Chester Cemetery (Griever) and Estelle, Oklahoma

According to Maymie, her grandma, Mary Polly Huff Wilson, died in 1899 at the family home in Griever Canyon, Woods (now Major), Oklahoma, and was buried in the Chester Cemetery.  No headstone has been found but there are several unreadable and unmarked stones.

Below is a newspaper article of her burial.  Although it does not give much information, it appears that Mary Polly died and was buried during the week of March 12-18, 1899.

Alva Pioneer (Alva, Oklahoma)

24 March 1899

Below is a picture of the road sign at Griever Creek, Oklahoma.

Here is an old Oklahoma map showing Chester, Estelle, and Griever.  Maymie said she was born at Estelle in one record and at her grandpa Hatfield's homestead in another record -- are they one and the same??

Brothers in Uniform

 Charles Wesley "Bub" Leffel & Kerby Leffel

Both, Kerby and Charles W., registered for the World War I draft on 12 Sep 1918.  Charles Wesley "Bub" Leffel  registered in Comanche County, Oklahoma, where he was living at the time.  Kerby registered in Kiowa County.  Since they are in uniforms, they apparently were drafted and served in the army.  There is no record of their service at this time.  After the war, both brothers were living at home with their wives and families in the 1920 census.

I love this picture, especially the female peeking out of the rear opening of the car.  Since both men were married at the time, the female peeking out of the rear window of the car could have been either one of their wives.

World War I Draft Registration Cards

Charles Wesley Leffel

William Kerby Leffel

Kerby William Leffel and Charles Wesley "Bub" Leffel are the sons of Charles and Caldona Box Leffel.

Anna Belle Hatfield

Anna Belle Hatfield was the daughter of Martin Monroe Hatfield and Nancy Abigail McNeil.  Anna was born 12 Jan 1891 in Norton County, Kansas.  A record of her birth was found written on the family record found on a loose sheet tucked in a family bible belonging to Anna's sister, Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson.

Anna moved to Oklahoma with her parents in 1899, when her father homesteaded land in Woods County, Oklahoma.  Anna was listed as a 9-year-old daughter of Martin and Nancy Hatfield in the 1900 US Federal Census for Woods County.  On 15 January 1902, Anna was attending school with her siblings: Charley, Lillie, Pearl, and Clinton.

1902 Woods County, Oklahoma School Enumeration, FamilySearch.org

In 1909, a local newspaper mentions Anna attending a picnic and revival meeting at the Christian Church.

Quinlan Mirror. (Quinlan, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 2, 1909

About 1909, a Hatfield family photo was taken outside their new family home.  Anna is standing on the far right, holding a rifle.

Hatfield Family Oklahoma Homestead, circa 1909

On the 24 of August 1910, Anna married Sidney H. Allen.

Anna Belle Hatfield and Sidney H. Allen 

Woodward County, Oklahoma

Marriage Notice for Anna Hatfield and Sidney Allen.

Quinlan Mirror. (Quinlan, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 25, 1910

The last sentence in the above marriage notice wishes Anna and Sidney "a long and prosperous life."  Little did anyone know that in just over a year later, Anna would pass away.  According to family stories, Anna died from complications of childbirth on 18 Dec 1911.  She was buried in the Union Cemetery, Woods County, Oklahoma.

Obituary clipping found in family bible:

Obituary clipping from an unknown newspaper:
Mrs. Anna B. Allen died at her home in Quinlan, Monday morning after a short illness. Anna Belle Hatfield was born January 12, 1891, in Norton County, Kansas, and came to Oklahoma in 1899 with her parents. She was married to Sidney H. Allen August 24, 1910. She joined the Christian church at Quinlan in 1909 and was an active worker in church and Sunday School, being a delegate to the Sunday school convention at Alva last year. Her neighbors and friends all regard her life as a Christian to be above reproach and she was held in the high esteem by all who knew her.
She leaves a husband, father, mother, four brothers, three sisters and many friends to mourn her loss.
Funeral was held in the Christian church, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Evangelist Adamson of Newton, and the body laid to rest in the Union cemetery.