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Samuel Gross Selkirk, the fifth child of James Henry and Lucy Hall Selkirk, was born on August 31, 1856, in Matagorda, Texas, and died on June 22, 1934. On January 18, 1883, he married Seraphina Eleanor Smith (July 27, 1861 - April 17, 1952). They lived in Galveston and had the following children: 1. Ethel Selkirk (September 13, 1884 - November 18, 1958), who, in September of 1913, married Charles Pinkney Rayne. 2. Lucy "Luline" Selina Selkirk (December 8, 1888 - August 1, 1970), who, on January 23, 1918, married Edward Farrar Crofton. 3. Samuel Gross Selkirk, Jr., (October 21, 1897 - September 12, 1989), who, on June 15, 1938, married Shirley Carter. 4. Adelaide Selkirk (April 28, 1899 - February 9, 1994), who, on September 19, 1930, married Theodore Augustus Secretan. 5. Grace Selkirk (January 7, 1902 - March 19, 1978) who was born in San Angelo, Texas. 6. James Henry Selkirk (August 3, 1903 - October 3, 1973), who was born in San Angelo, Texas, and, on August 18, 1939, married Marian Trout. The family was living in Galveston at the time of the 1900 storm which killed thousands. At the time there were four children in the Selkirk family, and they were in the midst of the destructive storm along with their parents. The family moved to the attic of their home where they hoped to escape the rising waters. The house did not topple, but the roof blew off and the attic floor was suddenly floating in the Gulf of Mexico with the entire family aboard, including Samuel, Jr., age three and Adelaide, age one! They floated for several hours and finally landed at a high spot, nor far from the original location of their home--certainly one of the luckier families. The family moved from Galveston to San Angelo, where Samuel, Sr., was employed by the San Angelo Bank. Samuel Gross Selkirk, Jr., served in World War I in the horsedrawn corps. After World War I, Samuel, Jr., moved to Matagorda county to oversee the ranch of his brother, James H. Selkirk, which was located near Wadsworth. Samuel, Jr., worked with the county surveyor of Matagorda County, E. N. Gustafson, and also with the construction of the early road system of Matagorda County in the 1920s. For a number of years, he served as clerk in the office of the County Tax Assessor. A member of the American Legion, he, along with Zack Delano and Keye Ingram, was instrumental in beginning a drum and bugle corps in the high school. This corps became known as Keye's Kadets. The two men taught the rudiments of drum and bugle to the high school students who were members of the corps. On September 7, 1939, he became the postmaster of the Bay City Post Office, a position which he held until his retirement in 1965. Adelaide was born in Galveston and came to Matagorda County with her family in 1918. She remained in Bay City only one year before going to live with her aunt, Adelaide Selkirk Fisher, in Galveston; then to New Orleans to live with an older sister. She worked in Houston for a number of years. After her marriage to Theodore Secretan, they lived in Houston for fifty years. After his death in 1976, she returned to Bay City to make her home. Grace Selkirk lived in New Orleans for a short time and worked in a New Orleans library. For many years, she was deputy clerk in the County Clerk's office in Matagorda County. She was a charter member of the Mary Rolph Marsh Chapter, DAR. She was a quiet, gracious lady and was fondly regarded by all who knew her. James Henry "Jim" Selkirk was born in San Angelo, Texas. He served as Matagorda County Tax Assessor from 1949 - 1969. During World War II, he served in the Army, Navy and Merchant Marines. He was a radio operator and was sent to Mexico during the war to locate German radio stations. For his bravery, and for his work with the radio operations, he received many commendations. His wife, Marian, continued to live in Bay City after Jim's death in 1973. Members of each generation of the Selkirk family, beginning with the first William Selkirk who came to Matagorda County in 1822, have been respected citizens in both business and public service.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II,
pages 377-478 |
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Another Old Landmark Gone In the passing of our good friend, neighbor and highly respected citizen, Samuel G. Selkirk, his associates, comrades, neighbors, friends and acquaintances, sadly write "finis" to a long and honored career of a pioneer of the old school and honorable citizen. A native of Matagorda County, Samuel G. Selkirk belongs to one of the oldest families and linked his life with the life, progress and changes of Matagorda County since he first saw the light of day nearly seventy-eight years ago. Our reveered [sic] and respected deceased friend had been ill for a great length of time and for the past several months was confined to his home where all that a concerned and loving wife and family could do was done for him. In early life Mr. Selkirk equipped himself splendidly for office work and later moved to Galveston where he held a responsible position with the McCarthy Bank and other clerical positions with the city of Galveston. When the great storm swept over and did great damage to Galveston in 1900, Mr. Selkirk moved to San Angelo where he enjoyed a splendid position with the San Angelo National Bank. Upon the death of his brother, Jas. H. Selkirk, decedent returned to Bay City to engage in ranching, continuing the work his brother had made such good progress with. Some years ago ill health befell him and although he made a courageous fight to carry on, finally had to yield and seek rest in the quietude of his comfortable home where he rested for many months under the loving care and watchfulness of those near and dear to him. Death called Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock and relieved him of all earthly suffering transporting his noble and sturdy spirit to the realm beyond, a surcease eternal of worldly woes and to the peaceful, endless quiet of eternity. This writer knew this splendid man and counted him one of our best friends. We, therefore, sorrow with his bereaved and share the pangs of parting with them. Samuel G. Selkirk lived a plain, unassuming life. He loved the truth and looked upon honesty as one of the great qualifying attributes of life. His life was an open sesame fortified by a character immaculate and true to family, friends and associates. The funeral services this afternoon will be conducted at the home by Bishop Clinton S. Quin, after which the burial will take place in Cedarvale Cemetery under the direction of Walker-Matchett. Surviving Mr. Selkirk are his wife, Mrs. Seraphine E. Selkirk; sister, Mrs. Lucy A. Fisher; daughters, Mrs. Chas. P. Rayne of New Orleans, Mrs. E. Farrar Crofton of Woodsboro; Mrs. T A. Secretan of Houston; Miss Grace Selkirk of Bay City; sons, Samuel G. Selkirk Jr., of this city and Jas. H. Selkirk of New York. Matagorda County Tribune, June, 1934 Funeral Services Held At Chapel Saturday For Mrs. Selkirk, 91 Funeral services for Mrs. Seraphina Eleanor Selkirk, long-time resident of Matagorda County, were held Saturday from the chapel of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City. Services were conducted by the Rev. A. C. Maxted. Burial was in Cedarvale Cemetery. Mrs. Selkirk died here Friday at the age of 91. She was the widow of the late Samuel G. Selkirk Sr. Among her survivors are two sons, Samuel G. Jr., Bay City postmaster and James H., Matagorda County tax assessor-collector; four daughters, Mrs. Charles R. Rayne of New Orleans, Mrs. Edward Crofton of Dallas, Mrs. T. A. Secretan of Houston and Miss Grace Selkirk of Bay City
Matagorda County Tribune?, April 24, 1952 |
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E. F. Crofton Succumbs at 67
Edward Farrar Crofton, 67, a former Shreveport
resident, died in Dallas Saturday night after a sudden illness. |
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Former Bay City Postmaster
Selkirk Services Thursday Funeral services are slated for retired Bay City Postmaster Samuel G. Selkirk, 91, who died Tuesday in Matagorda General Hospital. Born in Galveston on Oct. 21, 1897, Selkirk comes from a family whose roots are deep in Matagorda County history. His father was born in this county but moved away prior to the turn of the century. Selkirk grew up in Galveston and San Angelo. His life nearly ended before it got started when the Selkirk family narrowly escaped drowning in the 1900 Galveston hurricane which claimed thousands of lives. In a 1965 article telling of Selkirk’s retirement from the post office, Selkirk told The Daily Tribune that his family fled to the attic of their home when the water began rising. Instead of toppling like many houses, the roof blew off and the family found themselves floating in the Gulf of Mexico on the attic floor. After several hours adrift, they landed on a high spot. Selkirk also served overseas in a horse-drawn ambulance corps in World War I. When he returned in 1918, the family moved to this county to help look after the ranch of his uncle, James H. Selkirk, near Wadsworth. Selkirk also worked on the construction of the early road system, helped with surveying of the county, and served as a clerk in the office of the County Tax Assessor before taking up the post of postmaster on Sept. 7, 1939. During this lengthy tenure in the position, the number of post office employees increased from nine employees—including himself and custodians—to 32 when he retired in November 1865. Selkirk was an active member of the American Legion, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and Rotarian. He is survived by his wife, the former Shirley Carter, a Bay City native who he married in 1938, and sister Mrs. T. A. Secretan of Bay City. Graveside services will be held at Cedarvale Cemetery Thursday at 10 a. m. under the direction of Dick R. Elkins, Bay City Funeral Home. Rev. Hugh B. Jones of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will officiate. The Daily Tribune, September 13 or 14, 1989
Shirley Carter Selkirk Shirley C. Selkirk, 104, of Bay City died Saturday, Feb. 15, 1997 at her residence. She was born Sept. 6, 1892 in Ft. Worth, Texas to parents Alfred Ross and Ella Mauray Carter. Mrs. Selkirk was a long time resident of Bay City. She attended the Southern Ladies Seminary in Buena Vista, Virginia. She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and a member of the Bay City Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel G. Selkirk, Jr., in 1989, who was the postmaster there many years. Survivor is a grand nephew Edward F. Crofton, Jr. of Amarillo. Graveside service will be Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Cedarvale Cemetery at 2 p. m. with Rev. Novak officiating. Burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Bay City or the educational institution of choice. Bay City Tribune, February 18, 1997
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Adelaide Selkirk Secretan Private graveside services for Adelaide Selkirk Secretan, 94, former resident of Bay City are scheduled for 1 p. m. Friday at Forest Park Cemetery on Lawndale in Houston with the Rev. Asa Hunt of First Presbyterian Church in Houston officiating. Mrs. Secretan was born April 28, 1899, in Galveston to Samuel Gross and Seraphina E. Smith Selkirk and died Feb. 9, 1994, in Matagorda General Hospital. A resident of Houston for 50 years, she was a member of the Presbyterian church. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Shirley Selkirk of Bay City and numerous nieces and nephews, including Elizabeth Pabst of Houston and Selkirk Island. Services are under the direction of Dick R. Elkins of Bay City Funeral Home of Bay City.
Daily Tribune, February 10 or 11, 1994 |
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Grace Selkirk Grace Selkirk, 76, a resident of Bay City died March 19 at the Matagorda General Hospital. Survivors include: Samuel G. Selkirk of Bay City; Sister, Mrs. Adelaide Secretan of Bay City. Miss Selkirk was a member of the TAR [DRT?], DAR, Victoria Chapter. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 21, at 10 a. m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with Rev. Milton McWilliams officiating. Interment will be at the Cedarvale Cemetery with pallbearers being: E. M. Huitt, Wade Ashcraft, Lawrence Gwin, Jimmie Morrow, Fred Walker and J. B. Hicks. Services under the direction of Dick R. Elkins. Bay City Funeral Home. Daily Tribune, March 20, 1998 Obit courtesy of Susie Adkins Picture courtesy of Betty Crosby
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Marian Trout Selkirk Funeral services for Marian T. Selkirk, 75, of Bay City will be held 11 a. m. Tuesday at the Bay City Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Hugh B. Jones Jr. of St. Mark's Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck. Mrs. Selkirk was born Jan. 20, 1915, to Ebonezer and Lenora Hand Trout in Cape May, N. J., and died Dec. 16, 1990, at her home. She was a member of the 100 Club and a 51-year resident of Bay City. Survivors include a sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Dr. Roberto Rangel; two brothers, Harold and Warren Trout of New Jersey; two nephews, Paul Rangel of Houston and John Trout of Washington; three nieces, Sylvia Stowe of Austin, Ann Marie Rangel of Houston and Laura Lumkin of Fort Worth; and one sister-in-law, Adelaide Secretan of BAy City. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Selkirk, in 1973. Services are under the direction of Dick R. Elkins of Bay City Funeral Home.
Daily Tribune, December 17 or 18, 1990 |
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