John Disaray URBAN & Leonora WEST

John Disaray URBAN was born 28 April 1828 in New Bern, Craven County, GA and died 21 September 1909. John was first married to Catherine Steinmann of Houston, Texas on 18 October 1848.

Leonora WEST, daughter of Jordan West and Matilda Pruitt, was born 6 July 1836 in Liberty Co, Texas and died 10 January 1908. John and Leonora were married 19 October 1851 at the home of Geo. Tanner by Rev. Berry. They are both buried in the Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas.

John Disaray Urban joined the C. S. A 16 Apr 1862 and servered in the 21st Cavalry Texas Pvt Co.

The first 5 childred were were christened in Annunciation Church in Houston, Texas

1. James M. Urban, born 7 January 1853, Harris Co, Texas; died 1936; married Mary Catherine EVANS
2. John Urban, born 1854, Harris Co, Texas
3. William Buchanan Urban, born 24 July 1856, Groce's Retreat, Grimes Co, Texas; died 16 February 1935, Tyler, Texas; married Dixie Ann Oliphant, 29 October 1876, Belton, Texas. He moved to Belton, Texas at 3 years of age in 1859.

   On 29 October 1876 he married Dixie Ann OLIPHANT of the Rock Church Communitay near Belton, daughter of James Madison OLIPHANT and Loinda LITTLE. She was born 19 October 1861 in Bell Co, Texas.

   In January 1884 they moved to Bullard. From the foundation of the town, he has been identified with every movement for its upbuilding in business, church, school and social activities.

   Lenora’s daughter Helen called Dixie "Muir" - that's how she got her nickname.

   When Dixie’s father died in Belton, Texas, her mother Loinda Little Oliphant moved to Bullard to live with Buck and Dixie. W.B.’s parents lived with them until they died.

   After their children were raised, they moved to Tyler - living there 17 years. They lived next door to Henry Quinn, Sr. and Johnie Nell on South Fleischel. Buck was a very religious and honest man, a member of the Masonic Lodge in Bullard and after moving to Tyler a member of St. John’s Lodge. He served as a City Commissioner and was active in Tyler affairs.

   Children of William Buchanan Urban and Dixie Ann Oliphant were as follows:

   The Urbans celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a party on 29 October 1926 in their home. Included in the document in the Smith County TXGenWeb Archives are letters written about the family.

   W. B. had a stroke and was paralyzed on his left side. He died at home with a heart attack on 16 February 1935. Dixie died late at night on 30 July 1947 at home. She had resided in Tyler 30 years after moving from Bullard.

   1. Lenora Urban, born 31 July 1878 at Belton, Texas; died 13 October 1937; buried Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas; married 1. John Lovic BULLARD, 30 Aug 1891, Smith Co, Texas, 2. Charles R. TINDEL, 25 December 1897
   2. Henry Quinn URBAN, the son of William Buchanan URBAN and Dixie Ann OLIPHANT, was born 7 September 1883. He married Johnie Nell TEMPLETON, 23 Jul 1905 at Smith Co, Texas. Johnie Nell, the daughter of John Calhoun TEMPLETON and Mary Monk CALDWELL, was born 7 November 1885.
      1. Fannie Bae Urban, born 21 October 1906, Bullard, Texas; died March 1996, Fort Worth, Texas; buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Texas; married R. B. Roesenstein, 13 June 1924, Smith Co, Texas
      2. Mildred Urban, born 21 June 1906, Bullard, Texas; died 24 July 1998, Houston, Texas; married James Franklin NORTON, 25 December 1928.
      3. Henry Quinn Urban, Jr., born 16 October 1913; died 2 Aug 1977 at age 63; buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; married 1. Jesse Virginia MINOT, 10 September 1970. She was born 29 Oct 1922, San Marcos, Texas; died 19 Feb 1970; buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas. They have 5 living daughters. Married 2. Jeanette TAYLOR SHANNON, 25 March 1972. Co-owned Quinn Urban Cleaners in later years but was in the cleaning business as a young lad.

      All the family had nick names. Johnie Nell was called either Nell or Mama and Henry Quinn Sr. was called Papa or Quinn. Fannie Bae was called Boo and Rudolph Sr. was called Dub. James Norton, Sr. was called Uncle Dash.

      Nell enjoyed crocheting, rug braiding, sewing, and loving her children, grand children and great grand children.

      After they were divorced in 1935, Johnie Nell lived with her daughter Fannie Bae at 503 S. Fleishel before she went to a nursing home in Tyler where she died 5 November 1973. She is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Texas. Pictures

      Henry married Annie Lois FOWLER in 1935. He died 6 January 1960 at the age of 76 and is buried at Bullard Cemetery, Bullard, Smith Co, Texas.

   3. Frances (Fannie) Urban, born 24 January 1886, Bullard, Texas; died 11 October 1968, Bullard, Texas; buried Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas; married John GILCHRIST
   4. Laura Urban, born 19 May 1891, Bullard, Texas; d. 1l January 1892 Bullard, Texas; buried Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas
   5. Willie Urban, born 1 October 1893, Bullard, Texas; died 18 November 1896, Bullard, Texas; buried Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas
   6. Kay Bonner Urban, M.D., born 30 August 1894, Bullard, Texas; died 24 January 1958, Tyler, Texas; buried at Memorial Park, Smith Co, Texas married Carol Margaret SMITH, 10 June 1919, Bullard, Texas
   7. Guy Urban, born 5 March 1896, Bullard, Texas; died 8 September 1897 Bullard, Texas; buried Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas
   8. Dixie Urban, born 27 July 1898, Bullard, Texas; died 5 April 1900, Bullard, Texas; buried Bullard Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas
4. Josephine Urban, born 10 December 1858, Bell Co. TX; died 26 July 1905, Houston,TX; m. ? HATCHER
5. Henry Urban, born 21 February 1861, Bryant Station, Texas
6. Elizabeth Maudie Urban, born 1862
7. Charles Urban, born 10 June 1863; Bell Co, Texas; died 1863, Bell County TX
8. Sameul Franklin Urban, born 24 May 1872 Belton, Texas; died 27 November 1918, SD, married Nannie Evelyn BIDWELL
9. E. (Lonnie) Alonzo Urban, born 7 Sep 1876, Belton, Bell Co, Texas; died 14 Apr 1945, San Antonio, Texas; married Bessie

URBAN FAMILY PICTURES

Sources of Information

• Oliphant-Urban Letters
• Cemetery Records Smith Co, Texas, Volume III, (Tyler, Texas: East Texas Genealogical Society, 1984)
• Smith Co, Texas Census Records
• Marriage Records of Smith County, Texas 1846-1899 (Tyler, Texas: East Texas Genealogical Society, 1979)
• Smith County Marriage Records, Book II - 1900-1926 (Tyler, Texas: East Texas Genealogical Society, 1999)
• Quinn Urban Dahlstrom - Letters by Lenora Urban, Robert Edward Urban, Marriage License, Wills, pictures, Fannie Bae Rosenstein, Death Obituraries, Newspaper Articles, Henry Quinn Urban Jr., Ruth Gilchrist, Letters to Mrs. Beardmore from Johnie Nell Urban, Personal Knowledge.

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