Willis Lee Gipson (abt. 1872)

Born about 29 Nov 1872 in Missouri, United States

Husband of Dona Belle (Havens) Gipson — married 12 Jul 1898 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

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Biography

Willis was born on 29 Nov 1872 in Missouri.^{[citation needed]} His parents are not yet known.

He married 18-year-old Dona Bella Haven (Heavin?) on 12 Jul 1898 in Oklahoma.^[1] By 1900, they had moved to Hamilton County, Texas. Belle says on this census listing that she is the mother of one child, but none are living.^[2]

It appears that Willis and Belle returned to Oklahoma sometime before they were enumerated in Hughes County, Oklahoma in 1910. Willis's brother James Gipson is living with them. He is 33 years old (b. in Arkansas), widowed, and the single father of two very young boys, Clarence -- age 2, and Earl -- 3 months old.^[3]

Ten years later, Willis and Belle were still in Hughes County, Oklahoma. Three children are in the household -- Calvin, age 12, b. Washington; Boyce, age 8, b. Oklahoma; Murrel [sic], age 5, b. Washington. Willis worked for the "steam railroad," which could explain why his children were born 2000 miles apart!^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995." Database with images. FamilySearch. "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXL5-8PY : 23 February 2021), W L Gepson and Belle Heavin, 12 Jul 1898; citing Oklahoma, various county courthouses, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3GJ-ZNN : accessed 5 March 2021), Willis Gibson, Justice Precinct 1, Hamilton, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 82, sheet 21A, family 380, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,641.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML31-J8L : accessed 5 March 2021), James Gibson in household of Willis L Gibson, Dustin Ward 3, Hughes, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 103, sheet 2A, family 24, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1255; FHL microfilm 1,375,268.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ98-5JK : 3 February 2021), Willis L Gipson, 1920.

Acknowledgements

• Research by Wilma L. Griffith