Setting Up in Murchison

In the early 1900s, Murchison, Texas was a thriving little town on the railroad between Athens and Tyler. There were packing houses by the railroad where tomatoes and peaches were packed to ship out.

I don't know the population—maybe 300 to 500. There was a bank, a drug store, a depot, a school with all eleven grades, and a general merchandise store owned by my grandfather John Daniel Browning (Papa).

I think Papa taught school some, too. He operated a farm right close into town and also ran some cattle there.

The Post Office was in his store so he was post master.

He was a 32nd degree Mason, whatever that is, and a Baptist deacon.

All of his family helped in the store where they sold everything from fancy hats to cattle food and regular groceries.

He and my grandmother Nancy Ann Reynolds (Mama) had four children. The oldest was Allie Emma, born on the 22nd of February, 1884, who was always called Sister. I called her Aunt Sister. Isn't that weird?

The second oldest child in the Browning family, born on the 2nd of August 1886, was Daniel Hendrix. Uncle Dan’s first marriage was to a “Miss Dora,” who later died of meningitis. Uncle Dan was in the War in Germany and on the 18th of August, 1919, married Velma Morrison.
Then there was Lura Eugenia, born in March, 1889. Lura never married.

Next was Eva Irene, who was born on the 5th of October, 1895, six years after Lura. Aunt Eva married Uncle Bill.

Mama and Papa were in their late forties when my mother, Johnnie, was born, on the 25th of April, 1900. She was spoiled by all of them.