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The W. P. Deason Family
By Gladys Deason Horwitz

In 1881, Mid Deason, his wife, Nannie, and five children moved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to a farm five miles south of Jacksonville. The children, William Phifer, George Hollis, Charles Kelley, Velma and Alma, attended a one - room school and the Providence Church.

On January 18, 1884, at age 37, Mid Deason died. His wife asked the neighbor men to dig his grave in the field a short distance from the modest home. This was the first grave in the Providence Cemetery.

Nannie dedicated this plot for her friends, neighbors and relatives to bury their loved ones. When this was filled, more land adjoining it was purchased by people of the community, and, today, Providence cemetery covers several acres.

Mrs. Deason sold the farm and with her children moved to Stephenville, Texas, to be near relatives. One year later, at age 31, she died. Her last words to her oldest child were "Phifer, take care of your brothers and sisters." So, at age 13, he became the head of the family and carried out his mother's request.

Later, he returned to Jacksonville and married Arkana Isaacks, daughter of William and Rachel Isaacks, of the Providence community. Her parents gave them farm land, where they built a small home. Here, five children were born: Myram, Curtis, Gladys, Opal and Billie. They later moved to town to educate the children, who attended public schools and Lon Morris.

Phifer opened the W. P. Deason Feed and Grocery, which he and his son, Curtis, operated until his death in March, 1924. Mrs. Deason died January, 1934.

The W. P. Deasons had one grandaughter and three grandsons. Myram and her husband, J. C. (Jess) Cotton, had a daughter, Helen Gould, who is married to Robert H. Cain and resides in Houston. Myram died in 1970, and Jess resides in Jacksonville. Grandsons are William Boyd Deason, Patrick Sherrill and Richard Joseph (adopted) Jones, sons of Opal and her husband, Boyd C. Jones of Dickenson. There also are three great-grandchildren.

Curtis died in 1968, and Billie (Mrs. N. A. Hogan) in 1966. Gladys Deason Horwitz lives in Dickenson.

	Deason auto decorated for the 50th anniversary celebration of Jacksonville. Inside car, l. to r., Opal Deason and Otis Odom, and foreground, l. to r., Billie Deason and Helen Cotton.
	Phifer and Arkanna Deason.
	Phifer and Arkanna Deason, with first born, Myram.
	Billie Deason, on arm of chair, and Opal Deason, children of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Deason.

Compiled by Greg Smith. If you have any materials you'd like to contribute, please email me.