John Caleb Casey was born January 17, 1875 in Shawnee, Benton County, Mississippi, the son of John Randolph Casey and Laura Ann Cox (see Milton Alexander Reeves).  He lived on a farm near Ashland.  His father died when he was eight years old and at age seventeen, because of chills and fever they had in Mississippi, he and his mother, brothers and sisters came to Oglesby, Texas.  Lucy Mandy Cox, born November 27, 1878 in Darden, Union County, Mississippi, the daughter of Robert Bird and Frances Jane (Nowlin) Cox, lived in a small community called Pitts Camp. She came to Oglesby with her parents when she was six years old. John Casey and Lucy Cox were married July 19, 1896 in a double ceremony with Walter and Sarah Casey in a buggy at Comanche Springs. (The Walter Casey's were to become parents of the late M. B. and Raymond Casey of Coleman).

     John and Lucy came to Coleman County in 1900. His uncle and aunt, Thomas and Almeda Casey and family came to Santa Anna in 1903 and later moved to Lockney.  John and Lucy were living in Silver Valley in 1903, then moved to Novice.  In 1906, they moved to Snyder, coming back to Novice in 1907.  In 1918, they moved to the Crews community, but, liking the Novice area better, moved back in the fall of 1920.  In 1923, they bought a farm in the Oak Grove community that was home to most of the family.  Time came when they could no longer stay on the farm by themselves, so John and Lucy moved their house to Novice, west of the Methodist Church, where they spent the rest of their days.  John died May 23, 1960 and Lucy Mandy, November 17, 1961, both buried at Rough Creek.  They were parents of nine children:

     (1) Ella Frances, born December 27, 1897 in Arcola Junction, married Clyde C. Tippett, August 19, 1898 - June 11, 1973, buried at Winters, on November 9, 1919.  Fannie lives in Ballinger.  Their children:

       (1a) Lola Byrd (Brooker);

       (1b) Retha Mozelle (Long);

       (1c) Janie Inez (Aly), died October, 1982, buried by husband, Tom, who  died in October 1969 at Big Lake;

       (1d) Margie Lee (Brooker);

       (le) Effie Juanita (Stedham);

       (1f) Clyde Bernice;

       (1g) Avery Eugene.

     (2) Naomi Abigale, December 23, 1899 in Oglesby, married Joe Wellborn, July 6, 1895-February, 1970, buried at Rough Creek, the son of Rev. Richard W. and Jennie (Creamer) Wellborn, on September 30, 1922 in Novice.  Children: John Richard, now lives in Amarillo, and Jack Noble, died in December, 1982, buried in Palm Beach, California.  Naomi now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

     (3) Onie Mary, April 8, 1903 in Silver Valley-March 3, 1970, married Albert Earl Strange of Coleman, June 30, 1901 - January 1, 1971, both buried in Coleman, on September 8 1927 (see Rufus H. Strange).  Their only child, James Richard, lives in Port Arthur.

     (4) Grace, February 15, 1905 at Novice married Robert Sidney Kincaid on May 1, 1926 (see John Joseph Kincaid).

     (5) Johnnie May, born in Snyder, married Haywood Blackbourne, April 3, 1904-July 11, 1968, buried at Rough Creek, on July 4, 1926.  Children: John Haywood (Pete); Betty Jeane (Bailey); Lonnie Reese; and Glenda Faye (Crowley).

     (6) Robert Brooks, March 30, 1909 at Novice-October 24, 1974, married Mary Frances Thompson, January 19, 1916-June 30, 1978, both buried at Rough Greek, on December 30, 1933.  Children: Lucy Margaret (Baucom) (see G. W. Myers); Robert David; Mary Patricia (Malone); Frances Carol.

     (7) Joseph Owen, March 25, Novice, married Berniece Evelyn Thompson, October 30, 1936 (see Joseph Owen (J. O.) Casey).

     (8) Lucy Laura, June 25, 1918 at Novice, married Harlon H. Wilson, born October 16, 1915, on December 8, 1943.  Children: Robert Harlon (Bobby) and Martha Gail (Beimer).  They all live in Ballinger.

     (9) Ruby Ruth, May 12, 1921 at Novice - June 7, 1934, buried Rough Creek. John and Lucy were members of the Methodist Church.

     John was a good farmer, and grew the crops common to the area he lived.  He could grow the best watermelons and sweet potatoes.  He fed the many tramps and hobos that came his way, and if they needed, gave them a place to spend the night.  Lucy grew the prettiest flowers, sewed, quilted, crocheted and did all the things pioneer women could do.  A part of John's leisure time was spent playing checkers on a bench in front of Mr. Pringle's store in Novice, playing with Uncle Ben Daniels and Walt Brown much of the time. In later years, they played dominoes downtown.

     John Casey's mother, Laura Ann (Cox), born January 28, 1849 in Mississippi, came to Santa Anna in 1903 with these children:

     (1) Richard, October 27, 1873 - August 29, 1955, married Ella Dodds, January 14, 1878- January 8, 1964, both buried in Coleman. Children:

       (la) Laura Melissa, born March 20, 1907 at Novice, married Robert C. Ryan in Lubbock, now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado;

       (1b) Richard Asberry, June 4, 1908 in Stanton, married Ida Grace Stevens, daughter of Orville and Betty Stevens of Coleman area, on January 2, 1932 (see Orville Lee Stevens). Children: Dorthy Marie, (see Thomas J. Hudson, Jr.); Richard Lee;

       (1c) Malcolm Randolph, August 30, 1910 in Roscoe, married Earlene Martin in Snyder.  Children: Billie Mack and Ronnie Joe.  They live in Fort Worth;

       (1d) Ruby Ada, February 20, 1914 in Clyde, married Julian I. Putnam in Baird, two children, Jimmy Lee and Gene, live in Frankston.

     (2) Abby, 1878 - 1933;

     (3) Joe, 1883 - 1960. 

       Laura Ann, Joe and Abby later moved to Runnels County. While Joe lived near Santa Anna, he had an appendicitis attack.  Dr. Sealy operated on him at home on the kitchen table.  It was Dr. Sealy's first operation, so at an anniversary party many years later, Joe was invited and Dr. Sealy presented him with a Stetson hat.  Joe married Ethel Hamner and they lived in the Shep community.  Ethel still lives near Shep.  Laura Ann died in 1935, buried at Rough Creek beside her daughter, Miss Abby.