Posted on 03/04/2005 2:54:42 PM PST by Racehorse
CONROE, Texas — Viva McGary McComb, a descendant of a Battle of San Jacinto soldier and a Texas legislator who helped establish the University of Texas, has died. She was 110.
Born in Houston on March 29, 1894, McComb died Thursday, just days before the Conroe Pan American Round Table, which she founded in 1949, planned to recognize her as the oldest living Texan at its state convention in El Paso this weekend.
"The Pan American Round Table was one of her great loves," said Jeanette Defee, one of five representatives of the Conroe chapter. "She was a brilliant woman, who was well-read and enjoyed traveling."
McComb's life spanned 20 U.S. presidents. She was married to William Perry McComb, a lawyer and engineer.
One of her grandfathers, Isaac McGary, fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and his name is on the San Jacinto monument.
Her maternal grandfather, Dr. Pleasant Williams Kittrell, served in the Texas Legislature and wrote the bill that established the University of Texas. The bill was signed by Texas Gov. E.M. Pease in February 1858.
Joe Goodspeed, pastor of Longmire Road Church of Christ — of which McComb was a founding member — said McComb liked the attention she got for her longevity.
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
Clears the path for Lady Bird, doesn't it?
So I guess she is going to be listed as the second oldest living Texan? (I know, I am not being nice today)
You call Bob Dole "Kid."
You knew Lincoln personally.
You still have callouses on your hands from when you helped Noah build the Ark.
Not only did you teach the American Revolution in history class, you were IN it.
There's a cave drawing in France of you at your senior prom.
You get nostalgic when you see the ruins of a Roman arena.
People mistake your youngest son for your great-grandfather.
Boy talk about getting your 15 minutes of fame.
LOL, that is to funny!
Poor women, but God rest he soul!
Well bless her lil heart.
Uh-oh, rush to Kinko's to reprint the program!
MCGARY, ISAAC (1800-1866). Isaac McGary, early settler and soldier, was born in 1800 in Butler County, Ohio, the son of John McGary. He moved to Texas with Stephen F. Austinqv and fought at the battle of San Jacinto,qv after which he helped guard Antonio López de Santa Anna.qv McGary received a donation land grant for his participation in the battle, and his name is on the San Jacinto monument. He also served as a private under Capt. James Gillaspieqv in the Mexican War.qv His name is on the Gillaspie Memorial Marker in Huntsville. McGary served as sheriff of Montgomery County in 1843. When Walker County was formed, he was elected the first county clerk. He served in this capacity from 1846 to 1852. In 1854 he was chief justice of Walker County. McGary was a Mason in Forest Lodge No. 19. In the 1850 census he is listed as fifty years old, married to Elizabeth (Visier), a French immigrant, age thirty-four. Three children are listed. Elizabeth died in 1853 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville. While on a trip to the coast, McGary died in Galveston in 1866. He was buried in Soldier's Rest Cemetery, Galveston.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: D'Anne McAdams Crews, ed., Huntsville and Walker County, Texas: A Bicentennial History (Huntsville, Texas: Sam Houston State University, 1976). Sam Houston Dixon and Louis Wiltz Kemp, The Heroes of San Jacinto (Houston: Anson Jones, 1932). Walker County Genealogical Society and Walker County Historical Commission, Walker County (Dallas, 1986).
Viva M. McComb
From other readings, I learned that she didn't ride in an automobile until she was 8 or 9 years old; she was a Bible teacher for years; and her advice for everyone was to "Enjoy whatever comes."
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