Barham Siblings-Atkins, AR 1919

Descendants of Thomas Franklin Barham and Theodora "Dora" Hazeltine Willis Barham

Description with photo: 1919 Homeplace of Dora & T. F. Barham. Near what was the ball field in 1995, Atkins, AR

1^st Row-left to front -Very front- Boys – Berlin Kinder, s/o of Lillie Barham & Andrew Kinder, Haskell Vest s/o Eliza Barham & Alex O. Vest, Burgess Brashear, s/o Amanda Barham & Tommy Brashear.

2nd Row-Children including babies on laps - Marie Barham(Shadell Fields), d/o of Dora & T.F., Avis, d/o of Willie & Myrtle, Alta, d/o of Willie Myrtle, Johnnie Barham, d/o of Pearl Dunn & John Jackson Barham

3^rd Row – Myrtle Dalrymple Barham, Pearl Dunn Barham, Lillie Barham Kinder, Catharine Vest Young(little girl) d/o  Eliza & Alex Vest, Eliza Barham Vest, Amanda Barham Brashear holding Lucille Brashear Jackson

4^th row – Willie Barham holding Nola Barham, Willis Barham holding his sister, Doris Barham, John Jackson Barham with daughter Oleta behind him(hand on his shoulder), Andrew Kinder, the girl behind John & Andrew is Lila Kinder Gill, Alex Oakland Vest holding son, Coyne Vest, Violet Brashear Williams and Tommy Brashear, sitting on the end behind Amanda. 

Note: Tommy Brashear was Maggie Brashear Dunn's brother and Andrew Kinder was Charlie Dunn's 1/2 brother.

These are the three younger Barham sisters.

My grandma, Marie, Fay, and Ruth. Brother, Donald came along a few years later.

A few years ago a dear cousin from Arkansas emailed several photos to me. Many do not have a description. I will post the photos as often as I can. Hopefully, people can be identified. Since a Barham married a Kinder it could lead us to a photo of Emily Singleton Dunn Kinder.

Love,

Territory Mom aka Jill

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

The Aunt Mamies

The first Aunt Mamie

Mamie Brashear Lewallen Williams Vassuar

She was born on Pope Mountain near Atkins, AR on Oct 28, 1893 to Walter William Brashear and Nancy Brewer Brashear.  She died and is buried in Henryetta, OK.  She out lived all three of her husbands.  One of her daughters was a nurse stationed at Pearl Harbor and survived the attack of December 7, 1941.  Her sister was my great great grandmother, Maggie Brashear Dunn and she was the same age as my great grandmother, Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn Barham.

The second Aunt Mamie pictured here with her daughter, Dean, left and husband Charlie Barnett

She was also born on Pope Mountain on Jan 12, 1897 to Charles H. Dunn and Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear Dunn.  She died on July 9, 1971 in Comanche, OK.  She is buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche.  She owned a cafe in Comanche in late 1930's and 1940's.   She was also referred to as a "preacher woman".  I have a lot of those in my family.  You can read more about her, here.

Cousins, Inez (the 2nd Aunt Mamie's daughter) and my grandma, Mamie Marie

The third Aunt Mamie

My grandma, never went by her first name "Mamie" so technically she is "Aunt Marie".  As she got older she like her first name, Mamie and I know she loved both her Aunt Mamies.  I know her mother must have thought she looked like her Aunts and so it was fitting to name her Mamie Marie.  She was born in Comanche, OK to John Jackson Barham and Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn Barham.  Today she is knocking on heaven's door.  At 91 years old she is ready to go home.  My sister told me last night that she is so ready.  She has been for a long time.  I wrote about it, here.

She is the last of her sisters.  She still has one brother.  Here she is with three of her sisters:

Johnnie, Ruth, Marie and Fay

Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling . . .

 

Love,
Territory Mom

The Abduction of Maggie Brashear

Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear was bethrothed to Charles Henry "Charlie" Dunn.  The wedding was to take place on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Sept. 26, 1886.  Maggie's father, W.W. Brashear, Esq. was not going to let anything keep this wedding from taking place.  Afterall, Charlie Dunn was Emily Singleton Dunn Kinder's son.  Emily's brother, John Abel Singleton was married to W.W.'s sister, Mary and Emily's other brother, William Meredith Singleton was married to W.W.'s other sister, Missouri Margaret.  This was the family plan.  A few days before the wedding Maggie went missing.  Her father had an idea so he didn't wait for the law, actual he was the law.  W.W. had been the Justice of the Peace for 18 years.  He knew his farmhand had something to do with Maggie's disappearance.  This former POW and Assemblyman was not going to let anyone take his daughter.  He hitched up his team of horses and took off after the kidnappers.  He followed them to Marion County and brought Maggie home and her kidnappers to jail.  It is unclear if Maggie actually ran away with them, if it was prank or an abduction.  Based on Maggie's testimony during the trial the kidnappers were released Sept. 22, 1886 and she was married to Charlie Dunn four days later on September 26, 1886.

From the Russelleville Democrat:

 Sept. 22, 1886: The sensation in Moreland township over the abduction of Maggie Brashear by James K. Biffle and Ed Bowden continues to excite wonderment in that usually quiet community.  The runaways were followed to Marion County by the father of the young lady and returned home.  Today, the young men will be tried before Esq. Peck on the serious charge of abduction.

 Oct., 1886:  The trial of J.K. Biffle for the abduction of Maggie Brashear came off last week and we understand that Biffle was discharged from custody on the testimony of the youny lady.  Mr. Ed Bowden whose name has been connected with the case, was only a witness, and not an accomplice as stated last week.

Maggie only lived 19 more years after her marriage to Charlie Dunn.  She died at the age of 35 of pnenomia two weeks after her ninth child was born.  Her oldest child and daugther, Maudie married five months later and left Arkansas, each child soon followed.  Charlie died in 1923 in Ryan, OK.

No one returned to Arkansas.

The family living in a logging camp, cir. 1902

Maggie died in 1905

I am the 5th generation from the union of Maggie and Charlie.  It is going into it's 7th generation.

So this is the story of the abduction of Maggie Brashear at least the part we know.  The real story lives in the mountains of Arkansas.

Love,

Territory Mom

P.S.  I'm taking a break from blogging for awhile.  You can go here for my explanation.  I'll be back soon. 

125 Years Ago Today

125 years ago today, September 26, 1886, Charles "Charlie" Henry Dunn and Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear were married on Crow Mountain near the town of Atkins, Arkansas.  Charlie was 19 years old and Maggie was 16.  They were my great great grandparents.  Both of their families lived on Crow Mountain, which is absolutely beautiful.

  You can go here to view the flickr photostream of zormsk.  You can search "Crow Mountain" on his photostream to fall in love with the area.

This union almost didn't happen.

Maggie had spent the summer of 1886 in love and planning her wedding, but three days prior to her wedding Maggie was kidnapped and taken far into the Arkansas mountains.

To be continued on Wednesday.

Love,

Territory Mom

Oklahoma To Me - 31st Verse

John Jackson Barham and Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn Barham

Oklahoma to me . . .

is listening to your grandma tell stories

about her family pickin' cotton.

It always started the same way;

 "my dad never wanted to be a farmer, but my mother wanted a farm.  My dad was from the city.  My mom was from Pope Mountain.  When she married him she wanted to go to Oklahoma to farm, he never wanted to farm".

Soon after their first child was born in Arkansas they made their way to Oklahoma.  When they had to pick cotton my great grandma, Pearl would finish her row then she go to other end of John's row and continue pickin until they met, then onto the next row.

John eventually obtained his auto mechanic license, but on his death certificate his occupation is listed as "farmer".

Love,

Territory Mom

History of Cotton in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Cotton Council

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

The Rest of the Story - Part 2

Okay, back to the rest of the story.  For the girls at RHOK's McLinky Monday.

2. One of my grandmothers was traded by her father for a horse.

Charlie and Maggie Dunn & family, cir 1902

Yes, this is true.  It was my great grandmother, Nancy "Pearl" Emily Dunn Barham.  The Dunn family was living in a logging camp in Arkansas where Pearl's father, Charlie Dunn, was a logger.  Pearl's mother, Maggie Brashear Dunn died while living in the camp two weeks after the birth of her ninth child.  She died from pnemonia at the age of 35 on February 27, 1905.  Pearl was only 13 years old at the time.  Two months later, Pearl's older sister, Maudie got married.

The story my grandma tells me is that Charlie went crazy, drinking and everything.  I wish you could hear my grandma say, "drinking".  He traded Pearl to a man in the logging camp for a horse.  Pearl and this man got married, but it was never consumated.  My grandma always made it clear that it was never consumated.  When I was a girl I had to look up "consumated".

Pearl escaped from this man and went to Russellville.  She worked as a typesetter for the newspaper and the owner of the paper let her lived in a back room at the newspaper office.  After Pearl married my great grandfather, John Jackson Barham they left Arkansas and moved to Oklahoma.  Eventually all of the Dunn children left Arkansas and moved to Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.  None of them returned to Arkansas, too sad I guess.

Pearl left a memoir of her life, sadly it was lost years ago.  I bet it was good.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

 

P.S. If you are a family member who wants a copy of the above photo without the names, just email me.

Your Family's Strange Remedies - RHOK

PaPa Baker

After not blogging for a few weeks I am getting back in the saddle.  I was going to blog yesterday but things got off to a rocky start which means "turn off the computer".  We went to the garden to calm some nerves, then the baby calves got out, then it started raining, again.  After chasing kids and calves in the rain I finally gave up and went in the house.  Eventually, my husband came home because he got rained out so I knew he could get the calves in.  By the time he got home they were over at the neighbor's, he was not happy, but successful in getting the calves back.

So, today I'm hooking up the with Real Housewives of Oklahoma for McLinky Monday:  What is Your Strange Remedies?

My great grandma, Pearl would go out in the woods to gather plants to make all kinds of remedies but I don't know what they were.

My mom tells me that when one of kids or grandkids would start teething, my PaPa Baker (my great grandfather) would kill a rabbit and put the brains in a dish cloth then rub it on the child's gums (are you okay?).  This would keep the pain away.  Apparently if you survived this as a child he would take you snipe hunting when you became a teenager. 

When a storm was coming, my husband's Uncle John would throw an ax at the ground to split the storm clouds.  The storm would always go around them.

Oh, I almost forgot, when my grandma would change clothes she would cover her head with panties(clean ones) to keep her bee hive hairdo from messing up.  Wait until the AquaNet is dry before putting panties on your head.

I love family folklore.  Check out the RHOK for more strange remedies.

 

Love,

Territory Mom

My Favorite Sonic Menu Item

You guess it!!  Pickle-O's, deep fried pickles baby!!!  Sadly they are no longer on the Sonic menu.  Last I heard they were still on the menu in Jackson, MS and Texoma, OK.

However, there are two Facebook pages begging for the return of the Pickle-O.  You can also find a lot of request to bring back the Pickle-O on several blogs, so funny.  I was flipping through the channels recently and came across a special on the Food Network about fried foods.  The owner of SmashBurger was interviewed about having fried pickles on the menu.  He said it came from Oklahomans wanting it on the menu, go figure.

A few years ago I decided that since I could not get Pickle-O's anymore I would make my own so I found a recipe on the internet for fried pickles.  According to Wikipedia fried pickles were made famous by Fatman Austin at his Duchess Drive-In in Atkins, Arkansas and served every year at the Atkins Picklefest which was started by the Atkins Pickle Company.  I don't recommend making your own fried pickles because well their fried and well, its a very messy job.

Oddly, enough Atkins, Arkansas is one of the places where my people came from.  So, if you are related to me through the Brashear, Dunn, Barham or Willis lines you could easily be addicted to Pickle-O's like me, so beware of the fried pickle.

Have a great day and

Love,

Territory Mom

Not My Hands

My daughter gathers eggs every day, if possible.  We are working on a chicken coop so right now the eggs could be anywhere, but she always finds them.  She brought some to me and told me to make a cake with her eggs.  So I did.

As I was cracking the eggs in the bowl I noticed my hands.  They were not my hands.  I know what you are thinking, but they were not my mother's hands either.  It was almost surreal looking at my hands as they cracked fresh eggs.  Did they belong to my great grandmother?  Maybe.  She moved her husband and child to Oklahoma to be a farmer.  From what I understand it was her decision.  As you know they spent most of their lives in Comanche where my great grandma had a garden, cattle, chickens and always wore a white lace collar.  She gathered fresh eggs every morning and fed her chickens in the evenings.

Maybe Pearl was helping me make a cake for my family.  Thanks Pearl.

Happy Grandma's Day.

Love,

Territory Mom

Old School Photo?

My great grandma Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn Barham on the left

My grandma gave this picture to my mom a few years ago.  At the time she told us who the other people in the photo were, but we can not remember.  I thought at first it might be one of my grandma's sister and her beau, but I'm not sure.  The woman on the right could be the school teacher with another student.  She is wearing a wedding ring and it looks like they are looking at school books.

It was definitely taken in Arkansas because my great grandma was already married with one child when she moved to Oklahoma.

Old photos are kind of creepy.  Look at the boy or man under the building to the left.  Creepy. 

Let me know what you think.

Love,

Territory Mom

P.S.   This was my first post about my great grandma.

Two T.V. Shows Of Interest for Family Research Buffs

I received an email from Lisa Kudrow about a new tv show called, Who Do You Think You Are? 

Okay, if you are a member of Ancestry.com then you received a email from her too.  Anyway, NBC and Ancestry.com have partnered for this new show about celebrities and their family histories. If you have been watching the Olympics then you have already seen previews for the show.  It sounds interesting.  It will air on Fridays at 7:00 pm central on NBC, of course, beginning March 5th.

And

Don't forget Troy Dunn's show, The Locator.  The new season begins in March.  The show is usually on Saturday nights, but I'll let you know exact times when available.  Also, you can still enter the show's contest  until March 3rd, go here to enter and maybe you will win a trip to be reunited with a loved one. 

Enjoy!!

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

One Face of America

Nancy "Pearl" Emily Dunn Barham

She is my great grandma and one of the reasons I started searching for my roots

Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear Dunn

She is my great great grandma and she is the main reason I started searching for my roots.

They are the faces of America.  We all have a story and yours needs to be told.  You do not have to make it public but it is important to perserve your family history.

There is a new show called Faces of America on PBS where Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "explores the ancestry of 12 talented Americans".  The 2nd episode airs tonight on PBS at 7:00 pm. central.  You can watch the 1st episode online.  The show will on every Wednesday night until March 3rd. 

Enjoy.

Love,

Territory Mom 

She Went By "Fay"

Wilma Fay Barham

Wilma "Fay" Barham left this earth and went to heaven on December 13, 2009. She died in Portland, Oregon.  She was born in Comanche, OK to John & Pearl Barham.  Fay was their 6th child and their 5th daughter. According to old family notes her birthday was October 30, 1923.  In the 1940's she married Jim Damron and to this union three children were born.  She later married Ron Littler.  She is survived by her children, grandchildren, one sister and one brother.

I'm sorry to say that I do not have very much information about Fay.  She was my grandma's younger sister.  She was redheaded with blue eyes.  My grandma and her other sisters always told her she was adopted because she looked so different from them.  They were all dark skinned with dark eyes.  They were a little onry.  The last time I say Fay was about 10 years ago when she visited my grandma in Oklahoma.  It was around Valentine's Day and I had flowers sent to the both of them.  They were thrilled.  I'm so glad I did it.  This past October she threw herself a birthday party.  She was fun.

Good-bye Fay and we will see you soon.

Love,

Territory Mom

P.S.  If any family members have anything they want to add to Fay's Tribute, please let me know.  Also, any photos of her would be great.  Thanks

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

Negatives From An Old Kodak Brownie Camera

I received an email from my new found cousin and it stated, "I remembered I had some negatives from an old Kodak Brownie Camera". I was so excited. I'm all about the old photos.

Anyway, he had 99 negatives from the 1940's and 50's in a safety deposit box. He graciously had them developed and email them to me. Below are the first photos he sent me:

Cousins

l, Inez Smith and r, my grandma

When my grandma saw this picture she said, "Inez always had store bought dresses."

More cousins, my mom is in the center

The men folk: sitting: C.H. Dunn. L to R: John Barham(my great grandpa), Herman Paddock and Harold Baker (my grandpa)

This photo was taken before my grandpa became a preacher. He always looked the same age to me. Herman Paddock and his wife Ruth Dunn Paddock raised their niece and nephews. I spoke with one of the nephews and he called him "Dad" and said that "he was the greatest man to walk this earth". I don't think you can get a better compliment than that.

Happy Grandma's Day,

Love,

Territory Mom

When They Were Young

This is John & Pearl Barham when they were young. I think it was their engagement or wedding photo. The picture is in a frame and sits on a table in my grandma's house. I took a photo of the photo. I think it turned out okay.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

Old Family Photos

I have a new cousin in California. He found this blog by searching the Internet for old family names. He has been sending me old family photos that I'll share with you from time to time. Below are my great grandparents, John Jackson Barham and Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn Barham. It was their last formal portrait and everyone in the family should have a copy of it, but this one is unique to all the others.

John & Pearl Barham

On the back of this photo is my great grandma's handwriting. This will make my mom cry.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

Interview With An Okie - Troy Dunn, The Locator

Troy Dunn

Photo courtesy WEtv.com

I love the show, The Locator. I'm a family historian searching for my roots so I knew this show was for me. Then I find out that Troy Dunn graduated from Enid High School, well I love it even more, so much that I blogged about it back in March to let everyone know about the beginning of the 2nd season. The Locator's 3rd season begins Saturday, Sept. 12th at 8:00 pm. (central) and because I had blogged about the show I received an email from Katrina who works on the show. WEtv is scheduling a telephone conference with "a few key online voices" for a chat with Troy.

We had our chat this morning. It was me, Erika at Scrapbook Obsession http://scrapbookobsession.wordpress.com/ , Gina at The Clan McLeod http://dewgin.blogspot.com/ and the man himself, Troy Dunn. Oh, Katrina was on the line too. We all had to have two questions prepared and if there was time we could ask more.

Erika goes first. She asked very good questions about scrap booking and photos. Troy said how important it is to do scrapbooks for keeping memories alive. Photos are key and that he uses them to help transition the reunion. For instance if a parent has been separated from a child since they were a baby the parent still sees the child as a baby. He can show them a photo of how they look as an adult and it helps the reunion process. This was Erika and Troy's conversation so please go to her site for her intake.

Now at this point my son has had enough and he keeps asking, is that grandma? I shake my head no, is that grandma? I shake my head no, I want to talk to grandma.

Gina is next. Again great questions. One was about the amount of time Troy spends on a case. He said the shortest time was 6 1/2 minutes. The longest case that was solved was 8 years. Gina ask if Troy's job has brought him closer to his own family. My son starts yelling at this point and all I hear is that every person he has worked with feels like family. Please go Gina's site for a more eloquent version.

Okay, its my turn. Katrina lets him know I'm from Oklahoma.

Troy: Oklahoma! Where are you located?

Me: Near Okemah, the home of Woody Guthrie

Troy: Oh, yeah Woody Guthrie

I told him about my blog and about the fact that I have Dunn relatives he said that we might be related. He said his family is around the Pawnee area now. They had been in and around Talequah.

Me: I know you graduated from Enid H.S. were you born in Oklahoma (this is my first prepared question)

Troy: No, I was born in Topeka, KS. My dad's family is from Oklahoma and that's why we moved back which I'm glad because that's where my wife is from, Enid.

Me: Oh, she's an Okie too

Troy: Yes, her family goes back generations.

I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand because I knew that. I even blogged about his wife being from Oklahoma. Then I wander for a second. I want to know who his wife's people are, I bet they were in the Land Run. There's no time, stay focused.

My next prepared question:

Me: I cry every time I watch your show

Troy: Me, too

Me: Has there ever been a story that got to you emotionally and you thought I can't do this anymore?

Troy: Yes, every month for the last 17 years.

My beautiful son starts yelling at this point to get my attention I apologize and Troy says, "that's okay I have kids."

I think Troy said something about how supportive his wife is and there are times when he comes home and sits down and his wife just knows he was working on a tough case.

Then I sneaked a 3rd question.

Me: I love your mom

Troy: Me, too

Me: Are you ever going to feature your mom's story on the show?

Troy: That's a very good question. I don't know, it doesn't have a happy ending.

Then everyone got to ask one last question, but I didn't hear any of them.

My son was yelling and the more I "shh" him the louder he got. I went out on the back porch and he follows me. Then it finally occurs to me to my thumb over the receiver.

Then it's my turn:

Me: Have you ever been in a situation where you felt uneasy?

Troy: Pause

Me: Fearful?

Troy: You know I rely on my gut feeling. I rely on my wife and my mom. You know that woman's intuition.

At this point my son has thrown my notebook out in the yard. I hear my daughter yell, "Sissy's in the house", I had to bite my tongue so I wouldn't yell, "get that coonhound out of the house".

Then I see a pink cowgirl hat in the mud which would result in tears if I didn't act quickly.

So I think Troy said: You know a lot of the cases involved abuse and you don't want to put someone back in that situation.

I think at some point I did yell at my kids, "y'all be quiet I'm trying to talk on the phone". You know like when you are trying to tell a Bible story and you yell at your kids, "stop fighting so we can talk about Jesus".

I did tell Troy about a Dunn cousin who found my website. She had been kidnapped as a baby by her father and was not reunited with her mother until shortly before her mother died. Her mother had given her the family bible. He said how important a family bible can be, just the little lines in the front of a bible can provide so much information.

Then Troy graciously thanked everyone and told us how much he appreciates us (mommy bloggers) for getting the word out about the show.

I get off the phone and this is what I see sitting on my new chair,

She knows she is in trouble she wouldn't even look at the camera.

This was a great experience. Troy is a very gentle and fair man. It is very clear that he is doing what God put him on this earth to do. Please watch his show, The Locator. You will be blessed.

Love,

Territory Mom

http://www.wetv.com/the-locator/ P.S. Remember God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. I never would have thought I would get to talk to The Locator. We never know what God is up to. Thank you, Lord.