The William Harris Sory Family

Facts by Bonnie Sory Robertson

William Harris Sory (1850-1917) was 21 years old when he and his father, John Sory, came to assist in moving Jacksonville from the old location to a new site on the I. & G. N. Railroad. Although not carpenters, they found employment. John later returned to his flour mill in Mt. Enterprise, but "Bill" decided to remain in Jacksonville.

He was employed at the W. A. Brown store and later became a partner, the business being known as Sory, Brown & Company. Later he opened a furniture store, which was sold to George Williamson, and he then opened a jewelry store, which was sold in 1913. A man of diverse activities, he started a telephone company to serve Jacksonville, continuing in that pursuit until his death August 12, 1917.

W. H. Sory was married to Cynthia Ann Alexander, daughter of Carnes B. and Mary Allison Alexander, on January 10, 1875, and to them were born three sons, including Bruce Lee, Harry Neil and William Henry. Mrs. Sory died September 30, 1881, at the birth of William Henry.

In 1883, Mattie Lee Henry of Shelby County, Tennessee, came to Jacksonville as pianist for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and on September 3, 1884, she and Bill Sory were married. They were parents of four sons, Asa Dixon, John Harvey, Ruby Otis and Julian Albert, and two daughters, Bessie Kate and Bonnie Craig. John Harvey died on his first birthday and Harry Neil at age 11.

The Sory family belonged to the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and in 1906, when the denomination moved to unite with the Cumberland Presbyterian, W. H. Sory successfully carried the matter of disposition of the property of the U.S. church to high church authorities and negotiated a sale to Central Baptist Church, which still uses the site. In addition to being an elder in the Presbyterian church, Mr. Sory served as a Bible teacher and Sunday School superintendent. He was a member of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and a Mason, being a worshipful master of the local lodge at one time. He served several terms as mayor of Jacksonville, was a vice-president of First National Bank and a staunch advocate of prohibition.

The family home still stands at 301 South Patton, the property consisting of an entire block, except a 50-foot lot on the southwest corner occupied in the early days by Adolf Shoemaker.

Bruce Lee Sory (1876-1943) married Ida Haberle and in their later years operated "The Shack" near the Lon Morris campus. They were "Pop and Mom" Sory to the students, who dedicated one of the annuals to them.

William Henry Sory (1881-1953) graduated in 1906 from the Tulane University School of Medicine. He was a Mason and served the Jacksonville lodge as worshipful master. He also was a Scottish Rite Mason. He spent many years as pathologist with Nan Travis Hospital, and in the last four years of his father's life, assisted him in management of the telephone company.

Asa Dixon Sory (1885-1952) was connected with First National Bank before moving away to live in Laredo and Houston.

Ruby Otis Sory (1890-1946) entered the ministry at age 18. He was a pastor and district superintendent of the Methodist Church, serving in the Central Texas Conference for 37 years. He held B.D. and D.D. degrees from Southwestern University and was a Mason.

Bessie Kate Sory (1892-1970) married David Leroy Swift in Jacksonville April 7, 1912, moved to Dallas and remained there throughout her life. Mr. Swift survives.

Bonnie Craig Sory, born June 13, 1894, is the widow of Richard Robertson. She taught in Jacksonville and Palestine before moving to Dallas in 1918.

Julian Albert Sory (1896-1970) was a lawyer in Fort Worth. He was a Knight Templar Mason and Presbyterian.

William Harris Sory and wife, Mattie Henry Sory, in wedding picture, 1884. He arrived, at age 21, in 1872, to help move town to I. & G. N. Railroad.

W. H. Sory home, 301 S. Patton, in rare snow storm, 1887. It still is standing.

Jacksonville Aldermen (now called City Council) of 1885. R. H. Small, mayor, center. Others, clockwise from top, H. L. Morris, George Tilley, J. A. Templeton, J. H. Bolton, J. L. Douglas and W. H. Sory.