|
|
|
|
|
|
James McGranahan
Colorful Career of City's First Postmaster Is Recalled on Ninety-Second Birthday
Publication: The Oklahoman Oct. 3, 1947 Page 30
Source: of above picture, Daily Oklahoman Apr. 4, 1939 Page 2
The thinning ranks of Oklahoma's real pioneers, the men who clearned the way for '89ers, Saturday still included the name of James McGranahan. One of the last of the old time trail blazers, McGranahan served as postmaster at what is now Oklahoma City until 10 a.m. April 21, 1889. He came into Oklahoma in 1868 and was present when Gen Phil Sheridan changed the name of Camp Wichita to Fort Sill in 1869. The farm, between Piedmont and Yukon, were a bit happier last week became McGranahan realized his ambition of living to enjoy his ninety-second birthday. A few week ago the outlooks was bleak, the years have demanded their toll of his once magnificent strength, and he lay in bed seriously ill. But he pulled out of it, and Tuesday, his birthday, he read scores of congratulation cards sent by friends. Though McGranahan, whose eyes are dimmed by the years and carved a career in Oklahoma before the pioneers came, he doesn't live in the past.
His mind clear as a bell. He lives in the present and future as does Mrs. McGranahan, whom he married and brought to Oklahoma in 1883. She is 76 years old and works daily around the house. "You know," laughed McGranahan. "We might have owned all those oil wells you got on the east side there in the city. There were some folks living up that way when I was down there and they always had the best begetables you could buy. The wife and I thought that was fine and we came mighty near buying a quarter section out there because of them. "Why I wouldn't know what to do with so much money," he said. He recalled the day of the run. "If those boys who cam in her opening day had any idea there was on that land out there, we'd have had a sure enough war. It was almost a war anyway." McGranahan has his own ideas about the Oklahoma City water problem. "There should be plenty of water in the river to take care of another Oklahoma City. When our government train camped at Fort Supply in 1868 we were right near the river. The water was pretty deep and it was a good piece across it. "But I guess the river's changed a lot, because these engineers don't think much of it would get down here if the stored it up by Supply. Times sure have changed." The only thing wrong with Getting Old, as McGranahan sees it, is that he can't work. "I see my farm running down and down, and I can't get out and fix it up like I used to." Mrs. McGranahan, whose agility belies her 76 years, has her own ideas about old age penions. "Think they ought to be lower she said. I can't believe so many of the old ones should get those pensions. I mean deserve them. There's lots of them didn't try to save and place away when they were young. Of Course, some of them had back luck and sickness, but there's lots of them who don't deserve it." McGranahan turned over his postoffice (where the union bus station now stands) to G. A. Beidler, Oklahoma City's first Postmaster. He and Mrs. McGranahan operated the city's first hotel, the Arbeka, in the half-block north of the Union bus station. They moved to their farm three miles south of Piedmont in the early nineties and have lived there since. McGranahan reads "everything in the papers but the sports pages." "I don't seem interested in sports anymore, not even baseball." He was a member of a baseball team when players didn't wear gloves. "I'm feeling I might not be here for my nine-tythrird birthday, "My father lived to be 92 and six or seven months olds, and he was a stronger man that I ever was." But his friends are pulling for 100 years.
Pre-Opening Postmaster
Is Dead at 93
James McGranahan Was in Charge Until Run
Death Monday afternoon claimed James McGranahan, 93-year-old pre-opening postmaster of Oklahoma Station, now Oklahoma City, at his home 6½ miles north of Piedmont. McGranahan, after being in what is now western Oklahoma for 20 years, in 1888 came to Oklahoma Station. He served as postermaster here for several months before the run and on April 12, 1889 he relinquished the postoffice go G. A. Beidler. McGranahan had succeeded Samuel H. Radebaugh as postmaster.
Rites to Be Wednesday
McGranahan's wife, who survives him, operated the Arbeka Hotel, the city's first hotel. McGranahan's postoffice was where the Union bus station is, and the Arbeka stood just across the ally north. The McGranahans moved to their present home about 35 years ago. Rites will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Turner Funeral home at Yukon. He first came to what is now Oklahoma in 1868 as a member of a Kansas volunteer regiment. The regiment was slated to join the forces of Col. George A. Custer at Supply, the continue south for an Indian campaign. Custer, however, left before the regiment arrived. He journeyed south and on Nov. 27, 1868, in what now is Roger Mills county, fought the battle of the Washita. His forces all but annihilated the followers of Black Kettle, famed Cheyenne chief.
Came Here in 1888
McGranahan later went to Fort Cobb, and still later was present when Gen. Phil Sheridan, famed Civil war fighter, changed the name of Camp Wichita to Fort Sill. In 1882 he went to the famed Skeleton ranch, near the present city of Enid. Shortly after his marriage, he and Mrs. McGranahan went to the famous Bullfoot ranch near the present town of Hennessey where they operated a stage and mail station. They stayed there until 1887 when they moved to a ranch near the present town of Yukon. There they operated a relay station for the supply wagons which traveled between Oklahoma Station and Fort Reno. Then in 1888 he came to Oklahoma Station as the agent for the Todd Stage line.
Sarah McGranahan
Pioneer Woman, Here Before '89, Dies at Home
Sarah McGranahan Came Here One Year Before Run
Publication: The Oklahoman Date Dec. 10, 1940 Page 6
Death Monday claimed Mrs. Sarah McGranahan, 78 years old, who lived on the site of Oklahoma City in 1888, a year before the run. Mrs. McGranahan died at her home 6½ miles south of Piedmont. She was the widow of James McGranahan, who served as postmaster at Oklahoma Station, which later became Oklahoma City. When the McGranahans moved here, there were only seven buildings. Their home, which stood just across the alley from the present Union bus station, was the city's first hotel. It was named the Arbeka. The postoffice was on the present site of the bus station. Her husband died at their home, where they moved from Oklahoma City about 35 years ago, in April, 1939, after living for 70 years in what now is Oklahoma. McGranahan came to Oklahoma in 1868 as a member of a Kansas volunteer regiment, which was to meet Gen. George A. Custer at Fort Supply. It arrived there too late and McGranahan missed the Battle of the Washita. In which the Cheyenne chief Black Kettle and his followers were massacred. Rites will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Turner Funeral home at Yukon. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Charlie Ashon, Yukon, and a son Guy McCranaham also of Yukon.
Jones, Bessie E., age 80, of Piedmont, passed away Tuesday, May 17, 1994 in Oklahoma City. She was born July 13, 1913 on the family farm near Piedmont, and was a lifelong resident of Piedmont. Her grandparents, James and Sarah McGranahan owned and operated the Arbeka Hotel and he was postmaster of the Oklahoma Station prior to the '89 run. Her father, Charles Ashton was born and raised in Calhoun, Kentrucky where many family and friends are living today. Bessie married Beryl Jones Feb 29, 1932 and they farmed until his death in 1966. She continued to operate the family farm until her retirement. She was a lifelong member of Eastern Star of Yukon. In the 1940's and 1950's she was a member of the Piedmont Roundup Club; M F Chowling league; several square dance clubs and active in the PTA. She was a charter member of the Piedmont Historical Society. She is survived by one daughter, John Yowell of Piedmont, three grandchildren, Sharron and Lee Tinsley of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Robert and Aimee Treece of Piedmont and Janet and Stephen Clayton of Houston, Texas; six great grandchildren, Jason and Sarah Tinsley, Melissa and Maree Treece and Kevin and Camerson Clayton. The family expresses our special thanks to the wonderful staff of Saint Anne's Nursing Home and to the very special friends that made so many visits that were cheerful and comforting. Services will be held Friday, May 20, 1994 at 3:oo p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Piedmont with the Rev. McNaught officiating. Graveside services will follow at Frisco Cemetery.
[Source: The Oklahoman May 20, 1994]
| ASHTON | Charles | 01 Dec 1878 | 01 Dec 1945 |
Canadian County, Oklahoma |
| ASHTON | Myra Alice (Dau of James & Sarah McGranahan) | 09 Jun 1893 | 12 Feb 1982 |
| JONES | Beryl | 22 Dec 1913 | 20 May 1966 |
| JONES | Bessie (Dau of James & Sarah McGranahan) | 13 Jul 1913 | 17 May 1994 |
| McGRANAHAN (Son of James and Sarah) | Claud H. | 22 Apr 1891 | 12 Dec 1912 |
| McGRANAHAN | Cletice | 01 Aug 1916 | 26 Nov 2003 |
| McGRANAHAN (Son of James and Sarah) | Guy F. | 20 Jan 1900 | 09 Dec 1975 |
| McGRANAHAN (Married Sarah Foster) 14 May 1883 |
James H. | 28 Sep 1845 | 03 Apr 1939 |
| McGRANAHAN (Father of James H.) | John F. | 17 Oct 1808 | 12 Jun 1901 |
| McGRANAHAN (Marines WW II) Married Cletice |
L. D. (Lawrence) | 20 Mar 1921 | 14 Apr 1988 |
| McGRANAHAN (Wife of Guy F. McGranahan) | Lena M. | 13 Jul 1903 | 13 May 1986 |
| McGRANAHAN | Sarah | 24 Mar 1862 | 09 Dec 1940 |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Directories, 1889-90
|
Name: |
James McGranahan |
|
Location 1: |
w of depot S. Grand |
|
City: |
Oklahoma City |
|
State: |
OK |
|
Occupation: |
propr |
|
Year: |
1890 |
|
Business Name: |
Arbeka Hotel |
Name: James McGranahan
City: Oklahoma City
State: OK
Occupation: propr
Year: 1890
Business Name: Arbeka Hotel
Location 2: r w Railroad s Grand
Name: James McGranahan
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Birthplace: Iowa
Relationship: Boarder
Family Number: 423
Race: White
City or Township: Oklahoma City Ward 2
County: Oklahoma
State: Oklahoma
Census Year: 1890
Years in US: 45
Line: 33
Name: Jerry McGranahan
Home in 1900: Frisco, Canadian, Oklahoma
Age: 54 Birth Date: Sep 1845
Birthplace: Iowa Race: White Ethnicity: American
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Father's Name: John Father's
Birthplace: Virginia Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Spouse's name: Sarrah
Marriage Year: 1883
Marital Status: Married Years
Married: 17
Residence : Frisco & Mathewson Townships, Canadian, Oklahoma Territory
Household Members:
|
Name |
Age |
| James McGranahan | 54 |
| Sarah McGranahan | 37 |
| Claud McGranahan | 10 |
| Myra McGranahan | 7 |
| Guy McGranahan | 4/12 |
| John McGranahan | 91 |
Name: James McGrahan
Age in 1910: 64
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Birthplace: Iowa
Relation to Head-of-house: Head
Father's Birth Place: Virginia
Mother's Birth Place: Kentucky
Spouse's name: Sarah
Home in 1910: Frisco, Canadian, Oklahoma
Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male
Household Members:
|
Name |
Age |
| James McGrahan | 64 |
| Sarah McGrahan | 58 |
| Claud McGrahan | 19 |
| Guy F McGrahan | 10 |
Name: James McGranahan
Home in 1920: Frisco, Canadian, Oklahoma
Age: 74 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Birthplace: Iowa
Relation to Head-of-house: Head
Spouse's name: Sarah
Father's Birth Place: West Virginia
Mother's Birth Place: Kentucky
Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 832
Household Members:
Name
Age
James McGranahan
74
Sarah McGranahan
57
Guy F McGranahan
18
HOME
Copyright © Genealogy Trails