COMMENTS, STORIES, REMINISCENCE OF OLD MCGEE/STRATFORD
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This note from RICHARD JONES, Choctaw, OK (14Sep1999)"There is more information on the merchants of McGee, one that was left out is W.T. Hayes, William Terrell Hayes, my grandfather. He was also reported in the Newspaper as the first merchant of Walling and this was passed down by his family. In the picture at the end of this history the wood framed building to the right is the store of W.T. Hayes, Merchantile, Grocery and this is the same store that he had in McGee. W.T. Hayes had three children while living in McGee, William Clyde Hayes b.06 Mar 1901, McGee I.T., Bertie Hayes b.01 Aug 1904, McGee, I.T., and Obert Hayes b.23 Aug 1906, McGee, I.T., also three children born in the new city of Stratford, 1908, 1911, and 1913.
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This is just my belief but since so many of the Merchants were from the South, might Stratford's name have come from General Robert E. Lee's old home place, The Stratford Mansion?"
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(This interesting item was sent to me also by Mr. Jones 15Sep99. It is from an article in THE CHICKASAW NEWS 27Sep1906):
"...Did you see the article where S.F. Van Oss, a rich capitalist of The Hague, Holland, who principally financed the construction of the Oklahoma Central Railroad suggested that WALLING be named after Queen Wilhelmina of that nation, since it must be renamed. He promises that the popular young Queen will make a donation to the town in that event. Would it not be well for the new town to start with a good public library as the gift of this fair young Queen? How do you like "Wilhelmina"? All who favor it say aye. Make it unanimous.(end)Well they didn't win this New town over but they did get her name on a State Park in Arkansas on the beautiful TALIMENA SCENIC DRIVE. Also the new town of Vanoss was named after S.F. Vanoss...."
JAMES MADISON DANIEL of Marshal Texas:
"Hello Linda & Mike: I attended McGee in 1946/47 I believe. My grand father James Madison Daniel Jr. moved from Wanette, bought about 260 acres north of Stratford from Roddenberry or Bowie in about 1913 I think. My father was Thomas Jefferson(Jeff) Daniel and we lived on JM Jrs(Madison's) farm 1 mile north of Stratford and 1/2 mile west of Lowell Caskey. J M Sr born Wayne County TN left Tishomingo County Mississippi after the war and was one of the first settlers and commissioners of Case Township/Cleveland County and his youngest son Ruben Cornelius who lived SE of Stratford prior to moving to Cleveland County was commissioner of that county for two years.J M Jrs son, Jesse Calvin (Jess) was Garvin County Tax assessor for many years and was elected for two terms as a representative of Garvin County. Mrs.Edna Bucklew taught lower grade school, not pictured. Mr. David Jenkins coach/upper grade school teacher shown from left to right--Unknown could be Danny Flowers or Roy Bucklew, Johnny Ballard, Troy Henry, James Madison (Jim) Daniel, Jimmy Mack Cosby, Charles Hunter, Otis Thompson, Lynwood Gray, Bobby Brown. Miss the Farmers Union meetings, once a year Christmas program and the old cake walks held at the McGee school house. Some of the boys used to ride their horses to school when I attended there. I was transferred to Stratford for my first 6 years of school.
Email: mcgee@historyandschips.com
