Jackson Co., OK - History: John Wesley Chism ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Sam Brown USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** The following article was taken from the Altus Times Democrat edition of March 25, 1938. JUST RAMBLING AROUND Personal Observations By: Drew B. Thomas The study of the career of each pioneer settler of Old Greer county is history, stranger than fiction. Some few have made a success, many have failed. Just drive five and a quarter miles east of Altus on highway 62 and you are at the beautiful farm home of John Chism Here you find one of the regular old wood hauling, rabbit eating pioneer settlers, who has made a success of farming. In spite of depression, recession and drouths, he is still making a success of his business. But let us trace this man's career and see just what it takes to make a success. Mr. Chism attributes his success to hard work, putting in one-half of his time attending to his own business and one-half of his time leaving the other fellow's business alone. HERE IN 1888 It was in March 1900, just 38 years ago, we drove a gocheared pony, hitched to a two-wheel cart up to this home which was then a two room box house; however, it was the best the country afforded at that time. A few trees had been planted, sheds for stock had been created and John was making some headway in the development of this grand country; and let us remember that no surplus money grew on bushes in those days and a dollar was hard to get. John was then a young man being born in Limestone County, Texas, July 21, 1876, coming to this country in November, 1888. He was married and at the time of our visit at this home 38 years ago, had a wife, two small children, a fairly good wagon and team and had wagered fourteen dollars with Uncle Sam that he could live on this farm for five years and not starve. If he succeeded in staying the five years he should have a clear deed, otherwise his fourteen dollars was gone and he had no land. GOT BY MARSHALL But he had a determination to win this bet. As all pioneers, wood and post was essential to the onward march of progress and the Indian reservation was the only place that wood and post could be obtained and this was risky business as the United States marshall often swooped down on the honest hard working settlers and when one was caught it meant a trip to Anadarko, El Reno or Guthrie, where an explanation had to be made to a hard-hearted judge who usually said "ten days for silent meditation behind prison bars." John, however, was lucky and managed to get plenty of wood and posts for his own use and some to spare which he readily sold to those with conscientious scruples and others who did not care to take the risk of explaining things to a judge. CLOSE CALL On one occasion he came dangerously near catching a whole gang of marshalls. Going in quest of posts he drove up to the place where the marshalls had just caught some honest hard-working man with a load of posts on his wagon. They had made this gentleman unload his posts and had taken him to their camp while they rounded up others for a trip to see what the judge had to say. As John looked on this load of posts he reached the conclusion that if he did not get them himself someone was certain to steal them, so to keep temptation from his fellow man he loaded the posts on his wagon. He then discovered the marshall's camp at a distance. Detecting the sight of marshalls he quickly drove his wagon behind a bluff and watched to see what would happen next. The weather was warm, the hours passed slowly. Then as the sun was sinking low the marshalls broke camp and headed towards Guthrie with a number of settlers who were to tell their tale of woe to a heartless judge. John, with a sigh of relief, headed for home with as good a load of posts as was ever hauled off of any Indian reservation. By this time the country is all settled up. Cotton is a staple crop and when the farmers's crop is gathered he has eight bales of the fleecy staple which he sells for eight cents per pound. REARED SEVEN CHILDREN Then came the railroad. The Indian reservation was opened to settlement, the wood hauling day is over and the real pioneer days have ended. The contrast of today and 38 years ago is marvelous. Then, the only traffic which is now highway 62 was someone on horseback or a wood wagon coming from or going to the Indian reservation. As we speed out in our gas wagon over the paved Highway 62, we stopped for a brief visit at the home we had visited 38 years ago. And here is what happened... A family of seven children has been reared and educated, five girls and two boys, the youngest son, remains at home. His children are somewhat scattered and live at Sayre, Elk City, Norman, Chickasha and at Eagle Pass, Texas. Sure there have been days of sorrow and heartache. Some years ago his wife, who had shared the joys and sorrows passed away, then some two years ago he married again. His wife says at no time has John been angry in these two years, however she takes the precaution to keep plenty of smoking tobacco on hand. MODERN HOME Well, let us ramble around the place and see what we find. The first is a modern bungalow home, equipped with all modern conveniences, frigidaire, delco lights and radio. On the outside we find a large comodius barn with a half dozen fine Jersey milk cows. You will find the milk house with cream seperator, a number of fat hogs stand ready to consume the skimmed milk, while the cream is sold daily. Then there is a nice flock of White Leghorn hens which contribute to the daily income. Then you see a row of small houses this is the brooder house, where one thousand baby chicks have just been fattened out, some eight hundred have just been sold, the others fine and fat are ready for the market. You will find good work horses and farm implements with every foot of the 160 acre farm in a high state of cultivation. Then as you stand and watch the cars, busses and trucks speed by at the rate of one a minute and your mind wonders back to the early days you are astounded at the age in which we live and wonder what will happen next. Mr Chism thinks there is nothing for us to worry about, that each generation has had its problems and they have always been solved and the only things for us to do is to take care of today and tomorrow will care for itself. [NOTE: John Chism was buried in Altus May 19, 1967 at the age of 91.] Submitted by: Sam Brown, the grandson of John Wesley Chism ----------------------------------------------------------