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Julia Maxwell Partain

The following is from a hand-written story about my grandmother, Julia Maxwell Partain. The account was written by my cousin Ola Fern Ford Speer (daughter of my aunt Callie Partain Ford). I got a copy from my cousin Flossie Evans (daughter of my uncle John Partain) who received it from Ola Fern Ford Speer.

“Julia Melinda Maxwell was born in Arkansas, November 1868. Her father’s name was P. S. Maxwell, who was known as “Stillman” Maxwell. He was born in Illinois. Her mother’s name was Nancy (in some records, Emily). Treadway, of Van Buren, Arkansas. Julia Melinda married Grandpa John Tomas Partain in December 25, 1887. She was 19 years old and he was twenty-one years old.

Julia and John Tomas had ten children, 6 boys and 4 girls. They were born in this order:

Oliver E. born Jan. 1, 1888. Died Oct. 19, 1966

John A. born March 5, 1891. Died Nov. 19, 1971

Calidonia Myrtle-Lee (Callie), born Dec. 16, 1893. Died April 22, 1978

William Arthur, born Dec. 6, 1894. Died July 27, 1967

Ollie, born Feb. 1896. Died 1985, buried in Spiro, Okla.

Charley E. Born April 10, 1898. Died March 22, 1977

Minnie, born Aug. 1900. Died ?? buried in Spiro, Okla.

Fletcher, born Sept. 1902. Died Feb. 26, 1944

All these children were born in Arkansas. They left Heber Springs, Arkansas in the year of 1902. Fletcher was a three month old baby. They moved to Spiro, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, as Oklahoma became a state in the year of 1907. Several families traveled with them, including a Reverend Elliott, Church of Christ minister. He preached in places along the way to Oklahoma.

In Morrilton, Arkansas, Grandma Julia became very ill with typhoid fever. She and the younger children had to be left behind. The older children went on to Spiro with Grandpa. Later on they returned for her and the other children.

After Grandma and Grandpa reached Oklahoma, they had two more children:

Robert Dow, born July 1905

Julia Melinda, born Aug. 11, 1907

Grandma Julia Melinda died Aug. 20, 1907. Baby Julia was 9 days old.

Grandma Julia was 38 years old. She is buried in Spiro Cemetery.”

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