George S. Gayle
A Pioneer Citizen, Confederate Soldier

George S. Gayle was born September 13, 1845, in the Republic of Texas on the old family homestead on the Lavaca River in Jackson County.

At the age of eighteen years, in 1863, he volunteered and became a member of Company D in Colonel Buchel’s regiment, First Texas Cavalry of Volunteers. After doing picket duty for some time along the Texas Coast from High Island to the Sabine River, his command was transferred to Louisiana and took part in the campaign that repelled General Bank’s invasion of Louisiana. He was in the Battle of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. He was also in several skirmishes in that historic campaign. After the “break-up” of the war his regiment was disbanded, and he, laying aside his weapons of war, returned home and pursued the path of peace.

He was united in marriage to Miss Regina S. Dill in Goliad, Texas, Sept. 1, 1875. This union was blessed with seven children, who are as follows:

Frances Lea “Fannie” Gayle, married Anthony Ryan “Archie” McDowell

Nannie Elizabeth Gayle, married Edwin Percy Simons

George Shelton Gayle, married Lillie Pearl Provine

Allison Dill Gayle, married Ida Virginia Crenshaw

Regina Starr Gayle, married Milam Travis Simons Jr.

Virginia Lesesne Gayle, married Hugh Lawson White, Jr.

Lea Maxwell Gayle, married Fannie Esther Tisdale Jackson

He engaged in farming and stock raising as a vocation. His name has been closely associated with the history of the county. He was school trustee and county commissioner for a number of years. He filled office with honor and credit to himself, and to those who elected him. He was county commissioner for many terms and during his incumbency he never failed to bestow upon the business of the county the same strenuous care and attention that he would bestow upon his own private business. He watched the county’s interest with zealous care ever striving to see that it received full value for every dollar spent in promoting the public good. Under his advice and assistance much valuable work was accomplished I the way of construction and providing public highways. He was also equally active and interested in the upholding of the public schools. As a citizen he manifested a lively interest in everything that pertained to the welfare of the county and state. He was a member of the court that built the present courthouse.

He was a member of the Methodist Church, a member of Board of Stewards, trustee of its property and secretary of the Sunday School. He was adjutant of Clark L. Owen Chapter No. 666, United Confederate Veterans.

He was also the friend of the poor, the widows and the orphans and to the calls of charity he never turned a deaf ear. Under his hospitable roof his friends and strangers always found a generous welcome.

He died at his home in Edna, February 1, 1914.

The Cavalcade of Jackson County, Third Edition, pages 383-385
Used by permission of the Jackson County Historical Commission
 

George S. Gayle Home - 213 West Gayle, Edna
 

Mrs. Fannie Lea McDowell Passes

Last Friday, February 17, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Jennie White of this city, Mrs. Fannie Lea McDowell passed away following a protracted illness.

The funeral service was held at the Edna Methodist Church Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock and was conducted by her pastor, Rev. I. E. Walker.

The remains were laid to rest in the Edna Cemetery beside those of her late husband.

The pallbearers were Mrs. McDowell’s six nephews—Messrs. M. G. Simons, W. C. Simons, M. T. Simons, Jr., Archie Gayle Simons, A. D. Gayle, Jr., and Dr. George Gayle.

The honorary pallbearers were: Messrs. Jess Farquhar, Garvice Shoemate, Harley Stell, Jr., Otto Lawrence, Frank Wright, T. F. DuPont, Tony McDowell, Evarad McDowell, Walton McDowell, Walter Davidson and Russell Donnelley.

In the service conducted at the Church, Rev. Mr. Walker’s remarks were so appropriate and his tribute to the life of this good woman so beautiful that we quote at length from both below:

Mrs. Francis Lea McDowell was born in Goliad on August the 8^th, 1876, the oldest child of Regina S. Dill, and George S. Gayle. Her family moved to Jackson County when she was a very small child, and all the balance of her life was spent here. Here she lived her childhood, and days of her youth. Here she grew to young womanhood and was married. She married Archie R. McDowell November 25, 1896. Her husband preceded her in death by almost nine years. He passed away in June, 1941. Since that time “Aunt” Fannie had made her home with her sister, Mrs. Jennie White.

Mrs. McDowell joined the Edna Methodist Church in 1886. That was only four years after Edna became a town, and at that time Rev. Sterling Fisher was pastor of this church. Mrs. McDowell worked untiringly in the church. She had many talents and gave freely of them in the cause of Christ and the work of His Church. She was an excellent student of the Bible and taught a Sunday School class the most of her life. She was a teacher of a class at the time of her death and was lovingly known as “Aunt Fannie” or “Miss Fannie,” not only by her class, but by all who knew her. At one [time] she had a perfect record of attendance at Sunday School and church for 25 years (that is 1300 Sundays without missing, and the cause of her missing then was the death of her father which occurred at 9:00 o’clock on a Sunday morning.) In the going of this Saint of the Church, “Miss Fannie,” and her placing the banner of her Christ in younger hands, calls for a very high type of Christian Loyalty. A deep full consecration. It will not be easy to take her place, but it is a high and holy challenge. “Miss Fannie” was blessed with a bountiful storage of knowledge and especially a knowledge of the Bible. One of her greatest pleasures was to entertain children with Bible stories. And she was a master of the art of telling Bible stories.

“Miss Fannie” was a life long member of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service. She served this great service organization in different capacities when it was known as “The Ladies Aid,” as “The Woman’s Home Society,” as “The Woman’s Missionary Society” and as “The Woman’s Society of Christian Service.”

“Miss Fannie” was a member of the Eleanor Brackenridge Literary Club; a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She is survived by two sisters and three brothers, Mrs. M. T. Simons Sr., and Mrs. Hugh L. White, and A. D. Gayle, Sr., of Edna; and Geo. S. Gayle, Sr., and L. M. Gayle of Houston.

“Miss Fannie” or “Aunt Fannie,” as she was lovingly known had lived long and served well. We know of another who lived long and served well, and when he came to the end of His earthly pilgrimage He paused on the side of the river and leaning on his shield of faith. Looked through a window, the window of the past. It was a past well spent, and he said: “I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.” The looking out through another window, the window of the future, he could see across the river, and it was Coronation Day over there, and…[paper torn and the end of obituary was missing]

Edna Weekly Herald, February 23, 1950
 

A. D. Gayle Rites Held Here Monday

Funeral services were held from First Methodist Church Monday at 4 o’clock for A. D. Gayle Sr., 83, a retired merchant, who died Sunday evening in a hospital in Victoria. Rev. J. W. Griffin, pastor, assisted by Rev. I. E. Walker, former pastor, officiated and burial was in Edna Cemetery under the direction of Slavik Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Clyde Holloway, C. S. Simons, W. R. Gloor, Garvis Shoemate, Harley Stell and M. T. Simons Jr.

Mr. Gayle had been in declining health for the past few years, but became critically ill Friday, when he was rushed to the hospital.

Alison Dill Gayle was born in Goliad October 25, 1880, but he had resided in Jackson County and Edna practically all of his life. He was married to Miss Ida Crenshaw November 27, 1907, and in 1957 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Gayle died in 1960.

The last surviving member of the building committee that erected the present Methodist Church, Mr. Gayle was extremely active in church affairs. He was elected a steward and official board member in 1909 and served in that capacity until his death.

Survivors include: a son, A. D. Gayle Jr., of Edna; a daughter, Mrs. Otto (Virginia) Lawrence, also of Edna; two sisters, Mrs. Hugh L. “Jennie” White and Mrs. M. T. Simons Sr., both of Edna; two brothers, George and Lee Gayle of Houston, three grandchildren, Miss Mary Alison Gayle, Mrs. Lois Alison Gayle, Mrs. Lois Gayle Kruschwitz of Hawaii and Miss Nancy Lawrence.

Edna Herald, May 21, 1964