BIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS HENRY FOGLE, JR.

Thomas Henry Fogle, Jr. known as "Tom" was born in Union Co., Ark. Dec. 20, 1850, the fifth son and sixth child of Serena Andrews and Thomas Henry Fogle, Sr. known as "Henry." Serena Andrews and Henry Fogle were married in Union Co. Ark. on Oct. 27, 1838. Henry Fogle was the son of Antoine and Marie Anne Prudhomme Fogle. Serena Andrews was the daughter of Ananias Andrews and Sally McCrady who married the 3 April 1808 in Williamson Co., Tenn. Serena Andrews was born 20 Nov. 1817 in Williamson Co., Tenn., the first born of four children.

Antoine Fogle, grandfather of Thomas Henry "Tom" Fogle, Jr., was born in France and was a French citizen. He spoke the French language. His nationality, however, was German Jew. He was one of six brothers left orphaned. In the mid-1700s at the age of twelve, he emigrated to the French Territory through the Port of New Orleans. He was a bondservant and was a cabin boy on the ship he arrived on.

In Arkansas on the Bradley/Ashley Co. line on the Saline River in Longview is a monument dedicated to five French families who were the first white families to settle in the Longview Community. Fogle is one of the names on this monument.

Thomas Henry Fogle, Sr. was born in Union Co., Ark. 24 Aug. 1817. He and Serena had nine children. They owned four slaves, all with the surname Fogle. Three of their sons - Willis, Alfred and Robert were Confederate soldiers from Arkansas. The Civil War ended when Tom was fifteen.

The Henry Fogles were late arrivals to Texas, arriving in the Reconstruction era from Union Co., Ark. They were preceded to Texas by Serena’s sisters Mary Mahala Andrews Cox and Nancy Andrews Cox Teague. Mary Mahala Cox and her husband Josiah were living in Blanco County. Nancy Cox Teague and her husband Harrison were living in Delhi, Caldwell Co., Texas. Their son Alfred also preceded them to Texas. Alfred had moved to Bastrop Co., Texas in 1867. There he married his cousin Emaline Cox Reid, daughter of Nancy Cox Teague on 20 May 1867. Emaline Cox Reid was the widow of James C. Reid who was killed in the Civil War. She and James Reid had three daughters.

The Henry Fogles settled first in Robertson Co., Texas. When Tom was twenty years old the Fogles moved to Blanco Co, Texas. There Tom married Mary Drucilla Conn (daughter of Judge Hugh Lee Conn V. and Lydia Margaret Wilson Conn) 23 Dec. 1875. His sister Mattie Fogle married Aaron Washington Cox (son of Mahala and Josiah Cox) 1 Jan. 1875 in Blanco. Mary Drucilla Conn was born in a log cabin 15 Feb. 1852 in Belmont, Gonzales Co. Texas.

After their marriage, the Tom Fogles made their home on a farm in Miller Creek in Blanco County. Their first six children were born in Miller Creek. Tom and Mary were both members of the Methodist Church in Blanco. Tom was converted at an early age. Mary was converted in 1874. It was after their move to Delhi that they became Baptists.

In July 1887 the Tom Fogles moved to Delhi which is in the southeastern part of Caldwell County. Henry and Serena Fogle were already living in Delhi. The south limit of Delhi is in Gonzales Co. The east limit in Bastrop Co. This move was made in the midst of the Blanco County Courthouse feud between Blanco and Johnson City over the removal of the Courthouse from Blanco to Johnson City. It was a bitter and divisive dispute. There were several lynchings and shootings during this time over the removal of the Courthouse from Blanco where it had always been to Johnson City. The feud started in 1877 and ended in 1890 after the third election was won by the Johnson City fraction.

The Tom Fogles made their home in the heart of Delhi on an incline across the road from the store, the school and the cemetery. Church was held in the schoolhouse. Tom Fogle owned one of the two cotton gins, plus two farms and a shop for making coffins. Their last four children were born in Delhi.

Tom and Mary Fogle were active in the Delhi Community. They help found the Delhi Baptist Church. On April 6, 1890, Tom became a member and ordained deacon of the Delhi Baptist Church. He remained active in his Church and Community until his death on March 3, 1924 when he died of a sudden and unexpected stroke. He is buried in the Delhi Cemetery along with his parents, two brothers, seven of his ten children and numerous other relatives. His wife Mary Drucilla Conn died 20 January 1940 in Delhi and is buried beside him. The two farms were sold by their heirs to J.F. Neeley after his return from World War II and is still owned by him in this day of our Lord December 29 2003.