biography – Page 21 – 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.

Hotel Dieu, El Paso

Often mentioned in old newspaper accounts and obituaries is an early regional medical center in El Paso, Texas known as the Hotel Dieu. An injured or critically ill person would sometimes be noted as having been transported to the Hotel Dieu in El Paso for an operation or some other kind of treatment. It might seem to be an unusual name for a medical center, but this El Paso hospital was in business for about one hundred years.

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.

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.