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Note: WILLIAM HENRY BRANDENBURG ANC CORA GERRARD'S FAMILY Henry Brandenburg was the oldest child of Ben F. and Josephine Brandenburg. He was born in Dallas County on February 12, 1871. He ancestors originally came to this country from Germany. In 1895, on the 10th day of May, he married Cora Gerrard who was born on October 29, 1874. Their first child, Inez, was born in 1898. They had three other children, Loyd in 1900, Violett in 1903, and Opal in 1907. Henry raised cattle until 1904 when they moved to Duncanville and bought a general merchandise store which he operated until he died in 1931. In addition to selling general merchandise, Henry was an agent for the bus company and sold tickets to people who wanted to ride the jitney to Cedar Hill or other nearby town. Henry sold merchandise on credit and, during the depression, found that many of his accounts were difficult to collect. Cora was born in the French colony of La Reunion, which was close to the present day location of Fort Worth Avenue and Cockrell Hill Road. She taught school at Sowers, Farmers Branch, and other Dallas schools before she married Henry. Their first home was on a farm near Duncanville. Mis Cora, as she was called, was a charter member of the First Christian Church of Duncanville and was an active member in The church from age sixteen until death in 1967. She was the first president of the Duncanville school PTA and was designated Mother of the Year by her church in 1961. She was an excellent cook and was always taking homemade soup, home baked bread, or hot rills to anyone in the community who was ill. She was also noted for her chess pies and always took one to the Golden Age Club which she belonged to the later years of her life. The Henry Brandenburg home was directly across from the First Methodist Church in Duncanville, and they and their children were always special friends of all the Methodist ministers and their families. Inez married John Herbert Ferguson in June, 1917, at the age of nineteen. Inez and John had tow children. Charles Ray in 1925, and Joan in 1929. Inez has been active all her life in the same church her mother helped found. She was associated with the Duncanville school system for many years and was in charge of its lunch room and cafeteria when she retired in 1960. Inez won state championship for her angel food cakes at the State Fair in Dallas on several occasions. John Ferguson farmed south of Duncanville until about 1920. At various times, he followed other occupations as a barber, a merchant, and a salesman. During World War II, he worked for North American Aviation in Grand Prairie. He retired from there at age sixty-five in 1960. During his years of retirement, he enjoyed working in his workshop and his garden and playing with his grandchildren. Charles R. Ferguson graduated from SMU in 1945 and married Billie Lucille Benson from San Angelo, Texas. He was an Ensign in the Navy in the Philippines until 1946 when he was honorably discharged from the service. He worked for the Oilwell Supply Division of US Steel until 1954 when he helped found the management consulting firm of Lifson, Wilson, Ferguson, and Winick, Inc. He is still with that firm. Charles and Billie Lucille have three children: John Benson (27), Rebecca (23), and Rachel (21). They live in Dallas at 5511 Park Lane. Joan Ferguson married Lee B. Nichols of Dallas, Texas in 1948. Lee has been in the oil business since his early career and is now a partner in his own firm. Joan and Lee have three children, Victor Lee (24), Sally Ann (10), and Scott (13). They live at 909 Falls Creek in Richardson. Violett Brandenburg married Croker Jett from Seagoville in 1924 after attending the University in Arlington for two years. They had one son, Richard Wayne in 1927. Violett worked for the Trinity Universal Insurance Company and retired from that company in 1968 after twenty-five years. Croker Jett went to work in the Dallas County Courthouse in 1919 in the District Clerks' office. All of his working career was spent in that office in various responsible positions. In 1938, Violett and Croker's house burned, and they lost all of their clothes and household goods. There was no fire fighting equipment in Duncanville at that time. They rebuilt the house in the same spot but a few years later moved to Grand Prairie where they were living when Croker died in 1949. Violett then moved back to Duncanville. Richard Wayne Jett graduated from TCU in 1940 and married Wanda Manness from Longview, Texas. He owns and operates a clothing store in Tyler, Texas. They have three Children, Rich (22), Janie (170< and Johnnie (20). Opal Brandenburg married Bryan Crouchof Grand Prairie in 1942. Opal and Bryan lived in Grand Prairie for all of their married life, and Opal still lives there. Bryan Crouch worked for General Electric on Lamar Street in Dallas until he retired from that company in 1972. Bryan was a journeyman plumber, and until his later years, he did plumbing work on the side while he was working for General Electric. Patsy Ruth Brandenburg married Wiliam A. Billington in 1951. Bill is in the construction business. They live in Waco, Texas and have two children. Bradley Adams (20), and Bary Loyd (19).
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