Grandfather born in Oklahoma in 1901, but Oklahoma wasn't a state until 1907.

Question

My Grandfather's place of birth is listed on a form I got from the funeral home where he was buried as Oklahoma in 1901. But, Oklahoma wasn't an official state until 1907, it was Indian Territory before that.  I can't find him on any census in 1900 or 1910.  He is also African American.  Is there any chance I can find more info on him, I've looked everywhere.

Comments

 

Hill Keeton

 in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 

Name:	Hill Keeton
Gender:	Male
Spouse:	Francis Calhoun
Child:	Mary Keeton Webster

Source Information

Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.

 

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Lola Mae Bazile

 in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 

Name:	Lola Mae Bazile [Lola Mae Keeton]  [Lola Holford]  [Lola Hoffman]  [Lola Mae Johnson]
Gender:	Female
Race:	Black
Birth Date:	10 May 1921
Birth Place:	Greenvill, Alabama [Greenville, Alabama]
Death Date:	14 Oct 2001
Father:	Silas Johnson
Mother:	Mattie Simpson
SSN:	557363955
Notes:	Apr 1945: Name listed as LOLA MAE BAZILE; Feb 1955: Name listed as LOLA MAE KEETON; Jan 1959: Name listed as LOLA MAE HOLFORD; Mar 1962: Name listed as LOLA HOFFMAN; 20 Oct 2001: Name listed as LOLA M HOLFORD

Source Information

Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

 

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Francis Calhoon

 in the 1880 United States Federal Census

VIEW

• View blank form

Name:	Francis Calhoon
Age:	5
Birth Date:	Abt 1875
Birthplace:	Texas
Home in 1880:	Freestone, Texas, USA
Dwelling Number:	21
Race:	Black
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Marital Status:	Single
Father's name:	Jeff Calhoon
Father's Birthplace:	Alabama
Mother's name:	Belsey Calhoon
Mother's Birthplace:	Texas
Occupation:	At Home
Cannot Read:	Yes
Cannot Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Jeff Calhoon 32 Belsey Calhoon 18 Ellen Calhoon 14 Samuel Calhoon 10 Francis Calhoon 5 Candis Calhoon 4 Banjamin Calhoon 2/12

Source Citation

Year: 1880; Census Place: Freestone, Texas; Roll: 1304; Family History Film: 1255304; Page: 535D; Enumeration District: 054

 

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Jeff Calhoun

 in the U.S., Interviews with Former Slaves, 1936-1938

VIEW

Name:	Jeff Calhoun
Age:	98
Birth Place:	Alton, Alabama
Birth Date:	1838
Residence State:	Texas
Places Lived:	Alton, Alabama; Austin, Texas; Stewart Mills, Texas
Interview Location:	Texas
Father's name:	Henry Robinson
Father - Places Lived:	Atlon, Alabama
Mother's name:	Mary Robinson
Mother - Places Lived:	Maryland, Virginia; Alton, Alabama
Owner's Name:	Calhoun
Other Owners Mentioned:	Jim Robinson
Total Pages in Narrative File:	3
Roll number:	5

Source Citation

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves; Volume: XVI; State: Texas; Part: 1; Page Number: 188

Source Information

Ancestry.com. U.S., Interviews with Former Slaves, 1936-1938 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Projectcontributors.

Original data:

A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, 1936–1938. Vol. 1-17. Federal Writers’ Project of the Works Progress Administration microfilm publication SCM 000 320, SCM 000 321, SCM 000 322, SCM 000 323, SCM 000 325, 5 rolls. Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

 

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Her name was unclear on Census. She is Betsy, not Belsey

Betsy Griffith

 

Name:	Betsy Griffith
Gender:	Female
Marriage Date:	16 Feb 1879
Marriage Place:	Freestone, Texas, United States
Spouse:	Jeff Calhoun
FHL Film Number:	988614

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Original data: Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

 

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Thank you!

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Thank you so much! I appreciate you answering my question...

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No offense intended but the white record keepers back then weren't too concerned about the former slave population. And the black folks mostly couldn't read and write, so you have to sideways finesse some of the names and spellings  ;-}

Answer 1

There are records of those from Oklahoma before Oklahoma was a state.  The 5 Tribes kept records and, if his children went to school there, they would be registered.  (The school records name the children and father though not the mother).

If you use Family Search, try entering "Indian Territory, Oklahoma" as a place name and give a couple of years lea way for the dates.  This may open up some avenues for you.

Answer 2

This is may be who you are looking for. That his wife does not know who his parents are (per the death record) means she probably doesn't know much else for certain. 

1900 Census

1920 Census February

1920 Census March 

1930 Census

If this is him, parents are Hill Keeton and Frances Calhoun (per Social Security Applications and Claims for a sister, Mary (Keeton) Webster). It should also be noted that Mary was living with her husband in Navarro County, Texas in the 1920 census which is the second census place for Coleman.

Obviously, it will take more research but this is the only one who is even close.

Hope it helps some.

Comments

I never thought about it like that.  I guess my Grandmother could have been wrong about his birth place.  I have not even come close to finding another Coleman Keeton.  Only the one in the 1900, 1920 and 1930 cencus.  The one in the census was born in May, do you think my Grandma would have gotten his birthday wrong too? Is that likely?  They were only married for a few years when he died.

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In all honesty, it is entirely possible that Coleman didn't really know when he was born. They were farmers, they were black, they were likely very poor when he was growing up and didn't celebrate birthdays. My husband's mother's grandparents were both  illiterate and dirt poor, birthdays "fluctuated." It's apparent from records that my mother-in-law's father didn't know his exact date of birth. He made a guess and used that date.

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If you'll notice on that census, there isn't a month of birth for any of the other family members. You'll also notice that Frances is listed as 27 and married for 15 years. That would have made her 12 at the time of marriage.

Answer 3

A source I've found especially useful for Oklahoma is Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1936 https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1926701?collectionNameFilter=false