James Otis Gant, "Otis" as he was known, was one of seven children of Elisha Daniel and Mattie Gilmore Gant. He had three brothers and three sisters, all of whom lived in hard times in Texas and Oklahoma during the late 1800's and early 1900's. In 1968, at the age of 82, his family persuaded him to write his life story. It is a Word document of 39 pages, too large to copy here, but I will forward it to anyone related to him who sends me an email address. It is a fascinating read, filled with humor and tragedy as the family traveled constantly in their struggle to scratch out a living by farming. The stories and anecdotes come from their original home in in Hill County and other places in Texas like Walnut Springs, Hamlin, Plainview, Vernon and Texline, and from places in Oklahoma like Chickasha, Norge, Hollis, McAlester, Oklahoma City and Cimarron County on the far western edge of the Oklahoma panhandle. His descriptions of everyday life, courtship, marriage, work, and how horse and wagon was their only mode of travel (until the model T came along) are priceless.
My dad, Clifton Wright Long, was Otis' nephew through his mother. She was Eula Bomer Gant, my grandmother and Otis' sister. For many years Dad kept a 3-ring binder with a Xerox copy of the hand-written story, which he later passed to me. Some time ago I decided to preserve it by typing it to a Word document. Other copies may exist in the Gant family.
Jon Long
Tulsa, Oklahoma
1-16-2014
The story contains the following preface written by Sybil Gant Clinkscales, his daughter.
"James Otis Gant's Story"
This story was copied as my Daddy, James Otis Gant, wrote it on theme paper in his own words, on the days he felt like writing, in Fireside Rest Home in Hillsboro, Texas in 1968 at age 82 years.
He and his wife Gertrude Lou (Wright) Gant lived in this rest home over three years with friends who loved and cared for them and family who came often to help.
This story was copied at the request of kinfolks who desired to read past experiences of the Gant families.
In loving memories of days gone by, my desire is that those who read this story with loving, caring and sharing thoughts and prayers will cherish the history and memories here.
With Love,
Sibyl Gant Clinkscales
My dad, Clifton Wright Long, was Otis' nephew through his mother. She was Eula Bomer Gant, my grandmother and Otis' sister. For many years Dad kept a 3-ring binder with a Xerox copy of the hand-written story, which he later passed to me. Some time ago I decided to preserve it by typing it to a Word document. Other copies may exist in the Gant family.
Jon Long
Tulsa, Oklahoma
1-16-2014
The story contains the following preface written by Sybil Gant Clinkscales, his daughter.
"James Otis Gant's Story"
This story was copied as my Daddy, James Otis Gant, wrote it on theme paper in his own words, on the days he felt like writing, in Fireside Rest Home in Hillsboro, Texas in 1968 at age 82 years.
He and his wife Gertrude Lou (Wright) Gant lived in this rest home over three years with friends who loved and cared for them and family who came often to help.
This story was copied at the request of kinfolks who desired to read past experiences of the Gant families.
In loving memories of days gone by, my desire is that those who read this story with loving, caring and sharing thoughts and prayers will cherish the history and memories here.
With Love,
Sibyl Gant Clinkscales
James Otis Gant, "Otis" as he was known, was one of seven children of Elisha Daniel and Mattie Gilmore Gant. He had three brothers and three sisters, all of whom lived in hard times in Texas and Oklahoma during the late 1800's and early 1900's. In 1968, at the age of 82, his family persuaded him to write his life story. It is a Word document of 39 pages, too large to copy here, but I will forward it to anyone related to him who sends me an email address. It is a fascinating read, filled with humor and tragedy as the family traveled constantly in their struggle to scratch out a living by farming. The stories and anecdotes come from their original home in in Hill County and other places in Texas like Walnut Springs, Hamlin, Plainview, Vernon and Texline, and from places in Oklahoma like Chickasha, Norge, Hollis, McAlester, Oklahoma City and Cimarron County on the far western edge of the Oklahoma panhandle. His descriptions of everyday life, courtship, marriage, work, and how horse and wagon was their only mode of travel (until the model T came along) are priceless.
My dad, Clifton Wright Long, was Otis' nephew through his mother. She was Eula Bomer Gant, my grandmother and Otis' sister. For many years Dad kept a 3-ring binder with a Xerox copy of the hand-written story, which he later passed to me. Some time ago I decided to preserve it by typing it to a Word document. Other copies may exist in the Gant family.
Jon Long
Tulsa, Oklahoma
1-16-2014
The story contains the following preface written by Sybil Gant Clinkscales, his daughter.
"James Otis Gant's Story"
This story was copied as my Daddy, James Otis Gant, wrote it on theme paper in his own words, on the days he felt like writing, in Fireside Rest Home in Hillsboro, Texas in 1968 at age 82 years.
He and his wife Gertrude Lou (Wright) Gant lived in this rest home over three years with friends who loved and cared for them and family who came often to help.
This story was copied at the request of kinfolks who desired to read past experiences of the Gant families.
In loving memories of days gone by, my desire is that those who read this story with loving, caring and sharing thoughts and prayers will cherish the history and memories here.
With Love,
Sibyl Gant Clinkscales
My dad, Clifton Wright Long, was Otis' nephew through his mother. She was Eula Bomer Gant, my grandmother and Otis' sister. For many years Dad kept a 3-ring binder with a Xerox copy of the hand-written story, which he later passed to me. Some time ago I decided to preserve it by typing it to a Word document. Other copies may exist in the Gant family.
Jon Long
Tulsa, Oklahoma
1-16-2014
The story contains the following preface written by Sybil Gant Clinkscales, his daughter.
"James Otis Gant's Story"
This story was copied as my Daddy, James Otis Gant, wrote it on theme paper in his own words, on the days he felt like writing, in Fireside Rest Home in Hillsboro, Texas in 1968 at age 82 years.
He and his wife Gertrude Lou (Wright) Gant lived in this rest home over three years with friends who loved and cared for them and family who came often to help.
This story was copied at the request of kinfolks who desired to read past experiences of the Gant families.
In loving memories of days gone by, my desire is that those who read this story with loving, caring and sharing thoughts and prayers will cherish the history and memories here.
With Love,
Sibyl Gant Clinkscales
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