I own a small weekly newspaper in Pryor and have lived here my entire life. I only recently stumbled upon Rootsweb and have been fascinated with what I've found and the wonderful people I've met.

A kind woman in Jamestown, New York helped me trace my Swedish Ancestory and sent me copies of obituaries, death certificates, etc. She has no family connection to me, but volunteered to help since she lived there.

Mayes County is a fairly small county (pop. 35,000) and I know many people and am more familiar with our history than most because of the newspaper I own with two collegues.

I would be more than willing to do whatever I can to help any of you with tracing information here in Mayes County, particularly Pryor because that is where I live (Although I travel throughout the county each week to write stories).

I have quite a bit of info about the Whitaker Orphanage and other families, etc.

If there is ANYTHING I can do, please don't hesitate to email me at: david@sstelco.com

I feel like it's the least I can do in response to what my new friend in New York has done for me.

Thanks,

David

Interested in the Graham's that you listed in Mayes Co.Also interested in the Mayes that are in your co.In the years of the 1800's. Thank you

Need info on David Gustafson from Pryor Ok Mayes CO.
been trying to E-mail him and it does't work
cbtanner@ipa.net

(the above address for C. B. Tanner is not valid- Web Master)

My mother, Linda Sue Norton, went to Whitaker State Home about '58 or '59.

Sorry gang. I've been having problems with local internet provider. My new email address is david@mayescounty.com

Still willing to help here in Pryor if possible..

Hello, David. I am seeking information regarding a line of my family named Pryor that I'm told lived in Pryor, OK for a while. My great-grandfather, James Arthur Pryor, and family lived in Oklahoma around 1909, when one child, James H. "Buss" Pryor was born. His birthplace is listed as Shawnee, OK. The family apparently then went back to Crawford County, KS, from which they had come, and returned to Oklahoma between 1917 and 1919. In 1919, Tom Pryor was born in OK. The 1920 OK census indicates the family lived in Picher, Ottawa Co., OK. My grandmother, Bertha, was born in 1924 in Crawford Co., KS, so the family apparently moved back sometime between 1920 and 1924. My great-aunt, the only one in the family with any recollection of family history, reports that they lived in Pryor City, OK when she was a child -- Possibly around the time that James H Pryor was born in 1909(?). I understand that the city of Pryor was named after Nathaniel Pryor, a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I haven't determined that there is an family relationship with this person. My great-great-grandfather, James Henry Pryor, father of James Arthur was born in OH in 1850, and James Arthur was born in 1867 in Pittsburg, Crawford Co., KS. Any information you may have about this family would be appreciated. Or if you are able to point my in a direction that might be useful for research, I would appreciate that also.

Hi David. I believe that I was a resident of the Whitaker Orphanage in the early 50's. I cannot find anything on my birth family. I am supposed to have two sisters. My birth name was Beulah Mae Jones, father: Edison J. Jones and mother: Minnie Lorene Jones. What info do you have about the orphanage? Do you or someone you know have a fairly good "frontal" picture of the orphanage from the 50's? I have a vivid mental image of the place. I am now residing in Louisiana and cannot get to Pryor at this time. Please send me any info that you think might help. Thanks a lot!

Hi David, I'm trying to find out info on my ggrandmother Josephine Brown, born in 1880. She married James Andrew Branstetter about 1903 .. had children Irene (nettie) Walter, Ethel May, Louis, Walter.. two of these sons are from previous marriage of James. Any infor would be greatly appreciated!

looking forany information on the family of norman. paul w.norman. mother was claudia ann harding and father was humphry berry norman..they may be buried at chapel cemetery. i am told it is between salina and pryor. grand mother may be buried their also. any help would be appreciated.

Hi David, I am trying to help my brother-in-law find his Pryor family roots. The names i do have come from in and around the Mayes Co. Okla. and Benton Co. Ark. area. William Pryor had a son; John Delbert Pryor M; Mary Viola Beck. John and Mary had a son; William Greek Pryor. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Lindy Anderson, lascott99143@yahoo.com