Jones Co., TX - Obituaries - R.V. Colbert *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** R.V. Colbert R.V. Colbert, one of men who built Stamford dies unexpectedly at his home Funeral services for R.V. Colbert, retired banker and cattleman, was held at the First Baptist church with Rev. Dick O'Brien, pastor officiating. Business houses of Stamford, the town which Mr. Colbert helped to found nearly 40 years ago, closed for the funeral. Burial in Mount Hope cemetery, Anson, Texas. Mr. Colbert died on Monday. Mr. Colbert was born in Mt. Lebanon, Bienville Parish, La., August 5, 1867. He came to Jones county when he was 16 years old and worked for the Pratt Brothers as a sheep herder in the fall and winter of 1883. He then turned to working cattle on the open range and for five yeas he worked for three well-known ranches: the Lil, the Horseshoe and the T-Diamond, all of which were located in Stonewall county. On December 2, 1899, Mr. Colbert was married to Miss Tenie Belle Penick in Windsor, Missouri, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Penick. The date was chosen because it was the anniversary of the bride's parents. The couple had met when Miss Penick came to visit her brother, R.L. Penick in Anson. The late Mrs. Penick was a cousin of Mr. Colbert. Two years before his marriage Mr. Colbert had given up working with cattle to become deputy district and county clerk of Jones county. In 1890, he was elected to the clerk's office, which position he held for four years. Mr. Colbert organized the Jones County Bank at Anson, before 1900. In 1900, when Stamford was founded, the hardware firm of Penick, Colbert and Hughes was organized and the store was Stamford's first business establishment. A bank was organized in connection with the firm and in the fall of 1900 Mr. Colbert moved to Stamford as cashier of the bankn which became the First National. He later became president of the institution, a position which he held for some 30 years. Mr. Colbert was instrumental in organizing three banks in nearby towns: the First National Bank of Munday, the National Bank of Hamlin and the Spur National Bank. At one time he was president of these three banks and the First National Bank of Stamford. He has also served as director of the Fort Worth National Bank. In 1903, Mr. Colbert re-entered the cattle business, buying the Colbert Hereford ranch about three miles northwest of Stamford. In 1919, he purchased another ranch, building one of the most modern of ranch homes. In 1922 he added another ranch near Spur. All of his ranches were stocked with the highest type of Hereford cattle. In 1923 was elected president of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association at the Kansas City. In 1931 Mr. Colbert resigned as president of the First National Bank and retired from active life. He was an honorary member fo the Shriners and was a 32 Degree Mason. He was also a member of the Texas Cowboy Reunion Association. Survivors: his wife, Mrs. R.V. Colbert, postmaster of Stamford; son: Rudolph Colbert of Fort Worth; daughter: Mrs. J.H. Nail of Albany; sister: Miss Johnnie Colbert of Anson; brother-in-law: R.L. Penick of Stamford. Source: The Stamford American Stamford, Jones County, Texas Friday, December 1, 1939