Oklahoma City Oklahoma Genealogy

Biography of Martin E. Turner

Martin E. Turner, who has been numbered among the able representatives of the legal fraternity at Eufaula for the past decade, is now practicing successfully as a member of the firm of Turner, Turner, Harley & Paris. His birth occurred in Columbia, Missouri, on the 2d of May, 1878, his parents being George W. and Elizabeth J. (Martin) Turner, both of whom were also natives of that state, where the father followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career. During the period of the Civil war he was captured while endeavoring to reach Price’s army and was incarcerated in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William R. Samuel

(See Downing) Minnie L., daughter of Clement and Rebecca Caroline (Bryan) Hayden, was born at Chouteau April 5, 1879. She was educated in Liberty, Mo. Married on April 21, 1901, William Ruben Samuel, born February 2, 1869 in Calloway County, Missouri. He graduated May 28, 1902, from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. They are the parents of Rebecca Ann Samuel, born Oct. 3, 1917. Mr. Samuel is Secretary of the State Bankers Association, and is a Mason and Odd Fellow. He was for four years State Insurance Commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel are members of the Methodist church, and residents of … Read more

Slave Narrative of Alice Douglass

Person Interviewed: Alice Douglass Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Sumner County, Tennessee Date of Birth: December 22, 1860 Age: 73 I was born December 22, 1880 in Summer County, Tennessee. My mother, I mean mammy, ’cause what did we know ’bout mother and mama. Master and Mistress made dey chillun call all nigger women. “Black Harmy.” Jest as I was saying my mammy was named Millie Elkins and my pappy was named Isaac Garrett. My sisters and brothers was Frank, Susie and Mollie. They is all in Nashville, Tennessee right now. They lived in log houses. I ‘member … Read more

Fort Gibson Conference with the Indians, 1834

Catlin Painting a Chief at the Base of the Rocky Mountains

One of the most important Indian conferences ever held in the Southwest, occurred at Fort Gibson in 1834 for it paved the way for agreements and treaties essential to the occupation of a vast country by one hundred thousand members of the Five Civilized Tribes emigrating from east of the Mississippi; to the security of settlers and travelers in a new country; to development of our Southwest to the limits of the United States and beyond and contributed to the subsequent acquisition of the country to the coast, made known to us by the pioneers to Santa Fe and California traveling through the region occupied by the “wild” Indians who, at Fort Gibson, gave assurances of their friendship. It is true, these assurances were not always regarded, and many outrages were afterwards committed on the whites and by the whites, but the Fort Gibson conference was the beginning and basis upon which ultimately these things were accomplished.

Biography of Omer Romanes Young

An extensive clientele attests the ability of Omer Romanes Young in the practice of law, to which he has devoted his attention since 1915, and he now ranks with the leading representatives of the Miami bar. He was born on a farm near Hartville, in Wright county, Missouri, October 16, 1883, his parents being Jackson Davis and Sarah Ann (Smith) Young, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Illinois. In young manhood the father went to Missouri, settling in Wright county, where he devoted his attention to farming and stock raising, in which he won a gratifying … Read more

Slave Narrative of Mattie Hariman

Person Interviewed: Mattie Hariman Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Gunalis, Texas Date of Birth: January 2, 1859 Age: 78 I was born January 2, 1859, at Gunalis, Texas. My father’s name was William Tensley and my mother’s name Mildred Howard. They was brought from Virginia. I did have 8 brothers and sisters but all of them are dead. My Master was name William Henry Edward. Since I was too young to work I nursed my sisters’ children while they worked. The cooking was done all up to the general kitchen at Masters house and when slaves come from … Read more

63rr and Penn Avenue Cemetery Records, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

CARLSON (Infant), b. 21 Jan. 1918, d. 22 Jan. 1918. COLE Margaret H., b. 19 June 1878, d. 16 Sept. 1898. CONKEY Amanda M., b. 6 Feb. 19__, d. 21 Jan. 1925. L. B., b. 18 Dec. 1846, d. 18 July 1921. COOK F. W., b. 24 Sept. 1876, d. 4 Aug. 1938. DOUGLASS Linina C., b. 28 Oct. 1907, ae. 57 yrs. Wife to W. L. Douglass. DUNN Frances Ann, b. 27 Feb. 1834, d. 18 Sept. 1922. FARRINGTON Elizabeth C., b. 22 Feb. 1844, d. 27 Sept. 1901. Wife to E. D. Farrington. FLETCHER Flora, d. 18 July … Read more

Chaves, Frances R. – Obituary

Frances R. Chaves, 91, Oklahoma City, Okla., former resident of Baker City, Ore., died Feb. 24, 2007 in Oklahoma City. Rosary will be held Friday, March 9, 2007, 7 p.m. at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel. A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 10, 10 a.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Viewing will be at Gray’s West & Company, Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9 from 2 p.m. 7 p.m. Vault Interment will be at Mount Hope. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Catholic Charities or a charity … Read more

Durr, Carolyn Bonitz Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Carolyn Durr, 70, died Nov. 5, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Her graveside service was at 1 p.m. today at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends were invited to join the family for a reception at the Lions Hall afterward. Carolyn Durr was born to Aubrey and Thelma Bonitz at Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 14, 1934. Her family later moved to Albany where she graduated from Albany High School. It was in high school that she met David Durr. They were married in 1954 while he was serving in the U.S. Marines. They spent the … Read more

Biography of George B. Franks

George B. Franks. Considered as an art, landscape gardening is one that has a definite place in life, appealing to and satisfying that innate sense of the beautiful that all possess to some degree. Nature points the way and it is the precious gift of the landscape gardener to be able to reproduce, in limited space, her noble effects and most pleasing arrangement of tree, shrub and flower. The wonderful facility in this direction, as in other artistic talents, is largely an inherited gift, although to make it practical, of course, there must be much definite knowledge, mathematical and otherwise. … Read more

Slave Narrative of Lewis Bonner

Person Interviewed: Lewis Bonner Location: 507 N. Durland, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Date of Birth: 1850 Age: 87 I was born 7 miles north of Palostine, Texas on Hatt Swanson ‘s place in 1850, but I kin not remember’ the date. My mistress was name Celia Swanson. My mistress was so good to me till I jest loved her. My family and all slaves on our place was treated good. Mighty few floggings went on round and about. Master was the overseer over his darkies and didn’t use no other’n. I waited table and churned in the Big House. I ate … Read more

Lee, Myrtle Belle McMillen Grogam – Obituary

Mrs. Myrtle Belle, 600 W. 59th, passed away Fri. morning [December 30, 1932]. Survived by husband, Harley Essex Lee, 600 W. 59th; 2 brothers-in-law, Oscar G. Lee, 94th and State Line; H. H. Lee, 642 W. 59th Terrace. Funeral services and burial will be held in Oklahoma City, OK [Fairlawn Cemetery]. Mrs. Lee will lie in state at D. W. Newcomer’s Sons Community Chapel on Paseo at Robert Gillham Road until 8:30 o’clock Sat. evening. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of John Wesley Kieff

John Wesley Kieff, widely known throughout Oklahoma as a journalist, is now serving as justice of the peace of Miami and is generally conceded to be the most capable incumbent in that office in the history of Ottawa County. A native of Indiana, he was born in Tippecanoe County on the 9th of March, 1857, his parents being John and Mary (Ryan) Kieff, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in the Hoosier state. The father followed the occupation of farming and both parents passed away during the childhood of the subject of this review. John … Read more

Slave Narrative of James Southall

Person Interviewed: James Southall Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Clarksville, Tennessee Age: 82 I was born in Clarksville, Tenn. My father was Wesley and my mother was Hagar Southall. Our owner was Dr. John Southall, an old man. Father always belonged to him but he bought my mother when she was a young girl and raised her. She never knew anything ’bout her people but my father’s mother lived with us in de quarter’s at Master Southall’s. Master John never sold any of his slaves. We was known as “Free niggers.” Master said he didn’t believe it was … Read more

Slave Narrative of Amanda Oliver

Person Interviewed: Amanda Oliver Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Missouri Date of Birth: November 9, 1857 Age: 80 I ‘membuh what my mother say, I was born November 9, 1857, in Missouri. I was ’bout eight years old, when she was sold to a master named Harrison Davis. They said he had two farms in Missouri, but when he moved to northern Texas he brought me, my mother, Uncle George, Uncle Dick and a cullud girl they said was 15 with ‘im. He owned ’bout 6 acres on de edge of town near Sherman, Texas, and my mother … Read more

Slave Narrative of Doc Daniel Dowdy

Person Interviewed: Doc Daniel Dowdy Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Madison County, Georgia Date of Birth: June 6, 1856 Age: 81 I was born June 6, 1856 in Madison County, Georgia. Father was named Joe Dowdy and mother was named Mary Dowdy. There was 9 of us boys, George, Smith, Lewis, Henry, William, myself, Newt, James and Jeff. There was one girl and she was my twin, and her name was Sarah. My mother and father come from Richmond, Va., to Georgia. Father lived on one side of the river and my mother on the other wide. My … Read more

Slave Narrative of Francis Bridges

Person Interviewed: Francis Bridges Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Red River County, Texas Date of Birth: 1864 Age: 73 Occupatio I was born in Red River County, Texas in 1864, and that makes me 73 years old. I had myself 75, and I went to my white folks and they counted it un and told me I was 73, but I always felt like I was older than that. My husband’s name is Henry Bridges. We was raised up children together and married. I had five sisters. My brother died here in Oklahoma about two years ago. He … Read more

Biography of Calvin M. Hill

Calvin M. Hill. One of the long established business houses of Topeka, and one which has established itself firmly in the confidence of the public by reason of the honorable manner in which its affairs have been conducted, is the wholesale wall paper and retail paint business of Calvin M. Hill. Mr. Hill has been a resident of Kansas for thirty-four years, having come here with his parents in 1882, and, with the exception of four years has been identified with the painting and decorating business throughout his career. His present enterprise was started in a small way sixteen years … Read more

Biography of David Hester Cotten

David Hester Cotten, a native son of Oklahoma who represents the third generation of the family in this state, is numbered among the rising young attorneys of Miami, where since 1918 he has engaged in practice, and he has already won a well established position in the ranks of the profession. He was born near Ardmore, in that part of Indian Territory occupied by the Chickasaw Nation, on the 28th of January, 1894, his parents being David Oscar and Cora J. (Nesmith) Cotten, the former born at Tishomingo, Indian Territory, while the latter was a native of Birmingham, Alabama. The … Read more

Washington Irving at Fort Gibson, 1832

The McIntosh Creeks had been located along Arkansas River near the Verdigris on fertile timbered land which they began at once to clear, cultivate, and transform into productive farms. The treaty of 1828 with the Cherokee gave the latter a great tract of land on both sides of Arkansas River embracing that on which the Creeks were located. This was accomplished by a blunder of the Government officials, in the language of the Secretary of War, “when we had not a correct knowledge of the location of the Creek Indians nor of the features of the country.” This situation produced … Read more