William Rankin Mowery (abt. 1848 - 1927)

Born about Apr 1848 in Bradley County, Tennessee

Ancestors

Husband of Tennessee Tatum (Oliver) Mowery — married 15 Jun 1873 in Lamar County, Texas

Descendants

Died 25 Apr 1927 at about age 79 in Tarrant County, Texas

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kelly Himmel [send private message] and Joe Jackson [send private message]

Biography

William Rankin Mowery was born to Moses Mowrey and Margaret Elizabeth Witt Mowrey in Red River County, Texas in 1855. He later moved with his parents to Milton in Lamar County, Texas. After his marriage to Tennessee T. Oliver in 1873, the young couple moved to land they homesteaded in Erath County, Texas. They were accompanied by Tennessee's parents and two of his uncles. These four families became the nucleus of the Bethel community. According to his obituary, "Mr. Mowrey was one of the pioneers of the county. He made his home in the Bethel community for more than fifty-four years and during that period was a staunch supporter of all community activities. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church. Since the death of his wife one year ago he has been making his home in Kennedale, near Fort Worth" [in the home of his daughter Mrs. Willie Cox]. At the time of his death, April 25,1927, he owned 254 acres of land in the Bethel community. He is buried next to his wife in the Bethel Cemetery, Erath County, Texas.

1850 U.S. Census Bradley county, Bradley, Tennessee

• Household Gender Age Birthplace
• Moses Mowrey M 28 Tennessee
• Margaret Mowrey F 22 Tennessee
• William Mowrey M 2 Tennessee
• Ephram Mowrey M 0 Tennessee

1860 U.S. Census Red River County, Texas

• Moses Mowery Farmer $300 Farm $165 Cash

• Household Age Gender Birthplace
• Moses Mowery 37 m TN
• Margaret 31 f TN
• William 12 m TN
• Ephrain 10 m TN
• Lewis 8 m TN
• Moses 5 m RRCo TX
• Sarah 1 f RRCo TX
• Temperance Coffee 45 f MO

1870 U.S. Census Texas

• Household Gender Age Birthplace
• Moses Mowery M 48 Tennessee Farmer
• Margret E Mowery F 41 Tennessee
• William R Mowery M 22 Tennessee
• Ephram L Mowery M 20 Tennessee
• Lewis D Mowery M 18 Tennessee

Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973

• Name: W. R. Mowrey
• Spouse's Name: T. T. Oliver
• Event Date: 15 Jun 1873
• Event Place: Lamar County, Texas

1880 U.S. Census Erath, Texas

• W. R. Mowry: Farmer
• Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
• Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee

• T. T. Mowry
• Father's Birthplace: Alabama
• Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee

• Household Gender Age Birthplace
• Self W. R. Mowry M 32 Tennessee
• Wife T. T. Mowry F 26 Texas
• Son R. L. Mowry M 5 Texas
• Daughter Ida E. Mowry F 2 Texas
• Son W. B. Mowry M 0 Texas

Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910

• Name: W R Mowery
• Event Type: Tax Assessment
• County: Erath County
• Event Year: 1890
• Event Year: 1891
• Event Year: 1892
• Event Year: 1893
• Event Year: 1894
• Event Year: 1895

1900 U.S. Census Erath, Texas

• Household Gender Age Birthplace
• Head Wm R Mawery M 52 Texas
• Wife Tennessee Mawery F 46 Texas
• Son Robt L Mawery M 26 Texas
• Daughter Ida E Mawery F 23 Texas
• Son Wesley D Mawery M 21 Texas
• Daughter Hester A Mawery F 16 Texas
• Son Moses Mawery M 15 Texas
• Daughter Willie E Mawery F 12 Texas
• Daughter Dovie V Mawery F 10 Texas
• Daughter Lottie M Mawery F 8 Texas

1910 U.S. Census Erath, Texas

• William R Mowrey
• Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
• Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee

• Tennessee P Mowrey
• Father's Birthplace: Alabama
• Mother's Birthplace: Alabama

• Household Gender Age Birthplace
• Head William R Mowrey M 61 Tennessee
• Wife Tennessee P Mowrey F 57 Texas
• Son Davie U Mowrey M 20 Texas
• Daughter Lottie Mowrey F 17 Texas
• Daughter Hester Earl F 26 Texas
• Granddaughter Ruthie Earl F 5 Texas
• Granddaughter Ethel Earl F 3 Texas

1920 U.S. Census Morgan Mill, Erath, Texas

• Household Gender Age Birthplace
• Head William Mowery M 72 Tennessee
• Wife Tennessee Mowery F 67 Texas
• Son-in-law Clifton Banks M 27 Texas
• Daughter Lottie M Banks F 24 Texas
• Daughter Lorine Banks F 7 Texas

Notes

Several spellings have been used for this families surname. I thought that perhaps they were illiterate or something. Happily instead I discovered the actual surname to be "Maurer" which is German, translated to English means "bricklayer" or "wall builder". This discovery proved three things. I have some German ancestry, they were at one time masons or stone workers and English speakers just can't make 'heads or tails' of German surnames.

Sources

• Probate of William Rankin Mowrey Estate, Erath County, Texas. Typewritten Manuscript by William James Oliver. Obituary of W.R. Mowrey, Stephenville Empire-Tribune, April 29, 1927. Marriage License of W.R. Mowrey and T.T. Oliver, Lamar County, Texas.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Glen Moody of Stephenville, Texas and Connie Ball of Paris, Texas for their finding and sharing documents from Erath County and Lamar County. creating Mowrey-66 on 12 Oct 13.