The McCabes of Canadian County, Oklahoma
Family Tree (2014)
(includes update)
Please note that many old
photos have been posted to
the After-The-Reunion page,
HERE.
Family History
Researched and written by Jean M. Davis
Bernard Rodrick McCabe came to Canadian County
with his parents in 1892, when they “homesteaded” the NE/4, Section 11,
Township 14 North, Range 9 West. Barney was born near Columbus, Platte
County, Nebraska, November 12, 1889, eleventh of thirteen children, to
Henry Peter McCabe and Margaret Anne (McCarville).
Iva Oregon Curtis was born November 16, 1898, near Horatio, Arkansas,
fourth of eleven children to Samuel Perry Curtis and Mary Francis
(Edds). Iva came to Canadian County with her parents in January 1910,
living on the NW/4, Section 10, Township 14 North, Range 9 West.
Barney and Iva were united in marriage August 16, 1916, at Holy Trinity
Catholic Church, Okarche, Oklahoma. To this union, six children were
born.
Dorothy Loraine, June 13, 1917, married Edward Peter Garrison, Okarche,
Oklahoma, at Holy Trinity Church, May 4, 1937, family: four sons, two
daughters [Cecilia, Jim, Tom, Bill, Theresa, John]. Dorothy died March
14, 1975. Ed died January 10, 1995. Both are buried at Garden Plains,
Kansas.
Mildred Elizabeth, June 20, 1918, married Robert James Ahern, El Reno,
Oklahoma, June 27, 1941, at Randolph Field, Texas, family: three sons,
six daughters [Patty, Barbara, Mike, Steve, Jim, Mary, Martha, Jane, and
Angela. Bob died April 1, 1984. Mildred died January 5, 2010. Both are
buried at El Reno Cemetery.
Thomas Bernard, August 16, 1920, married Ella Aldrett July 3, 1942, at
Randolph Field, Texas, family: two daughters [Sharon Dee and Thomasina],
divorced. Thomas married Bernice Elizabeth Kantowicz, Chester, Montana,
November 16, 1950, family: two daughters [Janet and Debbie]. Tom died
July, 15, 1995. Bernice presently lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Margaret Odelia, January 17, 1925, married George Morasko, Pennsylvania,
October 27, 1945. George died in an accident November 9, 1950. Odelia
married Robert Warner Baxter, Mt. Nebo, West Virginia, August 22, 1952,
family: three sons, five daughters [Peter, Susan, Joseph, Catherine,
Ann, Timothy, Ruth, and Elizabeth]. Odelia died February 16, 1984. Bob
died March 16, 1987. Both are buried at Kolb Cemetery, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
Patricia Louise, April 14 1927, married Bernard Alfred Ahern, El Reno,
Oklahoma, August 20, 1945, Family: Five sons, three daughters [Linda,
Bob, Shannon, Laura, Mike, Danny, Joann, Tony]. Barney died July 18,
2011. Patricia presently lives in Madras, Oregon.
Marcella Jean, April 16, 1930, married William Odell Davis,
Bishopsville, South Carolina, January 3, 1946, family: five sons [Larry,
Terry, David, Steve, and John]. Bill died October 4, 1991. Jean
presently lives in Yukon, Oklahoma. All of the children were born at the
farmhouse in Calumet, Oklahoma.
Barney’s life as a wheat farmer and cattleman began at an early age, as
his father died in 1897. Barney continued living on the “homestead,”
caring for his mother even after he and Iva were married.
In April 1919, a cyclone destroyed their farmhouse, taking Barney and
Iva, and their two small daughters, Dorothy and Mildred, into the air
along with the debris. Fortunately, they all survived, but the following
year, when they bought their own land, SE/4, Section 3, Township 14
North, Range 9 West, the first thing they built was a cellar!
Barney was exempt from service in W.W. I, being a farmer and sole
support of his elderly mother and his family. He owned and operated a
threshing machine, powered by a steam engine tractor, hiring out to the
other farmers. Iva sometimes helped by hauling grain to the elevator in
Okarche.
Barney and Iva butchered and cured their own meat, canned food, raised
chickens, and always kept milk cows, so there was always good food to
enjoy after all the hard work.
Barney was a foreman on the W.P.A. in the 1930s, working at Fort Reno
and other locations.
The McCabes had a “party line” telephone, their ring: two longs, two
shorts, with “Central” being in Okarche.
Iva was thrilled with her first gasoline motor washing machine in 1930!
The magic of electricity arrived from R.E.A., Kingfisher, Oklahoma, in
1939. Indoor plumbing was “welcomed” in 1948, also a propane system for
heat and cooking.
Everyone was always welcomed at the McCabes, with friends and relatives
often gathering there. Grandchildren especially loved staying with
Grandma Iva and Grandpa Barney, learning from them, by their simple
lifestyle, that families are more important than fortunes.
Their faith, besides their family, was always very important to Barney
and Iva, so they, along with other parishioners of St. Anthony’s parish
in Calumet, Oklahoma, built a new church building, being dedicated as
the “Immaculate Heart of Mary,” April 1, 1959.
Barney and Iva lived a full and rewarding life and both died at the same
house they built together in 1920. Barney died January 28, 1965, and Iva
died April 25, 1975. Their final resting place is at Holy Trinity
Cemetery, Okarche, Oklahoma.