The back row: Twins Martha and Mary. Front row: Rufus holding daughter Ada, William Tom, Cornelius, Fannie holding Bessie and Katherine.
Link to: Fannie Bolt PageLink to: Ada Bolt Page More About the RUFUS KIRKLAND BOLT FAMILY Rufus, born November 10, 1862 in Van Zandt County, Texas, was the sixth child born to John and Martha Bolt. He and Fannie Burnett were married on January 1, 1885 in Van Zandt County. Rufus was a farmer and stockman and lived most of his life in Van Zandt County. After the death of his brother, John Tyler Bolt in 1884, Rufus took care of John's four small children for two years. On July 19,1893, Rufus bought the one-fourth interest of the John Bolt land from J. S. Bolt. This land belonged to his brother John Tyler Bolt. He paid $100.00 for the one-fourth interest in 71 acres. On January 24, 1895, he purchased the one-fourth interest held by W.A. Bolt for $75. On August 18, 1900 he purchased the other 53 acres for $500. This land was situated about five miles east of Wills Point. Rufus and Fannie had ten children including twin girls and twin boys. They were living in Indian Territory, Oklahoma in 1892 where their fifth child Sarah was born. This site was near the present town of Pauls Valley. It is said they were living in a dugout and went through an extremely cold winter. Fannie asked that they move back to Van Zandt County after that winter. The sixth child, Ada May, died March 23, 1903 when she was nine years old and is buried in the Ellis Chapel Cemetery. Rufus and Fannie sold all of their land in Van Zandt County for $1525 on November 8, 1906. The family moved to Roscoe, Texas in 1904 and settled on a farm on the Snyder highway. Rufus died on August 9, 1912 from a hemorrhage produced from a chicken bone that he accidentally swallowed. Fannie Bolt moved to Big Springs, Texas after the death of her husband. In 1920, she was living at 502 Jack Street with her three sons, John, Andrew, and Willie. Fannie died in Wichita Falls, Texas on April 24, 1939 while staying with her daughter Mary Heard. Rufus and Fannie are buried in the Ellis Chapel Cemetery in Van Zandt County.
The first two children born to Rufus and Fannie were twin girls, Martha and Mary. Martha married Jim Tunnell in Sweetwater, Texas in 1907. They moved to Quitaque, Texas in 1920 where they resided for 58 years. She died on February 11, 1978 at the age of 92. Mary married Joseph G. Heard in Big Springs, Texas, in 1909. She lived all of her adult life in Wichita Falls, Texas where she died on September 14, 1959.
The third child born to Rufus and Fannie was a son named Cornelius Bolt. He married Olivia May Gahart and farmed in the Panhandle area of Texas. He retired to live in Wichita Falls, Texas where he died on January 30, 1950
Their fourth child was a son named William Tom Bolt. He married Henrietta Harrod in Van Zandt County in 1916. The early years of his life was spent in Big Springs, Texas where he operated a government experimental farm. He later moved back to Van Zandt County and lived on the family farm at Myrtle Springs. He worked at the State Hospital in Terrell, Texas while living in Van Zandt County. He died January 11, 1959.
John Bolt, younger brother of Bessie's, moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma in 1928, where he worked 15 years for Oklahoma College for Women. He then moved to Oklahoma City were he worked for the Baptist General Convention. He died in September 1965 in Oklahoma City and was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Andrew Jackson Bolt was the twin brother of John. He lived most of his life in Tulsa, Oklahoma and retired from the First National Bank and Trust Company. He died on December 20, 1977 at the age of 76, leaving his wife Edna and son Bobby Jack.
Willie Loveless (Boots) Bolt was the youngest of the children. He was born in Roscoe, Texas on March 29, 1907. He married Ruth Virgil Newton and they lived most of their life in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Willie died on August 21, 1992.
Bessie Bolt was the seventh of ten children born to Rufus and Fannie Bolt. She was born January 30, 1897 in Van Zandt County. She moved to Roscoe with her family in 1904. She met William Decker Leonard in Roscoe when he moved there from Navarro County after the death of his father. Bessie and William Decker Leonard were married in Sweetwater, Texas January 9, 1912. After their marriage, they moved to Wills Point and then back to Roscoe. Bessie and William (Short) lived most of their later years in Big Spring, Texas. Bessie could do almost anything with her hands and I remember her always-crocheting gifts. She gave the things she made to all of her relatives and friends. Bessie loved animals and raised many pets during her lifetime. She was known for her cooking and especially for her beans, which was all they had to eat at times during the depression. I remember Bessie loved to talk and always had many stories to tell. Bessie especially loved her children and worried a lot about her family. If her husband was not home by dark, she would sit on the front porch until he came home. William Decker died January 31, 1954 and Bessie died April 28, 1979. Both are buried at the Trinity Memorial Cemetery in Big Spring, Texas.
CHILDREN OF RUFUS AND FANNIE:
1. Mary Bolt was born on 10 Sep 1885 at Van Zandt Co, TX. She married Joseph Gibson Heard on 21 Nov 1909 at Big Spring, Howard Co, TX. She died on 14 Sep 1959 at Wichita Falls, Wichita Co, TX, at age 74. She was buried on 16 Sep 1959 at Crestview Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Wichita Co, TX.
2. Martha Beatrice Bolt was born on 10 Sep 1885 at Van Zandt Co, TX. She married James Lynn Tunnell, son of Jesse Ellis Tunnell and Frances Ann Thomas, on 7 Dec 1907 at Sweetwater, Nolan, TX. She died on 11 Feb 1978 at Amarillo, Potter, TX, at age 92.
3. Cornelius R. (Neal) Bolt was born May 1888 at Van Zandt Co, TX. He married Olivia May Gahart. TX. He died on 30 Jan 1950 at Wichita Falls, Wichita Co, TX, at age 61.
4. William Tom6 Bolt was born on 23 Jan 1890 at Van Zandt Co, TX. He married Pearl Fronabarger on 26 Jul 1911 at Big Spring, Howard, TX. He later married Henrietta Ethel Harrod, daughter of A.A. Harrod and Laura Reno, on 12 Aug 1916 at Van Zandt, TX. He died on 11 Jan 1959 at Terrell, Kaufman Co, TX, at age 68. He was buried after 11 Jan 1959 at Haven of Memories Cemetery, Canton, Van Zandt Co, TX.
5. Sarah Katherine Bolt was born on 8 Feb 1892 at Pauls Valley, Indian Territory Co, OK. Her first marriage was to Finis Pope. Her second marriage was to William Wesley Kennedy, son of Newton Kennedy and Alice Manasco. She died on 22 Feb 1985 at Wichita Falls, Wichita, TX, at age 93.
6. Ada May Bolt was born on 4 Apr 1894 at Van Zandt Co, TX. She died on 23 Mar 1903 at Van Zandt Co, TX, at age 8.She was buried at Ellis Chapel Cemetery, Van Zandt Co, TX; ied next to her parents.
7. Bessie Bolt was born on 30 Jan 1896 at Van Zandt Co, TX. She married William Decker Leonard, son of Valentine (Felt) Leonard and Sarah Catherine Younts, on 9 Jan 1912 at Sweetwater, Nolan Co, TX. She died on 28 Apr 1979 at Big Spring, Howard Co, TX, at age 83. She was buried on 2 Feb 1979 at Trinity Memorial Cemetery, Big Spring, Howard Co, TX.
Children of Bessie and William Leonard: (Numbered 1a through 7a)
1a. Leon Leonard was born on 16 Nov 1913 at Van Zandt Co, TX. He died on 26 Jun 1973 at Sweetwater, Nolan Co, TX, at age 59 and is buried next to his parents, William and Bessie Leonard
2a. Edgar Leonard was born on 28 Nov 1915 at Wills Point, Van Zandt Co, TX. He married Dee Ola (Willie) Lamm, daughter of Emory Caleb Lamm and Kittie Isadora Blair, on 28 Sep 1934 at Colorado City, Mitchell, TX. He died on 31 Oct 1988 at San Angelo, Tom Green Co, TX, at age 72. He was buried on 2 Nov 1988 at Sweetwater Cemetery, Sweetwater, Nolan Co, TX.
3a. Christine Hazel Leonard was born on 31 Aug 1918 at Wills Point, Van Zandt Co, TX. She married Jack Williams on 17 Nov 1934 at Big Spring, Howard Co, TX. She died on 17 Sep 1993 at Brownsville, TX, at age 75.
4a. Leroy Leonard was born on 22 Jun 1922 at Wills Point, Van Zandt Co, TX. He married Dixie Lee Neel on 17 Nov 1945 at Big Spring, Howard Co, TX. He married Joan Wise, daughter of George Henry Wise and Odie Belle Tolbert, on 28 Jan 1967.
5a. Lawrence (Bud) Leonard was born on 3 May 1925 at Roscoe, Nolan Co, TX. He married Billie Jean Lane on 23 Dec 1943 at Sweetwater, Nolan Co, TX. He married Gaynell Richie on 16 Apr 1946 at Big Spring, Howard Co, TX. He married Lahoma Dell Athens on 19 Jun 1957 at Big Spring, Howard, TX. He married Audrey Arnold circa 1960. He married Jeannie Lou Jones circa 1966. He died on 20 Apr 1985 at Tucumcari, NM, at age 59.
6a. Bessie Lee7 Leonard was born on 22 Apr 1930 at Roscoe, Nolan Co, TX. She married Edward J. Mikol on 25 Oct 1945 at Big Spring, Howard Co, TX
7a. Beatrice (Babe) Leonard was born on 25 Oct 1933 at Roscoe, Nolan Co, TX. She married Glen Forgus in Apr 1957 at Carlsbad, NM. She married Melvin Lee Altom on 16 Apr 1979 at Big Spring, Howard, TX.
8. Andrew Jackson Bolt was born on 20 Jul 1901 at Van Zandt Co, TX. He died on 19 Dec 1977 at Tulsa, OK, at age 76. He was buried on 21 Dec 1977 at Floral Haven Cemetery, Tulsa, Ok.
9. John Bolt was born on 20 Jul 1901 at Van Zandt Co, TX. He married Beulah (Bolt). He died on 15 Mar 1965 at Oklahoma City, OK, at age 63 and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, OK;
10. Willie Loveless Bolt was born on 29 Mar 1907 at Nolan Co, TX. He married Ruth Virgil Newton on 10 Jun 1935. He died on 21 Aug 1992 at Tulsa, Ok, at age 85.
Betty Pickens Phillips
