Raleigh White Douglas

by Shirley D. Webb © 2003

When the Douglas family moved from Wilson County, Tennessee, to Grayson County, Texas, Raleigh was just 12 years old. Traveling to a new place in the West was an adventure for him. Raleigh White Douglas was born 22 Mar 1847 in Wilson Co., TN. He died in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas, while visiting his daughter, Mary Douglas Durning, on 13 Nov 1920. He was buried at Van Alstyne Cemetery next to his wife, Charles Emma, who had preceded him in death in 1908.

Raleigh was named for his uncle, Raleigh W. Organ, younger brother of his grandmother, Celia Organ Gill. He preferred to be called “Roll” and was known as “Roll W. Douglas” during the years he worked as a merchant, mostly in the retail grocery business.

When the time came to marry, Raleigh chose Charles Emma Lewis who had moved to Texas from Missouri. They married in Collin County 12 March 1872, and set up housekeeping near Weston in that county. She was born May 17, 1848, in Jefferson City, Cole Co., MO. Her father was Robert Lewis. Her mother’s name was Mary.

To Raleigh & Charles Emma six children were born:

Maude Jewel Douglas, b. 16 Feb 1873, in Collin County. She married Albert Hamilton Earthman on October 17, 1891, and died on November 2, 1900, from complications of childbirth. She and Albert Earthman had 4 children: Earnest Earthman b. in 1892, Douglas L. Earthman b. in 1895, Eldon Earthman b. in 1898 and Albert Jewel Earthman born in 1900.

Eldon Gill Douglas, b. 17 May 1875, in Collin County. He married Lura Alta Bogan 18 November 1894 in Collin County. She was the daughter of Charles Bogan and Lizzie E. Douglas. Lizzie’s Douglas ancestors were not related to Eldon’s family although both families lived in Collin County. Eldon & Lura had six children: Willie Paschal Douglas b. 5 Mar 1902, Eldon Arden Douglas b. Dec 21, 1907; Shields Macy Douglas b. 14 Mar 1910; Joe Charles Douglas b. 26 Aug 1911; and Lura Bess Douglas born in 1916 in Woodward, Woodward Co., OK. Eldon Gill Douglas died on Aug 21, 1958 in Muskogee County, OK. His wife, Lura, died 17 Oct 1942 in Oklahoma. Both are buried in Geary, Blaine Co., OK.

Robert Paschal “Pat” Douglas, b. 5 October 1877, in Collin County, Tx. He married Ardie May Franklin October 20, 1898, in Collin County. She was the daughter of Isaac and Levinia Elizabeth (Burke) Franklin. Pat and Ardie had 3 children: Orville Aubrey Douglas b. 13 Jul 1899; Hoyt Douglas b. 5 December 1902 and d. 5 Feb 1903. Hoyt is buried at Van Alstyne Cemetery. Their third child was Mayfair Douglas, b. 3 February 1905. Robert Paschal Douglas and his wife, Ardie, are buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Woodward, Oklahoma. She died June 10, 1940, and he died June 4, 1949.

Albert Houston Douglas, b. 8 March 1880. He married Mary Frances Neal on October 31, 1906, at Sherman, Grayson Co., TX. She was the daughter of Abraham Belton and Margaret Pauline (Wortham) Neal. Albert and Mary Frances had 4 children: Emma Jean Douglas b. 1910, Ralph Waldo Douglas b. 1912, Ruth N. Douglas & Louise M. Douglas. Albert H. Douglas died March 31, 1967 in Muleshoe, Bailey Co., TX, and is buried at Lubbock, Texas.

Mary Temperance Douglas, b. 12 March 1885 in Collin County. She married Joseph Harlin Durning on September 17, 1905, in Grayson County, Texas. He was the son of Charles Stewart and Hester Ann (George) Durning. Their daughter was Mary Jo Durning b. 25 June 1914. Mary Douglas Durning and her husband, Joe Durning, are buried in West Hill Cemetery, Sherman, Grayson Co., TX. She died May 12, 1972, and he died July 26, 1958.

Lena Velma Douglas, b. 22 June 1888, in Collin County, Texas. She married Marvin “Jack” Button on May 26, 1909, in Collin County. He was the son of William Thomas and Lucinda P. (Malone) Button. Their children were: Agnes Maurine Button b. 1911 and Helen Ruth Button b. 1919. Lena and Jack lived in Oklahoma City for many years, and are buried there. She died on October 25, 1943, and he died September 6, 1958.

Raleigh White Douglas and his wife, Charles Emma (Lewis) Douglas, lived in Collin Co., TX., and in Blaine County, OK, but they are at rest in Van Alstyne Cemetery in Grayson County, Texas.

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