Volume 9 , Issue 52

Pioneer Frank N. Gray - Enid, OK

[Information from the Foreward, pg. v, Observation From The Station South of Town - A Quindecennial Chronology, by Robert N. Gray.]

Frank N. Gray was almost 60 years old when he opened the little "Fillin' Station" along highway 81, between Enid & Waukomis, in Northwest Oklahoma. He had no intention of operating the business himself, but the twists of fate left him straddled with the enterprise. Laid back almost to a fault, he assumed the responsibility and for the next fifteen years toiled by the side of the road being a friend to everyone.

Frank felt like many others that Enid was the best town in the best county in the best state in the best nation in the world. We are talking, of course, about Enid, Oklahoma, in Garfield County. Frank "Fillin' Station" was halfway between Enid and Waukomis on highway 81.

Frank Gray took life easy, he was a keen observer of the world scene and maintained a broad interest in events from local to world wide. With his radio and daily newspaper, he kept up with his wide interests, encompassing family, politics, economics, and sporting events, local, state, and national. He visited with all who stopped by his station, and treated them graciously even when they only needed water for their thirsty radiators.

Frank Gray could talk with his customers at any level on nearly an subject, usually agreeing with them when he found how they felt about things.

Frank's grandson, Robert N. Gray, mentioned in the book that his grandfather worked by the side of the road, changing tires, filling boiling radiators with free water, putting small amounts of gasoline in cars and occasionally selling a quart of oil. Frank also had available bread, candy and tobacco products, as well as the pop cooler stocked with Coca Cola and Nehi sodas.

Remember the Nehi grape sodas and the small 6 oz bottles of Coca Cola?

Old friends and disappointed politicians stopped by continuously to visit with Frank, discussing world affairs, politics and sporting events. Frank was known as "Daddy" Gray, he was a grand old man without an enemy in the world.

Does anyone out there have any memories of Frank Gray and his "fillin' station" on the crest of the hill along hwy 81 between Enid and Waukomis, Oklahoma? We would love to share them with everyone here at The OkieLegacy.

The "fillin' station" closed shortly after the declaration of WWII. Frank's wife, Myrtie Bingham, passed away in 1952 and Frank died in September 1966, six months into his 99th year.

Frank was 25 years of age during the time of the 1893 Cherokee Strip land run. He was eager to make the Run, but he was influenced by his peers who were uninterested and his family was still doubtful of the wisdom of racing into uncivilized land most recently occupied by wild Indians. The soil of his home in Iowa was much more productive than the Oklahoma lands. His family was deeply involved in the local community of Iowa and Frank had a new girl friend, the grand daughter of a prominent Baptist clergyman.

By the turn of the century, Frank Gray and Myrtie Bingham were married and expecting their third child. Frank managed to save enough money to buy a team of horses, several cows, and several pieces of used farm equipment. The winters in Iowa seemed to become more fierce as the years went by, the local economy was not good. Frank's brother, John, had announced that he wanted to take over the family farm. Myrtie's parents were going to retire and were looking for a warmer climate. Frank's older sister, Alice, was a widow and had expressed an interest in moving to Oklahoma. That is when Frank decided Oklahoma was the place for all of them.

In the spring of 1900, Frank's father-in-law, Theron Bingham, and Frank boarded a train in Des Moines, Iowa and headed to Enid, Oklahoma. A real estate agent met them at the station and drove them out on the south road about four miles to what they thought was the most beautiful farm they had ever seen. The price back then was $2,250 for a quarter section of land.

With an August possession date, they hurried back to Iowa and began planning the move. Household goods, along with cattle, horses and machinery, were to be loaded in a box car. Frank was to ride in that car along with the animals. The rest of the family, including Mr. and Mrs. Bingham, Alice Beech and Myrtie and their children were to begin the trip the next day on a passenger train.

The three room house was determined to be inadequate. As years went by, rooms were added and another story built. By 1910, they had what might have been considered a mansion in earlier times. In 1912, They purchased a large barn which had been used in Enid as a livery stable. They moved it to the farm and placed near the top of the hill. Like the house, the barn could be seen on the horizon for many miles in nearly all directions.

Frank and Myrtie Gray had nine children and they attended the Valley View grade school and Enid High school. The children were:

Edna Mae married John Shields, they had five daughters;

percy Harold married Vivian Pfieffer, they had three sons;

Wayne Nelson married Alene Jarboe, they had two sons;

Teron Ralph married Leta Reynolds, they had two sons, one daughter;

Paul John married Helen Franklin, they had two daughters;

Gladys Laverne married Leonard Allen, they had one son, one daughter;

Glenda Maurine married Leon Halbrook, they had one son, two daughters;

Darrel Dean married Irene Harrison, they had one son, two daughters;

Ethmer Almeda married Donald Kordis, they had two sons.

It was in the mid-1920's when automobiles were chugging past the farm in ever increasing numbers, that Frank decided to build a filling station on the crest of the hill between Enid and Waukomis. His son Paul was interested in running it and as his son Ralph and his son-in-law John Shields.

If any of this jogs any memory cells of some Northwest Oklahomans, we would love to hear from you. Just email this NW Okie at mcwagner.lk@gmail.com. Thanks!
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