Gainesville Daily Register   Thursday  October 16, 1919

 

 

FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN COOKE COUNTY DIED HERE TODAY

 

 

James K. Chadwell, well known Cooke county citizen, died at his home at corner of Grand Avenue and Broadway in this city, at 1 o’clock this afternoon, after an illness of a few days.

 

Deceased is survived by his widow and several children, all grown and married.  James K. Chadwell was the first white child born in Cooke county, that event taking place on a farm near what is known as the old Redman place, about four miles northeast of this city.  Mr. Chadwell resided in Cooke county all his life, and never resided farther than ten miles from Gainesville at any time, spending most of his life on a farm near the old Chadwell homestead, the home of his parents, located in Elm bottom, some two miles southeast of the iron bridge over Elm creek on the Gainesville and Denton road just south of this city.

 

At press hour The Register was unable to get any further data concerning this grand old pioneer, but hopes to be able to give a more extended review of his long and useful life.  He was a noble citizen, a loving father, devoted husband and generous neighbor, and above all he was an honest man and was ever actuated by a deep sense of respect and justice toward his fellow man. 

 

The funeral arrangements have not been announced at this writing.

 

FUNERAL OF J.K. CHADWELL FROM HOME THIS AFTERNOON

 

 

The funeral of  the late James K. Chadwell who died yesterday, took place from the family home at the corner of Broadway and Grand Avenue at 1 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. Dennis, pastor of Whaley Memorial M.E. church, officiating, following which the remains were taken to Myra by Undertaker George J. Carroll and interred in the cemetery at that place. 

 

The deceased, who was 73 years old the seventh day of last May, being the first white child born in Cooke county, is survived by his aged widow, one son and one daughter.  The son is W.E. Chadwell of Henrietta, Texas and Mrs. J.L. Griggs of this city, is the daughter, both of whom were present at the obsequies today.  It was the request of the deceased that his body be buried by the side of his young son, Derald, who died some six years ago and was buried in the Myra cemetery.

 

The deceased was the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. John Chadwell, among the first pioneers of Cooke county, having moved here from Missouri in the early forties and settled a few miles east of what is now Gainesville.  They lived here the balance of their lives and were numbered among the best people and good citizens of this county.   They reared a family of three sons – James K., John and William- and two daughters, later on one of the daughters becoming Mrs. Joe Davis and the other Mrs. Chas. Minor.  All are dead now, James K., the eldest of the family, being the last to pass over the Divide, leaving none of the parental family behind.