Thomas Herbert Gresham (1866 - 1941)

Born 28 May 1866 in Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Jane (Dunsworth) Gresham — married 25 Feb 1912 in Owens, Brown, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Jun 1941 at age 75 in Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Mary Gresham [send private message] and Chance Robinson [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Herbert or "Bert T." as he liked to be called, had a tragic beginning to his adult life. His first two young wives and infants died in childbirth or soon after. He erected beautiful marble markers with cherubs on their graves in the Centerville Cemetery.

He was so devastated that he left Leon County about 1896 and travelled for many years. His family had no idea where he was. One day, his brother in Centerville received a simple post card of a hound dog with a sad face. It said "send money, ready to come home, Bert." This was in 1901.

It is said that he walked all the way to California, hiked over White Horse Pass in the Yukon and almost died of smallpox in California. He believed that the only way he survived was God's mercy and carried a small bible with him everywhere for the rest of his life.

My grandmother, Margaret Jane "Marguerite" Dunsworth was a talented milliner working at the Gresham & Sons General Merchandise store in Centerville. She made ladies hats to match their fashionable Victorian dresses and intricate French cut-worth linens. They were married in 1912.

Bert was so brave to marry and begin again, but they were happy and had 6 healthy children. Both Thomas Herbert and Margaret Jane used different names as adults.

Thomas Herbert "Bert T." held offices as Justice of the Peace and County Clerk for many years in Leon County. He was a kind and gentle man who was well loved by everyone. He was ill with congestive heart failure for a long time and had to sell his land and to support his family.

My grandmother Marguerite doted on Bert and told me once, "I have always been very proud to wear the Gresham name."

Timeline

Thomas Herbert "Bert T." Gresham (1866–1941)

• BIRTH 28 MAY 1866 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States
• DEATH 26 JUN 1941 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States

Death of Father John Thomas Gresham of Texas (1817–1870) 15 Jul 1870 • Died unexpectedly, Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1870

Residence 1870 • Precinct 2, Leon, Texas 1 Source 1870

Education 1884-1885 • Coronal Institute San Marcos, Texas Business Studies 1884

Death of Wife Pearl McKamson (1871–1889) 25 SEP 1889 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1889

Birth and Death of Daughter Infant Daughter Gresham (1889–1889) 25 Sep 1889 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1889

Death of Wife May Thomason (1871–1895) 25 Sep 1895 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1895

Birth and Death of Child Infant Gresham (1895–1895) 25 SEP 1895 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1895

Death of Half-Brother John D. Stell (1857–1898) 28 FEB 1898 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1898

Death of Mother Elizabeth Render Truitt (1829–1900) 24 Aug 1900 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1900

Residence 1900 • Justice Precinct 1, Leon, Texas 1 Source 1900

Death of Half-Sister Mary Ella Stell (1846–1911) 23 MAY 1911 • Leon, Texas, United States 1911

Marriage 21 Feb 1912 • Owens, Brown, Texas, United States Margaret Jane "Marguerite" Dunsworth (1886–1975) 2 Sources 1912

Occupation 1912-1935 • Centerville, Leon County, Texas Office of County Clerk, Leon County Courthouse 1912

Occupation 1913 - 1931 • Centerville, Leon County, Texas Elected Office of County Clerk, Leon County 1913

Birth of Son Herbert Lane Gresham (1915–1988) 30 May 1915 • Brownwood, Brown, Texas, United States 1915

Birth of Son Joseph Truitt Gresham (1916–1998) 15 Dec 1916 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1916

Birth of Son John Thomas "John T." Gresham of Texas (1919–2018) 23 Apr 1919 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1919

Birth of Son William Carter Gresham (1920–1995) 3 October 1920 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1920

Residence 1920 • Justice Precinct 1, Leon, Texas 1 Source 1920

Birth of Son Harry Glenn Gresham (1925–) 27 May 1925 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1925

Birth of Daughter Lela Frances Gresham (1928–) 27 Mar 1928 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States 1928

Death of Brother Lucius Truitt Gresham (1863–1929) 16 Apr 1929 • Corsicana, Navarro, Texas, United States 1929

Residence 1930 • Precinct 1, Leon, Texas 1 Source 1930

Occupation 1934-1940 • Centerville, Leon County, Texas Justice of the Peace, Leon County Precinct #1 1934

Residence 1935 • Centerville, Leon, Texas 1 Source 1935

Residence 1 Apr 1940 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head 1 Source 1940

Death of Sister Elizabeth L "Lizzie" Gresham (1862–1940) 17 Aug 1940 • Corsicana, Navarro, Texas, United States 1940

Death 26 Jun 1941 • Centerville, Leon, Texas, United States Congestive Heart Failure 3 Sources 1941

Burial Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, Leon County, Texas Beside wife Margueritte, son Joseph and grand daughter Mary Louise

Ordination Member of Masonic Lodge, Centerville, Texas

Family Parents

• John Thomas Gresham of Texas (1817–1870)
• Elizabeth Render Truitt (1829–1900)

Spouse & Children

• Margaret Jane "Marguerite" Dunsworth (1886–1975)

• Herbert Lane Gresham (1915–1988)
• Joseph Truitt Gresham (1916–1998)
• John Thomas "John T." Gresham of Texas (1919–2018)
• William Carter Gresham (1920–1995)
• Harry Glenn Gresham (1925–2021)
• Lela Frances Gresham (1928–)

Spouse & Children

• May Thomason (1871–1896)
• Infant Gresham (1896–1896)

Spouse & Children

• Pearl McKamson (1871–1889)
• Infant Gresham (1889–1889)

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #55309516
• Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit.
• This index lists persons who died in the State of Texas, USA, between 1903 and 2000. The index was provided by the Texas Department of Health. At minimum, these records include the name of the deceased, county of death, and death
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=GRES&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSsr=81&GRid=55309516&

• Ancestry Sources
• 1870 United States Federal Census
• 1900 United States Federal Census
• 1920 United States Federal Census
• 1930 United States Federal Census
• 1940 United States Federal Census
• Ancestry Family Trees, Gresham, Robinson & Allied Families https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/6989691/person/-1187403135/facts
• Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
• Texas, County Marriages, 1817-1965
• Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
• Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• Web: Texas, Find A Grave Index, 1836-2011