Oscar Hix
Our grandfather Oscar was born 28 July 1910 in Fort Worth, Texas to Thomas J. and Martha Whitt Hix. He grew up with two younger sisters and lived his entire life in Fort Worth, eventually meeting his wife there and working for the postal service.
Oscar attended North Side high school, an historic school dating back to the Marine schoolhouse building, which was built in 1872. The school eventually developed additional buildings and grew rapidly by the time Oscar attended in circa 1924. Around this time, all North Siders were branded as Steers, and the first school newspaper, THE LARIAT, was published.
History of Fort Worth
Founded 6 June 1849 as a frontier post of Company F., 2nd Dragoons (2nd Cavalry Regiment), Fort Worth as a town grew up alongside the fort, providing supply stores and stagecoach routes. In 1856, Fort Worth became county seat of Tarrant County. A boom started after 1867 when millions of longhorns were driven through town en route to Red River Crossing and Chisholm Trail. Cowboys got supplies for the long uptrail drive and caroused in taverns and dance halls. After the railroad arrived in 1876, increased cattle traffic won the city a nickname of “Cowtown”. By 1900, Fort Worth was one of world’s largest cattle markets. Population tripled between 1900 and 1910. Growth continued, based on varied multimillion-dollar industries of meat packing, flour milling, grain storage, oil, aircraft plants, and military bases.
Excerpt from the book, “Fort Worth & Tarrant County: An Historical Guide”
by Tarrant County Historical Society
Edna Geneva Russell Hix
Our grandmother Edna Geneva Russell was born in Monroe (or Bowling Green), Kentucky on 12 February 1915 to parents Cyrus and Otia Russell. Her older sisters were born in Tennessee, just across the border from Monroe, suggesting the family may have moved. Edna’s parents moved to Fort Worth, Texas shortly after her birth. It remains unclear why the family made such a big move to Texas, but one possibility might have been a new job for Edna’s father Cyrus. We know Cyrus worked as a watchman at Armour and Company in Fort Worth during Edna’s childhood.
Married Life
Oscar and Edna met in Fort Worth and were married between 1930 and 1940. Shortly after the wedding, Oscar and Edna moved into their home at 5525 Pershing Ave., where they ultimately would spend the next 45 years together. Oscar and Edna had the following children:
- William Michael Hix
- ?
Oscar was a postal worker and postal supervisor for the next several years. As of 1940, according to census data, he was a postman with an income of approximately $2000/year. Advancing in his career with the postal service, Oscar in 1961 became the third vice president of the Texas State Branch of the National Association of Postal Supervisors.
Oscar died 4 May 1975 and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth. Edna died on 21 February 2003 and was buried in the same cemetery as Oscar.
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