I thought this was interesting and would be enjoyed by the group. Perhaps someone can help Pat find more about her ancestors. Article, Canadian Sands Newspaper, Sept. 1998 Vol. 2 No. II A publication containing news of the Byars, Macomb, Lexington, Wanette, Tribbey and Asher areas. (I believe all these towns fall into Pottawatomie Co., OK) Neighbors Section, page 14 By Beverly Bostick Some people have to do a bit of leg work to get starting tracing their family tree. All Pat STRICKLAND had to do is take a walk near her back yard. That�s where her family�s cemetery is, with the first tombstone dating back to 1880. That tombstone is of William CHISHOLM, the son of pioneer Jesse CHISHOLM. The Cemetery has been used as recently as June. "It�s been in my family since 1863," Mrs. STRICKLAND said of her property. "It was out of the family a few years, but not very much." Her property came into the family through Julia McLISH, a Chickasaw, who married William CHISHOLM, she said. Mrs. STRICKLAND explained that the Chickasaw�s were among the last Civilized Tribes to be moved to Oklahoma (Indian Territory) and they were given part of the Choctaw�s land. CHISHOLM had not long to live when he married Julia McLISH, though it was long enough to father seven girls and a boy - a boy who was born after CHISHOLM�s death, Mrs. STRICKLAND said. Julia (McLISH) CHISHOLM died three years later and no one knows what became of some of the children. "That�s what I�m trying to find out, especially about the boy," Mrs. STICKLAND said. One of the children, however, grew up to be Mrs. CHISHOLM�s grandmother. (I believe this should read Mrs. STRICKLAND�s grandmother) "My grandmother, mother and I were all born on this place," Mrs. STRICKLAND said, adding that her grandmother was born in a log house that preceded the two-story house which Mrs. STRICKLAND still lives. But her grandmother managed to raise 14 children in addition to the six she bore. Relatives died, leaving her with some of the additional children to raise. "In that day and time, women didn�t live very long," she said. Another couple was visiting when the woman gave birth and died in the effort, Mrs. STRICKLAND said. "The man left and didn�t come back until the child was 14," she said. Stories passed down from generation to generation, research and pictures traded with a distant cousin from California have kept the family�s story alive for Mrs. STICKLAND. Mrs. STRICKLAND lived on the property when she was a young girl, then moved about a 1 mile south. She moved back once and stayed for about five years. She moved back for good about 25 years ago, taking care of her mother until she died about four years ago at the age of 96. A housewife, Mrs. STRICKLAND was married to Royce STRICKLAND and had two children, Raedean McGRUDER, a nurse at Mission Hill Hospital, and Paul MITCHELL, who lives near Arcadia Lake, OK. Picture 1. Tombstone of JULIA A. CHISHOLM died Nov 30 1883 Aged 37 Yrs (On the front page of newsletter) Picture 2. Picture is the house in which Pat STRICKLAND and her mother were born. Mrs. STRICKLAND�s grandmother was born on the property in another structure that collasped about 1972. (This picture of house is much older than 1972 - mgp) On the Cover: Pictured is the family cemetery on Pat STRICKLAND�s property in which about 60 family members are buried. The monument in the center is that of Julia McLISH CHISHOLM, and the slab behind her monument covers the remains of her husband, William CHISHOLM. CHISHOLM was the son of pioneer trail- blazer Jesse CHISHOLM. The cedar tree pictured was planted by Julia CHISHOLM when her husband was buried there in 1880. (If someone would like for me to contact Pat, please email me regarding her family history. Thanks, Melinda Pennington