Darthulia Beck MILLSAP

December 2, 1864 - June 7, 1928

*Obituary
Abilene Morning Reporter-News: Rotan, Texas, June 9, 1928.

Mrs. D.B. Millsap, Born Near Albany County 64 Years Ago, Is Buried at Rotan; Ran Own Ranch For 20 Years

Marking the passing of another of the few remaining early-day West Texans, the funeral of Mrs. Darthulia Beck Millsap, 64, here Friday afternoon was held by Rev. I.N. Alvis, Haskell, one of the first ministers to carry on active church work in this section of the state. Rev. Will Priddy, Abilene, Pastor of the Highland Baptist Church, of which organization the deceased was a member, assisted in the services, which were at the Rotan Baptist Church. Internment was in Belvieu Cemetery.

Mrs. Millsap died Thursday night at the home of her only daughter, Mrs. J.R. Green, in this city, after having been in bad health for more than a year.

Mrs. Millsap came to Fisher County in 1882 with her husband, Roston Whatley Millsap, who died in 1904 (with her brothers and families, Jesse J. Hittson and William Earl Hittson. They arrived three years before the organization of the county. She lived in the country ever since, having been on the of largest marketers of beef cattle during that time.

Palo Pinto Pioneer

She was a member of a pioneer family of ranch people. Her father, John Hittson, a native of Tennessee, came to Texas and settled in Robertson County in 1854. Shortly afterward he moved west and in 1857 helped organize Palo Pinto County, and was the first sheriff of that county. (His father, Jesse Hittson, was the first treasurer from 1857-1861).

The pioneering instinct was strong with Hittson and after serving a term as sheriff, carried on in connection with his ranching interests. He established a ranch on Hubbard Creek at a point between where Albany and Breckenridge are now located. It was at this far advanced outpost of civilization, the farthest west ranch then being operated in this part of Texas, that Mrs. Millsap was born, December 7, 1864. Her father operated in Shackelford, Callahan, and Stephens counties for a number of years and about 1870 moved to Colorado. After his death in that state, in 1879 (1880, his family returned to the Palo Pinto county home and it was there that Mr. and Mrs. Millsap were married May 18, 1882. (Roston Whatley Millsap was the brother of Donnie Millsap Hittson, wife of Jesse J. Hittson). Immediately following they moved to Fisher County. Mr. Hittson moved to Colorado because of the threats of Indians, with whom he had frequently fought. They had preyed seriously upon his cattle (and family).

The funeral was attended by old-timers from several West Texas counties. Surviving Mrs. Millsap are her daughter, Mrs. J.R. Green of this city; five grandchildren: Mrs. J.C. Watson, Abilene; Misses Darthulia and Frances Green and Hittson and James A. Green, Rotan; three great grandchildren, Lena Frances and Dorothy Ann Watson, Abilene, and John Ross Hale, Rotan.

Other Survivors

In addition four sisters and two brothers of the deceased are living. They are: Mrs. Mary F. Hayes, Los Angeles, Cal., Jesse J. Hittson, Palo Pinto County; Mrs. Martha J. Cranmer, Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Selena V. Moore, Fort Worth; W. E. Hittson , Rotan and Mrs. Frances Brown, Denver, Colo.

Mrs. Millsap had been a member of the Baptist Church for 40 years and was also a member of the Rotan Chapter of the Eastern Star. That order had charge of services at the grave.

Contributed on 4/11/21 by texasfindagraver
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Record #: 407980

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