Jim, m. Clara B. Gierhart Johnson, is the son of James Hilry Harrell & Violet Ann Lamar DeBusk. His siblings are William Martin,27 Mar 1870; Ella Martha Virgina,16 Nov 1872; Junior,1873; John B. Floyd,5 Dec 1875; Charles Jasper Harrell,2 Aug 1877; Harriett Etta,2 Sep 1879; Lovey Louiza,19 Jul 1882; Anna Lena,28 Jun 1884; & Calvin Ervin,3 Dec 1888. He married Clara Belle Johnson in Princeton, Collin County, TX (1896). They had 3 daughters, Jennie, Lena & Nila and 3 sons, Ed, Ray & J.D. Herrell.

Father: James Hilry Herrell b: 8 JAN 1846 in Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia

Mother: Violet Ann Larimer b: 10 AUG 1842 in Abington, Washington County, Virginia

Marriage 1 Clara Belle Gierhart Johnson b: 6 OCT 1878 in Lee County, Virginia

Married: 9 AUG 1896 in Princeton, Collin County, Texas

Children

Jennie Amelia Herrell b: 10 SEP 1897 in Farmersville, Collin County, Texas

Lena Belle Herrell b: 1 FEB 1899 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas

James Edward "Ed" Herrell b: 16 JUL 1904 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas

Ray Charles Herrell b: 15 SEP 1906 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas

Nila Artell Herrell b: 24 SEP 1909 in Desdemona, Eastland County, Texas

J. D. Herrell b: 13 MAR 1912 in Desdemona, Eastland County, Texas

James "Jim" Lafett Herrell, at some point changed the spelling of his name Harrell to Herrell. He was a farmer, but also a blacksmith by trade. After moving to Eastland County during the oil boom years, he had a blacksmith shop in the town of Desdemona, TX. He died suddenly at the age of 56. Three of the children (Jennie, Lena & Ed) were grown. Ray was 17 years old when his father died. He and his mother Clara, along with the two younger children, Nila and J. D. moved to a farming community "Double Mountain" in West Texas, Stonewall County near Aspermont.

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James Lafett Herrell, long-time resident of Eastland County, died suddenly Wednesday, while engaged in loading parts of a 5,000 gallon tank on a car on the Wichita Falls, Ranger, and Fort Worth railroad. He had the contract for the removal. He had complained of being ill and told his men that he would lie down in the shade and rest. When a young man later approached the spot where he had lain down, he found Mr. Herrell had passed. Dr. A.K. Wier of Ranger, was summoned, and pronounced him death. Survived by his wife; three boys and three girls; his father; two brothers and three sisters. Mr. Herrell lived in the Riddle addition of Ranger and was a teaming contractor. The body was taken to Desdemona for burial. Services will be there at 5 p.m.

Ranger Daily Times

July 25, 1923