JOHN AND VADE McQUIGG
by Jiggs Krober (about 1970)
The countryside was a busy place
teeming with stooped shouldered, weary faced men who had left their
homes, families and dreams to follow their leaders in bloody, furious
battles of the Civil War.
They drifted back home to find a desolation of those dreams.
The homes had been burned, ransacked and ruined by the armies of
both the Confederation and Union
as they marched against one another.
As the male members of the
family gathered many stories were shared. The one which was repeated
often in our family was the effort the women put forth to save some of
the precious bits of jewelry, crystal, china and the ladies side-saddles
that had been hidden as the men went off to war. Word was received by a
runner, a small boy too young to fight in the war, that the Union Army
was headed for the main house. The women and young children gathered
their hoarded bits of treasure and rushed to the apple orchard some
distance from the house; there they hastily dug holes in the soft soil
and buried most of their worldly goods. The Union soldiers stayed only
long enough to water and feed their horses from the hay and grain they
found in the barns. As they tended to their mounts the barnyard gates
were left open and the hogs immediately headed for the apple orchard to
hunt for apples, which had fallen from the trees. After soldiers had
gone the women and children breathed a sigh of relief for they were not
mistreated in any way. They quickly made their way to the orchard to
retrieve their hidden treasures. They were horrified to discover the
hogs were rooting up the buried stores—in fact the old sow was busily
chomping on some of the jewelry and silverware. After a struggle they
saved many pieces—one broach with a picture of great, great Grandpa
Evans on it is still in the family and the tooth prints of the old sow
can be plainly seen to this day.
There was much unrest and tension in
that part of Tennessee
where the family lived and stories of the free land which was rich and
ready for energetic farmers lured the family to the huge state of Texas. The land in Montague County, Texas
was a vast area just waiting to be farmed and the family was happy to be
away from the scenes and memories of the Civil War. Their farms were
small and the family was growing with two sons and three daughters. The
boys yearned to run a big herd of cattle but the farm was too small for
that, so they headed north and west to the free lands of
Indian Territory. They were young and dreamed of traveling
west with their cattle herd. So the McQuigg boys bade the family
farewell. The boys, Vede (Monte) McQuigg and John (Coley) McQuigg headed
for the “Free Country”.
They crossed the Red River and moved on north and west to reach land that
was not yet settled and was a great country for raising cattle—many
springs of good water and an abundance of grass—trees and breaks were
good to protect the cattle in the rough winters. This land they settled
for was in the first bend of the South Canadian River as it meandered
from Texas
and into the free land of Indian Territory, which was later to become Oklahoma Territory.
There was a booming town just across the river. This was the site
of Grand, which became the County Seat of Day County. The McQuigg boys
made a trip back to the home in
Texas
to get their farm implements, household goods and most important their
wives. Upon the return to the Territory, they freighted lumber from Higgins, Texas
and Shattuck, which were railroad towns. With the lumber they purchased
and rock found in the area, they built “half dugout” houses. The fronts
of the houses, parts of the sidewalls and roofs were of lumber. The
floors were hard packed dirt and homes were cozy, though a bit drafty
with our Oklahoma winds howled. They were visited
often by bands of Indians as they roamed the land. The homesteaders
learned that most of the Indians loved their southern cooking and many
meals were shared. John Mc Quigg’s wife, Olive made a trip back east to
visit her family and John loved to tell and retell the story of the
Chief of one band of Indians who stopped by. The chief asked where
John’s squaw was. When he explained that she was gone—the Chief and his
band left returning in a few hours with a young Indian lady—the Chief
said, “Man needs woman, this girl can be your woman.” John had a lot of
explaining to do. To this great land caused an exodus from Texas to the Territory.
Henry Kingston and Sarah Lucinda (Evans) McQuigg were the parents
of the two boys and three daughters. The older daughter, Allie Rae had
married a businessman and lived in a big white house in
Plainview,
Texas. The middle daughter, Hester
Mae, married an “educated” man, Henry H. Hutchison. Mary Lard, was still
at home—she was a vivacious happy-go-lucky young lady with any beaus. As
plans were made to travel to the Territory, a brother of Henry Hutchison
joined the party. He was an ex-Texas Ranger, He was one of the original
members and had been wounded by a gun totin’ drunk man. As these men
rode by the house they were using foul language and were very
boisterous. Alex Hutchison called them down and one man shot him in the
knee. A bone had to be removed and Alex saved that bone and had cuff
links made of it. These are still in the family. As the farming tools
and household goods were loaded into covered wagons it became clear that
they would need help to move the livestock and wagons, so two young men,
Lee Pipkin and Mitchell Evans, volunteered to help because they wanted
to see this land of opportunity. Miss Mary had a close girlfriend, Miss
Mae Dunn, and they decided they wanted to travel together. Mary was a
fine seamstress and spent the last weeks in
Texas
sewing clothes for the trip. She fashioned red bonnets for Mae Dunn and
herself. As they modeled them for the young men there was much teasing,
especially of Mae because she was a very shy girl and blushed so
prettily. The boys teased over and over that when they got to the
Territory the Indians would steal their bonnets. The two young ladies
traveled in a four-wheel, one horse buggy. The horse belonged to Mary
and his name was Jeff, a beautiful black from good
Tennessee
blood liens. The girls had one passenger – a big gray tomcat, Meddur,
which rode the entire distance with them. One day as they traveled along
Mary pointed out several Indians on ponies watching them from a
hill-top. She said, “Mae look over there” as she looked back at her
friend. Mae was sitting on her red bonnet.
The law said no one could file on a homestead unless they were
twenty-one years old. Miss Mary was 21 before leaving
Texas
and Mae was 21 on the trip. On their birthday Mary baked a birthday cake
in a dutch oven over the campfire. The girls had a lot of fun watching
for different birds and animals. They prepared the meals for the crew
and enjoyed that too. Mary and Mac homesteaded on adjoining 160 acres.
The rules stated that the land filed on must be lived on so many months.
Since these unmarried ladies were alone they would spend one night on
Mary’s land, walk across the line and spend the next night on Mae’s
land……thus qualifying as homesteaders. One of the brothers, Vede McQuigg
and his wife, Texanna decided to move to another frontier and they moved
to the State of Washington.
They never returned to the Territory until one of his daughters drove
him back in 1945. He had many stories to tell of their move west. John
McQuigg’s homestead was about 3/4 miles east of the parents, Mary and
Mae proved up on land about four miles north and west. The head of the
families build a large house by the standards of those days---it even
had a big bay window. Grandpa McQuigg had a green thumb, he bought
seedlings from Texas and they grew his would cut off a
branch, stick it in the grund and they soon had a peach, apple and
apriot orchard. These fruits were dried for winter use. Grandma McQuigg
was a true southern lady an always set a fine table. She insisted on
linen tablecloths which were changed after each meal. Clean cloths were
placed on the table and as dishes were washed---the table was “set” for
the next meal and a clean cloth was spread over the table. This saved
time at the next meal also they didn’t have much cupboard room to store
dishes in. She had brought china and glassware, which were from the home
in Tennessee.
This home was the scene of many fashionable dinners. Miss Mae Dunn was
courted by a big handsome man, Will Thomas, who lived on his homestead
near Durham, about fifteen
miles away. When they decided to marry, things began humming. Beautiful
material was obtained and Miss Mary fashioned an outstanding wedding
gown---which is still owned by Mae and Will’s daughter, Pauline Cordell.
(In 1999 the children fo Fred & Pauline Cordell loaned the gown to the
Pioneer Museum in Cheyenne). Mary made gowns for all the ladies, young
and old for the happy occasion. The big bay window of the McQuigg house
was decorated with wild flowers and greenery and the couple was to stand
in that special spot. Much food was prepared. Henry Hutchison and
another gentleman dressed as waiters with white cloths over their arms,
served the entire sit down dinner. There was a slight hitch in the
plans----the preacher who was to perform the ceremony didn’t show up. He
had forgotten and went fishing instead. One of the young men, Clarence
Brown, saddled his horse and rode to Grand, several miles away and
brought the judge back and the party was on. Bessie Hutchison was about
three years old and remembered that day clearly. She got to act as a
junior attendant. A big crowd attended—there was a family on every 160
acres and everyone loved any excuse to get together.
A young man, Anzley Ellis, began courting Miss Mary. He was a
handsome man who sported a neatly trimmed moustache. He was a
businessman from Shattuck and later became Undersheriff of Day County.
This coupld was married in 1908. The first years of their married life
they lived with her parents. Mary’s sister, Hester and her husband,
Henry Hutchison had two boys and three girls. Bessie was the baby.
Hester died before Bessie was a year old and Mary was a devoted Aunt who
raised Bessie (Bullard). The other children were to spend some time with
their father. The oldest girl was sent to Aunt Allie in Plainview where she attended high school and
college. The other girl and two boys moved west and never felt that this
“territory” was home. This is still the Land of Opportunity
as far as I am concerned.
“None of the McQuigg families made the run of 1892. They merely
waited until the law declared the land open, then went to town and filed
their claim.
TALE THE WEDDING DRESS TOLD
(Written by Mrs. L.L. Males as it appeared in the
1965 Ellis County Capitol Newspaper)
“I met a nice young man with black curly hair and
dark blue eyes in 1901. We married September 20, 1905. The preacher, Old
Brother Hogg, forgot the date and went fishing. One of our good
neighbors, Clarence Brown, went to Grand and brought the county judge.
Inge Williams and he performed the ceremony at 11 o’clock in the
evening.”
So goes the story of a wonderful pioneer woman, Mrs. Will Thomas
who lives in Cheyenne town---but let’s
go back to the beginning…..
GO WEST YOUNG WOMAN
1898
Henry Kingston McQuigg and his good wife, Sarah
Evans McQuigg, were packing up all their earthly belongings. Soon they
would say good-bye to their old Texas
home, Montague
County
and head for the promised land at Grand, Day County,
O.T.
Lee Pipkin and Mitchell Evans had promised to go along to drive
the horses and cattle. All their plans were shaping up. There was one
fly in the ointment. They had only one daughter at home, Mary, a
beautiful young and she was reluctant to leave her
Texas
home or was it that she hated to leave behind her best girl friend, Mae
Dunn?
“Mae, why don’t you decide to go with us and see what that new
country is like? Maybe we’ll see some Indians, maybe we could catch us a
beau,” giggled Mary as she tried to hide her tears.
Only a few years ago Mae Dunn’s mother had died leaving her an
orphan at 17. She had helped care for the family.
As the time drew near for the McQuiggs to leave, Mae confided,
“Mary if I had the clothes I just might go with you to
Oklahoma
Territory.”
We’ll ask Pa.
Maybe he can help us!” suggested Mary. So it was that Mae Dunn got her
O.T. wardrobe and she and Mary McQuigg joined the family caravan, riding
side by side, a journey that took them to this very day, to this very
town, where they are still the best of friends.
MAE TELLS THE STORY, NOVEMBER
1898
“Mary and I came all the way in a one horse open-top buggy
driving old Jeff. We had a few hot bricks and old Meddur, the cat, to
keep our feet warm. Our hearts were young and gay. We brought a churn of
buttermilk. I made biscuits every morning while Mary fried bacon and
eggs. The boys, Lee and Mitchell said, “Pass some more of Mae’s left
handed biscuits~”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Mary (age 88 on November 16, 1965 and Mae age 89 on November 12,
1965) celebrated Mary’s birthday while we were on the road. It took
fourteen days to make the journey. We baked a nice cake. We put the bake
pan in the iron oven and put hot coals and ashes underneath and on top
of the lid. The cake came out well done and tasted very good.
CHEYENNE---HERE WE COME
“We came through Cheyenne, O.T. on
a cold cold afternoon, crossed the
Washita
River and went on a piece
where we camped out close to a dugout. It happened to be the home of
Grandpa Cann, Clark Mercer Cann, (the grandfather of Alfred Owen and
Mrs. Ray Cole, Reydon).
Came a big snowstorm that night and the Canns asked us to share their
warm fireplace. We were there two days and nights. The daughter, Phoebe
(Phoebe Owens_ baked us some good light bread. (Light bread, corn bread
or biscuits seemed to be a matter of principle. Were you a southerner or
from the north?)
We arrived at John McQuiggs in the
Bend
of the South Canadian, (Oftern called Snakey Bend) on Thanksgiving Day.
By Christmas, Grandpa had a four room house and gireplace ready. We had
a Christmas tree and a delicious supper. Little Johnnie Hutchison and I
dressed forty quail!”
WHO’S A GOOD CATCH?
The day after Christmas, Vede McQuigg took us to a dance at Old
Grand. We met and danced with several nice young men. There was Ote
Richards, Sid Beran, Quinn Walck, the Harness brothers, the Carpenter
brothers and Anzley Ellis (Anzley, famous as the last gun totin’ Sheriff
of Old Day County_ became Mary’s husband January 29, 1908 at Grand. Two
or three years later we met Lee and Warren Newell and Milton Crawford.
In 1903 we attended a nice wedding, Dr. O.C. Newman and Della
Smith, Sister of Sheriff Doc Smith of Grand (The Newmans of Shattuck.)
SKIP TO MY LOU
“We danced the old timey waltz, the two step, the square dances,
the Scottish and the waltz quadrille. “Wonder if what country across the
sea these dances originated?)
“You ask about fights. We didn’t have any!”
GOIN’ DANCIN’
“In 1898 we went to Higgins to a masquerade ball. Don’t know what
for, to see and be seen, I reckon. They had oyster soup. One thing I
couldn’t stand was oysters. I fished around and captured my crackers and
soup and left the oysters in my bowl.”
BEAUTY SECRETS OF MARY AND MAE
Mix cornmeal and buttermilk to make a thick paste.
Plaster face and arms. Let dry and rinse well in cold water. Takes off
freckles and blemishes. For pretty hands: Sleep in gloves. Never go out
of the house without your sunbonnet.
FILING ON THE LAND
“In 1901 I filed on a 160. I carried water half a mile to cook
with. Mary filed the same year.” when Mary and I proved up on our
claims. Ale Crawford and John McQuigg were our witnesses. We had to
cross the South Canadian where Temple Houston
said the Mississippi
couldn’t hold a ramrod to it. The horses fell in one of those whirlpool
holes and the men came out wet to their necks. As good luck would have
it, we got across and proved up!”
George Gantz (of
Germany) stayed all night with us. I
cooked the first biscuits that he ate after landing in the territory. It
wasn’t long until he went back to Kansas and brought his good bride, Dora to
their dugout home.
DARK HAIR AND BLUE EYES
It was 2902 when Mae’s Prince Charming came along,
sporting a shiny new buggy and high stepping horses, Nider and Spiker,
sparkin’ horses. Will Thomas was from Virginia, as handsome as the come. He filed
on land near Durham
in 1899, the homestead that was to become “Home, Sweet Home” to the
whole Thomas clan.
THE WEDDING DRESS
Mae wanted to be married at home, Grandpa McQuigg’s
home. For seven years she and Mary had been like twin sisters, what one
had, they both had.
“Mary made my dress. The material was white corded silk, came
from Chicago. It had a
gored skirt and leg of mutton sleeves. It came clean down to the
floor. I wore high topped shoes.”
“On my wedding day I felt very happy. Mary and I got the house
all decorated with yard and garden flowers. That night the waiters,
Henry Hutchison (Bess Bullard’s father) and a neighbor, Jack Wieghman,
dressed up in white aprons and caps, blacked their faces and called
themselves Sambo and Andy. Our attendants were Sam Thomas, best man;
Mary McQuigg, maid of honor; Charlie Thomas, groomsman and Lou Fay,
Bridesmaid.
FROM THIS UNION
Irene Taylor, (Mrs. Lloyd) Belle Plains, Kansas;
Pauline Cordell (Mrs. Fred) Cheyenne; Bufford Thomas, Durham, OK; Vint
Thomas, Hardesty, OK; Bruce Thomas, Durham, Katura Powers (Mrs. Raymond)
Midwest City, OK
HEAP O’ LIVING
“We lived on our homestead fifty-three years, until I was 81”,
Will Thomas, a giant of his time, died in 1952. Now the old house that
made a home is closed. Mrs. Thomas moved to
Cheyenne
where she made her home with the Fred Cordell family. The house was left
just as it was. It kept its character. The whole family goes back there
at least once a year.”
“We all had an interest in our home for we each had a job. Daddy
and Mama didn’t believe in buying ‘on time’. If there was no money, do
without,” explained Mrs. Cordell, devoted daughter.
DADDY MADE US WALK THE CHALK
“We had discipline. Daddy saw that we minded our manners and were
quiet at the table. We all helped Mama. She was Daddy’s queen. God made
a pioneer woman and kept the family pattern. Mae Dunn wore her wedding
dress in 1905; Pauline Cordell, her daughter looked beautiful when she
wore it at the Old Settlers Picnic in
Cheyenne
in 1957 and Dana Kay Thomas, her granddaughter was a recreation of the
pioneer Mae Dunn when she wore it as first runner-up in the Miss
Cheyenne Pageant in 1965.”
WHITHER THOU GOEST….
“Mama are you ever sorry that you left your
Texas
home and climbed in that buggy with Aunt Mary?”
Mama’s face lit up with inner beauty. “I’ve never been sorry for
a minute. If I hadn’t made that trip with Mary in the buggy, I never
would have met you daddy!”
Say of her as Ernie Pyle said of his mother. “You could use her
in a book, or paint her picture, as one of the sturdy stock of the ages,
who has always done the carrying-on when the going was tough.”