Hello List, I am glad I found and joined this list. I have learned quite a lot from the interesting posts and feel some of you may be able to enlighten me in my search. For many years I have been searching for the background and history of my Grandmother's family. All knowledgables that were living never knew, or knew and weren't telling....now they are all gone. Yet, I have oral story clues and some data I've ferreted over the years. I was raised in Oklahoma, and my family roots are deep there, but it will be sometime before I can visit the places they lived and check out records, in the meantime I have been researching online for about 4yrs. I am researching SMITH, COVINGTON and HUFF. Ruffus SMITH b.? d.? married Molly (Mollie) HUFF in Tarrant Co. TX abt 1870 Children: *Effie b. abt 1873 Tarrant Co.TX. d. 6 Mar 1958 Wynnewood, Garvin Co. OK m. Thomas Jefferson COVINGTON b. abt 1855 d. 1931 in Powell, Garvin Co. OK. *Mattie m. Mr. RUCKER *Ada married several times *Jack m. Alice Martha KATES Rufus Smith was buried in Murray Co. they moved his grave before the filling of Lake Texoma. Mollie Huff-Smith lived out her life in Roff, Potontac Co. OK Rufus served on the Confederate Indian Forces. He got captured, and was to be hanged.Mollie road all night with an important indian said to be a relative to save Rufus from the hangman's noose. I have been recently told there is a History of Oklahoma book ( I don't know which one) with a photograph of several indian Chiefs posing together, and it was pointed out to Archibald (Unc.Archie) Covington the Chief that saved his grandfather's life. Jack Smith and Alice Kates-Smith lived in Roff and Rosedale, Potontac Co.OK While living in north Texas Effie heard news that Indian Land claim hearings where to be held in Muskgoee, OK. She convinced husband Tom to take her to Muskogee to file an indian land claim about 1909. Her claim was entered and rejected. Family story: During the court proceedings in Muskogee, the Huff brothers, upset over the Judges proceedings, rode their horses into the court room discharging their pistols..the Judge retreated out the back door. Reconvening the next day,the Judge gaveled down Effies land claim. Rufus SMITH: #24917 - Guion Miller Roll. Mollie HUFF: Dawes Roll - Census Card #R737 ( I believe the R is for Rejected) Effie (SMITH) COVINGTON: #20363 - daugt. of Mollie Huff-Smith. Applicant on the Guion Miller Roll. She listed Georgia as state of origin. Covington's were originally from GA. ============= Effie SMITH b. abt 1873 Tarrant Co.TX. d. 6 Mar 1958 Wynnewood, Garvin Co.OK m. Thomas Jefferson COVINGTON b. abt 1855 d. 1931 in Powell, Garvin Co. OK. Thomas Jefferson Covington came from GA with his brother James ('Jim') to Tyler, TX abt 1870. Thomas was an early day, deputy marshall in Indian Territory Oklahoma. He either served under the juristiction of 1) Judge Issac C. Parker's Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith, Arkansas, OR 2) Federal District Court in Paris, Texas. In Ardmore, Indian Territory OK about 1889 -1890, he met and married Effie Smith. She was his second wife. First wife Unknown-Children Unknown Children of Thomas Jefferson Covington and Effie Smith: *Edna Maybel b. 28 Mar 1894 d. 27 Nov 1986 m. Claude Marion Shawbell,SR. on 20 Sep 1913 by Justice of Peace, Walter Beard on the Beard Farm, near Wynnewood (formerly Walner Township), Garvin Co., OK. *Robert Archibald b. 8 Aug 1895 d. Jul 1979 m. Stella BELL b. 10 Oct 1899 d. 1981. *Eulalia 'Lalia' b.19 Apr 1898 d. Dec 1987 m. Ellis BELL b. 1895 d. 1935 2nd Husb. Bruce WHITAKER. Thanks, Claude in AZ Pls Visit: <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/ciiisiii/claudesgenealogy/claude.htm">Claudes Genealogy Page</A>