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Note: Jake was three years old when he and his family traveled to Texas from Alabama by train in 1889. He began working on the family farm when he was barely able to lift a hoe. He attended school when he was eight years old. It was an old frame building with a dirt floor. He graduated high school and entered Bowie Commercial and graduated five months later. His father sold the farm and bought a General Merchandise Store in Medicine Mound, Texas. He became general manager of that store. Later, he took a course in law from the LaSalle Correspondence Law School in Chicago and a teacher course at Foster Select School at Quanah, Texas.
In 1910 Jake was working as a merchandise salesman and still living at home with his father and mother. By 1915 the family started another store in Crosbyton, Texas where he met his future wife, Floy. During their engagement he served in the Army during WW I and was discharged December 24, 1918. He returned to the mercantile business and they expanded again with a store in Lorenzo in April, 1919. He married Floy in May 1919 and they sold the store in Lorenzeo. They moved back to Crosbyton where he took over that store. At the time of the 1920 Census they were waiting the birth of their first child. It was during this time that he became a Justice of the Peace and was elected County Judge. Jake and Floy lived right next door to his brother-in-law and sister, Riley Karr and Alice Karr.
In 1930 Jake had a grocery store in Levelland, Hockley County, Texas. He and his wife rented a home for the monthly rental of $40. which probably consisted of the store on the first floor and an apartment above it. They had four children at the time. The depression years were hard and when the opportunity came to sell the stores, they did.
By 1934 the Judge was associated with land companies in and around Eagle Pass, Del Rio and Quemada. Then the land was all sold, he became general manager of the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Eagle Pass Housing Project.
In 1940 their only daughter Mary Cassandra, was stricken with sarcoma and died. In 1944 he was asked to run for State Representative from District 87. He was elected and served two years. He chose not to run again as the Legislature only paid $10. a day for the five months they were in session. He said he enjoyed the experience and will never forget it. He returned to the Chamber of Commerce and Housing Director positions until July 1, 1965 when he retired.
All three sons served in the military during World War II and all graduated from college and started their own families. After retirement, the Judge and Floy started looking for their "retirement paradise" and found it in Lytle, Texas, where they moved in 1966.
He joined the Chamber of Commerce and became a director in 1967. Was named Man of the Year in 1969. He was active in the Lion's Club and received a plaque honoring him for outstanding service in 1970. In September, 1970 he was appointed Justice of the Peace. In November, 1970 he was elected to that office for four years. He soon realized the position took too much time and he wanted to stay retired, so he resigned.
In 1972 Floy became ill and in July of 1973 they learned she suffered from Leukemia. She died October 24, 1974. They had been married 54 years. The Judge stayed busy. He was on the Administrative Board of the Lytle United Methodist Church, Director Emeritus on the Chamber of Commerce, and active in the Lion's Club and the Senior Citizens Organization.
In 1981, at age 95, he was still holding open house every day at 4 P.M. and served coffee and cake to his friends.
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