From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, not currently in print.
Mary Priscilla Truss was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on August 22, 1868, a daughter of Enos and Mary Elizabeth Courson Truss. When she was nearly two years of age, her grandfather and grandmother, Rev. James and Priscilla Dulaney Truss, her mother and father, a brother, Lemuel Joel Truss, and a sister, Eleanor Jane Truss, came to Texas in an ox wagon. There were 40 wagons in this caravan that treked it way, very slowly to Dallas County, Texas.
Mary Priscilla knew that her parents, Enos and Mary Elizabeth Courson Truss, were among the “married ones” in that caravan. Her brother, Lemuel Joel, was born in Alabama April 11, 1866 and she was born in Mississippi on August 22, 1868, therefore we believe that the Truss family left Alabama between 1866 and 1868 arriving in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas by 1870 when they were shown on the census.
In an interview appearing in the Terrell, Texas Tribune in 1953, Priscilla says that when her family arrived in Dallas County that the city of Dallas was a small place. There were no fences anywhere and droves of cattle were seen on all sides. She stated that the entire Truss connection settled close together in Dallas County, in the Mesquite area at New Hope, Tripp, and Long Creek. Her grandfather, James Truss, was a Baptist minister and he often preached in the Baptist churches in the area. Mary Priscilla attended the Worthington and Long Creek schools.
Mary Priscilla’s brother, Lemuel Joel Truss, was blind and attended the school for the blind in Austin, Texas. Phillip Andrew Lechner also had a blind brother attending that school, and it was through the friend ship of these blind brothers that Phillip met Priscilla. It was love at first sight. Phillip and Priscilla were married November 22, 1844 by Rev. J. W. Young in Dallas County. The young couple lived on the Lechner family farm in Colquitt, Kaufman County, Texas until 1890 when they moved to Terrell, Kaufman County.
In 1900 Phillip bought a farm but rented it out while he operated a grocery store in Terrell. When ill health forced him to retire from the grocery business, he operated a small floral shop at his home. Phillip and Priscilla celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1934. He died two years later on February 2, 1936. Priscilla died February 16, 1958. They are both buried in Oakland Memorial Park in Terrell, Texas.
Phillip and Priscilla were the parents of seven children, one of whom died in infancy. 1) Fannie Gertrude was born January 23, 1886. She was married to Luther F. Ellison in 1906. Their son was Robert Loyd, who became an accomplished musician. Minnie later married Robert F. Akridge who adopted her son, Robert Loyd. Robert Loyd Akridge was married to Maude Norris DeBow in 1932. Their children are Jaqueline Norris Foster and Jill Louise Kunody, both of California. Robert Loyd Akridge died in Terrell, Texas on January 20, 1972. Minnie last married Summerfield Griffith. She died on May 12, 1975 and is buried in Terrell.
2) Mae Ola was born August 3, 1887 in Colquitt, Kaufman County. She died on March 24, 1958. On September 23, 1914 she was married to Perry Temple McGinnis. Their daughter, Ola Elizabeth “Lady Perry,” is married to Dr. Frank A. Camp, Jr., a dentist in Denton, Texas. Their children are Frank A. Camp lll, Ronald Camp, and Elizabeth Lynn McCormack.
3) Martha Grace was born September 23, 1889 in Colquitt, Texas. She died October 8, 1889 and is buried in Chisholm Cemetery in Rockwall County.
4) Walter William was born October 13, 1890 in Terrell. He married Allen May Kyle on October 22, 1911. Their son, Rembert Andrew, lives on the farm that his grandfather, Phillip, bought in 1900. Rembert married (1) Nora Poston of Dallas in 1942. They had three children, Sylvia Jean Coker, William Andrew and Lucinda Kay Johnson. Walter later married (2) Martha Ruth Nowlin. He died September 3, 1979.
5) Mary Ethel was born October 12, 1894. She married Hunter Basil Lyon on June 16, 1915. Their only child died at birth. Ethel died July 17, 1957. Hunter died March 18, 1964.
6) Phillip Andrew, Jr. (Tip) was born April 25, 1899 in Terrell. He was married last to Lura Augustine Roberdy December 18, 1936. He had no children. He died September 1, 1964. Lura died April 10, 1968 and is buried in Ladonia, Texas.
7) Lucille Elizabeth was born March 5, 1903 in Terrell. She was twice married and had no children. On January 23, 1925 she married (1) Samuel Robert Thrasher. She was married to (2) Charles Leland Hamil on September 4, 1954. After Charles’ death in 1958, she moved to the Lechner family farm and lived there until her death on May 18, 1981.
Mary Priscilla Truss Lechner was loved by all who knew her. She not only had seven children but she had three grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, sixteen great, great grandchildren, and at least one great, great, great grandchild.
By Rembert Andrew Lechner, grandson, Terrell
