Kerens - Navarro Co. He married Lula C. Fort on July 11, 1897. Lula was from Kerens. Texas. She had two older brothers, Charlie and Richard, and a younger brother, Cerf, and younger sister, Maggie. Her mother, Louisa, is a widow on the 1910 Ellis Co Census. Lula was the daughter of G.R. and Louisa Fort.[Ellis Co deed (Jan 21, 1904)bk 151 p. 368 - names G.R. Fort deceased 1900 CENSUS ELLIS COUNTY Her mother is listed as a 43 year old widow who was born in TX, with both parents born in TN. Can read and write and owns the farm. Lula was born in Dec 1879,already married in the 1900 census to G.T. Ruffin) and possibly in Arkansas. Father's birthplace GA; mother's TX. Richard born Mar 1881 is 19 and born in Arkansas, father born in Alabama, and mother born in TX. George born July 1883 is 16 also born in Arkansas. Charles born Jun 1887 is 12 and born in Texas and attending school. Maggie born Jan 1888 is also 12, born in Texas and attending school Cerf born Mar 1896 and 4 years old. ======== 1910 Navarro Co Texas census Precinct 3 District 89 Fort, Charlie 24 Lou (mother) 52 widow 9-7 children Maggie sister 20 Cerf brother 14 Richard brother 24 1920 Navarro Co. Texas Census Precinct 3 District 156 Fort, C.H. 27 TX LA TX Lou C. mother 65 widow TX TN TN =========== GEORGE R. Born 15 Jul 1883 - Arkansas Died: Oct 23 1968 widowed - Corsicana Father: Richard Fort Mother: Louise Smith Farmer- Rancher Buried: Wortham City Cemetery (Freestone Co) TX Also buried here: Fort, Bessie Susan (Red) June 29, 1887 Sept 28, 1968 (possibly wife of George R. Fort?) ===== CHARLES HUBERT FORT Born 24 Jun 1886 Chatfield Died 20 Feb 1965 78 years Tyler (Smith Co) TX Widowed Listed father as : George Robert Fort Mother: Louiza Smith Farmer - Residence Tyler [Death Certificate] ==== CERF WWI Draft Card Born: Mar 16, 1896 age 21 Mother - Kernes Single - Farmer June 5, 1917 Marriage: Aline Dearmore Born: Nov 11 1901 Died: Jul 1987 Burial: Kerens Restland Cemetery, Navarro Co. Cerf Fort Mar 16, 1896 - Jul 16, 1956 Burial: Kerens Restland Cemetery, Navarro Co. Served WWI: Pvt 24 Const Co ASC WWI http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/cemetery/kerens/markers/fort_cerf_and_aline.jpg Photo of tombstone http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/cemetery/kerens/markers/fort_cerf_military.jpg Military tombstone Death Certificate: Died 59 yr 4 mons Houston, Harris Co. Father: George Mother: Lou Smith Occupation: Maintenance Their children: Charlie D. Fort WWII Sgt. Charlie D. Fort, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cerf Fort, formerly of Kerens, attended Kerens High School. Entered Army, 1943, trained at Ft. Sill, Okla., Greenville, Pa. Has served in N. Africa, France, Belgium, and Germany now on duty in Australia. Has Bronze Star and 4 Battle Stars. WWII names: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txnavarr/war/world_war_ii/men_and_women_in_wwii/p89_90.htm Hoyt C. Fort - WWII - married Edith Sue Allgood Born: Jul 28, 1927 Hoyt C. Fort, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cerf Fort, formerly of Kerens, attended Kerens High School. Enlisted in Naval Reserve July, 1945, waiting to be called to service. ============= On July 11, 1897, Lula married G.T. (George Tolliver) Ruffin, and they lived in Alma. He died of consumption on June 24, 1910 and was buried in Rice Cemetery. Lula died on Aug 27, 1912 leaving orphans: =====Info from Freestone Co, TX Board pdsain Oct 3, 2008 Not related, Bessie Susan Red was wife of George Robert Fort. George's father, also George Robert Fort of Georgia born abt 1844, not Richard Fort, married Louisa "Lou" Smith born Texas Oct 1856 married Texas, went to Arkansas then returned to Texas, mid 1880's, Navarro then Ellis county. His father died 1895 - 1900, mother after the 1930 census but can not find her death certificate, probably in Navarro county. Annie Fort 1872 Texas, Mattie Fort 1874 Texas, Lula Fort 1878 Texas married George Ruffin. I say he was not Richard based on other sibling's death records and a Richard J Fort in Ellis county in 1900 census born Georgia in 1844. George R Fort had older brother Richard "McDonal" Fort born Mar 1881 Arkansas died in Navarro county in 1922. 1930; Census Place: Wortham, Freestone, Texas; Roll: 2332; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 10; Image: 323.0. George R Fort age 45 born Arkansas was 24 when he married, parents place of birth listed Texas, road construction work Bessie RED Fort age age 42 wife born Texas was 20 when she married, parents place of birth listed Mississippi Luster T Fort age 21 son born TX 1909 Rachel J Mathison Red age 78 mother in law born MS 04 Oct 1852 widow was 27 when she married died 27 Feb 1936, Pct 5, Freestone county, widow of T J Red, father Roderick Mathinson mother unknown Roxie Red age 38 single sister in law born TX 1892 Name: George Robert Fort City: Not Stated County: Freestone State: Texas Birth Date: 15 Jun 1883 Race: White Roll: 1953363 DraftBoard: 0 Source Information: Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509 Margaret Mae Bellringer, widow, # 3503329, 29 Jan 1889 Arkansas - 16 June 1964 Dallas, Dallas, resident of Waco, McLennan, buried in Corsicana Oakwood Cemetery, father George R Fort mother Louisa Smith, Jack Bellringer, son, informant. Oscar F Red 28 Oct 1881, Wortham, Texas - 13 Aug 1958 Teague, Freestone, Thomas J Red father Rachel Mathison mother. 1920;Census Place: Whitesboro, Grayson, Texas; Roll: T625_1809; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 113; Image: 965. Christpher Bellringer 34 1886 Kansas, parents England Maggie Bellringer 30 1890 Texas, father GA mother TX Hazel Dean Bellringer 6 8 Jan 1914 Navarro county Fort Robertson Bellringer 1 10/12 TX died 23 Jun 1979 McLennan County Jack Roland Bellringer 3/12 19 Sep 1919 Grayson county TX died 13 May 1996 Dallas County Christopher R Bellringer 13 Nov 1886 Kansas - 13 June 1953 Corsicana, Navarro, buried Corsicana, John Bellringer father Jane Lewis mother Christopher "Robingson/Robinson" Bellringer born 13 Nov 1885 registered WW I Draft in Butler county, Kansas Miss Grace Bellringer, 26 Sept 1922, Texas - 16 Jul 1941, Corsicana, Navarro, buried Corsicana, father C R Bellringer mother Maggie May "Fost", coronary occulusion, resident of Corsicana 12 yrs Bellringer, 10 July 1948 Dallas - 12 July 1948 Dallas, father Jack Bellringer mother Anna Ormsby Fort R Bellringer born 13 Feb 1918 Texas enlisted 16 Jan 1946 in Navarro county Staff Sergeant Air Corps for Hawaiian Dept, single died 23 Jun 1979 buried Ft. Sam Houston Nat'l Cemetery. Charles J Bellringer born 30 May 1924 Collin county Texas enlisted 02 Oct 1942 Navarro county Private Air Corps single Jack Roland Bellringer married Anna Lorene Ormsby: Michael Roland 12 Jan 53 Dallas, Nancy Karen 19 Oct 50 Dallas, Fort Robinson Bellringer married Patty Jean Merchant; Marcia Jean and Michael Ernest 7 Jan 52 Bexar, Deborah Diana 22 Jun 62 Brown county and Kenneth Glenn 16 Nov 69 McLennan Hazel Dean Bellringer - John Doward Evans; John Jr 7 Jun 35 McLennan, Rita Jo 1 Jan 44 McLennan Charlie Hubert Fort, widowed, 11638 24 June 1886, Chatfield, Texas 20 Feb 1965, Medical Center Hosp, Tyler, Smith county residence 404 Wilson St, Tyler, Smith county George Robert Fort father Louiza Smith mother Parker Holmes informant Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Texas farmer/farming Cerf Fort, married, 36787 16 Mar 1897, Ellis county 16 July 1956, VA Hosp, Houston 1618 Arlington, Houston, Harris, residence George Fort of Texas father Lou Smith of Texas mother WW I Vet, maintenance for T.G.T. VA records, informant buried Kerens, Texas lung cancer CHATFIELD, Texas. Chatfield is eleven miles northeast of Corsicana in northeastern Navarro county. It is named for Champion Chatfield, a pioneer who in 1838 established a trading post in an oak grove six miles west of Porter's Bluff; this was the future townsite of Chatfield. The trading post was on the San Antonio and Shreveport Trail and drew settlers to the area before the Civil War Robert Hodge arrived in the area in 1849 and was reported to own more than 1,280 acres and 100 slaves. Chatfield was a center for the cause of secessionqv by the mid-1850s, when the community had a private school, a horse-powered gin, cotton and wool mills, a flour mill, a machine shop, a cemetery, and several churches—Disciples of Christ, Methodist, and Baptist. The community shipped cotton and grain. A Chatfield post office was established in 1867. The community's population reached 250 in 1885, and in 1887 its private school was replaced by a public school. The Elizabeth Institute, a preparatory and boarding school, was established there in 1896. By 1906 Chatfield had two public schools—one with two teachers and 105 white students and one with one teacher and 101 black students. Chatfield reached its peak in the 1890s, when it had a population of 500 and a daily stage to Rice, six miles away. In 1939 the community had a population of 300 and seven businesses, but its population subsequently declined. The local public school closed in 1951. Chatfield's population fell from 100 in 1954 to forty in 1990, when the community had a post office, a store, a volunteer fire department, a water supply company, the Methodist church, and two cemeteries. The population remained the same in 2000. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Wyvonne Putman, comp., Navarro County History (5 vols., Quanah, Texas: Nortex, 1975-84). 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Ellis, Texas; Roll: T623 1629; Page: 15A Louisa Fart 43 born Oct 1856 Texas, widow, bore 9 children, 7 living, father mother born TN, farming, property mortgaged Richard Fart 19 born Mar 1881 Arkansas, father Alabama George Fart 16 born July 1883 Arkansas Charles Fart 12 born June 1887 Texas Maggie Fart 12 born Jan 1888 Texas Cerf Fart 4 born Mar 1896 Texas son 1880; Census Place: South Fork, Montgomery, Arkansas; Roll: T9_52; Family History Film: 1254052; Page: 398.3000; Enumeration District: 112; Image: 0097 G. R. Fort 36 1844 GA father/mother GA - [ had a brother Richard J Fort born GA Jan 1844 who also wound up in Ellis county by 1900 census, wife named Jennie, they married 1877.] Lucy Fort 24 wife 1856 TX father/mother MS Annie Fort 8 dtr 1872 TX Mattie Fort 6 dtr 1874 TX Luloo Fort 2 dtr 1878 TX - Lula . . . one of these daughters was deceased by June 1900 census. Arthur William Ruffin, married, 11702 26 Feb 1900, Ellis county, Texas 26 Mar 1945, Englewood Yards on Liberty Road, Houston, Harris, non resident residence Channelview, Harris county, resident 7 years George Ruffin father of GA Lula Fort mother of TX R T Clark, informant car inspector for S. P. Railroad coronary occlusion, burial South Park Cemetery, Houston 1900 Justice Precinct 3, Ellis, Texas George Ruffin May 1875 Georgia married 3 yrs father/mother GA farmer Lula Fort Ruffin Dec 1879 Texas, Georgia, Texas, two children Alva Ruffin May 1898 son Arthur Ruffin Feb 1900 son 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Ellis, Texas; Roll: T624_1550; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 128; Image: 189 George T Ruffin 37 Lula C Ruffin 33 Alva L Ruffin 14 Arthur W Ruffin 10 - counted at Kelly Field, Bexar county 1920 census Winnie L Ruffin 8 George O Ruffin 6 James T Ruffin 3 Mrs. Lula C Ruffin, widow, 19288 age 30, born Dallas county date of birth unknown, died St Pauls San., Dallas, Dallas, 27 Aug 1912 Father surname Fort unknown place Mother unknown H J Ruffin, Alma Texas informant, burial in Alma General Peretonitis H J Ruffin, 23 Apr 1845 GA - 10 July 1916, Alma, Ellis county, James J Ruffin father Sarah Avret mother, buried Rice Cemetery 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Navarro, Texas; Roll: T624_1580; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 89; Image: 563 Charlie Fort 24 single farming Lon Fort 52 widowed mother Texas parents USA, bore 9 children, 7 living Maggie Fort 20 single Cerf Fort 14 single Richard Fort 29 single Richard McDonal Fort born 16 Mar 1881 registered WW I Draft in Navarro county Charlie Hubert Fort born 24 June 1886 registered WW I Draft in Navarro county Cerf Fort born 16 Mar 1896, Texas, registered Navarro county 1910, Justice Precinct 5, Freestone, Texas George Fort 26 AR, AL, TX Bessie Fort 23 1887 TX parents USA Luster Fort 1 6/12 Name: Richard D. Fort Death Date: 24 Mar 1922 Death County: Navarro Certificate: 9256 1920, Justice Precinct 3, Navarro, Texas C H Fort 1893 TX head of household Lan C Fort 1855 TX widowed mother, parents TN 1920;Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Ellis, Texas; Roll: T625_1800; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 133; Image: 900. Mattie Sands 48 1872 GA widow Henry W Sands 17 son Elam O Ruffin 46 brother Winnie Ruffin 17 niece James T Ruffin 13 nephew 1930, Precinct 3, Navarro Charlie H Fort 1887 TX Hattie Mae MITCHELL Fort wife 12 Apr 1888 Murray Co, TN - 10 Jan 1964, Tyler, Smith county, John Mitchell father, Mary Jane Hill mother Cub [Cerf] Fort 1898 TX Alene/Aline DEARMORE Fort wife 1902 Charlie D Fort 1925 son Hoyt Cerf Fort 28 July 1927 Navarro county son married Edith Sue Allgood; Susan Lynette 7 Mar 1949 Harris and Melinda Aline 6 Jul 1953 Nueces "Loie" Fort 1856 mother Susan Lynette Fort - Clement Herman Romeo Jr; Michelle Renee 19 Jan 68, Eric Brandon 9 Aug 70 Harris county http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/ William Deen Allen Jr., age 56, of Corsicana passed away July 8, 2003, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. He graduated from Corsicana High School in 1965 and later earned his bachelor's degree in political science from East Texas State University in 1969. In 1968 he married his high school sweetheart, Lou Ann Bellringer, and enjoyed 35 years of marriage. He returned to Corsicana in 1977 where he and his wife successfully started up their own printing company, Law Enforcement Systems, Inc., in which he served as CEO for 25 years. Bill is survived by his wife, Lou Ann Allen; his daughter, Maggie Allen Bomberger, and son-in-law, Chris, and their children, Bethany, Skylar and Joshua of Aubrey; and his son, Matthew Deen Allen of Corsicana. His father, William Deen Allen, and mother, Patricia Loney, preceded him in death. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Corley Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John's Episcopal Church followed a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery. Honoring Mr. Allen as active pallbearers are Jerry Davis, John Lewis, Harris Ryan, Steve Huffman, Jeff Nelson and Mike Ballew and the honorary pallbearer is Euin Frank. Special thanks to the Corsicana Fire Department, Navarro Regional Hospital staff and Baylor Hospital for their care and concern during his final days. Arrangements by Corley Funeral Home. Notes: Corsicana Daily Sun - July 10, 2003 ===== T J Red (Thomas James Red) was born about 1838 in Mississippi. He was the son of Elisha Red and Sarah Castles. Sarah was the daughter of Thomas Castle & Mary Greenlee formerly of Ireland. I've traced the Red family back to the Barnwell Dist of South Carolina via the line of James E Red (Elisha's father). The name is sometimes spelled Redd. James E Red and his wife, Jane settled in Greene County, Alabama. As with many in that county, a good number of their children moved on to Mississippi (Lauderdale & Newton County) and from there, they moved on to the Freestone/Limestone/Navarro/Robertson County areas of Texas. My research is in reference to James Thomas Dunn, who followed a similar path of migration. His second wife was Mary Jane Red, a younger sister of Thomas James Red. I would like to thank you for all the information you provided as it has helped me fill in a number of blanks, too. Meride Dunn Meridee7979 Freestone Co Board Oct 5