Runnels County, TX - Biography - William F. Lackey ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by June E. Tuck USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. WILLIAM F. LACKEY If any body wants an example of twentieth century longevity, take a look at William F. Lackey of Winters, Texas. His oldest son is 83 years old and his youngest child is 14 years of age. He celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday, Dec. 1, 1923, with a big birthday dinner at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.W. Moseley of Winters. Four generations sat around the dinner table. Mr. Lackey became a father while at the tender age of 17 years and his youngest child was born when he was 86 years old. This centenarian has been married four times and he is the father of 23 children, twelve of whom are still living. His oldest and youngest offspring are still living and there is a difference of sixty-nine years in their ages. William Lackey was born in Springfield, Mo., Dec. 1, 1823. Later his parents moved to St. Louis when that city was only a small town. His grandfather purchased three lots in St. Louis and made his home there for a while. The grandfather fought on the battlefield seven years with George Washington, and died at the age of 105 years. William Lackey spent his boyhood days in Sevier County, Ark. His parents were farmers and this is the life that William followed and he has lived in five states in his lifetime of one hundred years. In fact, he doesn't even remember the name of all the towns in which he has lived. He first married in Sevier County, Ark., when he was sixteen years of age. He married Miss Melissa Steward, who was twenty years of age. To this union was born one child, who is now 83 years old, and lives in California. The first Mrs. William Lackey lived only two years. About a year after the death of his first wife, Mr. Lackey was married to Miss Susan Bird, in Yell County, Arkansas. Six children were born to this union. When asked how many of them were boys, Mr. Lackey replied, "Let me see, I forget, but there were six children in all." Mr. Lackey's third wife was Miss Mary Norris of Hunt County, Texas. The family had moved to Texas following the Civil war ,and the second wife had died. Eleven children were born to the third union. Mr. Lackey's forth marriage was to Miss Ida Sage in Hopkins County, Texas, and to this union five children were born. The last Mrs. Lackey died three years ago last month, in Pueblo, Colo. She was 47 years of age when she died - fifty years younger than her husband. "Can you give me the names of those twenty-three children?" I asked Mr. Lackey. "And how many of them were boys?" "I believe there were fifteen boys," replied Mr. Lackey. "But I can't give you the names of them all. I forget and I don't even know where they are all living nor what business they are in. My oldest son, who lives in California, was a Baptist preacher, but he is not preaching now; he is too old and had trouble with his throat." Mr. Lackey is literally full of stories about the Civil war, and most of them contain a bit of humor. In fact, Mr. Lackey is prone to look on the bright side of life, and he enjoys a laugh as much as anyone. He fought in the Civil War on the Confederate side under General Price, and drew eleven dollars a month pay. He spent three years in the army, having joined while in Arkansas. "I remember, during the war," said Mr. Lackey, "that we did without food for two days and nights. As we passed along the road we came to a wagon that had some corn in it. I stole a ear of the corn and it was awfully sweet. "Later on I remember one of the men in our company got news that his wife was sick. He deserted the army and started for his home. He ran as far as Red river and was overtaken and brought back to the division headquarters. The penalty was that he was to be shot. Six men were to do the shooting. The day before the shooting, fifteen hundred men told the officer that if that man was shot, there would be a hundred others shot. They turned that man loose and I was certainly glad." Despite the fact that he met with many adversities and never accumulated any wealth during his lifetime, Mr. Lackey has lived an optimistic life and while he does not have do any work at all now, he tends to many chores around the house, and still makes himself useful. He doesn't want to rust out, but prefer to wear out instead. Mr. Lackey relates no secrets that attribute to his long life. He smokes and chews tobacco and as he states, lived a "hard life" when he was a younger man. "I lived a hard, wicked life up until I was forty years of age," he stated. "I was a hard sinner during the war and never professed religion until I was about forty years old. I joined the Missionary Baptist church and am still a member in this church. My grandfather was a Missionary Baptist and he lived to be 105 years old. "I'm the oldest member of the Ku Klux Klan in Winters, and I'm the oldest K.K.K. in the State. I belong to the old order of Ku Klux following the war and have always considered myself one. A few nights ago the Ku Klux organization of Winters held a parade here and they sent a car up to the house for me. I got in my uniform and rode in the car. I had the hood on my head, but I didn't wear it over my face. I pulled the part that goes over my face back so that the people could see my face." When asked about the education, Mr. Lackey stated that he never went to school but five or six months in his life and that educational facilities were very scant and meager in those early days. Mr. Lackey stated that he could neither read or write. When he was asked to spell the maiden names of the four women he married he replied that he couldn't, but that he could pronounce them. Mr. Lackey wears no glasses, though his eye sight is getting poor, and he is also rather hard of hearing. Mr. Lackey is about five feet and eight inches tall and weighs about 171 pounds. He weighed 184 two years ago, when he spent a few months in California. He is gray headed and the hair is thin on top of his head. He is not as wrinkled as many people who are seventy years of age. He dresses neatly and is clean shaven. When asked if he shaved himself, he replied, "Sure, I shave myself, about three times each week, with an old-fashioned razor. I don't see any use in letting my son-in-law spend his money buying my shaves, when I can do it myself just as good as any barber can." Mr. Lackey has several grandchildren in Winters and they live in different sections of the city. He goes to see them by himself and gets around as well as many thirty years of age. One is Charles Lackey who lives near Colorado City, Texas. When asked if he would consider marrying again, Mr. Lackey replied, "I've got a girl over on the Plains that I thought I'd marry. She's pretty, too. I've got her picture. I'm just as apt to marry as not." And then he laughed it off, and speaking more seriously, said, "I ought to marry again so that some poor woman could get my pension, when I die. I'm drawing a pension from the State of Texas on account of being a Confederate soldier. I get thirty dollars each quarter the past year, but my next allowance will be forty-five dollars a quarter. You see, as the Confederates die off, that leaves more money for those who are living. "One woman asked me one time why I didn't marry so that some poor woman could have me pension, and I would be really glad for some poor woman to have it." "Once a man and twice a child." While Mr. Lackey is not childish in his ways, he enjoys playing and frolicking with children and has a big time with his great-grandchildren. He is in the height of his glory when he has a bunch of children about him. He does many chores around the house, such as sweeping the house and yard, carrying in coal and kindling. And he is not too old to "primp up" and go to church. "In fact," says Mr. Moseley, "he dresses up more now than he used to. He shaves himself and stands in front of the mirror and brushes his hair and primps up, especially on Sundays, just as though he was going to see some girl." Mr. Lackey has lived in various section of Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado and California. He has farmed all his life and this Fall went out and picked seventy-five pounds of cotton in part of a day. During the past summer he rode a cultivator and plowed cotton for a while, though he used walking plows practically altogether. When he has no accurate recollection of his descendants, there are living, twelve children, forty-nine grand-children, and fifty-eight great-grandchildren. There are ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren and 119 living, including his own children. The descendants are scattered from Texas to Washington States and from Oklahoma to California. It is very likely that there are some great-great-grandchildren, Mr. Moseley states, "For we haven't heard from many of our relatives in a long time and do not know where they all live." At his 100th birthday dinner there were 10 great-grandchildren, 2 grandchildren, and one daughter, besides several friends of the family, including the Rev. Mr. Stevens and wife, Mr. & Mrs. H. W. Lynn and others. Mr. Lynn is manager of the Winters Oil Mill. While Mr. Lackey calls Winters his home and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. L.W. Moseley he travels considerably each year, visiting his other children and grandchildren. The past summer he visited in Wichita Falls, Commerce and O'Donnell. Three years ago he went to California by himself and five years ago he came to Winters from Pueblo, Colorado. He has lived in practically all parts of Texas, having spent fifteen years on a farm north of Greenville. Several years ago he farmed near Wichita Falls. Suffice to say, it is interesting and inspiring to talk to a man who is one hundred years old. (From Sulphur Springs Dailey News-Telegram, Feb. 15, 1924) (Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas)