Born to Thomas Morgan Massey (c. 1826-c. 1857 in Arkansas) & Mary Ann Davis Massey (c. 1828-after 1850), both of Alabama. The death certificate states an 1849 birth for James in Alabama; the marker says 1847. Also, the census several times says he was born in Arkansas. However, his autobiography says he was born in 1850 in Port Lavaca (Calhoun County), TX and that his parents moved to Arkansas when he was one year old.

After James' father died in Arkansas, the family moved back to Wood County, TX, then on to Hays County.

James married 1) Castanuella E. "Cassie" Gilmore (9/22/1848-4/16/1900; grave unknown) on June 6, 1872, in Hays County, TX. Her parents were John W. Gilmore (1812-?) & Martha Gilmore (1818-?). Cassie was born in Monroe County, MS (see 1850 census).

Nine children:
• John William Massey (1875-1959)
• Carrie Massey Donnell (1877-1923)
• Thomas Benjamin Massey (1879-1961)
• Ed G. Massey (1881-1975)
• W.F. Massey (5/1883-after 1900)
• Ellie Tennie Massey Harmon (1885-1970)
• Calvin W. Massey (3/28/1887-4/4/1962, Contra Costa, CA; twin to Claudia
• Claudia M. Massey (1887-1965; twin to Calvin)
• Florence Myrtle Massey Simon (1889-1974)

James married 2) Castanuella "Cassie" Weaver (1872-1963) about 1902 in Hays County, TX. She was named after her cousin, Cassie Gilmore, who was James Foster Massey's first wife.

Three children:
• Lillie Fannie Massey Polvado (1904-2003)
• Lizzie O. Massey McCuistion (1906-1983)
• Osie T. Massey Andrews (1909-1999)

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Written by JAMES FOSTER MASSEY:

I was born on Hickory creek, fifteen miles north of Port Lavaca, on Dec.26 1850. My father was Morgan Massey, and my mother, before marriage, was Mary Annie Davis. When I was one year old my parents moved to Hampton, Ark., where, six years later my father died. My mother then moved to Wood county, Texas, where we had relatives. We remained there two years, when we moved to Hays county.

In the fall of 1864, when a little less than fourteen years old, I enlisted in the Travis Home Guards, under Lieut. Jim Goforth. The late Capt. A. J. Kercheville was also an officer in the regiment. The regiment was composed entirely of overs and unders (men who were too old or too young to fight). We did no real fighting, two raids after Indians and one after robbers, who had robbed some of the stores in Austin, about made up our operations.

In 1866 my mother and family moved back to Wood county, but in 1871 I returned to Hays county and have lived here continuously since.

On June 4, 1872, I was married to Miss Cassie Gilmore on the Gilmore farm, near the Lone Man mountain. Two years later I bought the farm and lived on it until six years ago, when I sold it to M. G. Michaelis. I now own and live on a farm near Jacob's Well.

To my first wife and myself were born twelve children. My wife died April 16, 1900.

Soon after our marriage we paid a visit one day to Mr. and Mrs. John Weaver, who were rejoicing over the recent arrival in their home of a baby girl, which I took great pleasure in nursing, and which they named "Cassie" for my wife. This baby girl became my second wife. I joined the Methodist Church when 13 years of age.
--submitted by Jimmy Massey of Virginia

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From Wimberley's Legacy by Williedell Schawe:
"J. Foster Massey was well known among the early settlers since he came to Hays County in 1858 with his widowed mother when he was six years old. When he grew up, he married Cassie Gilmore, a neighbor's daughter. They lived at Gatlin, a small community at the headwaters of Gatlin and Wanslow creeks."