Le Force - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-06 18:39:34Z

If you haven't received it yet you may want to check your spam mail. If this don't work you may have to create your own account & tree but only add yourself. Then I'll merge the profile you created with the one I created & all will be well. You'll just have the one profile & much of your family's already in here. You can edit them & also add anybody we don't have. :)

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-06 18:27:23Z

It's showing it sent 2 invites. I've also added your second email address so it might send you invites to both addresses? I just hope you get one. Once you've accepted & are a member you can edit your profile & delete one of them off if you want to. :)

Re: Dawn LeForce

catherinewagley — 2009-05-06 18:22:05Z

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-06 18:16:15Z

Yes & I've just deleted it & re-added it so it should re-invite you. I've also added you to my IM so we can reply quicker.

Re: Dawn LeForce

catherinewagley — 2009-05-06 18:13:15Z

Did you send it to:

catherinewagley@yahoo.com

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-06 18:07:18Z

PS...I sent it to the one at Yahoo.

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-06 18:04:14Z

I added the email address you provided & told it to send you an invite. Let me try it again.

Re: Dawn LeForce

catherinewagley — 2009-05-06 18:01:23Z

Hello Cousin, I know I'm extremely anxious to get to Geni, but I haven't been "invited" there yet. Does it maybe take a day or so? I want to go there sooooo bad!
Cathy

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-06 16:27:44Z

Greetings again my extended cousin. :) I've just added your email to your profile & Geni should've sent you an invite. Our cousin Kathleen Palmer added your mom but not your dad. You're welcome to add him, all your sibs, & your kids...not to mention anybody else you can think of. You can add them & then invite them just like I invited you.

Geni's unlike anything we've ever seen. It's the tree to end all trees. You're more then just a box of statistics. You get a personal profile just like you would at MySpace or Facebook. But most of the people on your friend's list are actually family. We have a friend's list too but the only people I have on mine are family I haven't figured out how to get in the tree yet.

Just like at one of these other places you can comment each other's profiles. When someone becomes deceased & family marks their profile as such then it switches from personal profile to memorial page. Now instead of posting comments you "share memories". You can also leave virtual gifts for the living &/or the deceased.

We have the tree with personal profiles but we can also share photos, videos, links & news plus events...& we have a mini message board there too.

As far as newsletters...Geni automatically sends them out every time somebody in the family edits their profile, uploads a pic or video, or posts something. Geni also informs us when it's someone's b-day or anniversary. You can either post a message on their profile &/or a virtual gift.

You can also send personal messages to either one person or entire groups...so it's kind of like a newsletter.

I hope when you get in you check these profiles out cuz some of them have family stories posted right on them. Also several have obits posted on them...under events (death or funeral).

I can't wait to see you there. :)

Re: Dawn LeForce

catherinewagley — 2009-05-06 14:38:59Z

Hi,Dawn Thank you so much for answering me. I would love to have the site you are talking about. This is so exciting and I know my sister will love it too, she lives in Oxford, WI., I'll send it to her. My e-mail address is catherinewagley@yahoo.com. If you consider pictures or memories for the newsletter please send it to stonesoupnewsletter@yahoo.com. It helps having it separate when I'm gathering things for the newsletter, however if you send it to my personal e-mail address that's o.k. too. I'll just be so happy to hear from you.
Cathy

Re: Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2009-05-05 19:29:55Z

Greetings. I lived in Houston too once. Now I'm living in Austin basically. Your mom is in our tree at Geni & thanks to this info I've just added you. If you can get me your email address I'll invite you to Geni to edit/add to our tree.

You can do all kinds of stuff at Geni...I think you'll like it. You can view my profile & send me a personal message that way versus post your email here. ;-)

Thanks for contacting me & I hope to see you again at Geni.

Re: Dawn LeForce

catherinewagley — 2009-05-05 19:13:02Z

Hi,Dawn. My name is Catherine Ruth(Wilson)Wagley, but I have always gone by the name of Cathy. My mom, Myrl Louise (Stone)Wilson was a sister to Burnice (Stone)LeForce. We have always lived in Texas, mostly Houston. I was excited to find your bio about the family on-line. I and my niece, Jeannie, have recently started a family newsletter called the "Stone Soup Newsletter". I hope you would reply to me so we can learn more about your family and I hope you would like to add to our newsletter with your pictures and stories, letting everyone know how everyone is. I am also wondering where in the Stone family you are. Hoping to hear from you, Cathy.

Re: How to get your Indian Card

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-07-14 19:29:42Z

Other sites to check out:

http://media.nara.gov/media/images/31/2/31-0177a.jpg

Re: George Lowry

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-07-14 18:08:50Z

Also visit this site.

http://tennessee.gov/tsla/history/military/tn1812.htm

Re: George Lowry

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-07-14 18:06:24Z

http://www.nps.gov/hobe/historyculture/index.htm

I've found these records online. This was the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson (eventual President) & John Coffee plus others were trying to run Indians off. Indians helped them to do it. Then after they helped them do it...they were moved off to OK (Trail of Tears) therefore the SE became a part of the US & was opened for settlement.

The massacre (at least 800 Indians dead) at Horse Shoe Bend happened on 3/27/1814.

I was able to find John Lowry & Charles Reese (on the Cherokee Muster Rolls) but not George Lowry. John was enlisted 10/7/1813 to 4/11/1814.

I've been interested in the Bell Witch story. Websites have told me 3 sons of John Bell were in this same conflict. I found 2...Jesse Bell & John Bell Jr. They're listed on the Tennessee Muster Rolls.

The Massacre of St. Bartholomen’s Day

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 22:35:32Z

LaForce, Jacques Nompar de Caumont, The Duke of,
His wonderful escape in the Massacre of St. Bartholemen’s Day

The Massacre of St. Bartholomen’s Day

The case of Caumont de la Force was still more revolting. His daughter, Madame de la Chataigneraie, in accordance with the shamelss code of moral in vogue at the French court, had taken for her lover Archan, captain of the guard of Henry of Anjon; & it was to gratify her covetousness that Archan obtained from the Duke the order to despatch LaForce & his two sons. The plan was successfully executed so far as the father & his elder son were concerned. The second, a boy of 12, escaped by his remarkable presence of mind & self-control. Certain that his youth would excite no pity in the breast of his inhuman assailants, when his father & brother fell at his side & he perceived himself covered with their blood, he dropped down with the exclamation that he was dead. So perfectly did he counterfeit death, all that day long, that, although his body was examined by successive banks of plunderers, & deprived not only of every valuable, but even of its clothing, he did not by a motion betray that he was alive. Most of these persons applauded the crime. It was well, they said, to kill the little wolves with the greater. But toward evening, a more humane person came, who, while engaged in drawing off a stocking which had been left on the boy’s foot, gave expression to his abhorrence of the bloody deed. To his astonishment, the boy raised his head, & whispered, “I am not dead.” The compassionate man at once commanded him not to stir, & went home; but as soon as it was dark he returned with a cloak, which he threw about young LaForce’s houlders, & bade him follow. It was no easy matter to thread the streets unmolested; but his guide dispelled the suspiciouns of those who questioned him respecting the boy by declaring that it was his nephew whom he had found drunk, & was going to whip soundly for it. In the end the young nobleman reached the arsenal, where his relative, Marshal Biron, was in command. Even there, however, the avarice of his unnatural sister pursued him. Vexed that, on account of his preservation, she must fail to secure the entire inheritance of the family, Madame de la Chataigneraie tried to effect herself what she had no been able to do by means of another; she visited the marshal in the arsenal, &, after expressing great joy that her brother had been saved, begged to be permitted to see & care for him. Biron thought it necessary, in order to preserve the boy’s life, to deny her request.

Note: The minor details of the story are given, with variations, by different authors. D’aubigne gives us Biron’s answer to the commands & menaces with which Madame de la Chataigneraie sought to gain possession of young LaForce: “I would certainly entrust him in the hands of his relative, in order to take care of him, but not in the hands of his next heir, who took too great care of him yesterday morning. It must be noted, however, that the “Memoires authentiques de Jacques Nompar de Caumont, Duc de la Force, Merechal de France, recueillis par le Marquis de la Grange” (Paris, 1843), i 2-37, so far from accusing the sister of LaForce, ascribe the persistent attempts to secure his death solely to Archan (or Larchant), who had married this sister; & they state that, at her death, she left her property, including what she had inherited from her husband, to her brother.

This story was found in “The Rise of the Huguenots of France”, Ch XVIII p. 472-473.

The Huguenots

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 22:33:16Z

A migration of people, true liberals, who would not show loyalty to the Church of Rome. So they fled in all directions, taking with them the cream of the French people. The Huguenots have never been a party to evil deeds. All these people wanted was religious freedom in the 16th Century.

They migrated to Holland, Belgique, England, Ireland, Austria, Russia, South & North America. 10,000 went to Ireland raising Ireland from repeated potato famines & fallow land to a security in agriculture, industry, & banking. The Huguenots introduced wine & beer making, the lace industry, the silk industry, stock-farming, rotation of crops & nursery farming.

The Huguenots held assemblies openly & professed their faith openly. The Bible was translated from the original Greek & Hebrew into the French language. It was read by all - thus they became wiser than their Popish priests. The Psalms of David was translated & set to music. The people could understand their religion for the first time. The 16th Century recognized the Majesty of God & believed that man’s improvement came by the Grace of God. The 20th Century recognizes the majestic of man & believes that man’s improvements come by the grace of science.

The Huguenots were not political, did not rally round any political leaders. They did not rise up to overthrow the throne, nor to destroy the House of Valois, nor to destroy the Church, nor even the power of the Church. They only wished to preserve their churches, their synods, & their consistories, & to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.

Truly, more than a third of the people were Huguenots, but the power lay in the House of Valois, in the highest nobles, the highest clergy, & they - supported by the King & armies of Spain, the Pope & the Jesuits now just coming into power - & so the Huguenots decided to fight in their own defense.

The Huguenots, fortunately, were supported by Catherine of Navarre; her son, Henry IV (Henry of Navarre); Admiral Coligny; his brother the Seigneur d’Andelot; the Duke of Subise; Colonel LaNoe; Colonel DeLa Mandeville; Colonel de la Fontaine; The Duke of Bouillon; County of Montgomery; Admiral deCamp: all of whom were nobles of high rank. All were in despair, for they were in danger of not only losing their titles & provinces, but their lives.

Henry IV., Henry of Navarre, as a youth was entrusted to the Prince of Conde, & on his demise to Admiral Coligny, the leader of the Huguenots. Although indoctrinated by Coligny in the Reformed manner, he was more interested in women & the social graces than truly in the Huguenot Cause. He was affianced to Marguerite de Valouis, sister of Charles IX, regardless of difference in religion. And so, it was during the nuptial festivities of the young King of Navarre (his intellectual mother having died the year before) that the blackest crime in French history was engineered & perpetrated by order of Charles IX. On Sunday, August 24, 1572 - St. Bartholomew’s Day - the plot was executed. It was agreed that Admiral Coligy & all the Huguenots, except the King of Navarre & the Prince of Conde, should be slain. And so by foul design, the Huguenots were invited to Paris for the marriage festivities so that the Catholics might in one vile sweep, utterly annihilate the Huguenot people.

As the order came nearer to consummation, King Henry IV was seized with fits of tremor, palsy, pallor, & shock, & the cold sweat ran from beneath his wig & channeled down his slanting forehead & angular nose. Catherine de Medici caused the great bell of St. Germain de Auxerrois to be struck. Pistols were fired. The King tried to countermand the order, but it was too late. Such pillage, destruction, fire, murder, & mutilation has never been equaled by Goths, Huns, or Vandals. Seven hundred were pillaged, 5,000 persons perished in Paris alone. It lasted seven days. Neither the aged, nor the infirm, nor children were spared. Nor women deep with child were spared. They were hacked, stabbed, chopped with halbards, pistol beaten, cast from windows, beaten, & thrown into the Seine (a fishing net that hangs straight down in the water). Seven or eight hundred fled to prisons & churches for protection, only to be dragged out & consummated by beating out their brains with pole axes, en masse, at the Valee de Misere (the Valley of Misery), then the Coup de Grace - cast into the river.

Death reigned on, no walk of life was spared. Ladies stood on blood soaked bodies of Huguenots & laughed over their triumph. When it was over, the King followed by his Clergy & Court, marched to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in spirited procession while Hymns of chant were sung & thanks to Almighty God was offered for delivering France from men whose greatest sin was a wish to worship God according to their own conscience.

This massacre threw all of Europe into violent consternation, even thousands of Catholics. Internal turmoil & civil wars followed in France. Henry the III, either because of compassion or from memory of the vile persecutions, in 1576 restored the rights of the Huguenots & restored the heredity titles of the nobles. But in 1589, Henry III was assassinated because of this toleration.

Henry of Navarre in 1576, again joined the Huguenots, either to advance their cause or his own. At any rate, his success was their success. Following the battle of Contras, the Huguenots & Henry of Navarre were well established. However, the most brilliant & shining hours of the whole Huguenot Contest was when Henry IV, King Henry of Navarre, led the Huguenots in the struggle for his throne, against the Church Party, the nobles, the Royal Army, The Army of the Pope, & the armies of Spain. Henry completely clad in glistening armor & shiny mail, mounted on a hugh bay charger. For some time the battle swayed in doubt. Finally, the Leaguers hesitated, broke, then fled; pursued by the Huguenots & Henry, covered with blood & dust.

This was France’s “finest hour”.

On Sunday, July 25, 1593, Henry of Navarre was received into the body of the Roman Church. The Huguenots were saddened that their leader had created the greatest act of hypocrisy since Julian abjured Christianity. Henry never meant to desert the Huguenots. Actually, he felt he could render greater service to them, as well as France. On April 13, 1593, he granted the Huguenots the memorable “Edict of Nantes”. This Edict gave “perpetual & irrevocable”, liberty of conscience, free exercise of religion, churches of their own & their own ministers; also their own judges & garrisons, & paid for their own troops. This Edict was sent to Parlament & registered Fe. 25, 1599. After a glorious reign of 22 years, King Henry of Navarre was assassinated May, 1610. The greatest king in all French history. The Huguenots had flourished, but with his death the picture changed rapidly. Louis XIV, who followed Henry of Navarre, set about on the most terrible persecution of all time. First, the Edict was revoked by the King. Then followed the persecutions. The Huguenots no longer had fortresses, cities, nor organizations. Twenty years had passed under the protection of King Henry IV, & all form of cohesion was now gone. (Lord) Conde was gone, Coligny was gone, Henry of Navarre was gone. All was gone. 800,000 perished in galleys, prisons, or by the noose. There was no relief, no hope.

Louis XIII, not yet 9 years old, succeeded Henry of Navarre, his father. The Queen Mother, though a Catholic, reaffirmed the Edict of Nantes, which was confirmed again in 1614. However, Cardinal Richelieu was determined to break the backs of the Protestants. Richelieu continued the ferocity in the Seven Year War until he had completely broken the back of these poor helpless, hapless people.

Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642. The King died in 1643. Although their power was lost, the Huguenots were increasing in number. They were reputed to have 200,000 during the reign of Louis XIII.

Louis XIV, succeeded his father & during his minority, the Queen was appointed Regent. The Edict of Nantes was again confirmed by the Regent in 1643. In 1652 the King confirmed it again when he reached his majority. Yet, as soon as the King, Louis XIV, took affairs into his own hands, as the result of the influence of Cardinal Mazarine & the clergy, he made the firm resolve at the palace altar to destroy the Huguenots. The priests continued to harangue their people , claiming that the Huguenots had brought it upon themselves, that they had tried to destroy the Church & even France itself, that they were heretics & even blasphemers against God. While the Huguenots, worshiping in secrecy, prayed for their persecutors’ forgiveness, “for they know not what they do”.

The Dragons cast the Reformed Fathers into fires & brought them out half-roasted; suspended others under the armpits by large ropes & dipped them repeatedly into wells until half dead & they renounced their faith. From the fires they took tongs & led Huguenots around by the noses until converted. These poor scared people faired no better after conversion, for they were scarred & marked for life as “unwilling converts”. But it must be said to the everlasting gratitude of the French people that large numbers of the Catholic French would not carry out the orders & actually aided, together with French officials, the escape of the Protestants & large numbers went with the Huguenots, having the Protestants & Large numbers went with the Huguenots, having lost faith in their own church & government. What happened to the Huguenots who remained in France? All marriages not performed by priests became concubinage, & all children bastards with no rights. As late as 1726, priests with soldiers broke into the homes of Protestants, seized the children & forced them into Church Schools operated by monks & made their parents, Huguenots, pay for their Catholic education. If the children escaped, their fathers paid an enormous fine or died in dungeons. A marriage must be re-consummated by a priest; if refused, the men went to the galleys, the women to die in jail, the minister to the gibbet, the children to a convent. This was as late as 1751.

Following the death of Henry of Navarre, Henry IV, & the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes April 1598, there occurred the greatest single migration of people in the history of the world. France was now bled white by the migration of these religious people. The total number who migrated exceeded 500,000 souls. Some say 600,000 & 800,000. Although it certainly was more than an incident, leading authorities in France & abroad set this migration as the date of the end of stable government in France, & France can trace its subsequent instability & present-day trouble to this heinous period. For now, many thousands who were not Huguenots lost faith in their government & that faith has never been completely restored.

In their new homes, the Huguenots settled down on land given to them by England or Holland. There they stayed, worked, farmed, & lived until the American Revolution. Then they served faithfully their new cause. After the War, they were given land grants in the western parts of the sates which they so faithfully had served, many of their sons took up the grants.

After the second war with England, their sons received similar grants for services in the War of 1812. Our Huguenot forebears now appeared in the Ohio, Indiana, & Tennessee territories, & the sate of Kentucky, West Virginia, Alabama, Florida & Louisiana. The process repeated itself after the Mexican War & the War between the states, & the march was again westward - Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, & finally to the Golden Gate.

Perhaps the truest & best light shed upon the kind of people our Huguenot ancestors were is best summed up by Peter Stuyvesant, first Governor of the Netherlands, who said: “They are the most respected, respectable, & valuable accession ever made to the population of our Country”.

Note: This was taken from a portion of “The Huguenot Migration in Europe & America, It’s Cause & Effect.”

Re: The LeForce Christmas Parties by Annabell Tyler Southern

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 22:09:32Z

They started in the early 1920's & continued for about 20 years. Children who attended the first ones were later accompanying their own kiddies to the party.

The LeForce home was at 824 W. Clyde, a 20 room house. Each year it was decorated like a Christmas tree. In fact, Sam LeForce won the prize more than once for the best outdoor decorations.

Sacks of candy were given out by Santa Claus along with plenty of apples & oranges. Before the parties ended more than 300 were attending them from all parts of the country, even Nowata & Kansas.

A short program was always presented by young entertainers. Lois Ann LeForce, Dixie LeForce, Margarite Goodpaster & others were on the programs in the 1930's.

The LeForce Story

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 22:04:49Z

In the 1700's a Frenchman named LaForce came to the US & became the founder of the LaForce/LeForce family in America.

A decendant, Renald (Ranney) Rene LeForce V, left TN & located in KY where he reared his family, although his last years were spent in West Plains, MO.

A son born to Mr. & Mrs. Ranney LeForce was John Bradley LeForce, born in Whitley County, KY in 1839. He left that state at the beginning of the Civil War, journeying with his family in an ox cart to Indiana. There, at Mitchell Indiana, he left his family secure from existing political conditions & enlisted in the Union Army.

He was a member of Wirier's Brigade until the end of hostilities & was not wounded or captured during the war. He had measles & suffered ill health as a result.

While in the army he sent every dollar of his wages to his wife & when he returned she had it all safely caref for & it formed the nest egg for beginning a new life under the post-war conditions.

Leaving Indiana in 1873, he spent 10 years with his family in West Plains, Missouri & then migrated with his wife & children to the Cherokee Country (Oklahoma) & engaged in the cattle business in what is now Craig County in 1886.

He had married Amanda Rachel Blankenship who was born in Cumberland Gap, KY of Irish stock. Her father was Elijah Blankenship.

Their children include James A., Mary (Molly) E. Banzet, John Samuel, Sarah Viola Chamberlin, Clarence W., Clara May Hunt, & Erastus (Ras) LeForce.

In Sept. 1893, James A. married Fannie M. Keys, a 1/8 Cherokee Indian, who was born in 1863 near Tahlequah. She was the daughter of Monroe & Lucy Keys.

Mrs. Keys was the granddaughter of Rev. Art Hoyt, first missionary to the Cherokees, & her mother was a daughter of Cherokee Chief George Lowry. Her mother composed the first hymn written by a Cherokee. She was educated at Dwight Mission. She was born 9/16/1831 at Willstown, AL & married Monroe Armory Keys when 23 years of age.

Fannie Keys was educated at Northfield, Mass. being one of 25 Cherokee girls chosen by the Moody Interests to be educated in his well-known institution. After finishing school, she taught for a while among her people, doing a part of her educational work at the Cherokee National Female Seminary in Tahlequah.

Mr. & Mrs. James LeForce moved with their family to Vinita from their extensive ranch holdings six miles south of Centralia where he engaged in the real estate business. He built a large home at the corner of Delaware & South Brewer streets.

He was a stockholder in the Farmer's Savings Bank of Vinita & until 1909 was its vice-president. He was long active in the Presbyterian Church & served as an elder of the church.

In Indian politics, Mr. LeForce allied himself with the National party, but when the Cherokee Nation ceased to exist he became a Republican.

Children of Mr. & Mrs. LeForce includes: Flossie M., James Lowry, Sarah Lottie, Rachel A., & Charles William.

Sam & Erastus or Ras became major ranchers & cattlemen in Craig County. Sam was particularly active in city & county affairs. He was a councilman from Ward I, Vinita in 1907. He served on the district school board at various times.

On Oct. 26,1887, Sam married Sallie Keys, a sister of Fannie, who had married James LeForce, Sam's brother. They had no children.

But the love of Sam LeForce for youngsters was shown by his annual Christmas party held at his home on West Clyde in Vinita, OK. It will probably be remembered longer than the Flying U ranch brand of the LeForce brothers.

The LeForce Christmas Parties by Annabell Tyler Southern

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 21:32:18Z

"Aunt Sid" as we knew her, would stand between the living room & dining room to receive the guests. Uncle Sam would sit on the divan under the stairway & meet with men friends in the ranching business. These would include stockmen from Kansas City & St. Joseph, Missouri".

"The Christmas parties included children of friends & relatives. Relatives helped pack candy, oranges & apples. These were packed several weeks prior to the party. Neighborhood children & relatives' children performed for the programs. Lois Ann LeForce (now Mrs. Bob R. Smith) read the Christmas story from Luke one year. Marguerite Goodpaster (eldest daughter of Craig & Olive) sang one year".

"Outdoor decorations on the gables of the house included a jack-in-the-box & a large one-dimensional package. These were spot-lighted".

"The large tree stood in the southeast room, & reached to the ceiling".

"The house was built by a doctor from Chicago who was a stockholder in Montgomery Ward, it is said that every board & nail came from Wards. The house was then sold to the Richeys. Their son was Hugh Richey".

"Young deer from the ranch were brought in to Craig Goodpasters place, just across the street south, & kept there during the winter. The Goodpaster children would let them out to play & they would wander down as far as the North Park where they could be seen from Luginbuel's Funeral Home, & Nina Taylor who worked there would call to have them picked up".

"Sam LeForce wanted to marry Sallie Keys, but her family, who were Cherokee Indian, was highly opposed to their daughter marrying a white cowboy. So they sent her off to Drury College at Springfield, MO to get her away. The day after she arrived, Sam went to Drury College & they eloped. They were married & returned to Vinita".

Brainard Mission - Rev. Ard Hoyt & Lydia Lowry

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 20:54:06Z

In 1816, Reverend Cyrus Kingsbury, a native of Alstead, New Hampshire, visited the Cherokee country, with a view of locating a mission among the tribe. He reported favorably on the proposition & was delegated by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, a non-denominational organization, composed of Presbyterians & Congregationalists, to erect the necessary buildings.

He arrived at the proposed site, on Chicamauga Creek, on 1/13/1817 & immediately commenced the establishment of Brainard Mission, which was destined to be the precurser of much missionary work among the Cherokees.

In 1819 Rev. Art Hoyt was Superintendent of Brainard with Rev. Daniel S. Buttrick as Assistant. The school had 60 pupils that year. One of them, Lydia Lowry, age 16, joined the Presbyterian Church & was baptised on 1/31/1819. Shortly afterwards, she had a dream in which the words came to her so impressively that on arising in the morning she wrote them out as the first hymn written by a Cherokee.

George Lowry

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 20:47:09Z

In the war between the US & the Creeks in 1814 a large body of Cherokees volunteered to assist the army led by Generals Andrew Jackson & John Coffie. Among the officers were Colonel John Lowry, Maj. George Lowry, & Private Charles Reese.

In the crucial battle of Horse Shoe Bend in which the Creeks were strongly barricaded behind cypress log ramposts & were holding their own against the frontal attacks, a detachment of Cherokees came up on the opposite side of the river. Charles Reese swam across & towed a canoe to his associates. The canoe load of warriors crossed the stream & each one got a canoe. In this manner, the Cherokees landed in the back part of the bend, attacking the Creeks from the rear. In attempting to repel this assault the Creeks so weakened their front that a break was made nearly annihilating the belligerent Creek forces.

From that day Andrew Jackson became increasingly popular. Historians carefully refrain from giving the Cherokees mention or credit for a part in the combat & Reese's family received a silver mounted rifle as acknowledgement for his actions, 3 years after his death.

Samuel Cox..from Pioneer Families

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-28 20:38:50Z

From Pioneer Families of Eastern & Southeastern Kentucky
Chapter XII

Whitley County, Kentucky
Organization, Early Court Orders

At the house of Samuel Cox in the county of Whitley on Monday the 20th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen & of the twenty-sixth year of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it being the time & place appointed by the General Assembly of Kentucky for holding the first court for the county of Whitley aforesaid, commissions from his Excellency Gabriel Slaughter, Lieutenant Governor & acting Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, directed to Edward Reilly, John Berry, Uriah Parks, Francis Faulkner, Lamme Clarke, Samuel Cox, & Isaac King, appointing them justices of the peace in & for the said county of Whitley; & thereupon, pursuant to the law Edward Reilly, Esq., administered the oath of office & fidelity to Samuel Cox, John Berry, Uriah Parks, Francis Faulkner, Lamme Clarke & Isaac King, justices of the peace for said county & then John Berry, Esquire, administered the oath of office & fidelity to Edward Reilly, Esq., as a justice of the peace for said county.

Benton Litten produced a commission from his Excellency Gabriel Slaughter, Lieutenant Governor & Acting Governor, appointing him sheriff of Whitley county which commission was read & thereupon the said Benton Litten entered into bond in the penalty of three thousand dollars with Edward Reilly, Samuel Cox, & Francis Faulkner as his securities (sureties) conditioned as the law directs. Whereupon the oath of office was administered to him as the law directs by Edward Reilly, Esq. The sheriff then opened the court as the law directs. Present: Edward Reilly, John Berry, Uriah Parke, Lamme Clarke, Samuel Cox, Francis Faulkner & Isaac King, Gentlemen Justices.

A certificate was produced in court by Edward Reilly, Esq., certifying that he had administered the oath required by law to John Berry, Uriah Parks, Francis Faulkner, Samuel Cox, Lamme Clarke, & Isaac King as justices of the peace of this county; also, to Benton Litten as sheriff of this county.

A certificate was produced in court by John Berry, Esq., certifying that he had administered the oath required by law to Edward Reilly, as a justice of the peace.

The court being constituted agreeable to law proceeded to elect their clerk pro tempore & Milton Eve was found to be duly elected, whereupon the said Milton Eve entered into bond in the penalty of five thousand dollars with Joseph Eve, Lamme Clarke, Hiram Jones & Joseph Parsons as his securities (sureties) conditioned as the law directs. Whereupon Edward Reilly, Esq., administered to him the oath of office required by law.

On motion of William Roe, he is appointed constable in the bounds of Capt. Allison’s old company of Militia. Whereupon he entered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 with Hiram Jones & Francis Faulkner as his securities (sureties).

On motion of Baker E. Watkins, he is appointed constable in the bounds of Capt. Richards’ old company of Militia. Whereupon he entered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 conditioned as the law directs with Lamme Clarke & Andrew Evans as his sucurities (sureties)

On motion of John Ross, he is appointed constable in the counds of Capt. Jacoway’s company of Militia. Whereuponhe said Ross entered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 conditioned as the law directs with Angus Ross as his security (sureties)

On motion of William Edwards, he is appointed constable in the bounds of Capt. Steele’s company of Militia, whereupon he entered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 with Benjamin Tuggle, Hiram Jones & Joseph Parsons as his securities (sureties)

On motion of John L. ? Laughlin, he is appointed constable in the bounds of Capt. Steele’s company of Militia. Whereupon he enetered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 with George Tye, Charles Rockhold & Joseph Parsons as his securities (sureties)

It is ordered by the court that George Gill Eve be appointed counsellor & Attorney of the Commonwealth in & for this county.

Ordered that court be adjourned until (sic) 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.

Signed Edward Reilly

Court having met agreeable to adjournment, on Tuesday the 21st of April 1818:

Present: Edward Reilly, John Berry, Uriah Parks, Francis Faulkner, Samuel Cox, Isaac King, & Lamme Clarke, Gentlemen Justices.

On motion of William Davis, he is appointed constable in the bounds of Capt. Medders’ (Middaugh or Meadows) company of Militia; & thereupon the said Davis entered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 with John Medders & Peter Snider as his securities (sureties).

On motion of Nathan Cox, he is appointed constable in the bounds of Capt. Medders’ company of Militia. Whereupon he entered into bond in the penalty of $1,000 with Samuel Cox & Benton Litten as his securities (sureties).

Ordered by the court that Joseph Gillis & Thomas Laughlin be recommended to his Excellency, the Acting Governor of Kentucky, as fit persons to fill the office of surveyor of Whitley County, a majority of the justices of the peace of said court being present & concurring in this recommendation.

Ordered that the court be adjourned until (sic) in course.

Signed Edward Reilly

Stories told by Laverne (LeForce) Carswell

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:55:36Z

When John Alvin was born, momma was picking plums for canning when she became ill. I think he was probably born prematurely. He weighed 2 lbs 1/2 oz & was 13 inches long. Although he was born in the heat of summer (8/21/1933), momma had a hard time keeping him warm. He would get cold & turn blue. She would work with him constantly & bury him deep in comforters in order to keep him warm.

He was too small to nurse, so we had to go out in the pastures every hour to get fresh milk for her to feed him - with an eye dropper. Even after she had nursed him through all that, a bed was made for him in daddy’s shoebox & he had to be carried that way for several months because he was so delicate.

I was 16 when Vi (Violet Alma) was born, & momma decided I was old enough to help in the delivery. When the doctor came, he sent the other children out to catch grasshoppers for him to go fishing while we delivered the baby. He told them not to come back to the house until he honked the car horn.

I was so scared that I ran to another bedroom & got between the mattresses so I couldn’t hear momma. Although I could hear the doctor talking, I didn’t hear a sound from momma.

The other children were called back to the house & saw the baby. Momma, exhuasted, fell asleep with the infant in her arms. Margie (who has always loved babies), slipped up to the bed, took Vi from momma, & sit holding her until momma woke up & told her to “put that baby back down here”.

Early Day Vinitan Recalls Years In Indian Territory

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:50:35Z

Newspaper records before statehood boast that Vinita was the most law-abiding town in Indian territory.

“It may have been”, relates Mrs. James A. LeForce who knew the town 79 years ago, “but the hills around Vinita were certainly full of desperados. Sometimes officers just shot them down & left them lying where they fell.”

Born north of Tahlequah in 1862, Mrs. LeForce first came to this area in 1870 when her parents, Mr. & Mrs. M. A. Keys moved to the Pleasant Hill area.

“We lived in a log house then”, she recalls. “I had six sisters & two brothers. All of them are dead now.”

“My mother always taught us that we were related to Sequoyah, who invented the Cherokee alphabet”, Mrs. LeForce said. “Our favorite mystery tale was the story of Sequoyah’s death…how, after his death, the body was put on a ledge in a cave, & how the body disappeared & was never found.”

After a period spent in Moody school, Northfield, Mass., Mrs. LeForce returned to Vinita in 1862, when she married James LeForce. The couple moved to a home on 4th street.>

“James was in the real estate business & traveled a good bit”, she said. “He carried money with him in a valise for his transactions. Once while he was crossing a flooded river, the valise was torn from him by the current. He jumped in the water & swam downstream until he got the money, but he almost drowned.”

Mr. & Mrs. LeForce have four children: James Lowry, Flossie May, Sarah Lottie, & Charles William.

“I stayed at home, & I took care of the house & children,” she emphasised. “It’s beyond me how some of these modern parents can enjoy leaving their children & homes so much of the time.”

The LeForce family moved in 1901 to a home at 805 S Brewer Street where Mrs. LeForce still lives. Her husband died 12/3/1945.

“There was nothing out in this south part of Vinita in 1901 except prairie & one or two buildings,” she said. “Ed Chouteau had a broom factory nearby & that was about all there was.”

Story told by Mrs. James A. LeForce, date unknown. She was Fannie Myrtle Keys, born 11/5/1862, daughter of Monroe Calvin & Lucy Lowrey Hoyt Keys & granddaughter of Rev. Ard Hoyt. Ms. Keys, a 1/8th Cherokee, married James A. LeForce in 1892.

In FNB...Sam LeForce made initial deposit...

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:47:15Z

(Editor's note: this biography of John Samuel LeForce, prominent early-day cattleman of this area, is taken from the "Bluestem Breeze," published by the Bluestem Cattlemen's Association issue of March 28, 1949.)

Sam LeForce came to the Cherokee Nation in 1886 when his parents, Mr. & Mrs. John B. LeForce, moved from Kansas. He became a prominent figure in the cattle industry along with his brother, Erastus, who was better known as "Rass" LeForce.

The family first settled in the Pheasant Hill area but a year after their arrival, Sam LeForce married Sallie Keys, & established a home of his own.

Telling of the period of the 1880's & 1890's when he was interviewed in 1949, Sam LeForce said: "At that time Jim Hall, Judge George Clark, Nat Skinner, Boob Little, S.S. Cobb, Bill Halsell & Grayson Wills were the main cattlemen of Northeast OK."

"Vinita had just officially changed its name from Downingville to Vinita, & Doc Frazee had the main drug store, E.N. Ratcliff had the large Dry Goods & Grocery Store. Lucien Buffington, Chief Tom Buffington & Davis Hill were the citizens. A dozen cattlemen occupied the entire territory. There were no fences or leases, but each man had a territory & it was known as his range - Halsell Range, Little Range, etc.

Most of the early cattlemen lived in town & had camp houses on their ranges. I could ride from Vinita to Claremore & never see a house, except when I crossed the river or a creek.

There were no leases, rentals, or taxes, & you could cut all the hay you wanted. One summer my brother Rass & I cut & stacked 2,100 tons of hay for Nat Skinner. We used an overshot stacker, bought off E.N. Ratcliff. There were no roads in those days, only trails. Prairie chickens, coyotes, wild turkeys & deer were plentiful. I can remember seeing droves of prairie chickens, looked like a thousand in a bunch. In fact, they were thicker than blackbirds are now," LeForce recalled.

L.W. Marks was Deputy US Marshall & later became quite a cattleman.

"Bill Halsell was the largest cattle operator & had come from Texas, where most of the early cattlemen originated. In later years, Ewing Halsell, his son, carried on here, in addition of his large Texas holdings.

In the early days I have ridden often in prairie bottoms where the native bluestem grass was higher than my head, with me on my horse.

The first big cattle deal that my brother, Rass, & I made was when we bought 1,400 cows from the Stevenson brothers, who lived on Clear Creek. The Cherokee authorities wanted them to pay taxes, which they refused to do, so they moved the cattle out of the Indian Territory to Elgin, Kan.

The Stevenson brothers came over & wanted to sell them to us. Rass said, "where could we get the money?" & I told him to go buy the cattle & I would rustle the money. I told him to make a small payment so he could not be arrested for stealing, & he bought them for $14 a head. When Rass came home he said "I bought the cattle. Where are you going to get the money?" I said, I will borrow the money from Evans, Snider, Buell Livestock Commission Company of Kansas City.

I borrowed all the money - for 8% & 10%. It was 8% if you paid when due, & if (you) ran over, the rate was 10%. At that time I was only 23 years old & had never borrowed any money before.

Mr. Snider let me have the money without seeing the cattle, but he did give me some good advice by saying "Young man, this is your opportunity. If you make good, you can go ahead. If you fail, you might as well quit the big cattle business."

We bought the cattle about the 20th of February & sold them in July & August & paid our note before it was due. The cows brought 3-4 1/2 cents, & the calf crop, which was good, brought 4 cents a pound. We shipped cattle to Kansas City until we had overpaid our note of $2,200.

I went into Kansas City & asked Mr. Snider how we stood & he told me & asked if I wanted the money. I said to leave it until we were through shipping, & he finally sent it to the First National Bank of Vinita, $10,108.08.

The First National Bank of Vinita was started in 1892, & I was its first depositor. I had just ridden in from the ranch & tied my pony, & as I came to the bank, Col. Cook, the cashier, opened the door for business.

In the early days we usually bought cattle & paid for them in cash. One of my first trips buying cattle was to Going Snake District near Siloam Springs, Ark., & I tied $3,500 in cash around my left arm & I started out alone on horseback to buy cattle.

After that time we shipped thousands of cattle, & at one time owned 14,000 acres of land," LeForce recalled in that 1949 interview.

Mary Helen (Corn) LeForce - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:42:09Z

Obit:

Mary Helen LeForce was born September 8, 1954, in Fullerton, California, to Mary Frances (Elmore) and Walter Edward Corn, Jr. She departed this life on Monday, October 31, 2005, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 51 years, 1 month, and 23 days.

Mary graduated from Chouteau High School. On December 28, 1970, in Joplin, Missouri, Mary Helen Corn was united in marriage to Larry Wayne LeForce. The family has lived in Peggs for the past 22 years.

Mary received her college education at Rogers State University in Claremore and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She was a certified CMA and CNA. Having worked in the healthcare field for many years, Mary spent most of her professional career at Locust Grove Care Center. She worked hard and loved to take care of people, especially her children, grandchildren, father, and husband.

Mary liked to bake cookies and crochet. She was also able to grow plants. She was a devoted wife, mother, Nanny, daughter, and sister. She loved her family dearly. The people she took care of, her friends, and her family, will miss her dearly.

Mary is survived by: her husband: Larry Wayne LeForce, Sr., of the home; 4 children: Larry Wayne LeForce, Jr. and wife Gloria Lynn of Chouteau, Oklahoma, Mary Dawn Brewster and husband Skip of Haskell, Oklahoma, Amanda Golden and husband Rick of Mounds, Oklahoma, and Melissa Tugmon and husband Rick of Pryor, Oklahoma; her father: Walter Edward Corn, Jr. of Locust Grove, Oklahoma; 1 sister: Betty Ann Whorton and husband Dwayne of Pryor, Oklahoma; 15 grandchildren; numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

Mary was preceded in death by: her mother: Mary Frances Moore; 1 grandson: David Wayne "Tooter" Nichols; and 1 granddaughter: Katelyn Belle LeForce.

Funeral services were held 10:30 AM, Thursday, November 3, 2005, at the New Home Cemetery Chapel near Peggs, Oklahoma. Interment followed at the New Home Cemetery. Reverend Donald LeForce officiated. Services were entrusted to the Locust Grove Funeral Home.

How to get your Indian Card

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:36:49Z

If you're an Oklahoma LeForce (especially related to Ora B. LeForce) you can get a Cherokee Nation Indian Card.

This is our tribe’s website: http://www.cherokee.org

This is the page that has info about registering for your card: http://www.cherokee.org/home.aspx?section=services&servi...

You can download a form for a new registration or a lost card.

This is the page to the Dawes Rolls: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/tutorial/dawes/final-rolls...

There you will find a link to here: http://www.archives.gov/research/arc along with instructions on how to find our ancestors on the rolls.

Page 75 image 448 - Minor Cherokees by Blood…that’s where our grandpa Ora B. LeForce is listed. He is listed as #1647 opposite roll #M-1679 as 1/32 Cherokee Indian blood.

James Lowery & Lois Rachel (Brittain) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:22:50Z

James Lowery LeForce was born 1/31/1895, in Vinita, Indian Territory. He was the son of James Andrew & Fannie Keys LeForce of Vinita. He attended Vinita schools & entered the Army in Sept. 28 of 1917. He served in the 358th Machine Gun Company of the 90th Division as a runner. His company took part in the Battles of Belleau Wood & the Argonne Forest. After the signing of the armistice he served in the Army of the Occupation in Germany, returning to the states in June/21/1919.

On June 10, 1920, he married Lois Rachel Brittain, the daughter of U. F. & Minnie Mosby Brittain, of Vinita. She was born in DeBois County in Southern Indiana, on 10/5/1898. She moved with her family to Hennessey, Oklahoma in 1907 where she attended school, graduating in 1916.

Mr. & Mrs. LeForce had 3 daughters, Jeanne Marie (married C.R. Wyrosdick), Ruth Margaret (married M.J. Myers), & Lois Ann (married Bob R. Smith).

In 1933 Mr. LeForce went to work for the Vinita Production Credit Association, as an inspector. He held this position for the next 9 years. In 1935 they bought the rights to some land which was to become the beginning of the “Cross L” Ranch, located 7 miles west of White Oak.

Mr. LeForce was a 32nd Degree Mason & a member of the Dalen Peace Post of the American Legion, where he served the post as commander. He also served as timekeeper of the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo for the first 23 years. Mrs. LeForce is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, which she served as president, & the Order of Eastern Star, where she was the Worthy Matron. They were both members of the First Christian Church.

Mr. LeForce retired from active ranching in 1967. He died in November of 1978. Mrs. LeForce lives in their home on the corner of West Deleware & South Brewer, the site of the old J.A. LeForce home where Mr. LeForce grew up.

Quista Michell Boyce - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:19:22Z

QUISTA BOYCE

11 September 1975

Quista Michell Boyce, infant daughter of Mr and Mrs Lonnie Boyce, Vinita, passed away Wednesday at a local hospital. Survivors in addition to the parents are maternal grandparents Mr and Mrs Doyle Inman, paternal grandparents Mr and Mrs Ike Boyce and maternal great-grandparents Mr and Mrs John Leforce, all of Vinita. Graveside services will be held at 10 am Friday in Fairview Cemetery with Rev. Joe Carson officiating. The Luginbuel Funeral Service of Vinita is in charge of arrangements.

John D. & Viola Bernice (Stone) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:16:01Z

John D. LeForce & Viola Burnice Stone were married 1/6/1934. They are both natives of Craig County & have resided in Vinita their entire married life.

John D. LeForce was born 10/6/1909, at Centralia, OK. He is the son of Clarence William (Dick) LeForce & Emma Grace Chamberlin LeForce.

Burnice Stone LeForce was born 6/17/1911, in Vinita. She is the daughter of Alvin Charles Stone & Viola Ruth Smelser Stone. Before her marriage, Burnice attended Vinita High School & was then employed as a bookkeeper by Mr. L. D. Dalquest.

John D. LeForce began working at a service station in Vinita after graduating from Vinita High School in 1927. He later became the owner of a service station & bulk plant business in Vinita. This business has been located at the corner of North Wilson & Sequoyah Avenue for more than 50 years. In 1961, Mr. & Mrs. LeForce purchased a farm northwest of Vinita. This farm was formerly owned by his uncles, Sam & Ras LeForce. Mr. LeForce is engaged in general farming & raises hereford cattle on this farm property.

Mr. & Mrs. John D. LeForce have been active in various community affairs for many years. They are both members of the United Methodist Church & have served the Vinita church in a variety of capacities. Mr. LeForce is a member of the Official Board of Trustees, & has also served as church treasurer.

Mrs. LeForce has been a member of the Official Board & has served as President of the United Methodist Women. As special interests & hobbies, Burnice enjoys singing in the church choir, sewing, knitting, & china painting.

John D. LeForce is an active member of Vinita Masonic Lodge #5. He served as Master in 1956, & again in 1978. He is a 32nd degree KCCH member of the Tulsa Scottish Rite Consistory. In addition, Mr. LeForce is a member of the Akdar Shrine & the Craig County Shrine Club.

Both Mr. & Mrs. LeForce are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, Vinita Chapter #20. Mr. LeForce is a Past Patron of this chapter.

Mr. & Mrs. John D. LeForce are the parents of four daughters. The girls are all graduates of Vinita High School.

Johnann, born 11/5/1934, married Dewey E. Helt of Tulsa. Children: John E., born 1959 & Janie Sue, born 1962.

Patsy Ruth, born 5/1/1936, married Doyle W. Inman of Vinita. Children: Diana Dee, born 1953, Michael W., born 1955, Kathleen A., born 1956, Nancy Lynn, born 1957.

Sally Jane, born 6/5/1943, married Wayne L. Boyd of Vinita. Son: Brian Wayne, born 1968.

Sammie Sue, born 7/28/1944, married Jon Burgess of North Dakota. Son: Jon Paul, born 1970.

In addition to the four daughters & eight grandchildren, Mr. & Mrs. LeForce also have six great-grandchildren. For these children, there is nothing so delightful as the frequent family gatherings in Nana & Grandpa LeForce’s home in Vinita.

In January of 1984, Mr. & Mrs. John D. LeForce celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a reception held at the Masonic Temple in Vinita. The reception was hosted by the daughters & grandchildren of the couple. Among the guests were Mrs. LeForce’s three sisters, Mrs. Ed (Beverly) Paul, Mrs. Roger (Ilene) Blair, & Mr. & Mrs. J.P. (Maxine) Joplin, all of the Houston, Texas area. Two of Mr. LeForce’s sisters in attendance were Marie Kizer of Vinita, & Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd K. (Lorene) Stephens of Wagoner, OK. In addition, those present at the reception included numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, & friends who had gathered to honor the couple.

James Andrew & Fannie Myrtle (Keys) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:12:37Z

James Andrew LeForce was born on 12/26/1859, in Whitley County, Kentucky. He was the son of John Bradley & Amanda Blankenship LeForce. After living in Indiana during the Civil War, the family moved to West Plains, Missouri.

In 1886 Mr. LeForce came with his family to the Cherokee Nation where, in Sept of 1892, he married Fannie Keys, the daughter of Monroe Calvin & Lucy Hoyt Keys. She was the great-granddaughter of George Lowery, one of the old chiefs of the Cherokees. She was born on 11/5/1863 at Park Hill near Tahlequah, where George Lowery had brought his family after the removal.

Her family was a well educated, conservative Cherokee family & her mother especially had a fond hope that her daughters would marry men of the cloth. Because of this there was much opposition to yet another of her daughters marrying one of those “wild LeForce boys”. But Fannie did just that.

Mr. LeForce had various business interests, chief among them being real estate. Mr. & Mrs. LeForce had 5 children. They are as follows: Flossie, 1893, married Edwin Wollett; James Lowery, 1895, married Lois Brittain; Lottie, 1897, married Arthur P. Ingraham; Rachel, 1900 (died 1912); & Charles William, married Luana Bacon.

Mr. LeForce died on 12/3/1945 in Vinita, & Mrs. LeForce continued to live in the home at 305 S. Brewer, until her death on 5/16/1954.

Erastus Elijah (Ras) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:05:58Z

Erastus Elijah (Ras) LeForce was born in 1870, the 5th child of John Bradley & Amanda Blankenship LeForce. He came as a young man to the Cherokee Nation around 1886 & settled northwest of Vinita with his family. He began a partnership in the cattle business with his older brother Sam around 1887 that lasted until their deaths.
Mr. Ras never married (an unhappy love affair in his youth, so the story goes), & was able to devote all his energies to the cattle business. It was said of the LeForce Brothers that they made & lost many fortunes. Their losses never seemed to give them much worry. The story is that they had a train-load of cattle in Kansas City for the Monday market, when the market broke. Mr. Sam was at the First National Bank to receive the call at noon from Mr. Ras who had ridden to Kansas City in the caboose of the cattle train. Mr. Ras was overjoyed that they were only losing $50 a head!

The brothers, feeling perhaps that the cattle business was enough of a gamble, never gambled officially but once. At a matched race between one of their horses & a horse belonging to a gentleman from Arkansas, they won handily, leaving the Arkansan not only penniless but forced to find his way home on foot, having lost his horse & buggy also. Feeling that they should quit while they were ahead, they never gambled again.

Mr. Ras along with Mr. Sam & their nephew Lowery LeForce, made many trips into Louisiana, South Texas, & Mexico to buy cattle. They made many friends among the ranchers in these areas.

Mr. Ras was active in the cattle business until he suffered a stroke in 1955, & remained an invalid until his death in 1958, at the age of 88.

John Samuel & Sarah Ann (Keys) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-22 00:04:16Z

John Samuel LeForce was born in 1864, the son of John Bradley & Amanda Blankenship LeForce. He moved to the Cherokee Nation in 1866, & located near Vinita, where he began what was to be a life-long partnership with his brother E. E. (Ras) LeForce. On 10/26/1887 he married Sarah Keys, the daughter of Monroe & Lucy Hoyt Keys. Mrs. LeForce was known affectionately to her family as Sid, Mr. LeForce’s pet name for her. Her parents, being opposed to her marriage, sent her to Springfield, Missouri, to enter Drury College. The story is that on the first or second day of her college career, Sam went to Springfield, got her & they eloped. Mr. & Mrs. LeForce did not have children of their own, but generously opened their home on West Clyde to many of their nieces & nephews & gave them the opportunity to get an education. Had it not been for this generosity, many of these young people would have had no chance to go to school. For a period of time in the 30’s & early 40’s they gave a Christmas Party, hosted by all the family members, to which the entire area was invited. It was not unusual for hundreds of people to come to the house on that one night in early December, & no one left without a sack of candy. Many members of the LeForce family can still remember the nights spent sacking candy & decorating the house in preparation for these parties.

In 1892, on the day the First National Bank of Vinita opened, Sam rode into town & said “Heard you boys were opening a new bank. I came to be your first depositor.” With a cattle check he had received just hours before the bank officially opened its doors, he did indeed become the first depositor. His name was on bank records as a depositor, stockholder & director from 1892 until his death 63 years later.

Mr. Sam & Mr. Ras had as their headquarters the U Ranch northwest of Vinita on Pawpaw Creek. They also owned property west of Pyramid Corners, where John D. LeForce, a nephew, still raises cattle. Another property was the Shipping Trap, near the old stockyards at White Oak, where another nephew, Dwight Hunt, makes his home. The U Ranch maintained a reputation for hospitality, & was a regular stop for many people on their trips through the countryside. They would time their trips to make sure they arrived at the U Ranch for the night, being sure of a welcome.

Mr. Sam was always something of an optimist. Somewhere around his 90th year, he went to the sale ground in Vinita, to buy some hedge posts. Finding that they were costing more than he wanted to pay he said he would just go home & plant his own.

Clarence (Dick) William & Emma Grace (Chamberlin) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:59:28Z

Clarence (Dick) William LeForce was born 12/31/1879 in Labette County, Kansas. He was the son of John Bradley LeForce & Amanda Rachel Blankenship LeForce. John Bradley LeForce & his wife were originally from Kentucky & had lived in West Plains, Missouri before moving to Labette County in Kansas.

Dick, the youngest of the 7 LeForce children, attended his first year of school at the old Star School near Edna, Kansas.

In 1886, the LeForce family moved into Indian Territory & settled on a farm northwest of Vinita. Dick spent his youth in this area & later attended Willie Halsell College for a short time.

In 1901, Dick LeForce was married to Emma Grace Chamberlin. She was born 4/7/1881 at Pleasant Hill near Vinita. Emma Grace was the daughter of Nelson Beecher Chamberlin & his first wife, Emma Marie Meek Chamberlin. Emma Grace was 1/16th Cherokee & her Cherokee roll number was 9100. After their marriage, Dick & Emma Grace LeForce moved to Centrailia & farmed the land that was her Indian allotment. This farm was located about 1 & 1/2 miles north of the town of Centralia.

The following children, who are 1/32nd Cherokee, were born to Dick & Emma Grace on their farm. Ora B., born 4/22/1903, married Alma Cox; Emma Otelia, born 1906 - died 1912; John D., born 10/6/1909, married V. Burnice Stone; Dewdrop Marie, born 1/22/1913, married Leverett Kizer; Lorene (Peggy), born 1/19/1917, married Lloyd K. Stephens; & Gracie E. (Dixie), born 12/26/1918, married Wilson Presley.

Emma Grace Chamberlin LeForce died during the terrible flu epidemic in January of 1919. She was buried in the Centralia Cemetary near the grave of her daughter, Emma Otelia.

Following the death of his wife, Dick LeForce spent most of his remaining years in the Centralia area. He died on 9/26/1959 & was buried next to his wife in the Centralia Cemetary.

John Bradley Lee & Amanda Rachel (Blankenship) LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:56:48Z

Born in Tennessee on 12/28/1839, John Bradley LeForce was the son of Ranney LeForce, a second generation Frenchman. He married Amanda Rachel Blankenship, who was born in Cumberland Gap, Kentucky, on 12/6/1841. She was the daughter of Elijah Blankenship of Cumberland Gap.

Their children are as follows: James Andrew, 1859, (married Fannie Keys); Mollie, c. 1862, (married Charles A. Banzet of Labette County, Kansas); John Samuel, 1864, (married Sarah Keys); Viola, 1866, (married Beecher Chamberlain of Pheasant Hill); Erastus Elijah, 1870; Clara Mae, 1877, (married Russell Hunt); Clarence William, 1879, (married Grace Chamberlain of Centralia).

John B. LeForce moved his family to Mitchell, Indiana at the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the Union Army & served in Wilder's Brigade for three & 1/2 years. Leaving Indiana at the end of the war, he & his family spent some ten years at West Plains, Missouri. He was joined by his father, Ranney, who spent his remaining years there.

In the 1880's he moved his family to the Cherokee Nation where he engaged in the cattle business. Mr. LeForce died in Vinita on 4/3/1911 & Mrs. LeForce died here on 2/6/1916. They are both buried in Fairview Cemetary north of Vinita.

Erastus (Ras) Elijah LeForce - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:51:56Z

In Memory Of
E. E. (Ras) LeForce

Born
December 20, 1870
Pierce City, Missouri

Time & Place of Death
August 14, 1958
Vinita, OK

Services
August 16, 1958 - 2 p.m.
Methodist Church

Clergymen Officiating
Rev. John Russell
Rev. Dwight R. Hunt

Church Organist
Mrs. C. J. Hanan

Soloists
Mr. Ralph Moore

Final Resting Place
Fairview Cemetery

Bearers
Nephews

Katherine B. (LeForce) Lipp - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:45:27Z

Katherine B Lipp, 74, of Tulsa, passed away, Thursday, June 7, 2007 at Maplewood Care Center of Tulsa where she had resided for several years. Born in Centralia, Oklahoma to Ora B. and Alma Leforce. After schooling in Centralia, then Bluejacket, she attended Draughon’s School of Business in Tulsa. She enjoyed employment with Douglas Aircraft and Mid Continent Oil Co. Katherine married Howard S. Lipp on March 13, 1954. They owned and operated The Club Lounge and later acquired the T-Town and Kathy’s Lounge. She enjoyed fishing, gardening and family gatherings. She was an excellent cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 children; Adam Shane Lipp and Terry Lynn Schwartz Brothers and Sisters; John Leforce, Leroy Leforce, Margaret Nail, LaVerne Carswell, Maxine Ross, Donald Leforce and Samuel Leforce.

She is survived by 3 children; Toni Lee Richardson and husband Richard of Broken Arrow, Kelly Jean Ragsdale and husband Wendell of Tulsa and Michael Howard Lipp of Dallas. Sisters and Brother; Betty Jean Lane of Jenks, William Leforce and wife Virginia of Hastings, Michigan, Violet Leforce of Vinita and Grace Creason of Tulsa. 1 Granddaughter-Kennedy McLane King of Broken Arrow Numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 11, 2007 in the Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel of Vinita with nephew-Rev. Lindey Leforce officiating. Casket Bearers will be; Wendell Ragsdale, Richard King, Lindey Leforce, Lonnie Leforce, Jay Bible, Kevin Seaton and Steve Creason.

Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery of Vinita.

John Samuel LeForce - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:49:23Z

Obit:

In Memory Of
John Samuel LeForce

Born
Southern Indiana

Time & Place of Death
May 11, 1955
Vinita, OK

Services
May 14, 1955 - 2:30 p.m.
First Methodist Church
Vinita, OK

Clergymen Officiating
Rev. Dwight R. Hunt
Rev. Wayne Coffin

Organist
Mrs. C. J. Hanan

Final Resting Place
Fairview Cemetery

Bearers
Nephews

Graveside Services
Vinita Masonic Lodge No. 5

Juanita (Marge) Margaret (LeForce) Nail - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:43:21Z

Obit:

Our beloved Granny, Juanita Margaret (Marge) Nail, 82 year old Vinita resident, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at the home of her son Lonnie Nail in White Oak, many family members were at her side. She was born October 27, 1923 in Centralia to O. B. and Alma (Cox) LeForce. Marge joined Ray Lenn Nail in Marriage on October 11, 1940 in Miami; he preceded her in death in 1996. They operated a small ranch and bulldozing business, she also worked for Farm Bureau and Peabody Coal Company in Vinita.

Granny Marge was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Anita Nail, daughter-in-law Pam Nail, granddaughter, Shelly McGuire, brothers, Roy, Don, John, and Hank LeForce, and sisters Laverne Carswell and Maxine Ross.

Granny Marge was very devoted to providing love and care to her family and many friends. She took much pride in her home and family life. Granny's cooking will always be a fond memory to anyone who visited her home. She was a devoted wife to Ray, making sure always that his needs were met. Granny Marge enjoyed the outdoors tremendously and never turned a fishing trip down. Many summer hours were spent gardening and then canning the harvest for the winter days. A challenge to a card game of four-handed pitch was never taken lightly.

Granny Marge is survived by two sons: Ken Nail and wife D'Etta of Broken Arrow, Lonnie & Butch Nail of White Oak; six grandchildren, Monty Nail and wife Tracy of Vinita, Rocky Nail of Broken Arrow, Dirk Nail and wife Melisa of Wagoner, Angela Free and husband Terry of Pensacola, Carrie Liggett and husband John of White Oak, Lisa Chandler and husband Brett of Cleora; fourteen great-grandchildren, Casey Nail of Vinita, Kylie Nail of Broken Arrow, Taylor and Hunter Nail of Wagoner, Cassy Free and Joey Anderson of Pensacola, Halie and Madison Liggett of White Oak, Tron and Travis Scott of Vinita, Jennifer Turnbough of Vinita, Darren, Amanda and Jake McGuire of Vinita; three great-great-grandchildren, Lanie Rae Scott, Ty Don Scott, Evan and Dayton Turnbough all of Vinita; also one brother William LeForce and wife Virginia of Hastings, Michigan and four sisters, Betty Lane of Jenks, Katherine Lipp of Tulsa, Violet LeForce of Vinita and Grace Creason of Broken Arrow and her life-long friend and neighbor of 60 years, Mrs. John (Louise) Bowie.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held Friday, April 14, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. in the Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel in Vinita, with Rev. Leland Bartlett officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Vinita. Arrangements are by the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Vinita.

Clarence W. LeForce Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:06:00Z

Obit:

In Memory Of
Clarence W. LeForce

Born
December 31, 1879
Labette County, Kansas

Time & Place of Death
September 26, 1959
Vinita, OK

Services
September 28, 1959 - 2 p.m.
Luginbuel Chapel

Clergymen Officiating
Rev. Dwight Hunt
Rev. John Russell

Chapel Organist
Mrs. Glenn Ashby

Soloist
Mrs. Bob Smith

Final Resting Place
Centralia Cemetery

Bearers
Howard Lee Newman
Zell Morrison
Josh Periman
Dale Lomax
Edgar Prine
Ed Young

Dewdrop Marie (LeForce) Kizer - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:07:42Z

Obit:

Dewdrop Marie Kizer, 76, Centralia, died early today, Wednesday, May 24, 1989 at Craig General Hospital.

Mrs. Kizer was born Jan. 22, 1913 at Centralia, daughter of the late C.W. & Emma Grace (Chamberlain) LeForce.

She was a housewife, mother & member of the First United Methodist Church in Vinita.

Survivors include one son, Jerry Kizer, Long Beach, Calif.; one daughter, Julia Kizer, Seattle, Wash.; one brother, John D. LeForce, Vinita; two sisters, Mrs. Lorene Stephens, Wagoner; & Mrs. Dixie Presley, Arlington, Va.; five grandchildren & several nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leverett Kizer; a brother, O.B. LeForce; & a sister, Otelia LeForce.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 26, in the Centralia Cemetery. Rev. Don Price, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Vinita, will officiate.

Arrangements are under director of the Lunginbuel Funeral Service of Vinita.

Alma Elnora (Cox) LeForce - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:11:14Z

Obit:

In Memory Of
Mrs. Alma Elnora LeForce

Born
March 24, 1901
Welch, OK

Date & Place of Death
September 22, 1952
Vinita, OK

Services
Sept. 24, 1952 - 3:30 o’clock
Luginbuel Chapel
Vinita, OK

Clergyman Officiating
Rev. Wayne Coffin

Organist
Mrs. L. D. Butler

Final Resting Place
Fairview Cemetery
Vinita, OK

Bearers
Tom Cooper
Omer Williams
Edgar Prine
Dan Bresnehen
Weaver Harmon
Ray Oskison

Laverne Marie (LeForce) Carswell - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:12:51Z

Obit:

In Loving Memory Of
LaVerne Marie (LeForce) Carswell

Entered This Life
12/1/1920
Centralia, OK

Entered Eternal Life
4/16/1999
Vinita, OK

Funeral Service
Burckhalter Memorial Chapel
2.00 P.M., Monday, April 19, 1999

Officiating
Rev. Lowell Goering

Songs
Amazing Grace / In The Garden / Ave Maria

Pallbearers
Larry LeForce
Roy B. LeForce
Lonnie Nail
Gary LeForce
Lonnie LeForce
Monty Nail

Honorary Pallbearers
Steven Creason
Kenneth Nail

Interment
Fairview Cemetery
Services Entrusted To
Burckhalter Funeral Home. Vinita, OK.

Ora B. LeForce - Obit

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:09:53Z

Obit:

In Memory Of:

Ora B. LeForce

DOB 4/22/1903 Centralia, OK
DOD 5/5/1975 Hillcrest Medical Center Tulsa, OK

Time & Place of Service
2.00 p.m. - Thursday, May 8, 1975
Lingbuel Funeral Home Chapel
Vinita, OK

Officiating
Rev. Max Pendley
Vinita, OK

Singers - Charles Horner, Clifford Collins, Gordon Williamson

Organist - Kathyrn Neill

Pallbearers
Ed Prine
Johnny Bowie
Harold Horton
Ernest McDonald
Cecil Collins
Leo Hency
Interment

Fair View Cemetary
Vinita, OK

Arrangements By
Thomas Funeral Home
Welch, OK

Dawn LeForce

Dawn_LeForce — 2007-06-21 23:04:32Z

My name's Dawn LeForce & I'm the daughter of William Harold LeForce who's the son of Ora B. LeForce who's the son of Clarence (Dick) William LeForce who's the son of John Bradley Lee LeForce...one of the first LeForce's in Oklahoma.

Per a newspaper clipping we have on John Bradley Lee he states he was born in Tennessee on 12/28/1839 - the son of Ranney LeForce - a second generation Frenchman.

I'm looking for John Bradley Lee's parents & siblings. Is Ranney LeForce a decendent of Dr. Renald Rene LaForce? And is Dr. Renald Rene LeForce a Delaforce or Caumont La Force?