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| Mrs. Florinda Martin Hough |
Born 19 Sep 1847 in Clarke Co, VA, Florinda Martin Tapscott
(often called “Flora”), Robert and Lucy's third child, was likely named after her aunt Florinda Wood who
married Isaac Martin. On 24 Nov 1869 in Clarke County, Virginia, Florinda Tapscott married Randolph
Kounslar Hough, son of Harriet Elizabeth Elliot and Armistead T.
M. Hough. Commonly pronounced “how” or “hoff,” the last name is often
misspelled in records. Born 25 Oct 1847 in Clarke County, Randolph was probably
named after the local physician, Randolph Kownslar.
Randolph and Florinda’s first child, Cecil T, was born in Clarke
County on 12 Sep 1870. The remaining six births occurred elsewhere, for
Randolph went from farming to railroading, which was more lucrative but
required a lot of traveling by him and his family. The family first went to West
Virginia, where Randolph was a railroad brakeman and where their next three
children, William Ernest (23 May 1873 – 14 Aug 1855), Ada R (12 Sep 1875 – 4 Jul
1951), and Lulu (name was likely “Lula,” 10 Apr 1878 – 16 Dec 1883) were born, presumably in the town
of Keyser, Mineral County, where the family was living. By 1886, the Houghs had
moved to Texas, where R. K. Hough (the name he was given in most news articles)
was working as a conductor for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, a job at which
he excelled according to newspapers. In 1900 the family was living in Corsicana,
Navarro Co, Texas, though R. K. was often found elsewhere, as expected for a
railroad conductor. Everything seemed to be going superbly. But it wasn’t.
First, a child, “Claudie,” born 20 Mar 1881, died at age two on
14 Sep 1883. Then, just three months later, Lulu, who had accompanied her
parents from West Virginia, died on 16 Dec 1883. She was only five years old. Could things get worse? Definitely.
On 5
Nov 1887 at age seventeen, Cecil, their first-born who was working as a “boy brakeman,” fell from the top
of a freight car at Corsicana and was crushed to death under the wheels. But
this story becomes worse. According to a newspaper article published back in
West Virginia, Cecil’s body was mangled “in a fearful manner” and
The boy's mother has been ill for some time and it was feared
the shock would kill her—and when the news was gently imparted to her by Mr.
Rankin she was so affected that she immediately went into spasms, and
physicians were called, who spent the greater portion of the night with her.
Our story becomes even sadder. The West Virginia newspaper noted that Cecil’s brother William was
present during the accident:
Little
Willie, who is only about 13 years old, seemed to be totally unbalanced by the
terrible occurrence. He was speaking to his brother when he was killed and
picked up his hat and watch. After seeing the body laid upon the planks, he
entered the caboose where the dead boy had slept and called repeatedly
"Cecile, Cecile!" but Cecile had gone beyond even the reach of the
voice of a loving brother-where there would be no lanterns swung and the signal
to "back" would be heard never. The white face of that child with
bloodless lips and scared look was as sad a picture as the unrecognizable
remains that lay upon the lumber.
Things continued to go downhill for Florinda and Randolph.
Florinda’s persisting episodes of illness were so severe at times that Randolph
had to temporarily quit his job to care for her. On 23 Oct 1902 a seventh, and
final child, Ollie May, was born. But she would live less than a year, dying on
30 Aug 1903. On 8 Feb 1905 at age 57, Florinda died of pneumonia in Houston. She
did not live long enough to see the 3 Jan 1910 death of her sixth child, Lola
W., born 17 Apr 1885 and likely named in memory of her dead sister Lula. Lola died at age
25, leaving behind a husband and just two surviving siblings, William and
Ada.
Florinda was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas,
where six of her seven children, most having died young, would be buried. Only Ada is buried elsewhere, in Mountain View
Cemetery, Oakland California.
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Florinda (“Flora”), Randolph (“R. K.”), and children Cecil, William
(“Will”),
Lula, Claudie, Lola, and Ollie are interred in Oakwood Cemetery |
Following Florinda’s death, Randolph married twice more. On 4 Apr
1907, in Deming, New Mexico, he wedded Willie M. Chapman. Willie’s previous marriage
to Thomas J. Chapman had ended in divorce on 21 May 1902 in Waxahachie, Ellis
Co, Texas. Willie's marriage to Randolph lasted just a little over two years. She died on 22
Jun 1909 and was interred in Oakwood Cemetery, sharing a marker with her
husband R. K. and stepdaughter Lola. She left behind three sons from her
earlier marriage—Randolph, Baine, and Marvin Chapman. To date, we have been
unable to determine Willie’s birth name or parentage.
On 25 Oct 1910 in Ennis, Texas, Randolph married Eugenia Turner.
Eugenia (often called “Jennie”) was the widow of John C. Schrader. Born Eugenia
Lemmon, she and John had married in Indiana 21 Mar 1881. John had died of
Consumption on 2 Dec 1896 in Ennis, Texas, where he and Eugenia had gone in
hopes of improving his health. Eugenia had then married Charles Turner, a
marriage that ended in divorce on 28 Sep 1908 in Waco, Texas. Eugena died 14
Jul 1929 in Ennis, Texas. Her death certificate gives a date of birth of 13 May
1866; however, she is known to have knocked years off her age as she grew
older. A birth year around 1856 is more likely.
Beverly stayed in Missouri (presumably with Harvey and Delilah)
long enough to meet and marry a Missourian. On 20 Apr 1881 in Cass Co, MO, Beverly
wedded Mary Susan McHenry, daughter of Daniel James (1 Aug 1833 – 23 Sep 1908)
and Nancy Jane Rowe (28 Sep 1836 – 28 Sep 1836) McHenry. Then, Beverly and his
bride headed to Santa Barbara Co, CA, as did Beverly’s in-laws. They probably
traveled together since both Beverly and Daniel are first found in California
in 1890.
