The James H. Staton Family

Facts by Monnie S. Bacon

James H. and Thomas Staton, identical twins, were born in 1883 to Mr. and Mrs. William Staton, who resided on a farm near Canton, Van Zandt County. James attended school near their home and then Omen Normal College, where he was awarded a first-grade school certificate. He taught for a short time before moving to Jacksonville.

He arrived here during 1907 seeking employment, which he found at the A. A. Atkison Lumber Company. Here, too, he met the daughter of his employer, who was a bookkeeper for the company. On May 2, 1908, Adelia J. Atkison married Jim.

Their first home was on East Commerce Street, present site of the Travis buildings. Their last home was on North Bonner Street. To them were born seven children, one dying in infancy. When the children of J. H. and Thomas Staton were together as youngsters, both spent a great deal of time calling their uncles "Daddy" to the amusement of the families. James H. Staton was a lumberman. After the closing of Atkison Lumber Company, he owned and operated a saw mill on Woodrow Street. Later, he worked for Jacksonville Lumber Company, situated at the end of West Commerce Street, and the W. H. Brown Lumber Company.

Following World War II, in which two of his sons were engaged in military service, he, his son, Joe B., and son-in-law, Gary Arnett, formed a lumber company. Another son, George D., later bought the Arnett interest. Gary formed the Gary Arnett Construction Company. Until shortly before his death, J. H. Staton remained actively engaged in operation of the Staton Lumber Company.

"Mr. Jim" was a member of longstanding on the City Board of Equalization, a member of Central Baptist Church and Goodfellows' Bible Class. He was an ardent domino player at the Jacksonville Fire Station, where members of the volunteer department usually have a game in progress.

Mr. Staton died in 1963, and Mrs. Staton in 1960. They, together with their son, George D. Staton, who died in 1966, are buried in the Staton family cemetery, Scenic Haven, located on Highway 204.

Five children survive, four residing in Jacksonville. Their daughters are Polly (Mrs. Huel Waldrop), who lives in Baytown, Mary (Mrs. Gary Arnett) and Monnie (Mrs. Murphy Bacon). James A. is a building contractor and owner of Staton Building Materials, 212 East Commerce Street. Joe B. owns and operates George D. Staton Lumber Company, 119 North Bonner, and George D. Staton Wholesale Lumber Company, located on Highway 204.

Eleven of the fifteen grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Staton reside in Jacksonville.

James H. Staton, left, with his twin brother, Thomas. In later years, their children amused themselves by calling their uncles "Daddy."

Adelia Atkison in a photo taken prior to her marriage to J. H. Staton in 1908. Note the "wasp" waist styling.

Atkison Lumber Company office, where J. H. Staton first worked when coming to Jacksonville.

J. H. and Adelia Staton take a buggy ride, a favorite way of "courting" in East Texas just after the turn of the century.