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John V. and Sarah Jane Nuckols came to Texas from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, around 1880, settled around Hillsboro, and remained there until 1900 when they moved to Wharton County. John farmed in the area and Sarah operated a rooming house in El Campo. In 1905, Sarah Jane bought the Nuckols Hotel, formerly named the Martin House, in Bay City, and the family moved to a new home. The hotel was a large, two story frame structure on the southwest corner of the square in Bay City. The hostelry bore the name of its owners and served as “home” to the travelers coming in and out of Bay City for many years. During the devastating storm of 1909, it served as headquarters for those helping with relief work in the storm stricken area, and the Nuckols girls cooked and served meals, dried wet clothing, and provided what help they could for the weary storm victims. In happier times, the hotel was filled with young people from the Matagorda and Wharton areas who came “to town” for balls in Hamilton Hall and for social and cultural events. John and Sarah had a large family, seven girls and two boys: Ida, Trannie, Beulah, Andrew, Etta, Harvey, Carrie, Willie, Clyde and Nora. John died in 1916, and Sarah Jane in 1920. They were buried at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City. Several of the girls operated the hotel for a short time, and then sold it to the Badouh family. The landmark was destroyed on February 8, 1945, in a spectacular fire that threatened the south and west sides of the square.
Maurine DeLano Cole, Historic Matagorda County,
Volume II, page 380 |
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Additional
information courtesy of Zia C. Miller:
William Henry Presley
was born 24 Feb 1843, in Chambers Co, AL and died
22 March 1920, in Bay City , Texas
. He was buried in
Cedarvale Cemetery . |
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Capt. Frank Rugeley Capt. Frank Rugeley, a life-time citizen of this county and prominent in the affairs of the county, passed away quietly yesterday at a hospital in Houston, after a prolonged illness. Capt. Rugeley was a native of this county, having been born in Matagorda 73 years ago. He was a Confederate soldier and served during the war as a member of Brown’s Legion. In his early manhood he was elected sheriff of the county and after a lapse of some thirty years was elected to the same position again and re-elected for the second term. He was a man of pronounced views, a strong friend and a conscientious adherent to what he believed to be right. He leaves two children, Mr. Jas. W. Rugeley and Mrs. Lucius Gartrell, both of this city, and numerous relatives, all lifetime citizens of the county. The Tribune, in a later issue, will give a more complete account of the life of this prominent man.
Daily Tribune,
May 25 1920 |
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Death of Confederate Veteran Sunday morning at 11:20 the spirit of Mr. C. C. Strait passed over the river to rest under the shade with the mighty hosts of the Confederacy which have passed on before. Comrade Strait has been feeble for some time, being at the time of his death aged 71 years eight months and twenty-eight days. He had made his home of late years with his daughter, the wife of Mr. Wiley Draughn, He was a native of Alabama, but resident of central Mississippi when the civil war broke out. He enlisted in one of the first regiments from that state, and was in some of the hardest fights of the war, being wounded in one of the engagements. In one of the battles of Arkansas became separated from his command, and under a special order joined Forest’s army and was with the cavalry of that valiant leader till the close of the war. Deceased leaves two daughters, Mrs. Hattie Draughn of Bay City, and Mrs. Alma Whietfield of Yoakum, each of whom have two daughters, and one son, Thad Strait, also married, of this place. The funeral service was conducted at ten o’clock Monday morning from the Draughn residence on Avenue D, and Eleventh street, Rev. O. F. Fall of the Baptist Church conducting the service at the house and the grave. The deceased was a member of the Baptist Church the last 28 years, and his life is said to have been consistent with that relation, his example good, and his kindliness won to many hearts. At the grave, in Cedar Vale Cemetery, his comrades of E. S. Rugeley Camp, U. C. V. performed the last sad rites, and said “Farewell Comrade”.
Matagorda County Tribune,
October 9, 1914
Photo and obituary courtesy of Faye Cunningham |
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 W. D. "Dock" Williams & Sarah Ann "Siddy" Williams |
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Ashby Cedarvale Hawley Matagorda Palacios Family Cemeteries Various Unknown |
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Mr. William Henry Presley, Sr. a long
time citizen of Bay City , a Confederate veteran and a
man with many friends died at the home of Mr. George
Graham, Monday, March 22, 1920 and was buried in
Cedarvale cemetery this afternoon under the auspices of
the E.S. Rugeley Camp U.C.V.
