Jud History

 

           

     Causey and Causey built the first gin in 1885 before there was anything else at the place where Jud later was eventually built. Jud was named after Jud Roberson who was Terry Roberson's father. He came to the area in 1895.

     Beginning in 1903 the folling businesses were established in Jud : Gin,Jess Causey, {Howard Mays ran it} ; Post Office and Store, Crawford Allen ; Barber Shop, Tom Mitchell , { Uncle of Sudie Mae Ballard } ; Tailor Shop, Henry Raymond ; Dry Goods and Hardware , J.L. Jones ; Drug Store , Raymonds , ; Doctor McDonald ; the  Plew Grocery Store ; Blacksmith Shop, Peels ; and Mail Carrier,  Star Route , E. L. Ray.

     The school was built in 1906, and Miss Lewis Bray was the teacher.

     Jud had two churchs, a Baptist and a Methodist , and a Tabernacle where summer revivals were held. The last store was owned by Bailey Foster and it closed in 1961. The school closed in 1949 while Gladys {Terry } Mathis was the teacher. Trustees at the time were Elmer Burleson , Cecil Jetton and Clyde Stringfield. The school consolidated with Rule and Rochester.

     The Baptist Church disbanded September 3 , 1969 , and the gin closed in 1952. It was owned by John Powell.

     The willing Workers H. D. Club was organized July 8 , 1948 in the home of Mrs J. H. Isabell. Louise Newman was the County Agent. Officers elected were : Mrs John Powell , President ; Mrs Elmer Burleson , Vice- President ; Mrs J.H. Isabell , Secretary ; Charter members were : Mrs Paul Bell , Elmer Burleson , J. H. Isabell , Cecil Jetton , John Powell , Ira Short ,  D.N. Powell , John Mullis , and Eugene Wheeler.

     Activities of the club included ice cream suppers , canasta , and forty- two parties , Halloween parties , floats in parades , and the November 11th celebration.

     We entered a float in the Haskell County Fair and won first place October 1 , 1948. Our theme was the United Nations.

     We had all kinds of demonstrations on foods, clothing , parlimentary rules and many more interesting and informative subjects. The club disbanded on Febuary 26 , 1953 in the home of Mrs. S.E. Lewis who was the last president. The last club secetary was Mrs. Elmer Burleson.

 

 

 

                                                THE 1953 TORNADO

 

     Perhaps the most heart-breaking occurance in the history of this community resulted from the tornado that struck March 13 , 1953.

     Mr. and Mrs. Abb Hutchens lost every building they had on their two farms. Thier home and the home of I.B.Ashleys , on their other farm , was completely destroyed.

    Mrs Ashley , five of her children , a married daughter and two of her children were there at the time. They were having Bible Reading when the tornado hit and didnt realize a storm was coming . Mrs. Ashley was expecting her eleventh child any day. She, two daughters , one son { twin } , and one little granddaughter were killed.

     This was a great disaster for our community and the whole community was saddened and helped   the family in every way possible. We donated clothes, sat up with the injured at the hospital and did all we could . The married daughter and her baby and the other twin survived the storm. No one knows how.