ROBERT PASCAL HEAD - FAMILY STORY
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Written by Elenora B. Head Summer of 1941
We are grateful to our Cousin H. O. Head of Sherman, Texas for the information given us in regard to the Head genealogy. The Pascal Head mentioned was the father of the Dr. Wm. P. Head, James Head and Mary Head, all of Whitewright, Tex. At that time the town was known as Kentuckytown, Grayson Co. No mention was made of who Pascal Head married. Dr. Wm. P. Head of Kentuckytown died in the year of 1871 or 1872, leaving his wife Kate, three daughters - Nettie, Clara and Mary - two sons - Pascal and William.
Nettie married Tom Brown. Passed away leaving two daughters, Kate and Emma. Clara married Mr. Umberger. She passed away at a early age. She was beautiful and very attractive. Mary and Pascal are living in Abiline , Texas. Pascal married Sallie King - have one daughter Ruby. Will was twice married. First wife passed away in child birth, while living in Sherman, Tex. Later he married again and moved to Abiline [Abilene], Tex., a very fine lawyer was killed in auto accident - while electioneering to become District Judge. Since then, Pascal a very fine lawyer has passed away.
James Head married Mattie Elisabeth King. To this union was born four children - Mary Elisabeth, Robert Pascal, John Henry and Mattie. The wife passed away very suddenly when the babe was only three days old. The father, James Head, was elected to the Legislature in the year of 1861 and 1862 - was making the trip on horseback to Austin, Tex. when near Huntsville he was taken suddenly sick - with something like cholera. A messenger was sent at once for the Bro. Dr. Wm. P. Head - changing horses several times both going and coming. The Bro. was too late as James Head passed away in a short time after the Dr's arrival. He was buried either in Huntsville or Tyler, Tex., leaving the four children orphans.
Relatives took the children. Mary Elisabeth (we call her Mollie) went to live with the Aunt Mary Head, who later in life married Tom Connelly. Robert Pascal went to live with a Bro. of the mother, Dr. Richard King. John Henry went to live with another Uncle, Anderson King. Little Mattie went to another Uncle, Jim King. She only lived to be eleven months and she too went to join her parents in a better world. These children when left orphans their ages were about 8, 6, 4, and three days. I have often heard my Husband, Robert, say the sweetest memory he had of his Father was riding behind him on horseback. This was quite an item those days - to ride with the Mother or Father on same horse.
Mollie married James K. Douglas. To this union six children was born. One daughter is now living in San Diego, Clara Miller. The Mother came to live with her, and passed away in the Autumn of 1940, at the age of eighty three years. I am told she was a beautiful girl when young.
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John Henry married Miss Callie Vaughan of Valley View, Tex. a very happy marriage - Three children James (or Jimmie), Jessie and Beulah. The Mother passed away March 26th 1939. Father and three children are living at this time in Hereford, Tex. Father was born Dec. 24th 1858. He is now a Great Grandfather - a son born to Jessie's daughter.
Robert Pascal Head, at the tage of sixteen years was sent to Trinity University. The Uncle who took him to raise was a highly educated Dr., having practiced medicine for over forty years. He was a very quiet, but a man of pleasing personality. Took a decided interest in Bob as he called him, and had hoped for him to either become a minister, Dr., or Lawyer. The Uncle was a devout Christian man being reared in the Old School Presbyterian Faith - loyal to his death. While in the University Robert united with the church same as his uncle, and remained so till his death. Failing health caused him not to finish his course - lacking only a few months till his graduation. When his Parents passed away the Dr. Wm. Head took charge of their Father's estate - amounting to about four thousand dollars of personal property not including the land of 360 acres. The Uncle passed away while Robert was in school - making a will and leaving everything to his wife and heirs - and no mention made of the orphan children. I heard Mollie say she rec'd the pitiful sum of $700.00 and at one time saw some of her mothers bedding handed out to the Uncles daughter.
At that time there was a law in Tex. allowing a capable young man to be declared of age. Robert P. went before the court - and was declared of age - sold his interest in the Fathers land - receiving $250.00. With this he bought some yearling heifers, a few cows and calves - I think in all about 75 head. The Uncle Dick gave him a few head of cattle, a horse and saddle. His Bro. John Henry joined him and the two started out West - to make their fortune - landed in Cooke Co. - only about 100 miles from Grayson Co, where the two were born and raised. They located west of Valley View, Tex. near Spring Creek stretched their tent and there the two Brothers lived a real cowboy life - in the summertime they slept on the ground, with only a blanket for the bed, and coats for pillows. Their health was much improved. The cattle did well, and at the end of a year both felt the need of a change.
Coming in to the little town of Valley View they secured board with a family by the name of Burks, who at one time was a renter on the farm of the Uncle Dick King in Grayson Co. They continued to look after their little flock and in the spring Robert P. went in to the Drug business in partnership with a Mr. Henry Keene. Of course all the girls had their eyes on the two good looking young men. This was in the year of 1875.
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It was in the Burks home where Robert met the girl, who at that time was a fifteen year old school girl - of Southern Parentage - from the State of Ky - Elenora Hutchens. Robert was very popular with the younger people and older ones also - he being a tall handsome blonde - educated - could speak Latin, Greek and Hebrew altho he was only 19 yrs of age. While other girls tried to win the favored young man, the blonde girl, Elenora Hutchens won. On July 13th 1876 they were married. Rev Julian reading the ceremony - with Miss Bettie Bowlin and Mr. Henry Keene being their only attendants. About forty young people and older ones attended the wedding. After the usual congratulations a wedding supper was served - all standing around the table. There was no thought of a wedding trip or showers of gifts.
To this union five chidren were born - namely Viola Mae, Ava Myrtle, Richard Pascal, Elsie Elisabeth and Zoe Wyona. Our children were reared in the little town of Valley View, Tex., receiving their free school education.
Viola Mae attended Carbudette Christian College of Sherman, Tex., graduating June thirtith 1895. She was a beautiful girl, talented in music, [?] and expression. On Oct 15th 1895 she was married to W. E. Houston of the home town - only lived a short time - passing away at the age of 21 years and eight months - loved by all who knew her.
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