Henry "Dutch" Akard, the
third son of Jacob Akard and Mary Cruse, was born in Kingsport, Sullivan,
Tennessee, on November 10, 1845. Shortly after his birth, his father,
Jacob Akard followed his uncle, Matthias Click and settled in Lamar
County, Texas.
Jacob and Mary Akard, older sons, William and Frederick, along with
young Henry lived just north of Lake Creek, Texas on the Lamar County
side of
the North Sulphur River. On October 19, 1847, his sister, Sarah Ann
Akard Stepehenson was born in Lamar County. Then his brother, Jacob "Jake" Akard
was born July 8, 1850 just south of Glory, Lamar, Texas. In the 1850
Census, it shows, Jacob, Mary, William, Frederick, Henry, Sarah and
Jacob. The
following year, the youngest brother Thomas Akard is born.
Tragedy struck the family on December 8, 1853 when his father Jacob Akard went out to the woods to gather some boards. He was met by his neighbor, Daniel T. Alexander and his son. Daniel T. Alexander shot Jacob Akard in the back. The murder was as a result of a disputed argument of ownership of hogs born to sows with the Akard brand. To avoid prosecution, Daniel T. Alexander left the area with his son, leaving behind his family. Both the Akard and Alexander families would appear destitute on proverty rolls in the county.
Somehow, Henry's mother, Mary Akard preservered, raising her children alone and eventually obtained a land grant in Lamar County.
Henry Akard remains a member of Mary Akard's household up to the 1870s.
On April 26, 1874, Henry Akard married Mary Caldonia "Callie" Terrell, the daughter of Zachariah Richard Terrell and Hero Caroline Steen Terrell at Delta County, Texas. It is believed that Mr. Terrell may have taught Henry Akard business skills that allows him to own and operate businesses in the town Charleston, Texas in Delta County. He was able to prosper and provide his children with a good education. He supported the College at Charleston, Texas. His probate file indicated that he had provided loans to several of his neighbors. Community was important to him.
After the death of Callie Terrell Akard in 1909, Dutch Akard married several times (2) Viola James (3) Mamie Unknown and (4) Victorine Routrow Slakey. Much of his financial holdings was lost in divorce proceedings with the Viola James and Mamie Unknown.
Dutch Akard was known to have a "drinking problem." Stories are told that when there was preaching going on under "The Shed," he was repeatedly known to loudly interrupt the sermons from the roadway. He was carted away back home to sleep it off and fined for the public disturbance. The more religious side of the family claimed that on his death bed that he screamed for someone to put the fire out on his feet. . . religious witnesses claiming he had one foot already in hell.
It can be said that his son, John W. Akard loved his parents dearly and spoke of them often to his grandchild.
To his union with Callie Terrell, there were eleven children born:
1. Alfred Haywood Akard (21 April 1876; Charleton, Texas - 25 January 1942; Paris, Texas)
married Mary Lucinda Helm.
Their children are:
(1) Cornelius Eugene Akard (1884-1922);
(2) Herbert Ewing Akard (1896-1990);
(3) Lois Gertrude Akard Cobb (1898-1981);
(4) Roy Haywood Akard (1901-1992);
(5) Thomas Henry Akard (1903-1980);
(6) Ludie Belle Akard Warren (1906-1999);
(7) William Taft Akard (1909-1973);
(8) Jack F. Akard (1915-2000).
2. Mary "Mamie" Elizabeth Akard (24 July 1877; Charleston, Texas - 22 Oct 1969; Dallas, Texas)
married William Thomas (McGuyre) McGuire.
Their children are:
(1) Vivian Bess McGuire Shields (1896-1975);
(2) Ora Nell McGuire Webb (1899-1971);
(3) Kitty McGuire Thompson Southern (1901-1977);
(4) Freddie Faye McGuire Cronan (1911-1903).
3. Nina "Jack" M. Akard (5 December 1879; Charleston, Texas - 1 May 1965; Commerce, Texas)
married Ed Henry Hendricks.
Their children are:
(1) Gertrude Naomi Hendricks Taylor (1897-1998);
(2) Bessie J. Hendricks Maness (1900-1924);
(3) Nolan J. Hendricks (1902-1989);
(4) Earl Charlie Hendricks (1905-1978;
(5) John Gordon Henry Hendricks (1908-2000);
(6) Mary Lucile Hendricks Bledsoe (1912-2011);
(7) Ed Hendricks, Jr. (1915-1917)
4. Naomi "Pig" Akard (25 January 1882; Charleston, Texas - 11 September 1966; Klondike, Texas)
married Thomas Hope Haggard.
Their child was: (1) Wayne Akard Haggard (1916-1969).
5. Eula Lee Akard (29 October 1884; Charleston, Texas - 14 September 1979; Dallas, Texas)
married Terrace Carter Anderson.
Their children are:
(1) Fairy Anderson Lucas (1903-1967);
(2) Christine Margaret Anderson Lyle (1905-1978);
(3) Minnie Lee Anderson Spain (1908-1999);
(4) Terry Carter Anderson (1911-1983).
6. Carrie "Cack" Akard (31 December 1886; Charleston, Texas - 22 July 1936; Broken Bow, Oklahoma)
married (1) James Ennis Parramore (2) James Franklin Spring (3) James R. Thompson.
No children were born to Carrie Akard.
7. John Wilton Akard (7 September 1889; Charleston, Texas - 14 September 1985; Lubbock, Texas)
married (1) Martha Elizabeth Adair (2) Veria Laura Baker.
His children with Martha Elizabeth Adair are:
(1) Harlan Akard (1909-1964);
(2) Wayne Mozell Akard (1912-1967);
(3) Hugh Wilton Akard (1914-1999);
(4) Henry Glen Akard (1917-1962);
(5) J. W. Akard (1918-1920);
(6) Eula Faye Akard Woods (1927- ).
8. Richard "Rich" Ralph Akard (12 April 1892; Charleston, Texas - 7 July 1964; Paris, Texas)
married Frances Etta Cullum.
Their children are:
(1) Alfred Arnold Akard (1911-1964);
(2) Guy Akard (1913-1970;
(3) Richard Ralph Akard, Jr. (1923-1956).
9. Gladys "Glad" Akard (28 October 1893; Charleston, Texas - 7 January 1976; Paris, Texas)
married Robert Lee Chambliss.
Their children are:
(1) Jack Chambliss (1918-1992);
(2) Mary Janell Chambliss Stallings Gray (1924-2009).
10. Frederick Akard (26 October 1898; Charleston, Texas - 17 January 1966; Lubbock, Texas)
married Mabel Isabel Almon.
No children were born to Frederick Akard.
11. Lillian Sunshine Akard (6 Feb 1902; Charleston, Texas - 1 April 1902; Charleston, Texas. Died in infancy.
OLD SETTLER OF CHARLESTON PASSES TO REWARD
Henry Akard died at his home in Charleston Saturday morning after a protracted illness of many months.
Funeral services were held Sunday conducted by Rev. J.C. McClain and the remains interred in Charleston Cemetery at 4 P.M. in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends.
The deceased was in his 71st year and was one of the old settlers of Charleston community. He came to Texas about 60 years ago and for the past 45 years has been a resident of Charleston.
He has been married four times and is survived by his fourth wife and ten children
by his first marriage. They are as follows: Haywood Akard, Antlers, Oklahoma;
Mrs.Tom McGuyer, Marlow, Oklahoma; Mrs. Ed Hendricks and Mrs. Hope Haggard of
Cooper, Texas;
Mrs.
Eula Anderson, Prairie, Mississippi; Mrs. Carrie Parremore, Marlow, Oklahoma;
John Akard,
Richard Akard,
and Fred Akard of Charleston, Texas. Mrs. Parremore was the only one of the children
living out of the county who was present at the funeral.
12 May 1916
Charleston, Delta, Texas
Obituary published in The Cooper Review (Cooper, Delta, Texas).
