1935- Uncle Edgar Womack

The Womack family had 9 children. However, only 2 were sons; Edgar, born two years after Mattie in 1883, and Holly born in 1891. Since the family business was ranching, this would have fallen heavily upon the sons. However when their father, James Cornelius Womack died in 1895, Holly was only 4 years old. The ranching chores fell heavily on the widow, Nancy Frances, her older daughters, and 11 year old Edgar. In the years to come, it would be Edgar who would keep the ranch running.

James Edgar Womack

 In 1900, Edgar was 16 years old. He had finished school, and was working on the ranch. His older sister Mattie was still at home at 19, as were his four younger siblings. A 21 year old neighbor, William Martin, was living with them and helping with the work. Luckily there were many relatives on surrounding farms who no doubt helped these two young men manage in the early days after the death of Edgar's father.

Edgar married Mattie Gibson, neighbor and distant cousin. Mattie's mother, Caroline Womack, was the daughter of David Womack III and Jane Franklin, who had emigrated to Texas with the Franklin and Womack clan in the early 1850's.  So Mattie Gibson's grandmother, Jane Franklin, and Edgar's grandmother, Rebecca Franklin, were sisters. My grandmother, Mattie Womack, would have surely attended this wedding, which would have brought many relatives from the surrounding area to celebrate.

By 1910 Edgar and Mattie had a 4 year old daughter, Margarette. Also living in the home was a 16 year old farm hand and  90 year old black "servant" named Fan. (One would guess at 90 that she was being cared for more so than being a "servant.") Edgar's mother, Nancy Francis Womack, had moved to Groveton , where she has a rooming house with her remaining children, 18 year old Holly and 16 year old Lillian.

In the 1920 census we see that Edgar and Mattie had three children; 13 year old Margarette, 7 year old Edwina and 2 year old James C.. Also living at the home was  a farm hand, Edson Davison.

Edwina and Margarette

In 1930, Edgar and Mattie were living in a home in Lufkin, Angelina County, although he was still working the ranch. Edgar was 45, Mattie 44, Edwina 17 and James C. 12. Margarette was married to W.M. Bryce and was also living in Lufkin. 

The Womack ranch was quite large; almost a thousand acres, and Edgar hired men to help work it. Nearby was a community founded by freed slaves after the war, who had named it Nigtown. Harry Lacy, a resident there, had worked for Edgar from time to time. However, another man named Boise Beasley, may have been an instigator in the trouble that unfolded in 1935.

 It all started with a pig.