The W. H. Bramlette Family

By W. Howard Bramlette, Jr.

Thomas Anderson and Annie (Miller) Bramlette, parents of William Howard Bramlette, came to Longview from Mississippi in 1896. Oliver Hazard Perry Pegues, Jr., and his wife, Emma (Overton), whose families were prominent in development of Gregg and Smith Counties, were parents of a daughter, Ione. She and William Howard Bramlette grew up together in Longview and married March 6, 1920.

They moved to Jacksonville in 1922. Mr. Bramlette was an area salesman for Mayfield Grocery Company. They built a home on Nacogdoches Street.

Mr. Bramlette purchased a service station on Commerce at Ragsdale streets from C. J. Barbier. Afterward, he owned and operated a station at Rusk and Neches streets, expanding the business to include Bramlette Tire Company when he became district agent for U. S. Tire and Rubber Company. On his farm on Myrtle Drive, he planted a 1,400-tree peach orchard and raised cattle.

He was a deacon in First Presbyterian Church, a Rotarian, Mason, Shriner, and World War I veteran, and served as a member of the State Democratic Committee. A long-time member of the Chamber of Commerce Farm-to-Market Road Committee, he was chairman at time of his death, 1959.

Mrs. Bramlette has continued for 50 years to be active in Jacksonville affairs. Entering college at age 14, she graduated from Baylor University in art, and established the Arno Art Club in the 1930s. She is a charter member of Wednesday Study Club, has served as president of the local Federation of Women's Clubs, Woman's Missionary Union of Central Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, and is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Nan Travis Hospital.

The children are Rev. W. H. Bramlette, Jr., Nashville, Tenn., with Southern Baptist Convention Education Commission, and Mary Ann (Mrs. W. L. Lasseter) of Euless, mother of Lynn (Mrs. W. H. Jones), Cindy Ann and William Bramlette Lasseter.