Had three wives: Harriet Wright, Elizabeth Franks, and Nancy Alice Franks Three sons by wife #3.: Thomas Ralph Bruce 1901-1986 #85715328. -- James Madison Bruce 1911-2005 #84940694. -- Wallace Benjamin Bruce 1908-1983 #114470290.
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Thomas Benjamin Bruce evidently came to Commerce, Jackson County, GA about the time he married Harriet Wright. He shortly thereafter moved to the Hebron Community in Banks County. They may have lived on Wright land - - if not, then their first farm was adjacent. The years 1898-1901 were years of fast-moving events for him. He buried his wife, Harriet E., on 4 March 1898 at Hebron Presbyterian Church. On Oct. 15, 1898, his daughter, Myra Louise, married Groves Cleveland Glasure at the Bruce home and they continued to live there with her father. Thomas Benjamin quickly married his second wife, Elizabeth Franks who was the widow of Mr._____Black. On September 30, 1899 (a little over a year after Harriet's funeral) he buried Elizabeth at Hebron, leaving room for himself between the two wives. Elizabeth died during childbirth and her infant daughter, who also died, was buried in her arms. A few weeks before the death of Elizabeth and the infant, his daughter, Myra had given him a grandchild (my own mother), Ruth Mabel Glasure. He did not grieve over his loss too long for he became the father of Thomas Ralph Bruce on 11 November 1901 by his third wife, Nancy Alice Franks, sister of Elizabeth Franks Black. He had also moved to Lavonia - - back to the area of Franklin County where he grew up. Grandmother Alice gave him two more sons after Thomas Ralph, Wallace Benjamin and James Madison. Alice was born 1879 - died 1968 and is also buried at Hebron with him and his two other wives. She was over 30 years younger than he was, in fact younger than most of his first set of children. She was a very dear person and was loved very much by her stepchildren and grandchildren as well as her own set of children. Just how the two last wives were related to his mother, Elizabeth F. Franks Bruce, I do not know, but Grandmother Alice and his first set of children had a great resemblance. Many in the family had red hair, ruddy complexion and freckles, which still shows up in descendants today.