On April 28th

BALLARD-HOLLOWAY-TOLLEY -RIDENOUR-MCNUTT
By: Karen Sue (McNutt) Cosme

I am writing to add some names and photos of tombstones of my family who are buried at the Cemetery in Chelsea, OK.

Beulah Mae (Tolley) Holloway, (misspelled on headstone as Buelah) Born May 28, 1896 – Died April 23, 1947 (My Grandmother)

Her son (My Uncle) Cecil Glen Holloway Born March 2, 1928 – Died September 17, 1993

My Grandmothers Sister is: Mattie (Tolley) Ballard Born: December 10, 1888 – Died October 4, 1950

Her husband was Ben Ballard, Born: September 5,1886 – Died February 22, 1948

My Grandmothers Brother is: Robert Bryan (Bud) Tolley; Born June 22, 1898 – Died March 26, 1963

Sarah Ann “Sallie” Mankins Ballard: Born February 6, 1854 - Died February 3, 1919.
Sarah Ann’s husband George Washington Ballard: Born August 16, 1848 - Died April 28, 1919.

Tomy Ballard Sept 9. 1894 - May 2, 1919
Opal Ballard July 29, 1900 - May 2, 1919
Floe Ballard Sept 8, 1917 - May 2, 1919
Maudy Ridenour May 26, 1889 - May 2, 1919
Della Ridenour Dec 14, 1908 - May 2, 1919
Andy Ridenour Mar 22, 1912 - May 2, 1919
Hazel Ridenour Aug 12, 1917 - May 2, 1919
Sarah Ridenour Age 9 Died May 2, 1919
Iva Ridenour Age 7 Died May 2, 1919

On April 28th, 1919 Tommie Ballard and family went to the home of Charley Ridenour and Maudie Climetine Ballard Ridenour to stay all night as they were on their way to see about his team of horses that he had working on public works at Ramona, Okla. And wanted to get up early. Tommie Ballard went to borrow their buggy to go in. Tommie got up early to build the fire in a king heater stove with a 5 gallon can of kerosene. It exploded and blew him out the door and set the house on fire. It was a two story house with a window in each end on the second floor." "those sleeping upstairs were Charley Ridenour, age 29, and children, Della And Hazel Ridenour. Also two children of Ira Ridenour, Charley Ridenour's brother, whose wife had died. Her name was Carey Ridenour. Ira was away working. His children were Sarah Ridenour, age 10 and Iva Ridenour, age 8."

"Maudie jumped up and went to the stairs and said 'my lord Charley, the house is on fire'. Charlie jumped out the window and one of the children cried and Maudie went to them. They all burned up in the fire."

"Charley said she could not get out for he had already got burned some."

"Those sleeping downstairs were Tommie Ballard, age 27, his wife, Opal Davis Ballard, and daughter Flo."

"Andy Ridenour, age 7 yrs, was sleeping with his grandpa, George Washington Ballard, age 70 years, who is the father of Tommie Ballard And Maudie Clemetine Ballard Ridenour. They all lost their lives in the fire that burned their home. Which was close to the Verdigris river in the Sunnyside school district, Rogers County, Oklahoma."

"Tommie was took to the doctor at Chelsea, OK by Levi Lovel but Tommie just lived a few hours."

"The family has one big tombstone in Chelsea Cemetery with their names on it. They are buried in three coffins."

"Ira Ridenour had two other children who was not there. They were with some of the other folks. Their names are Jerry Ridenour And Mack Ridenour."

	Rogers County County Seat - Claremore
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