"John Dumas was born 5 May 1856 in Palestine, Anderson Co.,Texas. He married Ida Flora Gray of Cherokee Co., Texas on 18 Jan 1877. Parents of three children: Caroline Antonette, Margaret Ida, and Walter Adrian. Ida died 21 Apr 1885 in Rockwall Co, Tx. Dumas later married Addie S. Goodman, Mattie M. Murrell and Mary E. Medling. John Dumas, Ida, Addie and Mattie are buried at Rockwall Memorial Cemetery, Tx. His grandchildren called him "Papa Dumas".
Merchant whose firm handshake won loan - buried at Rockwall. Rockwall, Texas, April 21 - J. R. Dumas, 80(should be 87), pioneer Rockwall merchant whose vigorous handshake once was enough to identify him to a South Texas banker from whom he sought a loan, was buried here after services at the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a lifelong member. Rites were conducted by the Rev. T. P. Weaver and the Rev. F. B. Hamilton. Friends here recall the time a banker in a South Texas town telephoned to a Rockwall banker saying that a man had applied for a loan claiming to be J. R. Dumas. "Have you shaken hands with him?" the Rockwall banker asked. A minute later the South Texas banker answered, "I have now, and that's enough." Dumas got his loan. He is survived by three children, W. A. Dumas of Dallas, Mrs. J. B. Traylor of Waco and Mrs. Fred Wilkerson of Rockwall, thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Source: Dallas Morning News of 22 April 1944 and Texas Death Certificate #17538.
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Inscription:
A gravestone cannot be located for John Dumas."
