Francis Odom and Family, Smith County, TX ****************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Carey L. Smith -- ccoloradomtn@cs.com 24 May 2001 ******************************************************************* FRANCIS ODOM AND FAMILY "Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter LXXXVI-- Pages 345-348 Francis Odom was born in Franklin county, Ill., Novermber 26th, 1826, and with his father's family moved to Texas in October 1833, and settled at what was afterwards known as the old Parker Fort, where the Parkers were murdered by the Indians. Francis Odom married Miss Evaline Hatcher, January 10th, 1850, in Panola county. His wife is now living at Lindale. He came to Smith county in 1850, and settled near the present town of Lindale. The wife of Francis Odom was born July 12th, 1833, in Jefferson county, Ga., and with her father moved to Texas in the autumn of 1839. Rev. Francis Odom was a man of great force of character, and by industry and honesty he accumulated quite a competency in life. He was a Primitive Baptist minister and lived up to the faith and order of his church. He was ordained to preach in July, 1883. He died at his home in Lindale, December 26th, 1897, to the regret of the community he had lived in. They had born to them ten children; Elizabeth, who married J. E. Murphy, and had eight children, all living near Garden Valley in this county. Sarah Jane Odom died in June 1861. Durham Odom died in March, 1861. Nannie Odom married F. M. James; they had four children, all living near Garden Valley. Martha Francis Odom married E. Sikes, in 1880. She died September 6th, 1898. The family reside six miles from Lindale. John K. Odom died in the fall of 1871. He had married, and the fruits of this marriage were twins who died in infancy. Jesse F. Odom has been married twice; the first marriage was with Miss Ada E. Watson, an accomplished young woman of Panola county. She died in October 1892. His second marriage was with Miss Sallie E. Pope, the intelligent daughter of W. A. Pope of Troup, Texas. They have one child--Jesse Pope--about three years of age. Thomas Lee Odom is single and is a progressive young business man of Lindale. Some of the children died when quite young and I have no data. Rev. Francis Odom was a very popular minister and citizen, and a well informed, intelligent man, full of energy and business, being kind- hearted and a helper of his community. He went through the early struggles of Texas and lived to see the great state develop into the grandest commonwealth in the south. He held the office of Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner and Tax Assessor of this county. His official duties were attended to with a strict regard to the duties imposed, and an honest integrity that characterized his whole life. He was a generous-hearted man with the milk of human kindness that guided him in official and private business. He was a successful farmer, being a man of method who studied well the details of his business. This, with intelligence and industry, made him a success in life. He was a fit representative of the old-timer and a worthy sire of the Odom family. Jesse F. Odom is a young lawyer at Lindale, and has a good practice. He is very popular and commands a good influence in his community, being worthy of the confidence of the people. He is a young man of fine attainments, being well educated. He is forcing himself to the front in his profession, being studious, moral and strictly honest. The future has the silver lining of good culmination for him as a lawyer. He possesses a well balanced mind and being a good speaker, there is no reason why Jesse Odom should not make his mark in the profession of law. He, like the Odom family, bears the good reputation of sincerity and integrity. He has a pleasant home, an intelligent family, a neat office, and the surroundings naturally point to a great success. His practice for the past several years has made a favorable impression on the people of Smith county, and the writer now asserts that in the coming years--not far off--he will safely land on the top round of the professional ladder at the bar. Thomas Lee Odom is a good business young man and will lead in whatever he undertakes. He is an exemplary young man in his habits, strictly moral and the people like him. These two Odom brothers stand well in the estimation of all who know them. The Odom family have always been prominent in the community in which they live and the father of this branch of the Odom family has left behind a good example for them to follow.