Tom and Laura Windham

Tom Windham was born August 8, 1859 in Angelina County, Texas, the youngest child of Dr. J.D. and Fannie Windham. When he was six years old his family moved to Brown County, then on to Callahan county in 1874.

Laura Lou Jones was born in Homer, Louisiana (Claiborne Parish) February 26, 1866. She was the third child and only daughter of Eleanor and Walter Alford Jones. The family moved to Angelina County, Texas when she was a very small child. Laura later moved to Callahan County to live with her uncle Oscar Jones and his wife (Eliza Windham), who was a sister of Tom Windham's.

Tom and Laura were married on December 20, 1883 at he home of Tom's sister, Mrs. Dicie Gilliland in Baird, Texas. Rev. J.B. Seay performed the marriage ceremony. The moved into a one-room house at the foot of Tecumseh Peak, the site which was to remain their home for the rest of their lives. The door was so low that Tom, a tall man, had to stoop to get through. Life was hard for the young couple for may years as they were raising their family of seven children. There were, however, many happy times also. The social life consisted mostly of "get-togethers" with neighbors and their family members.

Tom was in the cattle business all his life. He said he was completely "wiped out" three times businesswise, but always made a comeback. He was a lover of good horses and was known for the fine horses he raised. There were still bands of Indians who passed through the area during the early years, but he did not have any trouble with them. He said his closest call with Indians was one very foggy day when he and some others were driving some cattle out in front of the house. A band of Indians was passing by, driving stolen horses. Part of the cattle went in front of the Indians and the rest went behind them. There was no trouble, however, as the fog kept everyone involved from seeing very well.

Eleven children were born to the couple:
(1) John D., born January 22, 1885; (2) James Calvin, born December 30, 1885, and was killed August 15, 1901. He and his older brother, John were helping their father pen some horses. The horses ridden by the brothers ran together, and both horses and boys were thrown to the ground. Jim died instantly from a broken neck; (3) Alfred Walter, born April 25, 1888, and died at ten years of age from "a fever"; (4) Winne Jones, born July 9, 1890; (5) Robert Samuel, born April 12, 1893; (6) Annie Laurie, born August 29, 1895; (7) Oscar Thomas, born May18, 1898, died when a very small boy, also of "a fever"; (8) Ernest Richard, born June 15, 1900; (9) Infant baby boy, born May 7, 1902, died the same day; (10) Frank Anson, born August 8, 1903; and Tom Ferguson, born October 24, 1906. The seven surviving children married and lived in Callahan County all their lives, all following in the steps of their parents in the ranching industry.

As their family increased, the Windhams built a larger house, to which they kept adding rooms through the years. There were many family dinners which included children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Holidays and "cattle working" times were always cues for large crowds to gather. The house was open to everyone, and the first questions Mrs. Windham asked any new arrivals were whether or not they had eaten, no matter the time of day.

Laura died on May 17, 1948 at the age of 82. Tom died on August 29, 1951 at the age of 92. Both are buried in the Tecumseh Cemetery. Submitted by: Paula Windham