From "McKinney Examiner" July 1918

Death of Pioneer Woman

Mrs. J. G. DOUGLAS who died at her home one mile north from Van Alstyne on the 26th inst., was born in Wilson County, Tenn., April 23, 1840, and was at death 78 years, 3 months and 3 days old. She was before her marriage to Mr. DOUGLAS, Miss Anna Eliza HORN, daughter of William H. and Martha E. HORN, and a sister of Eld. R. C. HORN, and also of W. H., Eli and Gano HORN, well known citizens of Collin (county).

She came with her parents to Texas in the fall of 1858, when she was 18 years old. In 1865 she was married to John G. DOUGLAS who had served three years in the army of the South. He was also a native of Tennessee. When they were married his property consisted of two small mares and two hundred dollars in money. He was a man delicate physically, but of great energy and industry and, at the time of his death in 1897, he owned several hundred acres of fine land near Van Alstyne. This was largely the result of good management and economy. He combined stock raising with farming and was quite a successful man. Of the two, the wife was the better financier and to her management of the home was due their success as much as his management of the farm.

Mrs. DOUGLAS was the oldest member of the family of twelve children, only four of whom are now living. These have been mentioned above. Those who preceded her to the grave are the following: Mrs. Ben A. O'BRIEN, James R. HORN, George N. HORN, Mrs. A. C. WEEKS and Mrs. Ellen ANDREWS, all living to be grown and married. Alexander HORN died when about 12 years old and Franklin HORN when a babe.

Mrs. DOUGLAS was the mother of nine children, eight of whom are living and were present at her bedside. One daughter died when 17 years of age. She leaves 26 living grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Her five sons are well-to-do farmers and stockmen who stand high as good citizens. All live in or near Van Alstyne. One daughter, Mrs. Tom BOWEN, lives at Gunter, Texas. Her youngest son, Charlie, and one daughter, Miss Mollie, lived at the home with their mother, neither being married. One grandson, Glenn DOUGLAS, is a U.S.soldier at Waco camp, but came in for the funeral.

The funeral services were held in the Christian church at Van Alstyne late afternoon last Friday. Her former minister, E. H. Holmes, of Gainesville, assisted by the present minister, A. N. Glover, had charge of the services. Her body was interred by the side of that of her husband in the beautiful Van Alstyne cemetery. The funeral was largely attended and the floral offering beautiful.

Mrs. DOUGLAS became a Christian in March 1862, and was for two or three years a member of the First Christian church of McKinney, then her membership was placed with old Mantua, the oldest church of the Christian people in the county. When this congregation united with the Van Alstyne church, she became a member of that church. In the Master's service for fifty-six years is an unusual record.

On her 70th birthday she underwent a serious operation at a sanitarium in Sherman and while she got some relief she was a sufferer much of the time since she passed her alloted years of 60. A good woman has gone to her reward, but she has blessed the world by her life and her honorable descendants. We are reminded that "We are gathering homeward one by one".

(Obituary written by R. C. Horn,her brother).

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