Volume 15 , Issue 5

Bert Louthan & Belle Cokerham Story

Here is another Vol. IV article that appeared in our OkieLegacy ezine back in 2002, that we are adding to our database archives. I thought it important to put in our database archives for those searching genealogy of the Louthan's and Cokerham's.

Cindy (Louthan) Powell writes, "I have a letter that was written about my great-grandparents by their 10 children. This beautiful tribute was written to them for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I am very honored to say that I am in possession of the original hand-written version, as well as pictures of the homesteads mentioned. I also have pictures of the celebration honoring Bert and Belle's 50th Wedding Anniversary. Anyone who has any information regarding our family, I would love hear from. Thanks for reading and appreciating this."

Fifty Good Years

September 16, 1893 is the date chosen as the beginning of the active life of a young man as he leaves the family fold and ventures forth to create a realm of his own. On that day Bert Louthan and nine other men, "friends and relatives", one of them being his youngest brother Sammie Louthan, lined up astride their prized steeds along an imaginary line to venture into an unknown land, there to claim a portion of this good earth as their own. That day was the opening of the Cherokee Strip for settlement by the white people. And these young men selected a position on the line which was crowded with every sort of conveyance and as the starting signal rang out, the amazing race began. As it proceeded many people lagged and were left behind, but a few forged ahead of the line. Bert, on his swift bay mare was one of these and he soon dismounted and placed his stake. However, all did not go well with this claim, since four others were contenders for the same land. The following, a year later he returned to the strip again to make a search for a homestead. The find was made twelve miles east of Alva and his home was started. That one-half dugout would suffice for only a short time, however, as he kept thinking of taking a bride to adorn a more elaborate home. A building was moved from the state of "Kansas" and prepared for this purpose.

Bert Louthan and Belle Cokerham first met when Belle, who lived in Missouri, was visiting her sister, Sally, the wife of Eddie Louthan of near Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Burtie was farming in partnership with his brother, Eddie, and making his home with Eddie and Sally.

Bert and Belle fell in love and Bert wanted Belle to marry him at once and go to the new home in the strip. Belle was willing, but her parents thought Oklahoma was a wild place with vicious indians lurking behind every clump of sage brush ready to spring out and scalp every white man.

Belle didn't return to Kansas until spring of 1899. By this time she had made up her mind to go with Bert in spite of anything. Without waiting to make a wedding dress, she donned her best dress and in a covered wagon loaded with belongings and all the necessities for frontier living, including a sow and litter of pigs, she and Bert headed for the Cherokee strip stopping in Medicine Lodge long enough to be married on April 20, 1899.

Belle made a home for them in the bachelor shack Bert had erected on the homestead and they lived there for two years, then selling the place and buying one in the Barnes community in the southern part of what was then Woods county. They built a home on the new place. Through the years it came alive with the patter of little feet, as the family grew together, they battled all odds, drought, floods, wind, and storms and all the hardships of pioneer life. Through sun or shadow, prosperity or poverty, this family was and is still a unit. But even as a unit they did not live for themselves alone.

In a struggling pioneer community many emergencies arose and the neighbors know that whatever the emergency, Belle and Bert Louthan would respond with whatever help was needed. Ten children came to bless this home and when Sally Louthan died, Bert and Belle opened their hearts and home to include her small daughter, Edna. She grew up with the other children and seems more like a sister that a cousin to them. As these eleven children grew to manhood and womanhood they have all married and founded their own families, five of them are honored citizens of the community their parents helped to build. The others are scattered in six Western states, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, California, and Oregon. They are all happy, healthy people.

Belle always hoped that one of her children would become a minister. She is happy that three of them are now following that calling. The others are government workers, farmers, engineers and that most important occupation, housewives.

But, whatever the occupation, today, they have forsaken it to be for one day simply sons and daughters. Today they have assembled to pay honor and tribute to Father and Mother on this, their day of days, their 50th wedding anniversary.

Father and Mother, words cannot express all that is in the hearts of your children today. We are proud to be the sons and daughters of Belle and Bert Louthan. We are proud of your characters, of your faith, and we are proud of you, we are proud of the strength and determination that carried you through the hard years, we are proud of all that you are. So, Father and Mother humbly we say you honor us this greatest of days, your wedding day. -- Fifty years later - April 20, 1949.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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