An old ledger book discovered in a cabinet full of memorabilia at her mother's house has provided the inspiration for a recently published book, "The Late Sooner” by Sally Jadlow.
The ledger contained daily entries her great-grandfather Sanford Deering made in describing life in rural Missouri and his aspiration to make the Land Run of 1889 to claim land in what would become Oklahoma.
By selecting items from the ledger and researching historical events related to the item, Jadlow has been able to bring life to her ancestor's story.
Readers are able to empathize when circumstances make it impossible for the family to participate in the land run and the elation of coming into the territory three months after the run and still being able to find unclaimed land.
Jadlow has been able to describe many hardships the early Oklahoma settlers encountered, ranging from the desolation, trying to build suitable living accommodations, drought and the shortage of food for families and animals.
The 214-page, softcover book is available for $16.95 plus shipping from Roots and Branches Publishing, P.O. Box 2819, Denton, TX 76202 or at AWOCbooks.com. The book is also available at local bookstores.
•Pat Hutchens Isbell would like to correspond with researchers interested in the Anson Troy Davidson family. Isbell said someone in the Oklahoma City area contacted her mother, Marie Davidson Hutchens, several years ago concerning the Davidson family. Hutchens died in 2003.
Anson Troy Davidson and his wife moved to Braggs before statehood. They had three daughters and a son, Jeff. Davidson was a brakeman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Jeff, Isbell's grandfather, died in Van Buren, Ark., in 1931.
Isbell would like to share additional research. For more information, call Isbell at (918) 287-5692.
•Margaret Charlston, 54 High St., Blandford, Dorset DT11 7NQ, is searching for the descendants of George Colton and Elsie Gabrielle Royallminns.
Elsie's parents left England for the United States in 1892, and she was born in New York in 1901. George Colton married Elsie, and the couple had three children: Bruce M., born August 1922; George R., born July 1924; and Elizabeth, born 1926.
George Colton Sr. died in Oklahoma City in 1964. If you have information about this family, e-mail Charlston at Charlies@hithere.fsbusiness. co.uk.
If you have a question, event, idea or an experience you wish to share, e-mail Sharon Burns at sburns@oklahoman. com.
