Notes |
- BIR,ORD: IGI 8014101, Film 1260700, Sh 53. Stanley J Israel, Grandson.
"Descendants of John and Abigail Thurlo". Known as "Walt".
MG: #2 wife-IGI Batch 8583023. #1, #2 mgs- "Descendants of John and Abigail
Thurlo".
DTH: "Descendants of John and Abigail Thurlo".
NOTES: Thinks he was probably born near Avalon, Mo in Fairview TWP, Livingston
County as David and Araminta lived there in 1870. His mother apparently
died shortly after he was born. His father married a widow and that lasted
only a short time. Lived in Duncan, OK in a dugout and farmed, hunted and
father taking jobs to survive.
When Walt 15 he left home and took work as a cowpuncher for several
different ranches with his coal black curly hair (called him "Curly"). In
later years he would gather his family around the hearth and tell harrowing
stories of bullies, gunmen and bad cattle stapede he was in before 18 yrs old.
In 1889 Walt and some friends decided to "make a run for some land". He
did file on some land but didn't keep the taxes paid up (probably near Arapaho
OK, as one of his children born there).
He married Maggie and had 2 children, moved from Ok after 1900 and may
have lived in Sweetwater Tx for awhile before moving on to Quay co, New Mexico.
Maggie died and Walt married Mary Elizabeth Buckner.
Walt was granted a patent for 160 acres in Quay Co 6 Jul 1908. Another
120 acres was granted 6 Apr 1920. He sold both parcels and 160 acres
inhereted from father to Kinkead on 19 Oct 1920. He then moved to Zuni Mtns in
McKinley Co with 2 covered wagons, 13 horses, a pen full of chickens, a dog, 4
children and a wife 6-months pregnant". She almost lost her life when the
wagon she was driving overturned.
Walt filed on 640 acres next to oldes son Mike who had preceeded him by
3 years. They lived that winter with MIke and his family while houses and
barns were being built. They farmed until a draught hit and Walt logged when
meager farm crops just about wiped out their savings. A forest fire wiped out
the business and in 1924 the family moved to Breece for about a year, then on
to Farmington in Sep 1926. Walt worked as a rock mason, apple picker or
whatever he could find to provide. He reportedly had a leg severely crushed by
a log but refused to let it be amputated. He recovered although he walked with
a slight limp the rest of his life. In later years he made knieves from old
saw blades for pocket money.
He was a gentle man who loved his family and thaught them to be totally
honest and tell it like it was. His wrath was much more severe if he found
that the truth had been skirted.
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