biography – Page 22 – Texas History Notebook

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.

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.