Henry Clifton Courts, Sr

1854 - 1938  (83 years)

• Name	Henry Clifton Courts
  Suffix	Sr
  Birth	5 Jul 1854	Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
  Gender	Male
  Census	12 Jul 1860	Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	12 Jul 1860 Precinct No. 5 Sabine Pass residence 378 James Court 30 mail carrier 500 Louisiana Julia 24 TN 1856 Tennessee Mary E 8 1852 Texas Henry C 6 1854 Texas Julia A 4 1856 Texas William F 2 1858 Texas Elias M 6/12 1859 Texas residence 379 John Sparks 49 1811 North Carolina farmer 320 2100 Malinda Sparks 41 1819 Tennessee Albert Sparks 19 1841 Texas John F Sparks 14 1856 Texas Sarah C Sparks 11 1849 Texas Arabella H Sparks 8 1852 Texas James C Sparks 6 1854 Texas Worthey C Sparks 4 1856 Texas Henry E L Sparks 8/12 1859 Texas residence 380 Samuel Lee 38 1822 Denmark stock raiser 4,000 Eliza 16 1844 Texas
  		1860 Texas, Jefferson County, Sabine Pass census James and Julia Sparks Court family; John and Melinda Jones Sparks family; and Samuel and Eliza Sparks Lee.
  Census	23 Jun 1870	Sparks and River Settlement, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Residence 77 Coats (Courts) J.M. 40 1830 Louisiana 400, 2,000 farmer Julia 34 1836 Tennessee Mary 18 1852 Texas Clifton 16 1854 Texas Nasthentha 14 1856 Texas William 12 1858 Texas Madison E. 10 1860 Texas ekner 8 1862 Texas James 5 1865 Texas Anna 3 1867 Texas Lisa 8 1862 Texas residence 78 Sparks M (Melinda) 51 1819 at home Tennessee widow James 17 1853 Texas farm laborer Worthy 14 1856 Texas John 27 1843 Texas farmer residence 79 Spark, C (Caroline) 50 1820 SC keeping house widow Edwin 23 1847 Louisiana Joseph 16 1854 Texas Oscar 14 Texas Court T.J. 27 1843 Texas (Thomas Jefferson - bro of James Court) residence 80 Brewton W.P. 33 1837 Tennessee Sarah (Sparks) 22 1848 Texas (Dau of Melinda) Grace 5 1865 TX Silas F. 8/12 1869 TX residence 81 Lee, Samuel 52 1818 farmer 1580 Denmark Jane E. 27 1843 Texas Emma 3 1867 Texas residence 82 Smith. T.J. 34 farmer 500 Indiana (Later would marry Mary Ellen Courts Sarah 25 Texas Electra 3/12 Texas
  		1870, Texas, Jefferson County, Sparks Settlement census
  Census	12 Jun 1880	Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	12 Jun 1880 Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas 210 Court, William 21 work at saw mill TX - TX Darinda, 22 wife Texas Georgia Texas Danie 3 dau TX Benton 1 son TX 211 J.M. COURT Self M Male W 50 LA Wagoning ENGLAND LA Julia A. COURT Wife M Female W 43 TN Keeping House NC AL Helma (Helmer) COURT Son S Male W 18 TX Wagoner LA TN James COURT Son S Male W 15 TX At Home LA TN Annie COURT Dau S FemaleW 12 TX At Home LA TN Lillian COURT Dau S Female W 8 TX At Home LA TN Fannie COURT Dau S Female W 5 TX At Home LA TN Emmet COURT Son S Male W 3 TX At Home LA TN Viola COURT Dau S Female W 11M TX At Home LA TN 213 Court, Clifton 25 1855 raftsman TX LA TN Fannie 26 1854 TX TN TN Ella M. 3 1877 TX (Peter Stockholm & Pierre Frugia in this community. No Sparks or Blocks or Burrrells. Must be Beaumont proper.)
  		1880 Texas, Jefferson County, Beaumont (District 40) Census Courts, James Madison and Julia Sparks Courts, and Helmer, James, Annie, Lillian, Fannie, Emmett, Viola, also Clifton Courts and family and William Courts and family.
  Census	21 Jun 1900	Beaumont (Ward 3), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Courts Henry Head Jul 1854 45 Married 8 1892 Texas Texas Texas Courts Lena Wife Feb 1871 29 Married 8 1892 Texas Germany Texas Courts Ala Daughter May 1893 7 Texas Texas Texas Courts Kirby Son Dec 1893 6 Texas Texas Texas Courts Mixon Son Sep 1895 4 Texas Texas Texas Courts Harry Son Oct 1897 2 Texas Texas Texas Courts Daisey Daughter Jul 1899 10/12 Texas Texas Texas
  Residence	1904	747 South Grand Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Court, Edgar B., wks United Lbr & Export Co, h. James F. Court. Court, Emmett, wks United Lbr & Export Co., r. 1 blk w of same. Court, Homer, wks United Lbr & Export Co. h. James F. Court Court, H. Clifton, watchman mill, A, Kirby Lumber Co., r 747 South Grand ave, Cartwright add. 8 Court, James F., wks United Lbr & Export Co., r 1 blk w of same. 4 Court, Julia A. (wid James), h. Emmett Court Court, S. Helmer, carp r 350 Jackson ave, 5 (five children - Bea, age 8; Hal age 6; Gladys age 3; abt 2; Lillian born 22 Jan 1904)
  		1904 Texas, Beaumont, Jefferson County, City Directory Court, Edgar; Court, Emmett; Court, Homer; Court, H. Clifton; Court, James F.; Court, Julia A (wid James); Court, S. Helmer and 5 children, Bea,Hal, Effie, Gladys, and Lillian, a baby.
  Residence	1910	760 Lamar, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Courts, Harry, driver h 760 Lamar. Courts, H. Clifton, riverman Kirby Lbr Co, r 760 Lamar. 8 Courts, Kirby, wks Kirby Lbr Co, r 760 Lamar. Courts, William, riverman Beaumont Saw Mill Co. Courts, Fullar W. Mrs. slslady S.H. Kress & Co., h 430 Travis
  Census	1920	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	157 Buford H C Coart 65 1855 Lena Coart 48 1872 Kirby C Coart 26 1894 Harry C Coart 23 1897 Cotie Coart 17 1903 Bert Coart 13 1907 Barney Coart 9 1911
  Residence	1920	157 E Buford, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  Census	1930	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	residence 4 (379 Greer Street) Jones, James H. 28 married at age 22 LA LA LA laborer American Pitch Pipe Iola E. 31 married at age 24 Geraldine F. 5 James H. 3 Larita E. 1 Goff, Theodore father-in-law 61 wid MS MS MS watchman lumberyard residence 9 (817 Buford) Percell, E.W. 33 1897 married at age 33 Georgia Georgia Georgia Thelma 26 married at age 15 Texas Texas Texas Sterling, Margery stepdau 8 1922 Texas Sterling, Fay 10 1920 Texas residence 10 (823 Buford) Henery C Court 75 1855 married at age 20 longshoreman on dock TX TX TN Lena Court 59 1871 married at age 25 Texas Germany Texas James C Court 27 1903 longshoreman on dock Barney S Court 19 1811 longshoreman on dock Kirby Court 34 1896 "son-ab" (looks like "ab" ??? single sailor on ship
  Residence	1937	719 Tilson, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Court, Barney r 719 Tilson Henry C (Lena) h 719 Tilson Mixon r 719 Tilson note: two brothers, Barney Mabry and Barney Self; neither married by 1937; so unsure which Barney is listed here.
  		1937 City Directory, Texas, Jefferson Co, Beaumont Court, Henry C and Lena Gentz; Barney and Mixon, Justus W and Fannie and Paul P, also Courts, Burt W and Lucille Goff; Coy V and Leona Anderson; Edgar Blewett and Mattie Parker; Gerold H and Mittie, Hal O and Ida Lirlene Goode and James Franklin. Harry C Jr; and Gertrude Bonin. Jas C and Marle L, on Sabine Pass have not yet been identified.
  Death	18 May 1938	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas   [1]
  	d.c. married, Lena Court, address 719 Tilson, Beaumont occupation, timberman, timber business father James Court, born Sabine Pass; Julia Sparks, born Jefferson Co, Texas. date last worked 1930, lifetime in occupation informant: James C. Court (son) 1737 Sabine Pass, Bmt.
  		Court, Henry Clifton death certificate
  Burial	Magnolia Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  		Magnolia Cemetery, Main Entrance 2291 Pine Street; Beaumont, Texas Magnolia Cemetery History webpage http://www.magnoliacemetery.org/index.asp?page=history
  Notes	1880: Not listed in James' household. Listed independently as a raftsman, 25 years old, born TX, father b LA, mother b TN, next door to his father (212/227) 1900 census lists children Ola, Kirby, Mixon, Harry & Daniel 1910 census, lists children Coot, Kirby, Mixon, Harry, Deany, Sallym Bert and Colby 1921 city directory: Wife Lena, longshoreman, 157 E. Buford Beaumont Enterprise card index shows Henry Clifton Courts, III 1940-5/2/95 _____________ (Notes of Kirby Courts:) Henry Clifton "Cliff" was a cowboy as a young man. He was a Pony Express rider. He carried the mail between Sabine Pass and Harrisburg Houston), Texas. Most of his life was spent in the lumber industry with Reliance Lumber, Chris Grey L, and Kirby Lumber Co. He was a good friend of John Henry Kirby, the lumber tycoon. He named his oldest son Charles Kirby after him. Cliff was upset for the rest of his life because the Government had all the long leaf yellow pine trees cut down during the first World War. They were to be used to build wooden ships for the troops going to France. The ships were never built, but it spelled the end of the great lumber boom in ast and Southeast Texas. All of his sons worked in the timber industry at this time. Coley told me the Neches River was full of square timber all the way back to East Texas at this time. Cliff had six children in a previous marriage. The family died of yellow fever in the epidemic of the 1880s. My father Coley said, his father would never talk about his first family. The first record of Cliff on the census is 1880 in Jefferson Co, Texas. I believe, according to family history, that all the Courts lived in the Sabine Pass area. A masssive hurricane in the 1880s completely flooded this area. All of thes and kids were floated out of this area on feather matresses. The families ended up in the Nederland-Port Neches area. Cliff and his family eventually settled in the Beaumont area before the turn of the century. Many members of the Courts family still live in the Port Neches area.
  Person ID	I510	Roots
  Last Modified	22 Apr 2011

  
  

  Father	James* Madison Court,   b. 1829, Louisiana d. Aft 15 Aug 1899, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age > 70 years)
  Mother	Julia* Ann Sparks,   b. 13 Oct 1836, Franklin Co, Tennessee d. 25 Jan 1925, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	15 Oct 1850	Jefferson Co, Texas   [2]
  	Name: James Courts Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1850 Spouse: Julia Ann Sparks Marriage County: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1311466 license 12th day of October 1850 by I.K. Robertsosn, county clerk marriage 15th day of October 1850 by William Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5.
  		James Madison Court and Julia Sparks Marriage Certificate 15 Oct 1850 Beaumont, Texas
  Documents		Courts, James and Julia Ann Sparks Marriage certificate license 12 Dec 1850 recorded by I.K. Robertson, county clerk of Jefferson County, Texas marriage performed by Wm Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Jefferson Co, Texas Precinct 5 provided to me by Jaye Hendon on 10/13/2015
  Family ID	F203	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Frances "Fanny" Smith,   b. 1854, Texas d. Between 1890 and 1891, Port Arthur (Aurora), Jefferson Co, Texas (yellow fever epidemic -prob) (Age 36 years)
  Marriage	31 Dec 1874	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas   [3]
  	Name: Clifton Courts Gender: Male Marriage Date: 31 Dec 1874 Spouse: Frances Smith Marriage City: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900
  Notes	story told by Kirby Courts and apparently by several other Courts family members: "Cliff had six children in a previous marriage. The family died of yellow fever in the epidemic of the 1880s. My father Coley said, his father would never talk about his first family." Jun 12 1880 he is shown in Aurora (Port Arthur) with wife Fannie and Ella M. age 3, living one residence away from James & Julia. Record of his marriage to Fannie was 31 Dec 1874. The other children had to have been born between likely after 1878/9 and bef about 1890. It would take about 10 years to have 5 more children; so the deaths must have been about 1890-91.
  Children	1. Ella M. Courts,   b. 1877, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Between 1890 and 1891, Port Arthur (Aurora), Jefferson Co, Texas (yellow fever epidemic -prob) (Age 13 years)   2. (5 other children) Courts,   b. Between 1878 and 1889, Sabine Pass d. Between 1890 and 1891, Port Arthur (Aurora), Jefferson Co, Texas (yellow fever epidemic -prob) (Age ~ 12 years)
  Family ID	F240	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Apr 2011

  
  

  Family 2	Ulalaya Lena Gentz,   b. 24 Feb 1870, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 08 Nov 1948, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 78 years)
  Marriage	24 Feb 1892	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Name: Clifton Courts Gender: Male Marriage Date: 24 Feb 1892 Spouse: Lena Gentze Marriage City: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900
  Children	+ 1. Ola Lena "Aunt Coot" Courts,   b. 16 May 1892, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Dec 1979, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 87 years)   2. Charles Kirby Courts,   b. Dec 1893, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 18 Dec 1931, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 38 years) + 3. Mixon Jerry Courts,   b. 20 Sep 1895, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 7 Jan 1961, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 65 years) + 4. Henry Clifton (Harry) Courts, Jr,   b. 08 Oct 1897, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 2 May 1977, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 79 years) + 5. Dana Elven "Dainey" Courts,   b. 27 Jul 1899, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 11 Dec 1977, Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 78 years) + 6. James Cole "Coley" Courts,   b. 25 Apr 1902, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 4 Sep 1996, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 94 years) + 7. Thelma "Sally" Courts,   b. 1906, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 31 Aug 1990, Austin, Williamson Co, Texas (Age 84 years) + 8. Bert Wakefield Courts, Sr.,   b. 13 Aug 1906, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 5 May 1973, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 66 years)   9. Barney Mabry Court,   b. 1907, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 1909, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 2 years) + 10. Barney Self Court, Sr,   b. 3 Jun 1910, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 18 Aug 1976, Vidor, Orange Co, Texas (Age 66 years)   11. Malery Court,   b. 01 Apr 1912, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 21 May 1912, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 0 years)
  Family ID	F241	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Apr 2011

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 5 Jul 1854 - Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 12 Jul 1860 - Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas Marriage - 31 Dec 1874 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Marriage - 24 Feb 1892 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 1920 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Residence - 1920 - 157 E Buford, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 1930 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Death - 18 May 1938 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Burial - - Magnolia Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		Courts, Henry Clifton, Sr., and Ulalaya Lena Gentz
  		Courts, Henry, Sr

  
  

  Documents		Family Brands (1 of 2) Family Brands Burrell, Burris, Court, Courts, Gentz (document obtained by Debbie Spurgeron, Jul 28, 2003) (d)
  		Sparks and Aurora Originally published in about 1940, and published on the Internet by "Old and Sold, Turn-of-the-Century wisdom for today." Tells of life among the Sparks and families who lived in the Sparks Settlement in the mid to late 1800s. (d) http://www.oldandsold.com/articles11/port-arthur-4.shtml

  
  

• Sources

  [S585] http://www.footnote.com/search.php?f_ancestor_id=19419207&df_ancestor_id=Within%3ATexas+Death+Certificates&query=courts&submit=Search. [S371] Marriage license. [S355] Marriage Books A&B Jefferson Co 1837-1899.