Individual Details
Oscar Hill Terry Sr.
(January 23, 1882 - August 29, 1954)
"Oscar and Della Terry and family lived at or near Tatum, New Mexico, when they were homesteading there about 1910 - 1915.
"In 1931, Oscar (usually called O. H.) sold his farm in Comanche County and bought two sections of land known as the "Old Board Valley Place," which was part of the old J. C. Dibrell Ranch on the Jim Ned Creek, at $10 per acre. They first lived in a house on the old Rodgers Place, which they later bought. Their last child, Bonnie Bea was born there December 31, 1932. At her birth, the creeks were flooding and it was raining; there were no doctors available, so the local mid-wife, Angeline Lobstein (who was a half sister to Della, Oscar's wife), was sent for, but the child was born before she arrived. A week after Bonnie was born, the family of 11 moved to a 2 room plus shed room house on their land.
"About 1938, the Terry men built a rock house, which is still in use today. Originally, the house was to be built with cut and dressed stone. L. F. Coffman, a nephew of Oscar's, had learned the trade and cut a large number of stones up the creek in the bottom, but after they were cut, it was discovered that the rock could not easily be hauled out, so it was decided to use field stone instead. Oscar had hired some men from DeLeon to build the house, but was not pleased with their work, so the Terrys decided to do it themselves, even though they had never done such work before. They also built reinforced concrete barns, which were popular at the time, as these were not as apt to allow weevils to get into their grain.
"The Terrys raised hogs, hundreds at a time, as cattle were at a market low, during the depression. They milked all of their cattle, separated the cream, which they sold and fed the milk to the hogs. All of the cows were milked by hand, 50 to 60 per day. At one time, Oscar traded 100 pigs to Mead's Furniture Store for a dresser, bed and a stove. Hogs were selling at the time for 50 cents a head. Fish were abundant in the creek and many fish caught; fish-frys were commonplace. Although many served their country in WW II, it is unusual in the Terry family as five served, 3 boys and 2 girls... Red, John, Emmitt, Sis and Juanita.
"Oscar and Della moved hack to DeLeon, where they still owned town property in the late 1940's. The land on the Jim Ned was leased by John, and later by Top. Oscar passed away August 20, 1954. Della continued to make her home in DeLeon where she raised many flowers and herbs which she practiced the use of, which was her Indian heritage. She continued to visit all of her many children and relatives in all parts of Texas, riding the bus most everywhere she went. She was hit by a car while crossing the road, returning from a visit to a friend in DeLeon and died September 3, 1968. Both Oscar and Della are buried at DeLeon. The old Terry place in Coleman County was sold to Henry Bennett of Brownwood in the early 1970's." (Grace Brooke, about 1977.)
"O. H. Terry had two sheep, cattle and goat brands registered in Coleman County. The first on October 15, 1937 and shaped like a pitchfork or an upside-down "U" with a "I" going through it. The second one was registered on May 13, 1946 and was a cross or "+" sign." (Coleman County, Texas Brand Book, County Clerks Office.)
Oscar Terry's death certificate in Comanche County (page 337) show he was a retired rancher. He died of Caroinatosis of the Liver and Primary Carcinomua Elsenoeoe, with about 2 to 3 months from onset to death.
"In 1931, Oscar (usually called O. H.) sold his farm in Comanche County and bought two sections of land known as the "Old Board Valley Place," which was part of the old J. C. Dibrell Ranch on the Jim Ned Creek, at $10 per acre. They first lived in a house on the old Rodgers Place, which they later bought. Their last child, Bonnie Bea was born there December 31, 1932. At her birth, the creeks were flooding and it was raining; there were no doctors available, so the local mid-wife, Angeline Lobstein (who was a half sister to Della, Oscar's wife), was sent for, but the child was born before she arrived. A week after Bonnie was born, the family of 11 moved to a 2 room plus shed room house on their land.
"About 1938, the Terry men built a rock house, which is still in use today. Originally, the house was to be built with cut and dressed stone. L. F. Coffman, a nephew of Oscar's, had learned the trade and cut a large number of stones up the creek in the bottom, but after they were cut, it was discovered that the rock could not easily be hauled out, so it was decided to use field stone instead. Oscar had hired some men from DeLeon to build the house, but was not pleased with their work, so the Terrys decided to do it themselves, even though they had never done such work before. They also built reinforced concrete barns, which were popular at the time, as these were not as apt to allow weevils to get into their grain.
"The Terrys raised hogs, hundreds at a time, as cattle were at a market low, during the depression. They milked all of their cattle, separated the cream, which they sold and fed the milk to the hogs. All of the cows were milked by hand, 50 to 60 per day. At one time, Oscar traded 100 pigs to Mead's Furniture Store for a dresser, bed and a stove. Hogs were selling at the time for 50 cents a head. Fish were abundant in the creek and many fish caught; fish-frys were commonplace. Although many served their country in WW II, it is unusual in the Terry family as five served, 3 boys and 2 girls... Red, John, Emmitt, Sis and Juanita.
"Oscar and Della moved hack to DeLeon, where they still owned town property in the late 1940's. The land on the Jim Ned was leased by John, and later by Top. Oscar passed away August 20, 1954. Della continued to make her home in DeLeon where she raised many flowers and herbs which she practiced the use of, which was her Indian heritage. She continued to visit all of her many children and relatives in all parts of Texas, riding the bus most everywhere she went. She was hit by a car while crossing the road, returning from a visit to a friend in DeLeon and died September 3, 1968. Both Oscar and Della are buried at DeLeon. The old Terry place in Coleman County was sold to Henry Bennett of Brownwood in the early 1970's." (Grace Brooke, about 1977.)
"O. H. Terry had two sheep, cattle and goat brands registered in Coleman County. The first on October 15, 1937 and shaped like a pitchfork or an upside-down "U" with a "I" going through it. The second one was registered on May 13, 1946 and was a cross or "+" sign." (Coleman County, Texas Brand Book, County Clerks Office.)
Oscar Terry's death certificate in Comanche County (page 337) show he was a retired rancher. He died of Caroinatosis of the Liver and Primary Carcinomua Elsenoeoe, with about 2 to 3 months from onset to death.
Events
| Birth | January 23, 1882 | near DeLeon, Comanche County, Texas | |||
| Marriage | June 8, 1908 | Eastland County, Texas - Della Griffith | |||
| Death | August 29, 1954 | De Leon, Comanche County Texas | |||
| Burial | August 30, 1954 | De Leon Cemetery, De Leon, Comanche County Texas |
Families
| Spouse | Della Griffith (1892 - 1968) |
| Child | Oscar Hill "Top" Terry Jr. (1908 - 1974) |
| Child | Rebecca Alice "Sis" Terry (1910 - 1957) |
| Child | Autrey Alvis "Red" Terry Sr. (1913 - 1950) |
| Child | Grace Lee "Gracie" Terry (1915 - 1999) |
| Child | John Franklin Terry (1918 - 1974) |
| Child | Bernard Cecil Terry (1921 - 1923) |
| Child | Juanita Mae Terry (1923 - 1961) |
| Child | Mary Frances Terry (1925 - 1925) |
| Child | Emmett Gwendolen Terry (1927 - 2012) |
| Child | Della Fontella Terry (1931 - 2015) |
| Child | Bonnie Bea Terry (1932 - 2018) |
| Father | John Williamson Terry Sr. (1840 - 1902) |
| Mother | Rebecca Alice Nelson (1849 - 1932) |
| Sibling | George Washington Terry (1866 - 1926) |
| Sibling | Mary Eliza Terry (1868 - 1951) |
| Sibling | Andrew Jackson "Andy" Terry (1870 - 1951) |
| Sibling | James "Jim" Todd Terry (1871 - 1926) |
| Sibling | John Williamson Terry Jr. (1874 - 1954) |
| Sibling | Burl Nelson Terry (1877 - 1966) |
| Sibling | Ernest Bruce Terry (1880 - 1942) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Alice "Allie" Terry (1884 - 1974) |
| Sibling | Lillie May Terry (1885 - 1957) |
| Sibling | Grace "Gracie" Lee Terry (1887 - 1959) |
| Sibling | Florence Edna Terry (1890 - 1974) |
| Sibling | Myrtle Evaline Terry (1892 - 1893) |
| Sibling | Infant Terry (1900 - 1900) |