Frank & Ella McNair's 50th Wedding Anniversary

 7 June 1953

 These pictures were found in my mother's scrapbook, as she preserved our family history. 

This news article most likely came from The Vernon Daily Record. Frank and Ella celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home in Lockett, surrounded by 30 family members and over 100 afternoon guests.

Below: Frank and Ella with their daughters. From left to right, Ova, Ava, Frank, Ella, Benona, Lillian.

Below: My brother and sister pictured with the cake.

Below: more great-grandchildren

Frank & Ella's Wedding Day

 Charles Franklin McNair

Ella Vermell King

Married 7 June 1903

Moody, McLennan County, Texas

These are the original wedding photos found in Mother's scrapbook. 

Information given by Carolita Jones Quillin

Corrections made by Nancy Quillin Long

The McNair's were Mother's grandparents. She wrote this information from the top of her head. It served as great leads for me, but the information is not accurate. Please refer to my information below.

CORRECTIONS TO MOTHER'S INFORMATION:

Emily Hulsey's family came to America in the 1600s, most likely from England.

Mama's (Ella Vermell King) grandmother on the Hulsey side was Sarah Haney. Ella's mother was Emily M Hulsey who had a sister named Kansas Lydia Hulsey.

Grandmother King's maiden name was Hood, not Grandmother Hulsey. The Hood name comes from our King family, not our Hulsey line.

Our connection to Ft. Hood would be through our Henderson/McNair line. Mack McNair married Sarah Henderson. Way back on our Henderson line, a Samuel Henderson married Elizabeth Calloway. Her sister Lydia Calloway would be the connection that we have to Ft. Hood.

My McNair line was most likely from Ireland, just as mother said above, but they came to America in the early 1700s.

Schroeder name is close (but no cigars ;). Papa's (Frank McNair) grandfather was John McNair who married Mary Ann Sherertz. 

Amazing how "word of mouth" information can change history. 

Mama & Papa McNair

 Reminiscences Of A Granddaughter

When I began to document family history, Mother (Carolita Jones Quillin) began making albums with her old photos. She also recorded her recollections. These pages are invaluable to me.

Papa - The Woodworker

 Charles Franklin McNair was a carpenter by trade, but he loved to build things. He also whittled wood and carved wooden people and animals. Mother and I often wondered where those wooden carvings ended up. Mother remembers them as a child. 

Below are pictures that my cousin sent of the pieces of furniture that Papa built. These pieces are in the possession of Pamela Jackson Torbet. Sent to me in 2020.

Papa - The Carpenter

Frank McNair was a carpenter by trade until he was called by God to preach. 

 On my Memory Lane trip with Daddy in 1991, he drove me through Crowell, Thalia, and Lockett so that I could take pictures of the places that were special on Mother's side of the family. I will let the descriptions that I wrote in the scrapbook to tell the story of how Papa and Daddy built two houses back in the 1920s. 

It's always hard to see places that were once so alive and vibrant become dilapidated shells from the glory days. Papa's garden and vegetable cellar would have been just behind this back porch.

Below was the home that Daddy and Papa built with the help of Ike's dad. See the typed note. 

In 2022, Lockett suffered the damage of a strong tornado. My husband drove me to Crowell, Thalia, Lockett and then Vernon to see family. I was relieved to see that the church and Papa's house were still standing. 

Below: Papa's house 2022 Someone has bricked over the original outer mud stone blocks, and they also added onto the back of the house.

Side Trip During Mother's Pregnancy

 My parents always took a vacation in early August. Mother was in late pregnancy, so they took a short trip to Possum Kingdom Lake. Mother was still holding me in her belly. This is at the overlook at the dam at PK on the Brazos River.

Frank McNair - Pastor of Lockett Baptist Church

Papa founded this church in 1924 with 12 other people.

I remember passing through Lockett every time that we visited Mimi and Pappy in Crowell. This church was always loved and well maintained during my growing up years. At the time, I didn't feel the gravity of what this place meant to my rich family history. 

This picture would have been taken in the mid 1990s.

 

In 2022, Lockett sustained much damage from a severe tornado. My heart was at unrest until I could make a trip up to see what was left standing. This tornado cut a path between the church and Papa and Mama's home, but both of them were still standing. Pictured below is the church building as I found it in April 2023. I can't remember if it had a church sign out front. I was just relieved to find it in good condition.

April 2023