In my search for our family history and a train migration my husband’s grandmother was a part of, I’ve been sent several versions of a compilation by Bess Lowe Rivers, written from information gained from her mother when she was 80 years old, fifty-seven years after the train trip. I have attempted, with this page, to put the versions together to come up with the best list of names and information. If anyone can add to it or correct any information, I ask that you please email me. Thank you and Enjoy!!
"Contributed by Bess Lowe Rivers from information told to her from her mother, Druzy Blankenship Lowe."
I was born at Gray Fox, KY, the daughter of Chester Lowe (born 1868 to James Aaron Lowe and Mary Ann Rutherford Lowe in Pike County, KY). My father first married Mary Ellen Williams, daughter of Harve Williams. Mary Ellen died in 1898 and my father married my mother, Druzy Blankenship, daughter of Sherman Hiram Blankenship and Mary Ann Stepp Blankenship. Druzy was born August 3, 1883 and died March 15, 1972. Dad died November 14, 1904. They were married September 16, 1903. My father had a general store on Rock Creek. Billy Jenkins owns the home place now. My mother’s folks were from Martin Co.. My dad and mother left Kentucky in 1916 and came to Oklahoma.
In early 1905 (some say 1906), somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 families from Morgan and Magoffin Counties in Kentucky got together and chartered a train to Oklahoma. They sold all property and loaded all household goods and personal things and headed for the train by wagon. They had to cook up enough food to feed the families until they got to Oklahoma.
My mother gave me the names of all whom she could remember who made the trip. She was 80 years old when this information was given. The Chester Lowe families did not come with this group but the parents of Druzy did go (see note two paragraphs above..Chester Lowe family went in 1916).
The train took a week to get to Oklahoma. Its destination was Ardmore, OK in the Chickasaw Nation of Indian Territory. It was the month of March and Oklahoma was not yet a state. When the families arrived, all the available rent land was rented and crops were already started. These families could not get places to live. They lived two and three families to a house when they could get a house. Some lived in tents and dugouts – whatever they could get. A few were lucky enough to have family that had come to OK earlier and they stayed with them. They worked for whatever they could get paid.
Some went back to Kentucky – Joe Frances, Robin Cisco, and Jim Adkins.
Some died that first year. My mother’s family had two deaths – Presley Blankenship and a child of Susie Perkins.
My grandfather, being part Indian, was luckier than most. He made friends with the Indians and that made it better for him. He got on so well with them, in fact, that an Indian chief wanted to buy my grandmother!
The second year the families scattered and lived all over Oklahoma. Cain Robinson, Walker Williams, and the Hammonds went to Wapanucka, OK. Brack Hammond opened up the largest store in Wapanucka and in 1920 went on to California. Many of the families stayed in Ardmore area around the old Legate and Hoxbar communities. The Walker Williams family lived at Ardmore, OK. James Aaron Lee/Lowe came as a single man but returned to KY. In 1916 he moved back to OK and died in 1924. The Farish Howard family returned to KY.
THE FAMILIES:
1. Sherman Hiram Blankenship and wife Mary Ann Stepp Blankenship and two sons, Presley and Spencer. Hiram was the son of Spencer and Polly Blankenship. Mary Ann (Polly) was the daughter of Judge James and Leanna Maynard Stepp.
2. Farish Howard and wife Risby Blankenship Howard and children.
3. Thomas Perkins and wife Susie Blankenship Perkins and children. Thomas was the son of George Perkins. Susie was the daughterof Hiram and Polly Blankenship.
4. Mander Perkins and family. Mander Perkins is the brother of Leander Perkins who is the first husband of Stella Mayo Perkins Anderson.
5. Washington Perkins and family. Washington is George Washington Perkins father of Mander and Leander Perkins.
6. Hayden Gullett and family.
7. Daniel Perkins, wife and family.
8. Isaac Hammond and wife Rose Ann.
9. Brach Hammond and wife (perhaps Breckenridge Hammon and wife Kathleen Cisco???).
10. Clay Hammond and wife.
11. Jasper Adkins and family.
12. Kenny Hammond and family.
13. Joe Frances and family.
14. Kelly Montgomery and wife Martha Cisco Montgomery and family – Olie and Ora.
15. John and Lou Phipps Montgomery (Kelly’s parents).
16. James Blankenship and wife Allie Cisco Blankenship and family.
17. Valley Adkins and family. Valley is Valentine.
18. Volley Adkins and family.
19. Cain Robinson, wife Angeline Jenkins Robinson and family. Cain was the grandson of James Aaron Lowe. Cain is the son of Mary Ann Lowe and Hnery CP Robinson and the brother of Mary Ann Robinson Mayo. Mary Ann Robinson Mayo is the mother of Stella Mayo Perkins Anderson. Angeline is the daughter of William M Jenkins and Sarah "Sally" Montgomery.
20. Walker Williams and wife Octavia Lowe Williams. Walker was the son of Harve and Celia Williams. Octavia was the daughter of Henry Lowe and Malissa Adams Lowe and granddaughter of James and Mary Lowe. The is the family of Mary Ann Lowe who married George Mayo.
21. Thomas Maguire family and sister Margaret Maguire.
22. Flemming Williams and Perla (or Pearl) Robinson Williams. Both of these individuals came single with their parents and ended up marrying in Ardmore in 1910.
23. Robin Cisco and family.
24. Charles Williams and wife Abigail Montgomery Williams.
25. Eli Adkins and family.
26. John Milt Vance, wife Julie Adkins Vance, and daughter Myrtle.
27. Risner family.
28. Sarah Montgomery and family.
29. James Aaron Lee (or Lowe?).
30. Jerry Marr Caudle (widower of Victoria Adkins Caudle).
31. George Mayo and wife Mary Ann Robinson Mayo. Mary Ann was the daughter of James A. Lowe.
32. Jim Adkins (brother to Eli?) and wife Josephine Hammond Adkins and children Ed and Ada. Jim returned to KY but Josie and the kids stayed in OK.
33. James Harve McGuire, wife Margaret Patrick McGuire and son Boyd. James Harve returned to Kentucky in 1907, leaving his family in OK. They never saw him again. He died sometime in the 1960's and is buried in the Gullett Cemetary at Rockhouse, near Trace Fork in Morgan County, KY.
These are not all the names of the families that took this trip. If you have anymore to add to the list, please email me!
