From History of Happyland (Raised in the Backwoods)--by Juanita Sawyer Fidler, October 1990; revised May 1991.
"Founder of Happyland" - John David Gann was a well-known pioneer cattleman and early settler of Happyland community, having come to the area around 1899. According to a biographical sketch in the Ada Bulletin on July 6, 1944, he established the community of Happyland.
His obituary in the Ada News on March 9, 1949 indicated that he owned and leased a large tract of land east of Ada, and his home that sat off the road in a lovely grove of trees was the social center for a large part of that section of Pontotoc County. The obituary also stated that he "bore a reputation of industry" and "served on the Happyland school board, giving unselfishly of his time and judgement for the good that he could do."
John Gann was born in Marion County, Alabama, to Hiram and Elizabeth Gann on Jan. 13, 1861. The family moved to Georgia, then to Texas and finally to Mena, Ark., where John met and married Melsenia Jones. She was born in Mississippi on July 15, 1872, the daughter of Caleb and Mariah Jones. John and Melsenia Gann's family consisted of seven daughters and one son. When he died, John Gann had 19 grandchildren and 72 great-grandchildren. His funeral was conducted by the Rev. Jess Caton and the Rev. Wood. Burial was at Oakman Cemetery.
"Founder of Happyland" - John David Gann was a well-known pioneer cattleman and early settler of Happyland community, having come to the area around 1899. According to a biographical sketch in the Ada Bulletin on July 6, 1944, he established the community of Happyland.
His obituary in the Ada News on March 9, 1949 indicated that he owned and leased a large tract of land east of Ada, and his home that sat off the road in a lovely grove of trees was the social center for a large part of that section of Pontotoc County. The obituary also stated that he "bore a reputation of industry" and "served on the Happyland school board, giving unselfishly of his time and judgement for the good that he could do."
John Gann was born in Marion County, Alabama, to Hiram and Elizabeth Gann on Jan. 13, 1861. The family moved to Georgia, then to Texas and finally to Mena, Ark., where John met and married Melsenia Jones. She was born in Mississippi on July 15, 1872, the daughter of Caleb and Mariah Jones. John and Melsenia Gann's family consisted of seven daughters and one son. When he died, John Gann had 19 grandchildren and 72 great-grandchildren. His funeral was conducted by the Rev. Jess Caton and the Rev. Wood. Burial was at Oakman Cemetery.
From History of Happyland (Raised in the Backwoods)--by Juanita Sawyer Fidler, October 1990; revised May 1991.
"Founder of Happyland" - John David Gann was a well-known pioneer cattleman and early settler of Happyland community, having come to the area around 1899. According to a biographical sketch in the Ada Bulletin on July 6, 1944, he established the community of Happyland.
His obituary in the Ada News on March 9, 1949 indicated that he owned and leased a large tract of land east of Ada, and his home that sat off the road in a lovely grove of trees was the social center for a large part of that section of Pontotoc County. The obituary also stated that he "bore a reputation of industry" and "served on the Happyland school board, giving unselfishly of his time and judgement for the good that he could do."
John Gann was born in Marion County, Alabama, to Hiram and Elizabeth Gann on Jan. 13, 1861. The family moved to Georgia, then to Texas and finally to Mena, Ark., where John met and married Melsenia Jones. She was born in Mississippi on July 15, 1872, the daughter of Caleb and Mariah Jones. John and Melsenia Gann's family consisted of seven daughters and one son. When he died, John Gann had 19 grandchildren and 72 great-grandchildren. His funeral was conducted by the Rev. Jess Caton and the Rev. Wood. Burial was at Oakman Cemetery.
"Founder of Happyland" - John David Gann was a well-known pioneer cattleman and early settler of Happyland community, having come to the area around 1899. According to a biographical sketch in the Ada Bulletin on July 6, 1944, he established the community of Happyland.
His obituary in the Ada News on March 9, 1949 indicated that he owned and leased a large tract of land east of Ada, and his home that sat off the road in a lovely grove of trees was the social center for a large part of that section of Pontotoc County. The obituary also stated that he "bore a reputation of industry" and "served on the Happyland school board, giving unselfishly of his time and judgement for the good that he could do."
John Gann was born in Marion County, Alabama, to Hiram and Elizabeth Gann on Jan. 13, 1861. The family moved to Georgia, then to Texas and finally to Mena, Ark., where John met and married Melsenia Jones. She was born in Mississippi on July 15, 1872, the daughter of Caleb and Mariah Jones. John and Melsenia Gann's family consisted of seven daughters and one son. When he died, John Gann had 19 grandchildren and 72 great-grandchildren. His funeral was conducted by the Rev. Jess Caton and the Rev. Wood. Burial was at Oakman Cemetery.
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