Sometimes when I read nonfiction my genealogy definitely relates to the topic. I have been reading Killers of the Flower Moon with the Sharon Says So Book Club. I was wondering if any genealogy connections existed. Some of my ancestors did have a connection to Oklahoma.
I did have a Great Great Grand Aunt that settled in Oklahoma in the early 1900s Abigail Martin.
My Great Great Grandmother Candance Liston might have made a claim in Oklahoma/Texas in the early 1900. She never resided there. Her son, John P Liston, also made a homesteading claim too in the same general area.
The closest and not very close connection to Osage/ Oklahoma is Joseph Colburn Pringey. He is a 1st cousin 4 times removed to me.
Joseph Colburn Pringey or as people called him "Uncle Joe" was a mover and shaker in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. He as a pioneer homesteader, loan and insurance salesman, Postmaster, 4-minute man, Congressman, County Clerk, farmer.
Joseph Pringey homestead near Chandler, Oklahoma when the Sac and Fox lands opened for settlement in 1891. Joseph made the run with his brother, George. Joseph was also a Loan and Insurance Salesman during this time. Joseph was the first Postmaster of Kendrick, Oklahoma. As a Republican he was a member of the Oklahoma Territorial Senate in 1893. Jospeh attended the Republican Nation convention in 1900. Joseph was the County Clerk of Lincoln County, Oklahoma from 1912 to 1920. He was active politically at both the state and national levels. During World War I, he served as a 4 Minute Man Speaker. He gave 4-minute speeches at theatres, churches, lodges etc. in Oklahoma. These were basically public service announcements about the war. Joseph was elected as a Republican for the 4th District to the 67th Congress. He defeated Tom McKeown a Democrat. He served on 3 committees, Expenditures in the Department of Labor, Pensions, and Public Buildings and Grounds. Joseph was a strong advocate for compensation for soldiers who had served in World War 1 and called for a tariff to protect the farmer and laborer. Joseph was unsuccessful in his run for the 68th Congress. Tom McKeown won that race. Joseph returned to agricultural pursuits.
Despite much research, I know very little about Joseph's personal life. Joseph Colburn Pringey was born to George and Effie Pringey in Pennsylvania in 1858. Colburn is his mother's maiden name and Joseph's middle name. Joseph was one of nine born to this union. Effie was George's second wife. His parents came to Iowa in the late 1860's. The family is shown living in Iowa in the 1870's. Jospeh was educated in rural schools. He attended business college in Sedalia, Missouri in 1870s. Joseph was fairly educated for his time. However, he is quoted as saying he graduated "with distinction from the university of hard knocks" in the Washington Post (June 26, 1921) in an article titled," Present Congress Has Many Distinctive Members".
Joseph was married three times. He first married Anna Phillips who died in 1884 in Iowa. Then he married Zona Maxson. Lastly, he married Amanda "Joesphine" Young Harp who was at least 20 years younger than himself. It is known that Josephine and Joseph continued to be involved in local affairs after he lost bid to be reelected to Congress. Jospeh was a Mason, Odd Fellow, and Knight of the Pythias. He died February 11, 1935, of a heart attack. He was interred in Oak Park Cemetery in Chandler, Oklahoma.
***Connection to Osage Indians and the Reign of Terror
While he probably did not engage directly with the Osage Indians. It is most likely he knew what was happening to the Osage and their headrights. Congress very much thought the Osage were becoming too wealthy because of oil profits. He was in the House of Representatives during the Osage Reign of Terror where at the very least 24 wealthy Indians were murdered for their headrights. There seemed to be a widespread conspiracy to deprive the Osage of these lucrative headrights. While Osage Indians had headrights to the oil all their wealth was controlled by white guardians. The 4th District of Oklahoma does not include Osage lands. It is more in the southern part of Oklahoma. Joseph represented the 4th District of Oklahoma in the House of Representatives.
What don't I know about Joseph Pringey?
One of his obituaries mentioned a son and a daughter. I can find no known record of either. I am curious to see his local obituary and feel like that may shed some light on whether not he was a parent. I also didn't find his last wife Josephine obituary either. There is no mention of children in the census. I would love to know some more personal information about him.
How I am related to Joseph Pringey?
This is where I draw this really great chart. Sometimes charting it out makes me see it clearer. Basically, Joseph Colburn Pringey is a cousin to my 2nd Great Grandmother Candance Pringey Liston.
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