John Thomas Sr. was one of twelve children born to Elisha Redfearn born 1871 in Anson County, North Carolina and Polly Hutching born in 1798 in Tennessee. Elisha fought in the War of 1812 in Tennessee and Kentucky.

After his father died and at the age of thirteen years with the permission of his mother, William Calvin Redfearn left Missouri and drove a covered wagon to Texas for a Mr. Whited and his family. They settled in the small community of Parvin near Prosper, Texas and close to the Lights Ranch where he worked for thirteen years.

At church he met Edna Jane Wells, they married in 1887. To this union was born ten children, six sons and four daughters, nine of which lived to be adults. These children are the beginning of the Redfearns in this area. The boys were John Henry, died as an infant; Enoch Calvin (Bill) married Lucy Day Gilliland; Charlie Franklin married Minnie Eldona Gilliland; Twins Harvey Poindexter (Deck) married Vernie Hendrick and Joe Hardy (Bailey) married Lavada Elizabeth Durham; and Harlan Andrew married Opal Brown.

Of the daughters, Hazel Irene married Truman Elom Baker, now lives in Denton; Edna Mae married Deuel Grand Cowan, and is in a nursing home in Gainesville; Edith Jewel married Frank J. Leverton; and Dovie Bell married William Wright Hampton. Both are deceased. To these unions were born a host of children.

In 1909, William Calvin bought a grocery store on the corner of Brewer Road and 2931 and stayed in business for six years. He hauled groceries from Dallas every week in a gib grocery wagon he bought. When he stopped to rest his horses, people would buy things from him along the way.

The family lived in a house down the road a little ways and on the opposite side from the store. Edna Jane would run the store and they prepared a room in the back with a bed and stove where she could take care of the children. This is where the twin boys, Deck and Bailey were born. Edna Jane wanted to name the boys Hardy and Harvey, but William Calvin did not. Two politicians had come to town running against each other named Joe Bailey and Poindexter and this is what he wanted to name them so they became known as Harvey Deck and Joe Bailey. They are listed in the 1920 Denton County Census as Hardie and Harvey, 9 years of age.

The family saved enough money at the store to buy a farm and he was one of the first farmers to raise peanuts in this area. He became a very prosperous farmer and acquired many acres of land, he and his wife raising their children on the farm, teaching them the benefits of hard work.

He also was able to employ many men during the depression when people were having a hard struggle. After his wife died, William Calvin sold his farm to some of his sons and bought a house with two acres in Tioga. He lived there until he died. He left behind a large family to carry on his name.

All of William Calvin’s sons were farmers and valuable members of the community.

That is the Redfearn family story provided to me.

Everyone remember the Cherokee Festival that is being held at the Bison Hollow bed and breakfast on April 20, from 11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m.