Re: Challis in Oklahoma-Kansas Area
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In reply to:
Challis in Oklahoma-Kansas Area
11/22/99
My grandfather was Roy Challis,but his legal name was John L. Challis and he married Ruby Pedigo in Oklahoma.One of their children was Ruby Challis Storck.She moved to Kanas.My grandfather was the oldest child of his family who moved to Oklahoma from Challis Idaho for the Indian landruns in Oklahoma to get free land and a new beginning. ( One of their family members discovered a silver mine in Challis Idaho) Grandpa helped pull the wagon, because he was the oldest son. Grandpa had several brothers and I believe a few sisters.Most of the brothers are buried in Clinton, Oklahoma.That is where grandpa and grandma are buried.The family has a big reuion in Ponca City, Oklahoma every year.Grandpa lived to be nearly a 100 years.His son Grant Challis organizes the reunion. This reunion is for the Roy Challis Family members, others are welcome. Before my grandparents died there were five living generations in our branch, needless to say we are a big group.Grandma Ruby had an amazing memory and she new every one of us and who we married. I didn't know grandpa's brothers families, because our branch is so big and my dad was the youngest son.My grandmother was a Pedigo and I remember her mother, because she lived to be nearly a 100 also.She lived across the street from Grandpa and Grandma Challis, when they lived in Gerry,OK. Grandma Pedigo wasn't that much older than Grandpa Challis.Grandpa Challis was 32 years old when he married Ruby who was only 16 years old.The Pedigos also come to our reunion and the Challis families visit the Pedigo reunion in Gerry, Oklahoma.My dad said that his grandpa Pedigo was a Baptist preacher in Oklahoma and the Pedigos came to Oklahoma from Kentucky.The Pedigo family came to Oklahoma for the landrun also. My grandparents lived in Blackwell and Gerry Oklahoma.They had nine children, but the first child died after birth.Of the remaining eight children only Aunt Ruby Storck of Kansas has died(cancer).The children also have long life lines.One aunt is in Tex-Arkansas and Ruby's family is still in Kansas.The Rest still live all over the state of Oklahoma.My dad is Billy Dean Challis. I hope this helps.