Garvin County Pioneers

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Charles WINTER was born July 27, 1835 in Ohio and died near Pernell, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, I.T. September 16, 1900. Charles Winter married the Choctaw, Sophia MONCRIEF MARTIN, sister of Susan MONCRIEF GARVIN, July 1863 at Ft. Washita. Shortly after the Civil War, Charles, Sophia and her son by Willis Martin, Sam Martin, followed her father, William Moncrief to Ft. Arbuckle.
In 1872, Charles Winter employed the freighter, Patrick Hennessey. By 1878, he had purchased a place known as the Stinn on Rush Creek in Grady County.
By 1889, Charles Winter had lost two sons, Joseph Egbert and William Henry Winter, and his wife, Sophia. Joseph and Sophia are buried in the Moncrief Cemetery at Fred.
On October 18, 1890, Charles Winter married Elizabeth "Lizzie" CRAIG of Texas. Before or after this time, Charles moved to a ranch near Pernell with his Choctaw son, Clifton Elmer and Lizzie's son, Henry Nathan. Charles ranched a good piece of land down to the Wild Horse Creek. Charles would father three more children with Lizzie: Walter T., Margaret, and Dewey.
Charles Winter left Pickens County (Garvin County) in 1900 to visit his sister Elizabeth Bangle at East Oakland, Alameda County, California. Shortly after his return Charles died. Lizzie died in 1914. Both Charles and Elizabeth Winter are buried in the Winter Cemetery also known as the Sandy Bear Cemetery in Stephens County. Charles' son Clifton's and his son, Charles Thomas Winter, Choctaw allotments are located over the county line in Stephens County.

Charles Winter (1835-1900), Indian Territory
Submitted by Christopher T. Winter
The Winter Family History and Genealogical Research Homepage, is at:
(http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2421/index.html -Link has moved?)

I have rewritten the information on the Mays/Henson clan to reflect only information that came from family documents, rather than family
oral tradition. I made contact with Raymond Mays, who has done a marvelous job tracing the Mays' back to the 1660's in VA. He has published his information on Ancestory.com and it is quite well done.

The Mays clan and the Henson clan came to the Garvin County area many years before statehood.
John Henry Mays operated a Dry Goods store in Beef Creek, IT in the late1860's to the turn of the century. He came to IT with two of his
brothers, David and William. There were several other brothers and sisters living in Arkansas and Texas. All three fought for the Confederacy with the
Arkansas 2nd and 4th Infantry. All three survived the war and came home to IT. David and William were ranchers who homes were the center of many social
activities. William Mays was married to Georgia Ann Thornton, who walked the Trail of Tears as a child and was crippled by frostbite from the trip. William and Ann had three daughters, Susie, who was my grandmother, was the youngest. The Mays pedigree has been traced back to the1660â€™s starting in Charles City
County, VA. Susie married Joseph Marion Henson. Joe and Susie Henson were residents and prominent citizens of Maysville. Susie was quite a civic-minded person during the 20's-40's. She was in many clubs, wrote poetry which was published in the Maysville News. She as also known for her many folk medicine remedies in a time when there were few doctors in the area. They had five children -Juanita, Anita, Billie Mays, John, & Cherry. Susie died in 1947 from complications of a Black Widow spider bite. Joe Henson died in the early1980'safter being mugged in Maysville. He was 90 years old at the time. John Henry Mays was my great-great uncle and married Ella Burnley from Grand Cane, LA in the 1890's. She taught piano and was very active in the Baptist Church in Maysville. "Aunt Ella", as she was called by the whole town died in1956. Her house was just off Main Street and it was in front of her house that the Potts murder took place in 1944. The home is still standing. The Henson home was just behind the old croquet court, and was torn down during the 70's. I would be interested in hearing from anyone with additional information about the Mays, Henson, and Thornton families. I would be especially interested in confirming any information about Georgia Ann Thornton's parents and ancestors her siblings.
Joseph Boatman

The Mays clan and the Henson clan came to the Garvin County area many years before statehood.

John Henry Mays operated a Dry Goods store in Beef Creek, IT in the early 1860's. He had two brothers, David and William. All three fought for the Confederacy with the Arkansas 2nd and 4th Infantry. All three survived the war and came home to IT.
William Mays was married to Ann Thornton, who walked the Trail of Tears as a child and was cripple with frostbite from the trip. William and Ann had two daughters, Susie, who was my grandmother, and Hanna. William and Ann were both killed by renegade Comanches, circa 1890 and both daughters were taken hostage and raised by the Comanches.
As teenagers, they were given to Quanah Parker, had his fifth wife raise the sisters and re-educate them in the white man's school. They both married white men.
Susie married Joseph Marion Henson, who was born in the back of a covered wagon just after the gun fired to open the Strip, April 22, 1889. Grandpa Joe and Susie Henson were resident's and prominent citizens of Maysville.
It is my understanding that John Henry Mays is who Maysville was named for. I have always been told so in my families oral history.
Susie was quite a civic minded person during the 20's-40's. She was in many clubs, wrote poetry which was published in the Maysville News, and was a staunch Baptist. (as were the Mays') They had five children - Juanita, Anita, Billie Mays, John, & Cherry. Susie died in 1947 from complications of a Black Widow spider bite. Joe Henson died in the early 1980's after being mugged in Maysville. He was 90 years old at the time.
John Henry Mays was my great-great uncle and married Ella Burnley from Grand Cane, LA in the 1890's. She came from Louisiana by oxen cart and taught piano and was very active in the Baptist Church in Maysville. "Aunt Ella" as the whole town called her died in 1956, and was over 100 years old. Her house was just off Main Street and it was in front of her house that the Potts murder took place in 1944. The Henson home was next to the railroad tracks where the old croquet court stood.
If any one has additional information about the Henson's or the Mays I would like to hear from them.
Penquin46@aol.com

Sylvia McCarty Potts ( Sept 24, 1901 - Dec 6, 1943) was the victim in the Potts murder mentioned above. She was my Grandmother and I submitt this in honor of her, the Grandmother I never knew. See Dripping Springs Cemetery
See news article - see photo

Mary Ann COURTNEY (b1832 Arkansas d1911 Arbuckle) was married to Henry C. DECOURTNEY (prob b 1820s d1873 prob OK) and they raised 11 children to be full-grown. Mary Ann was part Chickasaw and came to the Arbuckle area in 1840. According to her obituary, she lived 1 1/2 miles west of Arbuckle and was buried in Walnut Cemetery, but I have been unable to find this.
Henry C. DECOURTNEY was born in Virginia and it is uncertain just when he came to Oklahoma. At some point, he shortened his name to COURTNEY.
If what one of his daughter's claim, he was part Chickasaw. He served in the Mexican War in Walker's Company 6th US Infantry as a Sergeant and was wounded. Relatives recall that Henry ran a ferry where Mud Creek and the Red River converge. I am not sure exactly where this is, but could be in Arkansas. He also raised pigs.
In my research, I have found that Mary Ann and Henry had to make at least three visits to the judge in Fort Smith, Arkansas. On October 20, 1872, Henry visited the judge and was accused of selling liquor in the Indian Territory. He was let off, probably because of a statement by witness, Martin D. Sandefur who stated "I live above the mouth of Mud Creek in the Chickasaw Nation. The only time I know anything about the defendant having any liquor in the nation was about 3 years ago, just after he was shot, the doctor gave him a bottle of bitters." In 1881, Henry had to visit the judge again for "introducing spirituous liquors into Indian Country."
Mary Ann was called to the judge for contempt of court in 1871. She wrote an interesting letter to the judge, dated august 18, 1871 from Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory where she told the judge that she had been sick and unable to come.

DAVIS - MALICOAT
Joseph Sanford DAVIS
Field Worker: Maurice N. Anderson March 30, 1937
Biography of Mr. Joe Davis (white)
Parents: James Robert Finley DAVIS, Ala. (deceased) Millie BLACKWELL, Ala. (deceased)
Story Told By: Mr. Joe Davis, born March 21,1881, Alabama
I came to the Indian Territory with my father and mother in 1892. I was 11 years old, we came through on the Santa Fe train from Texas to Pauls Valley, Indaian Territory.
On arriving at Pauls Valley, my father bought 2 horses and a wagon, we loaded up our household things, that my father has shipped through. It was not much, we had 4 chairs, table, homemade bedstead and a few other household things.
My father moved to Purdy, a little place about 25 miles southwest of Pauls Valley. There was a store, lone schoolhouse, Blacksmith shop and a Grist Mill. This mill was ran by steam and owned by Mr. PARK (HARP). The Blacksmith Shop was owned by Jim WELCH. I do not remember who owned the store. I went to school at this Log School house. A white woman was my teacher, I do not remember her name. My father had to pay her one dollar a month for me. Us kids that went to school did not have desks, we used slates and set on the hued down logs for seats. I had a blue back speller and a reader. I think there was about 25 or 30 children went to this school, the year I went. I did not go much the second term, only on the days we could not work in the fields. I had to help my father on the farm.
My father had about 100 acres leased, he raised lots of corn and cotton. He would haul the cotton to Pauls Valley on the Washita river. I believe this mill and gin went out of business.
There was lots of deer around Purdy, when we moved there, I have seen as high as 15 deer in one drove, around the foot of the Table Mountains, south of Purdy. Wild turkey's I have shelled corn and feather, about one mile from our house was a big turkey roast, they would come around our corn crib early of a morning. We could have turkey anytime to eat we wanted to. I have gone hunting and would not even shoot at a turkey. I like rabbits better, there was lots of coon, possum and skunks around Purdy.
I have broke wild horses for my father when I was 14 years old. Sunday, that was our "fun day". After Sunday school a group of boys that lived around Purdy, would meet at my house, nearly all owned saddle horses. We would go out on the prairie, there was not very many fences then. We would rope calves and have our rodeo, riding these calves on Sunday was when I learned to ride. When I was at the age of 15, I was not afraid to try any wild broncos or did I not care how big the steers were. We boys would make up $5.00 purses for the best rider for that day. I have won several times.
My father raised some cattle and hogs, but his main crop was corn. Corn was cheap then, I have seen my father sell corn for fifteen cents a bushel. My father sold about 20 acres of corn for ten cents a bushel in the filed. I do not know how much corn the man he sold that year gathered, but we usually made forty to fifty bushels an acre.
I lived with my father and mother around Purdy, until I was married in 1900. I married Lisa Sarah Malecoat, daughter of F. L. Malecoat, who was a big cattle man around Purdy, when my father moved there. My wife was born in Purdy, I do not know how long her people has been in the Indian Territory, before my father and mother came there.
After getting married I moved on a farm and went to farming for myself. In later years I have raised as high as 75 bales of cotton a year. My wife and I have reared 10 children. I now live 3 miles west of Pauls Valley. I have lived around in what is now Garvin county for 45 year.

Submitters Note: A copy of this interview was sent by Walter Malicoat January 20, 1994. The third child born of Joe and Sally Daivs died at the age of 3 from a spider bit. Sarah Elizabeth (Malicoat) Davis wasn't born at Purdy, Okla., she was born in Tx.
Submitted by Jean Brand

SHAWBELL - SENEY
Lewis Evans SHAWBELL b. 17 Mar 1851 PA d. 29 May 1915 OK m. Katherine Susan SENEY. b. 16 Sep 1869 MO d. 17 Dec 1927 OK. Married: 22 Sept 1889, Ottumwa, Coffey Co.,KS
Lewis Evans Shawbell came to Kansas from Pennsylvania with his parents at age five. His father John G. Shawbell with four other men founded the town of Ottumwa in Coffey County, KS in 1856.
Lewis was a carpenter and in 1877 built and opened a carpentry, wagon and harness shop in Ottumwa. In the late 1880's while he was employed by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas RR building a Line through Burlington, KS.
He met his future wife, working on a women's cooking crew for the railroad, Katherine Susan 'Kate' Seney. They were married 22 Sept 1889. Lewis was in the Oklahoma Land Run (Certificate Number #2002 Application #2793 in 1896 for 160 acres Signed by President Grover Cleveland). He traded his first claim, Claim One for a better claim (Claim Two) near 50th and May Streets in today's modern Oklahoma City.
Lewis built a home there and seven of eight of their children were born there. In 1909, Lewis traded Claim Two for a 160 acre farm near Pauls Valley, Garvin Co., OK. Katherine and her four daughter's took the train to their new home, while Lewis and his three sons transported the family belongings and stock by wagon. Their eighth, and last child, a daughter, was born in Pauls Valley.
Lewis was among many who donated to the survivors of the 26 May 1910 tornado that wiped out McCarty, OK.
Lewis and 'Kate' lived in Paul's Valley the rest of their lives.
Children of Lewis Evans Shawbell and Katherine Susan 'Kate' Seney:
John Roy b.1891 m KRAHL
Claude Marion, Sr. b. 1894, m. COVINGTON.
Clem Lewis b. 1895, m. JOHNSON
Laura Maria b. 1897, m. WORLEY.
Eva Anna b. 1900, m. DELBRIDGE.
Kathleen Lulu b. 1902, m. WILSON.
Nettie Sarah b. 1905 (Living), m. CALDWELL.
Alice Martha b. 1910, m. SIMMONS.

George Pitchlynn was born in Tishomingo around 1862. He was the son of Chickasaw Constable Jefferson and Judy Pitchlynn. Jefferson was the son of Choctaw Senator Thomas Jefferson Pitchlynn and Mary Susan Allen, a Chickasaw. Historically, Thomas was the brother of the great Choctaw Chief Peter P. Pitchlynn. George came to Fort Arbuckle in 1897 with his first wife: Angeline Kimble and his children: Mawsley, Isabella, Jeff and John Pitchlynn. Because of his Indian heritage, George received land from the Dawes allotment which was located in the Hennipen community. In all, George was one of the largest
land owners in the Garvin County community. George Pitchlynn owned or controlled approximately one thousand acres of prime farm land. In 1903, George married Emma Curry (a former resident of Montgomery County, Alabama). George was one of the largest farmers and cattlemen in the Garvin County community. Later, George father four children by his second wife Emma Curry Pitchlynn: (Georgian, Bertha, William and Theodore Pitchlynn.) In 1912, Mr. George Pitchlynn was buried at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. George Pitchlynn is the great-grandfather of Bob Curry. See photo of Bertha Pitchlynn, daughter of George Pitchlynn.
Submitted by Bob Curry

BURNETT-WRIGHT
Rufus M. BURNETT, came to the Indian Territory in 1883 from Arkansas, in 1886 he married Harriet Fulsom, who was 1/2 Chickasaw. Rufus lived in Garvin Co. moving onto Pontotoc Co. By 1890 his brother, Cornelius T. BURNETT with wife, Ida R. PRESSGROVE, had also moved to the Indian Territory (first in Garvin Co. moving onto Pushmataha Co) along with another brother, John J. BURNETT and wife, Nancy HUTZ. John participated in the Oklahoma Land Run with his son, Charles and settled in McClain Co. . And by 1900 another brother, my great-grandfather, William H. and wife, Lucinda Ann (WRIGHT) BURNETT. Lucinda's brother, Andrew J. WRIGHT also moved to the Indian Territory and descendants of this family still live in Garvin County.

Family tradition has it, that sometime around 1900, William Robert's family including his mother, Martha Amanda McKee, and several siblings along with their families moved into Indian Territory. Their son, James Andres McKee, was just a little boy at that time but he said he remembered fording the Red River with a team and wagon.

The McKee's were farmers and had to work hard. Mary Elizabeth, whom they called Molly, often had to lend a hand with the plowing, the planting and tending to farm animals. Of course, her main responsibility was the never-ending work of caring for her large family. She and William Robert, whose nickname was Bob, had eight children. Six of these were born after they moved into the Chickasaw Nation. Included among Molly's work was doctoring the family through injury and illness. But Indian Territory delivered a high rate of accidents. Most families grieved for the loss of at least one baby or child. The McKee family was no different. Their little daughter, Barbara was only 6 years old when she cut her leg on the rusty water dipper. Even though Molly tried every home remedy available to her, their daughter developed blood poisoning and died. This was in 1906 before anti-biotics existed and blood poisoning was a common threat to early Oklahoma pioneers. Little Barbara was buried in the Katie Cemetery in Garvin County. Mary McKee died just a few years later in February of 1910 at the age of 42 and was buried next to her daughter in the Katie Cemetery. Her headstone reads: "Wife of W. R. Here lies one who in this life was a true wife. She was by many virtues blest and pious."

Bob still had several children living at home after his wife, Mary, died thus he remarried quickly to a widow woman named Mrs. M. J. Charles that June of 1910 in Garvin County. It is unknown what happened to his second wife, but in 1915, he married his sister-in-law, Rhoda Fletcher, in Garvin County. Rhoda's husband, Thomas Jasper Fletcher, had died in 1911 and was also buried in the Katie Cemetery. However, on the 1920 census, Rhoda was not listed as living with Bob and his family.

George Wyatt Gibson was born in Haywood, TN, in 1-3-1843 and came to Whites Co AR where he married Lydia Ann Warren on 9-25-1866. Lydia was born in Holly Springs, MS in 8-13-1846 and she had moved to Pulaski, Whites Co, AK with her mother (Darcus Sarah (Jones) Warren) and other siblings around 1855. George and Lydia had 9 children in Whites Co, AR and 2 children in Heber, Sugar Loaf Springs, Claburn Co, AR. Lydia Ann Gibson died in Pauls Valley, IT at age 47 and was buried in The Old Cemetery in Pauls Valley, on 5-30-1894 and the marker is still on her grave. Sometime after 1905 George Gibson moved to Escondido, CA with his daughter Susan Clyde (Gibson) Bandy and son-in-law George Thomas (Tom) Bandy.

Their daughter Susan Clyde Gibson (b. Pangburn, White Co, AK 3-16-1874), married George Thomas (Tom) Bandy (b. Clinton Co, KY in1871), in Pauls Valley, Garvin Co, on 12-24-1893. Recorded also in the local newspaper. Tom Bandy was a Blacksmith at the Bandy Brothers Blacksmith, as well as he held an elected office as aldermen in 1902.

	Garvin County County Seat - Pauls Valley
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