Family of
Charles L. Langham
 

Charles L. Langham

Charles L. Langham, was a county treasurer of Matagorda Co., and had an active business experience of more than half a century. Mr. Langham was born in Wilcox, County, Alabama, in Sept. 1850, son of Louis and Catherine (Thompson) Langham, both natives of Alabama, where his father was a farmer and planter. There were seven children in the family: James, who died at the age of twenty-five; Charles L.; John, who died when sixty-six years old; Joseph, who died at the age of three years; Olivia, who died at the age of forty-five; Margaret, deceased; and Mary, who died when six years old. The only two to come to Texas were James and Charles. James settled at Navasota in 1867 and died there in 1869.

Charles L. Langham during his boyhood in Alabama attended the common schools and also several boarding schools in different parts of the state. He was only eleven years old when the Civil war broke out, but was given a place in the Confederate army under Gen. Bedford Forrest at the close of the war. For several years he operated a plantation on the Alabama River and then acquired a place on the Yazoo River in Mississippi in 1872. In 1976 he sold out and moved to Louisiana, being a planter and merchant along the Mississippi River in that state from 1876 to 1900.

Mr. Langham located in Matagorda County in 1900, and was identified with farming. He also had a home in the city and filled the office of county treasurer in 1924, was reelected for a term of 1929 and 1930. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Langham married Miss Martha C. Dantzler, daughter of Grove and Eugenia (Boggess) Dantzler, natives of Mississippi. They had four children: Charlotte, born in 1903, wife of Jesse Rowen, of San Angelo, Texas; Martha, born in 1905; Rosemond, born in 1907, worked for the Western Union Telegraph Co. at McCamey, Texas; and Constance, born in 1912, who studied at the Kingsville College, Kingsville, Texas.

Texas Under Many Flags, Clarence W. Wharton, American Historical Society, 1930

Matagorda County Genealogical Society Publication, Oak Leaves, Vol. 9 #2, February 1990
 

Eugene Boggess Dantzler - Courtesy of Faye Cunningham

“Grandma” Dantzler

The “Grim Reaper” visited another Bay City home this Wednesday morning at 8:30 o’clock and removed from the family circle of the C. Langham home one of the city’s oldest and most loved of women.
 

“Grandma” Dantzler, affectionately called by those who knew and loved her, had lived past 90 years of a consecrated lovable, Christian life. In May she would have been 91 years of age.
 

This splendid woman moved to Bay City from Louisiana, January 1, 1901, and made the C. Langham home her home continuously. Mrs. Langham having been her daughter.
 

The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 10 o’clock from the Methodist Church. Mrs. Dantzler, having been a faithful member since childhood. The arrangements are under the direction of Walker Furniture Co.
 

In a later issue, the Tribune will give a full account of the life of “Grandma” Dantzler, written by one who knew her intimately.
 

The Daily Tribune, February 18, 1931                  Obituary courtesy of Susie Adkins
 

Martha L. Foley

Palacios—Martha Langham Foley, 92, of Palacios, died Friday, April 3, 1998.

She was born Oct. 27, 1905, in Bay City to the late Charles and Martha Dantzler Langham. She was a retired school teacher for Palacios ISD and member of First United Methodist Church.

Survivors: sisters, Rose Newman and Connie Hale, both of Bay City.

Preceded in death by: husband, Ruel Foley.

Services were at 2 p. m. Saturday April 4, at First United Methodist Church in Palacios, the Rev. Charles Parker officiating.

Burial was at Palacios Cemetery. Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Palacios, 972-2012.

Pallbearers: John Bunk, Charles Bunk, Craig Bunk, Bob Engman, Gregory Dixon and George Chadwick.

Victoria Advocate, April 6, 1998

Ruel Beecher Foley

Friends of Ruel Beecher Foley were shocked and saddened to learn of his death Saturday night, December 6, at Wagner General Hospital.

Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church Monday, December 8, at 2:30 p. m. with the Rev. T. Irving King officiating. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery.

Born in Renwick, Iowa, he had been a resident of Palacios for more than 50 years. During the 20’s he operated a printing shop, in later years he had the Hudson and Buick agencies and for the past 15 years had devoted much of his time to real estate promotion and the development of Foley Subdivision and Green Acres. He was a veteran of World War I, member of the Methodist Church and Matagorda County Realtors.

He is survived by his wife, Martha.

Palacios Beacon, December 11, 1969

Services Held Sunday For Mrs. Ray Foley

Funeral services were held in the Palacios Funeral Home at 4:30 Sunday afternoon for Ray Elizabeth Foley, who died at her home in this city Saturday, June 21, 1958, after a prolonged illness. The Rev. John Fluth, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiated at the service and interment followed in the Palacios Cemetery.

A native of Renwick, Iowa, she has been a resident of Palacios since 1912 when she and her only child, Ruel, moved here to make their home with her father.

After completing her education at the Algona Normal in Algona, Iowa, she entered the newspaper field, later editing and publishing her own paper, The Renwick Times. During World War I, while her son was in the service, she purchased a job printing shop here which he operated for many years.

She was instrumental in getting the first oil well drilled in Palacios and has been a big inspiration in helping her son promote Foley Village, the first subdivision for Palacios. One of the streets in the village is named Elizabeth in her honor. She was always associated with her son in the business world during her lifetime.

Her only survivor is her beloved son, Ruel.

Palacios Beacon, June 26, 1958

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