From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
The school teacher from Kentucky, Andrew Thomas Pickett, rode horseback from Barren County, Kentucky to Dallas County early in the 1850’s. He came along with his father, most of his father’s children and Permelia Pickett, the mother of the family. The trip would have taken several weeks to travel the distance of about eleven hundred miles.
When A. Thomas Pickett was about 25 years old, he became active in the Spring Creek Baptist Church located on Renner Road at what is now Greenville Avenue. Minutes from the Association records reveal that he was a messenger to the annual meetings of the Elm Fork Association which included most Baptist Churches in Collin County and surrounding areas.
Tom Pickett met and married Miss Tabitha S. Epps of Collin County, the daughter of Obidah Epps and wife Delila Taylor, who had migrated from Butler County, Missouri to Collin County a few years before.
The home of Andrew and Tabitha Epps Pickett was established at the corner of Beltline and Shiloh Roads north of Duck Creek, later to become the city of Garland, Texas.
A story related by the family tells us that Tom Pickett was known to be a generous, big-hearted person. He had been known to give away the last ham that hung in the smokehouse to a hungry family that needed help. Tom sold half of his 160 acres to his sister and her husband, Julia and Pryor Wright, for a milk-cow and twenty five dollars.
The children of Tabitha and Thomas Pickett were: 1) John N. Pickett born January 11, 1861, died February 13, 1886 of the measles.
2) Andrew Thomas Pickett, Jr. born April 14, 1863, Duck Creek, Dallas County, Texas, died October 14, 1899. He married February 6, 1889 Miss Emma Ette Shuffler born September 2, 1870 in Burke County, North Carolina, died September 14, 1962. Andrew and Emma Pickett had one daughter, Lillian Edith Pickett born June 23, 1897 in Dallas County, Texas. Edith married Olin Monroe Geer born February 10, 1893 in Atkins, Arkansas. This family moved away from Texas to Racine, Wisconsin, where Olin worked for Allis Chalmers Tractor Company. Emma Anne Geer was born September 4, 1934 in Racine, Wisconsin. Another child, Andrew Thomas Geer was born and died January 28, 1938 in Racine, Wisconsin.
Emma Anne Geer married Frederick Dorwin Clem August 23, 1958. He was born September 26, 1932 in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Both Emma Anne and Fred are members of the Milwaukee Symphony. They have two children: Sandra Beth born January 6, 1960 in Evansville, Indiana, and John Frederick Clem born May 31, 1965 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
As this document is being prepared Mr. Olin Geer has passed away in LaPorte, Indiana, where he and Edith had lived for many years. Olin died October 7, 1979; his body was brought back to Collin County, Texas for burial.
3) Mary Margaret Pickett born December 23, 1866, died February 22, 1886 of the measles.
4) James Absalom Pickett was born December 7, 1870, died . June 27, 1950 at Garland, Texas. He married Miss Della Veletta Flook August, 1904. She was born October 28, 1876, died June 27, 1957. Miss Flook was the daughter of Lewis Martin Taylor Flook born 1848 in Maryland, and his wife, Mary Catherine Bectol. James “Jim” and Della Pickett had two children: a) Taylor Thomas Pickett born January 30, 1906, married Miss Ida Mitchell January 1, 1935; they have three children: Barbara, John and James Pickett. Dr. Taylor T. Pickett has been a family physician in the Dallas area for many years. His wife Ida is a registered nurse. He maintains an office in Garland, Texas. b) Maydell Catherine Pickett was born July 26, 1912; married Mr. Clint Wyrick May 14, 1948. Clint and Maydell Wyrick have two girls: Marilyn Wyrick born April 9, 1950, married William Ingram; Phyllis Wyrick married J. Randall Patterson January 20, 1976.
5) Robert Samuel Pickett born November 5, 1873, died March 19, 1954. “Bob Sam” Pickett married Miss Leona Williams, the daughter of Ben F. Williams and Lucy Jane Anderson. The Williams and Anderson families were both from the state of Kentucky. The children of Sam and Ona Pickett were: Noel B., Opal, Mary, Thomas Benjamin, Evelyn Faye.
a) Noel B. Pickett born September 9, 1900, married Miss Verda Osborn. They had three sons: J. R. born 1920 died 1923; Ralph B. born December 23, 1922, married Edith Maydelle Cooper; and James Edward born October 18, 1927, married Doris Jane Robertson. Edward and Doris Pickett have one son, James Dwayne Pickett, who married Melissa Bond. Ralph and Maydelle Pickett have two sons and two daughters: A) Gary Ralph Pickett married Charlean Harwell; they have two sons, Benjamin and Dale. B) Barry Noel Pickett married (1st) Donna Carol Corley; he married (2nd) Peggy Cloud. C) Vicki Cooper Pickett married Virgil M. Mayabb, Jr.; they have two girls, Lindsey and Kelsey. D) Patti Bea Pickett married Gary Harmon; they have two children, Sherman and Jeffrey.
b) Opal Pickett born July 25, 1902; married Johnny Edgar Raney. The children of Opal and Edgar Raney were: Edgar Howard Raney born April 20, 1930, died from an accident December 11, 1968 at the family home. Glenda Nell Raney born July 23, 1935, married Carl Logan Hendrex from Farmersville, Texas. They have no children. Edgar Raney died December 29, 1972.
c) Mary Pickett born June 15, 1904, married Lee Todd. They had these children: A) Merle Louise born November 23, 19 24, married Henry Earl Hunt from Farmersville, Texas. They have one daughter, Susan Hunt born October 7, 1945, married Michael Rainey who was from Wellington, Texas. They have a daughter, Leigh Miche Rainey born July 23, 1972. B) William David Todd born August 22, 1926, married Wilma Eliza. Anderson. They have two sons, Wm. David Jr., who married Linda Goodman, and Richard Morris, who married Lisa Futrell. C) Monroe Lee Todd born July 1, 1928, married Laura Ann Talley. They have two children: Pamela Lea married Michael A. Baker. They have a daughter, April. Mark Monroe Todd married Jan Starkey. D) Delbert Samuel Todd born December 27, 1930, married Mary Anna Fogarty. They have three children: Ben Carl, Bruce Allen and Deborah Ann. E) Paul Roland Todd born January 23, 1934, died December 29, 19 34. F) Mildred Todd born February 18, 1944, married Paul Eslie Pittman. They have a daughter, Joy Keiko Pittman.
d) Thomas Benjamin Pickett born May 13, 1906, married Edith Dollye Wagner They have a daughter, Sonja Sue Pickett who married Dr. Michael Henry Schweinberg. Sonja and Mike have two children: Thomas Pickett and Sonja Kristina.
e) Evelyn Faye Pickett born March 22, 1916, married J. W. (Oval) Horton. Evelyn and Oval had three children: Peggy Jean born July 4, 1940, died December 21, 1957; Linda Lou Horton born April 23, 1944, married Charles Harvey Giddens (they have two sons: Richard Kelly and Robert Gregory); and a son James Terry Horton born May 20, 1948, married Quinn Earl Morphis. Quinn and Terry have two daughters, Misti Leigh and Christi.
6) The sixth child of Thomas and Tabitha Pickett was Edna B. Pickett born March 26, 1880. Edna B. Pickett married Mr. Alvin Williams.
From the Garland News Friday December 7, 1900:
“Married on Wednesday night of last week, at Shiloh, Miss Edna B. Pickett to Mr. Alvin Williams. Rev. Grafton of Richardson officiating. The news extends congratulations.”
Edna and Alvin Williams had these children: Lacy Williams born 1901; Allie born 1903, married ? Dudley; Gertie Williams born 1905, died 1948; Cecil Williams born 1907, married ?; Roy Williams born 1911, married ?; Mary Williams born 1915 married ? Scott.
Edna B. Pickett Williams died in 1942; Alvin Williams died in 1970. They are buried in Big Springs Cemetery on Jupiter Road.
The cattle brand registered to Andrew Thomas Pickett was a large “T” with the letters A & P joined as drawn here.
By Louise Todd Hunt, Farmersville
