Joel Mills Byrd, son of Elizabeth (1818-1885) and Thomas Byrd (1815-1910), was born in Lexington, Tennessee, June 12, 1855, married Miss Mary Melvina Bartholomew, born November 21, 1858 in Lexington, to Sarah Deere (about 1840-1915) and Oliver Thomas Bartholomew, who died a prisoner of war in Andersonville, Ga. in 1863 or 1864.  Their wedding was in Shady Hill, Tennessee, on September 2, 1875.  To this union six children were born in Tennessee.  An infant daughter, September 8, 1876—September 17, 1876; George, April 8, 1878; Richard, March 5, 1880-September 1881; T. Oliver, March 15, 1882; an infant son, died March 12, 1884, and Dora Amanda, born in Henderson City, Tennessee, September 12, 1885. 

     In 1887, the family moved to Georgetown, Texas, in a covered wagon.  Four more children were born in Texas: Pettus, July 10, 1889; Eva Virginia, April 28, 1891; an infant son, born and died June, 1893; and Joseph Mark, August 27, 1898.  In the Fall of October, 1899, the family came to Coleman County and settled north of the Santa Anna mountain to make their home.

     (1) George (G. Y.), an amateur photographer, married (1) Nettie Edsworth in June, 1902.  To this union were born Jewel, April 5, 1903; Beatrice, December 7, 1904; Mildred, January 6, 1907; twins, June 29, 1909.  The little twin girl died at birth, and Joe Sealy died May 6, 1910, burial in Santa Anna.  Nettie died March 7, 1911.  George married (2) Ruth Jacobs in Waco.  On July 2, 1912, only fifty-six days later, George died of burns sustained in the explosion of a flour mill where he was employed; burial in Waco.  The three little daughters were taken by others to raise.  Jewel went to Fort Worth, Beatrice to make her home with her Aunt Dora, and Mildred to her grandparents, the J. M. Byrds.

       (la) Jewel married (1) C. M. Session in December 1920; one son, David, born October 3, 1921, married (2) R. E. White, one son, Billy, October 17, 1932.  She married (3) Guy Erwin. She resides in California.

       (1b) Beatrice married B. J. Savage, January 27, 1924, one son, George Roland, April 2, 1929. Beatrice died December 11, 1958, as a result of a car accident, with burial in Sherman.

       (1c) Mildred married H. D. McDonald, November 19, 1922. Their children: Nattie Sue, August 18, 1923; Mary Olive, October 3, 1927-December 29, 1928; and Johnie B. They made their home in California.

     (2) T. Oliver married Ella Lernihan, who immigrated from Ireland when a teenager, on April 22, 1920.  T. Oliver died November 28, 1930, with burial in Kansas City, Kansas.

     (3) Dora Amanda married Thomas Valentine Bell in Santa Anna February 14, 1904.  Thomas Valentine was born
February 14, 1878, the son of James Thomas and Elmina (Norris) Bell, who married September 25, 1856. Mr. was a sheriff of Waller County and was killed while in pursuit of horse thieves, January 21, 1878, less than a month before little Thomas was born.  The mother, Elmina, died January 29, 1889 when Thomas was eleven years old.  His older brother, William, raised him to manhood.  Dora and Thomas made their home in the Santa Anna area.  Mr. Bell died in 1955, burial in Bakersfield, Mrs. Bell was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, USA and of the Women's Missionary Society.  She died August 14, 1974, in Dallas, with burial in Santa Anna.  Their children:

       (3a) Robert Buford, July 25, 1905-died during the flu epidemic January 2, 1919, with burial in Santa Anna.

       (3b) Eva Lee, July 13, 1911, married (1) James Simpson November 5, 1929, married (2) Gerald Williams August 31, 1934.  They adopted his little niece, Jerry June Williams, at age eight.  Both of her parents were deceased.  Eva Lee was employed at Chance-Vought in Dallas for 35 years, retiring in 1976, died October 4, 1979, in Dallas with burial in Santa Anna.

       (3c) Thomas Valentine, Jr. June 25, 1913, married Lois Ratliff March 18, 1940 in Marble Falls.  Their children are: Priscilla Ann, November 24, 1941; Thomas Wayne, September 21, 1943; and Deborah Kay, November 20, 1952.  They now make their home in Hondo.

       (3d) Elna Nell, married Brian Nowlin Myers, November 16, 1940 in Santa Anna, son of George and Ellen (Goodgion) Myers (see G. W. Myers).  Nell is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, the Women's Organization and of the choir.

       (3e) Joe Richard married Mrs. Shirley (Gillum) Davis, March 12, 1941 in Leakey.  They and her son, Larry, welcomed additions to family: An infant daughter, born and died January, 1942; Sharon, August 3, 1945, and her daughter Robbie Lea Clark, March 1, 1963; Carol Richard, March 14, 1947, and his two daughters, Kim and Cory.  They all make their home in the Dallas area.

     (4) Pettus, July 10, 1889-December 31, 1906, burial in Santa Anna.  Pettus was a talented artist, a good student, and had had poetry and short stories published.

     (5) Eva Virginia married (1) Luther Bradford, September 4, 1910.  Two children died in in-fancy.  Mr. Bradford died January 12, 1927, burial in Waco.  Eva married (2) H. T. Graham in November, 1933, died in 1970.  Eva died April 21, 1975, burial in Waco, (see William Fredrick Bradford).

     (6) Joseph Mark, married (1) Ruth Hunter, September 18, 1919, the daughter of W. W. and Louisa (Fiveash) Hunter, who were an early pioneering family. They had (6a) Virginia, December 10, 1920; and (6b) a son, born and died November 13, 1921 (see W.W. Hunter).  Virginia married (1) James Brock, one daughter, Helen, April 27, 1941; married (2) Travis Richardson, one daughter, Karen.  Travis is deceased and buried in Longview.  Mark married (2) LaVerne Schulz in the mid 1930's.  He died October 22, 1955, with burial in Waco.

     J. M. Byrd was a successful cotton farmer and bee keeper. For several years he owned a cafe in Santa Anna.  He held stock in a gin and lost money as a stockholder in the First State Bank in Santa Anna when it closed its doors.  He was a devout Christian and member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he served as superintendent for many years.  A member of the Masonic Mountain Lodge #661, Order of the Eastern Star; Odd Fellow Lodge and Woodman of the World, Mountain Camp #43.

     Mrs. Byrd, "Viny," was a member of the Baptist Church, Rebecca Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star.  Her days were full, as she was a most industrious housewife, canning and preserving food from the garden, and twice a year helping to rob bees for honey, much of which they sold.  She died February 7, 1934, in Santa Anna, and Mr. Byrd, March 21, 1936, in Waco, burial for both was in Santa Anna.