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Thomas Lovell
"Servant to prominent citizen"
1852 - 1911

Text and Vintage Photos
Courtesy Jim McCreadie and the Lovell Family
Thomas (Tom) Lovell was born May 5, 1852 at West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland. Tom was mentioned in the 1861 census as the 8-year old son of Edward and Bridget (McFadzean) Lovell. In the 1871 census, Tom is recorded as an 18-year old "Servant" at Millstonford Farm, West Kilbride.

On January 7, 1877, he married Theresa Begley in County Armagh, Ireland where they lived for at least four years. A son, Edward (Ed) was born in Ireland in November 1877, followed by a second son, Thomas (Tom Junior) in 1879.

Tom and his small family returned to Scotland c. 1881 and they had a daughter (Mary) born there in September of that year. In Dallas, she married Patrick Joseph Lenahan who was a contractor for the construction of Dallas' famed Magnolia Building. Mary taught at Bryan High School from 1906 to 1921 and was also the dean of discipline at the University of Colorado, in Boulder.
Dallas Magnolia Building  before Pegasus
The Magnolia Building before Pegasus arrived in 1934
TE Postcard Archives
Tom Lovell and family immigrated to USA in late 1881. The first located record of the Lovells in Texas was with the birth of Sarah ("Sadie") Frances who was born November of 1884 at Brownwood, Texas. In January 1887, Anne Lovell was born (probably in Brownwood). She later married Dr William Worthington Samuell who was considered one of the country's foremost surgeons. The "Dallas Morning News" of January 13, 1938 reported a park was to be "named for Dr. W. W. Samuell as a fitting memorial to commemorate the gift of several hundred thousand dollars worth of property to the city."

Tom built a home for his family at 1306 Cottage Street, Brownwood, Texas about 1889 and about three years later daughter (Teresa) was born.
Thomas Lovell
Thomas Lovell
Sedalia Thurmond Lovell
Sedalia Thurmond Lovell
Tom Lovell became a U.S. citizen in 1891. When his wife Teresa died in Denton in 1895, Tom waited a year before marrying Mrs. Seddie N. Thurmond. Mrs. Thurmond was born in Sedalia, Missouri and was named for that town, although she was known as "Seddie" to family and friends.

Seddie had four children from a previous marriage; Prairie, Tom W., Fred and Mamie. Family lore states that Mamie married a Creek Indian named Bunch (sic) Miller* who owned a large ranch in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Children from Tom and Seddie's marriage were: John Jackson and Ellen.
John Jackson and Ellen LOVELL on horse buggy, circa 1904
"John Jackson and Ellen Lovell circa 1904. Figure at right is probably half-brother Fred Thurmond. As Director, Public Relations, National Tuberculosis Association, Ellen Lovell was presented to President Harry S Truman on at least two occasions; Tuesday, November 15, 1949 at 3:30PM and Thursday, November 16, 1950 at 12:15PM" - Jim McCreadie
After a lingering illness of three months with a form of paralysis, Thomas passed away on Friday, September 8, 1911 at his home on West Oak Street, Denton.

His obituary in the September 14, 1911 edition of the "Dallas Morning News" described him as "one of Denton's prominent citizens, being well known all over the state of Texas as head of the firm Tom Lovell & Sons, Contractors and Builders."

Tom & Teresa Lovell are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery of Denton, Texas.

Works of Thomas Lovell:

(as compiled from newspaper sources)
County Courthouses:
Denton
Hardeman
Brazoria
Hill
Runnels
Brown
Childress
Hamilton
Coryell
McLennan
Brewster

Post Offices:
Leadville, Colorado
Enid, Oklahoma,
San Antonio, Utah
Ogden, Utah and
Provo, Utah

Federal Buildings:
Lander, Wyoming and
Port Arthur, Texas

County Jails:
Williamson County
Hill County
Morris County and
Glasscock County

State Capitol

Phoenix, Arizona

Also St John's Episcopal Church and the family home at 1306 Cottage Street, Brownwood
Williamson County old jail, Georgetown  texas
Williamson County old jail in Georgetown
Photo by John Troesser 9-04
Forum
*The ”Bunch” (sic) Miller noted in this story is Bluford West Miller. He was the son of Bluford Miller, a Cherokee rancher in the Creek Nation, and Lizzie Anderson, a Creek (Muskogee) tribal member. His ranch, the IX, was founded by his grandfather Rider Fields after the removal of the 5 Civilized Tribes to Indian Territory, and is located south of Tulsa, in present-day Okmulgee County, OK. It is still active today and run by his descendents... - Regards, Steven Miller, Austin, April 12, 2008

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