William E Jones

Out of Oklahoma: the Dreams of Homesteaders William E Jones

In this historical account the author writes about the lives of his ancestors in great detail. From documents saved by these pioneers and unpublished stories of their lives an intriguing story unfolds. The story reveals the joys and sorrows of two families that homestead in western Oklahoma at the turn of the century. Born in 1866 the daughter of a Union civil war veteran, Susie Jones and her husband John struggled to prove up their homestead. At the same time Nathan McAlister, who grew up in Texas, brings his family to Oklahoma to file a homestead. Using pictures and letters from family records and other historical documents, the author brings the story alive with descriptive dialogue and personal details assumed by reading between the lines of historic accounts. The picture he paints of Oklahoma homesteading is of a gruesome existence for those pioneers who knew little about farming. Susie Jones, the feisty mother of four children is the main character throughout the story. She leaves the homestead where she and her family live in an eight by twelve hut with a dirt floor, to live in a small town where her children can gain a proper education and meet people. Susie trades her mule for a town lot and finds a way to build a house with a wooden floor. Susie lives to the ripe old age of 109 and when asked her secret to a long life she said, ?prayer, a simple life, and don?t worry.? As her story reveals, she prayed often for better times. She certainly had a simple life and it was hard. Instead of worrying, she was usually prompted to action. She set a wonderful example for her dozens and dozens of living ancestors who migrated to other states such as Colorado, California, and Wyoming. Her story is a true lesson in history.