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Benjamin Lafayette ORRICK (1850-1917)probably in Crawford County, Arkansas.
Courtesy of etbasket on ancestry.com
Christmas has to be our busiest holiday, whether you celebrate it as a Christian, a fan of Santa Claus, or as a cultural event. For some, the season starts even before the beginning of November, when we’re kept busy planning and scheduling, making and shopping for gifts, reaching out with cards and letters, decorating our homes, baking and preparing food, traveling, partying, and sharing meals and gifts with family and friends. It can be a time of wonder and delight, as well as a time of added stress, work and overspending. This year we are strengthening our resolve to resist the over-commercialization of Christmas. We’ll be spending less on unneeded gifts and giving more in time spent together, good deeds, and celebrations. We don't need all that "stuff"! Our ancestors would probably have agreed.
My paternal great-great-uncle Benjamin Lafayette ORRICK chose to marry Medora Frances WHITE on Christmas Day in 1870 in the town of White Rock, Franklin County, Arkansas where her family lived. Perhaps they really loved Christmas and thought that getting married on this special holiday would further bless their commitment to one another. Or perhaps it was a practical decision and they needed to seize the opportunity when family and friends were already visiting or available. It was already a festive season. Funds may not have been plentiful. I would have thought that celebrating two such important occasions on the same day would detract from one another, but perhaps the added excitement was welcomed in these harder times. Certainly a Christmas day wedding would guarantee they would remember their anniversary in years to come! As the choice of date was theirs, I hope Benjamin and Medora had a doubly happy wedding day.
My paternal great-great-uncle Benjamin Lafayette ORRICK chose to marry Medora Frances WHITE on Christmas Day in 1870 in the town of White Rock, Franklin County, Arkansas where her family lived. Perhaps they really loved Christmas and thought that getting married on this special holiday would further bless their commitment to one another. Or perhaps it was a practical decision and they needed to seize the opportunity when family and friends were already visiting or available. It was already a festive season. Funds may not have been plentiful. I would have thought that celebrating two such important occasions on the same day would detract from one another, but perhaps the added excitement was welcomed in these harder times. Certainly a Christmas day wedding would guarantee they would remember their anniversary in years to come! As the choice of date was theirs, I hope Benjamin and Medora had a doubly happy wedding day.
Ben's father William Jackson ORRICK was born in South Carolina but likely spent part of his childhood in Alabama where some of his siblings were born. As Ben’s parents and paternal grandparents all died in Arkansas, it seems the whole extended family decided to move west to Arkansas. Benjamin’s mother Rebecca Elmira DYER was born in North Carolina and moved with her parents to Tennessee and then to Crawford County Arkansas in 1832 when she was nine years old. William and Rebecca were farmers and all nine of their children were born in Arkansas between 1841 and 1867 including Ben. Three of Ben's brothers sadly died as young children, one of them dying the month before Ben was born. Benjamin was left with three sisters and two brothers. His younger sister Sarah Elmira ORRICK was my great-grandmother who married John HENSON.
Benjamin Lafayette ORRICK was their fifth child, born on 11 November 1850 in Frog Bayou, Crawford County, Arkansas near Fort Smith and Van Buren near the western border with Oklahoma. (I notice that his birthday was on Remembrance Day, although it wouldn’t be celebrated as such until 1918.) Benjamin's middle name “Lafayette" may have come from the Arkansas county by that name (although it is quite a distance south from where they lived). Or he could have been named directly after the Revolutionary War general Marquis de Lafayette who sided with the American colonies and who gave his name to the county and to the towns of Fayetteville in Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina. In 1848, two years before Ben was born, his father purchased 40 acres of public land in Mountain Township, Crawford County, Arkansas, part of the Fayetteville lands district (later in 1882 William bought another 116 acres in the same area). Perhaps it was this early land transaction in Fayetteville that prompted the naming of his next son. Mountain Township no longer exists, but from coordinates found online, I believe that it was located just south west of the current Mountainburg Township.
Benjamin Lafayette ORRICK was their fifth child, born on 11 November 1850 in Frog Bayou, Crawford County, Arkansas near Fort Smith and Van Buren near the western border with Oklahoma. (I notice that his birthday was on Remembrance Day, although it wouldn’t be celebrated as such until 1918.) Benjamin's middle name “Lafayette" may have come from the Arkansas county by that name (although it is quite a distance south from where they lived). Or he could have been named directly after the Revolutionary War general Marquis de Lafayette who sided with the American colonies and who gave his name to the county and to the towns of Fayetteville in Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina. In 1848, two years before Ben was born, his father purchased 40 acres of public land in Mountain Township, Crawford County, Arkansas, part of the Fayetteville lands district (later in 1882 William bought another 116 acres in the same area). Perhaps it was this early land transaction in Fayetteville that prompted the naming of his next son. Mountain Township no longer exists, but from coordinates found online, I believe that it was located just south west of the current Mountainburg Township.
I can only guess at how and when Ben met his future wife Medora Frances WHITE. At some point they must have lived in the same community, but so far I can’t find a record of it. In 1860 Ben was ten years old, living with his parents and two younger siblings Marion (a brother) and Sarah in Mountain Township, Crawford County near other ORRICK relatives. That same year when Maddie was six, she lived in Fort Smith, Sebastian County with her natural parents and two siblings. Ten years later in Jun 1870 she was listed as "Madoriet Kenady" living in White Rock Township in Franklin County (bordering on Crawford County) with her mother, stepfather Daniel Kennedy and siblings. She was sixteen years old. Elsewhere in Sept 1870 and just three months before their marriage, Ben was age twenty, attending school and living in Cane Hill Washington County near Boonesboro Arkansas, south west of Fayetteville. He was boarding with the W H WHITE family along with several other students and lodgers. Perhaps his landlord was Maddie's cousin or uncle. Did Maddie already know Ben and had she helped him find lodgings so he could improve his education? Or did she meet him after he moved in, perhaps when she was visiting these WHITE relatives in Cane Hill? Perhaps she had moved to Cane Hill herself between the census, but if so, why wasn't she living with the same relatives? I don’t know how long Ben was a lodger there or how long they courted. But we do know they were married on 25 Dec 1870 in White Rock Arkansas - a Christmas Day wedding and a Christmas to remember.
Benjamin ORRICK and Medora WHITE Locations
Benjamin's parents were born in South Carolina and North Carolina and married in Arkansas.
Medora'a parents were born in Illinois and Missouri. Two of their children were born in Texas, but Medora was born in Arkansas.
Somehow the two met. These are their life's landmarks in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Nine months later Ida Ellen (perhaps Ella) was born, the first of their eight children. By 1880 they were living in Mountain, Crawford County with five young children: Ida E, William, Lenora E, Daniel J and 4-month-old “PE" - likely the same as Amelia Elmira born 10 Jan 1880. Their household also included a “cousin" John WHITE age 21 from Texas, a Charles HENSON age 20 from Arkansas, and Mary Berna a female servant. As Medora had a younger brother named John G WHITE who was born in Texas about the right time, John should have been recorded as a brother-in-law rather than as a cousin. It’s also interesting to find a HENSON living with them (my maiden name), although I don’t yet know how he is related. Ben’s sister married a HENSON who had a younger brother Charles born 1858 but I believe he died very young. So more digging on this is required.
I may have found Benjamin in the 1890 census living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory in a boarding house. He was 38 (only 2 years off) and born in Arkansas. But there's no sign of his family, so maybe it’s not the right guy. By 1900, Benjamin, Maddie and their six children were living and farming in Davis Oklahoma, so we know that they moved to this neighboring state. Perhaps Ben went to Oklahoma ahead of the rest to test the waters and prepare the way. While this shuffling of locations was going on, Ben lost both his parents back in Arkansas; William died in 1893 and Rebecca died in 1900.
Ben's venture in Oklahoma appears to have been short lived; some of his older children had trouble getting work there. By 1910 the family had moved back to Arkansas, this time settling in Boone, Logan County. Ben was age 60 by then, and they had three of their children and Medora’s elderly widowed mother living with them. When Ben was only 66 he passed away on 10 Feb 1917 in Booneville, and was buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery. After his death, Medora lived a further 12 years under the care of her oldest daughter Ida HARDIN and family. She died on 13 Jan 1929 and was buried beside her husband.
Benjamin and Medora ORRICK celebrated 46 Christmas day anniversaries together. I'll remember to give a toast to them this coming Christmas.
I may have found Benjamin in the 1890 census living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory in a boarding house. He was 38 (only 2 years off) and born in Arkansas. But there's no sign of his family, so maybe it’s not the right guy. By 1900, Benjamin, Maddie and their six children were living and farming in Davis Oklahoma, so we know that they moved to this neighboring state. Perhaps Ben went to Oklahoma ahead of the rest to test the waters and prepare the way. While this shuffling of locations was going on, Ben lost both his parents back in Arkansas; William died in 1893 and Rebecca died in 1900.
Ben's venture in Oklahoma appears to have been short lived; some of his older children had trouble getting work there. By 1910 the family had moved back to Arkansas, this time settling in Boone, Logan County. Ben was age 60 by then, and they had three of their children and Medora’s elderly widowed mother living with them. When Ben was only 66 he passed away on 10 Feb 1917 in Booneville, and was buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery. After his death, Medora lived a further 12 years under the care of her oldest daughter Ida HARDIN and family. She died on 13 Jan 1929 and was buried beside her husband.
Benjamin and Medora ORRICK celebrated 46 Christmas day anniversaries together. I'll remember to give a toast to them this coming Christmas.
REFERENCES & FURTHER READING
Crawford County, Arkansas History and Genealogy - roots web
Township of Mountain (historical) in Crawford County Arkansas - hometown locator site
Locations for Benjamin ORRICK and Medora WHITE - custom Google Map
Crawford County, Arkansas History and Genealogy - roots web
Township of Mountain (historical) in Crawford County Arkansas - hometown locator site
Locations for Benjamin ORRICK and Medora WHITE - custom Google Map
I have posted additional information on my HENSON families elsewhere on this website.
This includes descendants of Sarah Elmira ORRICK and John HENSON.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
This includes descendants of Sarah Elmira ORRICK and John HENSON.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
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