05/24/2026
MAY 24, ON THIS DAY, IN MADISON COUNTY HISTORY:
Samuel Travis “Sam” Knight was born in Leon County April 7, 1858 and died May 24, 1916 in Mecca as he
was working in the field. Sam was born to William Washington Knight and Lucy Ann Pistole. He married
Colastie Era Gilcrease on February 5, 1885 in Brazos County. She was the daughter of William Gilcrease
and Scholastique Hebert. Her name, Colastie, is actually a nickname for Scholastique, which was a common
name in the French culture.
She and Sam had William Clifford Knight, born in Madison County on December 8, 1887 and died October
16, 1889, buried in the Sand Prairie Cemetery, and Ewie Lee Knight, born February 2, 1886 in Madison
County and died May 28, 1973 in Corsicana. Ewie married Moses Frank Longbotham on January 8, 1905.
After his death in 1916, Sam was buried in the Sand Prairie Cemetery. Colastie passed away on August
2,1958 and was buried beside her husband.
Elbert Elexander “E.E.” Day died on May 24, 1915. He was the third son of E.E. Sr. and Anna Maria Day,
was born November 27, 1835, in Lexington, Mississippi. He was eleven years old when he came to Walker
County with his parents. Prior to the Civil War he left his home near Huntsville and settled in Madison
County, near Cottonwood. During the conflict between the States he served in the 11th Texas Infantry,
Confederate States of America. In 1866, he married Mary Jane McKenzie, daughter of Reverend
Alexander W. and Albany Carr McKenzie.
Mary Jane and Elbert had thirteen children: Arthur Lee Day, Anna Berta Day, Mary Ellen Day, Elbert Luther Day, James McKenzie Day, John Marcus Day, George Pendleton Day, Albany Frances Day, Martha
Leona Day, Reuben E. Day, Pearl Willens Day, Ola Day and Ruby Day.
E.E. was a farmer, but he served two terms as County Treasurer, being elected to that office in November
1898. Also, he and a group of deputized men traveled to Bryan to bank the tax revenue each year. They
would camp overnight at the Navasota River. This was before there was a bank in Madisonville. In 1907,
E.E. Day Jr. joined a group of local men in establishing the Farmers State Bank. He was a director of the
bank until his death, May 24, 1915. Mary Jane died October 24, 1924. They are both buried here in the
Madisonville Cemetery.
Francis Lee McAdams was born April 16, 1874 and died May 24, 1950. He married Ader Williams in 1896.
His second marriage was to Lula McWhorter about 1900. To this union were born William Floyd, Joseph
“Joe,” James Riley “Pete,” Howard, Ruby Lee, Bill Mack, Dean “Buddy,” Rosie May, Rowland, Lizzie Fay, Edna
and Louise. Francis Lee then married Susie Williams McClennon. After her, he married Olive Brimberry,
and then he married Annie Farris Conley in 1931.
Francis Lee died on May 24, 1950 and was buried in the McAdams Cemetery in Walker County.
Garvice Clyde Risinger was born in Madisonville June 24, 1926 to Carl Risinger and Era Colwell and
attended Madisonville schools, graduating May 24, 1944. He married Amy Louise Maynard on July 21, 1956.
They had three children: Trina Kay Risinger, David Wayne Risinger and Marla Elaine Risinger.
Garvice was a long-time Gulf States employee in Madisonville, then he went to work at Shell Chemical
Company in Pasadena where he retired after 35 years. Garvice loved to cook and everyone always looked
forward to his famous pies. Amy Louise passed away on May 12, 2000 and was buried in the Madisonville
Cemetery. Garvice died on March 31, 2014 and was buried in the Greenbrier Cemetery.
