Descendants of Allen Mansel Pierce
Generation No. 1

1. ALLEN MANSEL⁴ PIERCE (L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born February 12, 1901 in Cleburne, Johnson Co., TX, and died May 09, 1987 in Spearman, Hansford Co., TX. He married EVA CATOR December 30, 1926 in Spearman TX. She was born January 31, 1904 in Palo Duro Creek, Hansford Co., TX, and died August 29, 1997 in Winters TX Buried In Old Hansford Cemetery Spearman TX labor day 1997.

Notes for ALLEN MANSEL PIERCE:

Allen Pierce and Eva (Cator) Pierce

My parents: L.D. Pierce, SR, was born near Rome, GA, Jan 23 1856. My mother , Ora Finley, was born in a covered wagon in Arkansas on the way to Texas from Missouri in 1866. They were married in 1885 in Johnson County. To this union were born eight children: Clem, Sally (Clark), Visa (Compton), L.D. JR, Susie (Dacus Allen), George, Allen, and Felix.

I, Allen, was born Feb 12 1901 in Cleburne, Johnson County TX, moved with my parents and family to Seymour, Baylor County Texas in 1906. We stayed in Baylor County until 1909 when we loaded our horses, mules, and household goods on an immigrant car and shipped by rail to Channing Texas, Dec 27 1909. We unloaded horses, and mules, in the stock pen, got wagons put together, loaded the household goods and started to Hansford County across the flattest land that I have ever seen!! Antelope, hundreds in bunches and grass nearly knee high. We arrived in Hansford County, December 31st. We stayed the old year at the Jim Edwards place on Horse Creek 9 miles southwest from where Spearman is now. In 1913 my father lease a farm 7 miles southeast of the town of Hansford. The lease was from Mr. and Mrs. RA Jarvis, father of O.W. Jarvis. That farm was farmed by the Pierce family for 27 years. We kids went to Happy Jack School 3 miles east from where Spearman is now and later to Old Hansford, where I met Eva Cator in 1914. Her home was about 6 miles west of the town named Hansford. We were married, Dec 30, 1926. Our baby daughter, Betty Jo, was born December 19 1927.

We farmed all our married life until 1972. We bought a farm 10 miles SW of Spearman and lived there until 1967 when we built a home in Spearman. This home was built from the wood taken from the Huge barn, where Allen and Eva had many barn Dances and gatherings for the community. We have lived in the house in town every since. We never could leave this good Country for any other place.

My wife is the daughter of Leslie Stuart and Bessie Cator. Eva and I celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 1976/

Our daughter Betty Jo, attended school in Morse and later at Spearman where she graduated in 1945. She then went to West Texas State for two years. She married Johnny P Vernon (Peter) Justice of the Peace of Hansford County. He also served as Coroner and Veterans Administrator. They married Nov 6 1946. We have five grandkids scattered all over Texas, and several great grandkids. so we are rich in kids...broke financially...boy its great to be alive!!

By Allen Pierce taken from: Hansford County History Vol. 1 1980 page 232

Notes for EVA CATOR: EVA CATOR PIERCE OBITUARY BY James Hanson

Her name was Eva. She came to Winters to live with her daughter and her son-in-law. She was tool old to live alone. It wasn't too long she needed more care, and she took up residence at OUR HOUSE in winters. It was there that she died at the age of 96 on Friday August 29, 1997.

Her last days on earth were a lot like her first. In bed. Cradled in her hospital bed. Baby food was all she could handle. Didn't talk but would open her eyes and listen when summoned by her name. She was preparing for her new birth, her birthing into eternal life.

On Monday, Labor Day, it was my privilege to conduct her funeral. She was buried in Hansford Cemetery near Spearman, TX. It was a beautiful day. Surrounded by green grass hills, with a big blue-sky overhead. When I read the 23rd Psalm, it was as if we were all composing it-the words came from deep in our well as also David's.

A young man opened the graveside service by singing: "surely the presence of the lord is in this place"

We could all feel it. Eva was a pioneer woman, one of the true old-timers. Her death and burial was like a summons, a call to come and pay respects and remember this woman. Many came and stood around her grave to pay respects. Some shed tears. And smiled as they saw an old friend- that they hadn't seen since the last funeral they attended. And recalled and remembered the "old days."

Born alongside Palo Duro Creek, she spent her early years in a dugout. Her childhood was not a lonely one-she was surrounded by four brothers and three sisters. She grew up connected to the real things in life; home and family, food, church, and fun.

Not a particularly social person, she focused on her family; First her brothers and sisters. Then her daughter. Later her grandchildren. She was a great cook. Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, and creamed carrots-just the mention of them made the mouths of her grandchildren water! She not only raised the chickens; she raised the potatoes and carrots in her garden. And when she went to the garden, she wore a bonnet- so precious that one of her grandsons has it in his possession today.

She was a churchwoman! Every Sunday. And she made sure her flocks were part of that flock. She preferred her religion "traditional", as traditional and real and nourishing to the soul as the chicken and mashed potatoes and carrots were to her body. She found her place in church as her connection to heaven. She found her family as her connection to humanity. And she did it all with a kind of class that her grandchildren will never forget.

To top it all off, as kind of icing on the cake, she was a "fun" person. A Dallas Cowboy Fan, she really loved to watch them play. Her grandkids said that there were times when she would run the length of the room, replaying the pass that Roger Staubach had just thrown!!!

The service ended with a grandson singing, "In the Garden". As he sang, we could see her their, bonnet and all, with the Lord. Only this time, He bid her "come", and together they walked "through the valley of the shadow of death", all the way home, to the place he had prepared for her.

The Scripture says, "Blessed are the dead who die in the lord...Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors." And, so it is. For Eva. On Labor Day, 1997. In the Cator family plot in the Hansford County Cemetery, In the Panhandle of Texas.

Child of ALLEN PIERCE and EVA CATOR is:

2. i. BETTY JO5 PIERCE, b. December 19, 1927, Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.

 

Generation No. 2

2. BETTY JO⁵ PIERCE (ALLEN MANSEL⁴, L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born December 19, 1927 in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX. She married PRESTON (PETE) VERNON November 09, 1946 in Spearman TX. He was born March 03, 1926 in Roy, Mora Co., NM.
Notes for BETTY JO PIERCE: Johnny P and Betty Jo (Pierce) Vernon

I moved to Spearman with my mother, Lora Ellen Vernon in 1927. I was one year old. We made our home at 706 South Bernice St. I attended Spearman Public Schools, and I graduated in 1943. upon graduations, I enlisted in the navy where I served three years on the U.S.S. Silversides Submarine. I was discharged from the navy in 1946. I came home and on Nov 9 1946, I married Betty Jo Pierce. We attended West Texas State University for one year. We then moved back to Spearman and our first daughter Johnny Jo, was born on July 9 1947. I was a carpenter and I built a home for our family at 804 S Bernice. Four years later our second daughter, Bonnie Bernice was born on July 31, 1951. I continued carpentering until January 1955, and became the Veterans County Service Officer. Soon after taking the job, our first son, Scott Preston, was born on April 28 1955. In 1957 I became Justice of the Peace along with my Veterans Job.

On Sept 8 1960, our fourth child, a girl, Connie Lou was born. We built a new home at 712 S Bernice where we now live.( Editors note: The Vernon's moved to Winters Texas in 1995 where they retired and bought and very nice ranch south of town. They also run JP Enterprises in Winters, selling produce, nursery items, and BBQ Sandwiches. ) Three years later, our fifth child, Tracy Dow was born on Nov 26,1963. Johnny Jo graduated from Spearman High and attended West Texas State University. She graduated in 1970 with an Elementary Education Degree. She married Greg W Roach, and they have three children: Greg age nine born Oct 31, 1969., Chris age five born June 16 1975; and Courtney, age one born Aug 26, 1977. Their home is in Huffman, TX.

Bonnie Bernice graduated from Spearman High in 1969, and attended West Texas State. She graduated in 1973 with a Speech and Hearing Therapist degree. She now teaches in the Jacento City Elementary School, and lives in Houston TX.

Scott Preston graduated from Spearman High in 1973, and attended Texas Tech University. He graduated in 1976, and is now teaching Drama and Speech at Ball High School in Galveston, TX.

Connie Lou graduated from Spearman high in May 1979. She entered West TX State University in June 1979.

Tracy Dow will be a sophomore in Spearman High School. When he graduates from High School he hopes to attend Texas A & M University.

By Johnny P Vernon from: Hansford County History Vol. 1 page 294

Children of BETTY PIERCE and PRESTON VERNON are:

3. i. JOHNNY JO⁶ VERNON, b. July 09, , Spearman, Hansford Co., TX.

4. ii. BONNIE BERNICE VERNON, b. July 31,, Spearman, Hansford Co., TX.

5. iii. SCOTT PRESTON VERNON, b. April 28, , Spearman, Hansford Co., TX.

6. iv. CONNIE LOU VERNON, b. September 08, , Spearman, Hansford Co., TX.

7. v. TRACY DOWELL VERNON, b. November 26, 1963, Spearman, Hansford Co., TX.

 

Generation No. 3

3. JOHNNY JO⁶ VERNON (BETTY JO⁵ PIERCE, ALLEN MANSEL⁴, L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born July 09, 1947 in Spearman, Hansford Co., TX. She married (1) ROBERT (BOB) PHILLIPS. She married (2) DONALD WHITMORE ROACH.

Children of JOHNNY VERNON and DONALD ROACH are:

i. GREGG⁷ ROACH, b. Oct.

ii. CHRISTOPHER LYNN ROACH, b. Jun, Friendswood, Galveston Co., TX.

iii. COURTNEY LYNN ROACH, b. August, Houston, Harris Co., TX.

4. BONNIE BERNICE⁶ VERNON (BETTY JO⁵ PIERCE, ALLEN MANSEL⁴, L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born July 31, 1951 in Spearman, Hansford Co., TX. She married JACKSON.

Child of BONNIE VERNON and JACKSON is:

i. AMANDA JO⁷ JACKSON, b. July .

5. SCOTT PRESTON⁶ VERNON (BETTY JO⁵ PIERCE, ALLEN MANSEL⁴, L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born April 28, 1955 in Spearman, Hansford Co., TX. He married MOLLY MCCALLEY. She was born December 20, 1954.

Children of SCOTT VERNON and MOLLY MCCALLEY are:

i. AUGUST⁷ VERNON.

ii. AUSTIN VERNON.

6. CONNIE LOU⁶ VERNON (BETTY JO⁵ PIERCE, ALLEN MANSEL⁴, L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born September 08, 1960 in Spearman, Hansford Co., TX. She married JIMMY BRIDGES.

Children of CONNIE VERNON and JIMMY BRIDGES are:

i. BLAKE⁷ BRIDGES, b. April 20,, Odessa, Ector Co., TX.

ii. BRADY BRIDGES, b. June 08,, Odessa, Ector Co., TX.

iii. BAILEY BRIDGES, b. September 09,, Odessa, Ector Co., TX.

7. TRACY DOWELL⁶ VERNON (BETTY JO⁵ PIERCE, ALLEN MANSEL⁴, L.D.³, ANDREW JACKSON², REUBEN¹) was born November 26, 1963 in Spearman, Hansford Co., TX. He married REGINA.

Child of TRACY VERNON and REGINA is:

i. SAMANTHA (MANDY)⁷ VERNON, b. January 08, Spearman, Hansford Co., TX.

Notes for SAMANTHA (MANDY) VERNON: Mandy was adopted.