06-06-2025, Exploring Stonewall, Oklahoma

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

06-06-2025, Exploring Stonewall, Oklahoma

Genealogy Fireworks in Stonewall: Whispers, Surprises, and a Happy Dance

Most genealogy days feel routine, like flipping through old pages. But every now and then, you hit the jackpot — fireworks go off, your heart races, and the ancestors practically shout, “Pay attention!” That’s exactly what happened to me in Stonewall. From the moment we pulled out of the Arbuckle RV Resort — just a 30-minute drive away — I had no clue the day would end with me doing a full-on genealogy happy dance.

Everything felt wet and balmy due to last night’s crazy thunderstorm. However, late spring still lingers, and the green grasses along the highway glistened from the rain the night before.

Once we arrived in Stonewall, we parked on Main Street. Barry went into a store to see if they had a few supplies we needed. The row of old buildings we parked in front of included the store. I just wanted to walk the street and take it all in. Knowing my Griffin grandparents, Bertha and R. D., Uncle Richard, Uncle Top, Mom, and Uncle Jimmie, lived here, I just wanted to wander...and listen for my genealogy whispers to come, not expecting anything.

Like a lot of old towns, builders raised the buildings above the street and laid rock foundations that still hold firm. I took a few photos and met up with Barry, and we walked up the street to a brick building on the corner.

I Facetimed Uncle Richard while looking at the old building, now City Hall, and asked if this building matched the building where Great Aunt Mary Helen bought the offices behind the bank and converted them into an apartment. She moved in her grandparents, Richard and Lou Ada Griffin, my paternal great-grandparents. So, yes, the same building, and I’m happy we found the correct one.

The window stated Stonewall City Hall. We walked in, and I immediately gravitated to the photos hanging on a side wall. To my surprise, a photo of Cradduck Grocery & Feed caught my eye. DID YOU HEAR THAT EXPLOSION GOING OFF IN MY HEAD? The Cradduck name is on my Grandpa Griffin’s side. I turned and looked at Barry as tears welled up in my eyes. I felt whispers beginning. I asked the woman working behind the counter if she knew anyone I could talk to about the town’s history. I also let her know that the Cradducks in the photos are my ancestors. She gave me the name of Patrick Snell, who works down the street at the new hardware store. He also runs the Stonewall Historical Foundation. Off we went, I mean running!

We drove to the other end of town and parked in front of the hardware store. I walked into the store, and the guy at the long counter asked me if I needed any help. I introduced myself and explained I was looking for Patrick Snell, and to my surprise, he was Patrick. I explained what I was doing here, the Cradduck connection, and I wanted to know if he might have any information. He said he does. One shows a photo of Earl Cradduck cutting meat in the back of the store. HEAD EXPLOSION AGAIN! He might have additional information about the store and would be happy to send it to me. We talked a little more and exchanged email addresses, and he had to get back to work. It might be interesting to know how he ended up in Stonewall, given that he had just graduated from college. I let him know I’m in the area until Monday if anything comes up. I’m on pins and needles.

We drove back toward the market, stopped in front of an old gas station with a food truck and a garage sale. As I took pictures of the other side of the street, a man walked up to me and asked if I was interested in the town. I gave him a quick rundown of why. His name is Terry Welch, and he grew up in the area. His grandmother, Elsie Welch, and my great-grandparents, Richard and Lou Ada Griffin, lived here around the same time. He had some fun details about the town.

Behind the bank on the corner used to be the town jail. He used to play in it as a child, and so did my Uncle Richard and Uncle Top. The city council wanted to tear down the old jail, but instead, Terry moved the building to his property. Darn, I would have loved to see that.

In the 1920s, a statue of Stonewall Jackson sat in the middle of one of the intersections. The town takes its name from him. Many years ago, the county came through and paved the road through Stonewall; they buried the statue under the asphalt. He says he knows where it’s at but wants to keep that to himself. At some point, he will find it.

Another thing he mentioned is locals love to tell the tale of Pretty Boy Floyd robbing the corner bank…twice!

Terry informed me that, due to the railroad coming through the area, the town was relocated due to a mix-up with the railroad route. Uncle Richard mentioned that to me before. I need to dig into that some more.

Terry showed me a photo he found when tearing down one of the walls of an old building on Main Street. Per Terry, the image must have been taken around 1923, based on the trucks in the picture. The photo shows a mix of horses, wagons, and new trucks. Terry builds hot rods and restores old cars, so he is familiar with the dates cars were built. The photo is below. I thanked him for all the information and asked him to send me any updates regarding my family if he found out anything. What a hoot to talk to.

What a great photo

I walked across the street to explore the store that Barry had gone into. I met a man named Joe Abbot, the current owner of the store my ancestor once owned. I explained my story, which set off another conversation. He talked about the Stonewall Jackson statue, too. Joe says it’s at one of the intersections in town...truth, myth, or legend. How fun that would be. The Snow family owned the store after the Cradduck family. One of the Snow granddaughters works at his Ada store and may hold information. We exchanged contact info. I hope this pans out.

After my conversation with Joe, I called Uncle Richard again. He told me they used to live down the street from the corner bank (now City Hall). Again, new information to me. They resided in Durant while his dad worked on the Lake Texoma project. Once the WWII draft came calling, he wanted the family closer to extended family while he served his time, so they moved to Stonewall. As we drove down S. Harrison Street, I turned my phone around so Uncle Richard could see the houses as we passed. We passed the First Baptist Church, and he said the home should be two down from the church. BINGO! He recognized it. Also, Uncle Richard’s maternal Grandmother, Mary Jane Landrum, moved in with them. I need to review the census data for this time period and identify any correlations that exist.

The house is still standing and
to think my mom lived here was wild

Then Uncle Richard throws out, “You know your grandmother (his mom) got baptized at the First Baptist Church you just passed?” WHAT! ANOTHER EXPLOSION! She got baptized while his father served in World War II. I asked Barry to turn the jeep around. I need to find a phone number to speak with someone! The church office door had a note taped to it stating that someone would be in the office from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. I hear genealogy whispers.

Church where my grandmother,
Bertha Griffin was baptized

A Ring doorbell, nice, so I pushed it just on a hunch. In a few seconds, I could hear someone talking to me through the little speaker, after explaining my craziness and asking if I could come back in the next few days to see if a record existed of my grandmother’s baptism. She said to meet her on Monday after 9:00 AM, and hopefully she’ll have the record. I provided her with my grandmother’s name, as per her request, and my phone number. Oh, wouldn’t this be a kick in the pants if she found any information? That flash you just saw...FIREWORKS are exploding in my head!

Oh, a few other notes from Uncle Richard. Pretty Boy Floyd’s aunt lived in the house next to them, and Pretty Boy Floyd visited his aunt late at night so that no one saw him. Fact or Fiction? Uncle Richard still has the Bible he won at the same Baptist church for not missing one day of Vacation Bible School when he attended grade school.

Pretty Boy Floyd's Aunt's house

On the way back to the jeep, I felt like I was doing genealogy cartwheels in my head. The day had started like any other — a short drive, a quick breakfast — but Stonewall turned it into a fireworks show of whispers, surprises, and connections I never expected. If this is what one day can hold, I can’t wait to see what Monday brings at the church. My ancestors clearly aren’t finished talking to me yet.

From Stonewall, we drove out of town to Roff. Yes, another cemetery, Lightning Ridge Cemetery, is located there, and my second great-aunt and uncle, Wash W. and Prudence Griffin, are buried there.