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Driving Mrs. Coleman

Note to reader: I started writing this story in the first day or two of January 2023. It’s a story that I first heard my father-in-law tell shortly before he passed away. It intrigued me and I began researching and writing the story right away. I’ve been sitting on the story longer than I intended and now it’s time to release it. As many of you know, we lost Bart’s dad in March of 2023. I’d like to thank my guest blogger Rae CONNER for helping me finish this story. I was unable to make much headway in my initial research so I reached out to her for help since the subject of the post is her family.

The nugget of the story that I started with was that Louis KIRK was a chauffer for George and Jessie (CARR) COLEMAN who owned the historic Coleman Theater in Miami, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. My father-in-law was young and one of things about Louis KIRK that intrigued him was Louis’ prowess in performing rope tricks.

I’m keeping the original story as I wrote it in January, 2023, which is what you’ll see starting in the next section. I’ll add in Rae’s story as well which was also written in January of 2023. Please be kind and courteous with copying the information. I’m fine with my portion being copied but please give credit to my blog. If you wish to re-post or copy Rae’s portion, please contact her before doing that. I hope you enjoy one of my father-in-law’s last stories. I’m grateful for the opportunity to tell it.

Louis KIRK, Chauffer

We took my husband’s parents on a road trip today (note: this was on the 1st or 2nd of January, 2023) because I needed information. We took them back to a place my father-in-law lived when he was young. There wasn’t much he could tell me. However, he did tell an interesting story as we were driving through Miami, Oklahoma. I’d like to relay that story to you.

Coleman Theater

In downtown Miami is a nice, historic building where the Coleman Theater is located. The Coleman Theater was built about 1929 for George COLEMAN (husband of Jessie COLEMAN), who was a “local mining magnate” . It’s been beautifully restored inside and out. I encourage you to go look at the pictures on the website. As we were passing by it, my father-in-law said that his aunt Ina’s husband used to chauffer Mrs. Jessie COLEMAN around. The husband/chauffer was Louis KIRK and he liked to do tricks with a lariat. When Mrs. COLEMAN was ready to go to Colorado, Louis would chauffer her there and when she was ready to return to Oklahoma, he would go pick her up again and bring her back. Some of Ina’s and Louis’ kids also worked at the Coleman when they were young. My father-in-law said all three of the girls worked there but he wasn’t sure about the boys.

Here’s What I Found

Ina Virginia PAGE was born in 1925 in Hartville, Wright County, Missouri, to George Benjamin and Ina Jane (CAWYER) PAGE. Ina was my father-in-law’s maternal aunt.

Picture was posted on Ancestry by Tammy Shelton.

Beautiful, isn’t she? She married Louis KIRK around 1943. They lived in Miami, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. According to the 1950 US Federal Census, at least one of the sons, Louis Dean, did work at the Coleman Theater. He was a ticket taker at the Coleman at age 15. 1950 is the most recent census released so it is doubtful that other records could be found at this point.

Ancestry, 1950 US Federal Census entry for Louis E. & Ina Virginia (PAGE) KIRK.

In all my searching, I haven’t found anything that officially declares Louis to be the chauffer of Mrs. Jessie COLEMAN. It’s possible this information was never recorded publicly. It’s also possible that it’s in a later census record that hasn’t been released yet or in records that have long since been destroyed. I did note that, like Mrs. COLEMAN, Louis made trips to and from Colorado, so there’s that.

Because I couldn’t find a lot of information, I reached out to a relative (Rae) and asked her for information. The next section is the story she sent me.

Rae’s Story

Thanks for reminding me about dad’s lariat roping tricks.  I truly forgot about them.  Dad could rope anything.  He did try his best to teach me but I am afraid I could not catch on to anything.  My rope would go flat.  I just remember he could make perfect circles and large ones at that!  It is unfortunate that I do not remember how he learned.  I know he lived in Colorado for a while with his first wife, Ollie, and his three boys. Dad also ran the trains as a hobo in his very young and early days.  Wish I could say more.  Dad’s life almost seems secretive and has many missing pages. He was married prior to Ollie; however, it did not last but a few weeks due to the woman’s character and immoral habits. 

Dad worked for Mrs. GL Coleman (her name, Jessie).  He was her full-time gardener and chauffeur.  Due to his dark colored skin (mostly due to being in the sun all day and being part native Indian) some people thought he was a black man.  He supervised several men during his 30 plus years working for the Colemans at their home in Miami Oklahoma.  I remember going with dad and Mrs. Coleman to the Tulsa airport together.  I was sitting in the back with her as dad drove quietly to Tulsa.  He looked so handsome in his Chauffeur’s uniform and cap. 

Two of my brothers helped him at times in the yard, working side-by-side with dad.  My eldest brother also had his son help on occasions.  Mom worked as a housekeeper for quite a while, helping the aging maids do their work.  When I turned 14, I lived in the home as a companion to Mrs. Coleman.  When she came home from vacation, she found me sleeping in the maids’ quarters and asked them to move me to Ann’s room (her daughter’s room).  It was a surprise to us all.  This lasted about six months while she was there.  We would play Chinese checkers at night in her bedroom sunroom.  I took breakfast with her before dad would take me to school.  After Mrs. Coleman left for the summer, I was asked to stay with the maid and help her out.  I will never forget the yellow cakes she made with creamed topping. 

Dad told stories about Bing Crosby and Bob Hope staying with the Colemans.  He would drive them to and from the airports. Dad worked hard, keeping the grounds up, the horse stalls and the pool kept in good condition.  His gardens were outstanding.  Dad would work from early morning until late every day.  His pay was just enough to pay the bills and provide food on the table. When Mrs. Coleman passed a few months prior to dad, we discovered dad was in the Will.  Unfortunately, before the Will could settle, dad passed away June 1979.  Mother did receive a small amount of money from the Will in dad’s place.  It was not much, but it helped mom out at the time.

I must say even after Jessie passed; we remembered in the Coleman’s Christmas Card list.   I only knew them as good people that never treated us like we were less than they were. 

Dad bought a couple of their cars from them, making payments, of course.  So, we had nice cars for a while.  The Cadillac was a black beast of a thing.  We liked it. 

I believe both my sisters worked at the Coleman Theater in reception and concession.  I know sis Dian did.  I do not remember how long and they are no longer here to ask. In fact, I am the only one left from our joined family.  My niece worked for Jessie’s daughter for a while, but I do not know that story.

Seriously wish I had listened more to my parents when I was young.  I know my dad loved his job and was loyal and faithful to his employers.

Bonus

My father-in-law lived in the Picher-Cardin area when he was young. I snapped a couple of photos of him while we were on our trip. They’re your bonus for today.

My father-in-law at the Picher Gorillas monument park. Picher, Oklahoma, 2 Jan 2023.
While we were at the monument park a man showed up. He is almost exactly the same age as my father-in-law and was born in Picher. He comes to the monument park occasionally and sits. I didn’t catch his name. Picher, Oklahoma, 2 Jan 2023.

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend gathering up your people and taking a road trip. I ended up getting road trips with both my in-laws and my parents this weekend. It was good. Wishing you a wonderful week.

Lisa @ Days of Our Lives blog

Resources Used

Flawless Friday: Weathered- A Worn Bible Equals a Life Well-Weathered

It’s Friday. The photo/blog challenge theme of the day is ‘weathered’. I love these challenges. I’ve told my SIL, Becky, before that we could be given the same ancestor and the same theme and never come up with the same or similar blog post. I love that. I think that’s one of my favorite things about these challenges is seeing where the theme took her versus where it took me. You can read her ‘weathered’ blog post here.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105, The Holy Bible

A LIFE WELL-WEATHERED

That’s what I want- a life that is steady in the word of God no matter what life brings me. In the past, a family’s Bible reflected how much time they spent in the word. Today we have digital Bibles and, I confess, that’s mostly what I use now. It’s not the same as my physical Bible, though.


My Bible I received as a gift in anticipation of my high school graduation. My then-pastor, Les OSBURN, gave it to me.

This Bible has seen me through so much and sadly, it doesn’t look worn enough. This Bible was mine when I got married, when I had my children, and through all the many problems life brings. It also saw me through my successes- graduations, births of children, marriages of children, births of grandchildren, a million things that gave me joy in my life. It has been my companion for three decades. It’s well-traveled, having been to almost every state I’ve been to and even went to school with me when I was in high school. This Bible has been chewed on the corners by our puppy. It’s had pages torn and ripped out by my children (and probably a couple of grandchildren). Pages are highlighted, corners folded over- all the highlights of use and study. Lots of things are tucked in there- photographs, church bulletins, sermon notes. There were times in my life that were so scary I’ve gone to sleep with my Bible on my chest and my arms folded across it. It’s been to the hospital with me when I had a brain tumor removed. It’s been pretty much everywhere with me. My Bible should be more weathered than it is. I have purchased new Bibles over the years and now have a digital Bible, but this Bible- this one is mine and the one that I love most.

EDITH’S BIBLE

My great-grandma, Edith HUBBARD, had a Bible. Like me, she lost a son. It is said of her that she read her Bible every single day of her life without fail. When she heard her son had been in a bad car wreck she was down on her knees praying hard for his life right up until the moment they told her he had died. My heart knows why her Bible looks like it does, with no cover and tattered with use. Her Bible and in turn, her life, was well-weathered.



Edith HUBBARD’s Bible

JESSIE’S BIBLE

My granny, Jessie BATES, had a large Bible on her table and also a Bible for reading. I never saw her reading the Bible and I never knew her to go to church. She was a good grandmother. Very loving and kind. She also lost a child. I can’t imagine that a person can go 8 decades without her son and never pray to God for guidance, help, or comfort. Especially while still retaining such a sweet spirit as my granny had.


Jessie BATES’ Bible- reading size.


Jessie BATES’ Bible- table size.

AUDREY’S BIBLE

This is my mam’s Bible. All my childhood I attended church alongside her every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I watched her help raise four of her grandchildren and care for my grandfather as he died from cancer. She helped care for elderly relatives as they lived out their final days and years. I know she prayed fervently and often and always read her Bible. Her Bible is definitely worn and indicative of a life well-weathered. It is missing it’s front cover.


Audrey DRAKE’s Bible

ROY’S AND KAY’S BIBLES

My parents, Roy and Kay, took me to church from the time I was born- every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night- and any other time the church doors were open. They made sure I was raised to know God and to love Him and I’m so grateful for that. I probably would have been a wild child if they hadn’t taken me to church early and often! I know they prayed often and always read their Bibles. They’ve had many Bibles over the years but these are ones they owned early in their lives.


Both Roy and Kay DRAKE’s Bibles

DEREK’S AND SHAINA’S BIBLES

My kids had Bibles from the time they were old enough to carry one around. They wore their early Bibles out. I’m quite certain that the last time I saw those Bibles they didn’t have covers and the spines were separating from the books. They also had tiny little pocket New Testaments. Derek’s was given away years ago to a homeless man in Boise, Idaho. Shaina’s is packed away. I also have a tiny pocket New Testament packed away somewhere that belonged to me when I was young. Somewhere packed away I’m sure we also have my husband’s old Bible. These Bibles are worn with use and we’ve gotten new Bibles over the years. I don’t have pictures of any of these Bibles so I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it. Derek’s favorite story when he was a child was in Judges 3 where Eglon, King of Moab, was stabbed by Ehud. He loved the battles in the Old Testament. Shaina’s favorite story was the story of Esther.


Derek and Shaina as children

YOUR LIFE WELL-WEATHERED

“A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone that isn’t.”– Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon was one of my son’s favorite preachers. He is very good and I highly recommend listening to his sermons if you get a chance. You can find them in various places on the internet including Spurgeon.org, Sermon Audio, and Spurgeon Gems. Google his name and you will likely find more. He is called “Prince of Preachers”.

I’d love to see photos of your Bible. Show me your Bible-proof of a life that has been “well-weathered”. Tell me your favorite verse or favorite Bible story. Show me photos of your family Bibles and tell me their stories. I’m looking forward to it.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3: 16-17, The Holy Bible

Until next time,
Lisa @ Days of Our Lives

Memorial Day Military Roll Call

This is my Memorial Day 2015 Military Roll Call.  I’m only listing direct ancestors.  If I missed anyone, please feel free to leave a comment or message me.  I did not list cousins, uncles or anyone not in my direct line so if you wish to add yourself or someone that is not in my direct line- feel free to leave a comment or message me.  Happy Memorial Day and don’t forget:

Military memorial plaque.
Military memorial plaque.
POW-MIA meme.
POW*MIA


DRAKE Family:
Vietnam:  Roy Drake
Civil War: Sanders Littrell           
                Joseph Larkin
                Bartlett Underwood
                Quincy Bell
Mexican-American:  Ervin Drake
Revolution:  Aquilla Greer
Also don’t want to forget my son-in-law who served: Timothy Easter
BATES Family:
Spanish-American:  William Riter
Civil War:  John Bates
                James Bullock
                Charles Seely
                John Davis
                Jefferson Latty
War of 1812:  Frederick Foster
                    Benjamin White
Revolution:  William Chenoweth
Bart WILLIAMS’ Family:
Korean:  Bart Williams Sr.
Civil War:  Frances DeWitt
                Richard DeWitt
                William Page
War of 1812:  Isaac DeWitt
Revolution:  Peter DeWitt


PEACE.  PRAYERS.  LOVE.
~Lisa @ Days of Our Lives

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