Smith County, Texas

Andrew VENABLE , son of James VENABLE and Jane ??? was born 2 Aug 1805 in York Co., SC. On 25 Jan 1825 he married Mary Ann EVANS, born 5 December 1804.

1. James William VENABLE, born 9 Nov 1825, York Co., SC; died 18 October 1882, Smith County TX; buried Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Co, TX; married 17 Oct 1847 Martha Elizabeth FORMAN, born 18 July 1829, AL; died 26 July 1910, Smith Co., TX)
2. Oliver Hazard Perry VENABLE Sr., born 23 December 1827, York County, SC; died 26 August 1913; buried Liberty Cemetery, Odenville, St. Clair Co., AL; married
   1. 24 August 1849 Mary Ann FORMAN, born 20 February 1832; died 18 September 1902, St. Clair Co., AL (See picture below.)
   2. 28 Sep 1904 Dovie Frances Thirlkill, born Feb 1887; died 12 Dec 1942.
3. Hugh VENABLE, born 10 Dec 1831, York County, SC; died 25 October 1911, Henderson Co.,TX; buried Edom Cemetery, Van Zandt Co, TX; married 6 Jun 1862 Sarah A. PRICE, daughter of Sterling R. PRICE and Alista Autrey, born 1844; died 1927, Henderson Co., TX
4. John Bryson VENABLE, born 28 May 1834, York Co., SC; died 21 May 1862, Okolona, MS (During Civil War); buried Confederate Cemetery, Okolona, Chickasaw Co., MS; married .6 Nov 1856 Manerva A. SIMPSON, born 20 Jan 1838; died 25 Aug 1912, St. Clair Co., AL
5. Twin Boy VENABLE, (Died at birth) born & died 27 Mar 1836, York Co., SC
6. Twin Boy VENABLE, (Died three days after birth), born 27 Mar 1836, York Co., SC; died 30 Mar 1836, York Co., SC
7. Christiana Jane VENABLE, born 6 Jan 1838, St. Clair Co., AL; died 6 Mar 1924; buried Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Co, TX; married 25 Feb 1858 Madison Freeman PRICE, the son of Sterling R. PRICE and Alsista Autrey, born 1836

Andrew and Mary Ann Venable and their four sons moved from York Co., South Carolina to St. Clair Co., Alabama in about 1837 or 1838 where Christiana Jane was born. They moved to Smith County Texas in February of 1849. One of the boys, John Bryson, moved back to Alabama in 1856. He was to later join the CSA and died in Mississippi on May 21, 1862.

Andrew Venable died in Shreveport on 11 Dec 1853. In 1858 Mary Ann, a widow at this time, along with her son Oliver, moved back to St. Clair County, Alabama. James William, Hugh, and Christiana Jane stayed in the east Texas area, specifically Henderson and Smith Counties.

Letters that Mary Ann wrote to her children in Texas

Mary Ann died 29 January 1895 in Alabama and is buried in the Argo Presbyterian Cemetery, Argo, St. Clair County, AL.

"This marker was made by her son, Oliver Hazard Perry Venable, Sr. As you can see, the marker for Mary Ann was a hand carved stone and when he ran out of space on a line, he just carried it down to the next line. It reads: "IN MEMORIAL OF MARYAN VENABLE BORN AD 1804 DEC THE 15TH DYED 29TH JANUARY 1895." It still stands today and occasionally, I trace the letters with a laundry marker so they can be seen." - Betty Venable Phillips

1. William T. VENABLE, born 1848, AL; married
   1. 1. 12 Aug 1868 Mary Elizabeth GODSEY, born 16 Aug 1846, Mecklenburg Co., NC; died 17 Apr 1893, Smith Co. TX 2. 1898 Fannie ???, born Oct 1881
2. Andrew "Andy" VENABLE, born 1 Feb 1852, Smith Co. TX; died 3 Sep 1903, Henderson Co., TX; buried Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Co, TX; married 7 Jul 1872 Martha J. MORSE, born 19 Dec 1855, Shelby Co., AL; died 30 May 1900, Smith Co. TX
3. Martha Idella VENABLE, born 1854, Smith Co. TX
4. Jane VENABLE, born about 1858, Smith Co. TX; died about 1879; married 9 Mar 1877 Andrew Jackson SINCLAIR, born 25 May 1853; died 16 Oct 1914
5. Minerva VENABLE, born about 1860, Smith Co. TX; died about 1884; married 1880 Andrew Jackson SINCLAIR, born 25 May 1853; died 16 Oct 1914

James died 18 October 1882. Martha died 26 July 1910. Both are buried in the Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Co., TX.

Children of Andy Venable and Martha Venable:

1. Madison Freeman Venable, born 11 Apr 1874, Smith Co., TX; died 30 Mar 1922, Smith Co., TX; married
   1. 22 Feb 1894, Smith Co., TX, Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Hester, born 16 Aug 1875; died 2 Oct 1912, Smith Co., TX. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX Picture
   2. Bessie BEARDSLEY, born c 1887, died unknown
2. James William "Jim" Venable, born 10 Sep 1876, Smith Co., TX; died 29 Aug 1951, Smith Co., TX; married 25 Jan 1899 Emma Bell CHAPMAN, b. 24 Aug 1883 d. 4 Jun 1976. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX.  Picture
3. Dora Venable, born 20 Mar 1879, Smith Co. TX; died 2 Dec 1973, Smith Co., TX; married
   29 Dec 1898 Allen Pierce HUGHES b. 16 Oct 1876 d. 7 May, 1959. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX. Picture
4. Henry William VENABLE, born 13 Aug 1881, Smith Co., TX; died 23 Dec 1934, Smith Co., TX; married Sara Jane SHELTON, born 9 Jun 1893; died 10 Apr 1987. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX.
5. Jesse VENABLE, born 1884, Smith Co., TX; died 1945, Smith Co., TX; married 1905, Pearlie MOORE, born 1886; died 1961. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX.
6. Burley VENABLE, born 19 Sep 1886, Smith Co., TX; died 17 Aug 1913, Smith Co., TX; married Sam McKENNEY, born 15 Mar 1884; died Feb 1977. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX.
7. Berta Mae VENABLE, born 10 Aug 1889, Smith Co., TX; died 10 Jun 1891, Smith Co., TX
8. Lexie VENABLE, born 12 Aug 1892, Smith Co., TX; died 24 Jun 1983, Smith Co., TX; married 22 Dec 1912, Pickett McKAY, b. 26 Jul 1888, d. 30 Jan 1969; Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX
9. Bessie Lula VENABLE, born 6 Mar 1895, Smith Co., TX; died 5 May 1968, Smith Co., TX; married James M. "Jim" HUNTER, born 11 Jun 1882; died 8 Sep 1955. Both are buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co., TX.  Picture
10. Mae VENABLE, died in infancy, dates unknown.

Martha died 30 May 1900, Smith County, TX.

Andy was married 26 Jun 1901 to Linnie ELLIS who was born 4 Apr 1875 and died 12 Aug 1960. She is buried in the Dean Baptist Church Cemetery next to her first husband, William E. ELLIS, born 16 Nov 1869 and died 29 Aug 1900. Her marker reads: Linnie Ellis Shelton.

Andy died 3 Sep 1903 in Henderson County, TX. He is buried at Dean Baptist Church Cemetery, Tyler, Smith County, TX beside his first wife Martha.

Rick & Janie Featherston - Letters from Mary Ann, Letters from M. F. Price

Betty Venable Phillips - Letters from Mary Ann & Pictures

Cemetery Records Smith County, Texas, Volume III, Southwest Quarter; East Texas Genealogical Society,1984

Marriage Records of Smith County, Texas, 1846-1899; East Texas Genealogical Society, 1979

Smith County TX US Federal Census

• Andrew - 1850 - Image 52b
• James William -
  • 1850 - Image 79a,
  • 1860 - Image 87b,
  • 1870 - 273b,
  • 1880 - 98-08
• Oliver Hazard Perry - 1850 - Image 79b
• Hugh - 1860 - Image 84b
• Andy -
  • 1880 - Image 098-08,
  • 1900 - Image 106-01a