(Ellis Co., OK Unsolved Mysteries)

Family Tree

Unsolved Mysteries

Have an Ellis Co. ancestor who fell off the face of the earth, never to heard from again? Maybe one who died under mysterious circumstances? Left home one day and never came back? Then post your story here. Perhaps someone might recognize the name, or the circumstances, and be able to fill in the blanks for you. If you have any insight or information, please contact the person who submitted the story.

Submitted by Gordon L. Richard, grandson of Rolla Roy Richard, formerly of Harmon, Oklahoma

We do have a family mystery that, to my knowledge, has never been solved. Granddad Roll Richard had a sister named Ella. She married a fellow named Frank L. Allen, born about 1880, near Spring Creek, Chautauqua County, KS. They moved to the Harmon area shortly after the turn of the century, and lived on the S.C. Richard place just immediately southwest of Harmon. They had three children...Ada, Troy, and Elmo. Ella (Richard) Allen moved into Arnett, and lived just southwest of the main part of town until she was too old to remain alone. I think she lived her last days with her daughter Ada. Ada married Atwell Sherrill, and lived near Shattuck all her life. Troy is buried in the Harmon cemetery, but I don't know anything about where he lived or if, or whom he married. I don't have any information on Elmo, other than I think he moved to Illinois, and lived his life out there.

Frank L. Allen joined a group that was driving cattle to the rail station somewhere in Kansas. These were just local men who each had a few calves to sell, and were driving them to the railroad loading area, to be shipped to Wichita, or perhaps Kansas City. Anyway, he never returned, and, to my knowledge, no trace of him has ever been found. The various family stories are that he was murdered and his money from the cattle was stolen...he took the money and went to California...he lost the money in a poker game and was ashamed to come home...and many others. I don't think anyone has any factual information on him, but maybe, in this day of computer communications, someone, somewhere, will recognize the name and be able to supply some information.

To add your own unsolved mystery just drop me a line with the details.
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