52 Ancestors: Ewing Richard Woolsey (1890-1959): A Life in Garvin County

Albert was my grandfather, Ewing my great-grandfather, and Uncle Alton was my great-uncle. 

Ewing Richard Woolsey was a lifelong resident of Garvin County, Oklahoma, who lived through the transition from Indian Territory to statehood. Born on September 6, 1890, in what was then known as Bailey, Indian Territory (later Garvin County, Oklahoma), he spent his entire life in the region that saw tremendous change during his lifetime.

As a child, Ewing grew up in Township 3 of the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. The 1900 census recorded him as "Irving" in his father's household, W.G. Woolsey. By 1910, the young man had begun working as a farmer while still living with his family in Bradley, Grady County, Oklahoma.

On June 3, 1911, at the age of 21, Ewing married Mary Williams in Grady County, Oklahoma, beginning their nearly five-decade journey together. The couple faced early tragedy when their first child, recorded simply as "Infant Woolsey," died in 1912, the same year their child was born. Despite this heartbreaking loss, they went on to raise four children: Alton William, Lillie May, Geneva, and Albert Lee.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Ewing continued farming in various locations across Oklahoma. The 1920 census found him living as a farmer in Lewis, Atoka County, where he resided in his widowed mother Lillie's household. By 1930, he had established his own farm in Brady, Garvin County, and the 1940 census recorded him farming in Whitebead, Garvin County.

During both World Wars, Ewing registered for the draft. His World War I registration card provides a physical description of him as a tall man with dark hair and blue eyes. When he registered for World War II in 1942, he was living in Maysville, Oklahoma.

The 1950 census, which somewhat erroneously recorded him as "Eming R Webster," shows him continuing his farming work in Whitebead, Garvin County. In his later years, Ewing retired from farming and moved to Elmore City. He was a devoted member of the Elmore City East Side Missionary Baptist Church, reflecting his commitment to his faith and community.

A 1935 newspaper article provides a glimpse into his family life. It records "Grandmother Woolsey," his mother, Lillie, spending a Sunday visiting Ewing and his family, suggesting the close-knit nature of the Woolsey clan.

Ewing Richard Woolsey's life came to an end at the Wynnewood hospital around 12:30 a.m. on a Sunday in February 1959, following a heart attack. He had been hospitalized for about a month after suffering a previous seizure. He was 68 years old. He was survived by his wife Mary; four children: Lillie Mae Woolsey, Mrs. Loyd Nelson, Alton of Farmington, N.M., and Albert of Marlow; three sisters: Mrs. Hubert Henderson, Mrs. Mills of Casa Grande, Arizona, and Mrs. Minnie Tandy of Muleshoe, Texas; two brothers, B.J. Woolsey and Wesley Woolsey, both of Elmore City; and twelve grandchildren.

His funeral services were held at the Elmore City Methodist Church, with Rev. Walter Gilliam and Rev. Howard Moore officiating. He was buried in the Elmore City Cemetery under the direction of Vaughn Funeral Home.

Ewing Richard Woolsey's life story reflects the agricultural heritage of early Oklahoma, the importance of family bonds, and the resilience of those who helped build the foundation of Garvin County. From Indian Territory to statehood, through two world wars and the transformation of rural Oklahoma, his life exemplified the steadfast nature of the region's farming families.

Sources

Census Records:

- 1900 U.S. Census, Township 3, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, E.D. 0159, p. 10

- 1910 U.S. Census, Bradley, Grady, Oklahoma, E.D. 0091, p. 3a

- 1920 U.S. Census, Lewis, Atoka, Oklahoma, E.D. 9, p. 8A

- 1930 U.S. Census, Brady, Garvin, Oklahoma, E.D. 0002, p. 11A

- 1940 U.S. Census, Whitebead, Garvin, Oklahoma, E.D. 25-28, p. 6A

- 1950 U.S. Census, Whitebead, Garvin, Oklahoma, E.D. 25-36, p. 6

Military Records:

- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Garvin County, Oklahoma

- U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Maysville, Oklahoma

Vital Records:

- Oklahoma, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1890-1995, Grady County

- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, Elmore City Cemetery

Newspapers:

- "Parks News," [Newspaper Title], 31 October 1935

- "E.R. Woolsey Taken by Death," Pauls Valley Enterprise, 16 February 1959, p. 1