In April of 1889, thousands of people gathered together in the incredibly small town of Guthrie, OK to prepare themselves to run for land. Each person could run to and stake a claim on 160 acre sections of open land. Your great-great-great-grandfather Cheatham Mears wanted to run, but was unable to make it due to your great-great-great-grandmother (Mary Katherine) being close to the birth of their 6th child. Once the child was born, and they were able to travel once again, they moved on to that area of Oklahoma. In September of that year, he traded a wagon and a team of horses (or mules, not sure which) with a young man for one of those plots of land.
One of the requirements for keeping this land was that you had to live on it and make improvements for at least 5 years before it was officially yours. He and his sons began building soon after acquiring the land. They worked hard on the house. The modern conveniences we know today for building anything were not available; nor the manpower. They would take their wagon/cart to where the railroad delivered the lumber and cart it back to their land. The entire house was built by their hands alone. In 1899, they finally finished it. It consisted of the kitchen, the one downstairs bedroom, the front living room, and the entire upstairs.
Sometime later, your great-great-grandparents Noel & Kessie Jacobs bought the land and house from your ggg-grandfather for $300. They lived there for many years. They had 8 children; 6 boys and 2 girls. After your gg-grandparents passed away, different people lived there off and on. At some point the brothers decided to sell most of the land to a local man there. He bought 155 acres which left them with 5 and the house.
Years later in 1980 (I was 4), your great-grandmother (Katherine Jacobs Arthur Cross) and her husband (Hershel Cross) bought the 5 acres with the house from the rest of the family. They renovated the old house adding a few rooms and a basement but leaving most of the original house in its original state. This is where she currently lives and where we went to visit her. When we were kids we used to play ‘ship’ on top of the old storm cellar.
The old storm cellar
As generations grow up and old pass away, stories get forgotten. Everett, I wanted to make sure that you knew the history behind that land and the part it played in the lives of your ancestors. Many of us wish we could put the original 160 acres back together, but it is not currently an option. I’m not sure who will own it by the time you are old enough to want to know all of this, but just in case I’m not around to tell it to you…
Me and your great-grandmother Katherine, in her kitchen.
Playing in the laundry room and trying to find a way into the bathroom.
A new, fun game with Grammy. You like to tear paper towels and cheer, "Go Team Go"
Playing in GG's kitchen cupboard.
Taking a bath in the laundry room sink.
Swingin' with your Grammy on the screen porch:
GG's old farm tractor.
Yes, this water well was actually used and not just decoration.
Four generations: Your GG, Grammy, Mama and you!
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