The Root of Frank Durant's McCandless Family

James Alexander McKandles and Mary "Mamie" Reeder McKandles

Descendants of James Alexander McKandles

Generation No. 1

1.  JAMES ALEXANDER MCKANDLES  (JAMES MADISON MCCANLESS, JAMES FARMER, JOHN, JAMES A., JAMES) was born Feb 1840 in Marshall Co. AL, and died Feb 18, 1891 in Runnells Co. TX.  He married MARY FULTON REEDER March 14, 1861 in Leon Co. TX.  She was born May 20, 1846 in Lowndes Co. MS, and died suddenly with Pneumonia on Feb 25, 1909 in Encino, NM.

Notes for JAMES ALEXANDER MCKANDLES:
James served in two units during the Civil War.  First as a private in the 26th TX Cav (G. H. Black) and later as a 1st Lt in Co A, 35th TX Cav (Likins).
 

2nd Lieutenant James Alexander McKandless, statement taken from old records and statement of his widow June 19th, 1896.  Born February 29th, 1840 in Marshal county, Alabama.  Enlisted in Confederate service from Leon county, Texas 1861, in which he served the entire war, which company became company A., 35th Texas cavalry.  Moved from Salado, Texas where he had resided for a number of years, to Runnels county January 1891, bringing a stock of goods with him expecting to put up a store at Wingate, Runnels county, Texas where he had already bought land, but sickened and died at Ballinger on February 19th, 1891 and was buried in the Ballinger cemetery.  Widow living and family of children, located at Wingate.

Children of JAMES MCKANDLES and MARY REEDER are:
 i. ZELDA MCKANDLES, b. Feb 11, 1862, Jewett, TX; d. April 15, 1907, Leon Co. TX;
    + WILLIAM BETHEL DURANT, Oct 4, 1887, Jewett, TX; d. April 28, 1907, Leon Co. TX.

Notes for WILLIAM BETHEL DURANT:
William was Zelda's school teacher when they married.  She was 15 years old at the time.

In March 1882 William was appointed temporary postmaster for Jewett, TX.

In the summer of 1882, William moved his family to Salado, Bell Co. TX where he taught in the Salado College for four years.

 ii. FLORENCE MCKANDLES, b. Aug 25, 1863, Jewett, TX; d. Aug 8, 1867, Jewett, TX.
 iii. POCAHONTAS MCKANDLES, b. Sept 11, 1865, Jewett, TX; d. Sept 10, 1952,
     Centerville, Leon Co. TX; m. MIRABEAU EUGENE COLEY, Aug 24, 1888, Centerville, TX.

Notes for MIRABEAU EUGENE COLEY:
Gene was the postmaster of Centerville TX for 14 years.  Later involved in the mercantile business.

 iv. JOHN ALEXANDER MCKANDLES, b. Sept 2, 1868, Jewett, TX; d. Aug 8, 1872, Jewett,
      TX.
 v. BUNK MCKANDLES, b. April 2, 1871, Jewett, TX; d. Dec 25, 1950, Odessa, TX;
     + DORA MAY COUCH, Nov 12, 1896, Leon Co. TX.
 vi.  CLIFTON MCKANDLES, b. Jan 20, 1873, Jewett, TX; d. Jewett, TX.
 vii. BLANCH MCKANDLES, b. Mar 3, 1875, Jewett, TX; d. May 29, 1885, Jewett, TX.
 viii. WEBB MCKANDLES, b. Aug 20, 1876, Jewett, TX; d. Nov 16, 1940, Bandera Co. TX;
       +.MARY EMMA WHITE, Oct 20, 1901, Wingate, TX.
 ix. MARY F. MCKANDLES, b. Nov 30, 1878, Jewett, TX; d. June 12, 1941, Ballinger, Runnels
      Co. TX;
      +.EB J. CATHEY, December 07, 1898.

Notes for MARY F. MCKANDLES:
Mary was the postmaster in Runnels Co, TX from 1892 until 1899.

 x. STONEWALL JACKSON MCKANDLES, b. Oct 22, 1880, Jewett, TX; d. Oct 22, 1880.
 xi. JOE JOHNSON MCKANDLES, b. Oct 22, 1880, Jewett, TX; d. Oct 22, 1880, Jewett, TX.
 xii. GENERAL LEE MCKANDLES, b. July 6, 1883, Jewett, TX; d. Nov 4, 1924, Electra,
      Wichita Co. TX;
      + (1) OLIVIA HOLLEY, April 1, 1903; b. 1888, Atlanta, TX; d. July 20, 1909, Loraine,
      Mitchell Co. TX;
      +.(2) LILLIE MAY MILLER, Nov 7, 1914, Memphis, TX.

Notes for GENERAL LEE MCKANDLES:
Burned to death in a fire at his house in Electra, TX.  He apparantly added gas to an oil stove by mistake and it exploded burning the house to the ground.

 xiii. ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON MCKANDLES, b. Oct 8, 1886, Jewett, TX; d. May 10,
       1951, Odessa, TX;
       + VANA MIZE, Dec 21, 1913, Leon Co. TX; d. Odessa, TX.

If you think you can offer documentation for any data here, have corrections or can link your own line to this data contact Ron McCandless or email the McCandless email list at McCandless-L@rootsweb,com