William B. Terrell
Gone Ye Blessed
Wm. B. Terrell
Born
Apr. 29, 1831
Died
Dec. 22, 1889
He has gone from his dear ones
His children, his wife
Whom he willingly toiled over
And loved as his life
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
- Photograph of earlier condition of headstone.
Provenance: Camille Terrell Horner
- Biography
Terrell family documentation submitted by descendent Camille Terrell Horner indicates that William's full name is William Blackburn Terrell and that he was born 29 April 1831 in Virginia. William B. Terrell traveled to south Texas where he married, raised a family, and engaged in the sheep ranching business at a time when the area was a major producer and shipper of wool. Local historian and newspaperman Murphy Givens explains that after breeding merino bucks with Mexican sheep ewes to produce a strain of sheep that had nice wool and was compatible with the climate of south Texas, the sheep industry thrived for a couple of decades in south Texas. Prior to the cutting up of Nueces County to form multiple smaller counties, Nueces had 1.25 million sheep. By the mid-1870s Richard King, Joseph Almond, Robert Adams, and F. W. Shaeffer had huge flocks in this area; and wool was being shipped from San Diego and Corpus Christi in large quantities. However, these times came to an end because of disease, fencing, and the lowering of the wool tariff by Pres. Cleveland (allowing the importation of cheaper wool). William Terrell married Flora S. McGregor on 13 March 1861 in Nueces County (volume B, page 444), and they initially settled near the families of Flora's parents and brothers in the Nuecestown community. Flora Stewart McGregor had been born in England 24 September 1841 and sailed from London to the coastal bend in 1852 when her family left for this area in response to advertisement by H. L. Kinney who was engaged in land sales and development of the large portion of the Villarreal land grant he had purchased. Flora's father was John S. McGregor, Sr. and her mother was the former Mary Ann Thomas, daughter of Sir Walter Thomas of London. Like many others in the Nuecestown community, the Terrells and McGregors moved their residence out of that area after the notorious Raid of 1875 that terrorized the citizens living along the Nueces River in that area. By the birth of their son William Beynon Terrell, the family had residences both in the city of Corpus Christi as well as in the Oso community where Flora's brother John S. McGregor, Jr. and his family are also found in the 1880 census. The family of John's wife, Fannie Oliver, had already lived there for many years. The 1880 census (p. 9A) lists William and Flora with children Steward J., Alfred J., William B., and Annie (Mrs. M. Lidwell). William Blackburn Terrell died 22 December 1889, and his wife Flora died 11 October 1919 at the home of her daughter. Her obituary also notes that Flora too was buried "in old Bay View Cemetery" so it would seem most likely that she is still buried next to her husband even though there is no stone record. The couple had descendents who remained in this area. Their son William Beynon Terrell who was born at Oso, died at his home at 1722 Lipan Street in September of 1934. His death was attributed to a holdup of his store during which he was shot. The medical authorities believed this shooting had seriously damaged his healthy even though he died several years after the holdup. His obituary lists his surviving sibling (a brother Alfred J. Terrell) and members of the next generation, including a nephew Roy Terrell, Sr. (who died in Kingsville in October of 1980), a nephew William M. Lidwell (who died in Corpus Christi in December of 1985), and a niece (Mrs. Ruby Bowden of Wichita Falls). Their descendents continue to live in this area and have helped in submitting information that has been preserved by members of the family.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
