William Eugene Traughber & Leora Wells

Our Traughber Ancestors

Pictured From Left to Right
Back Row: Clark Ray age 9 and Myrtle May age 11
Center Row: William Eugene age 39, Morris age 5, and Leora Wells age 32
Front Row: Jessee James age 2 and Leta age 6 months

Resources and Links:

The photograph was taken in the Spring of 1910 just months before Murry Lee Traughber was born. Little Leta died in December, just 2 months and a day after her first birthday. Someone brought a spoiled ham to her birthday party. Everyone who ate it got sick. It killed her.

Wiliam Eugene Traughber was born 08 March 1871 on the Kentucky, Tenessee border. The Traughber lands lay in both Logan County Kentucky and Cocke County Tennessee. So, he was actually born in both states. At the age of 12 the family moved to Sulphur Bluff, Hopkins County, Texas where he spent the rest of his life. On his death certificate his parents are identified. William Traughber and Elizabeth Cook.

Leora Wells was born in Sulphur Bluff, Hopkins County, Texas on the 2nd day of February 1878. At a very young age she lost most of her family in an Indian massacre. She said it happened when she was about 5 years old. The family had just arrived at the ranch when they were attacked by Indians. Of that terrible tragedy, she remembered hiding under the wagon watching them murder her family. The 1880 census reveals her parents: Thomas A Wells and Elmina Brady.

William Eugene Traughber and Leora Wells were married 01 July 1897 in Franklin County Texas. On January 1st, 1896 before they were husband and wife they purchased 2 tracts of land from G.S. and M.K. Traughber. The first to William Eugene Traughber - 250 acres for the sum of $1,000.00. The second to Leora Wells Traughber, a 50 acre tract for the sum of $250.00. It was on this land that they would bring 9 children into the world and bury three. Build at least two homes; one was destroyed by a tornado that left a stove, a barrel and splinters of wood.

Leora Wells married William E. Traughber 01 July 1897 in Franklin County. This couple found in 1900 census in Hopkins County. She said she was born Feb 1879 in Texas stated both parents born TX. William E Traughber born KY Mar 1871 and daughter May M Traughber born Mar 1899. Leora Traughber died in Hopkins Co Mem Hosp 01 Oct 1972 lived in Commerce, Hunt Co per her youngest daughter, Mrs. Grace Bohannon she was born 02 Feb 1878 in Sulphur Bluff, Hopkins Co. This Leora's parents were Thomas A Wells and Elmina listed in 1880 Franklin Co Census."

Child buried next to Leta -TRAUGHBER, GREEN S. Born 19 AUG 1904 Died 28 FEB 1905 -, which could mean my great grandfather William Euguene Traughber and G.S. may have been brothers. Son of G.S. and M.K Traughber.

There is a double headstone in the Blanco Cemetery, Pittsburg County Oklahoma, USA with G.S. Traughber B: 12 Oct 1868 D:20 Dec 1941 and Katie B: 13 Oct 1875 D: 28 Jan 1949 inscribed on it. The text reads General Sydney Traughber was born in Danville, Kentucky to William Traughber and Elizabeth Cook. He was a farmer and died in Blanco. With an added note: General Sidney Traughber married Katie Fitzgerald in Kentucky or Tennessee and they settled in Oklahoma. He was the brother of my Great-Great-Grandfather, George W. Traughber.--McGraver"

1870 United States Federal Census District 3, Robertson, Tennessee:
John Smith 57
Wm Traughber 33
Elizabeth Traughber 32
Rebecca Traughber 15
George W Traughber 13
Rosaner Traughber 12
Mary J Traughber 10
Levrgesiel Traughber 1


1880 Sulphur Bluff, Hopkins County Texas Census
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas A. Wells 39
Elmina Wells 28
Nicholas J. Wells 10
Mary L. Wells 7
John A. Wells 5
Deolphus Wells 3
Leora Wells 2

T A Wells
1878 Franklin County, Texas, Line 33, Images 53 and 54, Original Grantee, 60 Acres, 4 Horses, 8 cattle
1879 Franklin County, Texas Abstract #535, 150 Acres, 10 Horses, 4 Cattle
1882 Franklin County, Texas
1885 Franklin County, Texas
1888 Franklin County, Texas

1893 Texas Tax Assessment Rolls Collin County, Precinct No. 2
Mrs. E. Traughber Abstract #966, 63.5 Acres, 1 Wagon, 7 Mules [Myrtle May Traughber worked mule team]
W E Traughber
G S Traughber

1894 T A Wells Franklin County, Texas

01 Jul 1897 W.E. Traughber married Leara Wells in Franklin County, Texas

1900 Justice Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas 14 June 1900 Image 23 of 49
Census w/Place of Birth|Fathers Place of Birth|Mothers Place of Birth|
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Lera Traughber
Marriage Year: 1898
Years Married: 2
Head TRAUGHBER, Wil* Willie E. Mar 1871 29 Kentucky Kentucky Kentucky
Wife TRAUGHBER, Lera Feb 1879 21 Texas Texas Texas
Daughter TRAUGHBER, May M Mar 1899 01 Texas Kentucky Texas

Head TRAUGHBER, O Jan 1838 62 Kentucky Tennessee Tennessee
Daughter TRAUGHBER, Alice R. Oct 1854 45 Tennessee Kentucky Kentucky

Name: Nicholas J Wells Age: 29 Birthplace: Texas
Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 3, Red River, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mamie Wells Marriage Year: 1892
Years Married: 8
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Texas
Household Members
Name Age
Nicholas J Wells 29
Mamie Wells 24

1910 Justice Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas, Census
Wil* Traughber [Will E. Traughber] [Will Traughber]
Father's Birthplace: Kentucky/Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky/Tennessee
Head Willie Traughber M 39 Kentucky
Wife Leora Traughber F 34 Texas
Daughter Myrtle M Traughber F 11 Texas
Son Clark R Traughber M 9 Texas
Son Jessie Traughber M 7 Texas
Son Morris S Traughber M 4 Texas

1920 Census Justice Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas
William E Truaghber [William E Traughber] 49 born abt 1871 Kentucky
Leora Truaghber 42
May Truaghber 21
Clark Truaghber 19
Jesse Truaghber 16
Morris Truaghber 14
Murry Truaghber 9
Grace Truaghber 3 [3y 6mos]

1930 Census
Name: Will E Traughber Age in 1930: 59 Birth Year: 1871
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1930: Commerce, Hunt, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Leura Traughber
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household Members
Name Age
Will E Traughber 59
Leura Traughber 48
Grace Traughber 12

1940 Census Justice Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas
Leora Traughber
Age: 60
Birth: abt 1880
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Commerce, Hunt, Texas
Street: Maloney House Number: 1206
Inferred Residence in 1935: Commerce, Hunt, Texas
Sheet Number: 6A
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Household Members:
Name Age
Leora Traughber 60
Grace Traughber 2 [21]

Books:
Kentucky Colonization in Texas lists Wm. Traughber arriving in 1848
Roots and Branches Volume 1

Sulphur Bluff Texas

Hopkins County Civil War Data

Hopkins County Genealogy

Texas Birth Records

RootsWeb Texas data base

Logan County Kentucky Genealogy

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