Sources
26. Michael A. Barbieri, "Wastie Gesslien," 10/28/1999, email files.
your "Wasta Gesslein" is actually "Wastie Gesslien, b.unknown in
Germany. His parents are: Christopher Gesslein b.4/9/1836 in Germany,
d.1/17/1906 in Frontenac, KS. Christopher m.Cora Double. Cora b.
Germany in 1849, d.Frontenac, KS in 1933. Christopher and Cora are my
g-g-grandparents.
Wastie had 8 brothers and sisters. Wasties oldest sister, Rachel (my
G-grandmother) was born in Penzberg, Germany.
I have other tidbits on Wasties brothers and sisters, and another
contact in Texas if you would like.
Michael
Dublin, CA
mikeybar@pacbell.net
27. Burrton Glenn Woodruff III, "Family Stories."
28. Robert Holland Fulton, "Ralph Stone Story," Received 2004; Probably written 1978.
THE RALPH H. STONE FAMILY IN OKLAHOMA
Ralph Holland and Alda Hickman Stone, and their two children Vera and Olin, entered the Oklahoma Territory in 1902 from the Coffey County, Kansas area.
Ralph and Alda were married in Redmon, Illinois in January, 1898 and established a home n Crandall, Kansas. Their daughter, Vera Catharine, was born the following year, May 28, 1899, their son, Olin Ralph was born on May 17, 1901.
The family first settled on an Indian lease along the bank of the Chikaskia River in a three-room twostory house they shared with good friends Newt and Naiinie Riley, and their three children. This house was quite near what was known as the Bill Gunn bridge over the Chikaskia river, to the east.
The ground was leased from a Ponca Indian, allotee #133 G. Collins, but was later purchased from the survivors of Collins, and a Patent was awarded, #389689, through the office of the President of the United States.
This 120 acres then became their home, described in the deed as the NE 1/4 of NW 1/4, and the N 1/2 of NE 1/4, Section 19
Township 25 North, Range 1 East. Their living quarters were only a tent and a dugout while the ground was being tilled and planted, and the crops harvested. (See Page 7. )
In October, 1905 an additional 80 acres was purchased from H. D. Wycoff that was south across the Salt Fork River, the E 1/2 of SE 1/4, Section 30, Twp 25N, R1E. It was here that they built the house that was to he the family home, and where their second daughter, Frances Alda Eleanor was born on April 1, 1906, and another child that died in infancy in January, 1910. The house was built with two rooms downstairs and two upstairs.
In March 1907 an area called Lot 7, that laid north of the above 80 acres, consisting of 30. 7 acres, was leased from Grover Story Teller for two years at a rate of $2. 00 per acre, paid semiannually. When this lease expired, it was purchased in September 1910, and the home place consisted of 110 acres, laying south to north from the section line to the Salt Fork.
In March 1908 an additional 156 acres was leased from David Little Cook, the N 1/2 and SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 and Lot 1 of Section 33, Twp 25N, RIE at a rate of $1. 50 per acre paid semiannually. Also specified in the lease was a 14' X 24' barn to be built, with solid stone foundation, 10' high studding 3' apart, with drop or box siding, and painted two coats, with doors and windows, feed boxes and racks.
During this same time, in the Fail of 1907, the older two children of Ralph and Alda started to school. Vera and Olin began together attending Valley Center, some four miles to the west, and would continue going there through Grade five. During the fail and winter of 1912-13, the Joint District #1 Bird's Nest School was completed, and Vera, Olin and now Frances would he attending there. This school was just one mile to the south of the home place, on the Kay/Noble County line.
Bird's Nest School rapidly became the social center of the District, drawing on talent from the surrounding neighbors for regular monthly entertainment, as well as the occasional box suppers. Proceeds from these get togetthers provided funds for which to purchase an organ and stool, a dictionary and holder, calico and thread for curtains, lamps and coal oil, hymn books, chalk and other supplies.
The Ledger Books also show entries from July 1912 to February 1913 where slightly over $686. 00 was paid for the building. And during this same period, teacher salaries were $40. 00 per month. Sample entries show Nella Knable and Fay Kirkpatrick as teachers, and a Souvenir Leaflet for this Joint District #1 of Buffalo Township , Oklahoma show C. G. Vannest as Superintendent; C. W. Case, Director; H. D. Wycoff, Clerk; and Ralph Stone, Treasurer. A Report Card for Frances Stone for October 1916 to March 1917 is signed by Winnie Osborn, Teacher.
Other important changes were being made during these years. In August 1909, Creth Little Cook leased to Ralph Stone an 80 acre plot of ground across the road south and 1/4 mile west of the home plsce. This was the W 1/2 of NE* of Section 31, 25N, R1E, and the $2. 50 per acre was paid semiannually. Little Cook decided to sell this land in 1918, and it was purchased by W. H. Vanselous. Shortly after, Ralph purchased a like 80 acres in Section 26. For their mutual benefit, these two 80's were traded in 1920.
Also in November 1909, Ralph and his brother Bill purchased 54 acres of ground laying just north of the Tonkawa City limits, from the Board of Regents, University Preparatory School. This ground, 733' eastwest and 330' north-south would later become the Stone Addition to the City of Tonkawa, with Ralph owning the north half, and Bill the south half, aLoric; Stone Avenue. No improvements were made at this time, :15 both men end their families were totally involved n their farming ventures southeast of town. Bill was farming well to the East, near the 101 ranch, with his wife of two years, Anna Back, of Billings.
Ralph and Alda were seeing their children growing up, and provided them with the best education available. In 1912 they purchased a piano for the home, and Vera began taking lessons. During the summers, she would drive their horse and buggy into town to take instruction from Mrs. Vic Walling and practicing on rented pianos. Olin helped out on the farm throughout the plowing, planting and harvesting seasons, and continued his education. Frances began her First Grade in 1912, and she, Olin and Vera all attended Bird's Nest School together.
In March 1917 seven members of the rural community went together to establish telephone service to the Surrounding area. Ralph Stone was elected President of the association at their first meeting, and T. J. VanVoris the Secretary. Records show the expenses for Wire, Poles, labor and exchange service to start up came to just under 0250. 00, or $35. 52 for each of the line owners: B. H. Stone, T. J. VanVoris, Fred Sipe, C. F. Stark, W. J. Liles, Owen Ambrose and James H. Stone. Others renting a share of the line were: Alfred Regnier, Percy Davis, Clarence McElhaney, and Alfred Henibree. The list expanded as time went on, and the official duties of President and Secretary changed as new members bought-in or replaced original line owners. The association continued into the early thirties, but the final entry in the ledger listed only K. C. Smith, R. H. Stone, John Coiwell, J. H. Stone and Earl Davies.
Health problems began to plague Ralph, and in September 1920, the family moved to town. A house and four lots were purchased from D. T. Irhy in the Ansel Addition of Tonkawa, Lots 19, 20, 21 arid 22 in Block 4, or one block directly south of the University Preparatory School. The house *as on Lot 21, at 300 South Frantz Street, south of Oklahoma Avenue. From here, the children took their High School courses at the Preparatory School and attended many other school functions.
Vera graduated in 1920 and went on to Edmond one summer to earn a teaching certificate. She taught for a while at Fair'riew near Billings. She married Kenneth C. Smith in July 1921 and they moved to the Stone farm, remaining there for six years. During this time, their two daughters were born, Virginia in April 1922, and. Catharine in June 1925. In 1927 the family moved to the Gardener place, 2 1/2 south and 2 miles east of Tonkawa, where their son Roger was born in September 1927.
In 1930 the Smith family moved to a farm owned by W. J. Liles, northeast of the Stone farm, and lived there until 1938. Their son Olin Dail was born there in December 1931. In 1938, they returned to the Stone farm where their son Larry Deane was born in April 1939. They would farm both the Liles and Stone places until 1944, when they bought a farm north of the Salt Fork river northeast of Tonkawa from Harry Leach.
Olin graduated from High School at the Preparatory School in the Spring of 1921, and worked in and around Tonkawa for the next several years. He married Nellie Musselman in April 1923, and while they were living in a house that had been moved in across the street from Ralph and Alda in Tonkawa, their daughter Maxine was born in January 1924. For the next ten years, Olin and his family would live and work in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas in the oil-related industries.
It was from March to November 1923 that a new home was built on the ground previously purchased on the north edge of Tonkawa. This was to become 807 North Seventh Street, . after the area was platted into Lots, Blocks, Streets and Alleys in April 1926, and given the name of Stone Addition. Ralph was deeded ownership of Lots 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 in Block 1, and Lots 1 through 6, and 19 through 24 in Block 2. As before, Ralph retained the north half of the Addition, and his Brother, William T. Stone the south half, on which he was to build a home in 1925.
On the Lots in Block 2, Ralph and Alda built their home, a chicken house and a small barn, and a garage. Their Jersey cow, flock of chickens and large garden provided them with food and a small source of income. Alda would sell eggs through the winter months and eggs and asparagus in the spring. Her expertise in the culinary arts was a constant joy to her family and neighbors, and her kitchen was always full of the aromas of her cooking, baking, canning vegetables, and making jellies. She would usually fix enough to share with her sisterin-law Anna Stone, and husband Bill, after they had built their home just to the south on Stone Avenue.
Though living in town, Ralph and Alda took over the managing of the farm during the years from 1928 to 1933, with mostly hired help during the harvests. Olin, Nell and Maxine returned to the Tonkawa area in 1934 and moved onto the farm, staying until 1938. It was during these years that the Bird's Nest School would have the Smith children, Virginia, Catharine, Roger and Olin Dail, as well as Maxine attending at the same time.
And it was also during this period that the talents of the community worked as a team to put on a play at the school that was the subject of family stories and laughs for years thereafter. The play was titled "Hobgoblin House" and the acting by Vera, most particularly, brought the house down. Though the stage was small, the production was hugely successful! It was not surprising, however, that no Broadway offers came pouring in!
Ralph and Alda's youngest daughter, Frances, had graduated from High School in 1923. While working as a cub reporter for the Tonkawa News, she met and: married Ira Hobson Fulton in July 1924. Their son, Robert Holland, was born in January 1926 at the home on North Seventh of Ralph and Alda. The Fiilton family would live in Braman, Marshall and Enid, Oklahoma until 1935 when Hobson and Frances divorced. Hobson was a pharmacist for the Evans Drug store in Enid for many years. Be remarried and moved to California, staying in the seme field until his retirement.
Frances and Holland moved back to live with Ralph and Alda in Tonkawa. Frances would work at various jobs in Tonkawa, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and also remarried in 1945 to Harry Miller, an Army Recruiter, in Beaumont, Texas. Holland would live with Ralph and Alda while he continued his education, graduating from now Tonkawa High School in 1943.
'After Olin and his family moved off the farm and left the area in 1938, Kenneth and Vera farmed the home place until 1944, when their daughter Catharine met and married Glen Veal in March of that year. Glen and Cathanne moved onto the farm and lived there until the summer of 1949. During this time their daughter Carol was born in May 1946 and another daughter Glenda, born in January 1949, Their son Coburn was born in July 1951, at their new home northeast of Tonkawa.
In 1949, Olin and Nell returned to the home place and farmed it until her death in Couer d'Alene, Idaho, while on a vacation trip, in August 1973. Their daughter Maxine and her husband Bill Noles and their three daughters were living in Tonkawa, . and Olin moved into a mobile home on their property on Renee Street. Olin would die in 1983, after suffering many years, in the nursing home in Tonkawa.
Maxine and Bill continued to live in Tonkawa for several years while their daughters completed High School. Janice was born in September 1945, Kevin in June 1955, and Erin in December 1958. Ilaxine and Bill now live hear Pryor, Oklahoma in their home on Lake Hudson.
During this same general period, Ralph and Alda's youngest daughter Frances had taken painting courses and lessons from well-known Oklahoma artists. She would eventually open her own galleries in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Buena Vista, Colorado and in Tahiequah, Oklahoma. She was well known as an accomplished landscape artist, working in such mediums as pencil sketches, oils and pastels. She died in Talequah after extensive surgery in May 1977.
It was also in this same period that the home of Kenneth and Vera, Ralph and Alda's oldest daughter, became the focal point of the many Smith family get-togethers Kenneth was a skillfull story teller, and his jokes were both highly amusing as well as instructional. The home was always full of the sounds of laughter, and the sounds of reverence. Kenneth and Vera were active members of the Baptist Church all of their married lives.
Vera died in January 1979 after health problems began to seriously affect her life. Kenneth would continue to farm their place with the help of their Grandson, and would continue as an ardent church-goer and worker in the community, until he passed away in November 1985.
Frances' son Holland would marry shortly after his graduation to Emma Rose Fuller, with whom he had been classmates in school. In March 1944 he entered the U. S. Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and spent the next two years overseas in Germany. Their daughter, Roberta Ann was born in October 1944, but was not to see her father until she was eighteen months old. Staff Sergeant Robert H. Fulton received an Honorable Discharge from the Army at Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1946.
He would spend most of his working years in the Manufacturing and Construction Industries. He and, his family would work in Kansas and South Dakota, where Ann would graduate from the Rapid City High School In 1962. From there they would move to Tucson, Arizona and Ann would enter the University or Arizona, and
move away from home. Holland and Rose would eventually
work in states from coast to coast until his retirement in 1983. They bought a home in Tonkawa, where they reside today, just a block south of the house his Grandfather built in 1923.
Ralph Stone would live out his years in that house on North Seventh Street. He passed away in December 1945 at the age of 75. Alda soon sold this house and bought a smaller house and garden area at 506 North Sixth Street. There she would live until her death in October 1968 at the age of 94. She and Ralph, as well as their three children, are buried in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery just west of Tonkawa.
A magical period has disappeared Into the sands of time. Gone are the people and places that are still held so dear in the memories of the seven Grandchildren of Ralph and Alda Stone.
11. H. Fulton May 1993
COMMENTS AND ADDENDUM
Paragraph 5 on page one has been subject to much scrutiny and discussion. There is no documented proof that Ralph and Alda used this tract or land as the location of their dugout and tent. It is known, however, that Ponca Indian George Collins had an Indian Land Patent on it, and that much later, Ralph Stone received a U. S. Government Land Patent on it. The Collins-to-Stone link has not at this time been established, but a planned search of the files at Anadarko may turn up such evidence in the near future.
Other references to Farming arid Grazing Leases held by Ralph are taken from actual copies of these leases, but no clue is apparent that they were not continuances from previous leases, or were followed by continuing leases. In light of this, it is quite possible that the site of the dugout arid tent home could have been in Section 29 or 33, on the east side of and bordering the Salt Fork River.
Statements concerning the purchase of property in the Ansel Addition of Tonkawa are supported by copies of Tax Statements in hand, and old photographs showing members of the family in front of the house on Frantz Street, south of UPS, A copy of the Town Plat of this area 1. s attached.
The same holds true! for the property in the Stone Addition, with tax statements, old photographs, and as before, . a copy of the Town Flat is attached.
The comments and narratives concerning the building of the Bird's Nest School are derived from old hand-written ledger entries and School Warrants, and show names and dates of recipients, and dates of the sums received from the entertainment and box suppers.
Other ledger books show the annual meetings of the group that formed the telephone exchange, the dates and amounts the line owners were assessed for their part of the expenses.
Copies are also attached of the Kay County Townships and U. S. Geological Survey maps to aid in locating the various pieces of ground mentioned in the main body of this work.
FURTHER ADDENDUM
In referring back to Page 2, Ralph and his brother Bill purchased the five or so acres north of the Tonkawa City Limits in 1909. Nothing more was done until much later, when in 1923 the home on North Seventh Street was built.
Curiously, an old receipt has come to light that has the date of April 23, 1910, that shows Ralph paying the sum of $50. 00 for House Rent from April 1st to September 1st, to W. H. Wiles. No further information or location noted.
In referring back to Page 3, Tax Receipts from the Kay County Treasurer sunport the data in Paragraph Three wherein the family of Ralph Stone resided on Frantz Street in Block 4, Lots 19, 20, 21 and 22, each lot measuring 25' by 130'.
When Ralph was 53, and Alda was 50 years old, the task of building their home on North Seventh was begun. This would entail the clearing and grading of the lots, the engineering layouts for the house, garage, driveway, sidewalks as the first steps. Following that would come the excavation for the foundations and the half-basement under the west one-half of the house, and the Carpenter crews would be erecting the batter boards and stakes for the concrete and masonry workers. Materials ranging from Portland Cement, sand and gravel, to lumber and reinforcing bar and wire would be arriving on the site.
Gradually, the house and outbuildings would be taking shape. From the start in March, 1923 to the first of May, the house was wired, and by the first of June, was ready to paint. Cancelled checks show that by the first of July, 1923, the house was complete, with the garage, chicken and other outbuildings completing later. Certainly, by November of 1923, all was done.
The cancelled checks show the general breakdown of the expenses, as itemized below:
To Lumber yards for materials -- $2,171.38
J. N. Schwab for carpentering -- $964.31
Misc. Craftsmen and Laborers -- $547.93
Wilking & Fountain Co, Hardware -- $90.75
Madison Paint Co. for Paint, etc -- $66.18
C. K. Crawford for electrical wiring -- $37.00
Total -- $3,877.55
Other expenses would be quite likely, but nothing is available to document any more than is shown. This was a three-bedroom, one-bath house, with Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen. The basement served as a spare bedroom with shelves built-in for home-canned fruits and vegetables. The one-car garage was also wide enough for the laundry area.
FURTHER ADDENDUM II
The Bird's Nest School, as described on Page 2. was located directly south of the H. H. Stone home place in Section 30 of the West Part of Miller Township in Kay County, into Noble County, Buffalo Township, specifically in the North-west corner of the North-west Quarter of Section 5.
As mentioned before, the children of Ralph and Alda Stone, Vera, Olin and Frances, would walk the one mile to the school, noted as Joint District No. 1, in Kay & Noble Counties. School District Warrants numbered 1. through 11. , all drawn on the Building Fund, cover the period from July 12, 1912 to February 16, 1914.
The Wilkins & Son Company had the building contract, for a sum of $509. 55; the next highest expenditure was to Sears and Roebuck, $63. 44 for seats and desk. Other expenses for Limber, a Stove, a Pump and Bucket, Insurance on the House to Agent Lillie Clark, and labor and Hauling from Bliss.
The town of Bliss was located three miles south and four-and-a-half mile -East of the school, along the AT & SF Railroad. Bliss was to he later renamed to Marland, in deference and honor of Mr. E. W. Marland, a noted Oilman.
The amount received from the sale of school bonds through the above period was $700. 00, and at the end of the period only forty-one cents was remaining.
The Teacher's salaries, school supplies and hauling coal and 'wood all came out of the General Fund, but proceeds from box suppers and entertainment allowed for other purchases such as an organ for $25. 00, dictionary and stand, organ stool, lamps and oil, a coal house, a stage platform, and other miscellaneous items.
Copies of old photographs of the period show the general size and construction of the school house, and number of students at various times standing on the West and South sides. A clipping from the Tonkawa News of April 6, 1916 listed seven students on the Term Honor Roll, and had Frances Stone, Elva Trueblood, Cleytus Van Voris, Irma Stark, Verle Van Voris, Dessie Hembree, Lloyd Hembree and the teacher, Leona Trueblood.
The photographs, news clipping and Township Maps mentioned above are attached.
Alda Hickman b 12-26-1873 d 10-26-1968 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Her mother, Persona Hanna Hickman died when she was only 4 years old and her sister, Bertha, approximately 2 years younger. Her father Cornelius Hickman, placed the little girls with different relatives. Alda was left with her Grandmother Sarah Hanna (whose husband had died before Alda was born). So Alda's grandmother and older aunts raised her until she was old enough to help her aunts where she was needed. She was born at Redmon, Illinois and met RALPH HOLLAND STONE in Kansas where she was working for her aunt, Araminta Brinkerhoff. She married RALPH HOLLAND STONE at Redmon, Illinois January 12, 1898 and they settled in Coffey County (Crandall) ansas. In 1904 or 1905 they moved on a farm they purchased which was very near the border of theCherokee Strip, buildt their home and raised their family. It is situated sougheast of Tonkawa, Oklahoma in Kay County. Ralph Stone was the son of Samuel Stone and Catherine O'Lane. He was born 3-11-1870 and died 12/31/1945 and both are buried at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They had four children, one of whom died in infancy.
I. Vera Catharine, b 5-23-1899 at Crandall, Kansas, on 7-21-21 she married KENNETH S. SMITH, sone of Jesse and Dora Smith at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. There farm is 2 miles from Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They are Baptist, he is a deacon in the church and both have worked in the church most of their married life. They ad six children, one of whom died in infancy.
I.1. Virgina Dora, b 4-21-22 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. On 10-21-45 she married Q. D. Lamb, sone of Henry Clayton and Kate Lamb, an early-day before Oklahoma statehood Baptist preacher. Q. D. Lamb,b. 12-10-20 is an insurance examiner for the State of Arkansas. They have 2 children.
I.1.a. Sharon Catharine, b. 9-22-48 at Okmulgee, Oklahoma, is a high school business teacher. On April 7, 1973 she married DANIEL WILLIAM BOKAMPER, b. 10-11-46, son of Jesse and Dorthy Bokamper, and words fot eh Finance and Administration Department for the State of Arkansas. They have one son.
I.1.a.1 Brock William Bokamper, b. 12-7-77
I.1.b. Neil Kenneth Lamb, b. 7-20-1951 at Jonesboro, Arkansas. On May 4, 1971 he married Michelle Murdock, daughter of Wayne and Dolores Murdock of Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. They live at Ponca City, Oklahoma where he works for his uncle, Roger A. Smith, in the plumbing contracting business. Their first child is due in March, 1978.
I.2. Catharine Alda, b. 6-9-25 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. On 3-26-44 she married Glen Edward Veal, son of _____ Veal. He was born 4-16-22, has worked as a welder for Continental Oil Company for several years and is also a farmer at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They have three children.
I.2.a. Carol Joan, b. 5-24-46 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. On 7-1-66 she married James Scott, b 4-19-46 and they live in Morland, Kansas where he works in a bank and is the town's mayor. They have 2 children.
I.2.a.1. French, b. 1-17-67
I.2.a.2. Joanna Suzanne, b 7-25-77
1.2.b. Glenda Catharine, b. 1-22-49 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. On December 30, 1977 she married Richard Tennis, sone of Carol and Louise Tennis of Pasco, Washington, whom she met while working in a Baptist Church there. They live at Eltopia, Washington where they farm.
I.2.c. Coburn Lile, b. 7-17-51 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He is not married and he works in Ponca City, Oklahoma for his uncle Roger A. Smith, a plumbing contractor.
I.3. Roger Alan Smith, b 9-19-27 at Tonkawa Oklahoma. On 9-29-46 he married Janet Selvey, daughter of Lloyd Selvey of Ponca City Oklahoma. They are Baptist and he owns a plumbing contracting business in Ponca City, Oklahoma. They 2 children.
I.3.a. Dan Michael, b. 10-29-48, has a doctorate of psychology from OSU and is practicing at Arkansas City,lKansas and Ponca City, Oklahoma. On 11-10-73 he married Julia White and they are expecting their first child in May, 1978.
I.3.b. Becki Lynn, b 7-12-50 at Ponca City, Oklahoma. On 9-8-73 she married Ron Carbutt of Seminole, Oklahoma. They live in Ponca City, Oklahoma where he works for Roger A. Smith in the pluymbing contracting business. They have 1 child.
I.3.b.1. Bart Thomas, b 5-22-77
I.4. Olin Dell Smith, b. 12-15-31 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He has a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota and is a professor and head of the peanut experimentation program at Texas A & M at Bryan, Texas. On 9-5-51 he married Thelma Fairless of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, daughter of Eugene Fairless and they have 3 children.
I.4.a. Brenda Marie, b. 10-25-55 at Stillwater, Oklahoma. She is a graduate of Texas A & M and teaches at Huntsville, Texas.
I.4.b. Brent Wayne, b. 7-17-58 at Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is attending Texas A & M at Bryan, Texas.
I.4.c. Beth Ann, b. 11-17-64 at St. Paul, Minnesota.
I.5. Larry Deane Smith, b 4-1-39 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Oklahoma A & M. He is a professor at Southern Methodist (University or College ??) at Winfield, Kansas, and is also Director of a cancer research foundation located there. On 9-8-61 he married Barbara Lomax of Okmulgee, Oklahoma and they have three children.
I.5.a Kerry Deane, b. 10-18-62
I.5.b. Catharine Louise, b. 8-27-64
I.5.c. Cheryl Ann, b. 8-25-67
II Olin Ralph Stone, b 5-17-1901 at Crandall, Kansas. He moved to Oklahoma with his parents, Ralph and Alda Stone, and lived around Tonkawa, Oklahoma all his life. He worked for Continental Oil Company for some years and then has faremed until he retired. On 4-6-1923 he married NELLIE MUSSELMAN, b. 11-13-1905 d. 8-30-1973. Her father was also an early-day farmer around Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They had 1 daughter. They are presbyterians.
II.a. Maxine Marie, b. 1-2-1924 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. She is married to Billy Ray Noles, son of Thomas Noles of Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They own and operate an insurance agency at Tonkawa. They have 3 children.
II.a.1. Janice, b 9-16-45. married; lives in Oklahoma City
II.a.2. Kevin, b. 6-9-1955. married; lives in Oklahoma City
II.a.3. Erin, b. 12-3-1958. married. husband is in the armed services.
III. Frances Alda Eleanor, b 4-1-1906 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. On July 20, 1924 she married Hobson Fulton, they had one son and were later divorced. She later married Harry Miller. She was an artist of some fame and operated her own galleries at Buena Vista, Colorado, and then at Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She died 5-16-1977 and is buried at Tonkawa, Oklahoma.
III.1. Robert Holland Fulton, b 1926 at Enid, Oklahoma. On 12-18-43 he married Rose Fuller, daughter of George Fuller, also an early day farmer around Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He is with a large industrial contracting business (contrsuction) and their permanent home is in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They have one daughter.
III.1.a. Ann, b 10-1-44 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. She married 6-65 to Jay Ruehlen and they have one son. She now lives in California. Divorced in 1977.
III.1.a.1 Jamie b 7-11-70
29. "Bob & Rose Fulton," June 7, 2004, Burt Woodruff, Ponca City, OKlahoma.
30. Andreas, A. T., History of the State of Kansas, 1883.
"The first hotel in Burrton, Kansas was opened by A. A. Woodruff in 1874, in the building now known as the Burrton House. The first birth was that of Bert, a son of A. A. Woodruff in 1874."
Isaac Hempy, farmer-P.O. Leroy, was born in Ohio in 1831 and in 1860 went to California. In 1866 returned to Ohio and in 1880 came to Kansas and located on a farm in Leroy, Coffee County. He was married to Miss Ann E. Smart, a native of Ohio. They had four children: Maggie L, Thomas G., Wilbur J., and Tena M. He is a member of the IOOF and of the Method Episcopal Church. While in California he mined.
31. Susan Woodruff Abbott, Woodruff Genealogy.
32. Helen Stone Woodruff, History of Louisa.
Louisa was born in Sweden, about 200 miles from Stockholm. I only know what members of the family have told me about her. Born about 1833. Heirs to her estate, in Burrton, Harvey Co. Louisa's maiden name was Wrenn, probably had a brother, John in the USA.Abnor Norland from Galva (Oklahoma? BGWIII 12/19.1997), a great grandson of Gus Aelmore, believed that the wife of Gus (Eliza Catherine Johnson) was a sister of Louisa, but I believerather her to be a sister of Louisa's #2 husband, John Johnson. Eliza was born in Locksbo, Sweden. Lauries Sailor, a grand daughter to HuldaContradine (Minnie Teresa) gives me the following information: "The first marriage to Lawson, she had Charlotte Eugunia. She married Andrew Stone (Bud) and they lived in San Jose. they had two boys. Vernon Stone and a baby, and it seems llike they called him Joseph. John was a brother to Charlotte (Aunt Lottie), and he looked like Uncle Burt (Burrton Glenn, Sr). They had no children, but he was married to Aunt Maggie. Louisa was then a widow and married John Johnson and had Clara Matilda Louisa (Aunt Tillie). Our mother was Huldah Contradine. She let John and Mary Atkinson in rock Island, Illinois take our mother and raise her, but did not adopt her. They changed her name to Minnie Teresa. I think Woodruff was a school teacher. I was told my grandparents came from Vesterrick, Sweden, 100 miles from Stockholm Sweden, Smowliles. She also said Socken County. As I was told, Aunt Lottie was 12 years old, Uncle John was 8 years old, Aunt tillie 3 years old, and my mother 3 months. She cam to Rock Island to her brother John Wrenn.
33. "Pat Jordan Visit," April 25, 2002, Burt Woodruff II, Seilling, OK.
34. Minnie Avada Atteberry.
Minnie's trip to California. No Year Known
[p 1]Started from home at 12:45 Sun Oct 20. Stayed all nite in Camp Ideal, 2 mi out of Edmond Okla., The same house (dead even to a Ladies toilet!) Lee & Opal & Mabel stayed in when they went on their vacation. Beautiful day but chilly nite & pretty good cabin. Started Mon. morn at 7:00. Took picture of a huge St Bernard dog at a filling sta. just outside of Okla City. Got to El Reno Okla at 9:30 Bud's car running bum. Took it to a Dodge Agency o be worked over & will probably have to stay till 2:00 this afternoon. Mama went to a men's toilet! Did some shopping at Anthony's & Penny's while we waited. Got car done at 11:10, three hours earlier than
[p 2] expected. Stopped for dinner at west side of El Reno. Been on a detour all day and prettty rough. More cotton than I knew there could be -- miles and miles of it. Bud thot his car on bum again. Geo. & him decided it wasn't. Geo rode in Bud's car & I drove ours. Speeded up to 30 & 35 & some 40. Trying to get Bud's knock located & get it fixed. We struck 66 pavement 15 mi out of Sayre Okla. Stayed at Sayre. Lovely new cabins. Name of camp was Highland Park. Got started at 6:35 Tues 22. Looks kinda rainy. Had a good breakfast all feeling fine this morning but Mama had a pretty bad headache last nite. On detour. Pretty rough.
[p 3] Lots of sand, sagebrush & shinnery (sic). Looks like a regular wate-land. Discovered we made an unneccsary detour. Could have gone around on gravel road. Terribly barren country--so lonesome & cold. A box fell off the fender and scattered contents over road. Nothing lost or damaged. Fred asked when we'd get to the "sulted woods"! Meaning Petrified Forest. Had a good laugh. What fields of Texas. Acres & acres of it. I wouldn't have imagined there was that much land in the world planted with one crop. We traveled a day & saw nothing but wheat! Ate dinner in Groom Texas. More wheat & good land. Stopped several
[p 4] times today to see what was wrong with back cars. Wheat ! Wheat! Wheat! We're making good time now at 30 & 35. Bud's car going good. Made good time this afternoon. Passed sstate line at 5:20 into N. M. Made over 231 miles today. Stayed at a little wayside station 8 miles south of Glenrio N. M. Eva's took a room in the house because they had one cabin. Had only an oil stove and kerosene lamp. Awfully bum cabin but couldn't do any better. Slept with our clothes on & didn't get any breakfast. Only coffee. Started at 6:30 Wed. morn. 23. It's terribly cold. We wish we had our gloves! Beautiful sunrise.
[p 5] We're at the foot of the Socorro Mts. On the summit of the highest peak there is an M. It looks about as high as I ned [can't figure out what she means here]. The man at the curio shop told us it was a huge pile of stones 138 X 108 ft The letter stands for the state school of mines that sets at the base of the mts. It is the duty of the "Freshies" each year at the school to go up there and paint that letter. They have to wait till it snows so they can get water to make white-wash. The man at the curio shop saves all his old brooms for them to use. They have to stay all nite to get it done and its quite an event in the town. Wingned's spring broke again and he had a new leaf put in. We had Chili & crap [??] for supper. Docia came to tell us it's going to be "dum".
[p6] Adobe houses in Newkirk N. M. First class roads. Keeping 30 & 35. Got to Santa Rosa at 2:20. Went to Hotels, Depot & Post office to inquire about Rog. No information. Wroate a card to tell him we're going on. We were supposed to set out watches back 1 hr at Tucumcari but waited till we got to Santa Rosa. Were 6091 ft above sea level. 4:30 and snow on the north side of things. We're going to stay the next stop. Got to Willard at 5:20. Found pretty good cabins, better than last nite but lots poorer than Okla. Have to burn wood & its unhandy. ha! We're high in the mts & getting higher. Air is different enough to make mama's nose bleed. Rest of us didn't notice change. Some of
[p 7 left edge of this page not photocopied] Eva's did. Still cold & seems to be getting colder. Man we rented cabins from was "stewed" and sold papa a gallon of Mobil A oil at $1.00 gal. Winfred & Bud got some! Started at 7:00 Thurs morn Oct 24. Cold. Heavy frost. Ice in road. Mountains way off pretty. Saw acres & acres & acres of beans. Saw a hill that looked pretty close, went 34 miles before we were even with it. Never saw so many cedars [or] that there were so many. Acres & acrtes of 'em. Came to our first [mt] today. Was going a good gait [to] make it over the hill when all [of] a sudden we came to a turn! The road was narrow & Dad had to put on the brakes to stop. Several
[p 8] short turns. So short we had to creep along. We were kinda afraid for Winfred & Bud. Stopped and watched for them. He killed his engine & they had to push up. Made the curves fine & stopped to take some pictures. We were all scared. And thrilled! stopped to get gas first out of Socotto N. M. Wasn't good. Lost sight of Bud's Good road and on a grade so we went on. STopped at 11:30 & ate dinner at side of road & waited anhr. for Bud's White waiting Mabel, Fred, & I started out to climb a hill. It looked fairly close but we discovered it was farther than we expected. It was about 1/2 mile away and 1/2 mi. up it. We got to the top and Dad looked about 3 ft hi. We hollered &
[p 8] he answered. We heard easily & he only raised his voice a little coming down we saw a snake. Fred cut it almost in two. Told Dad & he said it was a raller. He took his pistl & they went back to find it. He shot it almost in two again & still it wiggled! Mama said we had looked like specks on top of the hill. Decided we'd bettwe go back. Went 2 mi & saw Bud's parked along the road. Car had completely refused to run. Turned it around & brot it back to Socorro to a garage. The valves were burned out and had to be ordered from Albuqurque 85 miles away. Went ot find camp houses. Stayed at Camp Aztec. Good houses. There are about 26 houres in the camp. The
[p 10] biggest camp I ever saw. The parts for Bud's car were ordered yesterday afternoon--this is Friday at 5:00 & they haven't come yet & probably won't until tomorrow at 8:00 & have been known to have to wait a wk. for oderes like that. If anybody's got a job for us we'll take it! ha! They've phoned & order has been sent. Discussed calling Roy by telephone but decided not to. Went to an Indian curio shop. Saw many lovely & odd things. Bot a box of hand-made hand-painted cards & envelopes made of wood. Beautiful. Got a handmade hankerchief made of Mexican silk & a small earthen tray handmade & painted. Sent a card, the tray & handerchief to Roy for birthday. Can't tell what all we saw in shop
[p 11] Cold tonight. We're payong $1.25 for the cabin here. Some have been cheaper & some higher. Gas gets higher as we go along and groceries are too. Us girls went walking to-day to pass the time away & took a picture of an adobe house with 4 or 5 Mexicans sitting out in front. Took picture of the curio shop. There are strings of chili peppers hanging on the outside walls of the adobe house. Never saw so much pepper in my life. Saw one wagon load of chili peppers! This is Sat 26. We've stayed here at Socorro two nights. The parts for Bud's car came this morn at 8:30. We're all packed up & ready to go when the man gets the car finished. We're getting
[p 12] started at 10:40. Car fixed by a real mechanic. We've gone 10mi & the cars are heating badly. We bo't Magnolia gas at the last station and is about to warm cars. Got to continental divide at 2:25. Got Springerville at 6:35 tonight. Awful bum cabin with monkey stove 14 X 20 " Pretty cold. Good roads and made good time --163 mi. A U. S. inspector went thru our cars & trailers last nite just over the line to see if we had any honey or S potatoes. We had some S P but they were fromN. M. so we kept them. They didn't find Eva's Pear Honey. Ha! Getting started Sun Oct 27 at 7:00 Cold. Our radiator froze but not burst
[p 13] bit we
re a;; tirmed arpimd bit Fred & Papa. Winfred's got a spring leaf broke. Ten miles to next town where we'll have it fixed and get breakfast. Stopped at Saw Jon (Saw Hon) to have card fixed. Us women folks came in by fire. It's a little "come & go" town only one garage. Have to have spring welded. Can't get a new leaf. The man told Fred to go get some coal. He wanted to send Opal a piece! We had cheese, lunch mt, butter & Lt bread for breakfast. Not so good but the best we could do. Got started at 10:00. Lost 4 hrs but couldn't be helped. Goting to have to make better time or we'll spend all our money. Lots of scenery.
[p 14] Got to Petrified Forest at 11:00. Got out and wandered around an hr. Beautiful. Wonderful to see but I can't describe it. We ate dinner on the road. Some bad washboard roads but the rest were wonderful. Bud had two flats. Got a small view of the Painted Desert. Stopped at Mosaic Studio. Saw many pretty stones & pictures made of sand from the Painted Desert. Went through the deseert about 50 mines. Stuck asphalt thru Coconino National Forest Mt. Elden the biggest mt we've seen. Saw Canyon Diablo (Devil) and Canyon Padre (Father_. Pretty big. Got to Flagstaff at 6:00. Found real good cabins. Nice & comfortable with bed & cot. Eva's got flue don't know whether
[p 15] whe'll be able to get up in morning. We're all tired. Leaving Flagstaff at 8:50.Eva's feeling a little better. Went over 8 mi of the awfullest detour you ever saw. All bad roads today. Got to Kiugmant at 6:00. Found good cabins but no cook stoves. Went to another and got cook stoves. Eva'snot very good this morn. Got started at 6:00 Tuess 2g. Looks like it's going to be pretty day. Went thru desert all day long; got so tired of it we could hardly stand it. All of the rivets but one came out of the trailer wheels. Tho't we were going to lose it but guess we drove all day wit it that way. Drove on to Deagget [??agget]. Got there at 5:30
[p 16] where they inspected us again. Got good little cabins with gs. Getting started at 7:20 Wed 27 [??} Eva's better. Bud had 2 flats when he went to look this morn. Mae 230 mi yesterday. Ate dinner at Monolith. Got to Bakersfield at 4:00. Eva to tired to go on so we stopped for night. We're 75 mi from Lindsey. Not very go???? ours stinks. Getting started at 6:45 Cold. Pavement all way to Lindsey. Got plenty of time so went slow. Got to Lindsey at 9:50. Found Mays but no one was home. Geo [??} say Mabel & I thru the window at school & came over to take us to Charleys. Got a house. Pretty good but had to be cleaned up.
[End of photocopy pages]
35. Tracy Lucero & Heather Woodruff, May 26, 2003, while visiting Indianapolis to attend the Indianapolis 500
36. William Duane Scroggin (b 1954). Garfield County, Oklahoma.
37. "Interview with Raymond & Lisa Back," 3 June 2004, Burt Woodruff, Broken Arrow, OK.
38. Johnson, W. F., History of Cooper County Missouri, Historical Publishing Co., Topeka 1919, ISBN 0-916440-07-9.
39. Ibid. p.989.
40. William Duane Scroggin (b 1954).
41. Irene Meisburger Lehman, "Family Info," 11/25/98, In Freeform.
I am sorry I haven't written sooner. Both my daughters are corresponding
with you, it seems. We have no objections to being listed on your
ancestors' information page Please don't delete us!
Both my brothers and sister have all enjoyed your pages and pictures. Both
of my brothers, one especially, are into the genealogy aspect of our family.
We were thrilled to see the pictures of John and Magdelena Meisburger who
were the parents of our grandfather, Frank N. Meisburger. Their son (our
dad) was Edward Paul Meisburger, Sr.
My brothers are: William F. Meisburger and Edward P. Meisburger, Jr. (the
latter being very much into the genealogy). Ed is out of town for a few
days to visit his daughter and family but when he gets back, I believe he
will want to correspond with you as will my other brother. My sister, Anna
Marie Hartley (Ann) is not on the internet but she enjoys hearing the info
from me. I am Irene K. (Meisburger) Lehman.
We'd be glad to give you any info we can to fill in any of the blanks. My
grandpa, Frank Meisburger had five brothers and two sisters (Louisa and
Mary, John, Edward, etc.)
His parents raised my dad for several years in Bunceton, MO, until his
second marriage to Katie Meisburger.
Our BIG mystery and something we especially long for, is a picture of my
dad's mother, Mary (Mae) Landrigan. She died at about 21 years of age, six
weeks after my dad was born in 1895. We have searched for years but never
found anything. We are hoping that somewhere YOU might have an old picture
of my grandpa and possibly with Mary, his wife. My grandpa always said I
looked like her but she had red hair and I had dark brown (now white,
colored blonde)..
My dad and mother never saw a picture of her (Mary Landrigan) but I remember
that my mother contacted her brother several times but he said he had no
pictures. He never even wanted to meet his nephew, my dad. We were told
that her (Mary Landrigan's) family disowned her when she married my grandpa
but we have no idea why. She is buried in Kansas City, MO, (my hometown)
and I have been to her gravesite several times. Her tombstone says "Mae
Landrigan" instead of Mary. Must have been a nickname.
Well.I won't bore you any more but did want to mention that my dad looked
exactly like his grandmother, Magdelena. Maybe we can mail you a picture
some day and you can see for yourself! We don't have a scanner.
Do you mind if I give your e-mail address to my brothers? I won't until I
get your permission. Thanks so much for putting all this info on the
internet.
Best wishes,
Irene Lehman
42. Helen Stone Woodruff, "Meisburger Information."
These first pages of this manuscript is an update to the material I had written in 1981. I was fortunate to get in touch with a lady in France, Madame Jean Peres, who has been very helpful. The first record I now have of the MEISBURGER family is from Harrstatt, Upper-Rhin, France. Later information is from Herrlisheim, Haute-Rhin, France
The origin of the Meisburger family may have been in Busch in Turgau, France and the name may have been spelled at that time, MOSBURGER
Wedding of Pierre & Barbara Baur: Witnessess to the wedding were Christain Baur (father), Johannes (brother), and Fendel Hartenbeck (Grandfather). Barbara Baur Meisburger died in Herrlisheim, France on 9-April-1795 (the 20 germinal year 3 of the French Republic).
The birth record reads: "Was born ERASMUS, sone of Peter Meisburger, mason by profession of this place (Hattstatt) and of Barbara Baur, his wife legitimate. God father is Joseph Hinniger, age 32 years. Godmother is Maria Anna Steinbrucker."
I stated in the original manuscript that there were suppose to have been eight children come to America with Mas Meisburger, but no one had identified but four. There are eight recorded births in Herrlisheim, but only seven living at the time they departed for America
43. Johnson, W. F., History of Cooper County, Missouri.
"Max Meisburger, with his family of eight children arrived in Boonville, Missouri in 1848. Max Meisburger had served for six years as a soldier in the army of the great Napoleon and was very proud of the medals he had received for bravery. During the progress of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-73) he kept posted through the French papers which he received. When the Prussian Victory was announced, he, with clenched fists and tear dimmed eyes, declared 'If our great zNapoleon had lived, he and I would never have tolerated the Prussians to lord it over our Beloved France'. He expressed the belieft that his grandchildren would be live to see the happy day when Alsace Lorraine would be liberated from the Prussian domination. During the time of America's participation in the World War, which resulted in the return to France of the 'lost' province, nine of his great-grandsons answered the call to the frong and when the Armistice was declared in the fall of 1918, six more were waiting for the next call."
44. Helen Stone Woodruff, "Notes on Max Meisburger."
There is a Deed in the Courthouse at Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri, stating 1-Aug-1852, Maxamin Meisberger bought a lot of ground in the City of Boonville from Jeremiah Rice for One hundred and seventy five dollars.
In the 1860 Census for Cooper County list Max Meisburger as a Vine Grower, with wife, Hannah.
The only christening in the Catholic Church at Boonville that I was able to find "Mary Magdalena Meisburger, daughter of John Meisburger and Maria Magdalena Diringer born 31 Jul-1863. Sponsers: Max Meisburger, Margaret Anna Meisburger". I have found no record of the death of either. Agnes Meriwether, a direct descendant of Theresa Meisburger Immels, says she had been told that Hannah (Margaret Anna) was buried on the lot of her son, Joseph, in the Catholic Cemetary in Boonville, Missouri. She also said she had been told that Max had died in the home of his daughter, Therese Immele and was buried in the St. Martins Cemetary near Pilot Grove, Missouri. No one I have talked with has been able to identify more than four of the eight children.
45. Johnson, W. F., History of Cooper County Missouri, Historical Publishing Co., Topeka 1919, ISBN 0-916440-07-9, Vol II, p841-843.
46. Ibid. Vol II p846.
47. Ibid. p 845.
48. Ibid. p 1021.
49. Rita Meistrell, 8/6/99, PVMeistrell@aol.com.
This is from my Meistrell family history:
"Nicholas' younger sister, Margaret, was married after the Civil War. On
October 29, 1868 she married Michael Diringer. Michael had been born in
November of 1843 in the Alsace Province of France to Igatius and Magdalena
Diringer. When he was about 7 years old, his family came to this country and
engaged in the vineyard buisiness. At the age of 16, Michael set out to
learn the blacksmith trade. He worked in a blacksmith shop until the
outbreak of the war. Like Nicholas, he joined the Boonville Home Guards and
then later enlisted in a federal cavalry company. After the war he resumed
his career as a blacksmith, later expanding his work to include wagon making.
Margaret and Michael had eight children. They were:
(1) Frank Ignatius, b. Oct. 21, 1864
(2) John Nic. Syl., b. Dec. 31, 1870
(3) Catherine, b. Mar. 1, 1873
(4) Frank Ignatius, b. Aug. 12, 1874
(5) Henry Joseph, b. Oct. 2, 1876, d. Apr. 22, 1881
(6) Rosaline "Amelia", b. Jan. 10, 1880
(7) Barbara Catherine "Stella", b. May 8, 1883
(8) Marjorie, b. after 1900.
Only four of these chiildren were to survive to adulthood: Frank, amelia,
Catherine and Marjorie. Marjorie was adopted years later after the other
children were grown. She was in fact still living at home when her mother
Margaret died on September 15, 1917. Michael Diringer died on October 29,
1906."
followed by copy of her obituary... 2 of the daughters were named as Mrs.
Edward Kelch of St. Louis, Mrs. M.J. McDonald of Dennison, TX
Unfortunately I can't say whether the above were baptismal dates or birth
dates. Since computers came around my records and sources are so much
better. Unfortunately, I would have to do a lot of digging. One of these
days I hope to include this large database into my computer.
Rita
pvmeistrell@aol.com
50. William Duane Scroggin (b 1954), "Obituary," beginning around 2000, itcscrog@aol.com, on person card, W. D. Scroggin sent me many obituaries, Received August 10, 2003.
1-25, 26-50, 51-75, 76-88
Contents * Index * Surnames * Contact
Modified 15_Jun-2004. Contact bwoodruf@butler.edu