MRS. J. E. BALDRIDGE DIED
TUESDAY AT DAUGHTERS HOME
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, September 13, 1927
Aged Mother Mrs. Buck Wilson to be buried
Wednesday at Wylie.
Mrs. J. E. Baldridge, the aged
mother of Mrs. Buck Wilson of McKinney, died about 10 o’clock this (Tuesday)
forenoon at the home of another daughter, Mrs. E. L. Howell at Nevada. The
deceased, who was 92 year, 8 months and 1 day old, was quite well acquainted and
known here in McKinney, where she spent much of her time in the home of Mrs.
Wilson. She had been in very feeble health for the last two or three years. Her
fatal illness seized her only Wednesday of last week and she took a turn for the
worse Saturday since which time her death had almost been hourly expected.
***
Native of Mississippi.
Miss Jane Douglas was born January 12, 1825, in the state of Mississippi, and at
the time of her death lacked less than seven years and four months of reaching
the century mark of life. When she was only 2 years old her parents, James and
Malena (Stimmons) Douglas moved with their family to Florence, Ala., where she
grew to young womanhood and married. Her father, who was a substantial Southern
planter, and wife reared a family of twelve children, six boys and six girls,
and gave them the best of opportunities available to that early period of our
country’s history. The deceased was sent to girl’s school or college at
Tuscumbia, Ala., where she received a more than ordinary education among boys or
girls of her companionship.
***
Twice Married.
Her first marriage came when she was quite young, to a Mr. Anderson by whom one
son and one daughter survive. Her second marriage took place about 1858 to Rev.
W. H. Baldridge, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister who was an old friend of the
late Rev. W. P. Cloyd of beloved memory. Rev. Mr. Baldridge and wife moved to
Texas forty-four years ago, and first settled at Plano. The husband died
thirty-two years ago, while the family were living at Murphy, located between
Plano and Wylie. The deceased spent the thirty-two years of her widowhood living
with her children at various places.
***
Children Are Living.
Her large family of twelve children – six sons and six daughters– all survive as
follows John C. Anderson, Florence, Ala.; Dr. W. H. Baldridge, Thurber, Texas;
J. M. Baldridge, Mountain View Okla.; R. F. Baldridge, Levelland, Texas; F. E.
Baldridge, Temple, Texas; George D. Baldridge, Dallas, Texas; Mrs. J. F. Nall,
Dallas, Texas; Mrs. E. L. Howell, Nevada, Texas; Mrs. B. E. Caskey, Denton,
Texas; Mrs. J. T. Shaver, Wichita Falls, Texas, Mrs. O. A. Murphy, Dallas,
Texas; Mrs. Buck Wilson, McKinney, Texas. She is also survived by about
twenty-six grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and three or four
great-great grandchildren.
***
Family of Physicians.
She is also survived by one brother, T. J. Douglas of Los Angeles, Calif. Four
of her six brothers were practicing physicians. One of them, the late Dr. R. L.
Douglas of Frisco, practiced medicine many years in the Rockhill, Prosper and
Frisco communities. Another brother, Dr. George Douglas died a number of years
ago in the city of Denton. One of her sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Alexander died a
few years ago at the age of 92 at Garland, Texas. The latter was the mother of
the late J. D. Alexander of Garland, who was known throughout the state as a
Woodman of World leader official and orator. But none of her other brothers and
sisters lived to extreme old age like the deceased and her sister, Mrs.
Alexander, who both lived to pass their ninety-second birthday.
***
Woman of Keenest Intellect.
Mrs. Baldridge took a great pride in her large family of brothers and sisters,
and in her own family of the same size, numerically. Her children and brothers
and sisters were and are men and women of integrity and more than ordinary
usefulness to their respective communities and homes. In addition to the heavy
household responsibilities resting upon her incidental to the rearing of a large
family, she found ample time to instruct her children along educational, moral
and religious pines, and was a helpmate indeed for her preacher husband in his
work, and in their joint parental duties in the rearing of their fine, big
family of children.
***
In Nevada Cyclone.
Grandmother Baldridge has an annual family reunion until the last year or two.
Her escape from the disastrous Nevada cyclone of May 9, this year, was commented
on by the press throughout the state. The home of her daughter, in which she was
staying at the time, was almost totally destroyed. But the bedroom of the dear
old mother and grandmother was left intact to such an extent that the timbers
were held up so as to protect her bed, and she was left unharmed in the wreckage
everywhere about her, resting peacefully on her bed.
***
Interest Unabated in Life.
Her interest in current affairs of church, state, and the world in general never
slacked in the advance of age. Her concern in the welfare of her children and
posterity even to the fifth generation continued unabated till death. Even in
her extreme old age she was the embodiment of queenly grace and culture,
characteristic of the most refined of her sect. Her gracious demeanor toward
all, her bright mind, richly stored will general knowledge made her a welcome
companion of the young as well as for the old, who came into her presence. She
loved the true, the beautiful and the best of life in this world and treasured
to her heart and soul all the comforts of her devout religious faith, to which
she conformed her every day life, and according to which she reared her children
in the absolute faith and admonition of her Savior and his redemptive Gospel.
***
Funeral at Wylie.
Funeral services for the deceased will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at
the Methodist church of Wylie at 3:30. Burial will follow in the Wylie cemetery
beside the grave of her husband, who died 32 years ago.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Mrs. J. E. Baldridge,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ]. |
