Harper Co. OKGenWeb

The BLACKS initially are found in Kansas, where they purchased an 80 acre farm in Sec 36, Twp 2, Rng 1, near Haddam, Washington Co., Kansas in Sep 1892, later selling it in Oct 1905, but retaining possession until 1 Mar 1906. They acquired the land by quit claim and guardianship deeds and in 1900 received a school lands deed from the State of Kansas. After giving possession of that land, they went to Harper Co., Oklahoma, apparently following to Harper Co. their son, Ora, and their daughter, Mabel, and her husband William Jay FLETCHER. Ora's 160 acre homestead consisted of the N½ of the SW¼, the NW¼ of the SE¼, and the SE¼ of the SW¼ of Sec 14, Twp 28N, Rng 25W. Joshua's land was in the next section south.

In the file obtained from National Archives and Records Administration, Joshua's Homestead application for the E½ of the NW¼ and SW¼ of the NW¼ and the NW¼ of the NE¼ of Section 23 in Township 28N, Range 25W was No.27983 filed at the Woodward, OK Land Office on 29 Nov 1905. In it, he reports he was of Wesner, Oklahoma. He signed it with his "x". In an old plat copy furnished by the Harper Co. Clerk, the NW¼ of the NW¼ was part of a State School Selection, and unable to be claimed as part of a squared off 160 acre Homestead. Consequently, his homestead was somewhat "S" shaped.

Joshua's Notice of Intention to Make Proof is dated 8 May 1911, and states that his Post Office home was Yelton, Oklahoma. He apparently learned to write, at least his name, in the 6 years on the homestead. The Notice of Publication was in the Gate Valley Star weekly newspaper at Gate, Oklahoma. At this point, his claim is numbered 27983-010940. In his Final Proof Testimony of Claimant dated 24 Jun 1911, he gives his age as 57 years, born in Illinois. That would put his birth year as about 1854 as previously reported, but puts in question the place report as Missouri. In this Testimony he states that he is married, has five children, and established residence on the homestead 27 Nov 1905.

Witness Testimony forms were completed by Henry Kimbler, age 55, and William P. Rayborn, age 43, both of Yelton. Comparing descriptions of the improvements made by Black and his two witnesses, there are some discrepancies noted. However, it appears there was a frame house 20'x22', a frame granary 10'x20', a second frame granary 6'x10' , a shed stable 12'x20', and 10'x10' frame smokehouse and a 10'x12' sod henhouse. These buildings were all in the NE¼ of the NW¼, and immediately across a road from his son Ora’s buildings. Crops said to have been raised were broom corn, corn, sowed feed, wheat, kaffir, barley on only 80 acres of the total 160 acres. A page from an unidentified book states "BLACK, JOSHUA, Farmer, Yelton. Settled in County 1906. Native of Illinois. Sec. 23, Twp 28N, R25W. Farm of 160 acres. 120 acres upland and 40 acres sec. bottom land. 80 acres cultivated. 40 acres unfit for cultivation. All fenced 100 fruit trees. Two room frame house. Shed 15x20. Granary, well and windmill. Sec. 13, Twp. 28n, R15W Farm of 160 acres bottom land. 145 acres in cultivation. On the plat map, this latter 160 acres is shown as leased by Joshua.

BLACK received his proof certificate, serial No. 010940, Receipt No. 516861, Patent No. 238867 on 14 Dec 1911.

The County Clerk of Harper Co. has furnished a copy of a deed record dated 16 Mar 1918 and filed 28 Mar 1918 showing that Joshua and his wife, Lydia, sold the homestead land to Sidney C. Cook of Seward Co., Kansas for $1.00 and exchange of property.

Concerning land locations vs. Post Office addresses given in the paperwork, a review of a plat map shows that the homestead was approximately 6 miles south and 5 miles west of Yelton. It has not been learned where the towns of Wesner and Gate were located. A Wesner, Harper Co., Post Office operated from 1903 to 1907. The BLACK homestead was approximately 10 miles north and 2 miles west of their daughter Mabel FLETCHER’S homestead with Post Office address of Readout, Readout being located about halfway between the two homesteads. According to the book "Gardens of Stone, Harper County, Oklahoma: cemetery, funeral home and newspaper accounts" by Deone K. Pearcy and N. Dale Talkington 1995, Yelton (22-29-24) is named for Theodore A. Yelton, first Postmaster and was operated as a Post Office from 26 Feb 1902 to 13 Jun 1919. It is 3 miles east of Willard (30-29-24). Willard is 10 miles at an angle NW of Buffalo. Readout (14-27-25) is 7 miles north of Laverne. It was a Post Office from 19 Sep 1902 to 30 Jun 1913, and its name comes from Redoubt Creek, a tributary of the Cimmaron River.

Joshua and Lydia's children reportedly were: