Person:Lula Cornelius (3)

Notes for LULA NEOMI CORNELIUS: F M Ragsdale and Family from Okla to Ala Left Rosevelt Okla March 7.1912 in wagons Their were 4 two horse wagon 2 horses to a Buggie and one of the boy rode a horse Their was 12 of us The first night we camped at Lauton Okla We went from their to Duncan. Their come a big snow and the groun was frozen You may know we had a campin out at nite. but that nite we made to a wagon yard We went from their to Durant Okla. so one of the boy and his wife left us theire and went back to Roosevelt Okla so we sold one of the wagon and two of the horses from their we went to Braxen Bow. Then we went to Dequeen and one to Highland Ark we got their April 7 1912. their was a large Peach Orchard which had good peach trees The orchard was layed off in St and ave so we stayed their for awhile to let the Horses rest and the men folks worked at the orchard. It sure was a pretty place. We left their 22 of Sept 1912 About the second day we went threw a place call Grapevine. We seen wild Hogs clast that place which tried to bite our horses their were wild turkeys and bares so the old settlers said but we did see them We went to Pine Bluff Ark the town was on the bank off the Ark River we crossed the river One a mater boat We went thru some large Rice fields We went thru Stutsgard We cross White River on a Ferry Boat.We seen some large fish the River was 90 feet deep where we crossed the steam boat runs on it Well we went to Helena we stop for a while their. as it was on the Bank of the Miss River. We had to wait on a boat the boat that carried the trains had to make it trip we could see the boat that we was to ride on 5 miles from where we was up the river. So at last it come for us they loded the horses and wagon first then we went up on the deck the captin sung Suana River while we was crossing for two days drive it sure was a deset looking place at last past a house we went a mile pass it come to turnip patch so we stop sent the boy to buy some of greens we had not see any on our trip so the bought some of them we camped and cooked our dinner their so we sure enjoyed our turnip greens. We went to Sardis Miss camped just outside of toun their was a man that come along in a wagon with a dead horse stop wonted to know if we wonted to swap forit We come throu water Vally that was a pretty place we went thru Aberdeen and Suligant. On to Tuscalousa camped just out of town on to Bessemer we camped their so we headed for Bham we eat supper this side of Pinson at Turkey Creek then we headed fro Remlap and Clear Spring comunty got their abour 10 oclock October 22, 1912 we just had one horse we left Okla with he swap the others of That is our trip from Okla to ala Written by Lula Ragsdale 17 July 23, 2007 F M Ragsdale and Family from OK to AL Francis Marion Ragsdale and his family left Roosevelt Oklahoma on March 7, 1912 in wagons. The family consisted of Francis Marion, Sarah (his wife), John, Lula (his wife), Pauline, John Frank, James, Elizabeth(his wife), Eddie, Lonnie, Minnie, and Emmett. Bert stayed behind. There were 4 two-horse wagons, a 2 horses buggy, and one of the boys rode a horse. The first night we camped at Lawton Oklahoma, we traveled about 50 miles. We went from there to Duncan, Oklahoma, another 50 miles. We usually camped out at night but one night on our way to Durant, Oklahoma there came a big snow and the ground was frozen. So that night we went to a wagon yard. At Durant, Oklahoma after over 200 miles, one of the boys and his wife (James and Elizabeth) left us and went back to Roosevelt Oklahoma. So we sold one of the wagons and two of the horses. From there we went to Broken Bow, then to Dequeen, Arkansas and then to Highland Arkansas. We got to Highland April 7, 1912. There was a large Peach Orchard, which had good peach trees; the orchard was laid off in streets and avenues. We stayed there for a while to let the horses rest and the men folks worked at the orchard. It sure was a pretty place. We left there 22 of Sept 1912 About the second day we went threw a place call Grapevine, about 150 miles from Highland, and we saw wild hogs, which tried to bite our horses. There were wild turkeys and bears, so the old settlers said, but we did not see them. On to Pine Bluff Arkansas, thet own was on the bank of the Arkansas River. We crossed the river on a motorboat. Then we went thru some large rice fields on our way thru Stuttgart. We crossed the White River on a ferryboat. We saw some large fish in the river, which was 90 feet deep where we crossed. A steamboat runs on the river. Well we went to Helena where we stopped for a while, as it was on the bank of the Mississippi River. We had to wait on a boat the boat that carried the trains across, before we make it trip. We could see the boat that we were to ride on 5 miles up the river from where we were. So at last it was our time, they loaded the horses and wagon first, then we went up on the deck. The captain sang Swannie River while we were crossing. For two days of driving it was deserted looking. At last, we saw a house. About a mile pass it we saw a turnip patch, so we stop sent the boy to buy some of greens. We had not see any on our trip, so the bought some of them. We camped and cooked our dinner there and we sure enjoyed our turnip greens. We went on to Sardis Mississippi and camped just outside of town. There was a man that came a long in a wagon with a dead horse and wanted to know if we would to swap for it. We come thru Water Valley, which was a pretty place, and then we went thru Aberdeen and Suligant on our way to Tuscaloosa. We camped just out of town Tuscaloosa. The next day, we went on to Bessemer where we camped. The next day we headed for Birmingham and we ate supper this side of Pinson at Turkey Creek, then we headed for Remlap and Clear Spring community. We got their about 10 o'clock October 22, 1912. We just had one horse left from Oklahoma; we swapped the others. That is our trip from Oklahoma to Alabama, which was over one thousand miles.

Written by Lula Ragsdale Revised by Marjorie Ragsdale 2001

RIN: MH:I1020