Typed By: Jan Shelfer
ROBERT DUDLEY FORBES
Surnames: FORBES, SCOGIN, HOLLINGSWORTH, LONG, SNEAD, SHAW, STEGALL
Robert Dudley
Forbes, born February 20, 1875 at Stranger, Falls County, Texas, died July 6,
1923 in Boston, Massachusetts and buried in Stranger Cemetery, was son of Dr.
Lycurgus Dudley and Sarah (Sallie Scogin-Hollingsworth) Forbes. Robert's
grandfather, Dr. Robert C. Forbes, had settled in the part of Limestone County
which became Falls County in early 1850 with his wife Elzira (Long) Forbes and
their two children, Lycurgus Dudley and Nancy Exar Forbes.
Robert was the
third of six children and the eldest son. The other children were Nannie,
Elizabeth, Carrie, Walton and Edwin. Robert was only twelve when his father died
so he grew up helping his mother and the tenants manage the family farm. Robert
attended the Liberty Baptist Church, the Union Academy Schools at Stranger and
Baylor University.
On October 27,
1901 Robert was married to Jessie Snead, b. 1874 in Pineville, Alabama, died
February 2, 1955 and buried in Stranger Cemetery. She was the daughter of
Charles Henry Dudley and Frances Eugene (Shaw) Snead. She had four brothers.
They were Dr. Walter Snead, Dr. Junius Charlesworth Snead, John Snead and Albert
H. Snead. Albert lived in Marlin, Walter in Houston and the other brothers moved
to California and Oregon.
After the death
of Jessie's mother in 1896 she left Alabama and came to Texas to live with an
uncle, Dr. John C. Shaw who at that time was living in Stranger where he
practiced medicine.
When the estate
of Dr. Lycurgus D. Forbes was settled, Robert bought out his siblings who had
married and moved away.
After Robert
died, his widow, Jessie (Snead) Forbes operated the farm and educated her three
daughters. She had been a teacher before her marriage and was a very
independent, industrious woman. The daughters studied music and earned their
degrees in the field of Education at Baylor University. Jessie worked in the
Baptist Church, served as the only female school trustee and was active in all
community affairs. Many of the Stranger teachers enjoyed the convenience of
boarding in her during the school terms. She continued to manage the family
farm, later leasing it. After her children had left home, Jessie sold the 640
acre Big Creek bottom tract, retaining the land near her home.
Robert and
Jessie were the parents of four children: Robert Charlesworth Forbes, born 1902,
died 1903, buried at Stranger, Frances Forbes, born June 28, 1904 at Stranger.
She began her teaching career as a teacher and principal of the Stranger School
in 1926, later teaching in several different locations throughout Texas. When a
vacancy occurred at Stranger in January, 1941 Frances returned to be near
her mother and again taught at Stranger until the school was consolidated with
the Marlin Independent School District where she taught in the Elementary School
until her retirement. She was "drafted" to teach in the private school at St.
John's Episcopal Church, and in 1986 is continuing to teach. Frances earned her
Master's Degree from Baylor University, is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma
Society, the Baptist Church, and Learners Study Club. She continues to live at
Stranger in the built by her grandparents.
Mildred Forbes,
born June 11, 1908 at Stranger, taught school for four years, during which time
she met and married Glynn Stegall, of Graham, Texas in 1933. When Glynn became
Executive Assistant to Congressman W. D. McFarlane of the Tenth Congressional
District of Texas, they moved to Washington, D.C., where both Glynn and Mildred
worked in his office until his retirement. Later they both worked for Senator
Morris Sheppard and after his death for Lyndon Johnson, each working for him for
twenty years. Their careers progressed as Johnson's career advanced as Senator,
Vice President and then President. However, Glynn died in 1963 just two months
before Johnson was sworn in as president. Mildred continued to work for him and
returned to Texas with him in 1969 and now resides in Austin, Texas. She
continues to be part of Lady Bird Johnson's staff.
Roberta Forbes,
born January 8, 1912 at Stranger, was a Baylor Graduate, a talented pianist, and
taught school. She began her career in the Cedar Springs School in Falls County
and did secretarial work in Washington during summer vacations. Later she was
employed by the Waco Independent School District and then in the Dallas
Independent School District until her retirement. She received her Master's
Degree from Southern Methodist University while teaching in Dallas where she
still resides.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for
printing these bio of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County," compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 159, column 2.