The Bentons in Oklahoma

In 1900 , John Logan Benton was living in Fannin County, Texas. According to family tradition, Thomas Hart Benton, was residing in Indian Territory across the Red River. I've yet to document that, although there is a garbled entry of a Thomas Benton in the 1900 census of the Chickasaw Nation. In late 1900, Thomas married Sallie Mae Scott in Cooke County, Texas. In 1902, John married Nancy Ann "Lemmie" Huddleston in Bonham, Fannin County.

Around 1907, John Logan and Thomas Hart moved their families to Washita Township, Custer County, in the emerging state of Oklahoma. There they joined an eclectic population including the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian Nations, settlers from all the other states of the Union, and a polyglot influx of German, Russian, Polish, and other Slavic immigrants. What an interesting place that must have been to live.

The Huddleston women. The mother, Flora Whisenhunt Huddleston is center, bottom. Top row (l-r) James Etta Huddleston McClendon and Grace Huddleston Vandergift. Bottom row (l-r) Nancy Ann Huddleston Benton, Flora, and Martha Brunetta Huddleston Brewer. Photo ca. 1905.

Thomas' family consisted of his wife Sallie, daughter Alice Mae (b. 1901), Thelma (b. 1902), and Willy (William) (b. 1906). While living in Washita Township, another daughter Mary was born in 1907.

The next seven pictures were made either in Washita Township, Custer County, Oklahoma, or in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma, immediately west of there. Although both Benton families lived in Custer, the nearest town was apparently Hammon in Roger Mills County.

Sallie holding baby Mary and (l-r) Willy, Thelma, and Alice Mae. Photo ca. 1908

The sons of John Logan and Lemmie Benton, (by descending height) Virgil Leon (b. 1904, Fannin County, Texas), Otho Wren (b.1908, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma) and Euel Ray (b. 1910, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma). Picture ca. 1912. A daughter, Flora Jenetta, was born to the family in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma in 1914.

Thelma and Alice (third row back, third and fourth from left) and their school class. Photo ca. 1908

Children of Thomas Hart and Sallie Benton, ca. 1912. (l - r) Alice Mae, Mary, Thelma, and Willy

Around 1912, Thomas Hart Benton moved his family to the town of Francis in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, to the southeast of Custer County. While there, Sallie gave birth to two more sons, Varney Lavon and James Thomas. The family only remained in Francis a few years. By the time of the 1920 census, the Thomas Benton family and the John Logan Benton family were living in Okmulgee in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, north of Pontotoc County.

Alice and her new brother Varney, ca. 1913, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

Alice Mae Benton (my grandmother) at (about) 18. Photo ca. 1919. Probably taken in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma