Thomas "Tom" Jefferson Chisum

From Our Island Heritage, Vol. 2, 1977, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith:

Thomas Jefferson "Tom" Chisum

Thomas "Tom" Jefferson Chisum was born in Limestone County, Texas on January 3, 1852, son of Isham Russell Chisum and Mary Walling.  Tom was eight years old when his father died.  Due to this, plus the hardship of the war, Tom's boyhood and educational opportunities were narrowed.  Fortunately the duties of the farm and the care of the stock interested him more than anything else.  By the time he was sixteen years old, he had become a livestock trader.

In 1876, Tom brought a bunch of horses to Sicily Island to sell, but this venture was unsuccessful because of crop failure that year.  As a result of this he found himself $1,500 in debt.  Although it took the hard work of five years to accomplish it, the debt was paid in full.

After deciding to remain at Sicily Island, Tom Chisum, in partnership with his brother, opened a store at the end of The Texas Road, later moving to Florence (now Sicily Island).  Later, he built the store pictured below, which was located where the old Graves' Super Store building stands today.  The Chisum store faced the railroad tracks.  This was the center of the village's activity at that time for here was also located H. M. Peniston's gin and sawmill. 

As time passed, the village seemed to turn toward the present Main Street section.  So, growing with the times, Tom Chisum moved his store to this section and built what was later to become known as the Yancey Brothers Store as he sold out to them in 1914.

After selling the store, Tom Chisum continued to buy and sell livestock and to operate his farm.  He was a very successful business man and farmer.  He acquired considerable property around the Island and was one of the organizers for the Sicily Island State Bank and was the first Vice President.

On March 23, 1881, Tom and Catherine "Kate" Smith were married by Ed Lovelace, a Justice of the Peace, in the home of Kate's parents, James Luther and Henrietta Smith.  Witnesses of this marriage were J. G. Kostmayer, A. L. Hopkins and C. W. Fairbanks.

























After their marriage they leased Dr. Henry Peck's place, Battleground, and farmed it for several years.  Then they moved to the Green-Lovelace Place (now known as The Chisum Place).

The Chisum Place (formerly Green-Lovelace Place)

Later, Kate wanted to move to town so Tom got his father-in-law to build a house.  This house was built by the same plan as Kate's childhood home.


Tom and Kate were the parents of the following five children:

Thomas Jefferson, Jr., 1881-1882

Mary Eva, 1883-1955 (m. Dr. Charles J. Gordon)

Jessie E, 1884-1962 (m. John Grafton McNair)

Edward Walling, 1886-1955 (m. Nellie Elizabeth Ballard, sister to Laura Eveline)

Emmett DeWitt, 1888-1949 (m. Laura Eveline Ballard, sister to Nellie Elizabeth)

Tom Chisum was instrumental in bringing from Texas his brother, Isham Russell, Jr., a nephew, Isham Alfonso "Al" Steele, a niece and her husband, Lena and James "Jim" McLelland.  They were all successful in their business ventures here and acquired extensive land holdings.
 
It is remembered by his grandson that Tom Chisum often remarked that when he came to Sicily Island, there were only twelve white families living between Harrisonburg and Wisner.  Among these families were the Holsteins, the Lovelaces, the Pecks, the Penistons, the Bondurants and the  Doniphans.

Thomas Jefferson Chisum - Record of Death (father's first name incorrect)

Tom Chisum and his nephew, Al Steele, both passed away on December 4, 1934.  The following is a transcription of their obituaries:

Obituary – Thomas Jefferson Chisum and Isham Alfonso Steele – December 4, 1934

Sicily Island, LA ---Two of Catahoula Parish’s most valuable citizens, Thomas Jefferson Chisum, 81 and Isham Alfonso Steele, 64 died here Tuesday morning.

Mr. Chisum and Mr. Steele came to Sicily Island 45 years ago from the same town in Texas to build themselves into prominence among people of this locality.

Mr. Steele, who was a nephew of Mr. Chisum, died at 3 o’clock Tuesday morning and Mr. Chisum died just three hours later.  Mr. Steele was a prominent merchant and landowner having started his career in life working in the store of his uncle and after working several years, he went in business for himself and acquired success as a business man and most valuable citizen.  He is survived by his wife, three daughters: Mrs. Bruce Edmonds, Mrs. Wesley Ogden, and Miss Juanita Steele of Sicily Island and one foster-son, Ted Steele of Houston, Texas.

Funeral services were held at the home in Sicily Island, Wednesday afternoon with Masonic ceremonies at the grave in Pine Hill cemetery where interment was made.  Rev. E. W. Day, pastor of the Methodist church here officiated.

Mr. Chisum came to Sicily Island more than 45 years ago riding horseback, driving a drove of horses which he sold after arriving here at a loss.  Mr. Chisum opened a mercantile store here a number of years after he came here and operated it until 1912 when he retired from the mercantile business.  He acquired several hundred acres of land during his climb up life’s ladder.

Mr. Chisum, as did Mr. Steele,  came here from Thornton, in Limestone County, Texas.

Mr. Chisum assisted in the organization of the Sicily Island State Bank and was vice-president of the institution at the time of his death.  Among the various enterprises in which he engaged was that of stock raising, which he took great pride in and his opinions along this line were considered authoritative.

During his many years of residence at Sicily Island, Mr. Chisum was a useful and public-spirited citizen, an encourager of local enterprises and a supporter of sound business institutions. He was a charter member of Keystone Masonic Lodge here as was his nephew, Mr. Steele.  Both uncle and nephew and their families were members of the Methodist church here.

Mr. Chisum is survived by his widow, two sons, E. W. Chisum and E. D. Chisum of Sicily Island and two daughters, Mrs. C. J. Gordon and Mrs. J. G. McNair of Sicily Island.

Funeral services were held at Pine Hill church at 10 o’clock Wednesday morning with interment in Pine Hill cemetery.  Rev. E. W. Day, local Methodist pastor officiating.

Parents of Thomas Jefferson Chisum:  Isham Russell Chisum and Mary "Polly" Walling Chisum; both buried in Tidwell Cemetery, Thornton, Limestone County, Texas

Mary Polly Walling Chisum

Catherine "Kate" Smith Chisum and Thomas "Tom" Jefferson Chisum, both buried in Old Pine Hill Cemetery, Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana