W. J. and Cornelia Gilmo Redford

Among family records was found a seven-page account titled Family Record of W. J. Redford and Cornelia Gilmo Redford. It is mundane and somewhat questionable. It lists the date of birth of Ann Elizabeth Fox* (great grandmother of Beth Muir Abbott) and those of her nine siblings. Yet with all of the research done obtaining that information, and with the youngest sibling listed as born in 1831, there is no information given on their parents. Note, however, that the research done by Normaleene Muir does not show the parents of Ann Elizabeth Fox either.

On page 1 of this Family Record it states, "About the year 1826, Edward Redford married Ann Eliza Fox --" and lists seven children, the oldest of which was Gallatin. It then states, "Gallatin married and had one son, William Josephus Redford (our grandpapa)." That would indicate that Ann Elizabeth Fox was the grandmother of William Josephus Redford. Research done by Normaleene Muir shows Ann Elizabeth as the mother of William Josephus and has no mention of Gallatin. Further, Ann Elizabeth was born in 1808 and William Josephus was born in 1832 making it highly unlikely that she was his grandmother.

For those reasons the Family Record is not included here in its entirety. However, it adds to Normaleene Muir's research that, "James Terry and Elizabeth Jane Logan married in Todd Co. Ky in 1840." It also adds that "William Josephus Redford ... and Cornelia Gilmo Terry ... married October 23, 1874.¹ They came to Texas in 1874 from Guthrie, Kentucky."

Page 5 of the Family Record shows the children of Beth Abbott:
g.(1) Ida Margaret married Homer Grigg April 30, 1949
g.(2) Calvin Roger married Doris Jacks October 2, 1949

Page 7 of the Family Record contains a section titled, "Gone Home" and apparently records the obituaries of W. J. and Cornelia Gilmo Redford. It is listed below as it was written.

Mr. W. J. Redford died at his home in White Settlement, Tarrant Co. Texas Thursday, January 15, 1914 at the age of 82. Service at Baptist church by Eld. Sims of the Southwestern University Ft. Worth -- laid to rest in local cemetary (sic). He was born near Lynchburg, Virginia. January 1, 1832 moved to Trenton, Kentucky 1843 to Ft. Worth, 1973. Survived by widow age 72, nine children, two sons, seven daughters. Twenty-eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren. All except two grandchildren and one great-grandchild were present at funeral service. Children: Mrs. J. D. Farmer, Aledo; Dr. W. E. Redford of Boyd; Mrs. G. T. Muir; Mrs. N. L. Royster, Ft. Worth; Mrs. N. T. Dale, Holderville, Oklahoma; Mrs. L. J. Downe; Mrs. N. E. Grant; Miss Josie Redford, White Settlement; E. L. Redford, Vernon.

Mrs. C. G. Redford, 84, who has lived here for 54 years, died in a Ft. Worth Hospital, Sunday, November 20, 1927. She was a native of Todd Co. Kentucky. Services in White Settlement Baptist Church, R. B. Morgan officiating. Laid to rest in local cemetery (on Thompson place). Survived by two sons: E. L. Redford, Brownfield; Dr. W. E. Redford, Plainview; six daughters: Mrs. N. T. Dale, Shawnee, Oklahoma; Mrs. L. J. Downe; Mrs. N. E. Grant, White Settlement; Mrs. Jno D. Farmer, Aledo; Mrs. Ida M. Muir; Mrs. N. L. Royster, Ft. Worth; 26 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren.

The first two paragraphs of the Family Record is written as follows:

The foundation for this history was written by Cornelia Gilmo Redford at home of my mother, June, 1910. From this I have built the following, obtaining information from different sources. I hope in reading this you will not be too critical and realize that it has been difficult task to make it as correct and as full as was possible with information I had.
Your cousin,
Alta Dale Tilley, 1928

Taking information where Alta left off, I have tried to bring the Record information to date (1955) with help of several cousins.
Your cousin,
Bena Royster Hardin

¹Research done by Normaleene Muir lists them as marrying October 23, 1859 Todd County, KY

*See comment of November 30, 2008.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The following paragraph was among family history papers. At the bottom of the typewritten page, in faint handwriting, is what appears to be From Margaret Abbott. There is a good possibility that this was oral history that Beth Abbott passed down to her daughter, Margaret Abbott Grigg, who then retold it by telephone to Norma Muir.

The Redford family was among the early pioneers in the Fort Worth area. At the time they moved to Texas, the courthouse was just a log cabin. It was in the same location as the present courthouse. Panthers roamed the open country, and often came to town. W. C. Stripling had one of the first stores in Fort Worth, and one morning when he went to work he was unable to open the front door because a panther was lying in the way.