Chapter 5: Scogin

Harris H. Scogin and Family in East Texas

Harris H. Scoggin and Margaret J. Nall had six children: James Thomas (1851, GA), Catherine A. (1853, GA), John W. (or E.) (1855, TX), William F. (1859, Rusk, TX), Harris Alexander (11/2/1860, Rusk, TX), Mary E. (1864, TX). About 1854 the family moved from Meriwether, Georgia to Rusk, Texas (when the whole Nall family moved).

The 1850 census for Coweta, Georgia shows newlyweds, Harris H. (21) and Margaret (19) Scoggin (indexed as "Scroggins"). Harris is a farmer and they were both born in Georgia.

In the 1860 census for Rusk, Texas, Harris Scoggin (indexed as "Scroggin") (30), M.J. (29), James T. (9), C.A. (7), John E. (4), and William F. (1) are all living with J.M. Nawls (25), M.J. (19), D.H. (6/12) and S. (6/12). Harris is a farmer. J.M. Nawls is Margaret's younger brother, John Middleton. They are also living next door to Margaret's father, Thomas J., mother, Catherine A. and brother, Davis R.

Harris died before 1870. In the 1870 census for Rusk, Texas, Margaret's family is listed as Mary (40), John W. (15), William (11), Alexandria (9), Mary E. (6) and her father, Thomas Nall (66), is living with them. They are living next door to Margaret's brother, John Middleton Nall (37), his wife Jane (28), and children David (10), John T. (8), Sarah (4), Ophelia (1). In 1870, James was 19 and must have moved out already. I am not sure where 17 year old Catherine is, probably married.

In the 1880 census for Rusk, Texas, Margaret J. Scogin is living next to two of her sons James Thomas Scogin, John W. Scoggin and also several Parker families. In addition to Margaret (49), her son Harris Alexander (18), listed as "H.E.", and her father Thomas J. Nall (76). Harris is listed as a farmer; her father is listed as "sick".

James Thomas Scogin and Family in East Texas

James Thomas Scogin was born on December 1, 1851 in Georgia. He was a farmer and a tall, thin man. He married Mary Elizabeth Parker. She was born on October 15, 1852 in Georgia. They had four children: Henrietta (1876), Nevada Hendon (1877), Jeppie Harris (1889) and Murphy Oliver (1891). Henrietta died at age 21. They were very active at church--Central Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Texas.

I can't find James Thomas Scogin or Mary Elizabeth Parker in the 1870 census. They should be in Rusk, Texas. I'm still looking. Perhaps the Civil War moved them?

In the 1880 census, we find James T. and Mary Elizabeth living in Rusk, Texas with two children. Their family is: J.T. Scogin (28), M.E. (27), Henrietta (4), N.H. (2). They are also living in a row of homes occupied by three Scogin families and three Parker families. As mentioned above, I recognize his mother and brother Harris Alexander in one, his brother John W. Scogin's family in another.

I can't find James Thomas Scogin or Mary Elizabeth Parker in the 1900 or 1910 census. Still looking.

James T. (or J.) and Mary E. Scogin are on the 1920 census in Nacogdoches, Texas (Precinct 7). It says they were both born in Georgia and so were both of their parents. James's profession is listed as a "buyer" for "chickens".

James Thomas died on March 13, 1927. I don't know when Mary Elizabeth died. They were both buried around Garrison or Cushing, Texas.

There is also a Mary Elizabeth (Bullock) Scogin -- b. 1859 d. 1934; married James L. Scogin in Nachogdoches. This is NOT our Mary Elizabeth, but the wife of a Scogin cousin.

As for the other siblings: John W. Scoggin was married twice--his first wife was named Lena B., his second Annie. John W. and Lena had: Pearl Dena (1876), Chapps D. (1887, son), Lelia J. (1891), Harry B. (1896) and Ruth. Dena Scogin married Jess Kyle and had one daughter, Faye. Lelia married Gus Collier and had one son. Ruth married Matt Coghurn and they had at least one daughter. Either William F. or Harris Alexander was known as "Bud".

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