The W. A. Newton Family

Facts by Mrs. Betty Brown Ebaugh

W. A. Newton was born in Tennessee on July 11, 1845, and was brought to Texas at age two. His grandfather, Thomas McKee, and father, G. A. Newton, formed a colony and came to Texas in covered wagons, settling at Larissa, near present-day Jacksonville.

W. A. Newton enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 16, and served until the end of the Civil War. After the war, he engaged in farming and stock raising, making trips to other parts of Texas and Louisiana in this pursuit. He hauled lumber to Waxahachie for use in building the first school there, and drove hogs from Central Texas to Jacksonville, by way of Dallas, which then was a small village. He grew cotton, tomatoes and peaches for shipment, and was a producer on a large scale for that day, wealth of the community being considerably increased because of his operations. It was said he was "one who made two blades of grass grow where only one grew before."

On October 17, 1872, Mr. Newton married Miss Ida Elizabeth Cox, a daughter of Brantley and Jane Parks Cox, the ceremony taking place at the home of the bride's grandfather, John Parks, near the town of Kickapoo. Mrs. Newton had been born in Palestine in 1850. Her father was a merchant there.

At an early age, Mrs. Newton developed qualities of leadership, was the recipient of high honors in school work and was generally regarded as outstanding. She was 22 when she and Mr. Newton married.

About 1874, the couple moved to the McKee farm, four miles from Jacksonville, and in 1881, they moved to Jacksonville, building a home, where they lived for 50 years, at the corner of North Jackson and Cherokee streets.

A devoted mother and homemaker, Mrs. Newton took an active interest in religious and educational affairs.

Three sons and three daughters were born to the Newtons. They were:

William Walter Newton (1875-1955), who operated a department store and farmed. He married Miss Loring Collins of Jacksonville, and their daughter, Mrs. R. E. Foy, lives in Dothan, Alabama.

James Zelvin Newton (1878-1943), who was a partner with his brother, William Walter, in the store and also farmed.

George Howard Newton (1876-1954), who operated a farm supply store. He married Miss Pearl Crosby of Lindale, and their daughter, Mrs. Milton Ginther, lives in Dallas.

Miss Mozelle Newton (1883-1960), who was educated at College for Young Ladies in Lebanon, Tennessee. She excelled in china painting and music.

Miss Janie May Newton (1885-1944), who married George D. Wray of Shreveport, Louisiana; their children are George D. Wray, Jr., Newton Wray and Charles Wray, all of Shreveport, and Mrs. Roy Smith of Tallahassee, Florida.

Miss Jewel Newton (1873-1966), who also attended the college at Lebanon, Tennessee. Her musical studies included work in conservatories in Chicago and Cincinnati, and she returned to Jacksonville to teach piano, violin, mandolin and organ. She was organist at First Presbyterian Church for 30 years. She married J. L. Brown, Jacksonville merchant, and their daughter, Mrs. Frank W. Ebaugh, resides in Jacksonville.

Mr. W. A. Newton

Mrs. W. A. (Ida Cox) Newton

W. A. Newton home built in 1881 at the corner of North Jackson and Cherokee streets. It stood and was used as a residence until recent years.

What was reputed to be the "biggest barn in East Texas" was built by W. A. Newton in about 1881 behind his home, which stood at the corner of North Jackson and Cherokee streets.