) Halsell and Dan’s son W. T. “Tom” Waggoner was married to Ella Halsell, sister of Sicily. Dan’s first wife and Tom’s mother was the former Nancy Moore. Nancy had died in 1853. She is buried in a small family cemetery in Hopkins County along with Dan’s father Solomon and one of Dan’s sisters. Around 1858, Dan married Sicily Ann Halsell (Ella’s older sister). No known children were born to Dan and Sicily. Nineteen years later in 1877, Tom Waggoner married Sicily’s younger sister Ella. It may sound more complicated than it is, but as a result of the marriage, Tom’s step-grandparents and all of their children became his inlaws. The Waggoner father and son had each married one of two Halsell sisters. This is not all that uncommon an occurrence, since back in the day families were often much larger and children might be stretched out over a number of years.

Mitzi Ann Lucas Riley and Her Rodeo Family

Mitzi Ann Lucas Riley passed away on August 29, 2023 in Fort Worth. Her interesting obituary told of her long career as a trick rider and rodeo performer. Mitzi had a remarkable rodeo heritage. She was born January 10, 1928 and was the daughter of rodeo cowboy James Edward “Buck” Lucas (1894 – 1960) and Barbara Inez “Tad” Barnes (1902 – 1990). Buck and Tad were well known in rodeo circles and were quite successful during the years that they were active.

Tex Owens and His Musical Family

Doie Hensley Owens was born June 15, 1892 to Curckley Schley Owens (1869 – 1958) and Susan Frances Owens (1873 – 1968). Doie was the oldest of thirteen children. Doie and his brother Charles Wesley Owens were the only boys. The Owens family were sharecropping farmers in Texas and later in Oklahoma. Doie was born while they were living in Killeen, Bell County, Texas. Doie was one of three siblings who went on to enjoy careers in the music business. Doie became known as Tex Owens, his brother Charles or Chuck was a singer/songwriter and their sister Ruby had a long career as a country singer.

William B. Slaughter

William Baxter Slaughter was a son of minister and cattleman George Webb Slaughter (1811 – 1895) and Sarah Jane Mason Slaughter (1818 -1894) and was born in Freestone County, Texas. The children of George Webb and Sarah Jane were Christopher Columbus, Nancy Ann, Peter Eldridge, George Webb Jr., John Bunyan, William Baxter, Francis Ann, Sarah Jennie Mary Permille and Mason Lee, born from 1837 to 1863.

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.