SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
CHARLES HOUSTON
MCKEEHAN Born 28 Nov. 1853 SalineCo, Arkansas Died 1 Dec. 1930 HamiltonCo, Texas Married (1) Mary
E. Ridley (b. 1857)
Married (2) 18 Jul 1877
MillerCo, Arkansas Born 2 Nov. 2 1862 Valley Mills, BosqueCo, Texas Died 3 Mar 1944 Mesquite, DallasCo, TX
In the 1880 Census the family is recorded in AndersonCo, TX (Vol. 1/E. D. 7/Sht 15/Line 39). Listed is 20-yr-old Mellie, husband Charles Houston McKeehan, and sons 2-yr-old Claude and 2-month-old Osman Pshaw McKeehan. The family is listed in the 1920 Census of ErathCo, TX (Vol. 59/E. D. 12/Sht 4/Line 54) comprised of 60-yr-old Nancy who indicated that her father was born in KY and her mother in AL. According to Nancy's death certificate, presumably information from son Claude Duval whom she was living with, her birth date was 2 Nov 1862. Charles Houston's death certificate lists his place of birth as Hot Springs, AR and was signed by son O.P. McKeehan of Ranger. According to family history, Charles Houston was buried in the Altman Cemetery in Erath County, TX near the town of Carlton in HamiltonCo. His site may have been marked with a wooden marker or field stone which long since deteriorated. His death in 1930 at the beginnng of the depression years probably precluded an expensive permanent headstone at the time. In 1997, the McKeehan descendants placed a permanent marker for Charles Houston and his wife Nancy Wright in the cemetery. Mellie Wright is believed to be buried in the Mesquite Cemetery in DallasCo, but to date her site cannot be verified. Her death certificate states she was living at 2917 Idaho, Dallas, TX which was the same address as son Claude Duval McKeehan, who signed the certificate. Her mother is listed as Martha Wright. The majority of the McKeehan descendants in the Houston, Texas area descend from Charles and Nancy McKeehan and their son Osman Pshaw McKeehan. Descendants include businessmen A.D. and Chester C. McKeehan ("Refrigeration and Transport" in the early years), hobo Melvin M. McKeehan (believed killed on the trains), James Bell (J.B.) McKeehan, a well-known Assemblies of God pastor in the area for over 50 years, and Houston Assistant Police Chief, Gloyd McKeehan, for whom a police office building is named, and railroad man Jack Lindy McKeehan. Many of the descendants were in law enforcement both in Houston and elsewhere.
Claude Duval had a daughter Juanita. O.P had children Audrey Duval, Chester Charles, Melvin Marvin, Frieda Odell, James Bell, Marie Eloise, Paul Garrison, Nettie Margaret, O.P. Pshaw Jr. (Tom), Helen Yvonne, Jack Lindy, Zena Corinne and Rodney Gloyd. Descendants of O.P. McKeehan number in the hundreds in the Houston area and have an annual family reunion. Totson/Toccon Taxus, who later changed his name to William Toccon and went by Will T., had children Ommah, Willie Dale, Revis Clyde and Mattie Hope. Florence McKeehan Pairish had children James Marvin, Bonnie LaVonne, Myrtle Udean and J.B. Bertha McKeehan Barbee had children L.B., Counsel and Altha. A search for a marker in Altman Cemetery or some clue where in Altman Charles Houston McKeehan's burial site might lie has historically been unsuccessful over the years (see search for uncle Charlie). Descendants report visiting the cemetery periodically since the 1960's and related that the site was generally grown over with local grasses, vines and bushes. There was evidence of a periodic fire that had removed the undergrowth from time to time. Below is a view of the site during a 1996 visit (left).
In 1997, the McKeehan descendants placed a permanent marker for Charles Houston and his wife Nancy Melvina Wright in the cemetery. Nancy (Nellie) Wright is believed to be buried in the Mesquite Cemetery in DallasCo, but to date a marker for her cannot be located in the Mesquite Cemetery. The new marker in Altman Cemetery is the one in the lower left of the photo above right. Since the actual burial site of Charles Houston was unknown, the marker was placed in the prominent position by a local memorial firm estimated to be near where Aunt Marge McKeehan's premonition of the '60s indicated. Subsequent visitors have reported that the cemetery is generally in good shape and appears to have been mowed since the marker was placed. The cemetery has been more recently inventoried by Annette Burns and Janice Curtis in 1999 in which the McKeehan memorial was listed. The Altman Cemetery is in Erath County, TX near the town of Carlton in HamiltonCo which exhibited no businesses in 1996. To locate the cemetery, go NE out of Carlton on Hwy 1744 to the junction of Hwy 914. Turn NW on 914 and pass the ErathCo line which is 0.6 mi from the junction of Hwy 1744 and 914 on 914. Go E (NE) on ErathCo Road 293 which is 1.2 mi from the ErathCo line. The cemetery is about 1.5 mi on the left. From the left gate post walk 37 paces straight, then 7 paces left and the McKeehan marker is obvious. SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS |
(Photo: Charles Houston with daughters Florence and Bertha and
probably youngest son Totson Taxus). Charles Houston was the first of the
Charles Coffner McKeehan family born in Saline County, Arkansas. Family stories say
that he married first wife Mary Ridley in Hot SpringsCo in a double ceremony at the same
time as sister Virginia A. McKeehan was wed to Joshua Gray at the home of John Gray.
Charles also married wife Nancy Wright in MillerCo. From MillerCo, AR,
Charles Houston and wife Nancy went west to central Texas in Hill, Bosque, Hamilton and
Erath counties. He was a dedicated farmer and lover of the soil. Charles
Houston's death certificate recorded in HamiltonCo, address Rt. 2 Hico states that he died
of uremia and was attended by Dr. F.P. Kennedy of Carlton, HamiltonCo, TX and was buried
by undertaker M. Waldrop of Carlton. The town of Carlton is near the junction of
farm roads 219, 1744, and 2823 in northwestern HamiltonCo. According to the Handbook
of Texas, it was settled in 1877 by H. H. Armstrong on land belonging to J. M. Evans and
Dr. F. M. Carlton. The Honey Creek post office was moved from the Malone gin in 1879 and
named after Dr. Carlton. Location on the east-west stage and freight route helped
development, and by 1878 a school and churches had been founded. The Stephenville, North
and South Texas Railway reached town in 1907. By 1900 Carlton had 161 residents, and
businesses included a cotton gin. By 1910 the town had a bank and a population of 750. 
