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The following is a published story about the family of William Henry Peckham as told by his daughter Irene Peckham Hildebrandt. This account was published in a book about Garfield County 1893-1982, “Oklahoma 1907-1982 Volume I, Family Stories A – R”. Oklahoma Heritage By Irene (Peckham) Hildebrandt, Enid, Oklahoma My parents were Oklahoma pioneers. My father, William Henry Peckham was born in Wisconsin in 1863. He was one of fourteen children, seven girls and seven boys. Mother, Ellen Shugars, was born in Pennsylvania in 1866. She had one sister who died before Mother was born. My grandparents: Nelson and Anna (Jones) Peckham and Martin and Rebecca (Grumbein) Shugars. Due to my Grandmother Shugar’s poor health, they came to Kansas about the year of 1879 and settled on a farm south of Ness City. Later, my father’s family came from Wisconsin and settled on a farm nearby. Mother and Dad met and were married December 25, 1885. Their first home was a dug-out. My Grandfather Shugars had a rock quarry from which he sold rocks for erecting the large stone buildings in Ness City. Father was a stone mason and helped build the business part of Ness City. When building slacked there, Mother and Dad, with three small children, moved to Caldwell, Kansas where he obtained work on the railroad. Some time later they heard about the “Opening of the Cherokee Strip” which was to be September 16, 1893. He had a brother living in Kingfisher. Early in the morning they came to Hennessey and left on horseback to make the “Run.” They staked claims ten miles southwest of Enid and had to stay six months to file on them (160 acres.) Mail service as well as transportation were poor and the folks heard very few times from each other. During this time my oldest sister came down with typhoid fever. Mother thought her recovery was largely credited to a good old-time country doctor. My oldest brother was on the verge of the same but Mother got him to the doctor in time. In the meantime, Dad was clearing a place to build a house. This was one room of logs and one of sod. Early in the spring of 1894, Dad set out to get his family and bring them to their new home. On his way to Caldwell, he stopped at a small town north of Enid and spoke for a room in a small hotel where they might stay overnight on the way home. When they arrived, they found the hotel owner had rented the room to someone else. No other place was available and they had to sleep in their covered wagon. The weather turned bitter cold and ice froze in water near their heads. As days went by, the weather became warmer. Spring and new hopes! They planted a large garden. It was growing nicely, so they decided to make a trip to bring back some cows which had been left at my grandparents’ in Beaver, Oklahoma. Their fourth child, a son had been born about three weeks earlier. All went well but, on their return, they found the garden burned up due to extremely hot weather and no rain. Discouraged? Yes but not willing to give up! Mother told of how they would go the timber, cut and saw wood enough for a load one day, Dad would take it to town the next and get the few necessities like flour, sugar, coffee, and tea. And I dare say a sack of hard candy. I’m not even sure of that. They managed for materials, for instance, calico and chambray for dresses and shirts. Mother sewed them, along with her many other duties. As years went by, more children, eleven in all! Ten of us grew up, having lost one little brother at the age of three. This was our first real sadness. Times became better and we were all taught to work. Dad improved the house, dug and built a cave and began molding and making rocks for a large barn. We had a creek running through the place. With cement and a block machine, which he took to the creek, he made blocks for a very large barn, (I think) the finest in the country. With the help of Mother and the older children, in their teens by now, the blocks were hauled and the barn erected. It was finished and celebrated with a dance in November of 1909. A hard rain started falling early, lasting all night. The dancers stayed and danced right on through till morning. In the house, a lot of excitement! My twin sisters were born. In May of 1979, a tornado struck and blew out part of both ends and damaged the roof. Makes me very sad! My brothers and sisters: Luella (Lola) born 1887, married to Bill Snowden Percy Magdalene born 1888, married to Charley Hawk Andrew Jay born 1891, married to Ethel Hitch Irvin Henry born 1894, married to Velma Hitch Hiram Daniel born 1896, married to Jessie James Irene (Me) born 1899, married to Fred Hildebrandt Cecil Dennis born 1902 Birdie Ellen born 1904 Leona Arvilla born 1907, married to Mike Meadows Mabel Clara born 1909, married to Fred Bennet Mae Ida born 1909, married to Tye Anderson All are gone but the twins and I. (In 1980) We all had fair educations. The earliest school, a one-room where the small town of Imo now stands. Later Turkey Creek School was built ¾ mile north with a Congregational Church close by that we attended. The school house has been moved back to Imo and used as a Community building. (The school building has since been moved to Enid and is a part of Heritage Village located near the Cherokee Strip Museum) My husband is deceased now but our three sons are all college graduates and live in Oklahoma. All married lovely girls and have six grandchildren of whom I’m very proud. My three brothers and my husband were all in World War I, my sons in World War II or later service. I could write many little humorous incidents that have occurred throughout the years but space doesn’t permit. Our farm was sold in 1941. We moved Mother into town and she lived to the ripe old age of 98 lacking one month. She lived a useful and meaningful life. My father passed away in 1938 just a week before his 75th birthday. Yes they were truly pioneers! Written in my 81st year.
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