Happy birthday, Ma! It was another Oklahoma tornado week.

My grandparents, Harold and Marie (Barham) Baker aka "Brother and Sister Baker" aka "Bake and Ma", cir 1964

 

Well, it is your first birthday in Heaven and I know you are relieved you don't have to go through the process of acting excited when you opened your presents.  You were a great actress.

Those new arrivals from Oklahoma on Sunday and Monday were due to those wild Oklahoma tornadoes that swept our state yet again.

I know you and Bake were excited to get some new church members.  I can hear you guys laughing and clapping upon their arrival.  Those sweet little children will be so thrilled to be in your children's church.  I can see the joy on their faces when they learn new songs and listen to your very animated Bible stories. 

What a fun VBS you guys are going to have this summer.

 

Love you, Ma.

Territory Mom

 

OKStrong

Newsok.com

 

Happy Birthday to My Mom

Here she is with Miracol on her face during a slumber party.  Merle Norman was new back then.  That is a roll away bed to the right.  To me they were so comfortable.

 

Here she is with a friend looking pretty as always.

 

On a picnic with her aunt and mom.  I think they stopped to eat on their way to a revival.

 

Here she is with her grandma, Mama Baker, her aunts and cousins.  Someone got in trouble for scribbling on this photo.  Did your grandma have a cloth picture of the Last Supper on her wall?

 

Here she is with her mom on Easter Sunday.  So pretty.

 

My mom shares her birthday with her great grandma, Mary Florence Webb Friels and her brother's first grandchild.  My uncle shares his birthday with my mother's first grandchild.  I know, so cool!  This is also the anniversary of her great grandparents, Charlie Dunn and Maggie Brashear Dunn. 

 

Family. 

 

Happy Birthday Mom!

Have a great day.

Love,

Me

 

For fun Check out my beautiful sister

My Grandpa's Birthday

From l to r:  C.H. Dunn, John Jackson Barham, Herman Paddock and Harold J. Baker

Source:  My California cousin

Today my grandpa (the preacher) Harold Jeff Baker would have been 94.  He was born on this day in 1918 in Loco, Oklahoma.  He called it "Loooooco".  His mother was a Friels and there were a lot of Friels in Loco.  Anyway, he died on April 20, 1998, which means my grandma has been in a very bad mood for 14 years now.

I was going to show you how he appeared on the 1940 census but Oklahoma is not available yet. 

This is how he appeared on the 1930 census:

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Name:	Harold Baker
Gender:	Male
Birth Year:	abt 1919
Birthplace:	Oklahoma
Race:	White
Home in 1930:	Loco, Stephens, Oklahoma
Marital Status:	Single
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Father's Name:	Jeff Baker
Father's Birthplace:	Texas
Mother's Name:	Ida Baker
Mother's Birthplace:	Oklahoma

Household Members:	Name Age Jeff Baker 36 Ida Baker 36 Harold Baker 11 Harshel Baker 10 Retha Baker 4 [4 10/12] Dimples Baker 2 [2 4/12] Florence Friel 66

A few more children showed up after 1930.  Until all of the 1940 census records are uploaded you can check out this map on Ancestry.com with photos from the era.

Also here is a link to my other posts about Baker/Friels birthdays and family.  It is only interesting if you are related to me or just like old photos.

Have a great day and happy birthday, Bake.

Love,

Territory Mom

Windshield Oklahoma - Happy Birthday Oklahoma!

Today the great state of Oklahoma is 104 years old.  I guess with the recent earthquakes it is her way to complain about her age.  She needs to settle down and stop complaining so much.  I mean she looks good for her age.  This is what she looks like in my neck of the woods:

We have been friends for 46 years now.  Over the years we have grown very close.  She is my refuge.

Happy birthday dear friend.

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

This week was Grandpa's birthday.  All the kids love Grandpa.  They love just hanging out with him.  Redbird calls him the funniest grandpa ever.  When Rooster is having a bad day he tells me, "I need to see grandpa."

He can do great things even have a conversation with someone while a kid is on his lap acting like a monkey.

He'll loan you money if you need it or take you to the Sonic for a footlong cheese coney.  Yummy!!!!

Last Christmas my nephew gave him money for Christmas, so cute!!!

  He fixes bikes and in his shed are many bikes of all sizes.  No matter what your size he always has a bike for you to ride.

You can talk to Grandpa about anything.  Here, Redbird is explaining that that bull is wanting to breed that cow.  Grandpa, just said, "yeah, I think you're right".

Happy birthday, Grandpa!

Love,

Territory Mom

My Explanation of Angelina's Newest Tatoo

Do you know the coordinates of all the places you have lived?  Yeah, me too!

No doubt you have heard about Angelina's newest tatoo.  At least the newest one at the time of this post.  This is one is Brad Pitt's birthplace, Shawnee, OK, but I'm looking at it and I think that is not Shawnee, OK.  I wrote about it here, but since it is Oklahoma related I needed to give you more information.

The coordinates for Shawnee, Oklahoma are:  35° 20′ 33″ N, 96° 56′ 2″ W.  Well that is not what is on her arm.  That is because Ms. Jolie is very percise in her tatoos of her loved ones.  Brad Pitt was born in Shawnee but the coordinates of his birthplace is the old ACH hospital in Shawee:

ACH Hospital, Shawnee, OK

The coordinates for Brad's actual "birthplace" are:  N 35° 19.726 W 096° 55.397, which is what is on Ms. Jolie's arm.  In fact I think it is the 3rd window on the left, 2nd floor.  Just in case you wanted to pay homage.

ACH Hospital was built during the oil boom in the 1920's by three area doctors (Anderson, Carson and Hughes).  It was Shawnee's only hospital from 1929 and 1967.  It is located on 9th and Bell, in downtown Shawnee.  To the left of it is the old Aldridge Hotel which is now Aldridge Apartments and a very elegant place to live.  Oh, it is also haunted.

  Also both are across the street from Shawnee's Masonic Temple.  There are some good photos of these buildings on Google Maps.

 For more information about Shawnee check out:

ShawneeOK.org 

VisitShawnee.com

Mabee Gerrer Musuem of Art

I just have to say thanks to Ms. Jolie for putting Oklahoma on her arm.

Have great day and stay safe. 

 We are in for it today because of the weather forecast.

If you don't have a weather radio check out the National Weather Service or your local tv and radio stations. 

 Stay alert!!!

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthday Roy Clark!!

Yesterday was Roy Clark's birthday.

He was born on April 15, 1933.

I bet you thought he was born in Oklahoma.  I did.  He was born in Virginia and raised on Staten Island, NY.  He has lived in Oklahoma so long that he is considered an "Okie."

Just this past Wednesday he was named Oklahoma's Music Ambassador for Children and we have the Roy Clark Elementary School in Tulsa, OK.

I grew up watching Hee Haw and loved every minute of it.  I still like watching the reruns.  By the way there is a pair of Hee Haw overalls on ebay but it will set you back, $45.00!

He sang his hit song, Yesterday When I Was Young at his dear friend, Mickey Mantle's funeral.

It is beautiful and timeless just like Roy.

Happy birthday Roy, we love you.

Territory Mom

P.S. for info about our recent weather, go here

4 Birthdays and a Funeral - The Preacher, A Farmer, America's Sweetheart, Maverick and A Cowboy Singer

The Preacher

Harold Jeff Baker

1918-1998

Saturday, April 2nd was my grandpa's birthday.  He would have been 93 years old.  The above photo was taken in the 1960's, but he always looked the same.  No matter if it was the 50's or the 90's he always looked the same age, seasoned.

The Preacher and his Lady

On the back of this photo it states:

Preaching at Oklahoma Indian Camp Meeting, 1965

Happy birthday Bake!!!

John Jackson Barham

April 7, 1890 - April 1, 1964

Today is John's birthday.  He was my grandma's father (my grandma pictured above).  You can read more about John here.

America's Sweetheart

Doris Day

Ms. Day turned 88 on April 3rd.  What a beautiful lady, wonderful actress, great singer and animal activist.  All of her movies are great.  I have an aunt Jeri who looks just like her.  You can click on her name of above to go to her official website.

  Ms. Day is not from Oklahoma. I just like her.  She did star with Gordon McRae in Starlift and McRae starred as Curly in the movie version of Oklahoma.  She also starred with Howard Keel in Calamity Jane and Mr. Keel starred as Curly in the Broadway production of Oklahoma.  So, that makes her an Okie twice removed.

From Mover Over, Darling

Isn't she cute.  She was 40 years old when she made this fun movie with the wonderful, James Garner.

They also starred together in The Thrill of It All.

 Maverick

Today is James Garner's birthday.  He was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928 in Norman, OK.  His father was a carpet layer.  His mother who was half Cherokee died when he was only 5 years old.  He didn't have an easy childhood.  You can read about it here.

As a child of the 1970's I loved the The Rockford Files.  Watching James Garner every week in action was great for any kid or adult.  He's so cool even when he played the grandpa in 8 Simple Rules.  In one episode of the show after returning from watching Bridget in a play he says, "it was worth missing The Rockford Files."  He would be cool even if he wasn't an Okie.  I just love him.

Mel McDaniel

Sept 6, 1942 - March 31, 2011

Photo:  Bam'sBlog -Newsok.com

We lost Mel McDaniel last week to cancer.  On Bam's Blog she announced that a public memorial for Mr. McDaniel is scheduled for April 13th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

McDaniel was born in Checotah but was raised in Okmulgee where he was known as the "Pride of Okmulgee".

He was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006 along with Leon Russell.

This song is so Oklahoma. 

Remember if you have ever go to a Wednesday night testimony service you do not have to stand up and testify everything.  Some things are better left between you, God and your hairdresser.

Mel,

we will miss you.

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthday Lucky!!!

Lucky, my warrior pony

He was born 4 years ago on St. Patrick's Day.  I remember it was a very cool Satuday evening.  I looked out the kitchen window and saw his mother, Reba acting strange.  My heart jumped to my throat and I couldn't get the words out.  I just grabbed boots and jackets for my kids and we ran outside.

We could see something happening from a distance.  I held my daughter up so she could see over the fence.  I knew immediately that it was a paint.  I was so excited and then we waited until this little miracle got to his feet.

Then came the tears of joy.  We were laughing and crying at the same time.  It was the best St. Patrick's Day ever.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

Lucky and his brothers.

Happy birthday Lucky!

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthway Margaret Evelyn

I found this photo in my great grandma's old cigar box and I asked my grandma, "who is this little girl"?  That's Margaret Evelyn.  So, I ask, "who is Margaret Evelyn"?  I wish you could hear my grandma's scratchy voice when she yells, "she's Roscoe's DAUGHter".  Like I was supposed to know this already.

Anyway, she is my grandma's cousin, the daughter of my grandma's uncle Roscoe Blaine Dunn and Esther Jackson Dunn.  She was born in 1931 and over the weekend Margaret Evelyn turned 80 years old.

Isn't she lovely?

She is named after her two grandmas, Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear Dunn and Minnie Evelyn Jackson.  Her mother died when she was very young and she and her brothers were sent to live with Roscoe's sister, Ruth Evelyn Dunn Paddock and her husband Herman in Oklahoma.

Margaret, Lawrence, Aunt Ruth and Harold traveling from Comanche, OK to New Mexico so Ruth could preach the gospel.

(Not pictured: CH and David Dunn)

Margaret's family gave her a surprise birthday party on Sunday.  Her son read this article from an old Ann Landers column to her:

What a legacy: Aging without Complaint

Dear Ann Landers: Here is an old clipping of a prayer from your column. It has yellowed with age, but has enduring wisdom that can help another generation of readers.

 Please run it again. ----F.W. in Worcester, Mass.

Dear Worcester: That piece is at least 25 years old, but it is still filled with insight. Thank you sending it on. Here it is, for "another generation."

Please God

My Children are grown now, and I have wonderful grandchildren. I love them all, but please, God, let me remember that I have lived, loved and enjoyed this life. Do not let me take away from their enjoyment by complaining about every ache and pain. I have earned them all.
Please keep me from mentioning my swollen joints, stiff knees, poor eyesight and anything else that isn't as good as it once was. Let me remember that I have enjoyed a full and wonderful life, and have been blessed in so many ways. Now is not the time for me to begin complaining.

Please let my mouth be closed while my ears are open to hear the fun they are having. Let me remember that I am still setting an example for them, and that if I keep quiet, they will forever think that I never had a single ache or pain in my life, and that I miraculously escaped the ills of old age.

They will, in later years, remember me with pleasure and say, "I wish I had her genes. She never had anything wrong with her!"
That, dear Lord, will be the best legacy I can leave them.

A beautiful legacy began when Margaret Evelyn was born in 1931.  Other historical events from 1931 can be found here.

The Empire State Building was completed in 1931.

Born in 1931:  James Earl Jones, Hope Lange, Larry Hagman, Regis Philbin, Oklahomans, Mickey Mantle and Billy Vessels.

 Also born in 1931:  Angie Dickinson, William Shatner, James Dean, Olympia Dukakis, Leonard Nimoy, and Robert Duvall.

For other famous birthdays from 1931 go here.

If I hadn't started this blog I would have never known Margaret Evelyn.  Her son contacted me after reading this post.  Now we are all friends on Facebook and I can wish Margaret Evelyn a happy birthday.
Happy grandma's day.
Love,
Territory Mom

It's Her Birthday Too-Gwen Guthrie

Today, of course is Woody Guthrie's birthday.  To commerate his birthday the 13th Annual WoodyFest begins today in Okemah, OK, go here for more information.

It is also another Guthrie's birthday.
Gwen Guthrie was born on this day in 1950 also in Okemah, OK, however she was raised in Newark, New Jersey.
Some websites have her birthday as July 9, but others like FindAGrave have it as July 14th.

If you are familiar with the disco/dance era of the 1970's and 80's then you have heard of Ms. Guthrie.  She was a R&B singer/songwriter.  Her biggest hits were a remake of The Carpenter's "Close to You" and "Ain't Nothin Goin on but the Rent".  Ms. Guthrie was an elementary school teacher when she got a job singing backup for Aretha Franklin when her of the singers became ill.  She then went on to sing jiggles with her friend Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson. 

Also, an extremely talented songwriter she wrote Roberta Flack's hit song "God Don't Like Ugly" and several songs for Sister Sledge, including their first hit, "Love Don't Go Through No Changes"
Wow, what a powerhouse and she was born in little ole Okemah, Okfuskee County, OK.
Ms. Guthrie died from cancer on February 3, 1999.  I haven't found any information about her family but maybe someone will read this and share their information.
Happy Birthday, Ms. Guthrie!!!
Love,
Territory Mom





Other sources: Afroamericansyndicate.com

Happy Birthday, Maggie!!!

Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear was born on this day, November 17th in 1869 to Walter W. Brashear and Nancy W. Brewer, in Pope County, Arkansas. She had two half sisters from her father's first marriage to Mary Rackley. They were, Sarah M. Brashear who married Wiley Duvall and Amanda Melvina Brashear who married Henderson Pigg. She had six other sisters; Mary Elizabeth "Bettie" Brashear, married A.C. Bowden, Victoria, married Sinclair Perry, Martha Lou, married R. Hannibal Vaughn, Ursula Evelyn, married William J. Chronister, Lillian, who never married, she died at the age of 18, and Mamie H., married Elton Lewellen(he died tragically, not far from where I live now) then she married Ralph Vassaur. Maggie also had seven brothers, Mortimer M., died at age 3, Lincoln, died at age 2, Adam C., married Joanna Burris, Howell, died at birth, Burgess Ford Brashear, (a mystery, left home and moved to Canada before 1900), Rev. David Warren , married 1st Ruth Beesley and 2nd Sarah Johnson, Rev. Thomas L. "Tommy", married 1st Della Ennis and 2nd, Amanda "Mandy" Barham Maggie married Charles Henry "Charlie" Dunn on September 26, 1886. They had nine children; Maudie Velma, married Weldon Wright, Chester, died at birth, Nancy Pearl Emily, married John Jackson Barham, Ruth, married Herman Paddock, Mamie F., married Charles H. Barnett, Homer, married Ruth Jackson, Roscoe Blaine, married 1st, Esther Jackson and 2nd, Theola ________ Burgess, (I can't remember his wife's name, sorry), and Charles, Jr., died at 5 months of age

Kinder Cemetery

Maggie died from pneumonia on Feb. 27, 1905, two weeks after Charles, Jr. was born. She was only 34 years old. She is buried in Kinder Cemetery, located on Pope Mountain, Pope County, AR.

This is her grave, She is buried with her sons, Chester and Charles, Jr. The grave behind hers is her parents.

Happy Birthday, Maggie

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthday Sis!!!!

On the day she was born my grandpa said, "Miss America was born today", and he was right.

Happy birthday sis!!

Love,

Territory Mom

aka your sis and biggest fan

It's Papa Baker's Birthday

David Jefferson Baker

This is Papa Baker. He was born David Jefferson Baker on this day in 1893 in Montague County, Texas. He was the oldest child of Thomas Jefferson Baker and Melissa Ann Ramsey Baker. His grandparents were Moses Jefferson Baker and Amanda Melugin Baker and David Crockett Ramsey, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Lambert Ramsey.

He had an older half brother, James L. Baker from his father's first marriage. There may have been more children who died during an epidemic when the family lived in Missouri. After Thomas J. Baker's first wife and their children died he moved with his surviving son to Texas where he met Melissa Ann Ramsey. They married and had four sons and two daughters.

In 1908 when Papa Baker was 15 his father died. His mother remarried and had a daughter. At sometime Papa Baker moved to Oklahoma and the rest of the family followed. I'm not sure why or when they moved. On August 4, 1914, David J. Baker married Ida Leona Friels in Ringling, OK. They had three sons and three daughters.

Papa Baker also had a younger half brother when his mother married again in Oklahoma. Melissa died in 1925. The notes I have indicate that the photo at the right was taken the day of her funeral.

Papa Baker was sweet man and had a great sense of humor. One time when a tornado hit he and Ida's home in Ratliff City, OK it took the roof off their bedroom while they were sleeping. They just got up and went to bed in another bedroom.

Papa Baker was a farmer, rancher and oilfield contractor. He died on a Sunday morning on August 15, 1971 in the Healdton Hospital. His funeral was at the Assembly of God Church in Graham and the burial at Dixie Cemetery, Dixie, OK.

Happy birthday Papa Baker.

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthday John - You Look Good for 119!!

This is John Jackson Barham. He is my great grandfather and Ma's father. He was born on this day in 1890 in Russellville, Arkansas to Thomas Franklin Barham and Theodora Hazeltine Willis. His grandparents were Andrew Jackson Barham and Margaret Russell and John Watson Willis and Susanna Couch.

He was engaged to be married a girl when Pearl Dunn spotted him walking across the street in Russellville. Pearl was working as a typesetter for the Russellville Democrat at the time. She saw this tall, dark and handsome man. She set her eyes on him and they were married a short time later. After the birth of their first child in 1912, John and Pearl moved to Comanche, Oklahoma because Pearl wanted to farm. John and Pearl had 5 daughters and 2 sons. One son, Z.T. died at birth.

In 1920, John graduated from the Oklahoma City Automobile School to be a mechanic. Ma still has her father's diploma from the school.

Pearl died in 1955 and John in 1964. They are buried at the Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche, OK.

Ma loved her dad. She said he was a quiet man. He gave all his children nicknames. Ma's nickname was "slants".

Happy Birthday John and Happy Grandma's Day,

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthday Dora!!!

Theodora Hazeltine Willis Barham is my great great grandmother and today she would have been 142 years old. She was born on this day in 1867 in Johnson County, Arkansas to John Watson Willis and Susanna Couch.

She married Thomas Franklin Barham on October 17, 1886 in Johnson County, Arkansas. They made their home in Atkins, Pope County, Arkansas and that is where they are buried. Their children were:

John Jackson Barham m. Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn

Willie L. Barham m. Mertle ?

Willis C. Barham m. Mary/Maxie Garrigus

Amanda Barham m. Tommy Brashear

Lilly Mae Barham m. Andrew Kinder

Marie Barham m. Shadel and Fields

Margaret Eliza Catherine Barham m. Alex Oakland Vest

Doris Barham, m. Meredith and Barnes

Dora loved her maiden name, Willis, that is why she named one son Willie and another Willis.

She was a member of the hardshell Baptist church. I was trying to find this church in Atkins when my sister told me that it is a Baptist denomination not the name of the church. Hardshell Baptist groups were mainly in the Appalachia's in the 19th century and still exist. Abraham Lincoln's religious training as a child occurred in the Hardshell Baptist churches. Hardshell is similar to Primitive Baptist.

Now when my Ma was a child and her family would visit her grandparents, Dora always wanted to watch her granddaughters dance. She would turn on the Victrola and the girls would dance around. Then when Dora would see Tom coming home for lunch she would turn off the music real fast and make the girls sit still. They would behave like little ladies until Tom went back to work then Dora would turn up the music again. A hardshell Baptist who loved to watch her granddaughters dance. Another complicated woman in my family.

Happy birthday Dora!!!

Love,

Territory Mom