Nicholas James Pulliam (N.J.)

While still a young man, he decided to explore Texas as far west as Foard, Wilbarger, Hardeman and Baylor Counties.  While in that area, he worked as a teamster in a train of fourteen wagons, freighting lumber from Vernon to Crowell.  When fording the Pease River, extra teams were required to pull the wagons through the muddy water.  At the end of the long haul, it was not uncommon to find wagons of neighboring ranchmen waiting for the lumber.  The area was developing rapidly and landowners were anxious to replace dugout homes with frame houses.

Other employment included work on the construction of the Orient Railroad from Chillicothe to Seymour.  When this employment ended, N.J. decided to return to the Keller community.  After a day on the trail, he camped to spend the night.  On leading his horses to a nearby windmill for water, he was surprised to find there the land owner, Andy Bourland, who had been his former neighbor in Tarrant County.  This chance meeting led to further employment on the Bourland ranch, which lasted through the grain harvest.  On one occasion, as N.J. returned to the ranch headquarters with his empty grain wagon, he gathered a load of wild plums in the Pease River valley, which was a favorite camp ground of the Indians in that area.

With the coming of winter, he resumed the overland trip, back to the area he never ceased to call home.

Soon after his return to the Keller community, Nicholas James Pulliam was married on April 5, 1903 to Hattie May Flanagan, born on February 5, 1884, the daughter of George and Rilla Dye Flanagan.  They became the parents of six children; George, Valeria, Lora, Stella, John Binkley and Robert Alvin.

Hattie May Pulliam died on July 12, 1929 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

N.J. Pulliam’s second marriage on August 8, 1930, was to Ella Fay Russell, born on July 31, 1912, the daughter of Anthony Preston and Easter Russell and granddaughter of Thomas and Alice Justice.  Five children were born to this union.  They are James A., Henry L., Wilbur L., Gladella and Rita Aline.

With the exception of seasonal employment as a gin operator, N.J. Pulliam was a farmer. In 1926 he paid $22.50 per acre for land lying east of Mt. Gilead and owned formerly by his uncle, William Pulliam.  Portions of this farm have since been divided into smaller acreages, where sons and daughters have built modern homes.

Nicholas J. Pulliam died on January 25, 1968 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

Statistics and information on the descendents of N.J. Pulliam and his first wife, Hattie May (Flanagan):

1)      George Bias was born on January 19, 1904.  He died on December 5, 1926 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

2)      Valeria Thelma was born on October 12, 1906.  She was married on November 7, 1925 to Henry S. Bentley, son of John M. and Alta Brown Bentley.  Their children, all born in the Keller area are Ramona, Shan, Valeria, Darrell and William E. (Bill).

3)      Lora, who was born on January 14, 1910, died on December 6, 1926 from injuries received in a fall from a horse.  She was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

4)      Stella who was born on June 12, 1912, died on June 17, 1913 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

5)      John Binkley (J.B.), born on April 1, 1914, was married to Alice Russell.  Their children are George Alvin, Anita Bell and Edward Leroy.  John Binkley died May 25, 1945 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

6)      Robert Alvin, born on May 17, 1914, was married first to Ruth Porter.  They were the parents of eight children:  Wanda, Roberta, Patricia, three boys who died in infancy and were buried in Bourland Cemetery, and twins Donna and Dianna.  Dianna died at birth and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

Robert Alvin’s second marriage was to Fay Whitaker.  He adopted Fay’s one year old daughter, Mary Louise.  Two more children born to the Pulliam family are Robert and Delia.

Statistics and information on the descendents on N.J. Pulliam and his second wife Ella Fay (Russell):

1)      James Anthony, born on May 23, 1933 and was married on December 24, 1953 to Joyce Wells, born March 10, 1933.  Their children are Deborah Joyce, Susan Marie, and Jamie Dianne.

2)      Henry Larry, born on September 8, 1934, was married on April 29, 1953 to Wanda Shafer, born on March 18, 1934.  Their children are Gary Don and Larry Gene.

3)      Wilber Lee (Bill) was born on August 4,1936and was married on January 15, 1955 to Judy Abel, born on July 6, 1938.  Their children are Brenda Ilene, Bradford Lee and Darla Kay.

4)      Gladella, born on August 3, 1938, was married on April 2, 1955 to Gayland Ward, born on September 16, 1936.  Their children are Marsha Gayle, Constance Joan, David Leon and Cary James.

5)      Rita Aline, born on July 2, 1940, was married on March 28, 1957 to Franklin Bird, born on January 8, 1934.  Their children are Daniel Ray, Edward Guy, Timothy Preston, Margaret Ann and Penny Renea.