According to the 1930 Census report there were 289 people occupying the town of Aubrey. The Census taker found that 190 fathers of the town’s citizens were from Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia while 194 of the mothers were from the same area. This indicates that the fathers’ and mothers’ parents resided in the Cherokee Nation and were a part of the exodus of people from that tribe. Historians overlook that important factor and little mention of the nationality of the people from the Cherokee nation who settled in the Denton County area is documented.

Little was told and many didn’t want to tell about their ancestry. This part of history was supposed to die with the Indians. These people changed their identity and did not claim their ancestry because they wanted to survive the holocaust that was taking place in their lives during that period.

Mrs. Bertha Mustain was proud of the fact that she was a genuine Black Dutch along with others in the neighborhood. Mrs. Bertha Mustain was a granddaughter of Mary S. and N.L. Edwards. Mr. Edwards built his home and raised his family and came to be prominent people in the Onega settlement. The Edwards family members became bankers, doctors, and business merchants as the community branched out to become what it is known as today.

In the home of Mary S. Edwards lived a 62 year old son-in-law, Thomas Graham, and daughter, Mary (Molly) Graham, (60 years old). Thomas Graham’s parents were born in Alabama. He was listed on the census as a general farmer.

As the Census taker made her rounds through town, her next stop was at the business of Will and Beulah McNatt who were operating a restaurant in the downtown section of town. Will was 44 years old and Beulah was 47 years old at the time. His parents were born in Arkansas and Tennessee and Mrs. McNatt’s parents were born in Alabama. They rented the building for the business for $5 per month. The couple was married when he was 20 and she was 23 years old. He had not served in the military and was not a veteran.

There was a barber in town, living in the business district. His name was Photis A. Whitson. He paid $10 a month for rent. He was 61 years old and had a radio. Mr. Whitson was born in Illinois. His mother and father were born in Ohio and Indiana. Mr. Whitson was a single man.

Mrs. Lillie Copenhaver was a divorced owner of a $1,000 home with a radio. She was 62 years old and was born in Kentucky. Her father and mother were both born in Kentucky.

Next to Mrs. Copenhaver was the home of Earl and Texia Love. Their home was valued at $1,500. Earl was a veteran and laborer at odd jobs and she was the telephone operator. He was 41 years old and she was 29 years old. They were married when he was 32 and she was 20 years old. He was born in Texas and his parents were born in Tennessee. Mrs. Love was born in Alabama and her parents were both born in Alabama. They owned their own home and owned a radio.

Across the street from Mrs. Love lived Otis Yarbrough and his wife Pearl and their two children, Thelda L. and Otis. They rented their home for $12 a month. He was 35 and she was 25. Thelda was 4 years old and Otis was 6 months old. Mr. Yarbrough was an oil and gas salesman and his wife didn’t work.

Laura Bates lived to the west of the Yarbroughs. She was the head of the house which was valued at $3,000. She was 64 years old. The house was built by Dr. Bates in 1907. Mrs. Bates was born in Illinois and her father was born in Ohio and her mother was born in Indiana. Mrs. Bates was widowed.

The Bates house survived the tornado in the 1918 storm. My estimations have always been that the materials and workmanship of this fine old home were the best of quality. The walls have a double layer of wood on the inside and then on the outside. I am sure the house survived the storm due to this quality workmanship, or otherwise it would have been in ruins as the Methodist Church building.