The Frank Samuel Todd Family

By Mrs. Eva Todd

Frank Samuel Todd moved his family to Jacksonville in 1917. His wife, Eva, and their children, Catheren 3, infant Claude, and two daughters by a former marriage, Mary and Alice, came to reside eight miles east of town.

He bought 295 acres of timberland, cleared some of it and farmed. Frank built a house and barns, and attended Tecula Baptist Church which he helped build in 1921. Here Mrs. Todd taught Sunday School for 15 years. Mildred, Ruth and Peggy were added to the family.

Family members shared the field work, and washed clothes in the manner of the day—using a rub board, old-fashioned wash tub and home-made soap. Most food was "home-grown." Transportation was by wagon and mules, until 1925. Following a good crop year, a T-Model Ford was purchased, but following a bad crop year, transportation for the Todd family returned to wagon and mules.

In 1933 Frank Todd died, leaving five children, the youngest 18 months old. The two older girls had married.

Claude, the only boy, became head of the family, farming for two years, then going to Houston to work, but continuing financial support to maintain the home. Mrs. Todd and the girls continued to reside here, doing all chores.

Mrs. Todd became an aide at Nan Travis Hospital in 1946, later becoming an LVN and continuing this work for twenty years. Retired, she is active in First Baptist Church, Fidelis Matron Class, Lula Newburn Circle and Rebecca Lodge #165.

The older girls reside in California, Claude, a World War II veteran, died in 1971. He and his wife, Minnie Jones, had three children: Charlene; Evelyn, an LVN; and Wayne, a Vietnam veteran with two bronze stars, air medal, two Vietnamese medals and four purple hearts. Ruth (Mrs. Harold Thames) lives in Farmers Branch and has three children: Jimmy, Glen and Beth. Peggy received a BA degree, and is married to Dr. Gene Fabricius, and they live in California with their three children: Sherrie, Carol, Brian.

Living in Jacksonville is Catheren (Mrs. Alvin Nash), employed at Newton-Shank, who has three children: Nancy; Johnnie, a two-year Army veteran who served in Germany; and Vollie, winner of a band scholarship to Stephen F. Austin University.

Mildred (Mrs. Chester Oden) resides in the home built by Frank Todd on the farm. An employee of a Jacksonville school cafeteria, her children are Clifton, Frank, Jo and Debbie.

Home Frank Todd built in 1917.

Frank Todd and daughters, Mary and Alice, making use of mode of transportation used in this area in 1924.