Submitted by

Jeanette Jordan

 

 

 

 

Thomas Leroy “Whit” Criswell

 

 

     Thomas Leroy “Whit” Criswell was born January 18, 1864, in Texas. About 1870, Whit came to Falls County with his family who farmed in the East-Central area of the county.  Records show that several of Whit's older brothers and sisters were born in Cherokee County, Texas, indicating that his parents were located in Cherokee County before coming to Falls County.

 

     Whit first married Mary Magdalene Parton in December of 1885. She died in January, 1889, along with their firstborn son, Jeffy Criswell.

 

     In late 1889, Whit married Mary Catherine “Katie” Durham. They lived in the area of the county later named Criswell Community and Whit raised cattle.

 

Criswell in the country near the Criswell Community

 

     All of the couple’s children were born in the country home. There were ten children: Bessie, John, Thomas Ellsberry (T. E.),  Myrtle, Marcus, Marie (Ree), Carl Jackson, Blanche, and Marie Louise. One child died in infancy.

 

Thomas Leroy Criswell family ca. 1905

 

     In 1916, they moved to Marlin into a Victorian style on Craik Street.  The house had a wrap around porch typical of the day and several fireplaces. There was a “summer kitchen” which was separate from the main house and water was obtained from a cistern. Modern conveniences were added as time went by. After the death of Whit, Katie continued to live in the Marlin accompanied by her daughter Myrtle.

 

     T. E. and his family moved out to the country home. John, who was in World War I, contracted pneumonia and died after arriving back in the U.S. Another son, Carl Jackson, drowned at the age of 16 in a swimming accident.

 

     Whit was a stocky man, called "Whit" because he was small as a child.  Whit loved to play with his grandchildren. He was a happy man.

 

     Whit never learned to drive.  He had one of his daughters, perhaps Myrtle or Marie Louise drive him where ever he wanted to go.  They would often drive out to the Criswell farm/ranch to see about things. He died November 13, 1934, at the family and is buried in Criswell Cemetery.

                                                                              

Thomas “Whit” and Mary Catherine Criswell