Doom Family

 

The Doom Family was an important contributor to the birh and life of the Congregational Church of Austin. ,Judge David Williams, Church Founder (June 15, 1848–May 24, 1909). He was the son of Randolph C. Doom and Altazera Williams, and the husband of Esther Prisey Houston. He was born in Jasper County, Texas, and he served in the Confederate Army. David was an attorney and judge. He acted as special district judge and special judge of the appellate courts on several occasions. He handled a large amount of land litigation. Here we quote from his Funeral Announcement in the Dallas Morning News, May 28, 1909: “The body of the late Judge David W. Doom was laid in its final resting place in Oakwood Cemetery last evening under the auspices of the Knights Templar. Dr. R. J. Briggs, pastor of the First Congregational Church, and also a prominent Templar, conducted the services, speaking in highest terms of the goodness, charitableness and benevolence of the late Judge Doom. The choir of the First Congregational Church rendered the only two hymns, singing at the home, "Go Bury Thy Sorrow," and at the grave, "We'll Meet Each Other There." The funeral was one of the largest that has been held in Austin in many years. Out of respect to the memory of Judge Doom, the Twenty-Sixth and the Fifty-Third District Courts adjourned this evening. The Austin Bar Association met today, adopted resolutions and attended the funeral in a body. They appointed as honorary pallbearers: Judge F. A. Williams of the Supreme Court, Judge W. F. Ramsey of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Judge W. E. Key of the Court of Civil Appeals, Judge T. S. Maxey of the United States District Court, Judge C. A. Wilcox of the Twenty-Sixth District Court, Judge George Calhoun of the Fifty-Third District Court, William M. Walton, S. R. Fisher, R. L. Penn and A. W. Terrell. The active pallbearers were from among the Templars. All of those chosen were past commanders. They were Tom Murrah, C. J. Johnson, John K. Donnan, S. S. Shackelford, E. C. Bartholomew and E. T. Moore.”

Judge Doom's wife was Esther Pusey Houston, seen at right. They were married in 1871. She was born on Mar. 12, 1845, in Hardin County, Texas. She died on January 28, 1940, in Austin, Travis County, Texas. She was the daughter of John Houston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obituary for Judge David W. Doom:

The body of the late Judge David W. Doom was laid in its final resting place in Oakwood Cemetery last evening under the auspices of the Knights Templar. Dr. R. J. Briggs, pastor of the First Congregational Church, and also a prominent Templar, conducted the services, speaking in highest terms of the goodness, charitableness and benevolence of the late Judge Doom. The choir of the First Congregational Church rendered the only two hymns, singing at the home "Go Bury Thy Sorrow," and at the grave, "We'll Meet Each Other There." The funeral was one of the largest that has been held in Austin in many years. Out of respect to the memory of Judge Doom the Twenty-Sixth and the Fifty-Third District Courts adjourned this evening. The Austin Bar Association met today, adopted resolutions and attended the funeral in a body. They appointed as honorary pallbearers Judge F. A. Williams of the Supreme Court, Judge W. F. Ramsey of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Judge W. E. Key of the Court of Civil Appeals, Judge T. S. Maxey of the United States District Court, Judge C. A. Wilcox of the Twenty-Sixth District Court, Judge George Calhoun of the Fifty-Third District Court, William M. Walton, S. R. Fisher, R. L. Penn and A. W. Terrell. The active pallbearers were from among the Templars. All of those chosen were past commanders. They were Tom Murrah, C. J. Johnson, John K. Donnan, S. S. Shackelford, E. C. Bartholomew and E. T. Moore.

Judge and Esther Doom had a son, David Houston Doom, born in Austin on September 12, 1875, TX. His photo is at right. He was was a very successful attorney. David Houston married Nellie Gertrude Home (1876–1948). David Houston was Clerk of the church ibetween 1904–08. He served as President of Austin Bar Association in 1930s and died September 2, 1954, in Houston,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nellie Gertrude Horne Doom (1876–1948), was the wife of David Houston Doom. Her father was Dr. William T. Horne (b. 1817), the son of A. Ogden Horne, Sr. (d. 1876) and his wife Elizabeth. William's siblings included A. Odgen, Jr., and Mary. Dr. Horne practiced medicine in Columbus, Lone Jack, and Rocksprings, Missouri, before moving to Texas in 1848. During the Civil War, he served with the 19th Texas Regiment in the Confederate Army. After living in various towns throughout Travis and Williamson counties, he finally settled in Austin in 1864. Here Dr. Horne and his wife, A. A., daughter of E. S. Vinson, lived with his father for a few years. The Hornes had two daughters Mattie and Nellie G. Nellie married Austin judge David Houston Doom. She actively supported women’s rights and was a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Albert Sidney Johnston Chapter, in Austin.

 

 

 

 

 

Pickrell, Annie Doom

Annie Doom Pickrell was the daughter of Judge David H. and Esther Pusey Houston Doom. She married John H. Pickrell. Annie was born Oct. 17, 1871, Jasper County, Texas). Her parents moved to Austin when she was six. She attended Austin Public Schools and the University of Texas. Annie was the author of a very successful book, Pioneer Women in Texas, published by the E. L. Steck Company of Austin in 1929. She was the State Historian of the Daughters of the America Revolution. Annie was a pillar of the “Congregational University Community Church.” This church name appeared in her 1950 obituary. Rev. A. Bertram Miller officiated at her funeral. She died December 14, 1950, in Austin, TX.

 

Doom Photos