Ira E Britten
By Peggy, from letters to Peggy from her Grandma Ellen Britton
Written 23 April 2005

Years ago when Peggy was a child, she became interested in family history. One of her fascinations was with the story of Ira E Britten and the Cherokee Run. Although now, I don't have these letters, I'm sure that what my Mom Shirley (Wilde) Britton and my older sister Kathy said of my research on Uncle Ira is true. Perhaps when I unpack all of my genealogy, after my moving around, I may find those letters. Also, in this story will be mentioned the book called Cherokee Strip Fever by Zola Sample. Apparently as a kid, I had read this book through and found an Eva Britton. I guess that my Dad read the book with me, since apparently Dad and I made many notes in the margins. This book too, has long since gone missing. However, I've tried for several years to find this book in the public libraries. None of them know of it. I've also checked in the LDS Family History Library Catalog to see if they have the book in their resources. Again, the answer seems to be, “No.” Last night I went on www.amazon.com and found the book! I also found a good reference book on the Cherokee people and their tials. Its my intention to re-read these books.

Anyway, to continue with the story on Ira. He has long since a legend in our Britton family. I've found quite a few people who have tried through the generations to find him. Everyone keeps running onto brick walls. We do know that he exists, however, and that he had descendants. We also know that he was on the Cherokee Run in Oklahoma. I'll include a story of the Cherokee Run, with resource websites for you to look at about this very interesting piece of history of the Old West in the United States. This story will be called Glimpses of the Cherokee Run and Events Leading to the Run. I, Peggy, have long been fascinated with this history, as well.

Here is what it seems that we know of him and his family.

  1. 'According to a letter Peggy, from Elen Britton, dated March 13, 1983, her brother Lyman Waters said, A Homer E (Edwards or Edwin), that used to live in the Springfiled colo area is a direct descendant of Ira E. Britton was in the Cherokee Run. 'Homer E. had 2 girls, Sharon and Ruth. He (Lyman), also says, he heard from a Sharon Porter, of Los Angeles Calif and she states she is a direct descendant of Ira E. Britton.' She told Lyman that Ira E stayed in Oklahoma awhile, then went to Liberal Kansas; then he or his descendants hometeaded near Springfiled, Colorado. The date of the Cherokee Run was 16 Sept 1893.'

  2. A newspaper clipping from Ellen Britton to Peg (Peggy – site administrator) in april 1984, has a penciled part on the side, “Lyman told me descendants of Aree (Ira E Britton) went to Burdett Kansas.”

  3. 'Also Mother Britton (Elizabeth Aletha [Lightle] Britton – wife of the son of Ira's brother Louis Cass Britton, son being William Isaac Britton) knew a Dr Hamilton and his wife (both now dead); anyway, they said they were related to Homer (Edward or Edwin) Britton'. (Peggy – site administrator- feels that she now has to look to see if back in the history of Baca County Colorado there may have been a Dr. Hamilton. Peggy isn't sure if this is where Dr Hamilton would have his practice or not. Its her suspicion, since Elizabeth and William Isaac Britton noted above lived in neighboring county of Las Animas Colorado. Also, Peggy's Dad said that a lot of their trading was done in Baca County.) (Peggy just did a look up in Baca County Colorado death index at: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~cobaca/births_deaths_H_K.htm She found: Hamilton,
    Clara born 30 Jun 1889 died Dec 1970 Residence Springfield
    Hamilton, Walter A born 25 Jun 1916 died 6 Aug 2000 Residence Walsh
    Peggy – site administrator- doesn't know if they are Dr Hamilton and his wife, but its a sispicion. Also in #7 below, a volunteer whose work is greatly appreciated lists two Britton who are buried in the Walsh Cemetery, so this could be the people whom Peggy's Great Grandmother knew. We'll have to check this out.)

  4. Peggy's father was riding up in the Colorado mountains one day, hunting from horseback. He sat down by a tree to rest. Another man was sitting there. Dad always liked to talk with people, so they started talking. The guy's wife was a descendant of Ira E Britten. He and his wife were living in Las Vegas Nevada at the time. Dad obtained their mailing address, but lost it out of his pocket while riding his horse down the mountain!

  5. I (Peggy – site administrator) remember a letter from Grandma Ellen Britton (wife of Clarence Custer Britton who is Great Nephew of Ira) where Grandma said there were descendants of Ira living in New Mexico. Ok, so we need to look this up too!

  6. Peggy just saw a letter from her grandmother to he mother Shirley Britton, where Ellen mentioned those Brittons again. Here is what the paragraph says, leaving out the names of living people involved. “Mr Guthrie writes to a cousin tht married one of the Britton girls that used to live in Pritchett or Springfiled area. That was supposed to be descendents of Aree E. Britton” (Peggy notes that she has asked her 2nd cousin AdWyna noted on front index page of this site under contacts to speak with Mr Guthrie. The reason Peggy has asked AdWyna is because AdWyna's grandmothe Jessica Bernice Guthrie is a relative of the Guthrie who apparently writes to a descendant of Peggy's Great Great Great Uncle Ira E Britten.)

  7. (story on uncle Ira Britten by I think, Kathy) “While Granddad (William Isaac Britton) was in Washington, he wrote to Aree (Ira E) at the old address in Missouri and got the letter back marked “moved, address unknown.” Later, in 1919, Granddad and his family moved to southeastern Colorado, 15 or 18 miles west of Pritchett. For years, when going to Springfield for supplies, they passed about two miles north of Pritchett. Many years later, after Granddad's death, Uncle Lyman (Lyman Waters-brother of the wife of Granddad's son Clarence Custer Britton), I think found that this uncle had bought or homesteaded a few miles north of Pritchett, where his descendants still live as far as I know. It appears that Granddad passed within a few miles of his (Ira's) farm many times. Granddad knew a Britton family lived there, but didn't check it out, as the spelling was different. However, there have been several spellings of the name in our family history, apparently, since some didn't have schooling and assumed whatever spelling someone gave them when they learned to write. It appears Aree moved there when he sold the homestead acquired in the Cherokee Run and perhaps another business.” (Peggy – site administrator – adds a few points. I don't know about Ira having any other business. Maybe Kathy knows something I don't. As for it being Ira vs his descendants who homesteaded near Pritchett, I'm not sure whether it was Ira or his descendants. Also, According to Ira's descendant, it sounds like Ira went to Kansas after leaving Oklahoma. He may well have moved to Pritchett area, or it may have been his descendants. This is something we still need to check out. --Peggy--)

  8. Peggy also has received a letter from a volunteer lookup for Baca County of some Britton deaths there in Baca county. These are burial records which the volunteer just gave me. They are:
    two Britton buried in Walsh cemetery:     Britton, Edith M. Apr 2, 1874 - Dec 30, 1964 Britton, Herman E. 1917 – 1992.

    The volunteer also notes:
    Homer Britton probate in 1965 case no. 88 PR 12 in Baca County. Edith Britton probate 1965 case no 1898     To get copies of files Send SASE along with your request to:District and County CourtsBaca County Courthouse 741 Main St. Springfield, CO 81073Phone 719523-4555

    (Peggy – site administrator) has no idea if these Brittons listed here in #7 are descendants of Ira, but intends to find out. Also, is Herman and Homer the same person? Also Peggy intends to order these probates. She is also going to look for land records.)

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