Family Biographies

William Blevins

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Edd Thompson--Lee Mulnix--Edna Slideburger--Simmie/ William/Howard/Floyd/Walter Blevins-Carrie/Frank Haskew

William "Bill" Blevins and Simmie (Stout) Blevins

William "Bill" Blevins was born in Pikesville, Tennessee, on December 10, 1867 to Samuel L. and Melinda E. (Murphy) Blevins.  His father, Samuel served with the Third Battalion Tennessee Cavalry during the Civil War and he had two other brothers, H.T.V. Blevins and Rodney E. L Blevins, who also served.  Rodney was killed during a battle.

The Civil War destroyed previous industrial progress, farm ownerships, townships, families and it took years before Tennessee was able to make an economic recovery.  Job opportunities for the workingman were of skilled trades such as logging, carpentering, small farming, horse shoeing and maybe liquor stills in the mountains.  William had a job of hauling logs down a mountain with his two mules and wagon.  Therefore, in search of greater opportunities, William Blevins and Rufus Stout all natives of Pikesville, and Sequachie Valley, Tennessee left in 1898 and migrated to Joshua and later to Crowley, Texas working on the farms and ranches for a short period of time.   W.L."Big Willie" Haskew had filed a claim nine miles west of Enid and two miles from the small village of Lahoma, Oklahoma in 1893 during the "Cherokee Strip Run."  He convinced Bill and Rufus to seek land in western Oklahoma because at the time there were still claims to be filed upon in Woodward County.  They traveled west and northwest from Enid and Lahoma, by way of Waynoka, over rutty trails and roads, across treeless plains, through hills and valleys, camping along streams if possible.  When they crossed the Cimarron south of Waynoka, north of Curtis the first guy they ran into was a cowboy on horseback, and they told him they were looking for new land to file on and where would you go.  Jim Dalton, the cowboy, said go north and they went north.

Close to their destination it became necessary for them to seek shelter because of a rainstorm.  A short distance ahead, they saw what appeared to be a deep canyon, a likely place to make a camp. Lo and behold! it was indeed, a shelter - one already occupied by a band of notorious outlaws and their horses led by Sam Green.  However, the next morning the outlaw gang rode out, only to return in two days with packhorses loaded with food and supplies for all. Perhaps when they saw the two young mothers with their four young children, their hearts were softened, and good will dominated the scene.

It had taken the Blevins/Stout wagon train led by Big Willie two weeks before they reached a chosen destination to later be called Haskew Flats and Woodward was just thirty miles southwest.  The Bill Blevins and Rufus Stout families shared a water well.  They lived together, first in a dugout, and then in a single house until they both were able to build separate houses.

It became necessary for Big Willie, Bill and Rufus to return to Lahoma.  Walter, the oldest son of William and Simmie, was two years old and in the middle of the first night out, Bill awoke because he heard voices.  There were three riders with side arms talking to Big Willie.  Bill picked up a rifle and attempted to squeeze out but stepped on Walt who let out a scream and the riders rode off.  Bill asked Big Willie what they were doing and what did they want.  With his slow talk he said, " they just wanted to know where we were going, why were we going and I told them, I didn't know we were just going."  When asked what he would have done if they had drawn on him?  Big Willy said, "I had this," which he reached back and picked up the huge wagon tongue wrench.  That story brought laughs for years to come.

William Blevins established the "Blevins Mercantile Store" in Haskew.  At the time there existed the W. L. Haskew Store, Gray and Litton Store, Dad Chamber's blacksmith shop and later the Haskew Enterprise.  The first original Haskew Enterprise issue of Thursday, May 7, 1908, remains in mint condition with a Blevins family member.  That issue stated, "Wm Blevins sold one of his fine work horses this week.

Upon more than upon one occasion Simmie hid behind a curtain in the store holding a shotgun when questionable characters entered under the pretense of purchasing supplies.  Good fortune was with them because she never had to fire a shot.  They paid for the supplies and even left a tip.  However, the children held their breath for long periods of time while waiting for them to leave. 

A United States Post Office came to Haskew in 1902 and Theodore Roosevelt appointed Simmie postmistress.  As the William and Simmie Blevins family expanded to four children, Walter, Howard, Floyd and Vera along with the declining health of Simmie, Bill purchased an additional piece of property from Bill Howard just south of the store.  The family and/or family members resided in the house on that farm for years to come.

In 1907, Simmie begin having health problems.  In 1910, her brother Dr. R. L. Stout diagnosed her with the beginning stages of TB.  Several preserved letters from her brother, Dr. R. L. Stout, provided current reports on her condition and medical advice until his death in 1911. She was informed of his death while in Artesia, New Mexico where he had advised her to spend time for health reasons.  William moved the family to Flagstaff, Arizona because of her health in 1912, and her letter to C. B. Lehr gave a thorough picture of their living conditions and family life there.  Sammie's health continued to decline and she passed on to be with her maker on December 12, 1915, and is buried in the Haskew Cemetery. 

Working, surviving and attempting to keep the family together was a full time job for William after the death of Simmie.  However, each family member accepted his share of family responsibility and with the support of one another each survived the struggle of growing up in the early 1900's. William did accept his responsibilities and even without a mother figure each child, Walter Clyde1896 -1978, Howard Rufus 1899 - 1975, Victor Floyd 1902 - 1986, Vera Lee 1910 - 1956 had happy memories while growing to adulthood.   William provided for his children in the way that their mother would have proudly chosen.

All the children loved him as he always had an ample supply of gum and nuts to share with them.  One of the William Blevins' original sayings was "Great balls of fire."  If he were present today and you asked him about his life span between 1867 and 1941, you could hear him say, "It was a Great Ball---of Fire."

Submitted by: Gary L. Blevins, son of Victor Floyd Blevins and Wildia W. (Wyckoff) Blevins

Contributors:  Wyman D. Blevins, son of Walter Clyde Blevins and Edna (Gregory) Blevins                                                                                                                        

The late Helen Hoffsommer Stout, wife of William Lafayette (Dick) Stout, son of Rufus Kelly Stout.