52 Ancestor's Challenge - Army PFC Jake J. Holcomb, World War II - Week 21

My grandmother, Tennie Belle Holcomb Gibson, had a brother, who we all called "Buck."  He lived next door to my grandparents in a tiny, one-bedroom house in Baldwin Park, California.  He was a quiet, sweet, man who never married, and always wore plaid western-styled shirts and cowboy boots.  He didn't speak much and kept to himself mostly, except for the occasional family gathering.  In conversations, he usually wasn't the one talking, but would reply "yeah, yeah, yeah."  The most I ever heard him speak was sitting with my grandmother and reminiscing about their childhood.  Even then it was my grandmother asking the questions and leading the conversation.  But he usually had a smile on his face, and seemed happy.  This is how I remember him.

It wasn't until I was older, that I found out he had earned a Purple Heart in World War II.  Since it is Memorial Day today, I felt it was appropriate to dedicate this post to him, .

Buck was born Jake Jr. Holcomb on October 29, 1919 near the town of Leuders, in Shackelford County, Texas.  He was the 4th child, and youngest son to Benton Rogers Holcomb and Mamie Estelle Locke Holcomb.  Why was he named Jake Jr. when his father was named Benton?  Well, Benton was often called Jake.  Not sure why Benton was called Jake, but we believe Buck was named after him.  So why did everyone call him Buck you might ask?  Well, I'm not sure about that either, except that it was actually "Roebucks" that they originally called him.  Maybe it was so they wouldn't get him confused with his father.  Why Roebucks?  I have no idea.**

The family lived in Shackelford County, Texas for a few years, before moving to the Tahoka area, just south of Lubbock, Texas.  Buck spent most of his childhood on a farm and worked alongside his family raising cotton.  He attended school until the 5th grade, which is when he began working on the family farm as a farm hand.  According to his Army Separation Qualification Record (we have on hand in his papers), his main occupation was a farm hand on a general farm.  His work summary listed was: "Worked on farm for wages.  Drove tractor to plant, plow and harvest such crops as cotton and small grain.  Tended cows.  Raised poultry for home use." 

Benton Rogers Holcomb and Jake Jr. Holcomb (Buck) in front of the families gas station and general store.
Not sure of the date - probably taken after the war.

Around 1941, Buck's parents purchased a grocery store and gas station.  I believe this was in New Lynn, which was just northeast of Tahoka.  According to U.S. World War II Enlistment Records on Ancestry.com, Buck's Civil Occupation was a "Sales Clerk."  On October 29, 1941, a Notice of Selection was sent out to Buck to report for "Induction" on or around November 17, 1941.  According to his enlistment records, he enlisted at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas on November 19, 1941.

Buck's identification card found in his papers

Card from Buck sent back home to his family while he was away at war.
Signed "Roebucks"

According to his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, Buck served as a PFC in the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry.  He was an Ammunition Bearer, and he "Carried ammunition to troops in front lines.  Loaded and unloaded trucks.  Stacked shells and explosives.  Pre=pared ammunition for instant use."

He saw action in

"Algeria-French Morocco  Tunisia  Sicily  Normandy  Northern France  Rhineland GO 33 WD 45." 

Decorations and Citations earned:

"EAME  Campaign Medal with 6 Bronze Stars  Distinguished Unit Badge with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster  Purple Heart GO 23 Hq 3474 Evac Hosp APO 43 3 Aug 44  Good Conduct Medal  American Defense Service Medal."

The Purple Heart was earned from a small shrapnel wound he obtained, according to a newspaper clipping we have (do not know the name of the paper it was from or the exact date it was printed). 

Buck separated from the Army at Fort Sam Houston on July 1, 1945, and returned to his family home.  I'm not sure what happened next, but I do believe at some point he suffered from a nervous breakdown.  I've heard it was due to his time in the Army.

Buck remained with the family and probably worked in the store and gas station.  His father became sick in the beginning of 1946, and he traveled with him to Ruidoso, New Mexico.  There, Benton was trying to get relief for asthma, and Buck was there to help him.  Unfortunately, Benton passed away unexpectedly on March 11, 1946.

Buck returned to Lynn County, TX and lived with his mother, Mamie, and younger sister, Tennie Belle for another year, until the store was sold and they all moved to California.

Mamie eventually purchased a small property in Baldwin Park, California in the early 50s.  This is where her and Buck lived.  My grandmother, Tennie Belle, and her husband moved in next door to them around 1955.  Buck shared the one-bedroom house with his mother.  She had the bedroom while he slept on the pull-out sofa in the front room.  Mamie passed away in 1972, but before she died, she made my grandmother promise to take care of, and look after Buck.

Buck with his mother, Mamie, holding my mother, Teresa.
I believe they're standing in front of their little house - about 1950.

Buck in his cowboy hat - probably taken in the late 70s early 80s,
In Baldwin Park, CA - My grandparents dog Sandy and our dog Pepper running around him.

Buck remained at his little house until he became sick and had to move to a nursing home.  He passed away on December 6, 2000 at Intercommunity Medical Center in Covina.  His final resting place is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

**After my mom read this, she passed on a little information about what she remembers about Buck: "I heard that Mama (that would be Buck mother Mamie) called him Roebuck when she would call him in from playing or working, instead of just Buck she would say it really long like..."RooooooooooBuck!"  Kind of like calling someone who was out in the fields or down the street."  "Also, he loved In-n-Out hamburgers, fries, and Cokes...Had the biggest smile on his face everytime we brought him one."

 

52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 15 - Mamie Estelle Locke - 1888-1972

This weeks 52 Ancestors post is on my great grandmother, Mamie Estelle Locke Holcomb.  This is one ancestor I've heard so many stories of, that I feel as if I knew her, even though we never met!  Every story I've been told about her has always been to the highest regard.  She was a sweet and caring lady.  Most people in our family referred to her as "Mama."  Those that new her outside the family called her Ms. Mamie.  We'll just refer to her as Mamie.

 

Mrs. Mamie Estelle Locke Holcomb
Christmas 1949

My mother remembers her grandmother fondly.  Says she was a fabulous cook.  Remembers her out tending her rose garden in her dresses, gloves, hat, and heels.  My mom also remembers attending church with her as a young girl.  She was a very religious woman, who would be known to correct the preacher when he made a mistake in his sermon.  Being the daughter of a Minister of the Gospel, she was well educated on religion, and would sometimes teach Sunday school as well.  One thing that seems obvious, is everyone seemed to love her.

 

Mamie was born June 15, 1888 in Rosebud, White County, Arkansas.  She was the second child, and oldest daughter, of a blind preacher/piano teacher, Francis Marion Locke, and his wife Nancy Elizabeth Vines.  The family resided in White County, Arkansas for several years.  The last known document I've seen with their residence of White County was a letter sent to her mother, Nancy Elizabeth, from Benjamin J. Vines of Alabama in 1892.  Benjamin J. Vines was Mamie's great uncle and brother to her grandfather, John H.M. Vines, who died during the Civil War.  As far as we know, all of Mamie's siblings were born in White County as well.  They were:

• Grover William Locke 1885 - ?
• Vida Gertrude Locke 1890 - 1974
• Pearl Locke 1892 - 1975

Census records for the family have not been found.  But Mamie did have an autograph book that her friends and relatives signed.  The earliest dated signature was March 9, 1898 by her mother and father, and it reads "Peaster, Texas."  We believe this book was given to her by her parents on this date.  It also provides us with other dates and other locations.  We can't be certain the family lived in these areas, however, they must have lived nearby.  Here is a list of names, dates, and places in her book (some of them are hard to read, due to the age of it):

• 3/9/1898 - Peaster, Parker County, Texas - written by her mother and father, Nancy Elizabeth Vines and Francis Marion Locke
• 1/26/1903 - Stephenville, Erath County, Texas - written by her brother Grover Locke
• 2/15/1903 - Morgan Mill, Texas - written by Abbie Davis
• 1/19/1904 - Stephenville, Erath County, Texas - written by Zuela Evans

Other names written in this book are:

• ?? Hubbard
• Her sister Vida Locke
• Ruby Owens
• 12/2/1899 - Maude (or Mando) Sherrill
• 1/24/1903 - Jessie Dickerson
• ?/20/1903 - Martin Mall
• Elsie Reeves - Peaster, Texas
• Pearl Benson ?
• Blanche Smith - looks like in Rogers, Texas
• Rudolph W? - looks like 4/10/1890, but its faded a bit, and we think it was possibly 1898
• Rupert Wilson
• Laila Ashford

Parker and Erath County are near one another, so it is safe to assume they lived around that area.  With her father's job, he traveled around to different places, preaching and teaching piano.  She would tell stories of how she would drive him around in the "buckboard" since he could not see.



Wedding certificate for Benton Rogers
Holcomb & Mamie Estelle Locke
July 21, 1908, Tarrant Co., TX

Then, at a local barn dance, she met a man playing the fiddle, named Benton Rogers Holcomb.  They were married July 21, 1908 in Tarrant County, Texas.  Benton, or Jake as he was called by everyone, was the son of Thomas William Holcomb and Hannah Jane Coburn.  He was born December 9, 1885 in Bell County, Texas.  She would say he could fit his hands all the way around her waist.  From what I've been told, she was a very petite woman.

 

By 1910, they were living in Justice Precinct No. 4, in Shackleford County, TX.  According to the Federal census, they were living next to Benton's brother Alford and his son Barney.  Benton was working as a farm laborer.

 

Then 3 years later, they had the first of 5 children.  The children are listed below:

• Clyde 1913 - 1981
• Mary Inez 1915 - 2005
• Jake Jr. (Buck) 1919 - 2000
• Chester Lee (Chet) 1922 - 1988
• Tennie Belle 1927 - 2001

Mamie and her 2 sisters
possibly at the funeral of their
mother Nancy Elizabeth Vines Locke
Unknown location in Texas

The family was living in the same area during the 1920 Federal census as well, but this time it says "Anson & Albany Road."  Mamie's sister Pearl and her family (husband, Grover C. Dumas), were living just a few houses away.  Their other sister, Vida, along with her family (husband, C.H. McAlister), were living in nearby Haskell County.  Their father, Francis Marion Locke, was living with Vida and her family.

 

The family moved to Lubbock, Texas, for a brief time, before moving to New Lynn, Lynn County, Texas.  This is where we find them on the 1930 Federal census.  Benton was still working as a farmer, but for a brief time it is said he was a deputy sheriff.

 

The 1940 census we find them in Lynn County, again.  This time, their two oldest children had moved out, and were living with their spouses.  About a year later, Benton and Mamie bought a grocery store and gas station, which they ran with the help of their children.

 

 

Around 1946, Benton became sick, and was suffering from very bad asthma.  He and their son Buck went to Ruidoso, New Mexico, to seek treatment.  However, Benton died suddenly on March 11, 1946.  They laid him to rest in the Tahoka Cemetery, in Tahoka, Lynn County, Texas. 



In the 1940s, their daughter Inez, along with her husband Hurley Grady Meeks and their children, moved out to California.  By the time Benton died, they were living by Long Beach.  About a year after Benton's death, Mamie sold the grocery store and gas station, and eventually moved out to California too.  Tennie Belle and Buck went as well.  By this time, Tennie Belle was married to William Frank Gibson.

 

Eventually, in the early 1950s, Mamie would make her home at 4629 Center Street, Baldwin Park, CA.  She shared the 1 bedroom house with her son, Buck, who suffered from his time in WWII.  Mamie had the only bedroom, while Buck slept on a pull-out sofa in the front room.  By 1955, Her daughter Tennie Belle, and Tennie Belle's family, moved into the 2 bedroom house next door.

 

 

Locke sisters: Vida Gertrude McAlister,
Pearl Dumas Maahs, and Mamie Estelle
Holcomb

The picture above is of Mamie in front of her little 1 bedroom home.  She could be found outside in her garden tending her rose bushes or watering her apricot tree.  Even though she died before I was born, Buck still lived in the little house.  I remember playing in the yard with my brothers and cousins.  The trees and plants were a lot bigger by then.  It isn't there anymore.  The little old house was torn down, and new house sits on the lot.

 

Ms. Mamie passed away in California on April 4, 1972.  She was laid to rest next to her husband, Benton. 

 

Obituary for Mamie Estelle Locke
Holcomb found in family files



 

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

 

Mamie with her children, 1971
Clyde, Mamie, Buck, Chet, Inez, and Tennie Belle

 

52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 14 - Benton Rogers (Jake) Holcomb - Lynn County, Texas

B.R. "Jake" Holcomb
Photo taken about 1941-1945

I can't believe the 52 Ancestors Challenge is already a quarter of the way completed!! The weeks are passing quickly, and I just know I'm going to have several ancestors left to talk about once its over. Maybe I'll have to work on my own 52 Ancestors Challenge part 2! I want to thank Amy Johnson Crow for developing this idea, and letting me be a part of it. It has been an exciting journey, and has awakened my love of family research!

This week is all about Benton Rogers Holcomb, also known as B.R., or as Jake, to family and friends. In this post, however, I'm going to refer to him as Benton...I've always loved this name! He was my great grandfather, father of my grandmother Tennie Belle Holcomb Gibson.




B.R. Jake Holcomb on right, probably
with one of his brothers
Coburn, Alfred, or Charlie



Benton was born December 9, 1885 in Bell County, Texas. He was the youngest child of Thomas William Holcomb and Hannah Jane Coburn. By 1900, Benton, his sister Eva, and their parents were living in Precinct No. 6 of Milam County, Texas. According to the 1900 U.S. federal census, he was 14 years old, and attending school. Other siblings, who were already out of the house were Mary Willie, Zetha Roberta, Wilburn Coburn, William Alfred, Charles Andrew, and Barney (I believe Barney passed away as a young child).








July 21, 1908, in Tarrant County, Texas, Benton married Mamie Estelle Locke. She was born June 15, 1888 in Rosebud, White County, Arkansas and was the daughter of Francis Marion Locke and Nancy Elizabeth Vines. My mother remembers a story about how they met. It seems they both attended a barn dance one evening, where he was playing the fiddle. According to my grandmother, he was quite a fiddle player. Her favorite song was "Faded Love." He even wrote a song for his wife Mamie.



Benton with his siblings and father:
Coburn, Alfred, Zetha, Thomas (father), Eva, & B.R.
Photo may have been taken about 1913-14

By 1910, Benton and Mamie moved to Justice Precinct No. 4 of Shackelford County, Texas. According to the 1910 U.S. federal census, he was a farm laborer. It states the industry he was in was "working out." I'm not sure what this means, but I'm guessing he may have been working on a farm that wasn't his own. Next door to them was Alford Holcomb age 34, widowed, and his son Barney age 7. I believe this was Benton's older brother William Alfred.

Early photo of B.R. "Jake" Holcomb
Standing in the center - not sure who the other 2 men are.



By 1918, Benton was farming for himself, according to the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 found on Ancestry.com. The card itself is difficult to read, but it says he was living in Lueders, Shackelford County, Texas. The description given on him says he was of medium height, medium build, and had brown eyes and black hair.

The 1920 U.S. federal census shows him, Mamie, and two of their children still living in Precinct 4, of Shackelford County.  Lueders is in Precinct 4. Benton and Mamie's oldest 2 children were Clyde, born in 1913, and Mary Inez (we called her Inie), born in 1915. Something odd about this census is it doesn't list their 3rd child Jake Jr. Jake, or Buck as we used to call him, was born October 29, 1919 and would have been born when they took this census. Of course, Benton's mother's birthplace is listed as Sweden (just as the household listed next door), and we definitely know she was not born in Sweden. This must have been an oversight of the census taker.

Two more children were born to Benton and Mamie: Chester Lee (I remember him as Chet), in 1922, and Tennie Belle (my beautiful grandmother), in 1927. The family remained in Shackelford for a brief time before moving west to Lubbock, Texas prior to Chet's birth. Not sure the exact date they moved, but I do know they moved once again, to New Lynn, Lynn County, Texas. Tennie Belle was born in Tahoka, the county seat of Lynn County.



Benton and son Jake Jr. "Buck" in front
of the store and gas station he owned

Somewhere in my records, I have written that Benton worked as a deputy sheriff in New Lynn, or Tahoka, around 1929. I don't know where this came from, so I'm unable to say its 100% accurate. But I do remember hearing he was a deputy for a short time. He did run for sheriff, but did not get it.

In 1930, he was working as a farmer, according to the 1930 U.S. federal census. The family was living in Justice Precinct No. 2, which I believe was New Lynn or Tahoka. In 1940, they were still in Lynn County, but this time it was Precinct No. 1. By this time the two oldest children were married and living out of the house.  However, they were still living in the same precinct. In fact, Clyde lived right next door with his wife Birdie.


Then around 1941, Benton and Mamie bought a grocery store and gas station. However, by 1946, Benton was suffering so bad from asthma that he had to go elsewhere to find some help. According to his obituary, he spent about 4 weeks in Ruidoso, New Mexico to try to find relief for it.  Unfortunately, it didn't help, and he passed away suddenly, March 11, 1946. His son, Buck, was with him.

Benton was buried at the Tahoka Cemetery, in Tahoka, Lynn County, Texas. He is buried next to his wife Mamie, who passed away some 26 years later in California.



Grave of B.R. "Jake" Holcomb and Mamie Estelle Locke Holcomb
Tahoka Cemetery, Tahoka, Texas



Obituary found in family files



If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!


























52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 13 - Hannah Jane Coburn born April 30, 1850 in Texas

Hannah Jane Coburn (Colbourn), my great, great grandmother, is the subject of this weeks 52 Ancestor Challenge.  We'll refer to her as Jane, since that is what is written on our family bible sheets.  Jane was born April 30, 1850 probably in Houston County, Texas.  Her parents were Hansel Benton Coburn and Mariam Hannah Bennett.  They were early residents of Houston County, arriving in 1840 according to the US & Canada Passengers & Immigration List Index, 1500s-1900s on Ancestry.com.  The source is listed as "WHITE, GIFFORD. The First Settlers of Houston County, Texas. St. Louis, Mo.: Ingmire Pub., 1983. 35p."

The next record we find of Jane is the 1860 census from Beat 5, Houston County, Texas.  She is living with her parents and her siblings: Harriett age 13, Margaret age 3, and Willie age 1/2 a year.  There was also another 3 year-old living in the house by the name of Louisa Parker.  I don't know the relation of Louisa to the family.

From family data given to me by other family members, we find Jane married on July 23, 1867 to Thomas William Holcomb in Belton, Bell County, Texas.  Later, in the 1870 federal census, we see Jane and Thomas living in Beat 5, Bell County, Texas.  Their first child, Mary, is also shown, age 5 months.

Skip to the 1880 census, and we find the family living in Morgan, Bosque County, Texas.  In the household, we find Thomas and Jane along with their children: Mary age 10, Wilburn age 7, Alfred age 5, Zetha age 2, and Charles age 4 months.  In my records, I have a couple of other children who aren't mentioned: , Eva born 1882, Benton Rogers born 1885, and Barney born 1886.  These 3 wouldn't have been on the census anyhow, since they were born after 1880.  Benton is my great-grandfather, and my connection to Jane.

Since the 1890 federal census was destroyed, we will now jump to the 1900 federal census.  The family has moved and is now living in Precinct No. 6, Milam County, Texas.  There are only 2 children living at home, Eva at age 17 and Benton at age 15.  The 1900 census also states that Jane has had 8 children with only 6 living as of 1900.  I believe Barney passed away as a child, but not sure who the other child was?

In 1910, we see Jane in the federal census, but listed as a widow.  I don't know why, but our family bible reads that Thomas died November 6, 1919.  Could they have meant 1909?  You can see the entry to the right.  Either way, Jane is shown living with her daughter Zetha, Zetha's husband Fred Brown, and their 5 children.  They are living in Justice Precinct No. 5, Mitchell County, Texas.

By the age of 69, in 1920, she had moved in with her son Charley.  Charley, Jane, and his wife and children were living in Justice Precinct 1, Lubbock County, Texas.

If the record to the right is correct, we can see Jane passed away June 30, 1927.  However, there is a death certificate for Jane and it says she died July 8, 1927.  It says she died of heart failure, and was found in her bed.  She was living in Lubbock at the time, and her son Charles Andrew was the informant. 

There is no cemetery listed for Jane.  It just says she was buried in Lubbock Texas on July 8, 1927.  The undertaker is listed as A.C. Sanders  A.C. Sanders created the Sanders Funeral Home in the 1930's in Lubbock, and it is still in the same location today.  Not sure if they would be able to tell us where Jane would be buried though.  Her son Charles was buried in the Lubbock City Cemetery in 1964, so she may have also been buried there.  The cemetery was created in 1892 according to their website.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!