The Thomas Jefferson Skelton Family

Facts provided by Howard Skelton

Thomas Jefferson Skelton was born in Polk County, Tennessee, May 11, 1834. He came to Texas in 1853, buying a farm six miles southwest of Jacksonville and spending the remainder of his life there engaged in farming. He married Mary Elizabeth Earle in 1858, both being members of Earle's Chapel Methodist Church. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Mr. and Mrs. Skelton were parents of nine children, including Isabelle Lane (1858-1919), J. R.Skelton (1860-1920), Alice Lewis Roberts (1866-1902), Martha Jane Reeves (1867-1889), John Skelton (1868-1905), Josie Templeton French (1870-1930), Will Skelton (1870-1960), Delia Rountree (1874-1937), T. J. Skelton, Jr., (1875-1955). Mr. Skelton died in 1894 and Mrs. Skelton in 1905.

In 1881, Mr. Skelton sold his farm and purchased a tract of land from R. C. Earle on what is known as Earle's Chapel Road, four and a half miles from Jacksonville. This home still is standing and is owned and occupied by his grandson, Howard Skelton.

Grandchildren still living are J. F. Skelton, Joe Templeton and Howard Skelton of Jacksonville, Herbert Skelton of Houston, Mrs. Mary Hill of Rockport, Mrs. Bess Alexander of Wellington, Mrs. Flora Collier of Palestine, Mrs. Grace Easley of Hereford, Claude Skelton of Dallas, J. B. Rountree of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mrs. Jennie Weathersbee of Donna and Mary Alice White, Hot Springs, Ark.

Grandchildren of T. J. Skelton, Jr., are J. F. Skelton II and Charlie Skelton of Dallas, Ethel Louise White of Winnsboro, J. W. French, Jr., of San Francisco, Calif., Colonel J. T. Alexander of Washington, D.C., Edna Earl Smith of Swinney, Billy and Marjorie Lewis of Stockton, Calif., Mrs. Maude Lane and Mrs. Irene French of Beaumont, Lewis Lane of Jacksonville, Roy Lane of Uvalde, Mrs. Gomer May of Sherman, Mrs. Clifford Wiggins of Palestine, C. L. Lane of Arp, Charles Skelton of Hereford, Daniel Lynn Skelton of Robert Lee, Texas, Oscar and Jimmy Easley of Hereford, Mrs. Leo Cole, Ivan Weathersbee, of McAllen.

T. J. Skelton, Jr., pictured in a formal pose made about 1900. Mr. Skelton was a lifelong resident and died in 1935.

Howard and Herbert Skelton, sons of T. J. Skelton, Jr., and grandsons of T. J. Skelton in a photo made about 1915.

Mary, left, and Bess French are shown as girls. Both are living in Texas. They are half sisters of Joe T. Templeton of Jacksonville. Their mother was Mrs. Josie Templeton French, who died in 1937.