William Horace Diggs (1854 - 1923)

Born 9 May 1854 in Henry, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Melinda Davis Smothermon — married 21 Feb 1879 in Henry, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Jul 1923 at age 69 in Pauls Valley, Garvin, Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

William was born May 9, 1854 in Henry County, Tennessee, the eldest son of William Calvin and Mary Love Diggs.^[1] Following the family tradition, he was a planter or farmer in Henry county raising crops of staples such as corn, tobacco, cotton and wheat. As indicated in the Will of his father, William Calvin Diggs, he received his portion of the inheritance prior to his father’s death. ^[2]

William Horace Diggs married Malinda Davis Smothermon February 20,1879. ^[3] To this union was born:

1. Floria Elvin Diggs (1881-1906)
2. James E. Diggs (1882-1883)
3. William Marvin Diggs (1883-1965)
4. Malissie Ann Diggs (1884-1963)
5. Oscar Pleasant Diggs (1886-?)
6. Sally Love Diggs (1888-?)
7. Minnie Lelan Diggs Moore (1889-1940)
8. Robert Grover Diggs (1891-1984)
9. Mable Ann Diggs (1894-?)
10. Mary Jane Diggs (1897-?)

The first of the family to migrate was Robert Allen Diggs (1860-1924) who moved first to Taylor County, Texas, and then to Montague County, Texas where he was engaged in farming. Robert then moved to Indian Territory, first to Terral and later to Erin Springs, where he built and occupied a box-like structure where groceries and hardware were sold. The structure was built by Uncle Bob for the Bell-Walker Hardware Company of Wynnewood, Oklahoma. When the new town of Lindsay was built, he became the first post-master of the new town and remained postmaster until 1913. He moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma to live with his son in 1913 where he remained until he died in 1924.

Shortly after 1900, William Horace Diggs, now 45 years old moved his family and his mother, Mary Love Provine Diggs, to a farm located in the Washita River bottom near Bradley, Oklahoma which was part of Pickens County at that time, later to become Grady County. Being in the river bottom, it was rich, fertile land. The work was hard and the days long. Farming became unattractive to the male members of the family and as they reached an adult age they looked elsewhere for easier ways of making their living. As each one left, the load became more for the remaining children at home.

In 1903, the youngest son of William Calvin, John P. Diggs, followed the family west to Indian Territory. He made one return trip to Tennessee, then returned with his family in a wagon to Quanah, Texas, thence to Merkel, Texas on the train and finally to join his brothers in the Lindsay area, again traveling in a covered wagon. John and his family joined hands with William Horace on the farm in the Washita Valley. John and William lived on the same farm in adjacent farm houses, sharing the work and profits for the farm. In 1905, John’s wife Addie died of Pneumonia.

A short time later the two families moved to another farm located eight miles north of Lindsay. Near Turnbull, McClain County and were living there with the 1910 Federal Census was taken. ^[4]John had remarried Minnie Mae, a widow form Missouri. In 1912, the last of William’s sons, Robert Grover, now 21, left the family and moved into Lindsay. William Horace and family lived ion Colbert Creek near Lindsay in 1913.

The years of hard work began to take their toll on both William and Malinda; they were forced to give up farming as a source of their living. They moved to Mineral Wells, Texas for a short time and then ill health forced them into the homes of their children. Malinda died February 25, 1923 at the age of 62 in the home of Oscar Pleasant at Noble, Oklahoma from influenza. William died a few months later at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma on July 21, 1923 while living with his daughter. ^[5]Both are buried in the Bradley Cemetery in Grady County near Bradley. William was 69 years old when he died.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57907892/william-horace-diggs
2. ↑ Henry County Court Records, Henry County, Tennessee. Will Book Vol 1. August 1879 to December 1902, page 208 and 209.
3. ↑ Marriage event listed in photo copy of The Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-Day Saints, Family History Department, page 4576.
4. ↑ family listed in 1910 census Garvin County OK
5. ↑ Death Certificate Oklahoma State Board of Health, Registration Dist. No. 25250, Primary Dist No. 2501: Lists William Horace Diggs date of birth and death.