William Adair Abercrombie

William Adair Abercrombie

• Father: James Buford Abercrombie b. 23 July 1850, d. 5 March 1912
• Mother: Evelina Wood b. 23 October 1855, d. 10 January 1918

• William Adair Abercrombie was born on 26 December 1880 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.
• Evelina Wood wrote (from Willis) to her grandson Wood Powell on 12 April 1887, ". . . I wish your three sweet daughters & Campbell's girls, Lina's & "Ella's little red head could see each other & become acquainted. I want Lina to send you one of "Willie's pictures recently taken. How I long to see you my dear boy and your sweet wife & children. I sometimes think Is life worth living? when kindred are so far away . . ."
       Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell; original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
• Evelina Wood wrote from Willis, Texas, to her grandson Wood Powell in Christian County, Illinois on 12 April 1887, ". . . I came to town last Sunday - Billie, Josie and Lina's two oldest children with us. . . . Lina has been quite sick recently – was not well when I left – I passed last Friday with her. she has a beautiful place a nice but very small house. She keeps a cook & grown nurse. Her time is taken up with out doors work. She says she is determined to raise her meat this year & sell butter enough to pay for her sewing. She can’t bear house work. She is now raising bronze turkies. they are very much larger than the other kind. has sent on for Pekin ducks. Jim A. has been in the Alliance store in Willis the last 7 weeks. He gives the farm no attention whatever, goes home Saturday nights & returns Mondays. Josie keeps Josie Lee altogether and she is a deal of trouble. Her dear patient grand ma says she can not do without her. Billie has so little to do at home for the want of rain. He comes to Willis about three or four times per week. A great deal lovely weather & east wind but no rain. ground too hard to finish planting cotton, garden almost at a stand still – Billie sets out cabbage plants by watering the ground so as to pull them up & water the ground to set them out. His corn looks green & pretty but almost quit growing. . . ."
       Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell; original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
• James Buford Abercrombie and Evelina Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Adair Abercrombie, Ella A. Abercrombie, Bolling Anderson Abercrombie, James Smither Abercrombie, Anne Mitchell Abercrombie, Robert Haden Abercrombie, Lavinia E. Abercrombie, John Leonard Abercrombie, Charles Milo Abercrombie and Cornelia Josephine Mitchell. James and son Bolling also were enumerated in Falls County at the prison. Josie Mitchell Wood also was enumerated with her husband in Montgomery County.
• He was a salesman, according to the 1900 census.
• He married Frances Josephine Brokof, daughter of Frank Brokof and Lena J. Harmes, circa 1905.
• William Adair Abercrombie and Frances Josephine Brokof appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Galveston, Texas, at 2014 27th Street. Other members of the household included Lena J. Harmes.
• The following appeared on 6 March 1912 in The Houston Chronicle: James Buford Abercrombie, aged 62 years, died at his home on Grantham avenue, three miles south of Houston, Tuesday afternoon. He is survived by his widow and nine children: W. A., Bolling A., J. S., Robert H., John L., Milo C., Joe W. and Misses Annie Mitchell and Vinnie E. Abercrombie.
       Mr. Abercrombie was a member of San Jacinto Lodge No. 7, A. F. and A. M., at Huntsville, Texas. The remains will be shipped by Settegast & Kopf Thursday morning at 7:15 o'clock to Huntsville for interment, accompanied by members of the family.
• William Adair Abercrombie registered for the draft on 12 September 1918 in Galveston, Texas, while living with his wife Josephine in Galveston, and employed there as a salesman with a barber supply.
• William Adair Abercrombie became a widower at the 29 October 1918 death of his wife Frances Josephine Brokof.
• William Adair Abercrombie appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Galveston, Texas, at 4201 Avenue T a roomer in the household of jeweler Phillip Kuhn.
• He was a drygoods salesman, according to the 1930 census.
• He married Alice Cecile (?)
• William Adair Abercrombie died on 21 March 1956 at age 75 in Galveston, Texas, at St. Mary's Infirmary . His death was officially witnessed by Alice Cecile (?)
• He was interred at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery, Hitchcock, Galveston County, Texas.
• A single grave marker identifies the graves of William Adair Abercrombie and Alice Cecile (?)

• Last Edited: 10 Jun 2012

• Charts: Descendants of ABERCROMBIE Charles & Edwina Malinda "Dicey" Booth, Descendants of WOOD William & Lydia Ballentine