James Howell LANCASTER

James Howell LANCASTER b. 11 Apr., 1885, Martins Mill, TX, d. 1 July, 1955, buried Holly Springs Cemetery, Martins Mill, TX, married Annie Ben HAZLEWOOD 26 Mar., 1905.

Their children:


(Not pictured ) Myrtle May LANCASTER b. 4 Feb., 1906, Martins Mill, TX d.12 July, 1989, Dallas, TX, married Shepard Holman SIMMONS 1 Aug., 1925.

(Pictured above) Jewel Dee LANCASTER b. 20 Jan., 1908, Martins Mill, TX, married Ben Whitt DAVIDSON.

(Not Pictured ) Lowell James LANCASTER b. July, 1912, Martins Mill, TX, d. 6 Apr., 1967, Dallas, TX, married Floy Maurine THOMPSON 7 Aug., 1937.

(Pictured above) Ferrell Gussie LANCASTER b. 7 Jan. 1914, Martins Mill, TX, d. 20 May, 1983 Corpus Christi, TX, married William Howard LINDSEY 21 Dec., 1933.

(Not Pictured) James Waylon LANCASTER b. 6 May, 1917, Martins Mill, TX married Evelyene Imogene STUCKEY 8 Sep., 1937.

(Pictured above) James Elwin "Little Jack" LANCASTER b. 1 Sep., 1921, buried by parents in Holly Springs Cemetery.

(Pictured above) Nancy Wilma LANCASTER b. 8 July, 1921, Martins Mill, TX, married William Francis WILSON Sr. 17 June, 1938.

(Pictured above) Mildred Nell LANCASTER b. 7 Mar., 1925, Martins Mill, TX, married Francis Robert CAWFIELD, 15 Oct., 1945.

Howell was a farmer like his father and grandfather.  He worked hard to provide the necessities of life for his large family.  He believed strongly in an honest days work for one's wages and lived by his creed . . . "owe no man."  He taught his children the value of hard work and that to be in debt financially could be a curse.

In his later years he loved to place his chair near the radio and listen to The Lone Ranger and Judy Canova.  He loved to take long walks and it seemed like to me that he could walk forever when he would let me tag along.  I enjoyed these opportunities to ask him questions about God.  He was an authority on the subject, I thought, because he had read the "Good Book" all the way through many times.  When his little son Jack died he stayed up night after night, many times without sleeping at all, to search the scriptures, by lantern light, for understanding and comfort in his sorrow.

Howell and Annie Ben had just celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in their home in Martins Mill a few months before his death.  This photograph was taken at that time with their seven children shown engaging in an activity reminiscent of the good old days.  After supper they lived to sing and play "household instruments."  They have remained a close and loving family.  Even though all the children moved from VanZandt Co. they are proud of their heritage.

• Myrtle raised a family of five children who have remained in Texas.  She was independent, hardworking and has blessed her children by her strong-willed example, they are:

1. Billy John SIMMONS b. 2 Sep., 1926, married Nelda Jean BARBER.
2. Wanda Louise SIMMONS b. 12 Jan., 1928, married to Vance VOGELE.
3. Quanda Ann SIMMONS b. 20 July, 1929, married J. T. PRICE.
4. Jimmy Holman SIMMONS b. 11 July, 1932, married Jeannie __?__.
5. Shepard Harold SIMMONS b. 27 Feb., 1934, married Dayle OLIVER.

•  Jewel lives in Corpus Christi, TX and is a retired business woman.  She owned and operated Jewel's Beauty Salon in Corpus Christi.  Even since she retired she continues to work.  Some of her customers insist that she is the only one who can do their hair just right, so they come to her home for their beauty needs.
• Lowell was a student at East Texas State Teacher's College in Commerce, TX, and later was successful in the insurance business in Dallas, TX.  His wife and 4 children live in Dallas. 
• Ferrell lived in Corpus Christi, TX and retired there from her teaching position at Stevenson's Beauty College.  She enjoyed the years she spent teaching there and the friends she made while there.  She was a member of the Eastern Star Lodge.
• J. W., a successful building contractor now lives in LoneOak, TX, where he is actively involved in church and community affairs.  His son Douglas runs the family business, Tawakoni Lumber Co. 
• James Elwin died on his 2nd birthday, but his family remembered him always.
• Nancy Wilma LANCASTER (see separate article).
• Mildred Nell lives in Corpus Christi, TX and works in the business that she and her husband, Francis, started over 35 years ago.  Francis was a captain in the air force and was stationed in Corpus Christi, TX.  He and Nell wanted to stay in Corpus so they invested in a business of their own there.  Capital TV grew to be very successful as a result of their hard work and wise management.

Photo (Photo not available):  Standing, left to right, Lowell, Myrtle, J. W., Nell, Ferrell.

Seated, left to right, Nancy, Howell, Annie Ben, Jewell (foreground).

The submitter is Jenelle Wilson Jarnagin