Grayson County TXGenWeb

Claude Melnot Major (1882 - 1931) was born in Brownwood, Brown Co., Texas, the son of Hezekiah Fore Major & and his first wife, Josephine Connor. By 1900 at the age of 18, Claude and his family were living in Denison, Grayson Co., Texas. In December 1906 Claude married Georgia Maude Perry.
According to the 1907 Denison City Directory, pg. 3, Claude and George W. Turner owned and operated Turner & Major located at 124 West Woodard St.

Two years later, according to the 1909 Denison City Directory, pg.3, Claude Major was owner of the carriage business in the same location and had changed its name to Denison Carriage Works.
Mr. Turner had moved down the street to 108 W. Woodard to work as a blacksmith for O.U. Wilson. Apparently, Mr. Turner had left Denison by 1911 as there is no reference to him in the Denison City Directory.

The above ad lists for C.M. Major & Co. as proprietor; however, the Denison City Directory for 1909 lists the proprietors of Denison Carriage Works as Major & Howard.

Denison Transfer, listed in 1907 City Directory, was located in the next block south of Denison Carriage Works at 106 W. Main Street. In 1909 the business went by the name of Denison Transfer Line. In 1911, it was known as Denison Transfer Co.; each listing shows T.J. Murphy as owner. C.M. Major worked for Denison Transfer Co. as a blacksmith in 1911
As early as 1913 Claude Major was working for Denison Crystal Ice as an engineer.