GASTON WADDILL IS BURIED WITH
ELK HONORS
McKinney Weekly Democrat May 10, 1928
Interment of the
remains of Gaston M. Waddill, who died here Tuesday afternoon, May 3, took place
in Pecan Grove cemetery Saturday afternoon, May 5, according to the burial rites
of the Elks lodge. He had long been a member of the local club of that order.
Funeral services
were conducted at his late home, corner of North Church and Lamar streets, at
3:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon by Dr. Clifford S. Weaver, pastor of the First
Christian church assisted by Eld. R. C. Horn, a life long friend of the Waddill
family. Keller & Crouch were the funeral directors. Many offerings attested to
the esteem of the deceased and the appreciation of the Waddill family by his
many acquaintances and friends.
Born in Kentucky.
Gaston Meers Waddill, son of R. L. and Mrs. Elizabeth (Shackelford) Waddill was
born in Hopkinsville, Ky., Nov. 1, 1852. At the time of his death May 3, he was
75 years, 6 months and 2 days old. When the deceased was an infant he was
brought to Texas by his parents and spent nearly three quarters of a century as
a resident of McKinney. His father was a great friend of education and built a
school building on his home property on North Benge street which the deceased
attended. Among his instructors were prof. Stapleton, General Anson Mills, A. L.
Darnall and Eld. J. S. Muse, all noted pioneer educators of our city.
Once Assistant Postmaster.
The deceased was for some years assistant postmaster of McKinney under the late
Postmaster J. W. Thomas. He was also for a time connected with the dry goods
store of H. W. Ardinger. He was a man of wide range of reading and well informed
on current events, history and world affairs. He was of retiring disposition and
always respectful and courteous in his general bearing towards everyone.
Of Distinguished Ancestory.
Judge R. L. Waddill Sr., father of the deceased, was born February 11, 1811 in
Shelby county, Kentucky. He graduated at Princeton College, Ky., and in the law
department of Transylvania in the same state. While in college he professed
religion and united with the Christian church in which denomination he was
prominent as a layman in the state of Kentucky and later on in Texas until his
death. On August 5, 1834 he (Judge Waddill) commenced his practice of law at
Hopkinsville, Ky., was twice elected a member of the legislature of Kentucky. He
came to Collin county, Texas in the year 1853, making the trip on horseback and
accompanied by his step-son, the late George S. Morris. He practiced law in
McKinney. In the spring of 1860 he was elected Judge of the District court of
the 20th judicial district of Texas, embracing Collin and other counties. He
filled this judicial honor with distinction until May 26, 1865.
As a Judge he was energetic, fearless, just and conscientious. He traveled the
eleven counties in his district on horseback, as there were no railroads then in
operation. He underwent many hardships and much exposure, which prematurely
brought him to his grave in the year 1867 at the comparative early age of only
56.
Two brothers of Judge R. L. Waddill were also prominent in the legal profession
and he came from forebears that were honored and influential citizens of our
country from the earliest colonial times of our nation.
His Mother.
Gaston Meers Waddill’s mother lived to the ripe old age of 84. She died in
McKinney, July 31, 1896 or about thirty-two years ago. She lived twenty-nine
years after her husband’s death. She was also a native of Hopkinsville, Ky.,
where she resided forty-two years prior to coming to Texas and settling at
McKinney with her husband, Judge R. L. Waddill and children in the year 1853.
Her father Benjamin Shackelford, was a native of Culpepper county, Va. He was a
lawyer of professional and varied learning, who served as district judge in
Kentucky for about forty years, retiring from the bench after reaching far along
in his seventies. She was a descendant of William Paca, one of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 and afterwards governor of
Maryland.
The Shakelfords were prominent for several generations in all three of the
states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri.
His Survivors.
Gaston M. Waddill is survived by only one sister, Miss Fannie Waddill, also by
two or three nephew and nieces.
The deceased was one of a family of six children as follows: R. L. Waddill, Joe
W. Waddill, who served for a number of years as County Clerk of Collin county,
and died in McKinney 28 years ago; Benjamin S. Waddill was a dry goods merchant
who died some years later; Miss Fannie Waddill only one now surviving. R. L.
Waddill died August 31, 1922. The late George S. Morris was a half brother who
died in McKinney May 27, 1920.
Surname Index
Recommended citation:
"Gaston Waddell",
Collin County, Texas
History and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc.,
<http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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