Person:Zelotes Braught (1)

Z. Willie Braught daus.=Freda McGruder and Ollie (Mrs.James) Watts. His wife = Counsel Dawson. Miami News Record 8 Feb 1942 p.7 col.6 obituary: Z. W. Braught, age 58, died 9:50AM at home 1 1/2 mi. NW of Afton on 8 Feb.1942. He had resided in Afton most of his life. Was member of Knights of Pythias lodge at Afton. Survived by his wife, Counsel, daus Freda McGorder of Fairland and Mrs. James (Ollie) Watt of Wash., D.C.. Brothers C. C. Braucht of Ponca City and Byron Braucht of West Lake, LA. Funeral services at 2:30 at the Braught home. The Rev. Richard Darling will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery under direction of the Durnil Funeral Home of Afton. I found it interesting that paper obit dated the same day as his death (in those days it had to be lightning reporting and printing).

   Another record shows Z. W. born 29 Sep 1883.  27 Jun 1900 Indian Census does not show Willie with family, need to locate him at that time because he would logically have been at Afton, OK also.  See Oswego Cem. grave stone photo.  Data from Jan Lund July 1997 gives name Willie Zelotes, b. 29 Sep 1883, married Counsel Dawson, and he d. 7 Feb. 1942, buried at Afton, OK.
   Afton American Newspaper (Pg. 10 of Afton American Newspaper Death Notices of 1942-1986 at the Miami, OK Library genealogy dept.) gave: Braught, Z. W. "Bill", 58, husband of Council Dawson Braught.  Lifelong resident of Afton; d. Sat; bur Afton Feb. 12, 1942. p1c5.  In Miami, OK Library Afton American Newspaper Death Notices of 1942-1986 is listed same vital data in more abbreviated form.
   It is worth researching some time to see if his daughter Ollie was married to the noteable U.S. Secretary of Interior under Pres. Ronald Reagan, James Watts.  That James Watts made some blunders that earned him a shot-in-foot model from the Pres. Locations and dates suggest strong liklihood that he is the one.  If so, what made him eligible for such a high position and what happened to him after he left the Cabinet?

1. ↑ "Afton Death Notices 1942-1986" p.1 c. 5. found at Miami, OK Library reported that "Braught, Z.W. "Bill", 58, husband of Counsel Dawson Braught, lifelong resident of Afton, died Sat and was buried at Afton Feb. 12, 1942".
2. ↑ New Hope Cem, Afton, OK