16. Andrew Jackson Gordon, Sr.
1900 Census OK Wichita Indian Reservation next place from George Thomas and daughters Ladonia and Laura.
1900 United States Federal Census about J Andrew Gordon
Name: J Andrew Gordon
Home in 1900: Wichita Reservation, Wichita, Apache, Kiowa and Comanche Reservation, Oklahoma
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Birthplace: Texas
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Spouse's name: E Blanche
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
J Andrew Gordon 28
E Blanche Gordon 20
A Mary Gordon1920 United States Federal Census about Andrew J Gordon
Name: Andrew J Gordon
Home in 1920: Kennedy, Blaine, Oklahoma
Age: 47 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Eddie
Father's Birth Place: Missouri
Mother's Birth Place: Missouri
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 178
Household Members: Name Age
Andrew J Gordon 47
Eddie Gordon 43
Emitt D Gordon
Farmer, rancher, saloon owner, and operated a draying business in Mountain View, Oklahoma. See the manuscript "Laura's Story" by Andrew Gordon's sister Laura Gordon Coker for interesting details and experiences of his youth. Accompanied his father George Washington Gordon in the Oklahoma land rush and settled in Oklahoma Territory.
One of his favorite songs sung by his mother was "Little Brown Jug."
Met Blanche Thomas at Matame Presbyterian School. Rode 90 miles to El Reno, OK to obtain a marriage license for him and Blanche.Shown in 1920 U.S. Census of Blaine Co.,Kennedy, OK as grain farmer living with 2nd wife Addie and son Emmit. From "Annies Story" -- "Brother Andrew and Addie (Bottom) became sweethearts for a time and many years later after each had been married and raised their children were wedded and were very happy."
See item written by his son Andrew Jackson Gordon, Jr. in manuscript "An American Famly: Not Merely a Couple with Children" written by his grandson Larry J. Gordon. See the manuscript "The Thomas Family History as Related to the Gordon Family" by Homer Halverson, a son of Blanche Thomas Gordon's sister Laura.
A few quotes from "Laura's Story," Andrew's sister:
"Andrew borrowed Grandpa's pocket knife one day and got up into the wagon. He had a new hat that they had brought him and he cut it full of holes. On being questioned as to why he did it, he said that he "was trying to see what it was made of." He was about 3 1/2 years old.
". Andrew had confidence in his ability to do things, but sometimes his judgment wasn't the best. Though he had to do a man's work from a small boy, he never shirked or failed his responsibility. ...
"When Andrew was nearly 9, Papa sent him to Crafton to mill with a wagonload of grain to have ground for feed. He sent a note to Mr. Wallace, the miller, who was a family friend! We all knew his family. Mr. Wallace was not at the mill that day, and in the afternoon Jasper, or "Mit," asked Andrew what he wanted and he gave them the note asking that they get busy and get him started toward home as soon as they could; but he did not get home until way into the night. Mama would walk down the road and listen and wait, then come home without any news. All of us were to be quiet while Papa would listen for the wagon wheels. Sometime prior to that date, a 14 year old boy had been scalped by Indians on his way home from school not far from where we lived. They were so uneasy about Andrew---Mama would go again to listen for her boy! Finally she said the wagon wheels announced his coming. She met them coming at slow speed. He had wound the lines around the handle of the dashboard and was lying on his sacks of feed and was fast asleep. Old Kate and Nellie were jogging along at their own leisure. ..."
"Andrew wanted to get into the wagon where two hired boys were unloading corn. They told him that they could cut his ears off, but he climbed on a wheel and stood on the brake while Lewis and I ran, so scared, to tell Mama that those big boys were going to cut Andrew's ears off. We didn't know any better than to believe what we heard. She said “they didn't mean it." I sure loved my brothers. I thought she ought to watch those boys. We stayed close to Mama and watched about Andrew. To think of that now---it seems that we were mighty little then---really, it was 78 years ago.
"Once when a heavy hail storm caught Lewis out herding sheep, Andrew went to his rescue and found he had taken refuge in a grove of large oak trees with his shepherd dog and all sheep in safety."... Andrew was so young to have to do a man's work. He was quick motioned and strong, but couldn't buckle a throat latch nor even put a bridle on a horse without standing on a wagon tongue or a stump. ...
"Some didn't want to give readings. Andrew thought he just couldn't, but memorized "Woodman Spare That Tree," and would try but cried instead. Mr. Keller was patient and kind to him and others. Mama took time to help and encourage him. He got so he really did well and enjoyed reciting poems.
"... We had our best times around the kitchen fireplace where Andrew would roast lots of sweet potatoes and turnips in the fireplace by wrapping them in shucks dipped in hot water and buried in real hot ashes sprinkled with hot water; then lots of embers on top of that and coals on top. We had to wait a long time for them and then, after waiting another long time, we would watch him go into them carefully so as to not get ashes next to them. He seemed to always know just how to do it. He made molasses candy for us and popped corn. Sometimes we would eat our popcorn in sweet milk.
"Once Andrew, Lewis and I attended a Christmas tree and school program at Eliasville. It was so nice. They always had nine month terms there. No doubt we could have been in the exercises had we been able to attend school in our "own" district. The night was cold but riding next to a horse's body and arms around Andrew, I didn't suffer. We forded the Clear Fork just below the Donald Mill and Dam. ...
"Andrew and Lewis went to haul a couple of barrels of water from the Brazos River and heard a terrible roaring. They decided they would drive out of the river bed and see what it was. They had barely driven out when a wall of water several feet high rolled down past them! We never knew why. We couldn't believe it had rained anywhere above us or anywhere near.
"Papa and Andrew went to work on the railroad with scrapers and teams. He had Andrew drive the big team of horses while he drove the mares. He cautioned Andrew so much about being careful, to watch his business, "and keep in line." The “boss” was a good one and watched all the corners at the same time and was kind, especially to Andrew, for he was the only child driving a team. One day the boss told Papa to "Pull his team aside, for it was lighter than he wanted on the works.” Papa said, "All right, that black team comes off too." "No," he said, "I don't want to give it up, it's one of the best teams on the job." So Papa stayed on too. No fault of his own that he got "fired." Andrew said, "They fired him and hired him over."
"Papa got the idea of coming to the Indian Territory and felt that the soldiers at Fort Sill were taking care of the Indian situation and that we had nothing to dread along that score, so Andrew went back to Wizzard Wells in Jack County, or near there, after our horses. Getting our belongings assembled after being scattered for near a year, we started out from Wise County while it was misting rain on May 19, 1887.
"When we got to Red River early in the afternoon, it was running full, and so swift and red. A ferryboat was there and a big strong man to operate it. They decided to swim the cattle and horses over first. Was so hard to drive them in. There were thirteen young calves and none of us had ever heard such a commotion before. We thought every little calf would surely drown and Papa and Andrew, too; but Mama tried to comfort us the best she could. The old ferryman assured Papa that each cow would take care of her own calf. Nearly killed me to see Papa and Andrew ride into it. No one ever saw worse milling around and bawling of cows and calves. The water was over all of them except their noses and horns. Finally every cow had milled around until she had her own calf by her left side---the upper side, and it was leaning against its mother, swimming along holding its little nose above the water.
We were one bunch who "never batted an eye" while that procedure was in progress. The river looked very wide. Papa and Andrew rode their horses close to the stock but did not crowd them. We all but cried fear and sorrow for Papa and Andrew, and the stock as well.
Lewis stayed with us and the ferryman helped them by riding one of the horses. We were all so thankful when we got across in the ferryboat, we should have planted a flag had we possessed one, and I remember our mother praising God that he had been with us in our trials. We know that God does care for his own!! When we all got across the river it was getting late, almost sundown. The stock were tired from their days journey and the tiresome, long swim in that awful swift water, so muddy and red. It really deserved the name of "Red River." I guess we felt a bit like the Pilgrims after they landed at Plymouth Rock. This crossing was near where Ringold now stands."Andrew and Papa went to plowing with two horses and walking cultivators while Mama, Lewis, Fannie and Ivy went to hoeing cotton which could scarcely be found among high weeds. Corn was waist high and fine as could be and a good season in the ground. They all worked like Trojans and got over the crop both hoeing and plowing and that was the third of June. It came a heavy hail storm and cut down every stalk of cotton and beat it into the ground---the corn into stubs. Papa risked the corn coming out, but planted the cotton over and planted a patch of cane, watermelons, muskmelons, and a garden. The ground was warm and clean and everything did fine. Several people gave us potato vines that were cut off by the hail, and we raised lots of sweet potatoes.
"Andrew and Cousin Henry Gordon broke the land with two yoke of oxen and a bull tongue plow.
"Andrew, when yet a child, rescued a man from a well that had damps in it. Being let down to put a rope around his body in order that he could be drawn out with a windlass. He then rode one of Papa's horses after Dr. Long to treat the man whose name was Will Slaughter, a brother to Mrs. Andrew Meredith.
"Once Andrew found a nest of wild turkey eggs. Mama set a chicken hen with them and raised several turkeys, eight or nine as I remember.
"Andrew made a full hand when corn gathering time came as he never shirked his work in his life. Papa hired a man to help Andrew with the planting and every thing during that spring and summer. Mama had a fine garden and raised all the chickens she could. ...
"When the Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation was opened for white settlement on April 19, 1892, Papa decided he'd "run" for a claim and knew if he got one that he would be at home very little for some time. So we children were to quit school to go to work in the field. So the school closed and the teacher went home. Papa had done a lot of winter plowing and had his corn crop up and plowed and cotton ground "bedded," garden made and he and Andrew got ready for the trip. They came to about the Frank Stewart's south section line or near where the Rock Island Railroad is now, somewhere between Mountain View and Gotebo. These towns had not even been thought about then. The registered and waited until the twelve noon shot was fired for the signal to start. They ran under the South Line Protective Association. Each had his own banner on a stake or pole. Papa rode Pet, a mare he had given Lewis. He rode north about three miles and saw gyp hills ahead and was in the lead when he decided he'd better stop, and did. He couldn't have gone back soon because of the people coming behind him. He staked a 160 acre claim with a little running creek, called Oak Creek, with quite a lot of timber on it, but not more than 40 acres of really good farming land. He filed on it, but Andrew was not of legal age to file, but helped Papa fence a field for wheat. Andrew broke most of the land with oxen later and helped Papa sow the wheat and helped in different ways."In the meantime, Papa and Andrew broke five acres, sowed it in wheat and fenced it. Andrew went to work for Mr. J. E. Pickens hauling logs for his sawmill on the Joe Tarpley place on the Washita River seven or eight miles from home.
"Mr. Pickens, for whom Andrew was working, said he was the best hand he ever had and as long as he had his sawmill; then had him to break his land when he began farming. Andrew also broke land up and down the river for severa1 of the early day settlers ---
"... We were all so glad to get home and all be together again, all excepting Andrew, who was working across Red River on Wagoners Ranch near Vernon, Texas.
"Andrew and Ivy had gone to work for the Presbyterian Mission near Anadarko; Andrew as Industrial teacher and Ivy was maid for the superintendent's wife."
From "Annies Story" -- "Brother Andrew too had worked there (the Presbyterian Mission School) for a time and he met Blanche Thomas one of the three sisters there and after a rather hampered courtship. After he left, her father came for her and they were married that winter of 1897. They went to live on a ranch northeast of Anadarko, where their first child Mary, was born early in the year of 1899."
"Brother Andrew and his wife Blanche separated and he married your Aunt Addie Patterson (they had been sweethearts when young) about Christmas 1918 and they lived on her farm near Faye Oklahoma and at Cooperton."--- "Your Uncle Andrew’s health was broken before he married Addie --"
1920 United States Federal Census about Andrew J Gordon
Name: Andrew J Gordon
Home in 1920: Kennedy, Blaine, Oklahoma
Age: 47 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Eddie
Father's Birth Place: Missouri
Mother's Birth Place: Missouri
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 178
Household Members: Name Age
Andrew J Gordon 47
Eddie Gordon 43
Emitt D Gordon 15
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 about Andrew Jackson Gordon
Name: Andrew Jackson Gordon
City: Not Stated
County: Blaine
State: Oklahoma
Birth Date: 3 Oct 1872
Race: White
Roll: 1851607
Blanche moved to Indian Terrritoy at the age of 3, and resided near Minco and Mountain View most of her life. Her mother died before they moved to Minco. Were squatting on some property and lived in a lean-to with her father & 2 sisters near the river in Minco until they were run off of the land. Put into a Presbyterian school (Matame Industrial School south of Silver City, near Anadarko, OK) until she married Andrew at 15. The school ws founded by a wealthy Mrs. Hume for Indian children, and some white children were allowed to attendFarmer, homemaker. Second marriage to William Webb, so her gravestone in Minco, Oklahoma shows her name as Blanche Webb. Member of the Presbyterian Church, the Eastern Star, and the Legion Auxiliary.
Family Data Collection - Births about Thomas Bailey Stewart
Name: Thomas Bailey Stewart
Father: William Bailey Stewart
Mother: Sarah Jane Killen
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1872
City: Athens
County: Henderson
State: TX
Country: USA1880 United States Federal Census about Thomas B. Stewart
Name: Thomas B. Stewart
Home in 1880: Archer, Texas
Age: 7
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to head-of-household: Son
Father's name: Wm. B.
Father's birthplace: Georgia
Mother's name: Jane
Mother's birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Wm. B. Stewart 31
Jane Stewart 26
Thomas B. Stewart 7
Walter E. Stewart 5
James W. Stewart
1900 United States Federal Census Record about Thomas Stewart
Name: Thomas Stewart
Home in 1900: Altus, Greer, Oklahoma
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: 1872
Birthplace: Texas
Race: White
Relationship to head-of-house: Brother
Occupation: Farmer1910 United States Federal Census about Thomas B Stewart
Name: Thomas B Stewart
Age in 1910: 37
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Georgia
Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee
Spouse's name: Berdie A
Home in 1910: Poarch, Beckham, Oklahoma
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas B Stewart 37
Berdie A Stewart 32
Deelia b Stewart 13
Dewey M Stewart 9
Ina G StewartWorld War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 about Thomas Bailey Stewart
Name: Thomas Bailey Stewart
City: Not Stated
County: Tillman
State: Oklahoma
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1872
Race: White
Roll: 18521301920 United States Federal Census about Thomas B Stewart
Name: Thomas B Stewart
Home in 1920: Hunter, Tillman, Oklahoma
Age: 47 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Bertie
Father's Birth Place: Georgia
Mother's Birth Place: Georgia
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas B Stewart 47
Bertie Stewart 42
Adelia Stewart 22
Dewy Stewart 18
Grace Stewart 16
Alice Little1930 United States Federal Census about Thomas B Steuart
Name: Thomas B Steuart
Home in 1930: Hunter, Tillman, Oklahoma
Age: 57
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to Head of House: Head
Mother's name: Isabelle
Spouse's name: Birdie A
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas B Steuart 57
Birdie A Steuart 51
Isabelle Steuart 77First moved to New Mexico with his wife and three daughters about 1903 to help his father in his farming and cattle raising operation near Portales, NM. Returned to OK and again returned to NM about 1906 and homesteaded near San Jon. Returned to OK to farm after giving up on making a living on a small, isolated homestead in a dry, harsh climate. Had retired from farming near Lorenzo, TX at the time of his death.
Enjoyed singing to his children and grandchildren and helped imbue a love for music in all of them. As a young child, I remember sitting on his lap and enjoying his singing.
Larry GordonFrom his obituary:
"T. B. Stewart was born in Athens, Texas, December 10, 1872. At fourteen years of age he moved to the Indian Territory with his parents and settled in the area of where Marlow, Oklahoma now is. It was here as a young man that he met Birdie Alice Little and they were married Novemeber 19, 1993. To this union were born three daughters: Adelia, Deweylee, and Grace. In 190?, Mr. Stewart, his wife and their small daughter settled in the Old Greer County Territory. In 1931, after their three daughters were married, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart moved to Lorenzo, Texas.
"The outstanding characteristics of Mr. Stewart were his devotion as a husband and father and his patience in times of distress and affliction. His children remember his often remarking that he has lived a full life and was prepared to go. He often repeated Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Crossing the Bar." Another favorite poem of his was "To The Fellow Who'll Take My Place," His children will recall the Hymns he used in rocking them to slepp when they were small, "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" and "How Firm A Foundation." These poems and songs were used as a part of the interment services at the Carter Cemetery, Carter, Oklahoma.
"In which ever community Mr. Stewart lived, and under whatever circumstances came his way, he put his shoulder to the wheel of progress with courage and did his part as a citizen to make that community a better place in which to live. To his widow and children who were guided by his wise counsel will ever be a sweet memory. He never tired in turning a hand or doing a good deed for others and in his passing is a vacancy in the hearts of his loved ones that can never be filled."Family Data Collection - Individual Records about Thomas Bailey Stewart
Name: Thomas Bailey Stewart
Spouse: Birdie Alice Little
Parents: William Bailey Stewart , Sarah Jane Isabelle Killen
Birth Place: Henderson, Athens, TX
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1872
Death Date: 25 Feb 1943Dawes Commission records show that Thomas Bailey Stewart applied to enroll as a Cherokee based on affidavits about Champion Choate, but was denied. Cherokee settlers who had settled in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri were not living in the Cherokee Nation were considered U.S. citizens, and were ineligible to sign the Dawes Rolls for Cherokees. Those descended from these Cherokees are unable to enroll in the Cherokee Nation even if they are able to prove their Cherokee heritage. Thomas Bailey Stewart's application was supported by two Cherokees (John Ross and Thomas White) who had known Thomas Bailey Stewart's great grandfather Champion Choate as a Cherokee in the Old Cherokee Nation in Tennessee before Champion and his wife Anne Burke (she may have also been a mixed blood Cherokee) moved to Arkansas and subsequently to Texas.
Was a homemaker and assisted her husband as a farmer in Oklahoma and Texas.
In her later years, Birdie's daughter Adelia Stewart Sallee did genealogical work on her mother's line (Little) and to some extent, on her father's line (Stewart). With the help of a British genealogist, she traced part of her maternal line to a Baron of the Magna Charta. This lineage is detailed in Adelia Stewart Sallee's manuscript, "Yea: I Have a Goodly Heritage. Psalms 16-6", and has been significantly expanded and further detailed in family genealogy research by Larry Gordon.
1880 United States Federal Census about Earnest W. Callendar
Name: Earnest W. Callendar
Home in 1880: Box, Cedar, Missouri
Age: 2
Estimated birth year: abt 1878
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to head-of-household: Grandson
Father's birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's name: Sarah
Mother's birthplace: Missouri
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
A. Newby 60
Susanna Newby 60
Emily Newby 33
Kate Newby 20
W. Jefferson Newby 18
Sarah Callendar 36
Iva O. Callendar 8
Earnest W. Callendar 2
Clarence E. Callendar 11MMoved to NM abt 1900. Miner and owned a blacksmith shop in Cerrillos, NM. Owned a market in Albuquerque for a while. Traveled to Arizona in an attempt to locate the mythical Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition Mts. near Phoenix.
Grocery salesman in 1900 Census, Bland, Bernalillo Co., NM1900 United States Federal Census about Ernest W Calender
Name: Ernest W Calender
Home in 1900: Bland, Bernalillo, New Mexico
Age: 22
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878
Birthplace: Missouri
Relationship to head-of-house: Son
Parent's Name: James W
Race: White
Occupation: View Image
Household Members: Name Age
James W Calender 64
Ernest W Calender 22
Clarence E Calender 20
Daniel Calender 18
1910 United States Federal Census about Ernest W Callander
Name: Ernest W Callander
Age in 1910: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Kentucky
Mother's Birth Place: Missouri
Spouse's name: Belle
Home in 1910: Cerrillos, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Ernest W Callander 32
Belle Callander 23
Claris Callander 6World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record about Ernest Waymon Callender
Name: Ernest Waymon Callender
City: Not Stated
County: Santa Fe
State: New Mexico
Birth Date: 31 Jul 1877
Race: White
Roll: 1711807
DraftBoard: 0In 1918, Tony Simoni purchased the Jones Buildingonf First Street in Cerrillos from E.W. Callender for $3,000.00. This is recorded on a historic sign on the Simoni Store.
Shown in 1920 in District 229, Cerrillos, Santa Fe, Co., NM working for Arch Coal. Also operated and assay office.
1920 United States Federal Census about E W Calland
Name: E W Calland
Home in 1920: Cerrilos, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Age: 33 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1887
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Belle
Father's Birth Place: Missouri
Mother's Birth Place: Missouri
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 248
Household Members: Name Age
E W Calland 33
Belle Calland 33
Clair Calland 14
Jane Calland 1 8/12
1930 United States Federal Census about Ernest W Callendar
Name: Ernest W Callendar
Home in 1930: Cerrilos, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Age: 51
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1879
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Isabel
Race: White
Occupation: Education: Military Service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace: View Image
Household Members: Name Age
Ernest W Callendar 51
Isabel Callendar 43
Jane Callendar 11Funeral arrangements by Memorial Chapel, Santa Fe, NM
1900 United States Federal Census Record about Belle Arnett
Name: Belle Arnett
Home in 1900: Adams, Carroll, Indiana
Age: 13
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887
BirthPlace: Indiana
Relationship to head-of-house: Daughter
Father's name: Samuel
Mother's name: Mary
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Samuel Arnett 44
Mary Arnett 37
Belle Arnett 13
Jennie B Arnett 11
Hattie O Arnett 10
Frances C Arnett 1Delivered mail from horseback in the Bland, NM area that is now a ghost town.
1910 United States Federal Census about Belle Callander
Name: Belle Callander
Age in 1910: 23
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887
Birthplace: Indiana
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Father's Birth Place: New York
Mother's Birth Place: Indiana
Spouse's name: Ernest W
Home in 1910: Cerrillos, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Female
Household Members: Name Age
Ernest W Callander 32
Belle Callander 23
Claris Callander 6Shown in 1920 and 1930 census District 229, Cerrillos, Santa Fe Co., NM
A relative "Remembers Wayman and Aunt Belle, said she wore two pistols on her hips and was a good shot!" "The early 1890s saw the beginning of a gold and silver mining town named after Richard Parks Bland of Missouri whose fight against the demonetization of silver had gained him national fame. Bland's most amazing feat was its location. Tucked along a narrow canyon aperture only sixty feet wide, the town had over fifty buildings including four sawmills, two banks, a newspaper, a hotel, stock exchange, opera house, a school, a church, over a dozen saloons and miscellaneous stores. Bland was a lusty, booming, hell-raising, hard working metropolis of over three thousand people until 1904 when production began to show signs of weakening. Soon thereafter, Bland's boom had passed. The town is now deserted and stands on private property closely guarded under lock and key."
1880 United States Federal Census about Leroy F. Wright
Name: Leroy F. Wright
Home in 1880: Reinbeck, Grundy, Iowa
Age: 1
Estimated birth year: abt 1879
Birthplace: Iowa
Relation to head-of-household: Son
Father's name: J. E.
Father's birthplace: PA
Mother's name: Estella
Mother's birthplace: IA
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
J. E. Wright 27
Estella Wright 21
Leroy F. Wright 1
Maud Wright 2MThe 1910 Census of Ward 4 San Bernardino, Bernardino County, California, lists Leroy Wright, 30, working in a tailor shop; Josephine, 25; and Eveline, 2. Leroy and Josephine have been married for three years.
Leroy’s 1918 World War I Draft Registration Card lists him as a bookkeeper in the Springer, New Mexico Floursheim Company. He is described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair.
The 1920 Census of District 26, Springer, Colfax County, New Mexico, Leroy Floyd Wright, 41; Josephine E., 34; and Evelyn L., 11. Leroy is the bookkeeper in a general merchandise store.
In the 1930 Census of District 48, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, Leroy F. Wright, 51, is a traveling salesman for a planing mill, with wife, Josephine, 44.
She was a librarian in Springer, New Mexico in the 1920s. Josephine enjoyed homemaking, her family, camping and fishing.
The family lived in California, El Paso, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Josephine died in Mar 1963 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was buried in Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque.From a California (SanBernardino?) paper, "The Evening ---- .)
"It will interest the many friends of L.F. Wright of San Bernardino to learn of his marriage. Mr. Wright left last week for Los Angeles, all thinking he was taking an ordinary vacation. His friends were freatly surprised when he appeared with a young lady, whom he introduced as Mrs. Wright, formerly Miss Josephine Hanson. Mr. Wright and Miss Hanson were quietly married in Los Angeles. Mrs. Wright was formerly of New Mexico, but had been a resident of Los Angeles recently. The groom is a tailor employed by Mr. Mettier. It was a great pleasure to Mr. Wright's friends, but even if they were cheated out of the wedding, they wish prosperity and happiness to the young couple. Mr. and Mrs. Wright will reside at 838 Fourth street in the future."
Obituary in the Albuquerque Journal:
"WRIGHT -- Leroy F. Wright 72, died at this home, 296 Alamo Road NW, Tuesday evening January 30, 1951.
Mr. Wright came here one year ago from El Paso. He retired when he sold his interest in the El Paso Plate Glass and Mirror Co. Mr. Wright is survived by his wife, Josephine; by one daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Callender of Albuquerque; two brothers, Carl and Arthur in Tulsa, Oklahoma; one sister, Mrs. Carl Kelsey in Missouri; and by one granddaughter, Mrs. Nedra Gordon of Silver City, NM. Mr. Wright was a member of the Congregational Church, the Masonic Lodge, and the Scottish Rite. Funeral services will be conducted from the Chapel of the Garden of the French-Fitzgerald Mortuary Friday afternoon at two o'clock. The Rev. Ira J. Bailes will officiate at the chapel and Albuquerque Lodge No, A.F. & A.M. will have charge of the services at the grave in Sunset Memorial Park."
1900 United States Federal Census about Josephine Hanson
Name: Josephine Hanson
Home in 1900: Las Vegas Ward 3, San Miguel, New Mexico
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1885
Birthplace: New Mexico
Relationship to head-of-house: Daughter
Father's name: James
Mother's name: Sarah
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
James Hanson 47
Sarah Hanson 35
Millie Hanson 21
Bertie Hanson 18
Josephine Hanson 15Librarian in Springer, NM in 1920s. Also lived in California, El Paso TX, and Albuquerque. Enjoyed homemaking, her family, camping and fishing.