The Paris Times News

More Hurt Family Stories...

"Most of our HURT ancestors left Nebraska prior to 1900 and should not be in that census. From what my mother told our family was that her father came to America around 1873 when he was 19 years old. After landing at Staten Island he worked for a couple years as a bell boy in a New York hotel.
      When he had saved enough money he brought Anna Wallman over from Czechoslovakia. They moved to Nebraska around 1875 along with his brothers John, Frank and Anton. They remained there until 1896 or 1897 when Joseph moved his wife and seven children to Oklahoma.
      The eighth child (my mother) was born in 1899. Grandpa Hurts right hand was deformed and had only one finger and a thumb. This was the result of an accident in the '20s while he and his sons were seeding and bailing broomcorn. His arm was broken and the boys took him to Fairview where a doctor set and bound the arm in splints. The binding was too tight and as swelling set in it cut off circulation. I can remember him always wearing a stocking over the hand because of its sensitivity to cold.
     We use to visit Grandpa and Hanna in Fairview. They lived on the west edge of town and had fruit trees, a large garden and several milk goats. Your mother (Vada Paris McGill) was also a frequent visitor.
      Just made another dry run to Oklahoma but at least I found the Martin's place but didn't get to see the cemetery, there was no one home." -- Vernon

Joseph Hurt Family Home...

Thanks to Alice Shook and Dolly Barr for the great photo of the Joseph Hurt Homestead.
     This picture came from Alice Marie Kachel Shook (age 90) via Dolly Shook Barr. Alice is still living in Beaver, Oklahoma. It shows Alice's Uncle Joe Hurt's home, northeast of Chester, Oklahoma, west of Orion Cemetery a couple of miles or so.
    The picture to the right is a recent photo I took a couple of years ago when I was visiting the old cemetery and homestead of Joseph Hurt, NE of Chester, Oklahoma, located on the Betty Martin farm.
     Joseph (listed as #9 in the photo ) is standing in the middle with the white suspenders. You can Click the photos above to view the larger versions of the photographs.
      Alice's Uncle Joe was my Grandmother's (Mary Barbara Hurt Paris) father (Joseph P. Hurt). Which (I think) would make him my Great-Grandpa Joe. Joe's father is listed as #14, Grandpa John Hurt, sitting on the right side near #18, Grandma Anna Hurt.
      As to the rest of the family... Beginning with #1, my grandmother, Mary Hurt (Paris) and going from left to right to #18...
      1. Mary Hurt (Paris); 2. Mabel Kachel; 3. Carrie Holub; 4. Tillie Hurt (Hamilton); 5. Tena Holub; 6. Jim Holub; 7. Clara Hurt; 8. Albert Kachel; 9. Joe Hurt (Alice's uncle & My G-Grandpa); 10. ?; 11. Anna Holub; 12. Little John Hurt; 13. Dora Hurt (In arms); 14. Grandpa John Hurt; 15. Grandma Kachel-Hurt; 16. Henry Kachel; 17. Barbara Bukowski; 18. Grandma Anna Hurt; 19. Anna Bukowski.

Another Hurt Family Story...

by Kathy - story passed down from my grandfather Louthan to my dad -- "As a young girl, Emma Hurt carried water to the Dalton and Yeager Gangs who were hiding out in Cossell Canyon. According to what my dad can remember, this canyon is located 6 miles east and 3-4 miles north of Chester. Joseph Hurt's place was located right next to this land. The outlaws were staying in a cave. That cave was collapsed the last time my dad and my grandfather visited that location. They were going to show it to my brother, but the land had been sold to a game warden who would not let anyone on his land. I don't know how many years ago this was. Have you ever heard of Cossell Canyon?" -- Kathy

Tailholt (a.k.a. Chester)...

"I have a very interesting personal piece of trivia for you. The gas station that your aunt & uncle used to run was originally built by my Grandfather and his brother, Raymond and Ted Woods.
   Grandpa and Ted originally built and ran the station out of the station on the SW corner of the intersection in Chester. There was a family dispute between my Grandfather, Ted and the Balls. The Balls were the family of Grandpa's mother. So, Grandpa and Ted went across the street to the SE corner and built the other gas station and ran that for several years.
    Grandpa and uncle Ted also are said to the original providers of electricity for the town of Chester. They had a large generator that they ran lines from and provided electricity to the citizens in Chester. After a few years, Grandpa moved his portion of the business to Fairview and Uncle Ted to Seiling. Uncle Ted died many years ago, Grandpa just died on August 9 (2001) at the age of 96. We miss him terribly. But the legacy he left behind is great!
     Additionally, Uncle Ted said that the reason the town of Chester was nicknamed Tailholt is that Uncle Ted and Grandpa used to have an old pickup truck with a picture and phrase on the tailgate that said "Tailholt" That's about all I know of this story.
     You may ask your relatives if they know any of the Woods family. Most folks went to school with one or another generation of Woods' in either Fairview or Seiling. They may have been schooled by one of the MANY teachers we have in the family. All who have taught in the Fairview area for years! I was just in Fairview a week and half ago. My uncle lives in Cleo Springs we spent a few evenings there. It was so nice to be on my family's home turf. I will someday live there myself. I just can' t make a living there until my kids are grown.
     Also, I can also tell you that the actual town of Chester has been located in 3 different locations... Originally, the town was located directly North of the Chester Cemetery, that is why the cemetery is several miles away. Then, the town relocated west almost three miles along the highway. Finally, several years later the the town moved south to its current location.
     Unfortunately, my father never asked Grandpa why the town moved. However, my father believes that perhaps the town moved the first time to profit from the traffic on the highway. The second time he doesn't even have a guess. Perhaps some of your older family would know the history on these moves." -- Trina

Wanted: Obits for Rosetta & Chester, OK...

"My grandfather's parents are both buried in the Chester Cemetery, he was orphaned at the age of 11. His mother passed away shortly after childbirth when he was just a small child. (his baby brother died after a few months) His father died in 1916 from TB (The White Plague). Grandpa's cousin George Ball cared for him and his brother after the death of his parents. Grandpa's sister, Lois, was in the care of D.C. Ball who homesteaded in Chester but moved to NM then Colorado. D. C. and his wife are also buried in Chester. If you ever stumble acrossed in old obits for that area, please let me know where they are. I would dearly love to have one for Rosetta, my grandfather's mother, I haven't been able to locate one for her." -- Trina

Chester, Oklahoma...

From the "Chester Centennial 1895 - 1995", last page...     The tree sketched on the back cover of the Chester Centennial 1895-1995 book symbolizes the many cottonwood trees that dominated the area around Chester. These massive trees radiated from the corners to the west, east and south.
     Mr. Tom Leonard, owner of the first business, referred to the service station he operated at Cottonwood Corners. Upon moving the post office to the corners it became officially known as Chester. The widening of the right-of-way for Highway 60 spelled doom for most of these trees, as the state removed, stacked and burned them.
    The sketch of the farmer with a Tailholt represents the other nickname of Chester. The story is that the Woods Brothers, who operated the second business in present day Chester, were asked by Mr. George Floyd, a local famer, how business was.
    The reply was, "We are still here."
    To which Mr. Floyd replied, "You boys have just got a tail holt and you'll never last."
    A man who was doing some painting on the service station they operated overheard the remark and proceeded to write the work Tailholt above the door of the station and also on the tailgate of an old pickup the brothers owned.
    Today the nicknames "Cottonwood Corners" and "Tailholt" are almost as well known as the legal name of a busy little corner called "Chester."

Pioneers - Chester (Cottonwood Corners)...

Teacher 1921-22... Leota Smith. Teacher 1938-1940... Donna Louthan. Sold 10 acres for townsite... Johnah Logsdon. Ran a grocery store... R. B. Hedrick. Postmaster 1908... C.Z. Logsdon also ran a grocery store. Lawrence Louthan built tile block building sold 5 acres to my grandpa William Logsdon. Louthan sold out to Albert Rothenberger in 1942. 1961 Virgil Louthan leased the station until 1972. Among town musicians... Frank & Bill Hedrick. Elden Louthan bought property from Mr. Lytle which was originally owned by George Ball. 1930 Town baseball players... include Elden, Floy, Howard, Leonard and Lister Louthan, Vernie (Vernon) Paris (Vada Paris McGill's older brother). Ersen Hedrick bought the condreay store. Croquet game particpants... include George Hedrick, Frank Hedrick, & Floy Louthan. Postmasters... include 1906-Riley Hedrick, 1908-Charles Z. Logston, 1918-Emma Hedrick, 1947-Elden Louthan, 1975-Leola Louthan. Elden Louthan held this position the longest in town history.