James C Earle 4/8/1829 – 1/24/1908

Another Pioneer Passes Away.
Last Friday morning at 5 o’clock Mr. J. C. Earle died in this city, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. T. C. Gray. Pneumonia, coupled with the natural infirmities of age, was the cause of death. Funeral services were conducted at Earle’s Chapel cemetery, several miles west of town, Friday afternoon, being attended by a large gathering of neighbors and friends of the deceased.

Mr. Earle was born in Jackson County, Alabama, April 8, 1829, and was therefore nearly 79 years of age. He was the son of Elijah Earle, and came with his father’s family to Texas in 1846, settling a few miles west of what is now the town of Jacksonville. At that time, Larissa was the only town in Cherokee County, and Mr. Earle’s nearest neighbor lived several miles away, the county being in a wild and unsettled condition. Elijah Earle lived until December 30, 1880, and was buried January 1, 1881 at what is now Earle’s Chapel. He previously donated a tract of land for a church and cemetery, and had carved his name on a tree where he wished to be buried.

J. C. Earle was married in April 1851 to Miss Matilda Benge, and 9 children were born to the union, 7 of whom are still living. They are as follows: Mrs. Margaret Gover, of Jacksonville, Mrs. Mary Elliot of California, M. L. Earle, Mrs. Susan Trantham, J. N. Earle, Mrs. Amanda Gray and W. B. Earle of Jacksonville. Two of the children are dead – Mrs. Nanie Hensley and William Earle. Mrs. Earle died December 14, 1905, being at the time of her death a little over 79 years of age. The married life of this aged couple covered a period of more than 54 years. No doubt many hardships were experienced by the Earle family when they first settled in Cherokee County, but they also enjoyed rare opportunities and were not slow to take advantage of them. As a result of keen foresight and economic habits formed during his early life, Mr. Earle accumulated quite a bit of property. He was always considered one of the leading citizens of his community, and was highly respected by all who knew him.

Family Members
 Parents
Elijah Earle 1804–1880
Maxey M. Blanchet Earle 1811–1853

Spouse
Matilda Benge Earle 1826–1905

Siblings
Leonidas Lafayette Earle 1860–1924

Half Siblings
 John C. Earle 1854–1931
Rufus Clark Earle 1856–1943
Albert Franklin Earle 1858–1932

Children
 Margaret Catherine Earle Gover 1852–1925
Mary Elizabeth Earle Elliott 1854–1936
Martin Luther Earle 1856–1932
Nancy Jane Earle Hensley 1858–1897
Susan Agness Earle Trantham 1860–1914
James Newton Earle 1862–1937
Amanda Louisa Earle Gray 1868–1967
Walter Byron Earle 1872–1913

Inscription
 “Born in Jackson Co., Al., For 55 years we dwelt together….:
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