Isa Runnels

Isa Runnels

• Father: Hosea H. Runnels b. circa 1803, d. 1837
• Mother: Elizabeth Wilson

• Isa Runnels was born circa 1832 in Mississippi.
• In 1842, in Hinds County, Mississippi, Hiram G. Runnels, guardian for three of the minor heirs of Hosea Runnels, asks permission to sell a slave family held by the estate of the said Hosea. The petitioner represents "that it will be impossible to make a fair and equal distribution of said slaves among the four distributees . . . without selling the same and dividing the proceeds among them."
• Henry Bates and Ann (?) appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Isa Runnels, Joseph V. Bates.
• She married Joseph V. Bates, son of Henry Bates and Ann (?), on 3 June 1850 in Galveston County, Texas.
• Joseph V. Bates and Isa Runnels appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Henry Bates, Franklin T. Bates and Hiram G. Bates.
• Isa Runnels became a widow at the between 1862 and 1865 death of her husband Joseph V. Bates.
• She married Bagwell L. DeFreese on 26 June 1865 in Grimes County, Texas.
• Bagwell L. DeFreese and Isa Runnels appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Anderson PO, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Henry Bates, Franklin T. Bates, Bedie Runnels Bates, Charles Allen DeFreese and Albert B. DeFreese.
• Isa Runnels became a widow at the 29 May 1877 death of her husband Bagwell L. DeFreese.
• The following appeared on 5 June 1877 in The Galveston Daily News: (Grimes County. Navasota Tablet). . . Col. B. L. Defreese, an honored citizen of this county, died Sunday, May 29th. . . .
• Isa Runnels appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 114 Louisiana. Other members of the household included Henry Bates, Franklin T. Bates, Charles Allen DeFreese, Albert B. DeFreese and William Baker DeFreese. Although Henry's name is recorded in the household, the line is struck through. Also in the household was boarder Minnie Phelps, age 24.
• Isa Runnels died circa 22 August 1891 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.
• She was interred at Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 25 August 1891 in The Galveston Daily News: (Houston, Aug. 24) The funeral of Mrs. Isa R. De Freese took place this afternoon from the family home, corner of Dallas and LaBranch streets, at 4:30 o'clock. The remains were followed to their lasxt resting place at Glenwood by a large number of sorrowing friends. The pall bearers were Messrs. Geo. Goldthwaite, F. A. Rice, Thos. R. Franklin, John H. B. House, A. L. Steele, H. T. D. Wilson, T. U. Lubbock, F. F. Chew, R. M. Hutchins. The impressive services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Solomon of Shearn church. Deceased was one of the old citizens of Houston, and her death means the weakening of the chain that binds the earlier to the present inhabitants of Houston. She came to Texas early in the forties as a child and was brought up by her uncle, Governor Hiram Runnels of Mississippi. She was a sister of the wife of the late lamented W. R. Baker and was first married to Colonel Joe Bates, of which union were born Hal and Frank Bates and Mrs. M. Tankersley. After his death she married Rev. William DeFreese, and to them were born Albert and Wm. DeFreese, now living. For many years she lived in Grimes county, and from there came to Houston early in the seventies. She was a devout and good member of the Methodist church and possessed of the purest virtues of noble womanhood. Her beautiful spirit has nestled by the throne of God. She died of consumption and had been ill for over a year. The members of the family have the warmest sympathy of friends here and in other places of the state.

• Last Edited: 16 Aug 2013