Hood County Texas Genealogical Society

The following article about Susan Townsend Sears was written by Mary Whatley Clark and appeared in the Palo Pinto County Star in 1935.

Mrs. Susan Elizabeth Sears is one of Santo's oldest citizens. She is 91 years of age and is the mother of Bert Sears, well known Palo Pinto County resident. Mrs. Sears was born in Arkansas and came to Texas ahead of Price's army in 1863, when 19 years of age, settling in East Texas. These were chaotic years of the Civil War. Mrs. Sears knows what hardships are, too, because they were everyday occurrences then.

A major concern was food and clothing during these trying, history making days. Clothes were a meticulous undertaking. Cotton was spun into thread, then woven into cloth. Clothes were made by hand for all members of the family, and socks and stockings were knitted by hand. Cooking was done on the old fireplace and the humble cabin was lighted by home-made candles in the evening. Their cupboard was in danger of Yankee invasion every day and food was none too plentiful without this menace. So it was with relief that the family moved to Texas after her father's health made it imperative that he leave. Two brothers were killed in the war. Mrs. Sears recently gave her grandson a Masonic emblem which was made by a brother-in-law during the Civil War. The emblem is a small Bible made from gutta-percha, with a silver emblem.

Mrs. Sears married John Bryant Sears in 1875 in Granbury. They later moved to Palo Pinto County (late 1899). He died on their farm near Lipan in this county in 1900.

Mrs. Sears is an unusual Bible student, and is familiar with the writings of this great book. From a historical point of interest, she read Myers Ancient History in recent years and compared its facts with those of the Old Testament. She is a member of the Church of Christ.

Through an infection she suffered the loss of one eye 18 years ago, but despite this handicap has spent much spare time quilting and reading. Within the past year she has made two beautiful quilts which required hours of patient stitching by hand. The work is unusually neat and the stitches small and very uniform. Among her possessions is a hand-made quilt which her grandmother (Temperance Arnold Ross) gave her before the Civil War. This made from cotton which grew on her grandmother's farm and dyed in gay, brilliant hues, then pieced into a quilt of ancient design.

Mrs. Sears was quite a belle in her day. She still wears earrings in her ears which were pierced 85 years ago. She laughs about the hoop skirts she once wore, too, and the bustle, "however I did not wear such big ones," she added with a smile. "I did not go to the extremes like so many of the women did." When speaking about the old sunbonnet she said, "I've worn one to church many a time. A shaker bonnet, made of straw and cloth was smart enough to wear anywhere."

Mrs. Sears makes her home with her son, Bert Sears, and family of Santo. She has 3 living children, 23 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.

Allen Townsend and several of his children moved to East Texas in 1863. Son William A. Townsend moved to Hood County, TX about 1870. Allen Townsend and other children soon followed. Allen Townsend died in Hood County on January 2, 1897 and was buried in the Rough Creek Cemetery.

Susan Elizabeth Townsend Sears lived 36 years after her husband died. She moved from the family farm near Lipan to Santo, Texas in 1925. She died at the home of her son Bert Sears on February 2, 1936.

Lipan News - February 1936

Our community was made sad Saturday by the death of Mrs. Susan Elizabeth Sears, age ninety-one, which occurred at the home of her son, Bert Sears, of Santo.

After services conducted by Rev. B. J. Forbes of Weatherford at the Christian Church (Lipan), Sunday evening, she was laid to rest beside her husband who preceded her in death thirty-six years ago. "Grandmother" Sears as she was known to everyone had for many years been a resident of this place. She leaves many relatives and friends to mourn her passing.

She is survived by sons Andrew Sears of Oregon, Glenn Sears of Hale Center, and Bert Sears of Santo, with whom she was making her home; two step-children, Mrs. D. K. Glenn of Odessa and Witt Sears of Capitan, New Mexico.

The following out-of-town relatives were present for the funeral: W. G. Sears and wife, Hale Center; D. K. Glenn and wife and daughter of Odessa; Mrs. Inez Conner of Sweetwater; Mrs. Garland Porter of Wichita Falls; Miss Marie Sears of Italy; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Alexander of Fort Worth; Ted Sears of Stephenville; Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Doss, Fort Worth; Mrs. Sallie Gold, Misses Cora and Fannie Montgomery of Morgan Mill; Bert Sears and family and Hoyt Hendrick and family of Santo.

Mrs. R. B. Gilbert and Vaughn Sears of this place (Lipan) are grandchildren. The heartfelt sympathy of every one is extended to her children and loved ones.

1 Susan Elizabeth TOWNSEND b: August 24, 1844 in Clark Co, AR m: January 19, 1875 in Granbury, Hood Co., TX d: February 02, 1936 in Santo, Palo Pinto Co., TX Burial: Evergreen Cemetery at Lipan, TX

+ John Bryant SEARS b: November 14, 1836 in Wilkinson Co., GA d: January 05, 1900 in Lipan, Palo Pinto Co., TX Burial: Evergreen Cemetery at Lipan, TX

2 Infant Son # 1 SEARS b: 1876 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: 1876 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX Burial: Thorp Springs Cemetery, Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX

2 Infant Son #2 SEARS b: 1876 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: 1876 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX Burial: Thorp Springs Cemetery, Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX

2 Infant Son #3 SEARS b: 1877 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: 1877 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX Burial: Thorp Springs Cemetery, Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX

2 Infant Son #4 SEARS b: 1877 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: 1877 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX Burial: Thorp Springs Cemetery, Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX

2 Walter Glenn SEARS b: January 24, 1879 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: February 12, 1948 in Hale Center, Hale Co., TX Burial: Hale Center Cemetery, Hale Center, TX

+Mary Florence RIPPETOE b: January 16, 1880 in Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN m: July 31, 1898 in Hood Co., TX d: January 03, 1963 in Hale Center, Hale Co., TX Burial: Hale Center Cemetery, Hale Center, TX

2 Albert SEARS b: October 30, 1880 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: November 07, 1945 in Santo, Palo Pinto Co., TX Burial: North Santo Cemetery, Santo, Palo Pinto Co., TX

+Coleta Frances MONTGOMERY b: March 27, 1886 in Coalville, Palo Pinto Co., TX m: May 19, 1912 in Red Springs, Baylor Co., TX d: October 09, 1974 in Stephenville, Erath Co., TX Burial: North Santo Cemetery, Santo, Palo Pinto Co., TX

2 Daniel Cecil SEARS b: August 09, 1882 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: January 26, 1924 in Wyandott, Perkins Co., SD Burial: Ruby Cemetery, Zeona, SD

+Louise HELMS b: 1886 in Sweet Home, Lavaca Co., TX m: April 16, 1907 in Sturgis, SD d: September 10, 1919 in Aberdeen, SD Burial: Catholic Cemetery, Aberdeen, SD

2 Andrew W. SEARS b: July 21, 1885 in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX d: August 21, 1964 in Portland, OR Burial: Skyline Cemetery, Portland, OR

+Bertha A. BAYLISS b: June 08, 1889 in Patilo, Erath Co., TX m: February 22, 1905 d: March 06, 1907 in Lipan, Hood Co., TX Burial: Evergreen Cemetery at Lipan, TX

*2nd Wife of [3] Andrew W. SEARS:

+Nellie ATOR b: June 22, 1887 in Palo Pinto Co., TX m: January 21, 1908 d: May 17, 1970 in Beaverton, OR Burial: Sunset Cemetery, Portland, OR

*3rd Wife of [3] Andrew W. SEARS:

+Mary Alberta TISSUE b: July 10, 1900 m: 1937 in Corvallis, OR d: December 25, 1988 in Portland, OR Burial: Skyline Cemetery, Portland, OR

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