| i. | SARAH C. 'SALLIE'6 MCBRAYER, b. Abt. 1855, MS; m. GEORGE R. WITT, September 06, 1878, Benton Co., MS. |
|
More About GEORGE WITT and SARAH MCBRAYER: Marriage: September 06, 1878, Benton Co., MS |
| ii. | JOHN E. MCBRAYER, b. December 28, 1857, Lee Co., MS; d. November 09, 1910, Stigler, OK; m. (1) VIRGINIA HARRISON; d. August 06, 1900, OK; m. (2) SALLIE MAYES, June 1903, OK. |
|
Notes for JOHN E. MCBRAYER: After John's father was killed in the Civil War (?? data) his mother remarried and he moved to Benton Co., MS, where he was 'reared'. He received much of his education in the country schools of Mississippi. At the age of 17 he became a farm hand working by the month. "An experience of three years in this locality convinced him that anything like satisfactory advancement in the world was more probable on the western side of the Mississippi." (*"History of the State of Oklahoma", 1909 edition, pg 450.) In 1877, at the age of 20, he moved from Mississippi and settled at Pacola, Arkansas, six miles south of Ft. Smith, where he again was employed as a farm hand. Three years later he moved to Tamaha, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) on the Arkansas River, on the "borders of the Choctaw Nation, and opened a small store. The mercantile business was a success from the beginning and, as he was appointed the first Postmaster of Tamaha on 17 Apr 1884, his store-post office eventually became the 'business and social center' for the community. "In 1882 he drove a herd of cattle to the Panhandle of Texas and returned the following year." He gave up the mercantile store-post office in 1886, bought land and took up farming and cattle raising in the fertile Arkansas Valley not far from town. It wasn't long before his herds covered much of the grazing lands south of the river. It was about the time he took up farming that he also was married. In Sep 1886 John took for his wife VIRGINIA HARRISON, the daughter of JUDGE MITCHELL HARRISON and LOUISA HARRISON, a "widely known Choctaw Indian Citizen". Later that year, on November 16, 1886, the government closed the post office at Tamaha. "Being a citizen of the Choctaw Nation by marriage", he was naturally drawn into Indian politics. In 1888 he was appointed Circuit Clerk of the First Judicial District of the Mashulatubbee District, Choctaw Nation. On Tuesday, 6 March 1888, he was re-appointed the Postmaster of Tamaha when the government reestablished service in the area. He was re-appointed again in 1890. Then in 1892 he was appointed the able clerk of the Sans Bois County, Choctaw Nation. After his wife, Virginia, died on 6 Aug 1900, leaving one son, Eddie, three years old, John met SALLIE MAYES, daughter of JOEL MAYES, a pioneer and prosperous farmer of Fayetteville, AR. They were married in June of 1903. In 1905, with a capitol of ten thousand dollars, he established the Bank of Tamaha, with himself as president, W.W. FISHER as Vice President, and J.C. TERRELL as cashier. He gave up his farming interests in 1906 and committed himself to his community involvement. John was elected sheriff of Haskell County, Oklahoma, on 17 Sep 1907. He was elected the Haskell County Treasurer in the elections of 1908 and served in that office until 1910. He did not gain nomination (for Sheriff) in the 1910 elections and blamed Judge A.L. Beckett for his loss. On the morning of 9 Nov 1910, he confronted the judge on the streets of Stigler, OK. An altercation evolved and John was shot and killed. He was buried 10 Nov 1910 at Tamaha, OK. John and Sallie had no issue. He was a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias. STATE SENTINEL - Stigler, Oklahoma, November 11, 1910 MCBRAYER SHOT BY JUDGE BECKETT CITY OF STIGLER AND ENTIRE COUNTY IN MOURNING OVER UNLOOKED FOR CALAMITY INVOLVING TWO OF ITS MOST PROMINENT CITIZENS At 8:30 o'clock Wednesday morning Judge A.L. Beckett shot J.E. McBrayer with a revolver in front of McClinton's store. McBrayer died of the wound some three hours later and was taken to Tamaha, his old home, for interment yesterday. Judge Beckett gave up to Sheriff Allen and will have a preliminary hearing Saturday. A pall of gloom was cast over the town of Stigler and over the entire county when the news was flashed out that Treasurer McBrayer was dead and that Judge Beckett had given up to Sheriff Allen. A quiet at once fell over the town, and the election news became of secondary importance. Both men had hosts of friends, not only in Stigler but over the entire county, and it seems a hard fate that could combine such deplorable circumstances into such a fatal result. Since before the primary Treasurer McBrayer has charged that Judge Beckett was instrumental in his defeat for re-nomination. This was not the case, for Judge Beckett and many of his friends were supporters of McBrayer. However, a bad feeling was engendered in the matter; which came to a focus Wednesday when McBrayer signified his intention of chastising Judge Beckett. McBrayer awaited the coming of Judge Beckett to his office, standing in the doorway of McClinton's store and having for a weapon a piece of a hoe handle. At about 8:30 Judge Beckett came down the street, and just as he got opposite Mr. McBrayer on the sidewalk, McBrayer stepped out and struck him across the shoulder and neck with the club he held, breaking off part of it. Beckett stepped back and fired the fatal shot. A large crowd attended the funeral of Treasurer J.E. McBrayer, which took place a Tamaha, yesterday. Judge A.L. Beckett will have a preliminary trial before 'Squire' T.H. Davidson tomorrow and will demand his release on the ground of self defense. -------------------------------- STATE SENTINEL - Stigler, Oklahoma, November 18, 1910 JUDGE BECKETT COMES CLEAR A LENGTHY TRIAL BEFORE JUSTICE DAVIDSON, WITH MANY WITNESSES ON THE STAND SHOWED A CASE OF SELF DEFENSE FOR THE DEFENDANT WITHOUT A DOUBT The examining trial of Judge A.L. Beckett, who shot and killed Treasurer J.E. McBrayer, in front of the court house, on the 9th of November, was begun last Saturday before 'Squire T.H. Davidson and lasted over till late Monday evening. Judge Beckett was at once released as it was proven by almost every witness, more or less, that the fatal shot was fired in self-defense. There were some thirty-five witnesses examined and the testimony of them all was about alike, there being no substantial difference in the state's witnesses and those for the defense. The attorneys for the state were Col. S.M. Rutherford, of Muskogee and Attorney Foster of Haskell County and Col. Gordon and Capt. McKenna, of South McAlister and Col. Meacham of Fort Smith appeared for Judge Beckett. The verdict of the court was not a surprise, and while the people regret the lamentable circumstances that brought about the tragedy, there is no great personal feeling in the matter and the people are satisfied that the law has taken its course and that Judge Beckett was justified. Some of the reports of the trial, especially one in the Muskogee Phoenix, was absolutely false and misleading, and it is to be regretted that articles should appear in the daily press under a Stigler date line that have no better authority and correctness, than some that are sent out from this place. -SOURCES OF INFORMATION- State Sentinel (newspaper), Stigler, OK, 11 Nov 1910 and 18 Nov 1910; Chronicles of Oklahoma, 1948, Vol. 26, Pg 229: Vol. I by Emmet Starr (Claremore, OK) (based on 1910 Census), Pg 79 (1912): Vol 6, 1928, Pg 7; Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory by H.F. O'Beirne, 1891, Pg 188; History of the State of Oklahoma, Vol II, Pg 450-451, by Luther B. Hill, A.B. (Oklahoma Historical Society Library). He was entered on the Choctaw Indian Rolls, census Card #2616, Enrollment # 254, pg 115 - listed as "Intermarried White". |
|
More About JOHN E. MCBRAYER: Burial: Tamaha, Haskell Co., OK89 |
|
Notes for VIRGINIA HARRISON: She was registered as age 32, Choctaw Tribe, 1/2, census card #2616, enrollment # 7599, pg 139. |
|
More About VIRGINIA HARRISON: Burial: Tamaha, Haskell Co., OK |
|
More About SALLIE MAYES: Burial: Tamaha, Haskell Co., OK |
|
More About JOHN MCBRAYER and SALLIE MAYES: Marriage: June 1903, OK |
| i. | TURNER H.6 ALLEN, b. July 09, 1843; m. HULDA HIGHTOWER. | ||
| ii. | AUGUSTUS ALLEN, b. June 06, 1845; m. JULIA ANN SITTON, December 28, 1865; b. November 16, 1841. |
|
More About AUGUSTUS ALLEN and JULIA SITTON: Marriage: December 28, 1865 |
| iii. | EMILY ALLEN, b. August 06, 1847. | ||
| iv. | SARAH ALLEN, b. December 07, 1849. | ||
| v. | ELIZA ALLEN, b. August 10, 1852. | ||
| vi. | MARY ANN ALLEN, b. May 06, 1855; d. Aft. 1926; m. JOHN D. SITTON. | ||
| vii. | MITCHELL G. ALLEN, b. March 22, 1858; m. BERTHA CASE. | ||
| viii. | CHARLOTTE ALLEN, b. December 21, 1860; d. 1863. | ||
| ix. | CORRIE ARLIA ALLEN, b. 1863; d. Aft. 1926; m. HUGH F. JOHNSON. | ||
| x. | HENRY W. ALLEN, b. 1865; m. NANNIE MAE OTTS. |
| i. | MILDRED NAOMI6 EDWARDS, b. June 15, 185294; d. August 21, 1929, AL. |
|
Notes for MILDRED NAOMI EDWARDS: One source gives DOB 3 Feb 1853. bur in Evergreen Cem, Springville, AL. "Miss Mildred Edwards, 76, died at 11:30 o'clock, Sunday morning at the residence of her sister, MRS. JOHN D. GILCHRIST. Funeral services were held at Evergreen, Monday p.m., with Rev G.E. WALLACE, officiating. She is survived by two sisters, MRS. J.B. SIMMONS, of Birmingham, and one brother William B. Edwards of Indianola, Oklahoma." |
| ii. | ARZELLA ANNIE EDWARDS, b. June 1855, AL; m. JOSEPH BANKS BYERS, July 24, 1876, St. Clair Co., AL; b. August 1850, Tishomongo Co., MS; d. Abt. 1886. |
|
More About JOSEPH BYERS and ARZELLA EDWARDS: Marriage: July 24, 1876, St. Clair Co., AL |
| iii. | WILLIAM RUFUS EDWARDS95, b. September 07, 1857; d. August 18, 1936, OK; m. MARTHA C. ?; b. May 20, 1858; d. December 24, 1923. |
|
Notes for WILLIAM RUFUS EDWARDS: He is listed in 1860 census, but not found thereafter, apparently "...left as a young man and went as a missionary from Evergreen Methodist Church to the Indians in Oklahoma. My cousins also remember these tales they told as to how he married an Indian woman and raised a family." (Jean Smith) An obituary for his sister, Naomi, reported him living in Indianola, OK, in 1929. A record of his death was found listed in the archives in Oklahoma City which states he died 18 Aug 1936 and is buried in the Choate Prairie Cem, near Indianola, OK. His wife is buried beside him. |
| iv. | REV. JOSEPH LOGAN EDWARDS, b. Abt. 1859, AL; d. July 17, 1890, Reeseville, AL96. |
|
Notes for REV. JOSEPH LOGAN EDWARDS: He was licensed to preach in 1883. |
| v. | JAMES BRITTAIN EDWARDS, b. February 1862; m. (1) MARY RANKIN; m. (2) MARY A. GASKEY. |
|
Notes for JAMES BRITTAIN EDWARDS: bur Evergreen Cem, AL. |
| vi. | SARAH EDWARDS, b. March 02, 1865; d. January 13, 1931, AL; m. JOHN D. GILCHRIST, December 21, 1890. |
|
Notes for SARAH EDWARDS: bur Evergreen Cem, AL. |
|
More About JOHN GILCHRIST and SARAH EDWARDS: Marriage: December 21, 1890 |
| vii. | NANCY 'NANNIE' EDWARDS97, b. July 11, 1869, St. Clair Co., AL; d. October 15, 1942, Birmingham, AL; m. J. BEAURGARD SIMMONS, December 25, 1887, St. Clair Co., AL; b. October 13, 1861; d. October 09, 1934, AL. |
|
Notes for NANCY 'NANNIE' EDWARDS: Both Nancy and Beaurgard are buried in the Friendship Cem, St. Clair Co., AL. |
|
More About J. SIMMONS and NANCY EDWARDS: Marriage: December 25, 1887, St. Clair Co., AL |
|
|||||||||||||||
| © 2009 Ancestry.com |