BETTY ROBBINS FOWLER

James Griffin Fowler and Betty Robbins  were married in Bibb County, Alabama, near Selma.  To this union were born five children: John William, Eugene, Geneva Jane, James Malkijah, Nancy Elizabeth and James Griffin, Jr.

James Fowler died in August 1882 and his son, James, Jr., was born in February 1883.  In 1890, Betty and her five children moved to Shilo in Limestone County to be near a half brother, Jimmy Robbins.

Eugene, the oldest son, visited in Houston County and liked it so well that he bought the farm adjoining Joe Rice.  He moved his family to Houston County arriving by wagon on Christmas Eve in either 1891 or 1892.  The children took turns walking to drive the cattle.

Eugene married Ida Bell Grounds and Geneva Jane married W.H. Driskell in a double wedding ceremony.  Eugene and Ida's children were: Grace, Leona, Ruth, Elvin, Bob, Dick, Lottie, Albert, Elton "Pete", "Dimp", and Lula Belle.

Geneva Jane and W.H. Driskell had: Lizzie Mae, Wilburn who died early, Troy, who retired from an Army career and lived out his life in Spokane, Washington; Reba married W.D. Jurnes, lived in Crockett and had 2 daughters.

James Malkijah, "Kige", married Augusta Grounds, sister of Ida Bell.  These girls are descendants of George Grounds and Catherine Rice, sister of Joseph Redmond Rice, Sr.  Kige's and Gustie's children were:  Earl, Myrtie, John E., Winnie, James, Jr., Nannie Bell, Lena, Nodell, and William "Dick".  A son Guy David died in infancy.

On December 24, 1899, Nancy Elizabeth "Nan" was married to John Rice, grandson of Joseph Redmond Rice, Sr.  They had three children:  Evelyn, Opal, Johnnie Lois.

James G. Fowler, Jr. "Jim", married Gertrude Standley.  Her mother said that Jim was Gert's first boy friend.  As they were neighbors, Jim accompanied his mother to visit "Standley Mammy" and her new baby, Gertrude soon after her birth.  Jim and Gertrude's children were: Alma, Nell, Jake, Roy "Buddy", Lillian, Wilna, J.G., Jr., Wiley Wayne, Mary Jo, and Juanita.

After her children were all married and settled in their homes, the mother, Betty Fowler returned to her old home in Alabama to visit her sister.  While there, she married a Mr. McElroy who was a Primitive Baptist minister.  As they were retuning from church one Sunday in 1927 with a friend, they were struck by a train at a railroad crossing and both were killed.  They were buried in the same grave near their home church.

Double wedding at the Fowler house on Nov. 6, 1897, involved the following:

L/R: Ida Belle Grounds who became the bride of John W. "Eugene" Fowler immediately in front; her attendant Nancy E. Fowler beside her; Dula Heard, the attendant for Geneva Jane Fowler who married W.H. "Billy" Driskell, seated directly in front of her;

Repeating the middle row, L/R: two grooms John W. Eugene Fowler and W.H. "Billy" Driskell;

Front, L/R: best men, Robert Driskell and Walter Hobson.

By: Evelyn Rice Corley

"History of Houston County, Texas 1687-1979"