David Reed Spurlock

  • Born:  18 Nov 1875 King’s Mill, Sharp, Arkansas.  
  • Died:  31 July 1954 Escondido, California.  
  • Married:  Effie McWhorter 21 Jan 1904.  Divorced:  about 1914.
  • They are the parents of Gladys Dell, Archibald, Betty Elizabeth, and  Aurilla Mae. 
  • Married:  Kathryn Houtsinger in 1920.
Notes from Cleatus A. Lewis file:
  • In 1900 we find David R. Spurlock living with his parents in Hutchinson County, Texas.
  • In 1910 David R. Spurlock, his wife Effie and two children are living on a farm (#77) in Hutchinson County, Texas.  This information is taken from the 1910 US Census of Justice Precinct #3, Hutchinson County, Texas,District 13, ED 140, page 6A taken on April 29, 1910.  This can be found on Ancestry.com US Census Records image 11 of 21 for Justice Precinct #3, Hutchinson County, Texas.

Note:  David R. Spurlock was working on his own account the farm (#77) he had mortgaged in Hutchinson County, Texas.  David and Effie could read and write and speak English.

  • n 1920 David Reed Spurlock was living in a rooming house in Chicago, Illinois.  
  • In the 1920 US Census for Cook County, Illinois, Chicago City Township he is listed as being 44 years old and single. Occupation,  plumber.
  • It would appear that he has divorced his first wife Effie McWorter or she has died. Their children are either with their mother or other family members.  At this time he has not remarried.  
  • Later he will marry Kathryn Houtsinger who is from Illinois.  A number of picture postcards found in Kathryn's personal effects following her death in 1955 in Turlock, Stanislaus County, California are postmarked from Chicago, Illinois.  The primary name on these cards is Charles Burkholtz.  There is a possibility that Charles is her son by a previous marriage to a Burkholtz.
  • Spurlock, David Reed.....Roomer..m..w..44..Single....AR...OK...NY..Plumber Shop
  • In 1930 David R. Spurlock, his wife Kathryn and his nephew George E. Spurlock were living in Dinuba Township, Tulare County, California.  This information is taken from the 1930 US Census of Dinuba Township, Tulare County, California taken on April 15, 1930.  This information can be found on Ancestry.com 1930 US Census Records, District 14, E.D. 54-17,Census Roll #T626_225, page 4B, image 0887, Ancestry.com image 8 of 11 for Dinuba Township, Tulare County, California.
  • David and Kathryn Spurlock were residing in Turlock, California in the early 1940's.  Noah Lewis, husband of Dollie Spurlock Lewis built a room onto Uncle Dave's (as we knew him) tank house.  Noah and Dollie and their four children lived in this during the winter of 1940-41.  
  • In the spring they moved across the street into larger house.  
  • Later they moved to a house on property owned by the Starr Nursery.  Noah worked for them until 1965 when he suffered a heart attack and had to quit work.
  • Uncle Dave drove a black model T ford with a rumble seat.  He was a quiet, kind and gentle man.
Notes from Betty Smithson:  See sources below to trace Aurilla in censuses.  Birth and death records listed in sources.

My older cousins, Beth Ann DeBolt Halacy and Zona Spurlock Greenleaf knew of Aurilla.  My sisters, brother and I never knew of her.  Her parents divorced soon after she was born and she lived in Texas with her mother and lost contact with the Spurlock family.

My sister, Virginia Spurlock Gardner spoke with Judy Phillips, our cousin and daughter of Gladys, and gathered information about Aurilla and Betty.  Judy said she was first married to a Mc Gowan and second to Thane.

Sources for Aurilla:
  1. Arizona State Board of Health, Birth Certificate.  Found on genealogy.az.gov.  (digitized vital records of Arizona).  Arizona State Birth Certificate found on genealogy.az.gov.
  2. 1920 US Census.  In Amarillo, Texas in household with her mother Effie Spurlock who is divorced at this time and her three siblings; Gladys, Archie and Bessie (Betty).
  3. 1930 US Census. In Amarillo, Texas.  Age 14 living as a roomer in the household of Robert E. Okeafe an attorney and his wife and daughter.  She is listed as Willie M. Spurlock.
  4. Social Security Death Index, Found on Ancestry.com.
  5. SSN Issued in California before 1951  SS# 569-34-6736  Birth date: 16 Jul 1915 D. Jan 1976