“Mrs. B. T. Ware Dies at Family Home Here

Mrs. B. T. Ware, long a leader in educational, religious and cultural fields here, died about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon at the family home, 1018 Polk.

She was the widow of Benjamin Tol Ware, who died in September, 1937. Charles T. Ware, her eldest son, and Mrs. Floriede Ware Vaughn, her only daughter, lived with their mother at the family residence.

Mrs. Ware was active in the work of the First Baptist Church, of which she was one of the early members, until forced to moderate her activities because of ill health. She was a leader in Amarillo’s early cultural development, the Woman’s Club, one of the city’s oldest groups of its kind, having been organized in her home.

Moved Here in 1899

Mrs. Ware was born Mary Elizabeth Hooper on a plantation near Rome, Ga. She was married to Mr. Ware on Dec. 22, 1880. The Hoopers and the Wares had lived on adjoining plantation for nearly a century. The wedding took place at what was then known as Williams Ranch, near Brownwood. Mr. Ware having left Georgia for Texas.. From Brownwood they moved to Colorado City.

In 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Ware moved to Amarillo where they lived the remainder of their lives with the exception of one year. In 1899 they moved to Fort Worth, but returned before 12 months were out. Their choice of Amarillo as a home was made after an inspection of both the Panhandle and California.

When they first came to Amarillo Mr. Ware became associated with a mercantile firm. He later was elected treasurer of Potter County.

Entered Banking Business

He became interested in the cattle business, then extended his interest to the banking field, purchasing the Amarillo Naitonal Bank from H. A. Wood in 1900. Six years later he sold his controlling interest in the bank to A. G. Payne, and bought the Channing Mercantile and Banking Company, operating it from Amarillo.

Mr. Ware then organized the Western Bank and Trust Company. and in 1909 he re-purchased the Amarillo National Bank and merged it with the trust company. He was president of the Amarillo National until the time of his death.

Before her marriage, Mrs. Ware studied music in St. Louis. She was an honor graduate of Shorter College, Rome, Ga.

Services Set Thursday

Mrs. Ware is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Floriede Ware Vaughn, also of 1018 Polk; three sons, Charles T. Ware, R. C. Ware, 2610 Harrison, and Arthur H. Ware, 2610 Hughes. All are directors of the Amarillo National Bank.

Surviving grandchildren are Lt. B. Tol Ware II. son of R. C. Ware; and Charles R. and Cornelius H. Ware, twin sons of Arthur Ware. Lieutenant Ware is home on leave from Army duty and the twins are home on leave from Navy duty.

Funeral services have been set for Thursday afternoon. Other arrangments are incomplete. The body of Mrs.Ware is in state at Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home.”

Source:  FindAGrave

Walter Dunn  Record added: Sep 01, 2007