Submitted by: Cathy Millburn

 

 

SIMEON THOMAS SOUTHER

 

 

 

Simeon Thomas Souther (called "Tom"), b November 17, 1861 in Knobnoster, Missouri, d July 26, 1941 at Rosebud, Falls County, Texas and buried in Woodland Cemetery‑was the youngest son of Simeon Wilhoit and Mahala Amanda (Thornton) Souther, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively, and a grandson of Abraham and Elizabeth (Wilhoit) Souther, who married in Madison County, Virginia on December 10, 1799. The maternal grandparents were George and Theodocia (Lewis) Thornton, of Culpepper County, Virginia ‑ George having been a Lieutenant in the American Revolutionary War.

Tom left in the 1880's for Oklahoma, but someone jumped his claim and he bought a ticket to Temple, Texas. His first job was at Flat, Texas in Coryell County ‑ where he herded sheep. In the fall of 1885, Tom moved to The Grove, where he taught school for a year; thence to Rogers, Bell County, Texas, where he taught another two years, and then opened a store.

In 1889, Tom returned to Missouri, where he married a childhood sweetheart, Naoma Cruse; born in Missouri, died 1928 and buried in Rosebud in Woodland Cemetery. They returned to Rogers, Texas, where they lived until the Fall of 1892.

When their eldest child was ten months old, Tom made his final move to Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, where he established a general merchandise store in an old wooden building on the present site of the Skinner‑Slovacek Drug Store. The family lived in the back of the building for a couple of years, then bought a house at the present location of the of their son, Robert Souther.

About 1900, the store was moved to the former saloon and gambling hall building built by AnheuserBusch Company. Tom planted a grape arbor on the east side of the building, placing benches there for people to rest and visit. It was known as "Souther's Corner." Tom's advertising campaign in the Rosebud News was also called "Souther's Corner," and it was there that he voiced his opinions and advertised his business. He also purchased farm land in the area.

In 1924, Tom retired and passed his business to his sons and a son‑in‑law, Joe Smilie. Simeon Thomas and Naoma (Cruse) Souther were the parents of four children:

Simeon Cruse Souther (called "Sim"), b September 3, 1891 in Rogers, Texas, d October 1979 ‑ was a graduate of Texas A&M University, and served with the famous 36th Division from Texas in France, during World War I. He returned as a Major, and entered business with his father, Sim was married to Lois Romeni, and they had Thomas Howard Souther who married and had Gregory Scott and Todd Allen Souther.

Mary Alta Souther, b ca 1893, d 1898 and buried in Woodland Cemetery at Rosebud.

Kathleen Souther, b ca 1895, resides in 1986 in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas ‑married Joe Smilie, now deceased, who became a business partner of his father‑in‑law and managed the farm operation. They had two children: Peggy Jo Smilie, who married Owen Robert Smith, Sr. and lives in Rosebud where their two married sons, Owen Robert and Judy Smith, Jr. with Owen Robert Smith, III, and Terence Joseph and Carol Smith live. The Smilie's other child, Patricia Smilie (called "Pat"), married Charles Irwin and has David and Mary Beth Irwin, living in California.

Robert Ellyn Souther, born in Rosebud, is still living in the where he was born in Rosebud, with his wife, Carol (Eis) Souther. Bob entered the U.S. Army in 1942 as a Private in World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a Major in the 8th Tank Destroyers, a part of General George Patton's Third Army. After the war, Bob convinced Sim Souther and Joe Smilie that the store needed to be modernized, and in 1946, the present building was constructed. In December 1953, the partnership was dissolved, with Joe operating the farms, while Sim and Bob continued to run the store.

In January 1972, Sim and Bob were forced to retire, selling the store to Harvey Casey, who still operates the business under the Souther name.

Bob and Carol have two children: Robert Simeon Souther, who married and has Michael Souther and Deborah (Souther) Cromeens; and Diane (Souther) Dolan, who has Samuel Jefferson Dolan, Patricia Kelly (Dolan) Robertson, Andrea (Dolan) Owens, and Timothy Robert Dolan ‑ all of Dallas, Texas.

There have been Souther family members in Rosebud for 94 years, and in Texas 101 years.

 

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 423 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.