I, Ethel
McCune Evans, was born in 1891 at Hope, Indian Territory. I was the
youngest of five children, four girls and a boy, born to Henry P. McCune,
a native of Ohio born in 1854, and Altha (Addington) McCune, a native of
Arkansas born in 1860. Their children were Birdie (McCune) Goines,
Ed (Henry Edgar) McCune, Goldie (McCune) Wright, Maudie McCune, and Ethel
(McCune) Evans. They lived several years in Montague County, Texas,
and then moved to Indian Territory.
In 1892, during the
time my father was helping construct Ft. Sill, he took suddenly Ill and
died of sunstroke.
In 1894, my mother
was married to J. J. Stewart, and one son, Glen, was born to them.
In 1897 our mother passed away, she, our father, and our brother Ed are
buried in Ft. Sill Military cemetery.
After our mother's
death, our half-brother, Robert A. White, brought us with him to Washita
County where he homesteaded on a quarter section of land. He was
only 22 years of age and single, so it was quite an adventure for him.
We made the journey
from Ft. Sill to a farm one mile south and two miles west of Old Port Town,
N.E.1/4 of 7-8-20, in a covered wagon along with the Jim Walker family,
who were our neighbors. They homesteaded on the southeast quarter
of the same section.
We brought our cows
and other livestock. Although I was only six years old, I can remember
the names of our milk cows (Muley and Dolly). We and the Walker family
lived in the Port School dugout while our homes were being prepared.
Our homes were dugouts also, as they were very popular in those days.
Fuel was scarce, and the children's job was gathering cow chips for fuel.
We were lucky that it was not far to water, and it was very good water.
After moving to our
home, we walked about two miles to the half-dugout school. It was
first used in 1892 and called Big Elk school, as it was near Big Elk Creek.
That name was later changed to Rock Front school.
Because of difficult
circumstances in raising small children, our brother (Bob) thought it would
be better for us if we were in an orphans' home, so he took the three younger
children to the Buckner's Orphans' Home, Dallas, Texas, in March, 1899.
While on his way back
from Dallas to the farm, at what is now Port, Oklahoma, Bob worked at Marietta,
Indian Territory, for a few months where he became ill and died in the
fall of 1899.
My sister Birdie,
who remained with the Walkers when we went to the orphans' home, was married
to Henry Goines in 1900 and lived on a farm he homesteaded. They
also proved up the Bob White farm and received the patent in 1904.
In 1907 I came back
to Port and made my home with my sister, Birdie. I attended school
at Rock Front in a two-room school building. I finished the 8th grade
there and went to the Chickasha Business College.
In 1914 I married
Andrew (Dan) Evans, the son of James A. Evans and Eliza Evans, who were
also Washita County Pioneers and lived in the Rock Front District.
This farm, S.W. 1/4 29-9-20, is still in the Evans family. There
were two children born to us, Joe Allen Evans and Anna Eloise Evans.
There were three children born to Joe, Perry Wayne, Loretta Jo, and Marian
Allene, all of whom finished high school in Dill City. Three children
were also born to Eloise, Ethelene Pearl, Jackson Laverne, and Janifer
Kay. Eloise adopted two children in the 1960's-Angie and Paul.
After our marriage,
we farmed two years near Port and one year northwest of Elk City near Berlin.
In the spring of 1918 we purchased and moved to a farm 17 miles west of
Cordell, W ½ W ½ 35-10-20. This was our home until
the death of my husband in 1961 when I moved to Dill City where I reside
today. This farm still remains in the Evans family.
In the mid-20's a
highway to be called 41, now 152, was proposed and constructed along the
south side of this farm. In 1927 a cotton gin, owned by L. E. Brooks
of Cordell, was constructed north of the highway on our farm. About
the same time a small town known as Forty-One sprang up. It consisted
of two stores, filling stations, a blacksmith shop, café, feed mill,
garage, gin, and several houses. Most of this is gone today, but
the location of Forty-One is still carried on the official Oklahoma maps.
Since my life began
at Hope, Indian Territory, Nov. 2, 1891, I have witnessed many changes.
Much progress has been made, not only in Washita County but in our state
and nation. Cars, tractors, machinery, electricity, appliances, and
many other mechanical inventions and conveniences have become commonplace.
There have been hardships and disappointments, but also many hours of happiness
in my lifetime, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity and privilege
to serve in some small way in the development of Washita County to make
it what it is today.
Comments from Debbie
Black McHenry - Former Neighbor
Mrs. Evans lived next
door to me in Dill City for many years. She was without a doubt one
of the most remarkable women I ever knew. I was just a kid and I
followed her all around her yard.
I can certainly remember
her fishing trips, she often went with Vergie Evetts and they undoubtably
caught some of the biggest fish ever caught. Daddy ran the Sinclair
Station and Hardware downtown Dill City. She'd bring her fish in
there to weigh on the scales. Many of my childhood memories are of
her. She would talk about coming to Oklahoma, and her stay in the Buckner
orphanage. She was truly wonderful.
Yes, I certainly recognized
Mrs. Evans in the picture. I used to wonder how in the world such
a tiny little lady could drive her blue Chevy. (early 60's model, I think)
She could hardly see over the dash. She used to drive pretty fast
too! In later years we just let her have the road..She'd fly over
that hill to the West of our houses and drive right down the middle of
the road! My Daddy, who passed away last summer, got to where he
did the same thing. I guess that people in small towns just look
out for one another. She used to amuse me too because she'd pick
apples, various fruits, snap beans and fresh produce for the "Old Folks"
at the Cordell Christian Home. I knew good and well that she was
older than many of them. She'd knit house shoes, make lap robes and
do all sorts of wonderfully thoughtful things for those "Old Folks".
She was such a sweetheart. I have a baby quilt that she made for
my oldest son and a stuffed Fabric Chicken that she made for him too.
It was a door stop he used to sit on it to watch TV when he was little.
View
Our Guestbook
Sign
Our Guestbook
Email
