John Joseph Burney - Family Histories

      John Joseph Joe) Burney and his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Evans came from near Grosebeck, Limestone County, Texas to Trickham in 1900. They first lived in Plainview between Coleman and Santa Anna for two years. Then they moved to the Aldridge place near Trickham and lived there several years. Joe farmed the Aldridge place until he obtained the job as mail carrier between Santa Anna and Trickham. He held that job until he died. When he obtained the job as daily mail carrier, he moved his family from the Aldridge place into the town of Trickham. He passed out candy to all the children who met him at the mail box. Sometimes, he would be accompanied by his daughter, Carrie, and one of her girl friends.

     Joe Burney was born October 23, 1852 and died in Trickham October 12, 1915; Mollie, December 13 1857- March 5, 1936 in Trickham, both are buried in Trickham. Joe and Mollie had four children, all born in Limestone County and moved to Coleman County with their parents.

   (1) Mattie Linear, September 14, 1882, met a tragic death as she was mysteriously shot and died December 23, 1914. Mattie married W. M. Price, October 23, 1898. She had two children:

       (la) Burney, born August 13, 1902 on the Aldridge place;

       (1b) Roy, November 20, 1906 near Hubbard.

     (2) Louis Mathew, June 18, 1884-January 19, 1956, married Maud Ora Page March 5, 1907. Maud was 14 years old when they married. Louis lived in the Trickham Community and Coleman County from childhood until his death. Maud lived in Coleman County her entire life. They are both buried in Trickham. He was known in outlying communities as "Cap"' because he umpired all the baseball games during the 1930's. Rodeos were held on their farm with barbecues held on the final day of the rodeo. He was a farmer and cow buyer. They had five children:

       (2a) Joseph LaFayette (J. L.) born October 17, 1908-November 2, 1972, married Grace C. Woods. He retired from Santa Fe Railroad as Yardmaster in October, 1972. They had two children:

         (1) Billy Joe,

         (2) Harry Louis.

       (2b) Jesse Leon, May 13, 1911, married Anna May Munk. He served in the U. S. Navy and retired from the Air Force Academy. They have three children:

         (1) Margaret Eleanor Gieck,

         (2) Leone May Gruder, and

          (3) Ruth Ann Hobbs.

       (2c) Willie Evans, September 8, 1914 - October 7, 1954. He served as Coleman County Treasurer from November 5, 1946 to October 7, 1954, when he died. His wife, Charlotte (Hobbs) Burney, was appointed to finish his term which ended December 31, 1954. They had one son - Willis Weldon.

       (2d) Willis Weldon, June 3, 1917-February 8, 1943. He finished Texas Tech University at Lubbock and was a bombadier in the U. S. Air Force in World War II. His plane went down over the Java Sea when returning from a bombing mission. His body was never found. He married Marjorie Landrum and they had one son - Rocke Weldon.

   (2e) Mary Viola, March 14, 1924, attended Daniel Baker College in Brownwood, Texas, and has resided many years in Pueblo, Colorado. She married George Cumming, who is a retired Fire Captain. They have two children:

         (1) Linday Lynn, December 21, 1947,

         (2) Bobby George, January 13, 1954.

     (3) William Evans (Buddy), September 11, 1891-the 1960's in Denver, Colorado, married Eunice Ladamore, October 26, 1921. Buddy became an executive in the Equitable Life Insurance Company. He lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pueblo, Colorado, and lastly, Denver. They had three children:

       (3a) William Evans, Jr., January 14, 1924, an engineer;

       (3b) Philip George, December 28, 1924, a law-yer;

       (3c) Mary Isabelle, September 19, 1927.

     (4) Carrie Anna Martha, July 18, 1895, attended school at Trickham and met her sweetheart, Wiley McClatchy, there. As a girl, she and her girl friends had trouble with Wiley for as Carrie said, "He would tear up our playhouse and ruin our dolls." This was the beginning of a love affair that lasted 59 years, 1l months and 2 weeks of marriage. They were married July 1, 1917 (see Wiley Patton McClatchy). Carrie has a personality that makes all people love her. She is a most generous and kind person, with an unusual and original wit. After she spent the night on a very hard bed, she remarked, "I have rubbed corns all over my body." When her young grandson was tiring from pushing her in the wheelchair, she remarked, "I think my wheelchair motor needs a stop at the gas station."