W. E. Costley was born December 25, 1832 in Austin County, Texas to Michael
Costley and Elizabeth Reed. A second son, James, was b. 1835. Michael was
killed November 16 1837 by W.R.D. Spieght, the first District Clerk of Nacogdoches,
Texas who didn't approve of the fact that Costley was still married to Mahala Mussett,
his first wife. A huge battle ensued over the thousands of acres of land that Michael
owned and who had a right to it. after Michaels death, Elizabeth married two more times.
In 1845 Elizabeth died leaving two young boys. Probate records of Burleson county,
Texas show Elijah B. Reed guardian of William E. Costley, minor son, March 22
one Jacob Reed was appointed guardian for minor child, James M. Costley. The 1850
census shows James living in a boarding house in Austin, Travis Co. Texas employed
as a printer. That same census shows W.E. living with their half brother, John Mussett
Costley who is employed by the county district court also in Austin. Both W.E. and James
were shown to be students at that time. January 26, 1854 W.E. married Mary Virginia
Ellis in Burleson County, Texas. In the 1900 journal dated Oct. 2, he gives account
of their 5 boys and 2 girls births and locations. After the Civil War, having served in
the Confederate Army, in 1867, W.E. became the first sheriff of Coleman Co. (They
came in peace to Coleman County by Leona Bruce). Later, they moved to Crawford,
McLennan County, Texas where he was a Justice of the Peace. He and Mary lived
on a farm near Crawford in the 1900 journal. In the 1913 journal, because of poor health,
they had rented the farm out and moved into the city of Crawford, where Mary caught
the kitchen on fire. By 1914 Mary's health was so bad and W.E. had a heart condition,
so their children took turns caring for them in their homes. This gives us a great look
at what our parents and grandparents home life was like. Also a first hand account of
what it was like to see and ride in the automobiles. It was exciting to read how
all different kinds of "wheels", cars, bicycles, trains, "interurban" (train) got
along in the streets of Waco, Texas. He tells stories about catching Indians in
Indian Gap, Texas, sleeping on his saddle and blanket and a hail storm in 1857
that wiped out the crops. I put the 1913 journal into sections according to where
they were living so relatives could go directly to their family's section.

W. E.'s obituary as it appeared in the Cleburne Daily Enterprise 3-22-1915:
DEATH W.E.COSTLEY AT JOSHUA YESTERDAY W.E. Costley died about half past
nine o'clock, Sunday night, March 21, at Joshua , 82 years. The body was prepared
for shipping to Crawford where interment will take place tomorrow.
Two sons and one daughter survive the deceased. His wife Mary died Feb. 11,
1917 in Joshua, (Josh-u-way) Johnson Co. Texas and is also buried in Crawford
city cemetery . I want to thank the following people for without them I would
not have as much to share with you. Harry Diamond Jr., for sharing his 1913-15
journal. Frances Swindle Baileys for sharing the post card and pictures .
Thomas Brock and Sue Brock Massey for sharing photo's and information. A
special thanks to my husband, Jerry Rabun for photographing most of the
documents and using programs for fixing pictures and unreadable documents.
Bobbie Ross for her work and putting the journals on line. I hope you enjoy them
as much as I did for I was able to see my dad, John William Edward Costley
as a 3 year old and a 17 year old. This journal is presented as written,
including spelling and punctuation. Carol Costley Rabun, great granddaughter
of William Edward and Mary Virginia Costley. Granddaughter of Jackson
Monroe Costley and Malinda Jane Brown and Harry Diamond Jr.

copyright 2003-09 Carol Costley Rabun and Harry Diamond Jr