The Road to East Texas
Our Family Reunion
The Harris' meet the Swearengins
Eds. Debra Buster & Nedra Chandler________excerpt from _Issue 1_____________________ Jan-Mar 1996
Susie Ida & Luther Noah Parker with Alma
Biography__ Who is Susie Ida Harris?
Susie Ida Harris
1883-1949 & Luther Noah Parker 1877-1909 & James Edward Swearengin 1892-1957Susie was Joel Harris and Paulena Elizabeth Moore's 4th child. She was born in Chambers County Alabama, September 28, 1883. She was a small child. She was 16 years old when she married Luther Noah Parker. Luther was born February 17, 1877 in Pidgeon Creek , Alabama. Luther was a farmer and Susie was a good farm wife. Luther's family is descended from John Parker of Maryland, a gentleman farmer and a revolutionary war militiaman.. Luther's grandfather Noah, was a prominent Baptist Minister in Alabama. Susie married into a well established family. Susie was a devote Christian. In later years, my aunt, Ruth Forbes remembers she was referred to as "little Susie" at the Pentecostal church in Vivian. Nanna, Willie Mae Parker Forbes, remembers Susie's life was hard after Luther Noah died at the young age of 32. Their youngest child, Morris Luther was just 2 months old.
Arrie Broome with Clarence, Susie Parker with Morris Luther, seated Eunice, Verna, Alma, and Nora Mae, 'Willie
Susie loved to play games with her children and grandchildren. Nanna remembers a game they called fireball, old socks or rags tied into a ball and soaked in some kind of lighter fluid, probably kerosene, they would light them and throw them back and forth. Rather dangerous by today's safety concerns especially when one incident caused the roof of their house to catch fire. Susie had to put it out with a broom. Aunt Doris remembers she liked the game of hop scotch. She loved Dahlia's. And everyone loved her 'sweet pastry'.
Susie met James Edward Swearengin through her youngest brother, Grover Cleveland Harris. Grover was married to James' sister, Mary Margot Swearengin. Susie married James abt 1911. James was an oilfield worker in the Rodessa Oil fields, later in Smackover and El Dorado, Arkansas.
Susie and James had 5 boys and 1 girl.. Ernest Wesley, Johnnie Edward, Caster Andrew, James Junior, Henry Estes, and Marie Isabelle.
Susie left her older children for a time in Cass, Co., with Alma but she later brought them with her. In the 1920 Louisiana census, we find Susie, 'Eudard' J. 'Swearinger' and their children, Ernest age 9, John age 5, Castor age 3, Verner Parker age 16, Willie Parker age 13, and Luther Parker age 11.
