B.F. Haley, the writer of "The Account of B.F. Haley." November 15, 1896 - July 22, 1988.
The Account of B.F. Haley (1966)
Chapter I: John Haley and Charles Quillan Haley I
Chapter II: Charles Quillan Haley II and B.F. Haley
Chapter III: The Children of B.F. Haley and Charlie Haley
Chapter IV: James Tribble Haley and James Kennedy Haley
Chapter I: John Haley and Charles Quillan Haley I
I, B.F. Haley, with the assistance of my cousin, Charlie Haley Boatler of Thornton, Texas, am endeavoring to set forth all of the available information on the Haley Family known to us. Credit for the typing goes to Marilyn Haley. We know, of course, the name is Irish, but we do not know when the first Haleys came to America, or where they settled.
The first we know of the family was our great great grandfather, who lived in Kentucky in the latter part of the 17th century and had 11 boys. We do not know his name or the names of any of the boys, except Richard and John, who was our great grandfather. According to Charlie Boatler, there seems to be some difference of opinion on where they came from to Texas. She has heard from several different states, but our grandmother lived with my parents several years after their marriage until her death in 1898. I presume she and my father had lived together after the death of grandfather in 1882, as all others were married long before he was. He said they came from Kentucky, so we go along with that, for I feel sure he knew. Of Richard we know nothing, but presume he came to Texas, as the name has passed along among the Haleys. There was a Mark Haley that was buried in Waco, Texas in 1859. He possibly was a brother of Richard and John, for there were a lot of Haleys around Waco that were cousins of our father's. These Haleys could have been his descendants.
John Haley married a Quillan girl, name unknown to us. Neither do we know their birth dates, wedding dates, or death dates. In the last part of the 1700s or early 1800s, they came to Texas in a wagon drawn by oxen. He never heard of the family he left in Kentucky. They settled about 65 miles southeast of Kosse, Texas on the Navasota River. This would probably be what is now Brazos County. We presume they lived out their lives, and are buried in that vicinity. From what we know, their children lived there until after the Civil War. This is based on information about my grandfather's family in later years.
They had five sons and one daughter. She married H. Wiggins and they raised a family. This is all we know of her. Two of the boys we do not know the names of. One was drowned and one killed by a horse in their younger days. The other three were Richard, Thomas, and Charles Quillan, our grandfather, October 6, 1819 - November 1, 1882. We do not have the dates of birth or death for Richard and Thomas, only we know Thomas was killed in 1835 or 1836 in the war with Mexico, when they were fighting for Texas independance. We do not know if Thomas had a family or not. Richard had a family. We do not know his wife's name, or anything about her. They had five children: Mary, John, Daniel, and twin girls that we have no names for. This is all we know of this family for sure, but the above mentioned cousins of our father at Waco and also at Abilene, Texas are probably their descendants. I know my father used to stay with cousins around Waco when he was out buying cattle. We moved to Abilene in 1904, and my father saw some of the cousins at that time, but I do not know their names. There are lots of Haleys around Abilene yet.
When the John Haleys came to Texas, they brought a cast iron kettle, I would judge 30 gallon size, with them. This kettle originally had a bail or handle similar to that on a bucket, also three legs. It could be hung over a fire, or set on the legs and fire built under it. These kettles were an all-purpose utensil in those days. They heated the wash water, the water to scald the hogs, made the lard and soap in them. I know this for I have fired the old kettle for all these things in my boyhood days. This kettle was used by the John Haley family, then the Charles Quillan I family, then the Charles Quillan II, my father.
We used the kettle until 1910 when my mother remarried. We left the kettle with friends at Truby, Texas, and they used it until a few years ago. It is in storage now, and I expect to get it out and bring it to Colorado in the near future. I will pass it on to my oldest son, Charles A. Haley, and he can hand it on down in the family, for he has three sons. The handle and loops that fastened to it were burned off before I can remember, but when I was a little boy, part of the legs were still on it. I feel sure they would have burned off before now. It is estimated that the kettle was in use about 150 years.
We believe that Charles Quillan I was the youngest of the John Haley family, for he was only 16 when the war with Mexico started. In those days, if you lived that long, you were a man. He was, at this early age, a captain in the Texas Army. He was a great horseman, and evidently a natural born leader. I understand that in this rough Texas army of farmers and ranchers, anyone that could gather up a company of men and lead them was made an officer. He fought under General Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto, and when the Mexican Army was destroyed or captured, General Santa Anna tried to escape. Our grandfather, Charles Quillan I and a detachment of men under him were sent in pursuit of Santa Anna by General Sam Houston. This was on April 21, 1836. They captured Santa Anna the following day. When he realized his horse was finished, and he was going to be caught, he left his horse, and tried to conceal himself in a large elm tree, but failed, as they found him and returned him to General Houston, who had been injured in the ankle in the San Jacinto battle. The elm tree part was told to me recently by an old man here that was raised in that vicinity, and was a school teacher as a young man.
As was the custom of Mexican Generals, Santa Anna wore a scarlet sash over one shoulder and several times around the waist. Captain Haley took this sash from General Santa Anna as a prize for capturing him. He kept this sash for many years, and then gave it to his youngest daughter, Betty. My mother remembers seeing the sash, and if it is still holding together, it is probably in the possession of some of her descendants. When the United States and Mexico went to war over Texas in 1846, grandfather went also as a captain. We do not know anything of his service in this war. There is a marker at the foot of his grave in Kosse, Texas Cemetary, with the inscription "Charles Quillan Haley, Volunteer Soldier in the Texas War for Independance, 1835-1836, erected by the State of Texas in 1962."
From the end of the war in 1846, we do not know anything of him, but presume he was in his boyhood vicinity. 1855 or 1856 is the next we know of him. The records sent to me say March, 1855 was when our grandparents were married, but my dad was born February, 1855, so the family records say. There is an error here somewhere. I have records from two sources each on this, so we will never know just which one is right. On March 3, 1854, he was married to Icy Minerva Williams with two small daughters, Madie and Mattie. Her maiden name was Tribble. She was born April 5, 1831 and died March 13, 1898. Her daughter, Madie, married a Briggs and Mattie a Gammil. To this union were born four children: Charles Quillan II, February 5, 1855 - May 7, 1907; Icy Haley Taylor; James Tribble Haley, September 21, 1858 - October 12, 1915; Betty Haley Robison.
Charles Q. I was a wealthy man before the Civil War. He owned lots of land and slaves. When the slaves were freed, it ruined most of the southern farmers and ranchers. At this time, Grandmother Haley was ill and the two Williams girls were old enough to go ahead with the housework. It is presumed they lost all their land, or had to sell it cheap. For the next we know of them was that they settled some five or six miles south of Kosse, Texas in a community called Mustang Prairie, where they raised their family. They were engaged in farming and livestock raising. After Grandfather retired, he lived in Kosse until his death. I was born in what was known as "The Old Haley Place."
Chapter II: Charles Quillan Haley II and B.F. Haley
Charles Q. II was engaged in farming and livestock all his life. He grew up in a saddle. He was an expert horseman, and shot with a six gun. I have heard him say he could ride his horse at full speed down a fence row and put a bullet in every post as he went by, and that was with single action pistols, where you had to cock the hammer before each shot. He was also an expert with a rope. I have seen him rope calf after calf all day long by the hind legs as the calf ran away from the horse and never miss a calf. He would then drag them to the branding fire to be branded. The calves were already down this way, and they did not have to wrestle them. By roping a calf by the neck, they had then to be thrown before they were branded.
In his early manhood, he was a drover and made a number of trips to Abilene, Kansas with trail herds, as there were no railroads in Texas, and Abilene was the nearest shipping point. Later, they could load from Dodge City, Kansas, but I do not know if he was on any drives there or not, but presume he did. I can recall as a small boy many experiences he told about these drives. There were Indians, cattle rustlers, and rivers to ford that were flooded. Then there were the nights when it was stormy. When there was a storm coming, the cattle seemed to know it, and they had trouble bedding them down. He told of everyone having to ride herd at night in times like these, and sing to the cattle. That calmed them down somewhat, but not always, if the thunder and what they called blue lightning was seen many times. Then the cattle stampeded. After a stampede, they had to cover all of the country for miles around gathering up the cattle and getting the herd back together. This took days of hard riding.
One of the biggest hazards was in crossing streams when they were at high flood stage. Cattle are afraid of water at a time like this. Many times, they would get part way across and get excited and start milling around in a circle. If this circle was not broken up, they would circle until they were exhausted and be lost. If a man and horse got caught in one of these circles, and it was a tight circle, and no one near on the outside to break it up, both man and horse were in great danger. The only way out then was to crowd an animal and shoot it in the head. This would break up the circle and the horse could get out. When cattle are milling, they swim with their heads on the hips of the animal in front. This makes a very tight circle. Many inexperienced cowboys and horses lost their lives in these river crossings. If the circle was a large one and the horse a good swimmer, the rider could rope an animal, and cut toward the center of the circle for a ways, then cut back out through the gap this made and swim for the far shore. All of the cattle in the circle would continue to follow the one in front of them.
On his activies after the trail herde, we have no information, until 1895, but presume he was around Kosse in the stock business and farming. On June 5, 1895, he was married at Kosse, Texas to Mittie Lois Lloyd, April 3, 1875. To this union was born two children: Beverly Franklin, November 15, 1896, hereafter referred to as B.F., and Myrtle Grace, August 31, 1898. Both were born at Kosse. B.F., as a boy was called Bev, but never liked the name, and therefore, the B.F. Myrtle Grace changed her name to Charlie after the death of our father in 1907. The family lived in and around Kosse and Thornton until 1904. Charles Q. II was engaged in farming and livestock up to 1904 when a bank failure wiped out all of this. I do not remember when in 1904, but think in the fall of the year. We lived in Abilene until spring of 1905, then moved to a farm about 20 miles northwest of Abilene, where he farmed on a share crop plan. At the end of the year, we moved about five miles northeast of there near a little settlement called Truby. Father bought farming equipment and horses at this time, and was doing real well until the spring of 1907. In April, he became sick and developed pheumonia and passed away, May 7, 1907. He is buried in the Midway Cemetary about half way between Abilene and Anson. When the crop was finished, we sold out all the farm equipment, and moved to Truby, where there was a store, church, blacksmith, shop, school, and several families. We lived there until June 20, 1910, when Mother married J. A. Hickman of Texhoma, Oklahoma, where the family moved. In 1911, we moved to Eldorada, Oklahoma. There was a complete crop failure there, and in the fall, the family moved to Detroit, Texas, where the rest of the family lived until 1915, when they moved back to Texhoma. Mother is in a nursing home in Guymon, Oklahoma, and Charlie lives in Texhoma. Mother lived in the same house there for 46 years until she had to go to a nursing home.
B.F. left home in 1913, as things did not work out too well with a stepfather. He worked on a farm the rest of 1913 and part of 1914 near Cooper, Texas. In the fall, I worked at a cottin gin. After the cotton crop was finished, I went back to Truby, where they had a big crop, and worked for the J. W. Grogan family until the end of 1916.
I went to Texhoma for a visit, and did not go back to Truby, but stayed there until the spring of 1918, when I went to Pratt, Kansas, and worked a few months until June 1st decided to join the army -- Company c, 313th Field Signal Batallion, 88 Division. We were in France in early September, and left the latter part of 1919. In checking the history of the 88th Division, I found seven other Haleys besides myself, but I knew none of them. Some names in the bunch ran to the Haley tradition of names in the early days. There were two James L. Haleys among them.
I have always resented the fact that my parents did not stay with the old family names. I should have been Charles Q. III, and after father died, I should have beat my sister to the name, but did not.
I arrived back in Texhoma in early June, 1919, where I worked in a garage until May, 1920. Went to work in a lumber yard, and worked there until the end of 1929. In early 1924, I was appointed manager, and held that position until I resigned and went into the poultry business, which was a complete flop. We lost everything we had in it.
On September 1, 1920, B.F. and Althea E. Kidder, born October 24, 1899, were united in marriage at Guymon, Oklahoma. To this union were born one daughter, Maurine Lois, August 12, 1927; Charles Ancil, March 16, 1932; and Paul Allen, October 8, 1935. Maurine and Charles were born at Texhoma, and Paul at Sun City, Kansas. In 1932, the family moved to Saguache, Colorado, where I worked on a school building. Then, in December, 1932, we moved to Sun City, Kansas and back managing a lumber yard for the same firm as the yard at Texhoma. In July, 1940, we moved back to Texhoma until September 25th, when we moved to Cortez, Colorado, where we now reside. I worked one year in a lumber yard, part of a year in the carpenter trade, then in 1942, started farming. In 1941, we bought a small farm 7 miles north of Cortez, which consisted of 24 acres; 8 acres in apples and the balance in pasture. I later added 7 more acres. This was a very good venture, for it has been successful. The old orchard is in pasture now, and there are 10 acres of fine young apples on the new ground. In 1953, because of health, we rented the farm, and I worked at various jobs that were light work. In May, 1956, I started with J.C. Penny Co. and worked until 1960, when I had to retire on account of health. This was the end of my working days. The family lives at 321 West First Street in Cortez, where we have lived since 1941.
Chapter III: The Children of B.F. Haley and Charlie Haley
Maurine Lois Haley, August 12, 1927, finished high school in 1945, and went into nurses training at Lurango and Denver, Colorado, where she finished training in 1948. She worked a few months in Mercy Hospital at Durango, then came to Cortez, where she worked in the hospital for some time. Later, she worked in a doctor's office for quite a while. January 8, 1950, she was united in marriage to Howard L. McNeill, May 23, 1927. To this union were born two children, Frank Ray, March 8, 1951, and Connie Lee, January 18, 1955. In 1957, she started working as a case worker for the Welfare Department in Cortez. On April 8, 1960, she was appointed Director of the Department, which position she still holds. There are 12 people that work under her. She and her children live at 321 West First Street in Cortez with the B.F. Haleys.
Charles Ancil Haley, March 16, 1932, finished high school in 1950, and started working in the Citizens State Bank in Cortez, where he worked until March, 1951, when he entered the army. He spent his enlistment in a post office in Japan, 5th Army Postal Unit, A.P.O. 37. He was a Corporal when discharged. In March, 1954, he returned to Cortez, and went back to work in the bank, where he has been ever since, except from October, 1960 - May, 1961, when he worked for the J.C. Penny Co. He is now an Assistant Cashier. July 3, 1955, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Wilson, born July 23, 1933. To this union there have been born three boys: Steven Charles, February 2, 1958; David Scott, July 15, 1959; and Donald Ross, February 17, 1963. Their address is 716 Canyon Drive, Cortez, Colorado.
Paul Allen Haley, October 8, 1935, finished high school in 1953. He joined the Army Ready Reserve and served 8 years, and was discharged a Sergeant. The latter part of 1953 and first of 1954, he was associated with his father in a service station. Then, he had various jobs for the next several years. He worked for a seismograph company, carpentered some, was parts man for a John Deere agency, worked for a butane company and an oil well servicing company. In 1960, he joined the Colorado State Patrol. He was stationed at Norwood, Colorado until 1964, when he moved to Gunnison, Colorado, where he lived until August 20. They moved to Montrose, Colorado at 441 South San Juan. March 4, 1955, he was united in marriage to Elaine Charles, February 14, 1937. To this union were born two children: Paula Key, October 10, 1955, and Charles Alan, September 27, 1957.
The State Patrol holds a one week school for their patrolmen each year, and all shoot for first or second place trophies. In 1963, Paul won second place, one point behind first place winner. He has a very pretty trophy for this effort. He is always up around the top, but this is the only trophy so far.
Charlie Haley (Myrtle Grace), August 31, 1898, was united in marriage to Robert Lee Brown, October 15, 1897 - November 15, 1918. She has one daughter, Hazel Maxine, August 31, 1918. She worked at various jobs until September, 1931, when she married Jimmy Anstey (no birth date). They moved to Saguache, Colorado, where they farmed and ran a dairy until 1935. They moved to Roy, New Mexico, where they ran a movie theater until 1961. She sold the theater and moved to Texhoma, Oklahoma to live with our mother, where she still lives. She lives in Mother's house and keeps the place going.
Hazel Maxine Brown, August 31, 1918, was united in marriage to Robert Worth Thomas, May 23, 1915, on January 5, 1936 at Las Vegas, New Mexico. They have made their home in Roy all this time, where he runs a Chevrolet Garage. To this union was born one son, Robert James Thomas, October 9, 1937. He is single and lives at Raton, New Mexico.
Icy Haley was married to Grant Taylor. No birth or wedding dates on this family. To this union was born one daughter, Betty, who married Bob Moore. They had two children, one daughter (no name known) and one son, Jack M. Five years ago, Betty was living in a nursing home in Waxahachie, Texas. She died two years ago.
Chapter IV: James Tribble Haley and James Kennedy Haley
James Tribble Haley, September 21, 1858 - October 12, 1915, lived in Limestone County, Texas in and around Kosse and Thornton. His early life was spent farming and ranching with his father and brother. He was married to Annie B. Choate, January 11, 1868 - March 6, 1942. We do not have their wedding date, but probably was in 1884, as their oldest daughter was born July 3, 1885. All the information furnished to me on his life is that he spent the most of his adult years as an officer of the law. At Kosse, he served as City Marshal, Constable, and Deputy Sheriff; sometimes all three at the same time. In those days, being an officer was quite different from now. Transportation was either on horseback or in a buggy. There were no telephones or radio, so they had to run down all the crooks the hard way. The county seat was about 20 miles away, and the county prisoners had to be taken there. At the time I was a small boy, there was a railroad there, but at the time he started his work, I doubt if there was one. After he retired from law work, he farmed on a small scale, but Charlie Boatler reports it was not very successful. To this union were born 5 girls and 2 boys: Julian Swan, July 3, 1885 - December 17, 1958; Charlie Mae, September 21, 1887; Icy Ruth, October 17, 1892; Mamie Gertrude, November 2, 1894 - February 13, 1960; Annie Jewel, April 12, 1899 - September 8, 1961; John Gresham, March 2, 1903; and James Kennedy, September 17, 1910.
Julian Swan married Guy Zenoh Bates, December 25, 1904. His birth and death dates are October, 1876 - April 17, 1953. To this union were born three boys and three girls: Lawton Bates, December 26, 1905; Ima Bates Littrell, September 14, 1907; Guy Bates Jr., August 21, 1909; Stratton Bates, October, 1912; Annie Ruth Bates Blackwell, December 27, 1917; and Nedra Bates, August, 1923.
Charlie Mae Haley Boatler married to George Walter Boatler, February 22, 1905. His birth and death dates, September 28, 1880 - July 18, 1960. To this union were born two daughters and one son: Floris Ann Boatler Martin, September 7, 1907; Madie Belle Boatler Jordon, June 23, 1909; Walter Reginald Boatler, December 5, 1916.
Icy Ruth Haley married John L. McClintec, December 25, 1910. He was born March, 1876. To this union were born two boys and two girls: Reba Haley McClintec Franklin, September 4, 1911; John L. McClintec, Mary 14, 1916; James Wiley McClintec, October 11, 1918; and Ruth McClintec Gray, August 14, 1924.
Nannie Gertrude Haley married Cyrus W. Carpenter, May 1, 1915. His birth date, March, 1895. To this union were born two boys and one girl; Jack Carpenter, May 28, 1916; Glendale Carpenter, June 1919; and Nannie Sue Carpenter Kay, June 18, 1929.
Annie Jewel Haley married John Raymond Allen, May 20, 1915. His birth date, January, 1894 - April 11, 1966. To this union were born two girls and one boy: Maxine Allen Weir, March 12, 1916; Maurine J. Allen, December 24, 1917; and McLawrence Allen, January 15, 1926 - March, 1945.
John Gresham Haley, March 2, 1903, married to Beatrice Andrews, November 18, 1925. They have no children. They reside at 2910 Fairmount Avenue, San Diego, California. John made a career of the Navy. He served 20 years, then when World War II broke out, he served more time. I do not have the exact number of years in my information. He was a Warrant Officer when he retired. After he retired, I understand he raised, trained, and showed Doberman Pinscher dogs. I understand he no longer breeds these dogs, but trains and shows them. He is manager of a Service Mens Club.
James Kennedy Haley, September 17, 1910, lives at 5225 Amburst Road, South Gate, California. He works for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. He married Ruby Harderson, October 5, 1929. To this union was born three sons and one daughter: James Edward, July 30, 1930; Robert Kennedy, November 22, 1936; Carol Jean, April 11, 1939; Paul Wayne, September 22, 1946. James Edward has one son, Mark James, November 30, 1952. Paul Wayne has one son, Patrick Wayne, July 18, 1966. This is all the information we have on this family.
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