Odessa’s Story

One Family’s Struggle to Survive The Great Depression

With Thanks to:

all who extended a kind hand to this family.The Salvation Army of El Dorado Arkansas

Odessa’s Story

One Family’s Struggle to Survive The Great Depression

O D E S S A G R I F F I N L O V E

Copyright. Jan Oliver and Odessa Love 2009 All Rights Reserved

Pueblo, Colorado

For Mattie and Families Everywhere Who are Homeless

In Memory of:

Cornelius Owen Griffin

Oddia Augusta Young-Griffin,

Cecil Cornelius Griffin

Clifton Owen Griffin

Wilma Eola Griffin,

Dorothy Naomi Griffin

David Oran Griffin

Shirley Faye Griffin

Contents

Foreword by Janis Griffin Oliver – 1

A Brief History of Two Early Texas Families – 5

Cornelius and the Protestant Griffins – 7

Oddia and the French Catholics – 16

An Odd Couple – 31

Odessa’s Story – 35

The Rest of the Story – 72

Family Photos – 76

About the Author – 84

Selected Sources – 85

Acknowledgements – 99

Family Trees – 101

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Forewordby Janis Griffin Oliver (Grandniece of the Odessa Love)

In 1975 I was in the fourth grade. Mr. Caldwell, our new teacher gave us an

assignment to read a book. The book was entitled “The Boxcar Children”. So one

Sunday after church, (I attended church sometimes with my grandparents) I plopped

down on my grandparent’s couch to read the book. After a time, my grandfather (Cecil

Cornelius Griffin) sat down beside me and asked what I was reading. I told him it was

a book about some children during The Great Depression who were orphaned and went

to live in a boxcar in the woods. The story told about all kinds of “grand adventures”

they had. At age 9, I thought it was marvelous, the idea of kids being free to roam

about without any adults to tell them to go to school or do chores. Imagine!

My grandfather though, got a very strange look on his face and told me “It was no

grand adventure.” The puzzled look on my face must have told him that I did not

understand. So that morning he began to tell me the story of his family’s struggle

during The Great Depression. This story would stick with me throughout my life and

we would chat again about it from time to time, as I got older. Always though, when

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

1

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

we spoke about it, there was the look of sadness in his eyes. The next school year we

were assigned to work on our family tree, and so it was with that assignment that I

began my research into our family’s history. Now some 30 years later, I continue to

work on that same family tree. My hand-drawn tree on two sheets of paper has been

replaced now with an online version containing almost 6000 family members, and

many of my family’s older folks are now gone, including my grandfather. But, there

are still a few who remain to tell their stories.

Meeting Aunt Odessa Online

One day while doing genealogical research on the Internet, I ran across a family tree

remarkably like my own. After some digging, I discovered that Patty Love, the

daughter of Odessa Griffin Love who I knew as “Great Aunt Odessa”, authored the

tree. Aunt Odessa was my grandfather’s sister. I had never met her, but grew up

hearing stories about her life on a farm somewhere “up in the country”. My

grandfather I knew sometimes went to visit her. Emailing Patty, she put me in touch

with her mother who at age 81 was actively doing genealogical research on our family.

To my delight, I received a kind email from Aunt Odessa and she agreed to tell me her

stories and share all that she had learned. I agreed to do the same, and so began a two-

……………………………………………………………………………………………………2

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

year email information exchange between the Great Aunt I had never met and a Grand

Niece she had never met…better late than never.

This book is her story, taken directly from her emails, notes and letters in her words. It

is a story about how a family, the grandchildren and great grandchildren of some of the

wealthiest members of early Houston’s “high society” came to be homeless during The

Great Depression. It is a story of a family that lost everything, going from riches to

rags, of alcoholism, mental illness and separation. It is also a story about people of

faith, courage, and of a new generation with a Texas-sized will to survive. This is their

story.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

3

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………4

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Introduction

A Brief History of Two Early Texas Families

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

5

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Family of James William Wilburn Griffin and Mary Matilda Ford

……………………………………………………………………………………………………6

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cornelius Owen and the Protestant Griffins

“Buck” and “Dink” Griffin

Cornelius Owen Griffin was born on April 10, 1880 in Meridian, Bosque County,

Texas. He was the fourth child of James William Wilburn Griffin and Mary Matilda

Ford of Bosque County, Texas. James or “Buck” and Mary Matilda, also called

“Dink”, were married when Mary Matilda was just fourteen years old. Buck and Dink

were married in Whitney Hill County Texas on November 20, 1875. Together they

had ten children Allman, Rufus, Lou Eddie, Cornelius Owen, Victoria, Wilburn,

Hattie, Mary Myrtle, Minnie and Catherine. James owned and operated Southwest Ice

House in Houston and also a mattress company. By all accounts, they were simple

people and James seemed to struggle at every business he tried.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

7

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Owen David Griffin and Catherine Elizabeth Wood Griffin

Cornelius’s father, James was the son of Owen David Griffin who came to Texas in

1850 in a covered wagon, one of the earliest settlers in Whitney Texas. Owen David or

“OD” was born in Heard County Georgia in 1826. He married Catherine Wood, the

daughter of wealthy plantation owner John Williamson Wood, also of Georgia and had

ten children: John Wood, Thomas Owen, James William, Belle Zora, Lucius Clinton,

Alonza Pascal, Richard, Wesley, and possibly two other children who died as infants.

Owen David Griffin and Catherine Wood Griffin

Owen served in Young’s regiment of the 11th Texas Calvary—Confederacy during the

Civil War. After the war, Owen worked as a farmer and a tanner. According to

……………………………………………………………………………………………………8

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

newspaper reports at his death, he was a man of reputed “unusual strength” and took

pride in the fact that he could still perform daily manual labor until just days before his

death at 77 years, 10 months and 6 days from Black Jaundice now called Wiel’s

disease—a bacterial infection of the liver. David Owen and Catherine attended the

protestant Methodist church in Whitney, Hill County Texas for 30 years and were

married for 55 years.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

9

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

David Anthony Griffin and Mary Mahan Griffin

Owen David Griffin reported on census records that his father was born in Virginia and

his mother in North Carolina. However in 1849 in Georgia, David Anthony Griffin

and Mary B. Mahan inscribed a bible to him as a wedding gift for Owen and his bride

Catherine. Catherine’s father John Williamson Wood also signed the bible. Further,

although Owen is never listed on census records associated with David Anthony

Griffin and Mary Mahan (he was already grown and married by the 1850 census which

was the first census to list family members by name) and was born one year before

their marriage, it seems apparent that David Anthony Griffin and Mary Mahan adopted

Owen David Griffin and treated him as their own. The bible and historic photos of

David Anthony Griffin, Mary Mahan, Owen and Catherine and related family members

have been passed down from one generation to the next until present day.

If Owen David Griffin is not the child of David Anthony Griffin, he may be the son of

a sibling or other family member that died, we may never know. And, of course,

there’s always the possibility as well that Owen was in fact their eldest child, that the

census taker made a mistake and that he was born before they were married or the

marriage date of his parents was incorrect.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………10

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Whatever the case, oral family history says that Owen David Griffin and his brother

James M. Griffin came first to Texas sometime around 1852, settling in Hill county

Texas.

Inside Cover of the Family Bible of Owen David Griffin and Catherine Wood

(Mary B. Griffin, David Griffin (unknown words) O.D. Griffin, initials W.W. (William Wood) Love David)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

11

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

David Anthony Griffin and Mary Mahan came later from Sylacauga Alabama to Rusk

County Texas in 1860 and later settled in Hill County Texas by 1880.

Left: David Anthony Griffin and likely brothers and sisters.

Center: Mary Mahan Griffin. These tintypes are believed to be their wedding photos

Right: David and Mary Griffin later in life

David Anthony Griffin was the son of Benjamin Griffin and Polly Byrd. Benjamin

was born in Halifax County Virginia and later moved with his father who is believed to

be Anthony Griffin (formerly of Lunenburg VA) to Wilkes County, GA by 1800.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………12

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Benjamin Griffin and his family later moved near Milledgeville, GA and then

Montgomery Alabama where their son Walt is reported to have been killed in the Fort

Mims massacre. After the massacre, they moved for a time back to Georgia and then

back to Alabama. Benjamin Griffin and Mary Polly Byrd are buried in the Griffin

Cemetery in Bibb County Alabama. Benjamin’s father, believed to be Anthony

Griffin was born about 1740 in Halifax County Virginia and was a “Planter” who

owned 200 acres of land. Although his parentage has not been confirmed, he is no

doubt descended from the early Griffin “Planters” of Virginia who arrived in Old

Rappahannock Virginia around 1660. Where those original Griffin families came from

is in dispute. Some families report Ireland, other data points to Wales and still other

data to England. So far, DNA testing has not shed any light on the matter.

The Fords

Cornelius’s mother, Mary Matilda Ford was the daughter of John R. Ford and

Elizabeth Purcell. John Ford was a farmer and during the Civil war served as a private

in the Fayette Guards under the command of Captain A.R. Gates. In 1876, John R.

Ford fell ill and was charged with lunacy and committed to the State Mental Asylum in

Austin. After John’s commitment, Elizabeth must have been without means to provide

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

13

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

well for her family as apparently her daughters were “married off” (Mary Matilda at 14

and sister Julia at 12 to a preacher named Wallace.)

The Purcells

Elizabeth was the daughter of Benjamin Purcell and Betsy Anderson. Elizabeth

traveled with her father from Ripley County, Indiana to Fayette County Texas by

wagon train with several other families in 1847. Family history states that Elizabeth

Purcell was ½ Native American—her mother, Betsy Anderson having been full-

blooded (most likely Shawnee). Elizabeth’s mother Betsy died prior to their trip to

Texas. The family of Benjamin Purcell is well documented and an extensive family

line. Additional information about this family is available online.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………14

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Elizabeth Purcell Ford, Reported to be ½ Native American – Tribe Unknown

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

15

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………16

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Oddia Augusta and the French Catholics

George Vann and Augusta “Gussie” Dechaumes

Oddia Augusta Young was born on August 7, 1892 in Huffsmith, Harris County Texas.

She was the middle child of the five children of George Vann Young and Augusta

Dechaumes. George Vann and Augusta were married on December 21, 1882 and

settled down to farming. Sadly, in 1899, while riding with his brother on horseback

after returning from voting at the polls, a neighbor Frank Sutton, stopped the two men.

Sutton confronted Anderson Wallace (George Vann’s brother) about the fact that

Anderson Wallace had filed a legal complaint against Sutton charging him with

branding one of his cows or cow rustling—a very serious offense in early Texas. An

argument ensued and Frank Sutton, having dismounted, returned to his horse and drew

a shotgun. In an attempt to break up the fight, George Vann stepped in front of his

brother and was shot in the head by Frank Sutton—dying instantly. Sutton then

mounted his horse and took off. Anderson, in retaliation, followed on buggy and shot

Sutton several times with his rifle killing him. This altercation left both Augusta and

the wife of Frank Sutton alone—each having five children to raise. As Oddia grew

older, perhaps to help her mother with finances, Oddia began working at a boarding

house. This boarding house is believed to be the boarding house owned by her uncle

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

17

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Henry Michael Dechaumes. It was this boarding house where Oddia met Cornelius

Owen Griffin whom she later married.

The Youngs & Gibsons

Oddia’s father, George Van Young was the son of a blacksmith, William Young born

in Tennesee and Delilah Eleanor Gibson born in Alabama. Very little is known about

the family of William Young except that they arrived in Texas between 1843 and 1845.

Delilah Eleanor Gibson was the fourth great granddaughter of Nathaniel Laughland

Kirton, the planter of St. Parish, Barbados- who owned a massive sugar cane plantation

generating extensive wealth from the labor of thousands of slaves over several

generations. Her lineage follows daughter Ann Kirton who married Richard Fields,

moving the family to establish plantations in Onslow, North Carolina. Son Samuel

Fields would marry Catherine, their daughter Nancy Fields marrying Thomas Gibson,

their son Richard Thomas Gibson marrying Mahala Meadows, Delilah’s parents.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………18

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Right: Believed to be William Young and Delilah Eleanor Gibson

The Dechaumes & Pillots

Oddia’s mother, Augusta Dechaumes was the daughter of Francois Dechaumes and

Rosalie Pillot, members of two of the most prominent families of Houston at the time.

According to records, these families were French-Catholic immigrants who initially

settled in what became known as “The French Settlement” and whose children were

baptized by a “saddlebag” priest who traveled out to their farms on horseback from St.

Vincent’s Catholic church, the first Catholic Church in Houston.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

19

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Pillots

Rosalie Pillot was the daughter of Claude Nicholas Pillot, the first settler in Willow

Creek (now Tomball) who arrived when Texas was still a Republic in 1837 having

traveled from New York (an immigrant from the Haute Saone region of France).

There, Claude began farming and raised his family including nine children: Joseph

Eugene, Paul Nicolas, Charles August, Hanna, Francoise, Charles Gabriel, Anne

Francoise, Marie and Rosalie.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………20

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Map Showing Original Pillot Farm

Claude Nicholas was also a friend of Sam Houston, having entertained Sam and his son

Sam Jr. on a visit to the Pillots:

From The Personal Correspondence of Sam Houston 1839-1845"He was very much astonished at the sight of a snake yesterday, a moccasin that was brought in alive by Mr. Pilot.  While it was held

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

21

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

up by its throat, Sam looked on with silent amazement.  I do not think he made more than an effort to obtain it.  I suppose he soon learned from the countenances of those about him that it was not a very convenient thing to handle." 

Claude Nicholas’s son Joseph Eugene became a successful carpenter and lumberman

who built Pillot House now located in San Jacinto Historical Park and the residence

known as Griffin Memorial House in Tomball, both of which are Texas historical

landmarks.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………22

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Pillot House built in 1868 by Joseph Eugene Pillot now located in San Jacinto Historical Park

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

23

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Griffin Memorial House built by Joseph Eugene Pillot built in 1860 near Atascosito Trail near present Boudreaux Road

Joseph Eugene’s son Camille Pillot became co-owner of Pillot and Henke a very

successful grocery chain in Houston acquired by Kroger Corporation in 1956. Camille

Pillot resided in a grand mansion at 1817 McKinney Avenue and owned a yacht that

was 103 feet long and paneled with Honduran mahogany.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………24

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Home of Camille Pillot

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

25

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Camille Pillot’s Yacht

Joseph Eugene’s son Teolin owned Pillot Bookstore at 1014 Texas Avenue and

provided books, fine stationary and engraving to the elite of Houston. His son, Joseph

Eugene became a famous playwright.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………26

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Dechaumes

Francois Dechaumes, Augusta’s father was a successful farmer and the son of Michael

Dechaumes, the first architect in Houston. Michael Dechaumes supervised

construction of the Texas State Capital built between 1852-1854 and also designed

Houston’s first major school known as Houston Academy and the courthouse on

Congress Avenue.

State Capital Building Designed by Michael Dechaumes

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

27

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Michael immigrated to Washington, DC from Paris France in 1825. His family most

likely originates from the Quartes de Chaumes region of France – a small wine-

growing region of France. Michael settled with his wife Marie Reine and family in

Houston in a home at the corner of Main and Dallas in 1837. By 1867, so successful

were the Dechaumes as a family that their estate took up an entire city block and was

bounded by San Jacinto, Caroline, Webster and Hadley Streets. Their properties and

included the original large home owned by Michael at Main and Dallas as well as the

home of Henry Michael Dechaumes at 2203 San Jacinto Street and two smaller

cottages. One cottage built circa 1880 was originally located at 1209 Hadley Street,

and was relocated and now serves as Bistro Calais, a French restaurant. The Wood

map of 1869 shows the San Jacinto Street house in the middle of the block and early

accounts relate that a barn was built at the back, and the DeChaumes had a pasture

across Hadley St. There were crape myrtles on either side of the entrance walk. The

Sanborn maps of 1907 show the house moved to the corner of San Jacinto and Hadley

and other houses built on the block for family and for rental income. Henry Dechaumes

(Francois’s younger brother) lived in the estate and later his unmarried daughters until

about 1945, when it became a boarding house until demolition. Henry Dechaumes was

a successful tinsmith and hardware dealer. He operated Dechaumes, Hail and Co. On

June 22, 1871, Michael Dechaumes died suddenly and was buried with full Catholic

……………………………………………………………………………………………………28

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

rites. At his death, estate documents identified properties including 7 full blocks in

downtown Houston, 17 city lots, and 5,356 acres of land and riverfront in various

counties throughout Texas.

To say that the Pillot and Dechaumes families were wealthy would not express fully

the extent of their holdings during this time period. Records indicate that both the

Pillot and Dechaumes families owned both extensive properties and slaves before the

Civil War. In 1870, Michael Dechaumes listed his personal property as valued at

$20,000—a vast sum for the time. The Pillot family holdings included Pillot House,

Griffin Memorial House, Pillot Opera House, Pillot Bookstore, The Pillot Building and

other properties. Many of the members of the Dechaumes and Pillot family are buried

in Pillot Cemetery in Tomball, Texas—itself a Texas landmark.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

29

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Pillot Cemetery and Marker

……………………………………………………………………………………………………30

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

An Odd Couple

After years of research, the answer to why some of the events that unfolded around this

family is still unanswered. What is clear though is that around 1913 a pretty young

woman from an upper-class family met a rough and tumble cowboy while working at a

boarding house one day. He was Protestant and she was Catholic. She was from a

wealthy family and he was from simple folk of simple means. This “match” at the time

was most assuredly not seen as appropriate by her family and perhaps not by his either.

Whatever the case, these two fell in love and were married, breaking customs of class

and religion. Whether they were disowned by their families at that time or later after

ensuing events is not clear. To the respective family’s credit, it is not even clear

whether all of the family and extended family even knew of their condition. There is

some indication that a member of the Henke family of Pillot and Henke grocery

inquired about the children. Whatever the case, proceedings for adoption were never

completed and thus one wonders how the granddaughter and great grandchildren of

such prominent Houston citizens and the son of such hard working folk could fall into

such despair and not find relief from family—even during The Great Depression.

What is clear though, is that after events had completely unfolded, no member of either

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

31

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

family stepped forward to take in the children. Instead, five children remained wards

of the state of Texas until they reached maturity. This is their story of survival.

Cornelius Owen Griffin and Oddia Augusta Young shown with their first child Cecil Cornelius Griffin about 1918

……………………………………………………………………………………………………32

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Oddia Augusta Young and Catherine Griffin Sikes (sister of Cornelius Owen) and two women (most likely Dechaumes or Boulet family members). From the cake, fine china, furnishings and

lace curtains-we believe this picture to have been taken on the porch of The Dechaumes residence, perhaps on Oddia and Cornelius’s wedding day.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

33

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………34

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

35

Odessa’s StoryBy Odessa Griffin Love

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………36

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Great Depression

Each of us have read stories and watched television stories about The Great

Depression. These stories though seem to tell only about families who had some

means of support, not about the families who was hit the hardest and lost everything,

their jobs, their homes. There was no means of support for that family and they were

put out onto the street with nowhere to go.

This story is about a family, my family that was struck by The Great Depression of the

1930s. I’m sure there must have been other families who went through similar

circumstances, but one family never seemed to run into another. There were men alone

that was seen, but not complete families. At the time, these men seen in the streets,

they were called bums or hobos, they hung around town in the freight yards most of the

time.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

37

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

A Homeless Person or “Hobo” during The Great Depression

photo credit: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

In our family there was five girls and two boys, my father and my mother. We were

Texans and had lived their all our lives in Texas until the Depression hit. As a lot of

families did at that time, we moved on looking for ways to survive. Papa worked in the

oil fields and the family moved from town to town in Texas—wherever Papa was told

to work. About every second or third child born was born in a different town or county

ranging from Southern to North Texas.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………38

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cornelius Owen Griffin felling trees for oil rigs

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

39

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cornelius Owen Griffin and Oil Field Workers

Our family moved to Houston when the last child was born around 1930. In 1934, my

oldest brother (Cecil Cornelius) joined the Navy, so he wasn’t at home much. My

memories of him being home are very vague. The rest of the family lived in different

houses around the Houston area for a number of years. After a while, it got hard for

……………………………………………………………………………………………………40

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Papa to find work. Then, each time Papa was unable to pay the rent, the landlords put

our family out in the street, personal property and all.

I was the sixth child born in 1928 of seven children. I was very young when the stock

market fell, perhaps one or two years old. My memories of our life up to 1938 were

sad, hard times. But there was also some happy times. We used to get together in the

evenings, us children and make bon fires and listen to a neighbor child play the French

harp. We sang songs and played games like red rover, tag, hide and seek and pop the

whip. We had a lot of fun playing those games. Children can easily adapt to a given

situation. As I think back about it now, I must have thought that was “the way of life”

and I accepted it as it was because I knew no other. I didn’t give a thought to people

who had things and lived without all the hardships that our family endured.

Can I Borrow Some Sugar or Flour?

The first memories I have of the hard times must have been around 1934 or 1935. We

were living in a section of Houston they called “Harrisburg”. As times became harder,

one of the children was sent to the neighbor’s to borrow sugar, flour and other things

that might feed the family. Papa would leave the house early in the morning and

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

41

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

sometimes he would come home with a big bag with canned food in it. It looked like a

50lb. potato bag that is used today. We would eat on that for a few days. At that time,

they had what they called a bread line. This was a line for food for the needy families

or individuals. I have no idea what happened with the bread line after a certain length

of time because from what I can remember Papa quit bringing it home.

A “Bread Line” during The Great Depression

photo credit: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

……………………………………………………………………………………………………42

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

A Buick for a Bag of Groceries

Cecil my oldest brother who was in the Navy had bought a car and left it parked in the

driveway. It was a Hupmobile. It just set there and wasn’t driven. Us children and the

neighborhood children used to get into the Hupmobile and pretend we were driving the

car. Papa also had a 1929 Buick that also set in the driveway. One day Mama said, “I

have sold the Buick for $10.” It was sold in 1934 or 1935. That money fed the family

for a little while.

A 1929 Buick

photo credit: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

43

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Praying with Mama

Mama was very protective of us children during our early years and even up into teens

for those in that age group. She would argue and fight with outsiders if she thought we

was being mistreated in any way. She was also a very religious lady. At different

times she would make us children kneel down beside an old trunk she had and she

would pray aloud. She’d say, “The devil is coming, pray and repent.” She would yell

and pray and jump onto and off of things during her prayer. Us children never moved

during her prayer sessions. She liked to sing “Onward Christian Soldiers”. I also

remember Papa taking Shirley and I to a “tent church” (a revival) once or twice.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………44

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

45

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Mama’s Tomato Gravy

I recall that at one time Clifton, Shirley and myself had a childhood disease and Mama

had us in bed together trying to take care of us. She had a way of making tomato gravy

that we really liked. I’ve never found nobody that can make it like Mama did. We

kept asking her to make us some, but she wouldn’t do it, she gave us what she thought

was best for us. When she did that we could never hold it in our stomachs. We kept

begging her for the tomato gravy. She finally broke down and made us some of the

tomato gravy and that’s the only thing we held in our stomachs.

Chickens for the Pot

By this time we had moved to another section of Houston called the “Heights”. During

our stay there, we had accumulated a few chickens. Clifton had some Bantam (banty)

chickens. The little banty rooster fought with the Rhode Island Red Rooster and finally

the little banty rooster got his eye put out from fighting. We tried to protect the small

rooster. As time went on we gradually had to start killing and eating those chickens.

The last one to be killed was that little banty rooster. Mama said that little rooster let

out a squawk after it was dead. We believed it then, we still do. Mama made good

……………………………………………………………………………………………………46

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

dumplings so that day we had Chicken–n–Dumplings. Mama was a very good cook

when she had something in the house to cook.

A Bantam Rooster

photo ©Jake Berzn, 2009. Licensed under creative commons.

A neighbor near us had a lot of chickens. After we had no more, one day we decided

we needed something to eat so we lured their chicken over to our garage with some

corn. There, we killed it. We thought the neighbor had so many that they wouldn’t

miss one. Mama dressed and cooked it and we ate it.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

47

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

In early 1936 we moved to a section of Houston that was called “Cottage Grove” on

Arlington Street. We had gotten a hen from somewhere. She turned out to be a pet.

She’d come to the door and cackle to come into the house. We’d open the door and

she’d come in, go behind a door and lay her egg. Then, we’d give the egg to Mama.

Mad Dogs

Papa always had a dog of some kind. At this particular time, the dog was inside the

house. We always managed to have dogs that had fits (mad or had distemper). One

day we were all sitting at the supper table and all of a sudden Mama started yelling

“Get this dog out of here its having a fit.” Papa got up from the table and grabbed the

dog and threw it out of the door by the back collar. As Papa went to get his shotgun,

the dog wandered around the backyard before falling into the storm cellar. Papa went

after the dog and as the dog was coming up the steps from the cellar, Papa shot the dog.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………48

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Picking Blackberries

Mama sent us children out to pick blackberries, we took cans that Brer Rabbit Syrup

used to come in. We picked berries and ate more than we carried home.

Bad Neighbors

We had trouble with one neighbor in our borrowing days. Mama had sent Mattie over

to the neighbors to borrow flour, sugar or something and Mattie came back with the

neighbor yelling at her. We never found out what happened. In a few days the

neighbor came over and borrowed some of the same stuff from us, later the neighbor

needed something else and sent a 13 or 14-year-old girl to do the borrowing for her.

We didn’t have it so the girl went back to her house. Pretty soon, the neighbor woman

came over and started yelling about what she had loaned us, which wan’t much. She

came into the house uninvited and threatened Mattie. When she couldn’t get any

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

49

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

response from Mattie she went back outside and started raising her voice again. Mama

walked to the door and the neighbor stepped closer to the screen door and started

raving at Mama. The young girl made an attempt to kick Mama and Mama stepped

out the screen door and the fighting started. Mama smacked the neighbor in the face

with her open hand, POW right in the kisser! It left her handprint on the neighbor’s

face. The neighbor left and went back to her house.

Homeless

Time went on and Papa was again unable to pay the rent in any place that we lived.

We was put on the street time after time where we seemed to stay most of the time. I

can’t recall having any personal belongings that we carried from place to place as we

moved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………50

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

A Homeless Family during The Great Depression

photo: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. Farm Security Administration:

Homeless family, tenant farmers in 1936

Our next place to move after we had been put out of so many places, because I guess

nobody else would even consider renting to us, was out in the woods, but still around

the Houston area. We hung around Herman Park and other parks in the area and in the

woods. We managed to gather food here and there and Mama cooked it over an open

fire in an old iron pot she had.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

51

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Spare Some Bread?

Shirley and I was sent to the Fairmaid Bakery to try to pick up day old or stale bread

that had been returned to the bakery, that would only be thrown away. She and I

followed a trail through the woods from where the family was to the bakery which now

seems to have been a rather long distance. We went to the bakery almost every day.

When we’d go we’d ask them if they had any old bread or anything that they were

going to throw away. We’d go back to the family with bread or anything that they

would give us. One day we was going there and I was walking in front and a snake

crossed the trail just as I passed. I yelled at Shirley to stay still and not to cross there

until the snake got across. She stood. Finally, she and I went on and returned to the

family. I don’t know or remember how long we lived in the woods around Houston.

After that, we became a hobo family.

A Hobo Family

Papa had decided to move some place else in hopes of finding a job or some means of

support for the family. This idea must have formed in his mind either late in 1935 or

early in 1936. I’m sure he must have discussed this with Mama. The conclusion must

……………………………………………………………………………………………………52

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

have been “what else could they do?” It was certain there was no work around

Houston and possibly things could be better for all of us if we moved on.

In these years when people hopped on an off the freight trains going from one place to

another, nothing was said or done to them or else everybody who rode on a freight train

was overlooked, because there was quite a number of people hopping freight trains

during these years. Most of them was single men or men leaving their families in

search or work or going anyplace the freight train was going. Times was hard.

I don’t know how Papa decided what train we would take. One day the family left the

woods and headed toward where we could catch a freight train. I can’t remember if we

went to the freight yard or caught this freight train that had stopped to load or unload

cargo. When we got beside the freight train, we walked until we found the right boxcar

and Papa pulled open the door. The door slid to the side of the car and after we were

all on it, he pulled the door shut. We set and waited until the train was scheduled to

pull out for its destination.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

53

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Hobo being helped onto a boxcar during The Great Depression

Our first stop when we got off the train was in Beaumont, Texas. We went into the

woods there not far from the train tracks. We set up camp. I remember having a very

bad cold. I continually coughed. As a campfire was built and all of us settled down for

the night, I remember saying to Papa “call me when you get sleepy and I will sit up for

a while and let you sleep.” Papa just smiled at me. I couldn’t sleep well anyway

……………………………………………………………………………………………………54

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

because I was coughing too much. Papa told me to sit up until I got really sleepy then I

would go to sleep and wouldn’t cough so much when I lay down. So I set up with him

for a long time. Finally I did lay down and went to sleep. I woke up because Papa had

stepped on my hair and it was dawn. We had slept on the ground. The family stayed

there for a few days existing on whatever we had and could find to eat. I know we

must have been dirty with soiled clothing on our bodies. After a few days in

Beaumont, we preceded to hop another freight train. It must have been pretty cold

because after we got on the train we found the only thing we could use to cover

ourselves with was very large pieces of brown paper like the paper used to wrap fresh

meat in (it was a refrigerator car). We also got very close to each other for warmth.

We must have rode in this freight car for a day or two. We were very tired and hungry.

When the train stopped, we got off and then we were in El Dorado Arkansas. Again

we traveled through the woods finding spots for camping in different areas outside of

town in the woods.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

55

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The runaways

At one point we were camped near some railroad tracks, all of us was so hungry.

Perhaps my two sisters (Mattie and Dorothy) had gotten together and decided that they

could do better finding their own way from the family. I suppose it happened during

the night after everyone had gone to sleep for they left walking down the railroad

tracks. They had planned on going back to Houston. This was 1936. After a couple

days of being gone, the two girls returned. We had stayed at that same spot hoping that

they would return there. Both Papa and Mama was upset about the girls leaving the

family. They didn’t know where to look for them. When Mattie and Dorothy returned,

they were very quiet for a while.

Mattie’s Vision

Later Mattie told Clifton what she had heard and told him not to say anything to

anyone about it. But later Clifton must have told Wilma. In later years, when it was

told to me by both Wilma and Clifton, they said Mattie had told Clifton that she and

Dorothy had walked on the tracks until they saw a tree where they decided to lay down

and sleep. The tree was close to the tracks. That night a train came by and almost took

Mattie’s breath away. The next day as they were walking on the railroad tracks, Mattie

……………………………………………………………………………………………………56

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

heard a voice. The voice told her if she wanted to see her parents once again she’d

better turn and go back. She looked at Dorothy and told her they better go back.

Mattie said the voice directed her back to the family and that was how they found the

family again.

The Train Shack

The family traveled on through the woods constantly looking for food and a place to

stay. Somehow Papa managed to bring food enough for us all to keep from starving to

death. While we was camping out, some of the people living close by told Papa about

a shack and told Papa “Why don’t the family move into it and live there.” So we

moved in with what little belongings we had, which was very little. The little shack

had one room, there were about three or four bunks nailed to the wall with a dirt floor.

I remember there being a wood heating stove in this little shack also. We made that

our home for a while.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

57

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Train Shack similar to the one Aunt Odessa Remembers Living In

One day while we was living in that shack Mattie got very sick. She could not stand up

or walk. Sometime later Wilma and Dorothy also got sick. I don’t know how it all

came about but Papa managed to get all three girls into a hospital, probably with the

help of people around The Salvation Army (I’m not sure). One day Papa took me to

the hospital to see Mattie, Wilma and Dorothy. Mattie was still very sick. She didn’t

know me or Papa. Mattie had double pneumonia. Wilma and Dorothy also had

pneumonia, but they wasn’t as bad as Mattie. While I was at the hospital visiting,

……………………………………………………………………………………………………58

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Wilma told me that she had a dream about a drawer full of dolls. Papa and I left the

hospital. In a short time Wilma and Dorothy got well and came with the rest of our

family. Mattie never came home again. She died there, two days before Christmas,

and was buried in a public cemetery connected to the State of Arkansas. The cemetery

where she was buried is called “The Friendship Cemetery” of El Dorado Arkansas. It’s

now called the Primitive Baptist Cemetery. So we lost our very dear sister in the

hardest of times.

The Salvation Army

Mama took Mattie’s death very hard and I’m sure it weighed on her mind. Finally The

Salvation Army got us into a house in town. It was between 1936 and 1937.

Neighbors or The Salvation Army must have helped Papa get a job for a short time in

the oil fields. I remember Mama making Papa a lunch. We would walk to where Papa

was working and we would sit under a tree and eat and then Mama and us children

would walk back home. In this house, from what I can remember, there was one

double bed. All of us children slept in this one bed—three at one end and two at the

other. Papa and Mama had a bed of their own. Sometimes Shirley and I would take

turns sleeping with Mama and Papa. We took turns getting up early and eating

breakfast with Papa. Mama made some of the most wonderful light biscuits I have

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

59

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

ever eaten. Then when the rest of the children got up to eat breakfast, Shirley and I

would eat with them again.

Papa’s Spells

When Papa had money, he was also a drinker. There was times he’d come home drunk

and lay across the bed and put everything out of his pockets on the floor beside the bed.

This is also when I recall him having what we called a “spell” which was evidently a

seizure. These seizures were probably brought on as a result of jobs he had done as a

young man. In one job he was working with his uncle digging a well. He was

overcome with gas and was in a coma for a month. As a young man he also had

typhoid fever. When Papa had his “spells” Shirley and I would run to Clifton. We

never bothered Mama with it, I don’t know why. We thought Clifton could handle the

situation. He was the only one who could help Papa to overcome a spell. Clifton lifted

Papa up, helped him to sit on the side of the bed, move him around and pretty soon

Papa would be OK again.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………60

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Stealing Papa’s Smokes

Papa smoked Bull Durham tobacco and us children would go and take his tobacco

from beside the bed. Clifton, Shirley and I would go under the house and Clifton

rolled the cigarettes and the three of us would smoke them and return Papa’s tobacco

beside the bed before he caught us. If he did, he would have whipped us.

Washing Clothes

While Papa was working, he’d get his clothes filthy from the oil and dust. Mama had a

very large pot. She had it setting outside in the yard and when she needed to get Papa’s

clothes clean, she’d throw his work clothes in the pot, build a fire under it, cut soap

shavings off a bar of soap and put it in the water. When the water was hot and boiled,

she used an old broom handle to punch the clothes down in the pot and stir them

around. The iron pot set on bricks and while Mama was boiling the dirt out of the

clothes, Shirley and I mixed dirt and water together and made mud pies. After we

mixed the mud, we’d go over and lay them on the bricks to cook. That was fun and

kept us out of trouble.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

61

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Papa in Jail

After a short time Papa was out of work again and falling behind on the rent and

utilities. He would be gone for days. He would be sued for back rent and would be

sent to jail for that. I was too young at the time to know that was why he was gone so

much. In later years after I was grown, Cecil told me that he came to Arkansas on one

of his leaves from the Navy and when he got there he found Papa in jail. He went to

the jail and bailed him out and tried to settle the rent situation because he knew Papa

couldn’t pay it. Cecil made an agreement with the landlord to try and pay the rent for

us every month and that he (Cecil) was making only $35.00 a month in the Navy at the

time. I don’t remember him coming to Arkansas but he must have because Clifton said

so. Cecil stayed out until he had to report back to ship. Sometime after Cecil left, I

went to the house one day and Mama was sitting on the bed and Papa was standing by

the old wood stove with his back toward it and his hands behind his back. Papa and

Mama was talking. I didn’t stay to listen to what they were talking about because I was

too anxious to get back outside. The talk must have been about the situation that Papa

was in and his chances of going back to jail. So that must have been when they

decided that Papa should go back to Houston to see if he could find work and if he did,

he was to send for the rest of the family and we was to go back to Houston to be with

……………………………………………………………………………………………………62

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

him. But, it never worked out that way. So Papa left the family in Arkansas and went

back to Houston.

A sign during The Great Depression illustrates the attitude toward the homeless and unemployed of the period

Alone in Arkansas

We stayed in Arkansas in the house. When debt collectors came to the door, Mama

went and answered the door and all of us children hung around her at the door until

they left. Mama was a very unhappy and worried lady during those times. I think

with the combination of children’ death’s (David Oran as an infant and Mattie at 16),

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

63

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Papa’s drinking, and worrying about our ordeal after Papa left and the “change of life”,

Mama got gradually very sick—but that’s getting ahead of the story.

In those years, women was not employed in jobs like they are today. Mama had no

knowledge of what to do for the family after Papa left and headed back to Houston.

All of us children proceeded to go out and try to get the best we could. Papa must have

left instructions with Clifton to look out for Mama, Shirley and I. I couldn’t say for

sure that this took place but Clifton stayed with Shirley and I constantly.

The Note

I don’t think we ever had regular meals like kids have today. We ate whatever we

could find. I was a skinny kid. Finally, food ran out and we had nothing to eat. So

Clifton wrote a note for Shirley and I. The three of us went all over the town of

Eldorado. Shirley and I went door-to-door showing these notes to whoever answered

the door. The note said, “Mama wants to borrow some flour, sugar or anything you

can spare.” Sometimes we did get some of these things. Clifton waited for us but he

never went up to the door the way we did. Sometimes Shirley was invited to go into

……………………………………………………………………………………………………64

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

one of the houses and the people gave her food to eat. When she was done she came

back out with Clifton and I. Sometimes when I would go to the door, the person told

me to read the note, but I could not read at all. Whatever we got, we brought back

home to Mama. In the later years, I asked Dorothy how she and Wilma managed to get

food during that time. She told me that she and Wilma made friends with different

people and they would be invited over to their house to eat. They also spent the night

over at different people’s houses. Dorothy said “she’d make friends with people so

she’d be invited over to eat and Wilma would come along and take her friends away, so

instead of Dorothy being invited over to eat, Wilma would be invited.” When Dorothy

told me this, it struck me very funny and I laughed so hard I cried. One had to know

the two girls differences in personality to know why I laughed. But, this situation

made Dorothy very frustrated and she became very resentful through life about Wilma.

Wilma had a personality that helped her to make friends easily. This personality stayed

with her through life and she made many friends.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

65

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Corner Store

There was a small grocery up on the corner of the street from where we lived. Clifton,

Shirley and I would go to this store and get food on credit and take it to Mama. She

cooked it if we had it to cook. Whatever the three of us children got, we always took

home and shared with Mama. After a while, when the guy at the store realized we

would never be able to pay for what we got, he quit letting us have credit. So we got

no more food from there. Sometimes we hung around the store outside and once in a

while we found a dollar laying on the ground that someone had dropped. Sometimes

Shirley found some and other times I found some. Whenever we found any money we

would run home and give the money to Clifton. Then we would take what little money

we found and run to the store and buy sandwich spread and bread—which showed that

we didn’t know how to shop for food or else we would have got something that would

go further and Mama could cook for all of us. Mama, Clifton, Shirley and I ate

sandwich spread and bread. Mama never left the house during this time and rarely

talked to anyone. I recall seeing her lying on the bed a lot after the three of us children

would be gone for a while and then return. That’s where we would find her. Wilma

and Dorothy were seldom home with us.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………66

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Playing Games

One time Clifton, Shirley and I must have found some money and we bought some

Cracker Jacks with it. In the Crack Jack box there was always a prize. The prize I got

out of mine was a spider with little wire legs. Somehow the wire legs got hooked onto

my dress and it scared me to death. I got so scared that I ran home to Mama for her to

help me. When I got home I was crying so hard I could hardly tell her what was

wrong. She was lying on the bed and I crawled on the bed beside her and pointed to

what was wrong. When Mama seen what was wrong she took the spider off and then

lay back down. Then I felt fine and ran back outside to join the others.

We played different games. We'd get empty spools that used to have thread on them

and fill a cup or something with soap and water and go up on the trestle over the

railroad track and blow bubbles. Another one of our ways of playing was with Clifton

carrying Shirley or me on his shoulders around the house. One day he was carrying me

on his shoulders through the house from room to room and I forgot to duck my head

and I got knocked out. The next thing I remember was laying on the floor with Shirley

and Clifton leaning over me. Clifton was washing my face with cold water. I guess for

a while they thought I was dead. I was OK and we went back to playing again.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

67

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Boils

I used to have a lot of sties on my eyes and boils on my body when I was a child. Once

I had a boil on the calf of my leg and it got so sore and infected that I couldn’t walk

right so I found a broom stick and used that for a crutch. I must have been about nine

years old. Shirley was six. Clifton must have been twelve or thirteen. I guess Mama

got tired of seeing me walking with the help of a broomstick. One day she got hold of

me and throwed me across her lap and she went to work on that boil with me crying,

kicking and screaming. She held me there until she got that boil opened up and

squeezed the core out. When she got done with me I was able to walk without the aid

of the broomstick.

Collecting Scrap Metal

Clifton, Shirley and I had gotten a wagon from somewhere (probably stole it). We

took the wagon and went around anywhere we could to find scraps of iron and metal.

We filled the wagon and sold it for scrap. Clifton pointed out to us what to pick up.

We were obedient girls and we done everything Clifton told us to do. If it hadn’t been

for the help of Clifton, Shirley and I probably would not have survived those years. I

truly believe that.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………68

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

When the Men Took Mama Away

Times got tougher for us as time went on. We was getting desperate for food. I don’t

remember any of us having any shoes or clothes other than what was on our backs.

One day after Clifton, Shirley and I had been out for quite a long time trying to do our

usual thing—it was getting toward evening, when we got home Mama was laying in

bed and there was some men standing by her bedside. (Later years, Clifton told me

they were detectives and people from the State of Arkansas.) We stood around

watching these men and they must have asked Clifton some questions. I just don’t

remember. We all waited, after a while Dorothy and Wilma came home. The men

must have talked to Wilma about where we came from, where Papa was, and if there

was any relatives back in Houston who could take care of us. Wilma must have told

them yes there was. She must have told them Papa was in Houston also.

The next thing that happened was that these men took Mama away. I didn’t know until

years later that Mama was taken to Benton Arkansas State Mental Hospital. The State

of Arkansas then paid for all of us children’s bus fares and sent us back to Houston.

When we got there, Aunt Catherine must have contacted the State Social Services

because she and Uncle Frank, or any of the relations was unable to care for us.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

69

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

So all of us children went into state homes. Shirley and I was sent to De Pelchin Faith

Home in Houston. It was a home for young children. Wilma and Dorothy was sent to

Mary Burnett School for dependent children in Bellaire, Texas. Clifton was sent to

Boys Bayland in Webster, Texas. Shirley and I missed Clifton very much. We cried a

lot. Then finally, we adjusted. In a few years, I was almost thirteen and I was sent out

to Bellaire with Wilma and Dorothy.

When Shirley was about nine she was sent out to a foster home. Those foster parents

were very abusive to her. They beat her, made her do farm work, all of the housework,

and they bought a store and she had to work there too. These people should not have

been allowed to keep any foster child.

Written by Odessa Griffin Love

10-8-1986

……………………………………………………………………………………………………70

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Rest of the Story

Cornelius Owen Griffin visited his children in the orphanages where they were placed

—sometimes walking more than 30 miles to visit them and on some occasions he was

turned away due to drunkenness. He continued to struggle for a lifetime with alcohol

addiction and homelessness. He lived for a short time with both his daughter Odessa

and his son Clifton. In his later years, St. Anthony Home for the Elderly took him in.

He worked there as a gardener, recommitted his life to Christ and converted to

Catholicism. He died on August 18, 1958 at the age of 78.

Oddia Augusta Young was diagnosed with pellagra. Pellagra is a vitamin deficiency

disease that eventually leads to dementia and death if untreated. In the early 1900s,

pellagra reached epidemic proportions in the American South where the poor women

of the south gave extra consideration to their husbands as wage earners and to their

children—giving protein and high quality foods to them first—essentially sacrificing

themselves for their families. This was the case with Oddia. She gave up food so that

her children might eat and survive. Pellagra is now an almost unknown disease in the

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

71

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

United States due to the fact that bread is now enriched with Niacin. By the time that

Oddia received help, her disease had already progressed to the point of dementia.

Oddia remained in the Arkansas State Mental Hospital until her death. She was

allowed to visit with family on two occasions, however the hospital would never

disclose details of her condition or treatment to her adult children. Without

information as to her condition and how to best support her needs, her family had

difficulty in providing the care she needed. She died on September 4th, 1967 at the age

of 75.

The remaining Griffin children all survived to become adults. From their very difficult

beginnings they lifted themselves up to raise their families, serve their communities

and nation. Their children and grandchildren grew up hearing these stories and now

we share them with you. It is our hope that their story will serve to remind us all that

there are still many families that struggle today with homelessness, alcoholism, mental

illness, despair and poverty and that we must work together to bring aid to those in

need.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………72

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cecil Cornelius Griffin married Adina Bertha Findeisen and joined the Navy—

serving on the USS Indianapolis prior to the war and as a Motor Machinist Mate

Second Class on the USS Sperry, USS Ballard and USS Oakland in the Pacific Fleet.

His discharge papers credit him with serving over 100 months of sea duty. Cecil and

Adina had five children, twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. After

returning from the war, Cecil worked as a postman until his retirement. Cecil died in

July 29, 2005 at the age of 91. His wife Adina survives him. They were married for

65 years and attended Bethany Lutheran Church in Houston most of those years.

Clifton Owen Griffin never married. He served in the Navy during World War II and

the Army during the Korean conflict. During World War II, he served on the USS

Duluth as a coxswain (a navigator) and received the American Area Asiatic Pacific

Area medals and two stars. He was a talented artist, drawing many touching portraits

of the orphaned boys he lived with as a young boy at Bayland Orphanage for Boys.

Clifton died on December 4th, 1998.

Wilma Eola Griffin married Jack Hill and had three children. After Jack’s death she

married Billy Smith and had one child. She worked for Southwestern Bell. She died

March 4th, 1970.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

73

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Dorothy Naomi Griffin married Lloyd Hoopaugh and served in the Women’s Army

Corps (Company 13, 3rd Regiment) during World War II. She had two children.

Dorothy died March 10, 1981.

Ardie “Odessa” Griffin is the author of “Odessa’s Story” and the remaining survivor.

She is 81 years old and continues actively researching her family history and sharing

her stories with family. She is the mother of five children, six grandchildren and four

great grandchildren.

Shirley Faye Griffin married Andrew Jackson Powell. They later divorced. Shirley

died December 29th, 2003.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………74

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Family Photos

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

75

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Top left to Right: Cornelius Owen Griffin age 21 about 1901, Cornelius Owen Griffin and unknown relative, Oddia August Young

and Aunt Catherine Sikes (Cornelius’s sister) most likely sitting on the Dechaumes porch judging from the fine china and

furnishings.)

Bottom Row: Oddia Augusta Young as a young woman and later in life.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………76

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Griffin Children abt. 1938 after returning to Houston

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

77

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Visits to Faith Home and Mary Burnett School for Girls

……………………………………………………………………………………………………78

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Oddessa and Wilma Griffin

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

79

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Top left to Right: Cecil Cornelius Griffin, Wilma Eola Griffin, Shirley Faye Griffin and A.J. Powell

Bottom Row: Dorothy Griffin and Lloyd Hoopaugh, Clifton Owen Griffin and Ardie Odessa Griffin

……………………………………………………………………………………………………80

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cornelius Owen Griffin abt 1957

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

81

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Oddia Augusta Young – 1964

……………………………………………………………………………………………………82

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

About the Author

Ardie “Odessa” Griffin is the author of this book and the remaining survivor. She is

the mother of five children, grandmother of six grandchildren and great-grandmother

of four great-grandchildren. She began doing family history research some 40 years

ago because “she wanted to know more about who her family was”. Her 40 years of

research have resulted in the expansion of our collective family tree to some 6000

ancestors and documents the stories of many pioneering Texas families. Her family

research records contain more than 500 photos and historical documents. At 81,

Odessa continues actively researching her family history and sharing her stories with

family.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

83

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………84

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Selected Sources

Owen (O.D.) Griffin and Catherine Wood

Civil War Service: Confederate, Civil War: U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 about O. D.

Griffin.

Name: O. D. Griffin Side: Confederate, Regiment State/Origin: Texas, Regiment Name:

11 Texas Cavalry, Regiment Name Expanded: 11th Regiment, Texas Cavalry, COMPANY: I

Rank In: Private Rank, In Expanded: Private, Rank Out: Private, Rank Out Expanded: Private

Film Number: M227 roll 14

11th Regiment, Texas Cavalry

11th Cavalry Regiment was organized with 855 men at Camp Reeves, Grayson County, Texas, in May, 1861. Some of

its members were from Clarksville and Mt. Pleasant, and Bowie County. This regiment, along with the 8th Texas

Cavalry, was one of the best in Confederate service. It was active in the Indian Territory and Arkansas, and then was

dismounted when it arrived on the eastern side of the Mississippi River. After fighting at Richmond and Murfreesboro,

it was remounted and assigned to Wharton's and T. Harrison's Brigade. The unit participated in the Chickamauga,

Knoxville, and Atlanta campaigns, and then was active in the defense of Savannah and the campaign of the Carolinas. It

contained 599 officers and men in the spring of 1862 and reported 7 killed, 87 wounded, and 20 missing at

Murfreesboro. Only a remnant surrendered on April 26, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Joseph M. Bounds, John

C. Burks, James J. Diamond, Otis M. Messick, George R. Reeves, and William C. Young; Lieutenant Colonels Robert

W. Hooks and Andrew J. Nicholson; and Majors H. F. Bone, John W. Mayrant, and John B. Puryear.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

85

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

1850 Heard City Ga

Owen David Griffin is recorded in the 1850 census as being 24 years of age and living in Heard

County Georgia. David Griffin age 24, Catharine Griffin age 20. *They are living next door to

John Wood and Mary (Catherine's parents)

1870 BOSQUE COUNTY, 1870 United States Federal Census, About Owen Griffon

Name: Owen Griffon Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826, Age in 1870: 44, Birthplace: Georgia,

Home in 1870: Bosque, Texas, Race: White, Gender: Male, Value of real estate: 750 land, 300

personal estate Post Office: Meridian, All in this household can neither read nor write. (Perhaps

This is why their name spellings vary from year to year). Says 4 attended school during the

year Household Members: Name Age, Owen Griffon 44 - Head – Farming, Catharine Griffon 39

Keeping House, John W Griffon 20 - Farm Laborer, Thomas Griffon 18 - Farm Laborer

William M Griffon 15, Bellzora Griffon 11, Clinton Griffon 6, (A)lonza Griffon 4, Wesley Griffon

7/12

1880 Bosque City Tx

1880 Census records indicate that his father was born in Virginia and his mother was born in

North Carolina, Name: O. D. Griffin, Home in 1880: Bosque, Texas, Age: 54, Estimated Birth

Year: abt 1826, Birthplace: Georgia, Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head), Spouse's

Name: Catharin E., Father's birthplace: Virginia, Mother's birthplace: North Carolina

Occupation: Farming, Marital Status: Married, Race: White, Gender: Male, Household

Members: Name Age, O. D. Griffin 54, Catharin E. Griffin 50, Lucius C. Griffin 16, Alonza P.

Griffin 14, Richd. I. Griffin 10

1900 HILL CTY TEXAS

about Duain C Griffin (David), Name: Duain C Griffin (David), [Owen Griffin] , Home in 1900:

Justice Precinct 4, Hill, Texas, Age: 74, Birth Date: Feb 1826, Birthplace: Georgia, Race: White

Ethnicity: American, Gender: Male, Relationship to head-of-house: Head, Father's Birthplace:

Virginia, Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina, Spouse's Name: Catharine, Marriage Year: 1849

……………………………………………………………………………………………………86

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Marital Status: Married, Years Married: 51, Residence: Justice Precinct 4 (East Part), Hill,

Texas Occupation: Tanner, Household Members: Name Age, Duain (Owen) C Griffin 74

Catharine Griffin 70.

Whitney Cemetery Records(Contains the graves, moved from Walling Bend Cemetery that was flooded when Lake Whitney was put in. All of the following are buried there)

John Wood Griffin b.1850 d.1928, John Wood Griffin b. 9-28-1850 d. 11-9-1928, Georgia

Griffin b. 5-20-1868 d. 3-9-1907, Harvey R. Griffin b. 1894 d. 1895, Ruffus O. Griffin b. 1872

d. 1874, Boxianor Abbott wife of J. W. Griffin, b. 9-22-1858 d. 4-27-1887, J.W.W. Griffin b. 4-

1-1855 d. 3-31-1930 (same stone) Mary Mateldin Griffin b. 1-8-1860 d. 2-14-1936, Catherine

E. Griffin b. 9-28-1829 d. 3-15-1910, Hattie E. Griffin b. 12-30-1886 d. 8-27-1904,

O.D. Griffin b. 2-15-1826 d. 12-21-1903, James A. Griffin b. 1879 d. 1906, Infant son of Mr. &

Mrs. J.W. Griffin no dates, Almer M. Griffin b. & d. 1875, Richard A. Griffin, Mint Ezra Griffin,

Allman Griffin, Westley Griffin

James William Wilburn Griffin and Mary Matilda Ford

1880 United States Federal Census

about J. W. W. Griffin, Name: J. W. W. Griffin, Home in 1880: Bosque, Texas, Age: 25

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855, Birthplace: Texas, Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head),

Spouse's Name: Mary M., Father's birthplace: Georgia, Mother's birthplace: Georgia,

Occupation: Farming, Marital Status: Married, Race: White, Gender: Male, Cannot read/write:,

Household Members: Name Age, J. W. W. Griffin 25, Mary M. Griffin 18, Lou E. Griffin 3.

Cornelius Griffin 2M

1900 United States Federal Census

about James W W Griffin, Name: James W W Griffin [James W Griffin], Home in 1900: Justice

Precinct 5, Bosque, Texas, Age: 40, Birth Date: Apr 1855, Birthplace: Texas, Race: White,

Ethnicity: American, Gender: Male, Relationship to Head of House: Head, Father's Birthplace:

Georgia, Mother's Birthplace: Georgia, Spouse's Name: Mary M, Marriage Year: 1876

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

87

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Marital Status: Married, Years Married: 24, Residence : Justice Precinct 5, Bosque, Texas

Occupation: Farming, Household Members: Name Age, James W W Griffin 40, Mary M Griffin

40, Conda O Griffin 20, Victora Griffin 18, Wilburn O Griffin 15, Hattie E Griffin 13, Missy M

Griffin 10, Cathern E Griffin 2

1920 United States Federal Census

(Living with daughter Victoria and husband in their old age), about James W W Griffin

Name: James W W Griffin, Home in 1920: Justice Precinct 1, Bosque, Texas, Age: 64 years

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856, Birthplace: Texas, Relation to Head of House: Father-in-law

Spouse's Name: Mary M, Father's Birth Place: Georgia, Mother's Birth Place: Georgia, Marital

Status: Married, Race: White, Sex: Male, Able to read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes, Image: 168

Household Members: Name Age, Louis C Hill 41, Victoria Hill 38, Nealy D Hill 18, James W W

Griffin 64, Mary M Griffin 60

Texas Death Index, 1903-2000, Photograph. State of Texas, Hamilton County.

about James William Wilburn Griffin, Name: James William Wilburn Griffin, Death Date: 24 Mar

1929 Death County: Hamilton, Certificate: 15838

Write of Matrimony of J.W.W. Griffin and Mary Matilda Ford. 1875. Photograph. State of Texas, Hill County.

Standard Certificate of Death for Mary Matilda Ford Griffin. 1935. Photograph. State of Texas, Hamilton County.

Standard Certificate of Death for J.W.W. Griffin. 1930. Photograph, State of Texas, Hamilton County.

Personal Interview Notes, Catherine Sikes by Odessa Griffin.

Personal Interview Notes, Vanette Griffin by Odessa Griffin.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………88

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cornelius Owen Griffin and Oddia Augusta Young

1920 United States Federal Census

About Owen Griffin, Name: Owen Griffin, Home in 1920: Justice Precinct 2, Wichita, Texas,

Age: 39 years, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881, Birthplace: Texas, Relation to Head of House:

Head, Spouse's Name: Oddie, Father's Birth Place: United States of America, Mother's Birth

Place: United States of America, Marital Status: Married Race: White, Sex: Male, Home

owned: Own, Able to read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes, Image: 63, Household Members: Name

Age, Owen Griffin 39, Oddie Griffin 28, Cecil Griffin 5 2/12

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

about Owen Cornelious Griffin, Name: Owen Cornelious Griffin, County: Harris

State: Texas, Birth Date: 14 Apr 1880, Race: White Roll: 1953524

Marriage License of Cornelius Owen Griffin and Oddia Augusta Young. 1914. Photograph. State of Texas, Harris

County.

Social Security Death Index, about Oddie Griffin

Name: Oddie Griffin, Last Residence: 72158 Benton, Saline, Arkansas, United States of America, Born: 2 Aug 1892,

Died: Sep 1967, State (Year) SSN issued: Arkansas (1965 )

Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 about Mattie Griffin

Name: Mattie Griffin, Death Day: 23, Death Month: Dec, Death Year: 1936, County: Union,

Roll Number: 19341940, Page Number: 1352

Standard Certificate of Birth for Clifton Owen Griffin. 1922. Photograph. State of Texas, Burkburnet, TX.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

89

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 about Wilma Eola Griffin

Name: Wilma Eola Griffin, Date of Birth: 16 Jan 1924, Birth County: Wichita, Certificate Number: 7036 Roll Number:

1924_0007

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946

Served in Womens Army Corps, about Dorothy G Hoopaugh, Name: Dorothy G Hoopaugh, Birth Year: 1922, Race:

White, citizen (White), Nativity State or Country: Texas, State of Residence: Arizona, County or City: Maricopa,

Enlistment Date: 31 Jul 1944, Enlistment State: Arizona, Enlistment City: Phoenix, Branch: Womens Army Corps,

Branch Code: Womens Army Corps, Grade: Private, Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the

duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise

according to law, Component: Womens Army Corps, Source: Civil Life, Education: 2 years of high school, Civil

Occupation: Waiters and waitresses, except private family, Marital Status: Married, Height: 88, Weight: 90

California Death Index, 1940-1997, about Dorothy N Hoopaugh,

Name: Dorothy N Hoopaugh [Dorothy N Griffin], Sex: FEMALE, Birth Date: 14 Jun 1926, Birthplace: Texas, Death

Date: 10 Mar 1981, Death Place: Alameda, Mother's Maiden Name: Young, FATHER'S SURNAME: Griffin

Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 about David Owen Griffin

Name: David Owen Griffin, Date of Birth: 9 Jan 1929, Gender: Male, Birth County: Young, Father's Name: Owen

Griffin, Mother's Name: Oddie Young, Roll Number: 1929_0003

Social Security Death Index about Shirley F. Griffin

……………………………………………………………………………………………………90

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Name: Shirley F. Griffin, Last Residence: 76039 Euless, Tarrant, Texas, United States of America, Born: 6 Feb 1931,

Died: 29 Dec 2003, State (Year) SSN, issued: Texas

Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 about Shirley Fay Griffin

Name: Shirley Fay Griffin, Date of Birth: 6 Feb 1931 Gender: Female, Birth County: Harris Father's Name: Owen

Cornelius Griffin, Mother's Name: Oddia Young, Roll Number: 1931_0003

George Van Young and Augusta Dechaumes

1880 Harris County, Tx Census,

Page 15, line 32

1900 Harris County, Tx Census

District 100, Page 17, Line 45

1910 Harris County, Tx Census,

District 116, Page 20, Line 59

1920 Harris County, Tx Census

District 117, Page 1A, Line 43

Marriage License of George Van Young and Augusta Dechaumes, State of Texas, Harris County, December 18, 1882.

Baptismal Record of St. Vincent's Church Houston Texas, #541, page 116

"On this day 10th of February, 1860. The undersigned pastor of St. Vincent's Church baptised Augustine Dechaumes,

born on the 19th of March 1858, daughter of Desire Dechaumes and his wife Rosalie Pillot.

State of Texas vs. Wallace Young, Criminal Court Records 1897-1899, Harris County

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

91

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Family Bible in possession of Marzee Goodson Ware. Print.

William Young and Delilah Eleanor Gibson

1850 Tyler County Census

132-132 YOUNG Wm. 32 m TN blacksmith $800, Delia E. 24 f AL, Wm. A. 5 m TX, Emily M. 4 f TX, Mahaly E. 2 f

TX, Virginia A. 1 f TX, SIMS Geo. A. 33 m GA farmer

1860 Tyler County, Texas Census

Page 76, Line17

870 Harris County, Texas Census

Page 76, Line 32

……………………………………………………………………………………………………92

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Francois Desire Dechaumes and Rosalie Pillot

Marriage License for Francois Dechaumes and Rozella Pillot, State of Texas, Harris County, September 199, 1850.

1850 United States Federal Census about Francis M De Chaumes

Name: Francis M De Chaumes, Age: 25, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825, Birth Place: France Gender: Male, Home in

1850(City,County,State): Harris, Texas, Household Members: Name Age, Francis M De Chaumes 25, Rosalie De

Chaumes 17

1860 Slave Schedule, State of Texas, Harris County, Precinct 17

Slave Owners, R J Pillot Precinct 17, Harris, Texas, Slave Information

Age Gender Race View Census, 48 Male Black, 35 Female Black, 28 Male Black

8 Female Black, 6 Female Black, 3 Female Black, 1 Female Black

1860 United States Federal Census about R Dechennes

Name: R Dechennes, Age in 1860: 28, Birth Year: abt 1832, Birthplace: France

Home in 1860: Precinct 12, Harris, Texas, Gender: Female, Post Office: Lynchburg

Household Members: Name Age, R (F) Dechennes 35, R Dechennes 28, I E (JE) Pillot 40

Z Pillot 33, N Pillot 14, I S Pillot 12, A Pillot 4, Julis Pillot 15, S Pillot 6, J Pillot 1, Jane Pillot 71

L Ricord 28, E Sellers 20

The Roadrunner, Vol 16. No3, pg. 17

Lists Francis DeChaum and Adrian Boulet (his son-in-law) as being Civil War Veterans out of Waller County.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

93

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Cemetery Records, Pillot Cemetery

South of Tomball, TX off FM 149 (249) located on Holderrieth Road, Recorder: Trevia Wooster Beverly

Original Marriage Certificate, State of Texas, September 19, 1850

Family Bible in possession of Marzee Goodson Ware. Print.

Michael Dechaumes and Marie Reine Desire

1850 United States Federal Census about Michael M Chaumes,

Name: Michael M Chaumes, Age: 52, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1798, Birth Place: France, Gender: Male, Home in

1850 (City,County,State): Houston, Harris, Texas, Household Members: Name Age, Michael M Chaumes 52, R D

Chaumes 56, F R D Chaumes 25, Henry M Chaumes 22

……………………………………………………………………………………………………94

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

1860 Slave Schedule Name: M. Dechaumes

State: TX, County: Harris County, Township: Houston, Year: 1860, Record Type: Slave schedule, Page: 492,

Database: TX 1860 Slave Schedule,, Slave Information: Age Gender Race View Census, 40 Female Black

Church records, St. Vincent's Church/Annunciation Church, Harris County, Texas

"The Dechaumes Cottage." Web. http://www.bistrocalais.com/History.html

Wooster-Beverly, Trevia. "The Pillot Family Cemetery." Application for Texas Historical Marker

Houston City Directory, 1882-1895

Inventory of the Estate of M.R.D. Dechaume, August 7, 1866

Promisory Note to Michael Dechaumes for boarding Lapan indians, Republic of the State of Texas, March 13, 1838.

Claude Nicholas Pillot and Jeanne G. Loisley

Immigration Record: New York, 1820-1850 Passenger and Immigration Lists about Claude Pillot

Name: Claude Pillot, Arrival Date: Jun 12, 1832, Age: 39, Gender: M, Port of Arrival: New York

Port of Departure: Havre, Place of Origin: France, Occupation: Cabinet Maker, Destination:

United States of America, Ship: Ship La Melonie, Microfilm Serial Number: M237, Microfilm Roll

Number: 16, List Number: 395

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

95

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

The Heritage of North Harris County (n.p.: North Harris County Branch, American Association of University Women,

1977). Diana J. Kleiner

From: Upchurch, Lissie, Welcome to Tomball: A History of Tomball, TX. Houston: D. Armstrong Co., 1976, p. 46.

The Heritage of North Harris County. Tomball: Chaparral Genealogical Society, 1977, p.39. [Wiley.ftw]

The Personal Correspondence of Sam Houston 1839-1845, page 303-304

Texas Census, 1820-90 about Claude N. Pillot

Name: Claude N. Pillot, State: TX, County: Harris County, Township: No Township Listed

Year: 1846, Record Type: Tax list, Page: NPN, Database: TX Tax List Index, 1840-1849

1850 United States Federal Census about Claude Nicolas Pillot

Name: Claude Nicolas Pillot, Age: 50, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1800, Birth Place: France

Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Harris, Texas, Household Members: Name

Age Claude Nicolas Pillot 50, Jeannie Pillot 61

Gabrielle Pillot 21

Texas Historical Commission, Marker Number: 10744

……………………………………………………………………………………………………96

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Marker Title: Pillot Building, Index Entry: Pillot Building, Address: 300 Fannin, City: Houston

County: Harris, UTM Zone: 15, UTM Easting: 272136, UTM Northing: 3294875

Texas Historical Commission, Marker Number: 12830

Marker Title: Pillot Cemetery, Index Entry: Pillot Cemetery, Address: Holderrieth Rd. near

Cherry St., City: Tomball, County: Harris, UTM Zone: 15, UTM Easting: 248943, UTM Northing: 3328578

Texas Historical Commision, Marker Number: 14850

Marker Title: Pillot Family, Index Entry: Pillot Family, City: Tomball, County: Harris

Texas Historical Commision, Marker Number: 10745

Marker Title: Pillot House, Index Entry: Pillot House, City: Houston, County: Harris

UTM Zone: 15, UTM Easting: 270692, UTM Northing: 3294454

Standard Pedigree File, Claude Nichoas PILLOT (AFN: 1D2Z-TSB) Pedigree

Submitter(s): RODNEY E. PERRY Microfilm: NONE, 4945 S 3450 W ROY UT Submission:

AF95-105894 USA 84067

Wooster-Beverly, Trevia. "The Pillot Family Cemetery." Application for Texas Historical Marker

Johnston, Marguerite. Houston The Unknown City. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1991. Print.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

97

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………98

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Acknowledgements

A great deal of research has gone into the development of this book. Without the

contributions of many who work to preserve Texas history and historical properties,

this research would not be possible. Specifically, we would like to thank:

The Harris County Heritage Society

Trevia Wooster Beverly

Faye Purcell

The Purcell Family of America

Martha Hoopaugh

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

99

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………100

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

Family Trees

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

101

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………102

……………………………………………………………………………………………………Odessa’s Story

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

103