Ben Shell

Ben came to Texas from Mississippi in a covered wagon with his family when he was approximately five years old, and nver knew the Ancestors he left behind. After Ben died in 1971, the following facts were found:

Elijah Wilbourn (b. Union Co., S.C. in 1810 was Bin's grandfather on his mother's side of the family. Elija's sister, Sabra An, Ben's great aunt, married Hiram Gibbs and moved to Huntsville, TX. He was one of the founders of Huntsville, was a lawyer and became a close friend of Sam Houston and was one of the signers of Sam Houston's will. Hiram and Sabra Ann are buried at the foot of Sam Houston's grave in Huntsville Cemetery. Hiram & Sabra Ann had a grandson, Dr. Jas Phillip Gibbs, was the firs psycian to introduce the formula feeding to infants to the Houston area, and is said to have brought the industrialist, Howard Hughes, into this world.

Notes:

• Family Group Sheet for Ben Franklin Shell

• Submitted by Jean Hollingsworth