The Chitwood-Perez House
In the 1920s, J.F. Smirl got possession of Lot 2, Block 42 of the Stovall Subdivision of the Dieter Farm and sold it to W.D. Chitwood (1875- 1945) in 1928, and that is the year the assumption is that is when the house was built. In 1936, Chitwood gave a lien on the house to C.D. Shamberger Lumber Company, and his wife Carrie (Carter) (1877-1942) did not sign the note since Chitwood had not designated it as a homestead.
The Chitwoods had two daughters and three sons who reached adulthood. The children went to Olney schools. William Dallas (1917-1937) and Bernie Cecil (1920-1937) were track stars at OHS and Billie Earle Gilbert, the son of Earle and Velma (Bloodworth) Gilbert, was on the track squad with them. Note that two of the boys died in 1937 and this was due to car wreck on the Megargel Highway. The bodies were burned so badly that there were only ashes in the casket and the supposition was that the boys had filled the tank of the car and several cans with “drip gas“ as it was free on many oil leases if you had permission from the lease owner to take all you wanted.
When Mr. Chitwood died in 1945 his funeral was at First Baptist Church with the pastor of First Methodist Rev. J.W. Sharbutt officiating in the absence of First Baptist Pastor Rev.W.H. Towndsen.
In 1943, Mr. Chitwood and his children conveyed the property to Julia Ethel (Wainscott) Gray, and one month later she sold the house to Mrs. Ruth Mahan (1898-1981), whose husband was Henry Walden Mahan (1899-1952). Mrs. Mahan had a son, Othol (1921-1994), who became the Mercury dealer in Olney in the 80s and early 90s, who married a Megargel girl, Sissie Martin, the daughter of Denzil Martin, a long-time operator of the Megargel cotton gin. Othol died in an automobile wreck.
In 1945, Mahan sold the property to Wilse E. Edwards (1910-2002), whose early life was in the Shearer Community east of Olney.
Mr. Edwards married twice—Floy and Ruth. Among his descendants I have been aware of are Anna Marnell Marrone, a daughter, and a step-granddaughter, Babbette Seigler, an outstanding Flutist in the OHS Band.
In 1946, Edwards sold the property to John T. Estes (1873-1947), who fought in the Spanish American War. He came to the area in early adult life, left, and returned in later life.
Among his descendants you may recognize are Lydia Quisenberry, daughter, and grandson George Quisenberry, and Alene Creason and son Teddy. He had worked as a carpenter and his funeral was at Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Rev. Thomas Forrester officiating.
In 1947, R.D. Favers and wife Elevern assumed control of the property. Mr. Favers had two daughters and the younger one Geraldine was one year behind me in school and married a good ole Texas Aggie. I believe the other married one of the Baker Boys.
In 1948, the Favers sold the house to Frank and Katherine Thomas. Mr. Thomas was a partner in Thomas-Milford Oil Well Cementing and originally it was Thomas-Jackson with Clif Jackson.
In 1950, the Thomases sold the house to Rufus (1909-1979) and Linnie (Ribble) (1914-2002) Mc-Casland, who entered into a mechanics lien with W.W. Price Lumber Company to build a new foundation, garage and porch in 1952.
In 1999, Linnie sold to the present owner Frank S. Perez, Jr.