William Alexander Kleckley[1]
1856 - 1921 (65 years)-
Name William Alexander Kleckley Born Feb 18, 1856 Oglethorpe, Macon county, Georgia, USA 
Gender Male Died Apr 16, 1921 Crockett, Houston county, Texas, USA Notes - WA Kleckley, while living in Sumpter County, GA, originated the famous watermelon, which bears his name. He developed two varieties of mellons: Kleckley's Sweet and Kleckley's Shipper. He later moved to Texas and developed a seed farm at Rt. 2, Grapeland, (east of town). He and his first wife Annie had six children, including James Clyde - father of Ora Mae. His second wife was Blanche and they had three children.
William, or WA as he was called, constructed the second building of the Mt Zion Luthern Church in Macon County, Georgia. He was the originator the famous watermelon which bears his name. The watermellons were grown in a field across the road in front of Mt Zion Church. He developed two varieties of mellons: Kleckley's Sweet and Kleckley's Shipper. He is listed as Wm A Kleckley, farmer, age 24 in the 1880 Macon County census with his wife "Ana", age 21, and a servant Amy Kleckley, age 16. In about 1900, he moved from Sumpter County, Georgia to Texas with his family and settled first in Willis, then moved to a place now called Grapeland which is a few miles outside of Crockett, and developed a seed farm at Rt. 2, Grapeland, (east of town). The seeds were produced for the Burpee Company. He and his first wife Annie had six children, including my grandfather James Clyde - father of Ora Mae.
About 8 months after Annie died, WA married Gertrude Blanche Hazlett on 25 March 1905. Blanch, as she was called, was born 17 November 1882 in Houston County, Texas, the daughter of James Lawson Hazlett and Emmeline Rosella Trow. Blanch was 26 years younger than WA, and 1 year older than James Clyde Kleckley. Blanch assisted her husband in the management of the seed and poltry farm. She specialized in Indian Game chickens and developed a full blood stock in 11 years or more.
WA was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Crockett. Blanch out lived WA by 51 years. She died on 23 Janurary 1972, and was buried at Rockland Cemetary, 10 miles south of Crockett.
WA and Blanch had three children: (1) David Lawson, born 15 November 1906, first married Ula Mae Davison who died in 1959 and had 4 children, William, Charles, Ula Jean, and Guy, married second Viola Fulmer; (2) Marvin Elmo, born 4 March 1909 in Grapeland or Crockett, died 2 March 1995, married Ruby Viola Gentery who was born 25 May 1915 in Grapland and died 18 April 1997 in Crockett, had 5 children, a picture of Elmo shows him with his watermellons, indicating that he continued his father's farming operation after WA died. The Texas State Senate passed a resolution in memory of Elmo in 1995 which described Elmo as an exemplary gentleman, respected in the community for his many accomplishments, a man of integrity, strength, and generosity, wisdom, warmth, and valued council, and a devout Christian, and member of Central Baptist Church, Elmo was survived his wife, 2 children, 8 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren; and (3) Jessie Marie, born 19 November 1910, a lifetime resident of Houston Co, was an amazing person, was born handicapped (had only one arm with three fingers) but never let that stop her from doing anything she wanted to do, was a member of San Pedro Baptist Church, an avid farmer and rancher, a perfectionist at her gardening, an artist, sewed her own clothes, and enjoyed needlework, quilting, cooking, arts and crafts, was loved by everyone that knew her.
If you have any information to share or which will correct information found in my files, please contact me. Glen Cress, gcress-at-houston.rr.com
Person ID I81330 mykindred Last Modified Mar 8, 2006
Father David Hamiter Kleckley, CSA, b. Nov 05, 1832, Lexington county, South Carolina, USA , d. Jan 03, 1887, Oglethorpe, Macon county, Georgia, USA (Age 54 years) Mother Mary Caroline Cloud, b. Sep 05, 1831, Georgia, USA , d. May 11, 1904, Ogelthorpe, Macon county, Georgia, USA (Age 72 years) Married Dec 31, 1852 Macon county, Georgia, USA Notes - -
1860 census, GA, Macon, 740 dist, Farmer Academy P.O., July 25
-- HH 338/338
John J. KLECKLEY, 33, M, farmer, $3300, $9000, SC
Martha A KLECKLEY, 34, F, GA
Daniel W KLECKLEY, 6, M, GA
Gill WILLIAMS, 14, M, GA
-- HH 339/339
David H KLECKLEY, 28, W, M, farmer, $3200, $5545, SC
Caroline M. KLECKLEY, 28, W, F, GA
Elisha J. KLECKLEY, 6, W, M, GA
William E. KLECKLEY, 4, W, M, GA
James M. KLECKLEY, 1, W, M, GA
John H. KLECKLEY, 9/12, W, M, GA
-- HH 340/340
Elijah CLOUD, 46, M, GA
Martha A CLOUD, 31, F, GA
Mary J CLOUD, 14, F, GA
Sarah A CLOUD, 13, F, GA
Elizabeth W CLOUD, 10, F, GA
Georgia A CLOUD, 9, F, GA
Josephine CLOUD, 7, F, GA
William W CLOUD, 5, M, GA
Emily C CLOUD, 3, F, GA
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Family ID F19894 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Mary Annie Jolly, b. Jul 04, 1859, Macon county, Georgia, USA , d. Jul 10, 1904, Houston county, Texas, USA (Age 45 years) Married Nov 07, 1878 Children 1. James Clyde Kleckley, b. Dec 13, 1881, Macon county, Georgia, USA , d. Aug 14, 1949, Houston county, Texas, USA (Age 67 years)2. infant Kleckely, b. Sep 18, 1883, d. Y 3. Mary Maud Kleckley, b. Nov 19, 1885, Macon, Georgia, USA , d. Jul 1967, Crockett, Texas, USA (Age 81 years)4. William Felton Kleckley, b. Jun 02, 1888, Oglethorpe, Macon county, Georgia, USA , d. Y5. Hattie Fae Kleckley, b. Feb 06, 1890, Americus, Sumter county, Georgia, USA , d. Y6. Cecil Kleckley, b. Nov 03, 1892, d. Y 7. Luther Austin Kleckley, b. Jan 05, 1894, Americus, Sumter county, Georgia, USA , d. Y8. Zollie M. Kleckley, b. Dec 13, 1896, Phenix City, Russell county, Alabama, USA , d. YFamily ID F27395 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 2 Gertrude Blanche Hazlett, b. Nov 17, 1882, Houston county, Texas, USA , d. Y Married Mar 05, 1905 Children 1. David Law Kleckley, d. Y 2. Marvin Elmo Kleckley, d. Y 3. Jessie Marie Kleckley, b. Nov 19, 1910, San Pedro, Houston county, Texas, USA , d. YFamily ID F34094 Group Sheet | Family Chart
- WA Kleckley, while living in Sumpter County, GA, originated the famous watermelon, which bears his name. He developed two varieties of mellons: Kleckley's Sweet and Kleckley's Shipper. He later moved to Texas and developed a seed farm at Rt. 2, Grapeland, (east of town). He and his first wife Annie had six children, including James Clyde - father of Ora Mae. His second wife was Blanche and they had three children.
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Sources - [S1653] Gedcom - Cullers McChrystal, Sharon.
- [S1653] Gedcom - Cullers McChrystal, Sharon.
