Ada Bertha Dobkins, born on August 6, 1879, in Chetopa, Kansas, married Benona H. Durall on August 25, 1897. They had five children: Harold Robert, Hugh Allen, George Marvin, Ada Leah, and Charles Ivan. Harold served in the navy during World War I. A member of the Methodist Church and various orders, Mrs. Durall’s husband engaged in the insurance and loan business in Welch. Their family reflects a rich heritage of service and community involvement.
Franklin Wallace Craig, born in Missouri on March 15, 1854, married Catherine Fetrick on November 8, 1878. They had one daughter, Edna Earl Craig, born June 8, 1880, who later married George Wesbroford Durall in 1897. The Dural family, including their five children, was active in the Methodist Church, with George Durall pursuing a career in the loan and insurance sector. The family’s connections to community organizations like the Masons and the Eastern Star reflect their involvement in local social life.
Rosa A. Morris Jackson, born February 24, 1893, near Welch, is the daughter of John H. and Mary Malisson Morris. She attended Cherokee National schools and married Fred L. Jackson on June 2, 1912. They have two children, Carwel Lee and Norma Jennie. Active in her community, Mrs. Jackson is a Methodist and an Eastern Star member. Notably, she is the great-great granddaughter of Pathkiller, a former Principal Chief of the Cherokees, linking her to a rich family heritage.
Corintha C. Cheek, born March 2, 1875, to Pleas and Sarah Cheek, was educated at Grove and married William Merrell on October 15, 1893, in Vinita. William was born on March 9, 1865, in Saline County, Missouri. The couple had five children: Luvena, Lola, Pleasant Chandler, Jewell, and Euphaetta. Luvena married John Robinson and has a daughter, Audra May. The Merrell family resides in Welch, contributing to their community’s heritage.
Annie Lydia Downing, born on September 10, 1871, in Saliva District, was educated at the Female Seminary and Harrell Institute in Muskogee. She married William Hayden Pace on December 22, 1898, in Locust Grove. The couple had seven children: Elbert Edward, Hayden Adair, Clyde Lewis, Joe Sheldon, Loretta Lucite, Howard, and Alfred Collins. They are active members of the Methodist Church, with William engaged in farming and stock raising, particularly focusing on purebred Short Horn cattle and Poland China hogs near Welch.
Laura Craig was born on December 16, 1889, in Welch, where she later graduated from high school. She married Harvey Brooks on December 23, 1912, and they had three children: Harvey, Laura Kathryn, and Mary Eugenia. An active member of the Christian Church, Mrs. Campbell’s family ties run deep in the community; she is the daughter of Franklin Wallace and Catherine Craig, with her uncle, Granville C. Craig, being the namesake of Craig County. Harvey Brooks is a prominent local grain dealer and president of the Oklahoma State Bank of Welch.
Eva, born on June 20, 1886, to Artemus Andrews and Mary A. Barker, was educated at St. Teresa Academy and Forest Park University. She married Allen D. Holloway on May 10, 1906, in Vinita, Oklahoma. The couple had two children, Mary Dee and William Andrew. Active in her community, Mrs. Holloway is a member of the Methodist Church and the Eastern Star Chapter, while her husband serves as the cashier of the Oklahoma State Bank in Welch, Oklahoma.
Eva Stella Craig, born January 7, 1883, was the daughter of Franklin Wallace and Catherine Craig. She married William J. Schuth on March 28, 1900, and they had four children: Walter, William Craig, Elzy Ivan, and Gyneth Wayne. A member of the Christian Church, Eva held the position of President of the Pleasant Valley Red Cross Association during the war. Her husband is a state highway supervisor, reflecting their active involvement in the community and service during challenging times.
Dr. John Owen Bradshaw, born on January 9, 1875, in Missouri, has been a prominent figure in the medical community of Welch since 1913. Specializing in eye, ear, nose, and throat conditions, he has garnered recognition for his expertise. After earning his medical degree in 1901, he served as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps and later completed post-graduate work. A World War I veteran and member of various medical associations, Dr. Bradshaw is also noted for his community involvement and agricultural interests. He has been married twice, with children from both marriages.
Almyra Lane, born on February 16, 1849, in Tennessee, married David Solon James on October 16, 1866. David served in the Union Army during the Civil War and together they had a daughter, Clara Della James, born on June 16, 1875, in the Cherokee Nation. Clara, an educator for two decades, married Walter Copeland on May 12, 1915. The Copelands were active in their community, with Walter working as a merchant, and Almyra involved in the Methodist Church and Eastern Star Chapter.