Ezra Smith McMullen (1873-1946)
Son of John Liner McMullen
Ezra S. McMullen (1873-1946) is shown above in the center of
attention, just where he liked to be. The eldest son of John Liner McMullen,
Ezra was an educated man and very much enjoyed the written word. He
obtained a medical license from the State of Texas, Burnett County in
1901. Ezra then became a border guard along the Rio Grande in Rio Grande
City, Texas where he lived much of his adult life. Later on, Ezra and many
of his kinfolk had family reunions around the little town of Center Point,
Texas, where the above photo was taken, abt. 1940. Back row, l. to r., is
Elora Jane Leach, Lloyd Victor Mathis, Duane McMullen, Sally Cleo
Mathis,
June McMullen, Earl Leach and Dorothy Lou Mathis. In the front is
Jacob
Alfred McMullen and brother John Liner McMullen, sons of Dean M. McMullen.
One of the hallmarks of Ezra McMullen's life was his generosity
with his family. The left photograph below shows a proud Ezra holding two
fresh high school graduates. The one on the left is my mother, Dorothy Lou
(Mathis) Childress (1922-2000), while the girl on the right is Eileen
Thurman,
niece of Ezra's wife Ida Ellis. In the case of Dorothy Lou, Ezra took her
in as a ward after both her parents died when she was but fifteen years
old. I'm unsure what Eileen's situation was, but she gave Ezra a run for
his money. In one of his many family letters, he railed against her
impertinence and insouciance, being particularly aggravated at her smoking and
coffee drinking habits. Eileen was, however, recognized by her Rio Grande
City classmates as a rebel with a cause, as she was elected class president.
Eileen kept in touch with the McMullen clan through the years,
often communicating with Lloyd V. Mathis and Dorothy Mathis Childress. The
photograph on the below right was taken around 1942, inscribed on the back, "Jim
Big Boy, age 3 months, compliments of Eileen."
The first photo below shows a contented Ezra McMullen (probably after
the graduation of Dorothy and Eileen) and his wife Ida Gertrude Ellis (1874-1953), along with
two of
their pets. Ezra is also shown in the third photo below, wearing his
Border Patrol uniform. The last entry is a pamphlet published by Dr. Ezra
McMullen in which he espoused a dietary plan designed to help the obese. Hmmm...
(Click on the thumbnail sketches below to see enlarged
views.)
Ezra Smith McMullen was, in fact, a licensed medical
practitioner in the great state of Texas, as the following license
demonstrates. Further to that point, here's an old class photo of Ezra and
his fellow students at the Sam Houston College in Huntsville, likely taken
around the turn of the century:
Click
here to go to the Childress/Mathis Family Tree data on Roots Web for notes
on the above individuals.
More McMullen Ancestor Photos:
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