Grandma Martha came to Texas along with her father and mother from Kentucky and settled in Cherokee County in and around the cities of Jacksonville and Rusk, Texas. This happened during the age of slavery, therefore, they usually took the name of their Master. So, evidently their master was named Kellum.Her father was named Hubbard Kellum, and her mother's name was Bettie Kellum. There were three (3) girls, and two (2) boys born to this family. The girls were: Martha Kellum, Betty Kellum and Angie Kellum. The boys were Saul Kellum and Ollie Kellum. It was reported that Hubbard Kellum, their father, walked with his family from Cherokee County to Sabine County and settled in and around the Sulphur Springs and Labannalla Creek area. These events took place during the early part of the 1800's.

Dave Dennis, along with his mother named Easter (called Govie), came to Texas from Tennessee, with their master, Captain Wm. Scurlock . Easter(Govie) was Captain Scurlock's maid or house girl. They lived on his plantation in and around the Sulphur Springs area. The old home of Captain Scurlock still Stands. Great Grandma Easter was not married when she mothered four boys: Henry Smith, John Scurlock, Dick Dennis and Dave Dennis. Dick and Dave were whole brothers and Henry Smith and John Scurlock were half brothers to Dave and Dick Dennis. John Scurlock and Henry Smith were older than Dave and Dick Dennis. It has been reported that Dave and Dick Dennis became angry with Captain Wm. Scurlock because they did not want their name as Scurlock and moved to the Farm of Jim Dennis and named themselves Dennis and claimed Jim Dennis as their father. Jim Dennis had no wife and left the farm.

Dave and Dick eventually went back to Captain Scurlock's farm or plantation.
After leaving the home of Captain Scurlock, Govie married a man known as Daddy Randall (Randall Sneedy) and Ived On land brought from Dave Sharp.
Dave Dennis married Martha Kellum and moved on land also purchased from Dave Sharp. He established his home Near the Labannalla Creek and near Sulphur Springs. The Sulphur Springs still runs today.
Grandfather Dave and Grandmother Martha built their first house of logs packed on their shoulders from the forest.
Later years, they built a double-joint box house, in which they raised the Dennis Clan.
The family of Dave and Martha Dennis consisted of four (4) girls and nine (9) boys. The girls were: Sudie, Rosie, Mary and Ruthie who died in infancy. The boys were: Jim, Robert (Bob), Lewis, Allen, Richard, Sam, Tom, and Sidney . There was a total of thirteen children.
They helped to build their first church, which was built of logs from the forest near where they lived. In later years they were instrumental in helping to build New Zion United Methodist Church on land given by Wm. Gasby.
John Scurlock was the father of Lizzie Weathered, Sudie Hoyle, Cellie Greer, Maggie Greer, Dump Weathered and Mattie Edward.
Henry Smith had no children.

Originally researched and prepared by James L. Dennis, Leachie Dennis Canton and Carrie Dennis Canton
July, 1980