James Causby UMPHRESS * Julia Carolina VEAZEY

James Causby Umphress was born in Tallapoosa County, Alabama on 19 May 1841. He was raised on his father's farm and enlisted in the Confederate army and was a member of Company K, Thirty-eighth Tennessee regiment. He served until the surrender and participated in the battles at Shiloh, Perryville, Kentucky, and Chickamauga. He was wounded on 20 July 1864 and placed in the hospital at Augusta, Georgia, until the following December when he rejoined his old command. He served the army as a private and a sergeant. On December 6, 1866 in Tallapoosa County, he married Julia Carolina Veazey, daughter of George W. Veazey, born 29 April 1845 in Georgia. In 1870, he moved to Texas along with his parents. He lived in Collin County before settling down in Grayson County. He was still alive when a biographical sketch was made of him in 1893.

He died on 30 July 1917 in Van Alstyne. Julia died on 5 November 1932 in Van Alstyne. They are buried in the Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Texas, as are several siblings of James and Carolina.

Found in Grayson County, Texas on 1880 census. Also living with them was Carolina's sister, Josie.

James was an active member of Van Alstyne Methodist Episcopal Church, the Masonic Lodge and was a founding member of Columbia College Board. James C. Umphress's Victorian house built for his wife Julia Caroline in 1903, is preserved and has an historical marker. The house was later owned by his daughter Maude Umphress Taylor, who lived there until 1974.

View the marker's contents here.

Children:

• Emma UMPHRESS, born 24 February 1868 Alabama, died 25 April 1949 McKinney, Collin County, Texas, buried Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, married Judge H. L. Davis
  • Don Oran DAVIS, born 25 September 1889 McKinney, Collin County, Texas, occupation post master, died 16 December 1962 Wysong Hospital, McKinney, buried Pecan Grove Cemetery, married
• John UMPHRESS, born 1872, married Eula Cannon
• Mary UMPHRESS, born about 1874
• Edmund UMPHRESS, born 1874, died 1875, buried Van Alstyne Cemetery
• Lymon UMPHRESS, born 16 April 1877 Alabama, occupation banker, died 18 November 1932 Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, married on 15 November 1905 in Van Alstyne to  Sallie Mae Carter; Sallie born 13 July 1884, daughter of C. E. and Susan L. ??? Carter, died 1 July 1966 Shady Oaks, Sherman, Grayson County, Texas; both buried Van Alstyne Cemetery
  • Carter UMPHRESS, born about 1925
• Infant UMPHRESS, born and died 1880, buried Van Alstyne
• James UMPHRESS Jr., born 1881, died 1884, buried Van Alstyne
• Dixie Belle UMPHRESS, born 18 April 1884 Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, died 29 November 1950 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, married Lester L. Henderson
  • Elizabeth HENDERSON, born 20 December 1907 Texas, died 3 June 1969 Baylor Hospital, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, buried Van Alstyne Cemetery, never married
• Sallie Maud UMPHRESS, born 14 March 1886, died 22 April 1977, married Spencer Leslie Taylor; Spencer born 11 February 1887 Grayson County, Texas, son of John Nelson Taylor and Julia Hatfield, occupation banker at First National Bank in Van Alstyne, died 18 February 1943 Medical Arts Hospital, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; both buried Van Alstyne Cemetery

Parents:

• Edmund UMPHRESS * Sallie Sarah CANADA
• George W. VEAZEY * Mary CARDWELL

NOTES: Information on family came from Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, Chicago, F.A. Battey & Company, 1889, pg.848.

Page updated February 4, 2007