An Oklahoma Story

By Ruby Beard Tuggle
My grandmother’s colorful story of the accomplishments and struggles of new westerners settling Oklahoma. Claiming land in this Indian Territory held a dangerous and unknown future for those courageous enough to try.

Available at Amazon.com

Thomas and Phoebe Creswell Bennett and their two daughters, Agnes and Elizabeth, started out for Oregon in June of 1852. Thomas died in Iowa’s Indian territory on the Oregon trail. Although pregnant, Phoebe continued the journey and arrived in Salem, Oregon, in late September 1852. Just days after arriving, she gave birth to my Great Great Grandfather, John Bennett.

The Garrisons and Lees arrived in the Willamette Valley of the Oregon Territory in the early to mid 1840s; the Bennetts, Gowdys, Odells, Clarks, Hulls, and Kemps in the “Great Migration” of 1852-3.

My mother’s ancestors crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower to settle in Massachusetts while others helped to establish Jamestown, VA, still others settled 18th century Kentucky and Tennessee. Some farmed the wide open spaces of Kansas, then ran the race of ‘89 known as the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. They established several cities in Oklahoma. My mother’s parents “crossed the plains” by automobile in 1945 and settled in the Willamette Valley where my parents met.

I’m very proud of my pioneer heritage. Born and raised in the Willamette Valley, I know the hardships my ancestors faced when they got here. Oregon is warm and pleasant in the summer, but almost cruelly wet in the winter months. Fortunately, Oregon is also breathtakingly beautiful and the Willamette Valley is a bread basket where crops grow almost by themselves. Unlike the Great Plains, from where most of my ancestors migrated, Oregon offered ideal conditions for farmers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Though hard, life here in Oregon was the opportunity they sought and many made their mark on the history of their communities.

My intention for this web site is to honor these wonderful people who provided me such a wonderful life. Here I offer family members both near and far access to my genealogical research and resources. Please feel free to contact me. I especially enjoy hearing from those with additional resources and/or corrections. Please sign my Guestbook.

My current research foci:

1. Thomas Wood(?) Bennett (born c. 1811, England?) - When was he born and where? I’m stumped good on this one.
2. George Beard (born c. 1785?, TN or VA) married to Matilda Neal - Documentary evidence of his parents and children. I’m really stumped on this one, too.

Any assistance on these two ancestors greatly appreciated.

Greg Bennette
Salem, OR