FAMILY HISTORIES

Richard Keys was my Great Great Grandfather and was the son of Samuel Keys/Mary Riley. He was born June 22, 1814 in Fabius Alabama and died February 6, 1892 in Muldrow, Oklahoma. He is buried in Cottonwood Cemetary in Muldrow. I visited his grave a few years ago. He married Mary Ann Hayes on May 17, 1846. Mary's brother John Hayes was a well known Texan. Hayes County in Texas is named after him. Richard Keys along with his father Samuel Keys were on the Chapman Roll of the Eastern Cherokee Tribe. Richard's roll number was 1687. They also received money each month from the Eastern Cherokee Tribe. Richard was also on the Siler Rolls of 1851 and he was admitted to the Western Cherokee Tribe by Council on February 1, 1888.

Samuel Riley was my 4th Great Grandfather who reportedly was a white man who married two Cherokee sisters named Gu-lu-sti-yu (my 4th Great Grandmother) and Ni-go-di-ge-yu. These two sisters were from The Long Hair Clan. Documents show that he is possibly part Cherokee Indian. He was adopted by the Cherokee Tribe and was the Chief Interpeter for Chief Meigs. He was also a trader and seller of salt peter. It was common knowledge for men to have more than one Cherokee wife; however, that law was abolished years later because of Samuel who had two wives since he was now a man of status among the Cherokees. In 1801, Samuel Riley along with one of his daughter's father-in-law Samuel Keys, Sr., signed a petition to establish Roane County, Tennessee.Three of Samuel's daughters married three Keys brothers. Mary Riley/Samuel Keys, Elizabeth Riley/Isaac Keys, Sallie Riley/William Keys.

Williamson was the son of Richard Keys/Mary A. Hayes. He was born on August 27, 1847 in Fabius, Alabama and died on December 25, 1910. He is also buried in Cottonwood Cemetary in Muldrow, Oklahoma. He married Mary Elizabeth Boothe on May 18, 1882 in Stevenson, Alabama. Williamson and Mary E. were my Great Grandparents. The above picture was taken on their wedding day. Williamson was also listed on the Chapman and Siler Rolls of the Eastern Tribe and was a Registered Member of The Western Cherokees. He is listed on the Dawes Rolls in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Mary's parents were William Chapell Boothe and Angelina Craig, also from Alabama and they were not of Indian blood.

Otta was my grandmother and she was also the daughter of Williamson and Mary. Otta was born September 4, 1894 in Indian Territory Oklahoma and died August 8, 1937 in Spiro, Oklahoma of Malaria. She is buried in New Hope Cemetary in Spiro, Oklahoma. She married Benjamin Edward Flaherty on January 28, 1928 in Ft. Smith Arkansas. My father was only three years old at the time of her death. Her death certificate says "Died for want of proper medication". My father told me that Grandfather sold a mule in order to buy a casket for grandmother. My grandfather was husband #3. Otta's first husband was Henry E. Cole and Otta was only 15 years old when she married him. Husband #2 was Henry Reese. Otta Gertrude Keys had 160 acres allotted land in Oklahoma, located at Muldrow Bottoms. However, the land was lost when one of her first two husband's reportedly forged her name to papers, mortgaged the land and lost it. I am planning on doing some major research on this as soon as I can.

Thomas Morgan Flaherty was my Great Grandfather. He was Benjamin Edward Flaherty's father. Thomas was born on January 11, 1845 in Botetourt County Virginia and died August 13, 1920 in Frisco, Oklahoma. He married Sarah Jane Cloer also known as Sarah Jane Patton on February 21, 1869 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Reverend Leroy Stone performed the ceremony. Thomas' Civil War records indicate that Sarah was previously married; therefore, Cloer was a married name. Thomas enlisted in the Civil War on September 15, 1863 at Wood County, W. Virginia (Parkersburg). He was in Company "G", 10th Regiment and 15th Regiment West VA Infantry and had served under General Grant. He was Honorably Discharged on August 9, 1865. He was standing present at the Court House during the surrender. My father tells me that Thomas' brother, who he believes was called "Benny" (possibly middle name) was also in the Civil War; however, he enlisted under General Lee's command. Both survived the war uninjured and received Honorable Discharges from the Military. Sarah Patton's grandfather was Otter Jones. He was a full-blood Cherokee and the family story is he could run so fast that he could catch and tackle a deer to the ground.

Benjamin was my grandfather and my father's father. Family story is that Benjamin use to be a gunfighter and he never went anywhere without his pistol on his hip. His upper lip was shot off in a gunfight; therefore, he grew the beard and mustache to hide the disfigurement. I have never seen one photograph of him with out the facial hair. Benjamin use to operate moonshine stills in the area of Spiro, Oklahoma. My father once took me to one of the locations and the hole was still there in the ground. My father once told me that his father could down a fifth of vodka in one drink and then another and still be stone cold sober. Benjamin is buried at Peeveyhouse Cemetery in VanBuren, Arkansas.

James C. was born on October 26, 1816 in Botetourt County, Virginia.  He married Mary Ann Hammett on December 23, 1843 in Botetourt County, Virginia.  Mary Ann was born on September 20, 1825 in Virginia.  James was a Carpenter by trade.  James and Mary had ten children; Thomas Morgan born January 11, 1845, Anna born about 1844, Charles born about 1847, Eliza A. born about 1849, Elizabeth born about 1852, Polina born May 24, 1854, Robert Lee born May 1856, George Woodville born May 26, 1861, William B. born April 1858 and James L. born 1866.

Adam O'Flaherty was born on March 4, 1776 in Dublin, Ireland.  He and several brothers emigrated to America and settled in Botetourt County, Virginia.  When he registered he dropped the "O" from his last name because when Harriett would say O'Flaherty it sounded like "OLD" Flaherty because of her strong english accent.  He married Harriett Lavinder on December 29, 1807 in Botetourt County, Virginia.  Harriett was born on December 12, 1792 in England and emigrated to America with her father, two brothers and sister.  They are both buried at  West Chapel Cemetery, Eagle Rock, Virginia.  Adam and Harriett had twelve children:  James C. born October 26, 1816, Thornton A. born June 4, 1809, Robert Lavinder born November 28, 1810, William J. born May 28, 1812, John born July 11, 1814, Samuel born September 8, 1818, Nancy A. born April 16, 1820, Frances W. born September 18, 1822, Edward Gordon born March 6, 1825, Adam Quincy born March 2, 1827 (Adam Q. was a famous judge), Henry Lewis born August 18, 1829 and Stephen F. born February 7, 1832.