Father - Dr. Elijah Reeves Hooten
Mother - Ellen Amanda (Bills) Hooten
Spouse - Martha Ann (Testerman) Hooten
Children - Ellen Amanda Hooten 1861 –,Andy Hooten 1863 –Mary E Hooten 1869 – , Martha Jane Hooten 1872 – 1939, Maggie Hooten 1876 – 1878, Thomas H Hooten 1879 – 1966, Katie Dove Hooten 1885 – 1969, Suda Belle Hooten 1886 – 1950, James A Hooten 1888 – 1935
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The following obituary was copied as it was printed. The Tribute was edited because of length. Contributed by FAG member Sue Lilley. Original photocopy work by Jeff Jackson.
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THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1898

Dr. J.W. Hooten, of Lometa, who was reported by the Leader last week as being at the point of death, died, and was buried by the Masonic fraternity, he being a member of that order. It is a matter of regret that the gentleman who does the obituary work is absent, and a proper notice of this excellent man will have to be deferred to some future issue. Suffice it at the present to say, that he was a good man and a good citizen, one who had the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends, and he had friends wherever he was known. He had lived in this country for many years, and was a successful practitioner of medicine. It was the privilege of this writer to have only a limited acquaintance with Dr, Hooton, but those who knew him best all testify to his worth as a noble Christian gentleman.
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THE LAMPASAS LEADER
AUGUST 25, 1899

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT
At 5 o'clock A.M. on Friday, July 21, J.W. Hooten died in Lometa, Lampasas county, Texas, after months of lingering illness. His mortal remains were deposited in the earth by your hands in the presence of the assembled population of Lometa and the surrounding country.

Brother Hooten was the son of Dr. E.R. & Ellen Amanda (Bills) Hooten , a pioneer preacher in the Christian church, and a man of a broad and good influence as a preacher and citizen. Born March 17, 1841, in Marshall county, Tennessee, and raised by parents of correct morals in the pure atmosphere of farm life. In early life he joined the church of his parents faith, in which he continued while he lived. The impress of character and training from his parents enabled him to go through camp life in the Confederate army without a shadow or blemish. After he became of lawful age, he was made a Mason by Ennys Creek Lodge, No. 514, at Lometa, Texas, and always lived close to the precepts taught him.

Shortly after his return from the army, he began the practice of medicine in and around Senterfitt, where he spent the remainder of his life. He never lost or had to hunt for a job-he was always too deeply engaged in matters entrusted to him to meddle with the affairs of others. He was at different times connected with and entrusted with matters, and was never known to improperly tell what was being done in such matters. He was a quiet, dignified gentleman, unremittingly punctual to his post of duty and business. The tides of gayety seekers came in, and the tides of pleasure seekers went out, but he remained at work. The tides of human passions ebbed and flowed with the barren sands of ambition, but he remained quiet and unobstrusive at work.

At the age of 21 years, he was married, on May 30th, 1870, to Miss Martha Ann Testerman, in Hopkins County, Texas, to whom, with five daughters and two sons, he leaves his name, his memory and his love. In the history of Lometa, or of this Loge, never did more people assemble to pay the last tribute to the dead, than quietly came to lay away the body of this quiet, plain business man. The last twenty years of his life were passed within twenty miles of his grave.

He moved with his father's family from Marshall county, Tennessee, to Texas in the fall of 1846.

About October, 1898, he took his bed, the new year found him sick, but he rallied in early spring, but the newness of life passed unenjoyed by him, whose life had been devoted to work and duty. He bore his six month's sickness with the same patience that he had discharged the duties of life.

Fraternally Submitted.
J.W. STEPHENS
W.W. BARRETT
GEO. F. FAIR, Committee