John Sellers, second from left, Hopkins County historian, presented the program at Thursday night's Hopkins
County Genealogical Society meeting, on the Louise Fox Collection. Shown with Sellers are left to right,
Lonnie Fox, Jeanette Watson, and Maleta Fox Reynolds, family members who attended Thursday night's
meeting.

 

Sellers Presents Genealogical Society Program
on Fox Collection

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Sellers exhibits a 1930's era map of the city of Sulphur Springs, that is included in the Louise Fox collection.

 

 

"It was one of the most interesting programs of the year," was the report from several members of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, as they discussed John Sellers' Thursday night program, on the materials in the Louise Fox Collection. "I had no idea that we had this kind of information in our library now, and look forward to using it in the future!"

Sellers presented Thursday night's program on the extensive research and land materials of local "landman," Louise Fox, that have been donated to the Hopkins County Genealogical Library, by Fox's three children, Lonnie Fox, Mike Fox, and Maleta Fox Reynolds. "We wanted Mother's lifetime collection of land and title work to go to the local genealogical society, so that everyone can use the materials to research their family land transactions," expressed Lonnie Fox and Maleta Reynolds. "We knew the years that mother had collected the information and felt it needed to go somewhere that it could be used, as she used it. We know she would be happy to know that her work is still being used and helping others in their searches."

 

 

Sellers explains the use of abstracts in doing family and local history
research, during Thursday night's progam.

 

 

Louise Fox started her working career, as a secretary for the Sellers and Fanning Law Firm in Sulphur Springs. She studied the law at her work and was especially interested in land ownership and title research. And, she took incredible notes. She became so efficient and knowlegeable about land transfers, that she began training young lawyers, who would join the firm.

In the early 1970's, Fox's brother, Gene Watson, and Tim Kelty bought Morris Abstract Company, in Sulphur Springs and Louise Fox was the manager. Louise studied the land records and the firm had the business of land aquisition for Lake Fork and lignite leases for Phillips Petroleum Company, that even expanded Fox's collection of materials further. Louise was also an avid historian and wrote a series of articles about the people that the original land surveys in Hopkins County were named for.

In 1979, Louise began doing independent land work and became a CPL (Certified Land Man) and worked in partnership with her sister-in-law, Jeanette Rorie Watson. Louise was a member of East Texas Land Men's Association, one of only seven women, in the state.

 

 

Sellers displays his excitement at receiving an index to the land records in Hopkins
County, that has been donated by Jeanette Watson, to accompany the Fox materials.

 

 

 

 

Louise was a "lifetime learner" and started taking courses at then East Texas State University and chose the courses that interested her. She had finally taken so many courses that her professors said that if she would declare a major, they could award her a degree. She earned her bachelors, masters, and a doctorate degree in Education. Her doctorate dissertation was on a new indexing system for chain of title research, making the system much easier for others, long before the industry entered the computer age.

 

Sellers explains this early map of the township of Sulphur Bluff,
that is in the Fox collection, and provides details of each of the properties.

 

 

 

 

 

"We're ecstatic to have these valuable records, maps, abstracts and other materials in our collection here at the Genealogical Library," expressed Sellers. "It's a lifetime of very detailed work that will prove to be an invaluable tool in people doing family research and learning about the history of our entire area of the state. Louise was an outstanding researcher and has loads of information to share in her collection of work!"

Thursday night's meeting, ended with those in attendance visiting with Sellers, and Fox's family, and with members discussing the upcoming "Diggin' Up Bones" Cemetery Walk, that is scheduled for October 10th, at 2:00 p.m., in the Sulphur Springs City Cemetery.

 

Ronny Glossup, President of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society encouraged everyone
to attend the Cemetery Walk, on Sunday, October 10th and even learn more about the history
of Hopkins County and her people.

 

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