Published in The Garland Daily News in 1980 as part of a series by Betty Roberts

ROUTH FAMILY

A speech made by a Texas recruiter promising beautiful weather and great opportunities brought the Routh family to Texas.  George Washington Routh, born and raised in Dandridge, Tennessee, brought his family to the Garland area around 1850.

Wash bought 640 acres from Abner Keen who had come to the area with the Peters Colony in 1846.  The Routh homestead was along Duck Creek where Granger Recreation Center now stands.

Wash later bought another 300 to 400 acres of what is known as the Crist Survey.  He lived there until his death in 1865.  Mrs Routh had died in 1860.

Wash was married to Elizabeth Rankin in Tennessee.  They were parents of twelve children, nine who survived.

The youngest child Redfern was born in 1859.  He was educated ad Duck Creek Academy.  When he was twenty-six he moved to Dallas and established a wholesale produce business.  He had married Miss Amanda J. Ramsey, daughter of James Ramsey, and they had one daughter, Margie.  Amanda Routh died shortly after the birth of the daughter.

Redfern married Miss Lucy Early.  They became important in the business and social life of Dallas.  Routh Street in Dallas is named for Redfern Routh.

One of Wash’s daughters became Harriet Pace, Her daughter Rosa Belle Pace, married W.H Roach.  There were the parents of a son and daughter.  Haskell Roach is the owner of Roach Feed and Seed.  The daughter Routh died in 1967.  She had taught in the Garand area schools for thirty-five years.  Routh Roach Elementary school is named for her.

A grandson of Wash Routh’s lives in Garland.  George Wallace is the youngest of several children born to Eliza Routh and J.S. Wallace.  Eliza died a few weeks after George’s birth.

Wash’s son Jacob came to Texas in 1851 and settled in the Richardson area.  He had two daughtes who never married.  After their deaths, vandals entered the house and burned it.  The fire completely destroyed the house, all the furnishings, and family records.

Another son John inherited the farm bought in the Crist Survey.  It was located on what is now First Street.  John died at arather age leaving the farm to his son John.  The child was only three months old when his father died.  The father, in poor health, had willed the farm to his unborn child.

The younger John was born, raised and died on the same farm.  The farm was located just north of First Street Shopping Center.  The west boundary is now First Street.  The farm extended from near Marguerita to Avenue D.

During his later years, John enjoyed fishing at the pond across the road from his house.  Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on First Street stands in this area.

Mr. and Mrs. Routh, the former Molly Anderton, celebrated their fiftieth anniversary several years before they died.  Mrs. Routh died in 1947.  Mr. Routh died in 1948.  They were survived by their seven children.

One daughter Nora Pelton lives in Dallas.  Mildred Weaver lives in Terrell.  Viola Gipson and Mrs Carl Taylor are in a nursing home in Rockwall.  The oldest daughter who had lived all of her adult life in Victoria is now deceased.

One son Cecil lives in Garland.  He owns Routh’s Service Station on W. Garland Avenue.  His three children have moved out of Garland.  The other son Charlie Richard died in 1969.  His son lives in Houston.

One member of the family said, “The Routh name is fading out in Garland.”