Notes for John C. RUNNELS:
John C. Runnels is listed on the following U.S. Census:
1860 Anderson County, Texas, p.66 458/458 Beat #6 Ioni July/10/1860.
1870 Liberty County, Texas, 141/139
1880 San Jacinto Co. TX. p. 338, Enum. Dist. #150, Super Dist. #4, June 03, 1879

His occupation is listed as: Farmer

On the 1880 Census, the birthplace of his father is listed as : England and his mother's place of birth as: Tennessee. This is my only clue as to the idenity of his parents.

Children of John C.  RUNNELS and Arrilla Frances SANDERSON are:

1. James RUNNELS, b. March 20, 1852; d. April 28, 1868.

2. William E. RUNNELS was born November 14, 1853 in Texas, and died July 13, 1915 in Leggett, Polk Co. Texas: Buried: Pine Ridge Cemetery.
He married Martha E. "Mattie" DEMBOUR August 06, 1873 in San Jacinto County, Texas, daughter of Jacques  DEMBOUR and Henrietta  (UNKNOWN).

Notes for William E. RUNNELS:
William E. Runnels is listed on the following U.S. Census:
1860 Anderson County Texas
1870 Liberty County Texas
1880 San Jacinto County, Texas
1900 Polk County, Texas

 Family history says he was a Baptist (?) Minister.

Notes for Martha E. "Mattie" DEMBOUR:

Martha came to Polk Co. Texas after the Civil War with her father and his second wife, Marie or "Mary", from Nachitoches Parish LA.

Children of William E. RUNNELS and Martha E. DEMBOUR are:
(1) Frances  M. RUNNELS, b. September 11, 1874; d. March 08, 1904, Polk County,Texas.
(2) Dora Ann RUNNELS, b. July 24, 1876, Polk County Texas;
      d. April 07, 1961, Beaumont,Texas.
(3) George Henry RUNNELS, b. September 29, 1879.
(4) Minnie RUNNELS, b. October 01, 1883, Polk County Texas; d. Bef. 1900.
(5) Martha Ellen "Dink" RUNNELS, b. July 31, 1885, Valda, Polk County Texas;
      d. April 07, 1963, Livingston, Polk Co. Texas. Buried Kings Cemetery.
(6) Callie Donna RUNNELS, b. April 12, 1889, Corrigan, Polk Co. Texas;
      d. February 10, 1955, Leggett, Polk Co. Texas, Buried: Rice Cemetery.
(7) Vashti Victoria RUNNELS, b. March 24, 1891;
      d. July 04, 1953, Buried: Rice Cemetery..
(8) Unknown  RUNNELS, b. Bef. 1900.

3. George E. RUNNELS  was born January 20, 1855 in Polk County Texas, and died Bef. 1900 in Polk County Texas.
He married Joanna Jane CHANDLER November 02, 1890 in Polk County, Texas.

Children of George E. RUNNELS and Joanna Jane CHANDLER are:
(1) Uunknown  RUNNELS, b. Bef. 1900.
(2) Arthur  RUNNELS, b. April 05, 1893, Polk County Texas;
      d. 1973, Buried: Union Springs Cemetery;
      m. Sarah U. MAXEY, January 24, 1917, Polk County Texas.
(3) William Edward RUNNELS, b. December 26, 1894, Polk County Texas;
       d. July 02, 1975, Houston Harris Co. Texas, Buried: Union Springs Cem.;
       m. Mary Louise "Mae" JONES, January 19, 1919, Polk County Texas.
       More About William Edward RUNNELS:
            Fact 3: Copy of Obituary
        More About Mary Louise "Mae" JONES:
            Fact 3: Copy of Obituary
(4) Unknown  RUNNELS, b. Bef. 1900.
(5) Aleatha  RUNNELS, b. October 08, 1896; m. R. S. KNOX, June 04, 1916, Polk Co. Texas.

4. E. K. RUNNELS, b. October 10, 1856, Texas (Twin); d. March 26, 1857.
5. Levi  D. RUNNELS, b. October 16, 1856, Texas (Twin); d. January 28, 1872.
6. Sarah  E. RUNNELS, b. October 26, 1859, Texas; d. October 30, 1860.
7. Thomas L. RUNNELS, b. January 20, 1862, Texas; d. July 03, 1883.
8. John C. RUNNELS Jr. was born July 06, 1864 in Texas, and
died October 20, 1912 in Shady Grove, Polk Co. Texas. Buried: Pine Ridge Cemetery.
He married Zacariah PHILLIPS December 25, 1892 in Polk County Texas.

Notes for John C. RUNNELS Jr.:

John C Runnels' wife's name is listed in different ways; on their Marriage Records in Polk County Texas, her name is listed as Zackarine Fenley, but on the Birth Record of their daughter, Nica Ann Runnels, Vol. 15, page 402, Polk Co Texas, it is listed as Zacariah Phillips.

Family history says that she died after the birth of their last child.

Family history says that their oldest son Charles was killed in WW1, their oldest daughter, Eva Mae, joined the Army and served in WW11. Another son, Calvin, was killed in WW11.

The following was in the Polk County Enterprise after John C. Jr.'s death.

" 31 Oct. 1912 (Shady Grove) --- Mr. John Runnels, who was taken suddenly ill while working at New Willard on Friday, on reaching home he became almost unconscious until death relieved him on Sunday morning. He was laid to rest in the Pine Ridge Cemetery Monday afternoon. Rev. G.L. Harper of Lufkin conducted the funeral services. He has resided here for several years and if he has an enemy, we do not know of it...... He leaves four small children.........."

Children of John C. and Zacariah  PHILLIPS are: (Probably not in correct order)
(1) CHARLES RUNNELS.
       Notes for CHARLES RUNNELS:
       He was killed in WI
(2) Calvin RUNNELS.
       Notes for CALVIN RUNNELS:
       He was killed in WW II
(3) Unknown  RUNNELS.
(4) Viola RUNNELS, m. (1) Joe ANTHONY; m. (2) Charles ALSBROOK.
(5) Nica Ann  RUNNELS, b. October 12, 1887, Corrigan, Polk Co. Texas;
       m. Henry  SMITH.
(6) Eva Mae RUNNELS, b. May 01, 1900, Corrigan, Polk Co. Texas.
        Notes for Eva Mae  RUNNELS:
        Eva's Father died when she was 12 years old. Her mother had died before this.
        She was sent to live in Louisiana with some people, who may or may not have been
         related, but did not seem to have much information on her family.
         When she got older she spent years trying to trace her family. She never married .
         At the beginning of WW II, she joined the Army at about 40 years of age and
         served throughout the war.

Children of William E. Runnels & Martha E. "Mattie" Dembour Runnels:

1. Frances M. "Fannie RUNNELS  was born September 11, 1874, and
died March 08, 1904 in Polk County Texas.
She married (1) W. J. HICKS March 06, 1892 in Polk County Texas.
She married (2) R. P. O NEILL November 05, 1893.
She married (3) W.R. GOODRICH October 22, 1898 in Polk County Texas.

Child of Frances M. RUNNELS and W. J. HICKS is:
(1) Minnie Aleane  HICKS, b. December 26, 1892, Leggett Polk County, Texas;
     d. April 26,----- Buried :Fairview Cemetery;
     m. Emmett  HICKMAN, July 14, 1931, Minden, Louisiana.
     More About Minnie Aleane HICKS:  Fact 2: Copy of Obituary
     More About Emmett HICKMAN:  Fact 2: Copy of Obituary

Children of Frances M. RUNNELS and W.R. GOODRICH are:
(2) Jessie  GOODRICH.
    Notes for Jessie  GOODRICH:  He died at about age 4 years.
(3) Lewis GOODRICH.
     Notes for LEWIS GOODRICH:  Died in infancy.
(4) Susan Annie GOODRICH, d. February 20, 1920, Memphis, Texas;
      m. Jim PHAUP, December 02, 1918, Tyler, Texas.

2.  Dora Ann RUNNELS  was born July 24, 1876 in Polk County Texas, and
died April 07, 1961 in Beaumont, Texas.
She married Thomas Harry CARTER September 04, 1892 in Valda, Polk County Texas.

Children of Dora Ann  RUNNELS and Thomas Harry CARTER are:
(1) Floyd CARTER.
(2) Fred  CARTER.
(3) Horace H. CARTER, b. September 30, 1903, Polk County Texas.
(4) Eugene CARTER.

5. Martha Ellen "Dink"  RUNNELS  was born July 31, 1885 in Valda, Polk County Texas, and died April 07, 1963 in Livingston, Polk Co. Texas. Buried Kings Cemetery. Newton Co., Texas.
She married (1) Edmond Earl "Ed" SHEPHERD December 01, 1901 in Valda, Polk Co. Texas, son of David Andrew SHEPHERD and Mary Julia WYATT.
She married (2) Jason Coleman KEEL October 29, 1949 in DeRidder, Louisiana.

Children of Martha Ellen  RUNNELS and Edmond Earl SHEPHERD are:
(1) Little Girl Shepherd  b. October 17, 1902, Polk County, Texas;
      d. October 17, 1902, Polk County, Texas.
(2) William Edward "Bill" SHEPHERD, b. March 14, 1904, Leggett, Polk County, Texas;
      d. 1979-1980, Lindsborg, Kansas;
      m. (1) Mrs. Annie Ida HERRIN LOVE, July 23, 1922, Deweyville, Texas;
      m. (2) Mrs. Iva RAGGERS, October 01, 1947.
(3) Edmond Earl SHEPHERD Jr., b. October 12, 1905;
      d. September 09, 1912, Milvid, Liberty County, Texas.
       Notes for Edmond Earl SHEPHERD Jr. :
       His death record says he died from Malaria.
(4) Mollie Jane SHEPHERD, b. December 21, 1907, Camden, Polk County, Texas;
       d. June 20, 1961, Orange, Texas Buried: Kings Cemetery; Newton Co., Texas
       m. Jessie KING, November 14, 1924.
(5) Hubert Bert SHEPHERD, b. April 24, 1910, Camden, Polk County, Texas;
        d. October 15, 1990, Houston, Harris County, Texas;  Buried: Jones-Watts Cem.;
        m. Wattsie Olgar HATCHER, June 30, 1934, Polk County Texas.
(6) Albert  SHEPHERD, b. April 08, 1913, Camden, Polk County, Texas;
        d. October 06, 1983, Livingston, Polk County Texas.
        Buried: Kings Cemetery; Newton Co., Texas.
        m. Irene COOPER, October 12, 1940, Nacogdoches County, Texas.
(7) Gladys SHEPHERD, b. July 11, 1916, Camden, Polk County Texas;
        d. January 01, 1981, Livingston, Polk County Texas. Buried: Peebles Cemetery;
        m. Elmer McNIEL, September 02, 1933, Livingston, Polk County Texas.
(8) Henry Edward SHEPHERD, b. April 03, 1919, Camden, Polk County, Texas;
        d. April 09, 1919, Buried: Pine Ridge Cemetery.

6. Callie Donna  RUNNELS was born April 12, 1889 in Corrigan, Polk Co. Texas,
and died February 10, 1955 in Leggett, Polk Co. Texas. Buried: Rice Cemetery.
She married (1) John Bell  MCDONALD February 06, 1906 in Polk County Texas.
She married (2) Dave ZIMMERMAN April 24, 1925.

Children of Callie Donna RUNNELS and John MCDONALD are:
(1) Laura  MCDONALD, m. Paul  MATTHEWS.
(2) Emma Lee  MCDONALD, m. Lida Red PRUITT, March 28, 1928, Liberty County,Texas.
(3) Dan C. MCDONALD, m. Mildred
(4) Raymond Willard MCDONALD.
(5) James Henry "Jimmy"  MCDONALD, b. July 22, 1917, Legget Polk County, Texas;
     d. July 15, 1997, Cleveland, Liberty Co. Texas. Buried: Rice Cemetery;
     m. Louella, July 04, 1956, Leggett, Polk Co. Texas.
(6) Roy MCDONALD.

7. Vashti Victoria  RUNNELS  was born March 24, 1891, and
died July 04, 1953 in Buried: Rice Cemetery.
She married Thomas Jefferson KERR December 27, 1908 in Polk County, Texas.

Children of Vashti Victoria  RUNNELS and Thomas Jefferson KERR are:
(1) Thomas Glendon  KERR, b. March 25, 1913, Polk County, Texas;
     d. May 09, 1968, Buried: Rice Cemetery.;
     m. Dolly Mae KELLEY, February 10, 1934.
(2) Myra Faye KERR, b. July 07, 1914;
     m. Morris Eugene CRAWFORD.

1. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas..Volume C, Page 471, G.E. Runnels & Joana Chandler....11/2/1890.
2. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas....Volume G, Page 270, 1/24/1917, Arthur Runnels & Sarah U. Maxey.
3. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas.....Volume G, Page 355, William Runnels & Mary Jones, 1/19/1919.
4. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas....Volume G., Page 181, 6/4/1916, Aleatha Runnels & R.S. Knox.
5. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas....Volume C, Page 537, 3/6/1892, Frances M. Runnils to W. J. Hicks.
6. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas.....Volume C, Page 554, 6/4/1892, D.H. (A.?) Runnels to Thomas Carter.
7. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas....Volume E, Page 82, 12/12/1901, M.E. Runnels to E.D. Shepherd.
8. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas....Volume E., Page 485, 2/6/1906, Runnels to J. B. McDonald.
9. Polk County Marriage Records, Livingston, Texas,....Volume 3, Page 205, Vashtie to Tom J. Kerr, 12/27/1908.