John H. Doss and Family - 1904

   The land was wild then, it was not uncommon to see the hay stacks and cattle and horses on the open range. They didn't feel it was necessary to build fences all the livestock was branded.
   When the Town near by open up a school. James and his brother's and sisters would attend. Since school was somewhat of a distance they would pile 3 to a horse and ride to school.
   One a month the Baptist Church would have a gathering. All who could attend would go. John and his family were Seven Day Adventist, so when the dancing started, John would tell the kids it was time to go. James, my Grandfather, had spotted a pretty little gal at one of the dances. Her name was Josephine Irene Simmons. Like the Dosses, the Simmons also came to Oklahoma during the Land Rush, from Kentucky. Knowins to him, the Simmons and Doss were neighbors.
   Josephine as she tells it, " I used to watch James plowing the fields with the tractor. Every afternoon he would stop under an old tree to eat his lunch. One day I had baked some sweet rolls and thought I would take some out to him." According to James, that was it, she was the gal for him.
   One day after church, James tells us that he asked to ride her home in the buggy. And as the story goes, he took the long way home.
   They were married Jan 17, 1915, in Anadarko, Dunkin, Oklahoma.

(part 2)