Isabella Atkins Rector (1808-1899)

Isabella Atkins Rector quietly passed away on December 30, 1899 at the home of her son-in-law Les Talkington in McKinney, Texas.  She was born near Crab Orchard, Kentucky on September 10, 1808.  When she was approximately four years old, she moved with her parents to Missouri, where she grew to womanhood and married Charles Rector.  Charles was a miller in Boonsville when they married, on October 11, 1828.  This union was a most happy one which lasted fifty two years, or until the death of Mr. Rector, Dec. 21, 1880. 

 

In the fall of 1855, the family emigrated to Texas and settled on what is now known as the old Fields farm, nine miles west of McKinney, removing in about 1864 to near Little Elm, Denton County.  Uncle Charles Rector, as he was known, was a cattleman, a leading citizen and an Odd Fellow, being largely instrumental in putting the McKinney lodge of that order on its present successful footing.

 

At the time of her death,  she was a member of Cottonwood Rebekah Lodge No. 59 and had been a faithful member of the Methodist church for 75 years.  She was a loving wife, devoted mother and a good and kind neighbor.  Many are the charitable deeds and kindly acts recorded of her during her long and busy life.  Until the last she retained both her mental and physical faculties to a remarkable degree for one of her advanced age, though in recent years her mind lived wholly in the past.

Seven children and a large number of grand children and great-grandchildren survive her.  The children are William H. Rector of Hartfield, California; Mrs. Mary Woods of Bunceton, Missouri; Ed Rector of Arlington, Texas, Doc. Rector of Veal's Station, Texas,  Mrs. Lee Talkington of McKinney, Texas, and Mrs. Lou Fields of Rockhill, Texas.  Nat Rector, a wealthy cattleman, died in Jack county, in 1884.

Funeral services were conducted at the residence Saturday at noon by Rev. E. H. Casey, after which the corpse was conveyed by loving hands to Uncle Kellis Quisenberry's near Lebanon that evening and next day to the family  burying ground at Bethel Cemetery, where the interment was made in the presence of a large concourse of people.  Rev. Wm. Allen of Eurida, assisted  by Rev. Clifton of the Bethel circuit, conducted brief services at the grave.

 

+++ Based on an obituary in the Houston Daily Post, 1 Jan 1900.  Transcriber is not a relative and has no further information regarding this family.