Isabelle Jane (Belle) Franks was born on April 13, 1866, in Jackson County, Mississippi, the daughter of William L. Franks and Sarah Jane (Sally) Pickle. Belle was the eldest of 10 children. Her brothers and sisters were: Alifair Franks, Fannie Franks, Nancy Franks, Robert Lee Franks, James W. 'Jim' Franks, Mary Josephine Franks, William Charles 'Charlie' Franks, Ruth Jane Franks, and John 'Johnny' Franks.
Belle's father was a Missionary Baptist Minister. Her Mother passed away in 1891 in Stillwell, Oklahoma, and William packed up all the children, started moving around to find work, and found their way to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Belle did domestic work for other people, and she started working in Tahlequah as housekeeper for James Calhoun Carter and his wife, Amy. Each day, Belle would ride horseback to and from work, always carrying a small revolver in her "bosom". She wanted to be ready for any trouble she might encounter.
In those days, Tahlequah was part of the old west, complete with dirt streets. The primary places of business were the land office, the bank, the drugstore, and the gallows, where people frequently were hanged. Belle was a quiet woman. She had very long hair that she always wore up in a bun. Her indian heritage was quite apparent by her high cheekbones and olive skin. She liked to dip snuff. She would take a peach tree twig and chew on it until it would get soft. Then she would roll it around in her snuff, and then use the stick to clean her teeth. She always used Garrett or Honest snuff.
Amy Carter died on September 9, 1892, and two months later on November 20, 1892, James married Belle. James Calhoun Carter was born February 7, 1847, in Cumberland County, Tennessee, the son of Enoch Carter and Elender Huff. He had two grown children by his first marriage to Amy. James and Belle then had three daughters, all born in Tahlequah: Ella Irene Carter, born July 17, 1893; Olive Frances Carter, born September 28, 1895; and Josephine Mary Carter, born June 10, 1899.
When James health failed in 1902, Belle and James took their family and moved to a boardinghouse in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Belle took in washing to support the family. On June 27, 1912, at the age of 65, James died of chronic pneumonia in Muskogee, Oklahoma. His body was returned to the Tahlequah Cemetery, and he was buried beside his first wife, Amy.
In November 1910, Belle's oldest daughter, Ella, married, and moved from Muskogee to Oklahoma City. Their second daughter, Olive, had started working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Muskogee. After James died, Olive, Belle, and her baby sister, Josephine, were living alone. Ella and her husband, Dick, talked Olive into transferring to the telephone office in Oklahoma City and bringing Belle and Josephine there to live. Olive transferred to Oklahoma City in December of 1913, and brought Belle and Josephine with her. Olive met Harry McKinley Ladd, Sr. a few years later, they married in October 1919, and Harry moved in with his new bride, her mother, and her sister. Seven months later in May 1920, Josephine eloped with a 16-year old boy named Al Marshall, a marriage that would last over 55 years. Harry, Olive, and Belle, continued living together at 1012 West California Street in Oklahoma City. Olive and Harry had two children: Harry McKinley Ladd Jr., and Betty Joellen Ladd.
Belle was very close to the children, and took care of them while Olive and Harry worked. When one of the children got sick, Belle treated them with one of her home remedies. If they had a chest cold, she cooked a big pot of onions and made an onion poultice to go on their chest. If she didn't have onions, she would make a turpentine and lard poultice instead. Whenever the weather was stormy with thunder and lightening, Belle would put a big feather quilt on the bed and make the children lie on top. She told them that the quilt was full of bird feathers and that they would be safe because she never saw lightening hit a bird.
Once Betty cut off the end of her big toe when a stack of bricks fell on her foot. Belle wrapped her toe and told her that her toe would grow back if she followed an old indian custom of burying her toe. Betty and Belle put the end of her toe in an old coffee can and buried it in back of the house by the telephone pole. In her later years, Belle got an old-age pension of $4.50 per month. Each time she received a check, she would cash it and give Harry, Jr. fifty cents. Betty didn't want any money. Instead, Belle bought Betty what she liked best: candy and cabbage. The children absolutely adored their grandmother and always affectionately called her Granny.
On March 27, 1939, Belle died at the age of 73 of pneumonia in Oklahoma City, and was buried in the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Oklahoma City. Copyright © 2010 Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved.
Belle's father was a Missionary Baptist Minister. Her Mother passed away in 1891 in Stillwell, Oklahoma, and William packed up all the children, started moving around to find work, and found their way to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Belle did domestic work for other people, and she started working in Tahlequah as housekeeper for James Calhoun Carter and his wife, Amy. Each day, Belle would ride horseback to and from work, always carrying a small revolver in her "bosom". She wanted to be ready for any trouble she might encounter.
In those days, Tahlequah was part of the old west, complete with dirt streets. The primary places of business were the land office, the bank, the drugstore, and the gallows, where people frequently were hanged. Belle was a quiet woman. She had very long hair that she always wore up in a bun. Her indian heritage was quite apparent by her high cheekbones and olive skin. She liked to dip snuff. She would take a peach tree twig and chew on it until it would get soft. Then she would roll it around in her snuff, and then use the stick to clean her teeth. She always used Garrett or Honest snuff.
Amy Carter died on September 9, 1892, and two months later on November 20, 1892, James married Belle. James Calhoun Carter was born February 7, 1847, in Cumberland County, Tennessee, the son of Enoch Carter and Elender Huff. He had two grown children by his first marriage to Amy. James and Belle then had three daughters, all born in Tahlequah: Ella Irene Carter, born July 17, 1893; Olive Frances Carter, born September 28, 1895; and Josephine Mary Carter, born June 10, 1899.
When James health failed in 1902, Belle and James took their family and moved to a boardinghouse in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Belle took in washing to support the family. On June 27, 1912, at the age of 65, James died of chronic pneumonia in Muskogee, Oklahoma. His body was returned to the Tahlequah Cemetery, and he was buried beside his first wife, Amy.
In November 1910, Belle's oldest daughter, Ella, married, and moved from Muskogee to Oklahoma City. Their second daughter, Olive, had started working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Muskogee. After James died, Olive, Belle, and her baby sister, Josephine, were living alone. Ella and her husband, Dick, talked Olive into transferring to the telephone office in Oklahoma City and bringing Belle and Josephine there to live. Olive transferred to Oklahoma City in December of 1913, and brought Belle and Josephine with her. Olive met Harry McKinley Ladd, Sr. a few years later, they married in October 1919, and Harry moved in with his new bride, her mother, and her sister. Seven months later in May 1920, Josephine eloped with a 16-year old boy named Al Marshall, a marriage that would last over 55 years. Harry, Olive, and Belle, continued living together at 1012 West California Street in Oklahoma City. Olive and Harry had two children: Harry McKinley Ladd Jr., and Betty Joellen Ladd.
Belle was very close to the children, and took care of them while Olive and Harry worked. When one of the children got sick, Belle treated them with one of her home remedies. If they had a chest cold, she cooked a big pot of onions and made an onion poultice to go on their chest. If she didn't have onions, she would make a turpentine and lard poultice instead. Whenever the weather was stormy with thunder and lightening, Belle would put a big feather quilt on the bed and make the children lie on top. She told them that the quilt was full of bird feathers and that they would be safe because she never saw lightening hit a bird.
Once Betty cut off the end of her big toe when a stack of bricks fell on her foot. Belle wrapped her toe and told her that her toe would grow back if she followed an old indian custom of burying her toe. Betty and Belle put the end of her toe in an old coffee can and buried it in back of the house by the telephone pole. In her later years, Belle got an old-age pension of $4.50 per month. Each time she received a check, she would cash it and give Harry, Jr. fifty cents. Betty didn't want any money. Instead, Belle bought Betty what she liked best: candy and cabbage. The children absolutely adored their grandmother and always affectionately called her Granny.
On March 27, 1939, Belle died at the age of 73 of pneumonia in Oklahoma City, and was buried in the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Oklahoma City. Copyright © 2010 Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved.
Isabelle Jane (Belle) Franks was born on April 13, 1866, in Jackson County, Mississippi, the daughter of William L. Franks and Sarah Jane (Sally) Pickle. Belle was the eldest of 10 children. Her brothers and sisters were: Alifair Franks, Fannie Franks, Nancy Franks, Robert Lee Franks, James W. 'Jim' Franks, Mary Josephine Franks, William Charles 'Charlie' Franks, Ruth Jane Franks, and John 'Johnny' Franks.
Belle's father was a Missionary Baptist Minister. Her Mother passed away in 1891 in Stillwell, Oklahoma, and William packed up all the children, started moving around to find work, and found their way to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Belle did domestic work for other people, and she started working in Tahlequah as housekeeper for James Calhoun Carter and his wife, Amy. Each day, Belle would ride horseback to and from work, always carrying a small revolver in her "bosom". She wanted to be ready for any trouble she might encounter.
In those days, Tahlequah was part of the old west, complete with dirt streets. The primary places of business were the land office, the bank, the drugstore, and the gallows, where people frequently were hanged. Belle was a quiet woman. She had very long hair that she always wore up in a bun. Her indian heritage was quite apparent by her high cheekbones and olive skin. She liked to dip snuff. She would take a peach tree twig and chew on it until it would get soft. Then she would roll it around in her snuff, and then use the stick to clean her teeth. She always used Garrett or Honest snuff.
Amy Carter died on September 9, 1892, and two months later on November 20, 1892, James married Belle. James Calhoun Carter was born February 7, 1847, in Cumberland County, Tennessee, the son of Enoch Carter and Elender Huff. He had two grown children by his first marriage to Amy. James and Belle then had three daughters, all born in Tahlequah: Ella Irene Carter, born July 17, 1893; Olive Frances Carter, born September 28, 1895; and Josephine Mary Carter, born June 10, 1899.
When James health failed in 1902, Belle and James took their family and moved to a boardinghouse in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Belle took in washing to support the family. On June 27, 1912, at the age of 65, James died of chronic pneumonia in Muskogee, Oklahoma. His body was returned to the Tahlequah Cemetery, and he was buried beside his first wife, Amy.
In November 1910, Belle's oldest daughter, Ella, married, and moved from Muskogee to Oklahoma City. Their second daughter, Olive, had started working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Muskogee. After James died, Olive, Belle, and her baby sister, Josephine, were living alone. Ella and her husband, Dick, talked Olive into transferring to the telephone office in Oklahoma City and bringing Belle and Josephine there to live. Olive transferred to Oklahoma City in December of 1913, and brought Belle and Josephine with her. Olive met Harry McKinley Ladd, Sr. a few years later, they married in October 1919, and Harry moved in with his new bride, her mother, and her sister. Seven months later in May 1920, Josephine eloped with a 16-year old boy named Al Marshall, a marriage that would last over 55 years. Harry, Olive, and Belle, continued living together at 1012 West California Street in Oklahoma City. Olive and Harry had two children: Harry McKinley Ladd Jr., and Betty Joellen Ladd.
Belle was very close to the children, and took care of them while Olive and Harry worked. When one of the children got sick, Belle treated them with one of her home remedies. If they had a chest cold, she cooked a big pot of onions and made an onion poultice to go on their chest. If she didn't have onions, she would make a turpentine and lard poultice instead. Whenever the weather was stormy with thunder and lightening, Belle would put a big feather quilt on the bed and make the children lie on top. She told them that the quilt was full of bird feathers and that they would be safe because she never saw lightening hit a bird.
Once Betty cut off the end of her big toe when a stack of bricks fell on her foot. Belle wrapped her toe and told her that her toe would grow back if she followed an old indian custom of burying her toe. Betty and Belle put the end of her toe in an old coffee can and buried it in back of the house by the telephone pole. In her later years, Belle got an old-age pension of $4.50 per month. Each time she received a check, she would cash it and give Harry, Jr. fifty cents. Betty didn't want any money. Instead, Belle bought Betty what she liked best: candy and cabbage. The children absolutely adored their grandmother and always affectionately called her Granny.
On March 27, 1939, Belle died at the age of 73 of pneumonia in Oklahoma City, and was buried in the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Oklahoma City. Copyright © 2010 Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved.
Belle's father was a Missionary Baptist Minister. Her Mother passed away in 1891 in Stillwell, Oklahoma, and William packed up all the children, started moving around to find work, and found their way to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Belle did domestic work for other people, and she started working in Tahlequah as housekeeper for James Calhoun Carter and his wife, Amy. Each day, Belle would ride horseback to and from work, always carrying a small revolver in her "bosom". She wanted to be ready for any trouble she might encounter.
In those days, Tahlequah was part of the old west, complete with dirt streets. The primary places of business were the land office, the bank, the drugstore, and the gallows, where people frequently were hanged. Belle was a quiet woman. She had very long hair that she always wore up in a bun. Her indian heritage was quite apparent by her high cheekbones and olive skin. She liked to dip snuff. She would take a peach tree twig and chew on it until it would get soft. Then she would roll it around in her snuff, and then use the stick to clean her teeth. She always used Garrett or Honest snuff.
Amy Carter died on September 9, 1892, and two months later on November 20, 1892, James married Belle. James Calhoun Carter was born February 7, 1847, in Cumberland County, Tennessee, the son of Enoch Carter and Elender Huff. He had two grown children by his first marriage to Amy. James and Belle then had three daughters, all born in Tahlequah: Ella Irene Carter, born July 17, 1893; Olive Frances Carter, born September 28, 1895; and Josephine Mary Carter, born June 10, 1899.
When James health failed in 1902, Belle and James took their family and moved to a boardinghouse in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Belle took in washing to support the family. On June 27, 1912, at the age of 65, James died of chronic pneumonia in Muskogee, Oklahoma. His body was returned to the Tahlequah Cemetery, and he was buried beside his first wife, Amy.
In November 1910, Belle's oldest daughter, Ella, married, and moved from Muskogee to Oklahoma City. Their second daughter, Olive, had started working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Muskogee. After James died, Olive, Belle, and her baby sister, Josephine, were living alone. Ella and her husband, Dick, talked Olive into transferring to the telephone office in Oklahoma City and bringing Belle and Josephine there to live. Olive transferred to Oklahoma City in December of 1913, and brought Belle and Josephine with her. Olive met Harry McKinley Ladd, Sr. a few years later, they married in October 1919, and Harry moved in with his new bride, her mother, and her sister. Seven months later in May 1920, Josephine eloped with a 16-year old boy named Al Marshall, a marriage that would last over 55 years. Harry, Olive, and Belle, continued living together at 1012 West California Street in Oklahoma City. Olive and Harry had two children: Harry McKinley Ladd Jr., and Betty Joellen Ladd.
Belle was very close to the children, and took care of them while Olive and Harry worked. When one of the children got sick, Belle treated them with one of her home remedies. If they had a chest cold, she cooked a big pot of onions and made an onion poultice to go on their chest. If she didn't have onions, she would make a turpentine and lard poultice instead. Whenever the weather was stormy with thunder and lightening, Belle would put a big feather quilt on the bed and make the children lie on top. She told them that the quilt was full of bird feathers and that they would be safe because she never saw lightening hit a bird.
Once Betty cut off the end of her big toe when a stack of bricks fell on her foot. Belle wrapped her toe and told her that her toe would grow back if she followed an old indian custom of burying her toe. Betty and Belle put the end of her toe in an old coffee can and buried it in back of the house by the telephone pole. In her later years, Belle got an old-age pension of $4.50 per month. Each time she received a check, she would cash it and give Harry, Jr. fifty cents. Betty didn't want any money. Instead, Belle bought Betty what she liked best: candy and cabbage. The children absolutely adored their grandmother and always affectionately called her Granny.
On March 27, 1939, Belle died at the age of 73 of pneumonia in Oklahoma City, and was buried in the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Oklahoma City. Copyright © 2010 Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
