RUSK PENITENTIARY The main building of the present Rusk State Hospital was built in 1878. The Penitentiary was receiving prisoners by January 1883 from the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, TX. These prisoners were used as convict labor for the iron industry in the area at that time. For more information on this institution, please check The Handbook Of Texas Online at the following address: <http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/jjr1.html> Texas became a state in October of 1845, and in 1846 there was only one family living in Rusk. Rusk was chosen as the County Seat of Cherokee County and named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. ******* EAST TEXAS PENITENTIARY, Rusk. Texas - Cherokee Co., TX 1910 PCT. 1 - Enumerator, Billy Hamilton, pages 43 & 44 From: 1910 CENSUS CHEROKEE CO., TEXAS. Transcribed by Kathryn Hooper Davis, microfilm #1538, micro-copy #T624. Published by Ericson Books, Nacogdoches, TX, June 1995. This list has been sorted alphabetically for presentation to East Texas Roots for genealogical research. Be sure to note all information in keeping with copyright of publications. This information is for research only, not for publication or for sale without permission from the author as noted above. Officers: Acker, Joab A., 22, white, single, b. TX. Father b. AL, mother b. TX. Guard Coswell, Henry C., 34, white, married 10 yrs., b. TX. Father b. MS, mother b. SC. Engineer, State R.R. Ezell, George L., 60, white, single, b. TN. Parents b. TN. Assistant underkeeper Fryer, Jeff B., 48, white, single, b. MS. Parents b. US. Guard Johnson, William W., 43, white, widower, b. TX. Parents b. AL. Guard at prison Lawrence, Henry C., 59, white, widower, b. GA. Father b. NC, mother b. GA. Guard Moore, William D., 45, white, single, b. TX. Father b. TN, mother b. TX. Guard Munroe, Robert B., 51, white, single, b. MS. Father b. Scotland, mother b. MS. Night sergeant Rozelle, Thomas C., 29, white, single, b. TX. Father b. GA, mother b. TX. Guard Runnells, Edward S., 35, white, single, b. TX. Father b. MS, mother b. SC. Guard Singletary, Joseph B., white, 62, widower, b. GA. Parents b. NC. Guard Wilkins, Richard C., 32, mulatto, single, b. TX. Father b. AL, mother b. SC. Underkeeper at prison Inmates: Listed by name, race, age, marital status, years married (if noted), where born, birthplace of father, birthplace of mother, occupation, trade or profession in that order. (since there was no code used in the census for Spanish/Mexican these were noted as mulatto) Keep in mind that even though these inmates have impressive trades or occupations, they are still inmates. Their skills were needed in every phase of making a prison system work. These men used their trade or special skills to do an assigned job. Certain positions had to be filled and as you will notice it seems they were able to fill those positions with the inmates. Prisoners were also used for many years by outside sources. The variety of requests were unlimited, from picking the crops to digging roadbeds or repairing and clearing areas needed for building or working in mines. Crews of men were a necessity in those days to get a job done. There were no machines to do the work. In all cases considering the times, it was "hard labor" until their sentence was finished, in some cases depending on the crime, until they died. Allen, James, white, 29, b. TX. Parents b. TX. State RR laborer Arnold, Reuben H., white, 59, married 8 yrs., b. KY. Parents b. VA. State RR laborer Barza, Catarino, mulatto, 55, married 20 yrs., b. Mexico. Parents b. Mexico. State RR laborer Bice, Thomas C., white, 40, married 18 yrs., b. LA. Parents b. GA. Prison carpenter Blankenship, Walter M.V., white, 22, single, b. TX. Father b. MO, mother b. MS. State RR laborer Bouton, George F., white, 47, single, b. LA. Father b. NY, mother b. Germany. Prison laundryman Boydwilder, Joseph M., white 31, widower, b. TX. Parents b. TN. Prison cook Brogdon, John C., white, 40, widower, b. AL. Father b. Ireland, mother b. CT. Prison gardner Brooks, William B., white, 60 married 27 yrs., b. AL. Father b. VA, mother b. AL. Prison hostler Broulette, Victor, white, 35, single, b. WA. Father b. Canada, mother b. England. State RR laborer Brown, James M., white, 55, married 24 years, b. VA. Parents b. VA. State RR laborer Brown, John, black, 72, widower, b. Sc. Parents b. Sc. Prison cook Burklow, William L., white, 52, single, b. KY. Parents b. KY. State RR laborer Burrows, Joseph N., white, 31, single, b. TX. Father b. TX, mother b. US. Prison molder (moulder) Caldwell, William, white, 58, married 14 yrs., b. TX. Father b. Ireland, mother b. LA. State RR laborer Campus, Luez, mulatto, 60, widower, b. Mexico. Parents b. Mexico. State RR laborer Cannon, Oscar D., white, 58, married 20 years, b. AL. Parents b. AL. No trade listed Carbough, Henry J., white, 53, widower, b. IN. Father b. PA, mother b. TN. Prison laborer Carter, Joseph, white, 42, divorced, b. MS. Father b. Ireland, mother b. NC. Prison machinist Casey, James E., white, 50, married 23 years, b. TX. Father b. FL, mother b. TX. Prison baker Chancy, Falvey A., white, 33, divorced, b. TX. Father b. Ga, mother b. TX. State RR laborer Chaney, Robert L., white, 22, married 5 years, b. TX. Father b. TN, mother b. TX. State RR laborer Chapman, Abner N., white, 52, single, b. TX. Parents b. TN. Prison barber Clifton, Edward, black, 73, widower, b. LA. Parents b. unknown. Prison soapmaker Coffman, John, white, 56, married 32 yrs., b. AL. Parents b. LA. State RR laborer Contreres, Jose, mulatto, 45, widower, b. Mexico. Parents b. Mexico. Prison shoemaker Corley, James (? Spelling) white, 44, single, b. TX. Parents b. TN. State RR watchman Cox, William G., white 34, single, b. TX. Father b. TX, mother b. AL. Prison dairyman Crockett, Gratt, white, 35, single, b. Va. Parents b. VA. Prison nurse Davis, John R., black, 32, single, b. TX. Father b. LA, mother b. TX. Prison fireman Dies, John W., white, 25, single, b. TN. Parents b. TN. State RR laborer Duncan, Virgil L., white, 33, married 13 yrs., b. TX. Parents b. MS. State RR laborer Ellingwood, George A., white, 60, widower, b. TX. Father b. England, mother b. VA. Prison painter Ewing, Robert M., white, 28, single, b. TX. Father b. TN, mother b. MS. State RR laborer Gaddis, John F., white, 49, married 22 yrs., b. GA. Father b. GA., mother b. TN. Prison chemist Garza, Pilar, mulatto, 32, married 13 yrs., b. Mexico. Parents b. Mexico. Prison dishwasher Girard, Charles W., white, 18, single, b. TX. Father b. France, mother b. Germany. Prison porter Hall, Samuel M., white, 51, married 29 years, b. TX. Father b. GA, mother b. IL. Prison machinist Hall, Nathan, black 25, married 3 yrs., b. TX. Parents b. TX. State RR laborer Ham, Harvey B., white, 23, married 5 yrs., b. TX. Parents b. AL. Prison nurse Hamilton, William H., white, 30, single, b. KY. Father b. MA, mother b. IN. Prison bookkeeper Hamm, John W., white, 27, sinble, b. TN. Parents b. TN. Prison machinist Hancock, Lewis B., white, 32, divorced, b. KY. Father b. VA, mother b. Ky. Prison boilermaker Hatcher, Charles, white, 29, single, b. MS. Parents b. MS. Prison carpenter Hawthorne, William H., white, 63, widower, b. Ky. Father b. KY, mother b. IN. State RR laborer Heirholzer, Henry, white, 50, divorced, b. OH. Father b.Germany, mother b. Switzerland. State RR laborer Henderson, James W., white, 55, widower, b. AR. Parents b. AR. State RR laborer Howard, William D., white, 30, married 10 yrs., b. TX. Parents b. TX. State RR laborer Hutchinson, George L., white, 22, married 4 yrs., b. TX. Parents b. TX. State RR laborer Isham, Dan, black, 48, widower, b. TX. Parents b. TX. Prison laborer Ivey, Oliver H., white, 22, married 2 yrs., b. MS. Parents b. MS. State RR laborer Johns, Willy A., white, 49, married 26 yrs., b. AL. Parents b. VA. Prison electrician Johns, Marshall V., white, 44, single, b. IN. Father b. IN, mother b. IL. State RR laborer Johnson, Charles E., white, 30, single, b. TX. Father b. LA, mother b. TX. Prison cook Keel, Thomas V., white, 29, married 16 yrs, b. KY. Father b. KY, mother b.TX. Prison molder (moulder) Keyes, Harry, white, 38, single, b. NY. Parents b. NY. Prison machinist Kimberlain, Jacob, white, 54, married 18 yrs., b. IN. Father b. IN, mother b. KY. State RR laborer Kirk, Manse F., white, 30, single, b. TN. Parents b. TN. State RR laborer Kirkpatrick, James L., white, 30, married 1 year, b. TX. Father b. TN, mother b. AL. State RR laborer Lax, William H., white, 34, widower, b. AL. Parents b. AL. Prison molder (moulder) Luder, Harry O., white, 59, widower, b. DC. Father b. DC, mother b. PA. Prison pattern maker Magee, Solon, white, 28, single, b. TX. Parents b. LA. Prison molder (moulder) Manning, Frank j., white, 36, married 4 yrs., b. NJ. Father b. IA, mother b. NJ. State RR brakeman McDaniels, Napoleon H., white, 56, married 21 yrs., b. AL. Father b. AL, mother b. NC. Prison machinist McGill, John E., white, 29, single, b. TX. Father b. MO, mother b. Il. Prison molder (moulder) McKinney, Jacob N., white, 34, married 9 years, b. TN. Father b. TN, mother b. IL. Prison machinist Mendez, Savas, mulatto, 26, single, b. TX. Father b. Mexico, mother b. TX. Prison molder (moulder) Mendez, Felix, 20, single, b. TX. Father b. Mexico, mother b. TX. Prison molder (moulder) Menefee, Douglass, white, 24, single, b. TX. Father b. MS, mother b. AL. State RR laborer Milam, Benjamin F., white, 39, single, b. TN. Parents b. TN. Prison molder (record says moulder) Mitchell, Charles D., white, 32, single, b. MS. Parents b. AL. Prison cook Mobley, James E., white, 43, widower, b. MS. Parents b. MS. Prison laborer Moonen, Jesse C. (? Spelling), white, 25, single, b. TX. Father b. MO, mother b. TX. Prison blacksmith Moore, George, white, 40, single, b. TX. Parents b. TX. Prison molder (moulder) Nunley, James M., white, 37, married 13 yrs., b. TX. Father b. TN, mother b. US. Prison laborer Parnell, Winton W., white, 25, divorced, b. AR. Parents b. AR. RR engine hostler Pate, Walter W., white, 42, divorced, b. AL. Parents b. AL. Prison baker Roberts, Oscar W., white, 42, married 7 yrs. B. TN. Parents b. MS. Prison molder (moulder) Rodgers, Andrew L., white, 61, divorced, b. TN. Father b. TN, mother b. NC. State RR laborer Rupe, Charles A., white, 32, single, b. MO. Parents b. KY. Prison patternmaker Sherrod, William H., white, 61, widower, b. TN. Father b. NC, mother b. TN. State RR laborer Sorrells, Joseph L., white, 26, single, b. TX. Parents b. TX. State RR laborer Staffen, William E., white 41, single, b. PA. Parents, b. PA. Prison Machinist Stanfield, Oliver A., white, 64, widower, b. TN. Parents b. TN. Prison gardener Swift, James M., white, 44 single, b. TN. Parents b. TN. Prison fireman Taylor, Thomas J., white, 44, single, b. CA. Father b. NC, mother b. TX. Prison molder (moulder) Taylor, Thomas L., white, 36, widower, b. TX. Father b. IL, mother b. TX. Prison electrician Taylor, Isaac S., white, 24, single, b. TX. Father b. TX, mother b. AR. Prison blacksmith Thompson, Charles C., white, 44 single, b. VA. Parents b. MD. Prison engineer Tomm, Leo, white, 35, married 10 yrs., b. CA. Father b. France, mother b. Ireland. Prison fireman Tune, West P., white, 36, married 17 yrs., b. TN. Father b. TN, mother b. IT*. Prison carpenter. (Page note for *: Born in Indian Territory-Cherokee) Ursey, John F., white, 48, married 22 yrs., b. LA. Parents b. AL. State RR laborer Vellerreal, Francisco, mulatto, 40, married 20 yrs., b. Mexico. Parents b. Mexico. Prison molder (moulder) Warren, Thomas M., white, 36, single, b. MO. Father b. TN, mother b. KY. State RR laborer Weaver, Jesse, white, 40, married 15 yrs., b. AR. Parents, b. MO. Prison molder (moulder) Whaley, George W., white, 31, divorced, b. TN. Father b. TN, mother b. NC. Prison laundry man White, Media L., white 55, single, b. GA. Parents b. GA. Prison laborer Wilkinson, Joseph L., white, 62, married 37 yrs., b. AL. Parents b. AL. No trade listed Williams, Frank, black, 47, married 17 years, b. TX. Parents b. TN. No trade listed Williams, John A., white, 58, single, b. TN. Parents b. TN. Prison waiter Wilson, James A.G., white, 28, married 9 yrs., b. KY. Parents b. KY. State RR laborer Wilson, Lee C., white, 27, married 5 yrs., b. TX. Parents b. KY. State RR laborer Yancy, John R., white, 47, widower, b. TX. Parents b. GA. Prison teamster This concludes the listing for 1910 Texas State Penitentiary in Rusk, Cherokee Co., TX -- ******************************************************************** During our research trips, when a book is purchased relating to our family's history or listing information of the area, we buy two: One to keep and one to donate to our Clayton Genealogical Library in the family's name or a member of the family. Lou Ann & Woody Lunsford NATIVE TEXAN 8310 Werner, Houston, TX 77037-3027 TEXAS PROUD 281/447-8803 Fax 281/447-2133 ********************************************************************