George was born April 15, 1903 to John and Amelia Kurth Dunham at the "H-7-D" ranch. This ranch was located a few miles from the ranch where the Dunham's now reside. His early childhood was spent on that ranch and a ranch on Stockade Beaver near the LAK. In 1909 the family moved to Newcastle so that he and his sister, Bertha could attend
school. Some of his teachers were Pearl Dow Churchfield, Marguerite Coyle Evander, Edith Hilton Jackson and Ida Barrett Anderson, all members of early Weston County
families. About 1915 his parents homestead on Main Beaver and the children boarded with families in Newcastle to finish their education. At the age of sixteen, George quit school and went to work dressing tools for Mose
Griffith on an oil well that was being drilled. From then on he made his living in the oil business. Bessie, nicknamed Bobby, was born September 20, 1904 to Charles and Matilda Larson Julius at Cherokee, Iowa. She lived in
that area until her mother died of tuberculosis in 1920. The family then moved to the Widner Ranch near Kara Mountain. It was at a country dance near there that
George and Bessie met. They were married November 28, 1922 at the Episcopal Church in Newcastle, and began their married life in the Osage Oil Field. In the winter of 1923 he was sent to Thornton, Wyoming where a well was being drilled. Bessie was pregnant at the time but
contracted to cook for the workers. While there she went into early labor. Dr. Charles Reed came out and informed them that she would have to be transported to Upton. Mr.
Warren, one of the workers, insisted that she be taken to his home in Upton. Their daughter, Dorothy, was born early the morning of January 14, 1924, six weeks premature
weighing only 3 12 pounds. One wonders how a baby that small without the benefit of our modern day technology and facilities survived. As soon as it was safe for the baby to travel they went back to their home in the Osage Field.
Work was scarce, so they moved to Lead, South Dakota and George went to work for Homestake at the gold mine. He wasn't happy working underground, so they moved to the Salt Creek Oil Field in 1926. In 1929 they came back to Weston County and George worked for various oil companies
in the Osage Field. Some of the homes they lived in were tar-paper shacks but Bessie always managed to make them attractive and homelike. The houses were rent free and
natural gas was piped into them. This provided heat and lights, but water had to be hauled. In 1936 they bought a 1360 acre ranch from Lawrence McCollough. This ranch joined
George's parents ranch on Main Beaver. They waited until their daughter finished school in May 1941 before moving there. The two families used both ranches and ran their
sheep and cattle together. The couple only had one child of their own but helped raise Bessie's younger brothers
and sisters. Consequently they became substitute grand-parents to their nieces and nephews. "Going to Aunt Bobby and George's" was a favorite pastime for all the children and their friends. They have now retired but still live on the ranch. It has been suggested that they move
to town, but they can't imagine leaving the home where they have resided for so many years. Their grandson, Rodney Cheek, lives with them and helps to look after their needs. Their daughter, Dorothy, is married to
Arthur Cheek and lives in Osage. They have two grandchildren, Rodney and Jane Ann. She is married to Vernon Seeley and they live on the old Bock Ranch on Skull Creek. The Seeley's have three children, Matthew, Paula
and David. by Dorothy Cheek
"Weston County History, First Hundred Years"
school. Some of his teachers were Pearl Dow Churchfield, Marguerite Coyle Evander, Edith Hilton Jackson and Ida Barrett Anderson, all members of early Weston County
families. About 1915 his parents homestead on Main Beaver and the children boarded with families in Newcastle to finish their education. At the age of sixteen, George quit school and went to work dressing tools for Mose
Griffith on an oil well that was being drilled. From then on he made his living in the oil business. Bessie, nicknamed Bobby, was born September 20, 1904 to Charles and Matilda Larson Julius at Cherokee, Iowa. She lived in
that area until her mother died of tuberculosis in 1920. The family then moved to the Widner Ranch near Kara Mountain. It was at a country dance near there that
George and Bessie met. They were married November 28, 1922 at the Episcopal Church in Newcastle, and began their married life in the Osage Oil Field. In the winter of 1923 he was sent to Thornton, Wyoming where a well was being drilled. Bessie was pregnant at the time but
contracted to cook for the workers. While there she went into early labor. Dr. Charles Reed came out and informed them that she would have to be transported to Upton. Mr.
Warren, one of the workers, insisted that she be taken to his home in Upton. Their daughter, Dorothy, was born early the morning of January 14, 1924, six weeks premature
weighing only 3 12 pounds. One wonders how a baby that small without the benefit of our modern day technology and facilities survived. As soon as it was safe for the baby to travel they went back to their home in the Osage Field.
Work was scarce, so they moved to Lead, South Dakota and George went to work for Homestake at the gold mine. He wasn't happy working underground, so they moved to the Salt Creek Oil Field in 1926. In 1929 they came back to Weston County and George worked for various oil companies
in the Osage Field. Some of the homes they lived in were tar-paper shacks but Bessie always managed to make them attractive and homelike. The houses were rent free and
natural gas was piped into them. This provided heat and lights, but water had to be hauled. In 1936 they bought a 1360 acre ranch from Lawrence McCollough. This ranch joined
George's parents ranch on Main Beaver. They waited until their daughter finished school in May 1941 before moving there. The two families used both ranches and ran their
sheep and cattle together. The couple only had one child of their own but helped raise Bessie's younger brothers
and sisters. Consequently they became substitute grand-parents to their nieces and nephews. "Going to Aunt Bobby and George's" was a favorite pastime for all the children and their friends. They have now retired but still live on the ranch. It has been suggested that they move
to town, but they can't imagine leaving the home where they have resided for so many years. Their grandson, Rodney Cheek, lives with them and helps to look after their needs. Their daughter, Dorothy, is married to
Arthur Cheek and lives in Osage. They have two grandchildren, Rodney and Jane Ann. She is married to Vernon Seeley and they live on the old Bock Ranch on Skull Creek. The Seeley's have three children, Matthew, Paula
and David. by Dorothy Cheek
"Weston County History, First Hundred Years"
George was born April 15, 1903 to John and Amelia Kurth Dunham at the "H-7-D" ranch. This ranch was located a few miles from the ranch where the Dunham's now reside. His early childhood was spent on that ranch and a ranch on Stockade Beaver near the LAK. In 1909 the family moved to Newcastle so that he and his sister, Bertha could attend
school. Some of his teachers were Pearl Dow Churchfield, Marguerite Coyle Evander, Edith Hilton Jackson and Ida Barrett Anderson, all members of early Weston County
families. About 1915 his parents homestead on Main Beaver and the children boarded with families in Newcastle to finish their education. At the age of sixteen, George quit school and went to work dressing tools for Mose
Griffith on an oil well that was being drilled. From then on he made his living in the oil business. Bessie, nicknamed Bobby, was born September 20, 1904 to Charles and Matilda Larson Julius at Cherokee, Iowa. She lived in
that area until her mother died of tuberculosis in 1920. The family then moved to the Widner Ranch near Kara Mountain. It was at a country dance near there that
George and Bessie met. They were married November 28, 1922 at the Episcopal Church in Newcastle, and began their married life in the Osage Oil Field. In the winter of 1923 he was sent to Thornton, Wyoming where a well was being drilled. Bessie was pregnant at the time but
contracted to cook for the workers. While there she went into early labor. Dr. Charles Reed came out and informed them that she would have to be transported to Upton. Mr.
Warren, one of the workers, insisted that she be taken to his home in Upton. Their daughter, Dorothy, was born early the morning of January 14, 1924, six weeks premature
weighing only 3 12 pounds. One wonders how a baby that small without the benefit of our modern day technology and facilities survived. As soon as it was safe for the baby to travel they went back to their home in the Osage Field.
Work was scarce, so they moved to Lead, South Dakota and George went to work for Homestake at the gold mine. He wasn't happy working underground, so they moved to the Salt Creek Oil Field in 1926. In 1929 they came back to Weston County and George worked for various oil companies
in the Osage Field. Some of the homes they lived in were tar-paper shacks but Bessie always managed to make them attractive and homelike. The houses were rent free and
natural gas was piped into them. This provided heat and lights, but water had to be hauled. In 1936 they bought a 1360 acre ranch from Lawrence McCollough. This ranch joined
George's parents ranch on Main Beaver. They waited until their daughter finished school in May 1941 before moving there. The two families used both ranches and ran their
sheep and cattle together. The couple only had one child of their own but helped raise Bessie's younger brothers
and sisters. Consequently they became substitute grand-parents to their nieces and nephews. "Going to Aunt Bobby and George's" was a favorite pastime for all the children and their friends. They have now retired but still live on the ranch. It has been suggested that they move
to town, but they can't imagine leaving the home where they have resided for so many years. Their grandson, Rodney Cheek, lives with them and helps to look after their needs. Their daughter, Dorothy, is married to
Arthur Cheek and lives in Osage. They have two grandchildren, Rodney and Jane Ann. She is married to Vernon Seeley and they live on the old Bock Ranch on Skull Creek. The Seeley's have three children, Matthew, Paula
and David. by Dorothy Cheek
"Weston County History, First Hundred Years"
school. Some of his teachers were Pearl Dow Churchfield, Marguerite Coyle Evander, Edith Hilton Jackson and Ida Barrett Anderson, all members of early Weston County
families. About 1915 his parents homestead on Main Beaver and the children boarded with families in Newcastle to finish their education. At the age of sixteen, George quit school and went to work dressing tools for Mose
Griffith on an oil well that was being drilled. From then on he made his living in the oil business. Bessie, nicknamed Bobby, was born September 20, 1904 to Charles and Matilda Larson Julius at Cherokee, Iowa. She lived in
that area until her mother died of tuberculosis in 1920. The family then moved to the Widner Ranch near Kara Mountain. It was at a country dance near there that
George and Bessie met. They were married November 28, 1922 at the Episcopal Church in Newcastle, and began their married life in the Osage Oil Field. In the winter of 1923 he was sent to Thornton, Wyoming where a well was being drilled. Bessie was pregnant at the time but
contracted to cook for the workers. While there she went into early labor. Dr. Charles Reed came out and informed them that she would have to be transported to Upton. Mr.
Warren, one of the workers, insisted that she be taken to his home in Upton. Their daughter, Dorothy, was born early the morning of January 14, 1924, six weeks premature
weighing only 3 12 pounds. One wonders how a baby that small without the benefit of our modern day technology and facilities survived. As soon as it was safe for the baby to travel they went back to their home in the Osage Field.
Work was scarce, so they moved to Lead, South Dakota and George went to work for Homestake at the gold mine. He wasn't happy working underground, so they moved to the Salt Creek Oil Field in 1926. In 1929 they came back to Weston County and George worked for various oil companies
in the Osage Field. Some of the homes they lived in were tar-paper shacks but Bessie always managed to make them attractive and homelike. The houses were rent free and
natural gas was piped into them. This provided heat and lights, but water had to be hauled. In 1936 they bought a 1360 acre ranch from Lawrence McCollough. This ranch joined
George's parents ranch on Main Beaver. They waited until their daughter finished school in May 1941 before moving there. The two families used both ranches and ran their
sheep and cattle together. The couple only had one child of their own but helped raise Bessie's younger brothers
and sisters. Consequently they became substitute grand-parents to their nieces and nephews. "Going to Aunt Bobby and George's" was a favorite pastime for all the children and their friends. They have now retired but still live on the ranch. It has been suggested that they move
to town, but they can't imagine leaving the home where they have resided for so many years. Their grandson, Rodney Cheek, lives with them and helps to look after their needs. Their daughter, Dorothy, is married to
Arthur Cheek and lives in Osage. They have two grandchildren, Rodney and Jane Ann. She is married to Vernon Seeley and they live on the old Bock Ranch on Skull Creek. The Seeley's have three children, Matthew, Paula
and David. by Dorothy Cheek
"Weston County History, First Hundred Years"
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