A girl growing up in a house full of boys makes having a sister, I imagine, a special kind of blessing. Allie Delphia Harned and William Wesley Williams were the parents of eleven children, all born in Rio Vista, Texas. The second child, Pearl, was born in 1879. Eleven years and six additional brothers later, she was finally granted not one but two sisters: Eulah Peyton and Beulah Ann Williams - twins! |
They were born on December 12, 1890. Eulah was my great grandmother, the mother of my grandfather Clarence Otho White. Sadly, Beulah didn't survive beyond her first month of life. Surveying all the descendants of Eulah, one might come across sets of twins here and there, including the children of yours truly.
I can only assume that Pearl took on the role of a guide as a big sister to Eulah. Their father William had passed away in 1897. Three years later, Pearl married Dee Witt Graham and got started with her own family life, although she and her husband do appear to be living in the same house with Allie in June 1900 according to the federal census of that year. This left Eulah as the young lady of the house.
Allie Delphia entered her second marriage to John Oliver Bridges around 1901, and they moved to Rule in Haskell County. The first child to come from this union was Josephine OIlie, or as she was better known in her adult years, "Aunt Jack".
Allie Delphia entered her second marriage to John Oliver Bridges around 1901, and they moved to Rule in Haskell County. The first child to come from this union was Josephine OIlie, or as she was better known in her adult years, "Aunt Jack".
Josephine was born on February 26, 1902. In 1911, Allie took the girls to Corpus Christi. The boys were able to take care of themselves, and she gave them ten dollars each along with a pack of chewing tobacco as a going away gift. A year later, she moved to Seadrift, Texas and opened a boarding house. I imagine Josephine and Eulah were active in helping with the boarding house. Eulah was already married with children when this venture was underway. |
Suffice to say, these two ladies, though half-sisters, formed an important bond that lasted throughout much of their lives. There are numerous photos of them together in the early and later years.
*Eulah is my great grandmother on my father's paternal side. Josephine, Beulah and Pearl are my 2nd great aunts.