Marshall County, Oklahoma - George Mifflin Dallas Holford Biography --------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2000 by Olive Ruth Lynn Alexander okey11@home.com This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. -------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ HOLFORD, GEORGE MIFFLIN DALLAS George M.D. Holford was born on May 12, 1868, in Denton Co., Tx., at the home of his grandparents, Reverent Matthew and Harriet Holford. His father, Walter Alley Holford, was serving in the Confederate Army at that time and had left his bride his parents. When Walter A. came home, after the war was over, they moved to Indian Territory where his wife's mother and stepfather had a ranch. Since Walter A.'s father-in-law was Choctaw and Walter A and his father, Matthew, had established reputation of honesty, integrity and courage in their dealings with the Indians. Walter A. was granted permission to establish a ranch in the territory. There were not set boundaries and Walter A. and his cowboys herded the cattle and horses over thousands of acres, from Red River north to the Washita River and many miles west. George M.D grew up on the farm, learning to be a cattleman. Since his father also raised racehorses, he liked to ride them in races. He was about five feet seven inches tall and slender in build when he was young. He was acrobatic and would do tricks on horse back.. He would gallop his horse up to a girl friend's home and come to a quick stop, turning a somersault over the head of his horse, land on his feet. In his later years, he told that Belle Starr had beaten him in one horse race and it didn't set well with him at the time it happened. He was a handsome young man with blue eyes, light red hair, a handlebar mustache with a fair skin that had been tanned by the weather. In 1882 George M.D. married Mary Agnes James b. Nov. 26, 1867. She was a relative of George D. James and had been raised in the home of George D. and Margaret E. James, George M.D. step-grandfather and grandmother. Mary Agnes was expecting their first child in the spring of 1884 when she was bitten by a rabid animal. She developed rabies and died on April 12, 1884. Amanda James (probably a sister of Mary Agnes) married Daniel Boone Holford, a younger brother of Walter A., and had three children from this union. Boone later married Mr. Georgianna Cox. George M.D. met Wm. A. and Susan A. Crenshaws's oldest daughter, Annie, b. Oct. 15, 1868, at the social gatherings in Whitesboro, TX and they married on Feb. 10, 1887. She was petite and very pretty with grey eyes and light brown hair. They had eight children: George M. Dallas, b. Dec. 5, 1887. d. Dec. 7, 1887; Agnes, b. Nov. 25, 1888, d. Oct. 17, 1911, m. Wm. Andrew Lynn Sept. 13, 1911, b. Sept. 4, 1890, d. Mar. 29, 1966, three children: Wm. Alley, Olive Ruth, Ralph David; Jack, b. Oct 19, 1890, d. June 6, 1894; Ina Crenshaw, b. Nov. 19, 1892, m. June 3, 1917, Alfred Eddy Talbot, two children: James Alfred, George Edward; Foy Orton, b. 1894, d. Mar. 23, 1934, m. Lura?, no issue, one step-daughter, Elizabeth; George Monroe Dallas, b. June 17, 1902, d. Dec. 21. 1964, m. May 14, 1937, Dovie Eveleeta Locke b. Sept, 7, 1911, one son by 2nd wife George Monroe Dallas, 2nd Gaddie Vey b May 1, 1904, m. Dec. 25 1928, Donald Jay Woolsey, b. June 24, 1905, d. Sept. 27, 1975, two sons: Donald Holford, David Lawrence, Walter Alley 2nd. b. July 17 1909, d. Aug. 10 1933, m. Leona Parnell: one daughter, Stella Ann. When the land in Oklahoma Territory was opened for settlement in 1889 Walter A. filed on land near Lexington across the river from Purcell and moved his family there. George M.D. took over the operation of the Cross J Ranch and the James Ranch. He was very successful. He established a general merchandise store in Lebanon and was a stock-holder and director of a bank in Marietta. He bought several lots in Ardmore and they lived there for a short time. While living there, Jack's clothing caught fire from a bonfire and he died from the burns. They moved back to their home near Lebanon and lived there until after statehood. In 1906 George M.D. bought a home in Madill from Elzie Berry Lynn the father of Wm. Andrew who would later marry George M.D.'s daughter Agnes. The family continued to live in the home until the deaths of George M.D. and Annie Holford. George M.D. was a founding stockholder and director when the Madill National Bank was established. He continued to operate the ranch and other properties until a few years before his death on August 9, 1942. Annie died on Oct. 8, 1947. They are buried in the Madill Cemetery. G.M.D. considered himself as a member of the Presbyterian Church. Even tho' he did not attend services, until about 1935 when he and Annie joined the Methodist Church in Madill. As George M.D. was growing up met the James brothers. He told how the James brothers would come to the ranch house west of Madill and sleep during the day while the cowboys were out working. A lot of outlaws would hide out in Indian Territory. George M.D. related to me that one time two outlaws told him later that they had had a pointed a gun at him as he was crossing the creek bottom. They were hiding in some trees on the creek bank. The people at the time in Indian Territory did not have law officers to protect them so it was a case of not making enemies of the outlaws. by Olive Ruth Lynn Alexander ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GEORGE M D. HOLFORD George M. D. Holford is a prominent factor in the business circles of the Chickasaw nation, his interests being found in several towns where his investments and labors have resulted to the benefit of the Community as well as to his individual prosperity. He was born in Denton County, Texas, May 12, 1864, and at an early age was brought to Pickens County, in the Chickasaw nation, by his parents, who located upon a farm, the father turning his attention to the raising of stock. He is a son of Walter A. and Amanda (Babb) Holford. The former is now living near Lexington, Oklahoma, but the mother died on Christmas day, 1900. Mr. Holford, of this review, received his early mental training and discipline in the public and subscription schools of the nation, and after completing the course he began dealing in cattle, which has occupied his attention continuously since, with the exception of a period of eight years, when he was engaged in general merchandising Lebanon. He opened his store in 1887 and conducted it until 1894, when he disposed of his stock and has since given his time and energies to the business of stock-raising. He has eight hundred acres of land under cultivation, raising corn, cotton and some small grains. The rich, productive soil yields excellent harvests, which bring to him a good reward for the labor which he bestows upon his fields. His pasture lands comprise one thousand acres and he owns in the vicinity of five hundred head of cattle. He is also a half owner with William Smith in a herd of one thousand cattle. His business interests, however, have not been confined to one line, for he is a gentleman of resourceful business ability who carries forward to a prosperous completion whatever he undertakes. He is now a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Marietta and is the owner of considerable residence and business property in Ardmore. In 1887 Mr. Holford was united in marriage to Miss Annie Crenshaw, a daughter of William and Susan Crenshaw, of Whitesboro, Texas. They have three children yet living: Agnes, Ina and Fay Orton (misprint in book name shoud be "Foy", a son), and they have also lost two sons - Jack and George M. D. Mr. Holford is a member of Lebanon Lodge, No. 100, F. & A.M.; Lebanon Lodge, No.56, I.0.0.F. and Ardmore Camp, No.33, Woodmen of the World. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. He sustains an irreproachable reputation in business circles and his labors, carefully directed and guided by a keen sagacity and honorable business principles, have brought to him an excellent financial return. (End of Excerpt from The History of Indian Territory by D.C. Gideon.)