John Thompson McCord, a native of South Carolina, came to Texas at an early age. He married Laura Georgia Bowie, a descendant of James Bowie of the Alamo. To this union were born the following children: James Robert (Jim), G. B. (Burl), and Ottie. Mr. McCord was a farmer and a leader in the community. Several years prior to his death in the early 1890's, he served Rusk County as sheriff. Mrs. McCord was a housewife and a leader in her church. At the present time there are seventy-nine descendants of this couple living.
    James Robert (Jim) married Pearl Green, daughter of John Monk Green, another early settler of the county. To this union were born ten children: Marie, John T., Agnes, James B., Earl G., Blanche, Mattie, Joe G., Finis C., and Faye. James Robert was a farmer and a gin operator. He served his county in the surveyor's office and for a number of years was a county commissioner. Pearl McCord was a mother, a housewife, a teacher and a civic worker. She taught a total of twenty-seven years in schools in Leverett's Chapel, Carlisle, Laneville, Gaston, London, and Overton. She was always in school, church and local affairs. After retiring, she did private tutoring for a number of years.
    James and Pearl's children married and their descendants are as follows: Marie married Clyde O. Mathis and had one daughter, Evelyn Mathis Hooper of Grand Prairie, Texas. John T., who married Mozelle Turney, had no children. Agnes married Alford G. Evans, and they had four children: Betty Jo Evans Williams, Orell Evans Grammer, Robert Luther, and Hazel Evans Lytle. Earl G. and his first wife Treva Heath, had two children, James W. and Earlene M. Minetti. Earl's second marriage was to Fairy Derring. They had one daughter, Patricia M. Twardowsky. Blanche married David C. Ellerd. Mattie married Joe Newman Daniel and had two children, Dinah Merritt and Joe Newman, Jr. Finis C. married Hazel Rabb. Their three children were Roger, Derek, and Karen.
    Of the seventy-five descendants of the John Thompson McCord family, fifty-three are of the James Robert McCord family. Both Jim and Pearl are deceased.
    George B. (Burl) married Claudia Beville, and they had two daughters, Billie Jean Baskin and Joyce Fenner. Burl was a farmer and road builder. He helped build some of the first highways in the county. Burl and Claudia are deceased. They are survived by two daughters and one granddaughter.
    Ottie was married to Kenyon Buckalew and had one daughter, Georgia Louise. They were divorced, and Ottie later married John B. Bowie, by whom she had no children. She preceded John B. in death. He later died when he was nearly one hundred years of age. Louise has one daughter and three grandsons.
    The McCord family members as a whole have always taken an active part in education and in church and civic affairs of their various cities. The grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are following in their footsteps. They are residents of many sections of our nation and state.
    Living descendants of the James R. McCord families are the following: Marie Mathis, her daughter, Evelyn M. Hooper; two grandchildren, Kaye Hooper Russell and Joseph Ralph; and four great-grandchildren.
    Agnes McCord Evans, her children: Betty Jo Williams, Orell Grammar, Robert Luther Evans and Hazel Evans Lytle. These four children have eleven children, who together have twenty-four children.
    Earl Greene McCord has three children - James Wiley, Earlene Minetti, and Patricia Twardowsky and their four children.
    Blanche McCord Ellerd, her one son, James W., who has one son and two step-daughters.
    Mattie McCord Daniel, her one daughter, Dinah Conrad Merritt, and one son Joe Newman; five grandchildren; Daniel, Clay, and Cynthia Conrad, Timothy Daniel and Shanda Daniel.
    Finis C. McCord, his three children: Karen, Roger and Derek; and one grandchild, Christopher Murphy.
    The living descendants of George B. McCord are Billie Baskin, Joyce Fenner, and one granddaughter.
    The living descendants of Ottie Bowie are Louise Buckalew Wunderlich, Louise's daughter, Ann, and two grandsons.