Descendants of Alexander Blaine

Generation No. 1

1. ALEXANDER¹ BLAINE He married HANNAH MCCURRY.

Notes for ALEXANDER BLAINE:

A Scotch_Irishman who emigrated to American when a young man, landed in Philadelphia and married Hannah McCurry, in Pennsylvania who was probably Scotch or Irish. They moved to Virgian and raised a large family of whom Sally Blaine was the youngest.

Alexander Blaine is listed as a Revolutionary War Patriot from Lincoln County. This plaque, at the historic Courthouse in Lincoln County at Stanford, lists names of locals who serve during the Revolutionary War. It is not a complete list, however. His name is on the plaque.

Children of ALEXANDER BLAINE and HANNAH MCCURRY are:

2. i. SALLIE² BLAINE, b. September 07, 1755, Albemarle Co., Virginia; d. 1807.

3. ii. ANN NANCY BLAINE.

Generation No. 2

2. SALLIE² BLAINE (ALEXANDER¹) was born September 07, 1755 in Albemarle Co., Virginia, and died 1807. She married GEORGE MURRELL October 08, 1781 in Arbemarle, Virginia, son of GEORGE MURRELL and JEANETTE CHOWNING. He was born September 24, 1750 in Albemarle Co., Virginia, and died January 1814 in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Notes for GEORGE MURRELL:

Was serving in the Senate from Lincoln and Casey counties when he died.

Took land grant in Fayette County, Kentucky in 1787.At the same time a William Page believed to be the son of Robert Page, Sr. took a land grant, also in Fayette County.

Mary, a daughter of George and Jannet Murrell, married Robert Page, Sr. who died in Adair County in 1817.

Children of SALLIE BLAINE and GEORGE MURRELL are:

4. i. SAMUEL³ MURRELL, b. June 24, 1792, Lincoln Co., Kentucky; d. September 18, 1890.

ii. JANE (JENSIE) MURRELL, b. 1786, Albemarle Co., Virginia; d. 1850.

3. ANN NANCY² BLAINE (ALEXANDER¹) She married SAMUEL SHACKELFORD 1770. He was born 1750.

Children of ANN BLAINE and SAMUEL SHACKELFORD are:

i. SAMUEL SHACKELFORD³ JR..

ii. EDMUND SHACKELFORD., b. May 25, 1780.

iii. HANNAH SHACKELFORD., b. Bef. 1808.

iv. BENNETT SHACKELFORD..

v. JAMES M. SHACKELFORD..

vi. NANCY SHACKELFORD..

vii. JOHN SHACKELFORD.

Generation No. 3

4. SAMUEL³ MURRELL (SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born June 24, 1792 in Lincoln Co., Kentucky, and died September 18, 1890. He married ELIZABETH STERRITT March 08, 1825, daughter of THOMAS STERRETT and MARY BROOKS. She was born October 20, 1802 in Augusta, VA, and died November 14, 1865.

Notes for SAMUEL MURRELL:

Grandfather Sam Murrell's Autograph

Submitted by Robert Page Watson, 204 Pinewood Drive, Schenectady, NY 12303-5616.

"No man has the moral or religious right to spend his life in idleness. "

It is the fiat of our Creator that man shall eat his Bread by the sweat of his face. For the consideration of my grandson, W. D. Murrell from his grandfather. /s/ Samuel Murrell, Age - 91 years.

Oakland - Warren County, KY

Feb 1, 1883

My Grandson, W. D. Murrell,

You request me to place my autograph in your album. My age admonishes that if I intent doing so I should not postpone doing it. What would my simple name signify on a blank sheet of paper? Nothing more than to show the chirography of a very old man. Most people feel some curiosity to know to what race of human family they belong, so I have concluded to tell you something of your kindred, some of whom and of which you already know, b But some you do not. You will find it a very mixed up concern. I will start with myself. I was born in Lincoln County, Ky, on the 24th of June, 1792. My parents were Virginians and emigrated to Ky in the Fall of the year, 1781. My father and grandfather, both by the name of George, as well as my grandmother whose maiden name was Janetta Channing, were native of Virginia of English descent. My mother's name was Sally Blaine, her father's name was Alexander Blaine, a Scotch-Irishman, who emigrated to American when a young man, landed in Philadelphia and married a young woman in Pennsylvania who I presume from her name was either Scotch or Irish stock as her name was Hannah McCurry.

They moved to Virginia and raised a large family of whom my mother was the youngest. I have heard her say she was born on the day of Braddock's defeat. My grandfather's family moved to Kentucky a few years after my father died and settled in (t)his neighborhood and lived to be very old people. I can recollect them both, remember being at their burial.

My grandmother Murrell came to Ky with her youngest son, Samuel Murrell, in the Fall of 1806 and lived with him some six or seven years before her death. She was a bright and strong minded old woman. My mother died in the summer of 1807 and my father died in Frankfort in January 1814. He was in the Senate from Lincoln and Casey Counties, and was brought home and buried.

I married my wife, your grandmother, in this county. You know her name was Elizabeth R. Sterritt. Her father was Irish by birth but brought to America when an infant and raised in

Virginia, and he married Mary Brooks whose father was an Irishman, but her mother whose name was Mary Brooks, whose father was an Irishman, but her mother whose name Elizabeth Woods was of English descent.

I have come down to your mother's people. Your grandfather Skiles was of Danish descent. Your grandmother Skiles, you know was an Underwood, and her mother was a Rogers, Virginians and of English descent, both Rogers and Underwoods.

This information counts very little. The stock on both sides have been respectable, some on both sides of distinction, and no doubt in so large a flock there has been and still are some scabby ones.

It is gratifying to look back on our ancestry and know that they are upright and respectable people, but we must not bank up their reputation. We must be the engineers of our fortunes and reputations in this world. Their reputations and good standing is available in giving us a good start, but it soon loses its potency if you do not seek to improve it. I have used more space than is allowable to an album.

May the good Father support and sustain you is the wish and prayer of your old grandfather.

Signed - Samuel Murrell.

Notes on this letter: This letter is a typescript copy now in the collection of the Alderman Library of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. It is filed as: Accession No of Collection 10687, Box 24, in a folder heading: Murrell Family. It was given roughly fifty years ago to an elderly lady in Charlottesville doing genealogical research for Dr. James W. Gorin, 206 E 45th Street, Savannah, Ga. This lady presented it to the library archives.

Children of SAMUEL MURRELL and ELIZABETH STERRITT are:

5. i. SALLIE BLANE⁴ MURRELL, b. September 08, 1830, Kentucky; d. March 25, 1885, Wellington, KS Buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Wellington KS.

6. ii. GEORGE KINLEY MURRELL, b. May 15, 1826.

7. iii. MARY ANN MURRELL, b. June 12, 1828.

iv. MARIA STOCKTON MURRELL, b. June 21, 1833; m. ? GOODWIN (A. L.), April 20, 1853.

v. ELLEN JANE MURRELL, b. April 21, 1836; m. ? NUTTING, December 1852.

vi. ELIZA FUNSTON(?) MURRELL, b. May 19, 1838; m. J. E. WILSFORD, October 26, 1859.

vii. CHALIA R. MURRELLL, b. June 03, 1841.

Generation No. 4

5. SALLIE BLANE⁴ MURRELL (SAMUEL³, SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born September 08, 1830 in Kentucky, and died March 25, 1885 in Wellington, KS Buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Wellington KS. She married ADDISON POPE SHACKELFORD, M D October 27, 1858 in Bowling Green, KY, son of EDMUND SHACKELFORD and SUSANNAH THOMSON. He was born June 28, 1826 in Houstenville, Lincoln Kentucky, and died October 27, 1882 in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky.

Notes for SALLIE BLANE MURRELL:

Notes for ADDISON POPE SHACKELFORD, M D:

1850 Census - He was a hotel clerk in Greensburg, Green Co., KY . His sister, Mehitable , married to Amasa DeLong, show on the Kentucky State, County: Green Co., Location: Dist. 2. Possibly was living with them.

1851-1852 - Attended Medical school at Transylvania University.

1854 - His father Edmund Shackelford and perhaps 2 of Addison's brothers died in

Hopkins Co., KY from Typhoid fever.

1860 Census - 1223/1223 A. P. SHACKELFORD, 34, Phy., $1000 N.E., $4500p.e. born in KY

Sallie B., 28, born in KY

Samuel, 10 mos, born in KY

1861 Addison P. Shackelford, Ass't Surgeon, Enrolled Nov. 10, 1861, 17th Reg Ky IN Vols. Mustered In Jan. 1,1862, in Calhoon, KY, for 3 yrs

REMARKS: Resigned March 4th,1862, as Assistant Surgeon 25th KY Volunteers.

1870 Census :

NEBO PRECINCT No. 4

June 13, 1870

Ass't Marshall: W. C. Noel

Post Office: Nebo

Page 65

June 13-14

10-10

SHACKLEFORD, ADISON P., 45, Farmer and Physician, p.e., $1200, .e.,$500, KY

Sally B., 35, KY

Samuel M., 10, KY

James A., 6, KY

WICKS, GLOVER, 21, Laborer, KY

MITCHELL, PHEBE, 50, Black, Domestic Servant, NC

October 27, 1882 Died (We think he is buried in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky)

Not proven.

Attended Medical School at Transylvania University, Louisville, KY, 1851-1852

1854 - His father and 2 of his brothers died in Hopkins Co., KY from Typhoid fever.

1860 Census-1223/1223 A.P. Shackelford, 34, Phys., $1000 RE, 4500 PE born in KY.

Sallie B., 28 bin, KY

Samuel, 10 mos, born in KY

1861 Addison P. Shackelford, Ass't Surgeon, 25th KY Volunteers.

1880 Census Hopkins Co, KY HCGS, Vol 2 Pg406

The Kitchen Voting Precinct

Hopkins Co., KY

Cyrus W. Crabtree-Enumerator

134/134

Shackelford, A P DR wm 53, farmer & doctor KY/KY/VA

Sarah B wf 50, wife, KH KY/KY/KY

Snl M wm20, son, at home KY/KY/KY

James A wm 16, son, at home Ky/KY/KY

A P wm 24m nep,at home KY/KY/KY

Marriage Notes for SALLIE MURRELL and ADDISON SHACKELFORD:

Married by Reverend Parkhurst

Children of SALLIE MURRELL and ADDISON SHACKELFORD are:

8. i. JAMES ARCHER BLANE⁵ SHACKELFORD, b. July 07, 1864, Madisonville, Hopkins Co., KY; d. May 09, 1932, Wandel, Kingfisher Co OK Buried in Kingfisher Cem..

ii. SAMUEL MURRELL SHACKELFORD, b. September 19, 1859, Hopkins Co.,Kentucky; d. October 09, 1912, Kingfisher, OK Buried in Wellington KS.

Notes for SAMUEL MURRELL SHACKELFORD:

THIS IS FROM THE KINGFISHER WEEKLY STAR, OCTOBER 10, 1912, PAGE 1, COLUMN 5.

BEING IN POOR HEALTH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HIS MIND UNBALANCED AT TIMES DURING THE LAST YEAR WAS THE CAUSE OF S. M. SHACKELFORD TAKING HIS OWN LIFE TUESDAY AT THE HOME OF HIS BROTHER, J.A. SHACKELFORD, ON ROUTE 1. HE HAD CARRIED A CAN OF KEROSENE FROM THE HOUSE TO THE BARN LOFT, WHERE HE HAD BEEN SLEEPING, AND SATURATING THE BED AND HIMSELF WITH THE OIL, HE THEN STRUCK A MATCH TO THE OIL WHICH INSTANTLY SET HIM ABLAZE. MRS. SHACKELFORD WAS IN THE YARD AND SEEING SMOKE COMING FROM THE BARN SHE RAN TO THE LOFT AND THREW THE BURNING BED INTO THE YARD. MR. SHACKELFORD HAD RAN ABOUT FORTY FEET FROM THE BARN AND WAS DEAD WHEN FOUND. HIS REMAINS WERE SHIPPED TO WELLINGTON, KANSAS WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR BURIAL.

- Mary Katherine James

iii. UNKNOWN SHACKELFORD, b. October 31, 1865, Kentucky; d. November 04, 1865, Kentucky.

6. GEORGE KINLEY⁴ MURRELL (SAMUEL³, SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born May 15, 1826. He married MARY M SKILES February 26, 1855. She was born January 13, 1834, and died June 23, 1862.

Children of GEORGE MURRELL and MARY SKILES are:

i. WILLIAM DONALDSON⁵ MURRELL, b. August 08, 1861.

Notes for WILLIAM DONALDSON MURRELL:

W D Murrell was in Wellington, Kansas in the early 1880s. I feel that this is probably why Sally Blane Murrell Shackelford came to Wellington, Kansas with her two sons. Will try and research this further.

ii. HANNAH UNDERWOOD MURRELL, b. November 25, 1857.

iii. JOSEPHINE HANLLY (?) MURRELL, b. February 11, 1856.

7. MARY ANN⁴ MURRELL (SAMUEL³, SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born June 12, 1828. She married A. ? YOUNG April 09, 1857.

Children of MARY MURRELL and A. YOUNG are:

i. LIZZIE M.⁵ YOUNG, b. September 09, 1859.

ii. SAMMY YOUNG, b. July 06, 1861.

iii. A. B (?) YOUNG, b. July 03, 1866.

Generation No. 5

8. JAMES ARCHER BLANE⁵ SHACKELFORD (SALLIE BLANE⁴ MURRELL, SAMUEL³, SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born July 07, 1864 in Madisonville, Hopkins Co., KY, and died May 09, 1932 in Wandel, Kingfisher Co OK Buried in Kingfisher Cem.. He married BESSIE BELLE WELLS February 12, 1889 in Wellington KS, daughter of PHILIAR WELLS and ELECTA HOWE. She was born August 27, 1868 in Marengo, McHenry Co., IL¹, and died October 04, 1970 in Hennessey, OK Buried in Kingfisher Cemetery.

Notes for JAMES ARCHER BLANE SHACKELFORD:

Changed name from Archer to Addison (James Addison Shackelford)

Submitted by Nina R. Brown Waack:

The following are written memos of my mother, Ada Ruth Shackelford Brown.

In old Oklahoma, opened for settlement on April 22, 1889, in Kingfisher county about twelve miles northeast of Kingfisher, lies a farm in what they called the "nine mile bottom" which has been owned

by the Shackelford family and their descendants for all these years.

My father and mother, Addison and Bessie Wells Shackelford, carved this farm from the virgin prairies with hard work, perseverance, and the love they shared for each other and for their young family.

My father was born in Madisonville, Kentucky, the son of Doctor Addison Shackelford. Dr. Shackelford was one of eight brothers who had been born and reared in the plantation life typical of Kentucky of that era. When the Civil War broke out this family divided as did so many of the families of the border states and half believed in the union and the remaining for the Confederacy.

Dr, Shackelford had suffered an accident in medical school while dissecting a corpse. A knife slipped and his hand was cut resulting in blood poisoning and two of his fingers were amputated and his index finger was stiff so that he could never shoot a gun. Because of this, when my grandfather was called into the Union Army, he hired a man to go, as was his right during the Civil War. He then volunteered to serve the Union as a surgeon and served in this capacity.

At the conclusion of the Civil war, the brothers returned to Madisonville to resume their lives. When asked how they ever managed to get along after such an experience, they said that they never mentioned the war after it was over.

My grandfather built his medical practice and provided for his family in a manner which recalled his own youth. My father lived the life of many young Kentuckians whose parents had been born and reared on the plantations of that area. My father remembered always having had a young black boy to look after his needs. I recall a neighbor of theirs telling me that all they had been taught to do was to ride and drive fine horses.. They were not taught to farm or to manage a business. His father made a comfortable living and they were encouraged to enjoy living.

When his father died and his medical practice died with him, they knew they must establish a new life and on their own. they sold the family home and at the urging of their mothers' family in Missouri moved with their mother, Sally Blaine (Murrell) Shackelford, to Wellington, Kansas in 1885 to await the opening of the new land in Oklahoma Territory. Their mother, my grandmother, died while they were waiting for the area to open and is buried in Wellington, Kansas.

It was in Wellington, Kansas that Ad and Bess met.

Notes for james Adddison Archer Blane shckelford:

Addie was very talented in doing dramatic readings. I used to like to hear him perform,and strangely enough he was always willing. However, Aunt Bess always seemed to keep a tight hold on the business affairs. **From JP Hart--1998**

Notes for BESSIE BELLE WELLS:

Great Gramma Shack

of Matthew W. Waack who was pallbearer at her funeral. Buried in Kingfisher Cemetery,

Kingfisher, OK

Addison Shackelford made the run into Oklahoma on April 22, 1889, and he secured a claim 10 miles east and 2 1/2 miles north of Kingfisher. He built a log cabin which was the first in the valley to have a board floor and a shingle roof.

His young wife, Bessie Belle Wells Shackelford and her mother, Electa Howe Wells, came from Wellington, KS in the fall, and the baby girl, Nina, was born December 12, 1889, and the second girl, Ruth, on September 2, 1891. The family still lives on the homestead. Ad Shackelford was called home May 9, 1932, and was laid to rest in Kingfisher Cemetery.

The first team was a yoke of oxen, which was used to break up the land. It was up-hill business for a long time, but we had a grand time. Everyone was so friendly. We met around at the house and had spelling school. Mrs. O.J. Eaton, now of Salina, KS., and Oscar Brewster of Crescent were the champion spellers. We all enjoyed the picnics and political rallies in Tom Tull's grove. Later came the Dennis Flynn and Callahan excitement and glee clubs. The chorus of one song went something like this: "With Dennis Flynn for congressman, free homes we are bound to win, free homes in our Oklahoma."

One day the boys were all gone away. They told me to watch some young coyotes they had in a barrel. I looked out and saw that the wind had blown the barrel over. I found one and was looking for another. I picked up a sack and there lay a big rattlesnake. I didn't even have the Strength to kill it.

Another day I was alone. I lay on the bed reading. My baby was just creeping. She kept peeking over the edge of the bed and laughing. I held to her dress. Then something crashed on the floor. I sat up and looked and there was a big snake. She had been playing peek with it.

We kept improving the homestead and 18 years ago we built the house in which we now live, and eight-room bungalow. We still think Oklahoma is a great place.

When the rain comes and the flowers bloom and the grain waves in the breeze we know we are in God's country.

When thinking back over the years, I recall when we called dollars "cart wheels,"

My father, P. L. Wells, gave our baby one to cut her teeth on, but we had to take it to buy flour.

Our first team was a yoke of oxen. We lived in our log cabin for several years, and were just as happy as when we moved into our modern home.

Most of the pioneers have passed on. Only a few are left to tell the story of hardships and privations, along with the joy and good times we had together. What we did to make this a better country in which to live will never pass away, but will remain a great heritage to the sons and daughters and future generations.

These above are excerpts from letters written by Mrs. Addison (Bessie) Shackelford, who died in 1970 at the age of 102.

***From "Pioneers of Kingfisher County 1889 - 1976, pg 199.***

***

In the 1950's, we would visit Aunt Bess quite frequently. Aunt Bess and Nina had a parakeet who talked fluently. My brother, james, would always pester the poor birdd. On one visit, to everyone's surprise the bird retialiated with"Bad Boy--Bad Boy"! **Conversation with Leslie Lynn Lofren-Scannell---1998**

Children of JAMES SHACKELFORD and BESSIE WELLS are:

9. i. NINA WELLS⁶ SHACKELFORD, b. December 12, 1889, Kingfisher Co., OK; d. 1985, Hennessey, OK Buried in Kingfisher Cemetery, Kingfisher OK.

10. ii. ADA RUTH SHACKELFORD, b. September 02, 1891, Wandel, Kingfisher Co., Oklahoma; d. June 14, 1987, Isabella, OK Buried in Collins Cemetery Blaine Co., OK.

Generation No. 6

9. NINA WELLS⁶ SHACKELFORD (JAMES ARCHER BLANE⁵, SALLIE BLANE⁴ MURRELL, SAMUEL³, SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born December 12, 1889 in Kingfisher Co., OK, and died 1985 in Hennessey, OK Buried in Kingfisher Cemetery, Kingfisher OK. She married ALONZO ELLIS RUDD October 30, 1910 in Kingfisher Co., OK. He was born July 22, 1885 in Rogers, AR, and died November 11, 1944 in Kingfisher Co., OK Buried in Kingfisher Cemetery , Kingfisher OK.

Notes for NINA WELLS SHACKELFORD:

Nina Wells Shackelford Rudd, taught school, riding horseback to and from, and of course, doing her own janitor work for several years before her marriage to Alonzo Rudd. Nina was dedicated to her church and other organizations.

*** From "Pioneers of Kingfisher County 1889-1976", pg 199. ***

Nina Ruth Brown named after her.

Child of NINA SHACKELFORD and ALONZO RUDD is:

11. i. MAUREEN RUTH⁷ RUDD, b. November 11, 1913, Kingfisher, Kingfisher Co., Oklahoma.

10. ADA RUTH⁶ SHACKELFORD (JAMES ARCHER BLANE⁵, SALLIE BLANE⁴ MURRELL, SAMUEL³, SALLIE² BLAINE, ALEXANDER¹) was born September 02, 1891 in Wandel, Kingfisher Co., Oklahoma, and died June 14, 1987 in Isabella, OK Buried in Collins Cemetery Blaine Co., OK. She married MATTHEW BROWN JR March 27, 1912 in Kingfisher Co., OK At Her Parents Home, son of MATTHEW BROWN and ELLEN GRAVES. He was born August 18, 1888 in Hugoton, Stevens Co., Kansas, and died May 27, 1975 in Okeene, Blaine Co., OK Buried in Collins Cemetery OK.

Notes for ADA RUTH SHACKELFORD:

"Gramma Brown"

The following is a story that my mother narrated to me early in 1975 that I presented to the Enid Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution in recognition off American Heritage: A Story of My Grandmother.

"This is the story of Ad and Bessie Shackelford, who settled on a farm in Kingfisher County at the opening of what we called Old Oklahoma. Ad was a newcomer to the West from the state of Kentucky. His father was a doctor who seemingly had a lot of old southern ideas and he, having a private practice, was very independent. he raised his boys to ride and drive good horses and not to worry. But, when they were young, the good doctor passed away before they had any ideas of what their future life would be. They happened to have a cousin living in Kansas, who told them about the new land soon to open for settlement. So, with their mother, they came to Kansas. They had not been there long until she, too, died.

In Kansas, he met Bessie Wells, who had come from Illinois. Although she was only seven years of age when they made their move west she was better schooled in the hardships of western life. Her father would bring cattle to the then Indian Territory where they were herded on rank prairie grass before being taken to market. When the family came with him there was a small house where her father, mother and little sister stayed. when she, her twin sisters, and one brother were not herding cattle, they stayed in a huge dugout that had a big fireplace in one end where a fire was kept going night and day. I loved to listen to her tell the things that happened there. One night they came from the house after supper to the dugout. There in front of the fireplace stood a full grown steer with his head and longhorns almost in the fireplace. They were very independent children, never thinking of going back for their father, but proceeded to rid themselves of their unwelcome guest. They soon found out they had their hands full as it was evidently the warmest place the steer had found all winter and he wasn't leaving. In fact, he never noticed them.. After trying various ways to get him to leave, my mother's brother heated a long poker to almost white heat and when he came toward the steer they never saw anything turn so quickly or leave so fast. Evidently, he remembered the branding iron! The children would hunt deer and wild turkey, and it seemed they were almost always lucky. They could carry the turkey home, but not the deer. My mother's brother could always leave the men to the deer he had shot no matter how many miles it would be. So, my mother had many a taste of pioneer living that my father never had. { They called this place they stayed, "Sleepy Hollow." It was on Hoyle Creek not far from where the creek goes into the Cimarron River and that is west of Enid some 15 miles and south. The deer and turkey are still in that area.}

They found Old Oklahoma pretty well taken by Sooners, so my father bought our farm from a man who was ready to leave as he knew he would have to give it up anyway. He would come back every now and then and before he left he would tell them he wanted to go to the 'Grove before he left. The 'Grove was an extra thick growth of trees on the creek that ran through the farm. After he would leave, some of the family would go to the grove and find where he had dug the ground up in quite a few places. The story got around that gold had been buried there by a wagon train years before when they thought Indians were about to attack them.

They talk about the times being so hard in those days, but oh, the happiness. We ran all over the pastures hunting all kinds of wild flowers. We spent hours playing by the creek that was always so cool and shady. The house was built on a hill with no trees around it, but I remember no unhappiness.

We live twelve miles from Kingfisher and it took the biggest part of a day to drive to town and back. One day my father was coming from town and he met a man leading one of his cows. Father jumped out of his wagon saying, "That is my cow!" The man explained to him that he had traded mother a sewing machine for the cow. When father came home, there was the new sewing machine.

The neighbors were very good to each other and so very friendly. Two and one half miles from us there was a country church, a Presbyterian church. We always had a Union Sunday School each Sunday morning. A minister came every two weeks, so we had a sermon each morning and evening on those Sundays. I look back at Thos special entertainments we had in that little country church and remember how we looked forward to Easter and Children's Day in June. We always had a Christmas program. Is it my imagination, but I never saw anything so beautiful as our entertainments were. Another thing, when we needed a new dress for the various things we were in, our parents in some way always got them for us and they were pretty, too. We were so proud to wear them, and too, I remember we would go to Kingfisher just before Easter to buy new hats.

The school was two and one half miles from home. Father said it was alright for boys to walk to school, but not little girls, so we always had a pony. The pony wasn't too good-natured, though because sometimes she would tire of us riding her so much and throw us off! The school was a meeting place for us to have our Literary Society. That took place every Friday evening. during the first part of the evening there was always a debate. The subject would be picked the week before. there were two teams with a captain on each side and some of those debates were quite lively. After the debate we had recess and the last part of the evening was all entertainment; singing, recitations and dialogues, which were very good. My father had an oratorical voice and could give a very good reading. He and mother taught me to give so many recitations, even when I was so small they had to help me on and off the stage. Different ones gave so many musical numbers. I'll never forget those meetings. Our whole life centered around that little neighborhood, where we had our church, school and country store.

We also had Sunday School conventions where several churches of different denominations would meet at one church and have a day long meeting and several different speakers. Sometimes a missionary home on leave would tell us so much about the advancement of people in foreign countries.

One thing, too, that helped our neighborhood was the organization of the Modern Woodman Lodge. I remember the day I was really put out with my father when I discovered he would have secrets I no longer would share! When he explained it to me I was satisfied and thought no more about it. They did a lot of good helping everyone and each other, and later put on some many fine drills at many places. I was happy one time they were put on on a play and gave me a part in it. We went many places and performed the play.

To look back, the work was hard, but the pleasures great. My father, I shall always think, died too young, at 66 years of age, but my mother lived to be 101 years of age. Until about 6 months before she passed away her mind was fine, but I noticed when her mind would wander, she was back in those happy days

when the country was new, talking of her cabin and how fine it was, with a real floor.

So, can you tell me a better way to start a child's life: Wait for the spring, go all over the pastures to pick will flowers, stand on the edge of a buffalo wallow, watch the clear water in it, that never dried all summer. Look for the bluebirds, watch the brilliant speck that happened to be a humming bird, standing in the air and wondering what made that little motor run! The happiness of the early days just cannot be replaced and many other things I could tell, but I an an idea this is all for now, but if you ever try the art of making a mud pie, remember an egg or two from the hen house gives it a much better flavor!"

Notes for MATTHEW BROWN JR:

Came to Oklahoma in 1893. Settled on "home" place 6 miles north and one and a quarter miles east of Okeene. Post Office now Isabella, OK. Early day post office was "Vilas"

Children of ADA SHACKELFORD and MATTHEW JR are:

12. i. ADDISON SHACKELFORD⁷ BROWN, b. June 09, 1915, Okeene, OK; d. August 04, 1997, Stillwater, Ok Buried in Stillwater Cemetery.

13. ii. FRANCES BETTY BROWN, b. October 03, 1919, Isabella, Major Co.,Oklahoma.

14. iii. ARLYNN ROSS BROWN, b. April 11, 1921, Major Co., Oklahoma; d. July 19, 1999, Kingfisher Co., OK Buried in Kingfisher Cemetery , Kingfisher OK.

15. iv. NINA RUTH BROWN, b. October 23, 1923, Isabella, Major County, Oklahoma.

16. v. MATTHEW BROWN III, b. July 02, 1933, Isabella, Major Co., Oklahoma.