The W. L. Dublin Family
Facts by F. G. Dublin
W. L. Dublin was born June 15, 1880, near Old Larissa. He was married on January 1, 1905, to Nettie Gilchrist, who was born October 26, 1882, near Bullard, Smith County. They moved to Jacksonville early in 1910, when Mr. Dublin purchased the Starr interests in Starr-Mayfield Company, wholesale grocers, from Wood Starr.
Prior to moving to Jacksonville, three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dublin. They were Zilpha Elizabeth, born December 23, 1905, W. Les, Jr., on March 8, 1908, and Frank Gilbert on July 22, 1909. They came here with their parents in 1910.
A two-story white frame house, which still stands at the corner of El Paso and Neches streets, was built for Mr. and Mrs. Dublin by Joe Pressler and they occupied it in 1912. Frances Christine, daughter, was born there on June 15, 1912, and died of pneumonia on February 10, 1913. Richmond Eugene was born February 6, 1916.
Mr. Dublin became executive vice-president, director and general manager of Mayfield Company and moved his family to Tyler in 1917, where general offices of the wholesale grocery operation of eight houses serving East Texas trade area were located.
In 1922, Mr. Dublin, along with Ernest Shoemaker, R. V. Dublin, Fred Haberle and Dr. E. S. Park as major stockholders, organized Dublin-Shoemaker Grocery Company, wholesalers, in Jacksonville. He operated the company as president and general manager until a short time before his death. His two older sons were associated with him in management for several years.
After returning to Jacksonville from Tyler, the Dublins built a two-story brick home at 544 South Ragsdale Street, where the family lived from 1927 until the marriages of the children and Mr. Dublin's death. This house was sold in 1947, but still stands and is in good condition.
Mr. Dublin was an organizing director of Jacksonville Building & Loan Association, and also an organizing director of East Texas Chamber of Commerce, taking an active part in promotion of the East Texas area. He was elder in the Presbyterian church.
Mrs. Dublin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert S. Gilchrist of the Mt. Selman-Bullard area, was prominently associated with the Presbyterian church in addition to being a devoted wife and mother.
Of the five children born to W. L. and Nettie G. Dublin, three survive. Zilpha has been Mrs. William P. Jones since March 26, 1934. She and her husband live in McAllen. Their only child, Nancy, is Mrs. Edward Clarke Simpson, who lives with her husband in Oklahoma City.
Gilbert, a bachelor, has lived in Jacksonville almost continuously since the family returned here from Tyler.
Richmond married Billybob Newburn of Jacksonville on June 19, 1943. They have two sons, Richie and David, and a daughter, Vicki. Their family has lived in Odessa since 1949.
W. Les, Jr., married Lee Smith of Tyler on July 28, 1933. Both now are deceased. Their only child, W. Les, III, lives in Austin, with his wife, Lois Anne, and their two young sons, W. Les IV and James Kelly.
Mr. Dublin died in Jacksonville on June 3, 1940, and
Mrs. Dublin followed him in death on June 11, 1962.
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Early photo of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Dublin with their children, Zilpha, Les, Jr., and Gilbert. |
Compiled by Greg Smith. If you have any materials you'd like to contribute, please email me.