William W. or Milton “Bill” Slaughter (1859-1945)

William W. or Milton “Bill” Slaughter

Birth

4 Jun 1859

Columbia County, Arkansas, USA

Death

2 Feb 1945 (aged 85)

Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, USA

Burial

Tecumseh Cemetery

Denton, Callahan County, Texas, USA Add to Map

Memorial ID

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William "Bill" Slaughter is the son of Jane Monroe and Joel Slaughter. He was born in Arkansas, Columbia County, June 4, 1859. His mother, Jane moved the family to Callahan County, TX about 1870. His father, Joel was not heard from after he went to the Civil War. Bill married Dona Lehew in Callahan County, TX in 1886. They were blessed with three children, Joel Thomas, Claude Austin and Myrtle Odell. Dona died about 1895. Bill then married Dora Ellis. They were blessed with nine children: William, Luther, Walter, Opal Mae, Herman, Carl, Woodrow, Annie and Essie. Bill was instrumental in building the platform for the sale of the first city lots in Abilene, TX. when the T & P Railroad was built through that area of Texas. Until then, the County Seat had been in Buffalo Gap, but was soon moved to Abilene to be close to the railroad.

Inscription

Dear Ancestor

Your tombstone stands among the rest;
In this field of green.
The name and date are chiseled out
For all the world to see.

It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I'd exist,
You died long before I was born.

Yet we are of one, you and I,
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the life you lived
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.

Author Unknown