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The Cowan-Williams Family Tree.
One hundred eighty seven years of family and counting that's what we are. But who we are will continue to evolve as each branch reaches a new link and the future becomes the past. My siblings and I (the Williams 11) are generation five.
Our History (8 Generations)
Our paternal history begins with my Great Great Grandfather Thomas Cowans born abt. 1822 in Tennessee. He married Betty b. abt. 1849 (Alabama). Their Children were born in Arkansas. The oldest Robert William Cowans was not the biological son of Thomas. Robert was the son of his mother's slave master. But Thomas reared and loved Robert the same as his other children. In birth order they were William Elisha, William Henry, Emma Mariah, and Sue Ellen. Later, Thomas moved his family to Wybark, Creek Indian Territory Oklahoma. Thomas's son William Henry is my Great Grandfather, Wm. Henry's daughter Amanda Mary (born March 21, 1904 Oklahoma) is my Grandmother and her son Rafell Henry Williams (born November 21, 1933 Oklahoma) is my father. Grandma Amanda married Bennie Rafell Billups Williams (b. October 15, 1900 Virgina).
The story on Grandpa Bennie is he had two families. My grandmother was his second wife. With his first family he went by the last name Billups. The rumor is that he changed his name to Williams so he could cover up his murder of a white person. Grandpa Bennie died in October 1945 (interment Taft, Oklahoma) when my father was a young boy.
Our roots in Wybark, Creek Indian Territory, Oklahoma.
Grandma Amanda says her family came by covered wagon to Wybark, Indian Territory Oklahoma. This town they settled in was established by Native American Freedman and descendants of Native Americans. My grandmother and grand aunts and uncles would sometimes tell us stories of Wybark's early beginnings that they heard from their mother. One of my favorite stories is about the upper Creek and lower Creek Indians that were moved into Oklahoma and the fights these two fractions would have.
My favorite story.
One day while Great Grandma Annie and her children were along at home. Their home was set on fire by Indians and they survived by hiding in the basement. Wow! If it wasn't for the quick thinking of my great grandmother and luck, my grandmother would have never been born and neither would I.
Other stories about Wybark, Oklahoma.
In the early to mid 1900's, Wybark was a self sufficient happening African American town. My dad and his brother would always tell us stories about their youth in Wybark. They were born in Tulsa but spent many days visiting their greats and grands in Wybark.
Dad and Uncle Floyd's life in Tulsa.
My grandmother had a total of four children. Two died in early childhood. A boy named Clarence and a girl that wasn't named. My dad and Uncle were star athletes at Tulsa Booker T. Washington High School. Both married but my uncle and his wife divorced shortly after they married. My parents were married for over 30 years before they divorced too.
My Maternal Tree.
Willie Williams (b. abt. 1888 Texas) was my great grandfather. He married a lady named Amanda (b. Texas). We don't know much about my maternal great grandparents. We do know, they had four children.
The Children
Willie and Amanda's children were Howard, Arthur, Mary Letha, and Josephine Williams. The boys were born in Texas; while the girls were born in Oklahoma. Arthur was born second and died in childhood we think. I can't find any information on him after the 1920 census. By 1920 Willie was a widower. His wife died in a house fire shortly after Aunt Josephine was born. My grandmother Mary couldn't remember her mother and knew very little about her father. Some say he left the girls with a relative and moved on with his life.
I tried for years to determine his history but was clueless until I reviewed my Granduncle Howard's obituary. Uncle Howard lived a long life and died in 1984. It's while reviewing his obituary that I learned he was survived by his father, Willie Williams of Bakersfield California. Because Willie Williams is such a common name I haven't been able to track him down. It appears he lived into his 90's or beyond. In addition, unlike my father, my mother knows very little about her ancestors.
Dad and Mom.
Well, as I mention earlier, my parents had eleven children including one set of twin boys. A total of eight boys and three girls. Me, I'm the middle girl.
Life with ten siblings.
Growing up, I was often asked, what's it like growing up with so many brothers and sisters. I always had a three word answer fun and crazy.
Because there where so many of us, we didn't have a lot of extras. But that's only if you count the tangible stuff like toys and allowances. If I had to count what meant the most to me it would be that I know my siblings love me no matter what. To me, that's worth more than a trillion million dollars. You see, it's true you can't buy love. The cost is way to high.
Generations six, seven & eight.
There are three generations after me. Gosh, I feel so old and I'm only in my forties.
The other generations.
Generations five through eight kind of run together. Because, their is almost a twenty year sibling span in gerneration five. The older Williams' 11 sibling were becoming grandparents; when the younger ones were becoming parents. Okay, that makes me feel a little better.
Family, 8 Generation and Counting!
Here are some of my favorite websites:
Cowan Williams Family Tree (http://www.ancestry.com)