Friday's Photo: DeRay Bryan at Virginia Beach, 1959

Diana Marie Bryan, Monte DeRay Bryan, and Myrtie Marie Bryan standing on the beach in 
front of the Steel Fishing Pier in Virginia Beach. DeRay and Marie arrived in Virginia
Beach (at that time, Princess Anne County) via bus from Borger, Texas to visit
my family in the summer of 1959.  

Monte DeRay Bryan was born on March 11, 1904, in Erath County, Texas—121 years ago this week. According to her birth affidavit, she was born five miles from Stephenville. Since her mother’s Hairston family lived in the Bethel community, I suspect she was born there, even though Bethel is more than five miles away.

The photo above shows me with Aunt DeRay (DeDe) and, next to her, Aunt Marie in 1959. This was the only time I met them in person—a shame, as I’ve since learned so much about them and wish I had the chance to spend more time with them.

DeRay began her teaching career in 1921, with her first job in the town of Corn, near her home in Seymour, Baylor County. In 1927 she was teaching in Amherst, Texas, when her mother passed away. The following year, she moved to Borger for a teaching position, as the pay was better and her family needed financial support. In 1928, her teenage sister left Seymour to live with her, likely struggling with the loss of their mother. Meanwhile, their older sister, Marie, stayed with their father and took care of my father, who was only six years old when their mother died.

My grandfather, Redic E. Bryan, faced severe financial struggles and, tragically, took his own life in 1929. At just 25 years old, DeRay became the family's primary provider. Marie managed the household but did not work—she had unintelligible speech and possibly other challenges. DeRay was then responsible for her teenage sister, and my father—now eight years old. I am sure all of them were struggling emotionally with the loss of their parents. DeRay’s once carefree, single life had completely changed.

DeRay never married and remained in Borger, Texas, where she lived with her sisters until her passing in 1987. Read much more about DeRay at this 2018 post #52ancestors Post Fourteen: Monte DeRay Bryan and see her 1924 Seymour Independent Free School District teaching contract (with dancing restrictions) at 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #3 Monte DeRay Bryan.

Monte DeRay Bryan
1904 - 1987

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2025

"Erath. Birth Affidavits April 1942–May 1942," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9VH-26BD?view=fullText : accessed 9 Mar 2025), image 165 of 332.

Hutchinson County Historical Commission, "History of Hutchinson County, Texas: 104 Years, 1876-1980," Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1980.

"Miss DeRay Bryan to Teach at Corn," The Baylor County Banner (Seymour, Texas), 6 Oct 1921, Vol. 27, No. 2, Ed. 1, p. 1; database and images, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth429383/m1/1/zoom/? : accessed 8 Mar 2025).

Terrell Bryan Family Bible Records, 1836 - 1927, The Illustrated Polyglot Household Bible (Philadelphia: G. Zeigler, McCurdy, & Co., 1870), "Family Record," privately held by Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2025.

Friday's Photo: Two Girls on a Car - Seymour, Texas 1927

This photo has been in my unknown file for more than 20 years. When scrolling past it, I accidentally enlarged it yesterday and realized the girl on the right was my father's sister, Willa Mae Bryan. The girl on the left is unknown. Scroll down to see enlarged photos of both girls. 

1927 is the year on the Texas license plate. If the year is 1927, the photo was probably taken in or near Seymour, Texas. Willa Mae appeared in the 1928 yearbook for Seymour High School. 

In the fall of 1927, Willa Mae's sister, DeRay, began teaching in Borger, Texas. It is said that Willa Mae left Seymour to live with DeRay, but it is not known exactly when that occurred. 

Willa Mae Bryan Dudley 1910 -1991
The photo on the right was found in the 1928 Seymour High School yearbook. At that time
she was Willie Mae Bryan. 

Unknown Young Woman

For more about Willa Mae, read 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #5 Willa Mae Bryan Dudley and Sunday's Obituary: Willa Mae Bryan Dudley.

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2024 

Seymour High School, The Jackrabbit (Seymour, Texas:1927), no page number, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/43134_b201875-00036?pId=181479176 : accessed 23 Feb. 2024). 

Two Girls on a Car, photograph, ca.1927; digital image, from the privately held photo collection of D.B. Quinn, 2024.

Family Notes From The Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1918

This photo is labeled "Millard Ray, Deray, Joe." DeRay Bryan was my father's sister. Millard Ray Latta was her first cousin on her father's side. Joe Noah was her second cousin from her mother's side. Millard Ray, born in Erath County, was known to have lived with the Bryans and taught school in Baylor County. Joe was also born in Erath County and taught school in Baylor County. 

Extracts in this post were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Mar 01 1917 thru Dec 19, 1918." 

These were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). In case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

I recorded only a small amount of information from the issues dated 19 September to 5 December for 1918. Most of what you see below involves my family. This is a project I want to revisit as, with the war and flu epidemic, there was much going on in 1918. 

Two previous blog posts show a little more of 1918. Read Get Your Flu Shot! to see how the flu tragically affected this small community in such a short period. 

Two letters from Europe during WWI were found in November 1918 issues. Monday's News: WWI and Family Letters reveal letters written by Joe Noah to fellow Baylor County teacher Millard Ray Latta.

September 19, 1918

Mr. S. H. Post and children left last week in their car for Corpus Christie where they will spend the winter for the benefit of the children’s health.  They have been getting better the past winter or so, since they have been to the northwest, and Mr. Post is anxious to keep them on the road to being entirely well again.  The work at the county clerk’s office will be in the hands of Mr. Judson Post, assisted by Mr. R. E. Bryan a deputy whenever the work of the office piles up.  Mr. Bryan accompanied the party to Corpus.  He says he left them well pleased.  Mr. Post will work with an abstract firm there. 

September 26, 1918 

Mr. S. H. Post resigned  by wire.  L. O. Wharton was appointed to fill the unexpired term.  

October 3, 1918

A liberal reward will be paid to the finder of a $50 Liberty Bond which I lost on the street on Tuesday afternoon.  I need the bond badly.  R. E. Bryan 

October 17, 1918

For Rent:  100 acres of land to sow wheat on.  R. E. Bryan 

October 31, 1918

From the subscribers:  Mr. Al McFarland of Richland says they are putting in 200 acres of wheat, most of it already up. Mr. R. E. Bryan is also going long on wheat.

Nov. 21, 1918

A letter from France to Millard Ray Latta from J. O. Noah was published in this issue.

Nov. 28, 1918

A letter from England to Millard Latta from Joseph O. Noah was published in this issue.

Mr. F. W. Thompson of the star route says he and his family have so far gotten by the war, the drouth, and the flu and are hoping that fortune has changed. 

Dec. 5, 1918

News that Frank Watts was wounded in the war 

Note that there are no 1918 Baylor County Banner issues at the free Portal for Texas History.  You can view most Baylor County Banner issues for the year 1918 with a subscription at NewspaperArchive by Storied. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2024 

"Millard Ray, Deray, Joe," photograph, before 1918; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Carla Noah Stutsman, TX, 2014.

The Baylor County Banner issues from the year 1918, microfilm images, The Baylor County Banner (Seymour, Texas), 1918. Microfilm titled "Baylor County Banner Mar 01 1917 thru Dec 19, 1918" accessed from the privately held collection of D.B. Quinn, VA.

Family Notes From The Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1916

Four eldest children of Floyd W. Thompson and Ora Cox
Juanita, Clarence, Ina Lucille, and Andy Bowie
An announcement of the birth of Ina Lucille is found below
in the issue dated 14 September 1916. Ina Lucille Thompson
was born on 8 September 1916. 

The following 1916 excerpts were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Jan 07, 1915, thru Dec 28, 1916." These excerpts were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). In case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

I only abstracted issues from September 7 to December 28 for2016. You can view most issues from January through December at the free The Portal for Texas History. 

Many times, when adding information, I only gave the names of those who died, were married, etc. There is often much more to be found in the actual paper, so please check The Portal to Texas History to find complete articles. An * at the end of an extract indicates that I copied all that was mentioned about that person. 

September 7, 1916

Mary's Creek - Born to Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Crabb, a fine girl. All doing well.*

Bomarton - Born to Mr. and Mrs. E. W. McGlothlin, a ten pound boy, last Sunday.*

Truman - Buchanan wedding in Midlothian

Levelview - L. E. Cox of Richland was down in our community on Monday. Mrs. Burnett spend a week with Mrs. T. A. Cox. *

Levelview - Mrs. Ura Cox will attend school at Seymour this fall and winter.

Caldwell - Phillips wedding

W. H. Reynolds and Wilma Gibbs married in Stamford

 

September 14, 1916

Laundry Improves - Morrow and Gilbert, proprietors of the Seymour Steam Laundry are keeping it up in a class with big city establishments. They have recently added a big tumbler, at a cost of $500.00 which is used for washing underwear, pillow slips, etc. Steam is forced through the cloth and drying is by means of a fan on the inside, blowing hot air. Another machine is a hydraulic press for handling towels, etc. , leaving them fluffy instead of flat.*

Mr. and Mrs. Olsen are the proud parents of a fine boy, born a week ago Saturday.  He is getting to be quite a youngster by this time.*

Mary Townsen weds in Oklahoma.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Blanks went to Denton Wednesday to see the former's mother who has been sick for some time.*

Bohac and Pastusek wedding in Megargel

Westover - Born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dormier, last week, a son, also to Mr. and Mrs. Webb, a daughter. All are doing well.*

Westover - J. F. Hawkins and family of Loving visited Mrs. Hawkins parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Webb, and incidentally the new girl at Georgie's.*

Westover - J. P. Elam is very low at this writing.  He is not expected to live.*

Westover - Ira White has lumber on the ground for a 20 foot extension to his storehouse.*

Levelview - The stork has visited our community lately presenting Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Meuse with a girl babe. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Earlee Samsill with a new girl.*

Levelview - Mrs. Bertie Hammett came in from Haskell to visit her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. T. A. Cox.*

Levelview - Floyd Thompson of Plainview visited kinfolks here Wednesday.*

Mrs. Frances is dead (Ruth Durham, wife of W. H. Frances) - very long obituary

A fine girl arrived last week to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Thompson. Everybody is getting along splendidly.*

Family Notes From The Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1913

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Thompson were mentioned throughout these issues. This is a photo of their 
double wedding in 1912. Pictured are Terrell Bryan Hammett and his wife, Birdie Cox (left), and Floyd Thompson and his wife, Ora Cox (right). 

The following 1913 excerpts, from 3 January 1913 to 6 June 1913, were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Oct 04, 1912 thru Dec 31, 1914." These excerpts were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). In case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

The Portal to Texas History has many Baylor County Banner issues on the site, but there are no issues from 1913. All 1913 issues, from January to December, can be viewed at NewspaperArchive with a subscription. 

If you want to see one of the articles mentioned below, email me to receive a photo of the article from my microfilm. 

January 3, 1913

I am assuming the lost handbag mentioned
belonged to my grandmother Mrs. Redic E.
(Myrtie) Bryan.  The photo above shows my
grandparents on their wedding day in 1900. 
At the time of this article, they would have been
 married 13 years. Myrtie was pregnant, and
they had children Marie, DeRay, Buster, and
Willa Mae. They would probably have been
walking or riding in a wagon to and from
church, as Redic did not buy his first car
until 1914. 

Jirasek - Ozymy wedding

Elam - Allison wedding

Westover - It is reported that Clarence Robertson and Eula Gleghorn were married on Sunday afternoon. 

St. Clair - Carney wedding

Francher - Henson wedding

Dr. T. F. Burnett left Tuesday for a three or four weeks visit to his old home in Tennesee.*

Lost - A ladies dark blue handbag between Mrs. R. E. Bryan's and the Baptist Church containing one $5.00 bill and some silver. Reward by return to this office.*

John Francher died.

Bomartin - Deering and Adams wedding

Bomartin - B. J. Stone and family spent Sunday in Seymour with Mr. Stone's brother*

Deep Creek - Little Miss "Claudia Janette" has taken up her abode at Walter Franchers *

Lake Creek - J. E. Stone and family spent the holidays with relatives at Benjamin *

Cache Creek - Homer Andrews and Sister Nannie were seen at Cache Creek Sunday evening. *

Mary's Creek - Chester Welch, Walter Woods, and Homer Andrews went to Wichita Falls Christmas Eve *

Mary's Creek - Mrs. Andrew's mother is here visiting her.*

Mary's Creek - All report a nice time at Nannie Andrew's birthday party Christmas night.*

 

Family notes from the Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1909

The following 1909 excerpts were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Jan 01, 1909 thru Jun 24, 1910." These excerpts were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. 

Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). In case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

An asterisk * indicates that all of the information from the article is included in the notes below. To search for your family name, use your browser's "Find" function. 

If you would like to see the actual article, all 1909 issues can be viewed at the free The Portal to Texas History. 

* indicates that the entire article is included in the notes below.

  

January 1, 1909 

(This paper is not dated, but from dates within the paper, appears to be January 1)

Died - Carl Otis Merrick, child of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Merrick

Died - G. W. Malone

Mrs. Geo. Ryder's husband shot in Fort Worth

Charlie Harper Died (see January 8 issue for "Charles Harper Alive Again") - Charlie Harper died Thursday morning of pneumonia. The news came as a surprise as he was up Wednesday. He has been working in the freight depot for quite awhile. Mr. Harper was a jolly good fellow.  He had no relatives here and his remains will probably be shipped to his home.

Grandma M.A. Scott returned Sunday from Knox City has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Keeders for three months. *

Marriage Licenses issued in December

     Carlisle - Davis

      Elam - Allison

      Mann - Lambert

      Word - Hinds

      Holmes - McWhorter

      Kuykendall - Snody

      Harlan - Cayce

      Jones - Gulick

      Mosely - Packwood

      Kubloa - Krenek

      Cochran - Stephens

      Bowden - Bartoo (Eula Mable Bowden married Charles S. Bartoo)

Married - Willie May Williamson and J. P. Collins

Married - Corrie Davenport - T. J. Bolger

Ogden -  Born: A little girl to Mr. and Mrs. Blake Maxfield on the 15th.  Two boys to Mr. and Mrs. L. Howe on the 27th.

Family notes from the Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1908

The following 1908 excerpts were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Jan 04, 1907 thru Dec 25, 1908." These articles were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. 

Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). In case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

An asterisk * indicates that all of the information from the article is included in the notes below. To search for your family name, use your browser's "Find" function. 

The 1908 issues seen in this post as well as many other issues from that year, can be viewed at NewspaperArchives. However, you must have a paid subscription. The 1908 issues are not found in the free The Portal to Texas History. 

I currently own this microfilm. If you would like to see the actual article, I will take a photo of the microfilmed article. To request this, please comment below this post, or comment on my Facebook page, or send me an email (go to the "About Me" tab at the top of this page). 

January 3, 1908

J. D. Blanks is visiting his old home in Denton. His father is better. *

McGuire – Kinnibrugh wedding

Stanefar and Peek wedding

Nunn – Lawson wedding

Young – Ryan wedding

Blair – Parks wedding

Seaborn - Grandpa Haggerton, father of Mrs. Fails and Mrs. Hughs

Grandma Shackleford passed away

 

January 10, 1908

Born Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. William Hague, a girl*

McMinn – Randal wedding

1908 is leap year. But so many marriages have taken place this year that there won’t be many old maids left. *

Ample - Thomas-Swindell wedding

Family notes from the Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1906

The following 1906 excerpts were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a reel of microfilm labeled "Baylor County Banner misc scrapbook 1905 thru 1929." The newspaper issues were sometimes in small pieces and missing pages. All marriages, births, and deaths found were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. 

Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). Just in case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

An asterisk * indicates that all of the information from the article is included in the notes below. Some issues can be found at The Portal to Texas History. Click on the link next to each issue date to see the available newspaper. 

If an article cannot be seen online and you would like to see the entire article, I will take a photo of the microfilmed article. To request this, please comment below this post, or comment on my Facebook page, or send me an email (go to the "About Me" tab at the top of this page). 

~~~

Feb 16, 1906 - This entire issue is available at The Portal to Texas History

The daughter of Mrs. J. S. Shaffer of Indianapolis, Indiana, died on the train between Dallas and Hillsboro.

D. H. Mayfield died after falling under a train.

John B. Hall of Harrison County died.

 

Under “Level View Items”

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cox, February 5, a baby girl. Mother and baby doing well.  

The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. George Tyler has died. Burial in Henson Cemetery.

 Obituary for Mrs. Julia Maris (nee Hill) 

 ~~~

The fuzzy photo on the right was found in a Baylor County Banner issue with the date torn from the page. It was from the same film as the 1906 issues. The house in the fuzzy photo belonged to W. A. Bennett at the time of the photo. Many years later, my grandfather bought the Bennett property and was planning to move the house to another lot where he would combine it with another purchased house. I wonder if parts of this Bennett house were used to make the house on the left. 

~~~

Spring 1906 

There is no date for this issue. It appears to be in the spring of 1906. The May 11 issue of the banner is available on The Portal to Texas History; however, it is missing parts of pages, and with the exception of the Banner being sold, none of the other articles seen below can be found in that issue. These articles might have been found in a different spring issue. 

A letter was printed in the Banner from Mr. W. T. Foreyth, of Santa Cruz, CA, to his father,  Mr. L. A. Donnell of Seymour. The letter was dated April 29th and gave a lengthy description of the San Francisco earthquake of that year.

J. W. Stone, a real estate man from the Falls, came over with three prospectors. There are lots of people who have their eyes on this country. *

Under "Additional Local," the following names were mentioned: Edna Randal, Frank Hursh, Carl Williamson, E. A. Rogers, Stella Tugwell, Dr. John Richardson, Dave Palmer, Judge Britain, and J. Q. Word.

J. T. Branch and J. F. Lewis are late arrivals into the community from Collin County.

Mrs. Dr. Burnett is going to Tennessee to visit family.

Sam Harm, an immigration agent from Oklahoma, was locating people into the county.

George Richardson and his wife of Erath County visited the home of J. L. Knight.

The Baylor County Banner has been sold to O. C. Harrison.

~~~

 

June 1, 1906 - Eight pages of this issue are available at The Portal to Texas History

Deaths of John D. Warren and wife, formerly of Hillsboro 

Baskin – Burnett   Marriage 

Little–Mayo Marriage 

Charlie Caldwell is a proud father of a new boy.

Buie – Landess  Wedding

~~~

 

June 15, 1906  - Twelve pages (some partial) of this issue can be seen at The Portal to Texas History. 

E.R. Brice died 

In Memoriam (for those listed on behalf of Shady Grove Baptist Church)

            Julia Maris, who died on February 10, 1906

            Alice Wren, who died on November 18, 1905

            Jennie Bell, who died on February 27, 1906 

 Bomarton Briefs  

Born – To Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Smith, a boy, Wednesday night.*

Obituary for Mrs. Emma J. Cartwright

Bomarton Boomlets -  Born – To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Posey Monday night a fine girl.

 ~~~

July 6, 1906 - Ten pages of this issue are available at The Portal to Texas History

Mrs. M. A. Scott, the mother of J. G. Scott, the weigher, left this week for Estelline to visit her daughter, Mrs. Nick P. Green. *   Note - MaryAnn Scott was a Selman and a cousin of my great-grandmother, Lodema Criswell Hairston.

 

The following 1906 issues were found mixed in with the 1907 issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Jan 04, 1907, thru Dec 25, 1908." All marriages, births, and deaths were recorded. Note that some of the online sources may have more marriages, births, and deaths as the issues I looked at did not appear to be complete. You cannot view the links at Newspaper Archive unless you have a subscription to the site. 

~~~

October 12, 1906 - This issue cannot be found online. 

Mr. Charles Taylor married Leona Ellison

Clivey Parham married Miss Addie Robertson

Lonnie Spears married Miss Lee Fish

Vera and Truscott – Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Horn are the happy parents of a fine girl.*

Clippings from The Baylor County Banner - Seymour, Texas - February 11, 1926

My grandparents, Redic E. Bryan and Myrtie Hairston, and my great-grandparents, Phillip A. Hairston and Lodema Criswell, moved to Baylor County in 1905. My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, was born in Seymour in 1920. He was the youngest of seven children born to Redic and Myrtie. 

In April 2019, I visited the Texas State Library and Archives to read Baylor County Banner issues that could not be found online or on microfilm. I photographed articles with information about my father's family, who lived in Seymour. While sorting through my family finds, I realized I had photos of articles that might interest others looking for family. I have pictures of numerous articles from 1923 and a few from other years. I will post as time allows. 

Thank you to Matt Gwinn at the Baylor County Banner for giving me permission to post these clippings.  

I did not copy the full front page of this issue but felt the partial obituary for Dan Bellows paired with the picture warranted posting. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2023

Sources 

O. C. Harrison, The Baylor County Banner (Seymour, Texas), 11 February 1926, Vol. 31, number 21, print; Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas, 2019.