GEORGE SHERMAN COUSINS

 

 

     George Sherman Cousins, b October 24, 1851 in Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama, d 1919 - was a son of Dr. John B. Cousins, d 1859 - a practicing physician, who owned considerable land and slaves in Alabama. His holdings were sold, and a trust set up to care for three surviving children; but during the Civil War, the trust, which had made loans for interest income, was paid off in Confederate money, which became worthless, and George, his brother, and his sister, were left practically penniless.

     In 1867, at the age of sixteen years, George Sherman Cousins left Alabama with an uncle, and located in Leon County, Texas; but a few months later, discouraged by the lack of prospects there, George moved on and landed in Falls County along the Brazos River, where he worked as a farm laborer for two years - saving all he could from his meager earnings, and moved to Marlin, Falls County to start some kind of business. He soon realized he needed more education to carry out his plan; so, at the age of twenty-five, he entered Tehuacana Hills College for two years of study, to fit him- self to compete more effectively in the business world of Marlin. He returned to Marlin after completing his college studies.

     In 1884 in Calvert, Robertson County, Texas, George Sherman Cousins was married to Ollie Lovett - a daughter of Captain W. C. Lovett. George and Ollie were the parents of five children, but only three lived to adulthood:

     Rosa Mae Cousins - married Norris H. Lovell, and had one daughter, Alice Cousins Lovell who married Alfred Madsen, and had Pamela Madsen and Lovell Madsen.

     Cuyler Stell Cousins, b July 9, 1891, d November 14, 1947 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - served in World War I as 1st Sergeant, 143rd Infantry, 36th Division. Cuyler married Annie Louise Hunter, b April 20, 1891, d July 7, 1977 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - a daughter of Charles T. Hunter, b August 13, 1866, d December 30, 1948, and his wife, Emma

(Anders) Hunter, b 1867, d 1930, and both also buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas. Cuyler and Annie Louise Cousins were the parents of Martha Louise Cousins, who married William Russell Lawrence, b September 18, 1921, d December 21, 1981 and buried in Calvary Cemetery, and had a son and a daughter. Bill and Martha Louise returned to Marlin, built a lovely home, where he subsequently died. She continues to reside in Marlin, and is an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Marlin.

     Alice Cousins - the last surviving child of George and Ollie (Lovett) Cousins. No information.

     About 1885, after the newly married George and Ollie Cousins had resided in Marlin for a year, they bought a farm a few miles from Marlin, where they took up residence. After battling adverse conditions for four years, they became discouraged, and moved back into Marlin, which became their permanent the remainder of their lives. When the city of Marlin put down its celebrated hot well, George Cousins saw an inkling of the future possibilities, and bought the land surrounding the well for $2,000, and constructed a bath house. He was among the first to advertise the merits of Marlin and its hot mineral water. In 1894, George sold the land to Dr. John William Cook for $5,000, and with this profit, his successful career in real estate began.

     George and Ollie Cousins were members of the Methodist Church in Marlin, and he served as a steward and on its Building Committee, which had charge of the construction of the new church, completed in 1910 and still in use today. He was active in the public affairs of Marlin, and of Falls County, and served as Falls County Commissioner for four years. It was during his tenure as an alderman in Marlin that the city council voted to move the school house from the property located between the two railroad lines to its present site on Capps Street - thus insuring the safety of the school children.

 

 

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 100 column 1 and 2 and page 101 column 1.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.