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KEOUN

CALVERT KEOUN was born on 1 August 1922 (1) in Marshall, Texas. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma. On 24 December 1941, in Sacramento, California, she married Carr P. Collins, Jr. (see Collins), who was then a Lieutenant in the Air Force. After World War II, they settled in Dallas, Texas.

She has made and is making an outstanding record as a civic leader.(2-3) Calvert's election, in 1957, to the City Council of Dallas was in recognition of devotion to her community, her family, and her friends. This was the first time a woman had been selected for this honor and she has received much praise for her work and ability in this responsible position.

Calvert was appointed Secretary of the Linz Award Selection Committee and was the first lady Director appointed for the Dallas Legal Aid Society. She is also a Director of the Junior League of Dallas. Calvert has always been an active worker in the Community Chest, Red Cross, Cancer Crusade, and the many other worthy charities.

Her capabilities are unlimited and she was asked and produced two movie shorts used nationally for educational and charity work. The first film was used in recruiting teachers and the second movie was designed to inform the public on the problem of mentally retarded children.

Calvert has been a wonderful and devoted mother. She has always been active in activities of her children and has served as President of the P.T.A., a life member of the Texas Council of Parents and Teachers; as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and guild chairman in church work; and an active participant in Cub Scouting and Bluebird work with her children.

The children of Calvert and Carr are: Carr P. Collins, III, "Kit," born on 23 July 1943 in Austin, Texas; Richard Howell Collins, "Dick," born 1 June 1947 in Dallas, Texas; and Christy Calvert Collins, born 10 April 1950 in Dallas, Texas. Calvert is the daughter of

THOMAS HOWELL KEOUN, "Ike" or "Bud," born on 14 May at Red Land, Louisiana. On 31 December 1917,(4) at Dallas, Texas, he married Lorita Moore, daughter of Richard F. Moore (see Moore). T. H. graduated in Pharmacy from Tulane University, number one student in his class, and became a partner in a drug store in Marshall, Texas. He later left the drug business to set up his own music and furniture store. He has served many years as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in Marshall.

They are the parents of two daughters: Calvert (see above), born 1 August 1922 and married Carr P. Collins, Jr.; and Kay Keoun,(5) born 9 January 1932 in Marshall, Texas,(1) and married Kenneth Merritt on 6 March 1954 at Marshall, Texas. Kay and Kenneth live in Dallas and are the parents of two sons: Randall Charles, born 10 December 1954 and Thomas Keoun born 20 March 1956.

T. H. is the son of

JAMES BRYANT KEOUN, born on 19 August 1858 at Montgomery, Alabama, and died on 11 January 1945 in Shreveport, Louisiana.(6) On 17 October 1883 at Spring Hill, Louisiana, he married Tommie Elizabeth Howell (see Howell) who was born on 24 April 1866 in Webster Parish, Louisiana, and died on 18 May 1930 at Plain Dealing, Louisiana. They are both buried in the Salem Cemetery, Red Land, Louisiana.

James came to Louisiana with his parents in 1865 and was raised in the Spring Hill, Louisiana-Welcome, Arkansas area. James and family moved to Red Land on 4 December 1903,(1) and later moved to Plain Dealing, Louisiana.(7) He was a farmer and lived in Northwest Louisiana all of his life.

James and Elizabeth were the parents of: Robert, born 15 July and married Grace Christian; Emily Lou who died in infancy; Thomas Howell (see above), born 14 May and married Lorita Moore; James Bryant, born 20 August 1889, died 2 February 1941, and married Helen Snodgrass Hargrove; Larkin Craig (Dick), born 4 December and married Grace Calhoun; Eunice Vashti married Ardis James Gamble; Eugene Field, born 8 December 1895 and died on 18 November 1911; Willie Ada, born 26 November and married James Clyde Allums; Evadne Hildredth, "Eva," born 14 December and married Hartwell Marion Doty; Winnie Mae, born 28 January and married Luther Edgar Allums; Ena Allerne, born 12 July and married John Lund; Dwight Leon, born 19 March and married Willo Mullenix; and Alta Christine, born 29 April and married Emory Clinton Browne.

James was the son of

THOMAS KEOUN, born 21 May 1831 in Abbeville, South Carolina, and died on 16 January 1911(9) at Spring Hill, Louisiana. He married in Ft. Deposit, Alabama, Mary Jane Johnson Who was born 26 October 1836 and died 28 October 1889,(9) at Spring Hill, Louisiana. They are both buried at Spring Hill Branch Cemetery in Spring Hill. Mary Jane was the daughter 0f Nehemiah Johnson who was born in 1799 and died in Spring Hill in 1875 and his wife who was a "Martin." Mary Jane had a brother named William Johnson.

Thomas and Mary lived in Ft. Deposit, Alabama, where he worked for the railroad. He served in the Civil, War with the Alabama troops.

All of the Keouns decided to move to Texas after the war and Thomas and Mary Jane decided to visit her parents, who earlier had moved to the Louisiana-Arkansas area. They liked the area and decided to stay in Spring Hill, Louisiana. The trip was made by going to New Orleans and on up to Shreveport by boat. From there they went overland to Spring Hill.

Thomas Keoun had a good blacksmith shop and a small farm. He continued his blacksmith work from the time of his apprenticeship in Alabama until a few years before his death. He was deaf from the time of early manhood. A man of large stature, about 6' 1" in height and at times weighed about 200 pounds. Thomas was a devout member 0f the Methodist Church and a consistent student of the Bible.

The children of Thomas and Mary were: James Bryant (see above), born 19 August 1858, died on 11 January 1945, and married Tommie Elizabeth Howell; Loula; Robert A.; Dr. Thomas Nehemiah, born 7 February 1868; and Julia. Thomas was the son of

THOMAS KEOUN married Nancy Beaty (see Beaty), in 1822, in Armagh County, Ireland, near a market place called Newry. They sailed for America in 1825 from Belfast, Ireland, and settled in Abbeville, South Carolina. The name was originally McKeoun but the Mac was dropped when they settled in America. Thomas is thought to have died in Alabama about 1863.

Some time after their children were born, Thomas and Nancy moved from South Carolina to Alabama and settled near the present town of Ft. Deposit.

After the Civil War, the Keouns all sold out at public auction in Alabama and moved to Texas, settling in Smith County, near the present town of Winona. Nancy is said to have died at Starville (Winona), Texas, about 1875.(1)

The Keouns were very clannish and after her husband died, she served as the head of the family. As the story goes, Thomas Keoun was the handsome son of the lodgekeeper on the Beaty estate. He and Nancy fell in love and married against her parents' wishes. Because of this friction in the family, they decided to emigrate to America.(10)

The children of Thomas and Nancy were: Robert, born in Ireland in 1824 and married Mary Jane Sheleto; James, married Fannie Clark; Ann, married Biley Reese; Thomas (see above), born in South Carolina 21 May 1831, died 16 January 1911, and married Mary Jane Johnson; Mary Elizabeth, born 14 February 1835, died 20 March 1879, and married Bennett Wesley Rogers in 1855; San1Iny, died in infancy; Isabel, died in infancy; Amanda, married John Reid; Nancy, married Eldridge Argenbright; and Margaret Lou, married John Byrd in 1870.

Thomas was the son of

THOMAS KEOUN married a Mary. Their children were Thomas (see above), married Nancy Beaty in 1822 in Ireland; James; Robert; and Mary.

Ref:

1. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin. Texas.

2. Newspaper Articles. Dallas Morning News. Dallas. Texas. 18 April 1957 and 2 May 1957.

3. Newspaper Articles. Dallas Times Herald. Dallas. Texas. 13 December 1956. 17 February 1957, and 17 April 1957.

4. Marriage License. Harrison County. Texas.

5. Newspaper Articles. Society Sections. Dallas. Texas. October. November. December 1953.

6. Caddo-Shreveport Health Unit. Shreveport, Louisiana.

7. Letters-Mrs. E. C. Browne. Shreveport, Louisiana.

8. Salem Cemetery. Red Land (near Spring Hill), Louisiana.

9. Spring Branch Cemetery. Spring Hill. Louisiana.

10. Letter-Alma Thompson Dickson. Dallas. Texas.