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Mason Standish "Jack" Holsworth came to Texas with his parents in March of 1910, at the age of sixteen. He enrolled in the Academy at the Gulf Coast University until the family arrived in December. After the University was closed, he and his father began farming rice. They farmed three crops before the canal to furnish water was completed. In January, 1915, at the age of twenty-one, Jack bought his first herd of Brahman cattle. Clay McSparran, manager of the Pierce Estate, helped him select his cattle and register his brand. Two years later he sold them to enlist in the army during World War I.
Upon his return from the army in 1918, Jack resumed his interest in farming and ranching. He bred another herd of 180 head of Brahman cattle, but after the freeze and ice storm in December, 1924, he had only eighty left. He soon bred another herd of good commercial cattle. In 1947 he began breeding a herd of registered Red Brahmans with the purchase of a registered bull, the son of an imported Brazilian bull--Rio Negro. His long range plan was to breed a herd of big, red cattle. This was the foundation of the present day ranching program.
On May 25, 1930, Jack Holsworth married Ethel Sirmon, a school teacher from Markham who was teaching in the Collegeport School. They had four children: Margaret Ann, Thomas Edwin, Phyllis Helen, and Mason Standish II.
Ethel Sirmon attended school in Markham and was graduated from the Markham and Bay City schools. She attended Southwestern University where she received her teaching certificate, and after that, began teaching in the Collegeport school. Her second year of teaching was in Pledger, Texas.
Jack Holsworth served the First Presbyterian Church as Elder, Treasurer and Chairman of the Building Committee for the Manse. He was a Trustee of the Collegeport School Board, Chairman of the Precinct No. 7 Election Board, and was a director of: the Independent Rice Warehouse, Navigation District No. 1, Hawley Cemetery Association, and Matagorda County Livestock Show. He was a member of the American Brahman Breeders Association and the Pan American Zebu Association.
Ethel Holsworth was a member of the Methodist Church in Markham and later the First Presbyterian Church, Collegeport. She was a member of: Woman's Union, Kings Daughters, Woman's Club, Collegeport YWCA, Home Demonstration Club, and held various offices in these organizations. She was also a Trustee and Secretary of the Collegeport School Board, Trustee of the Palacios Independent School District Board, Presiding Judge of Precinct 7 Election Board, and a member of the American Brahman Breeders Association and the Pan America Zebu Association. She was a charter member, the second from the United States, of the Asociation Granadera de Criadores de Cebu en la Republica Mexicana (Mexican Association of Zebu Cattle Raisers).
After the lengthy illness and death of her husband in January, 1959, she, with the aid of her two sons, assumed the operation of Holsworth Farms and M. S. Holsworth Ranch. Thomas managed the farm, Mason managed the ranch, and Ethel the office.
In order to support three families, it was necessary to expand the rice acreage, add the cultivation of milo, and install their own dryer. With Mason as manager of the M. S. Holsworth Ranch, an outstanding herd of Red Brahman Gyr-type cattle, heavy in imported blood was developed and received International recognition. M. S. Holsworth Ranch exported these cattle to South Africa, Mexico, the Central American Countries and Australia. In 1984, one of the bulls from the M. S. Holsworth Ranch exported to Australia was the sire of an embryo that sold for $9000.00 at auction.
Thomas Edwin Holsworth and Mason Standish Holsworth II were active in numerous church, farm, ranch and community organizations.
Margaret Ann Holsworth Hodge - 1984
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pp 252-253
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Palacios Beacon, May 29, 1940 |
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Funeral services for Mason Standish (Jack) Holsworth, 65, of Collegeport were held in the Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City Sunday, January 25 at 3 p. m. Interment was in the Hawley Cemetery. Mr. Holsworth, a resident of Matagorda County for the past 48 years, passed away early Friday morning at the Methodist Hospital in Houston. He was a member of the Collegeport Presbyterian Church and a veteran of World War I. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ethel Holsworth; two sons, Mason and Thomas; two daughters, Mrs. Phyllis Helen Richman, all of Collegeport and Mrs. Margaret Ann Hodge of Dallas; four granddaughters and one sister, Miss Margaret Holsworth of Collegeport. Palacios Beacon, January 29, 1959
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Funeral services for Ethel Sirmon Holsworth, 90, of Collegeport, Tex.
will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 at the Palacios Funeral Home
Chapel with the Revs. William J. Hodge, and Andy and Janell Blair
officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing.
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Ethel Sirmon Holsworth (1909-2000) was a longtime resident of Collegeport, a schoolteacher, farmer/rancher and community activist. She had an undying interest in the Collegeport community, and was instrumental in preserving the Mopac House when it had fallen into a state of disrepair and non-use. At one point the Mopac was in deplorable condition with the doors off the hinges and cattle roaming through it. Jack and Ethel Holsworth hired George Baccus to construct the trusses to straighten and support the walls and roof of the building. Over the years, other improvements were made.
Collegeport Day had evolved as a “covered dish” occasion, and at one point, attendance waned. In 1945, in an effort to improve attendance and stimulate interest for the homecoming, Jack and Ethel Holsworth donated a calf which was barbecued by John Merck and “Cheatum” Greenwood. Since that time, barbecuing has become the tradition of Collegeport Day. In more recent years, boneless beef briskets were used, for the convenience of preparation and serving. Although there has never been a charge for the meal, the sale of barbecue has been the primary fundraiser for the upkeep of the building.
Mrs. Holsworth never lost her zeal for the Mopac
House, or her love for our community. She served as treasurer of the
Woman’s Club for 50 years and also served as a trustee of the Mopac
House Foundation, which maintains the Mopac House and Library for the
benefit of the citizens of our community. Her enthusiasm and efforts
have helped the Mopac House remain vital as a community center in this
area of Matagorda County. |
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Married August 18, 1951 Collegeport, Matagorda County, Texas
William James Hodge
Rev. William James “Bill” Hodge, 97, passed away February 25, 2018 of
pneumonia with his wife of 67 years and his daughters by his side. He
was the youngest (a twin) of four sons, born to Dr. Russell Lowe Hodge
and Margaret Campbell Hodge on September 3, 1920 in Kansas City,
Missouri. Bill graduated from Kansas City High School, attended Central
Methodist University, and graduated from Kansas University with a B.S.
degree in Business Administration. While at KU he earned his pilot’s
license and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He enlisted in the US Marine
Corp and attended the Platoon Leaders Class in San Diego, CA where he
received his commission as a Second Lieutenant. After graduation from
college he was called to active duty and was assigned to the fourth
division, 23rd Regiment where he served the duration of the war. Bill
saw action in four campaigns in the Pacific: Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian
(receiving the Bronze Star & Presidential Unit Citation Fourth Marine
Division), and Iwo Jima advancing through the ranks to Captain. On Iwo
Jima, he volunteered to take over command of A company, 1st Battalion,
23rd Regiment after it had sustained heavy casualties. In that capacity
he received a personal Citation for Valor under bitter fighting and
heavy fire. He was promoted to the rank of Major prior to leaving the
service. Houston Chronicle from Feb. 28 to Mar. 1, 2018
[burial at Hawley Cemetery,
Blessing, Texas]
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Thomas Edwin Holsworth, 87, of Palacios passed away July 26, 2020. He was born September 22, 1932 in Bay City to the late Mason Standish Holsworth and Ethel Irene Sirmon.
He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church where he had served on the Bishop’s Committee. He helped set up the Matagorda County Appraisal District and the Matagorda County Navigation District and was a member of Texas Farm Bureau.
Survivors include his wife Marie Holsworth; sons Edwin Holsworth of Houston and John Holsworth of Port Lavaca; sisters Margaret Ann Hodge and Phyllis Derrick; brother Mason Holsworth and grandchildren Michelle Matthewson & husband Zack, Koben Holsworth and Amber Holsworth.
Graveside service will be 10:00 AM Thursday, July 30, 2020 at Hawley Cemetery with Rev. Bill Bullard officiating.
Taylor Bros. Funeral Home Photo courtesy of G. W. Franzen
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Wilkerson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, Waco, Texas
Services Are Held For J. P. Richman; Succumbs To Polio
Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 17, at 4 p. m., for John Patrick Richman in the First Baptist Church here with Rev. Rayford Harris officiating and Rev. William Hodge assisting.
Mr. Richman, who was 24, died after a brief illness in Jeff Davis’ Polio Center in Houston Monday, August 15.
He was born November 17, 1930 in Lane City, Texas, and later moved to Danbury, Texas, finally coming to Palacios while a high school student. Recently discharged from military service, Mr. Richman married the former Phyllis Helen Holsworth of Collegeport in Waco on October 11, 1953.
He was a 1949 graduate of Palacios High School and was graduated from Texas A and M College in 1953.
A member of Alpha Zeta honorary fraternity while in college, Mr. Richman was also a member of the First Baptist Church and was active in church work.
Pallbearers were John Heft, Jesse Allan Derrick, Thomas Holsworth, Leon Shipley, Carl Bergland, Wallace B. Travelstad, Jack Halliday and A. M. Burkett.
In addition to his widow, Mr. Richman is survived by one daughter, Priscilla, 10 months, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Richman and one brother Phil Richman. Interment was in Palacios Cemetery.
Palacios Beacon, August 18, 1955
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Mason
Standish Holsworth II
Mason or “Bub” was raised on the family farm and ranch in
Collegeport Texas. He attended the Palacios schools and graduated in
1955. He went on to further his education at the University of
Houston, however, before he finished, he returned to Collegeport to
care for his ailing father and take care of the farm. He worked his
entire life on the farm and ranch. In 1988 the Holsworth Ranch was
recognized as Outstanding Cattlemen of the Year. He was well known
for his love of all creatures. He especially loved his cattle. He
knew them by name and waved at them as he drove past their pastures,
because “they knew it was him.” Mason had a dry sense humor that he
wove into any conversation or any advice he gave. He never had a
bad word to say of anyone except for the time he referred to the
Water Boss as the “Possum Sheriff” the time they held the water from
his rice field. Mason loved the Lord and was a lifelong member of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Collegeport where he was an Elder. He was a Trustee with the MOPAC Foundation and a member of the Collegeport Day BBQ team. He also served his community by being a member of the Palacios School Board. Mason never like to be the one to shine, but he could be counted on to sing a solo and play his harmonica. His other hidden talent was his baking. No holiday was complete without receiving one of his homemade fruit cakes, neatly packaged with a bow and delivered personally to your door.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Ethel, his brother
Thomas Holsworth and sister Phyllis Derrick and grandson Baby Boy
Cornett. He is survived by his sister Margaret Ann Hodge, his
children James Romine, Jan Hunter, Amy Holsworth and Suzanne Cornett
(Shane) and their mother Linette Keton, Grandchildren Jessica,
Justin, Kortni, Lauren, Lisa, Jack, Ava, Brandon, Faith and Hope. As
well as fourteen great grandchildren and a host of adoring nieces
and nephews survive him.
The family will receive relatives and friends for visitation from
5-7 pm Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in
Bay City. Graveside services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, February
6, 2025, at Hawley Cemetery in El Maton.
Taylor Bros. Funeral Home |
Phyllis
Holsworth Derrick passed from this life peacefully in Waco, Texas, on
October 1, 2020. She was the daughter of Mason Standish Holsworth “Jack”
and Ethel Sirmon Holsworth, and was born February 23, 1934, in Bay City,
Texas, the third of their four children. Phyllis Helen grew up on the
family farm and ranch in Collegeport, Texas, and attended elementary
school there and middle and secondary school in Palacios, Texas, where
she graduated from Palacios High School.
Mason
Standish Holsworth II entered into Heavens Choir surrounded by
family on February 3, 2025. He was the last of 4 children born to
“Jack” Mason Standish Holsworth and Ethel Irene Sirmon on January 2,
1937, in Bay City, Texas.