*James Nathaniel Pruitt
born 22 February 1867 Frankfort, Saline County, Missouri
died 22 March 1949 Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma
buried Flynn Cemetery, Lincoln County, Oklahoma

father:
*Andrew Jackson Pruitt
born 5 July 1834 Cocke County, Tennessee
died 4 February 1879 Mincy, Taney County, Missouri
buried Pruitt Cemetery, Mincy, Taney County, Missouri
(later moved to Casey-Yandall Cemetery, Kirbyville, Taney County, Missouri)

mother:
*Eliza Jane Cameron
born 27 September 1833 middle Tennessee probably Davidson County
died 27 May 1917 Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma
buried Flynn Cemetery, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
married after 30 August 1850 Tennessee

siblings:
Stephen Decatur Pruitt born 27 September 1851 Tennessee (may have died before 1856?)
George N.B. Pruitt born 27 December 1852 Tennessee
died after 1880 census Mincy, Taney County, Missouri
Joseph Howard Pruitt born 27 September 1855 Tennessee
died 6 June 1936 Medford, Jackson County, Oregon
David Leroy Pruitt born 10 February 1858 Frankfort, Saline County, Missouri
died 16 July 1945 Grant's Pass, Josephine County, Oregon
Velarns "Browny" Pruitt born about 1861 Frankfort, Saline County, Missouri
died 1872 Mincy, Taney County, Missouri
Susan Pruitt born about 1865 Missouri died young
Della Ann Pruitt born October 1869 Missouri died 6 June 1911 Anadarko, Caddo County, Oklahoma
Dorah Belle Pruitt born 17 December 1872 Mincy, Taney County, Missouri died 30 January Oklahoma

spouse:
*Anna Mae Cook
born 3 August 1876 Habb County, Kentucky
died 4 February 1914 Payne County, Oklahoma
buried Flynn Cemetery, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
married 1892

children:
John Brown Benjamin Andrew Pruitt born 12 Mar 1893 Mahan, Payne County, Oklahoma
Henry Thomas Pruitt born 22 February 1896 Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
died 29 October 1973
Verse Mane Pruitt born 30 December 1894 Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
died 11 December 1953 Kennewick, Benton County, Washington
Mary Pruitt born 1 September 1898 Agra, Lincoln, Oklahoma died 1971
James Nathaniel Pruitt Jr. (Dan) born 18 March 1900 Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
died June 1970 California
*Charles Howard Pruitt born 2 January 1902 Pruitt Homestead, Creek County, Oklahoma
died 22 October 1966 near Dietrich, Illinois
Herbert Anthony Pruitt born 1 October 1903 Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
died 29 March 1988 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Beatrice Pearl Pruitt born 11 August 1905 Agra, Lincoln County, Oklahoma
died 20 February 1974 buried 23 February 1974 Rose Hill Memorial Park, California
Clifford William Pruitt born 24 February 1907 Mehan, Payne County, Oklahoma
died 10 March 1958 Yakima, Yakima County, Washington
buried 13 March 1958 Yakima, Yakima County, Washington
Twin of Clifford (unnamed) born 24 February 1907 Mehan, Payne County, Oklahoma
d 24 February 1907 Mehan, Payne County, Oklahoma
buried Soonerville Cemetery, Cushing, Payne, Oklahoma
Murrell Marie Fleecy Pauline Pruitt born 21 February 1910 died October 1958
David Leroy Pruitt (Jack) born 10 January 1912 Mahan, Payne County, Oklahoma
died Colorado
Preston May "Buck" Pruitt born 2 February 1914 died 3 November 1970
buried Flynn Memorial Cemetery, Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma

Background:
Much of the information I have is spotty because apparently the father of *Howard (and my
dad’s grandfather) was a bit unconventional to say the least. We know his wife died in childbirth.
He and his mother first ran in the 1889 Oklahoma land Rush and claimed an ineligible piece of ground which was already platted to become Oklahoma City. They returned to Missouri. Later they ran in the 1891 Oklahoma Land Rush and had a quarter section which was
eventually acquired by his son Henry.
The night before the land rush James preached to the assembled multitudes at great length and
with great fervour. The day of the rush he was on a mule ahead of a wagon containing
his future in-laws. When the gun went off signaling the beginning of the rush, the folks in the wagon yelled at James "to get out of the way or be run over".
The not-so-tame response of the "preacher" was "Go to hell!".
He worked in town as a butcher and eventually
became “blind”. He also apparently simultaneously "saw the light" because he also became a lay preacher.
According to some townfolk, one peculiarity of his blindness was that in a strong wind he could tell you the
color of the girl walking across the street’s petticoats. He would read the Bible to his wife
as she toiled away and became more averse to work in later years as his condition worsened.
Other sources stipulate he was a respected deacon or elder in his church.
Cushing is in Payne County, Drumwright is in Creek County, Lincoln County is just outside the Cushing city limits.
Jane and her son, *James Nathaniel Pruitt, were in the Oklahoma Land Runs.
In the first run they filed on land that had been set aside for Oklahoma City.
The case was in court for a long time with the Pruitts losing it.
On September 22, 1891 in the Sac and Fox, Iowa, Shawnee-Potawatomi Reservation Opening,
James lined up with the other land seekers. When the signal was given, the other men rode up a
ways to a bridge where they could cross the river. James, who was riding an old red mule,
lost no time by swimming his animal across the river and staking a good homestead of 80 acres.
His mother also got an eighty.
Both of these partial claims were located near Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma.
A claim was 160 acres, but a homesteader could file a partial claim for 40, 80, or 120 acres.
Late in life Jane married Henry Hawn in Payne County, Oklahoma.
James Nathaniel Pruitt b. 22 Feb 1867 Frankfort, Saline, Missouri
D. 22 Mar 1949 Cushing, Ok
M 1892 to
Anna May Cook b. 8 Mar 1876 Louisville, Franklin,KY
D. 4 Feb 1914 Agra, Lincoln, OK
Bur. Flynn Memorial Cementery, Cushing, OK

1. John Brown Benjamin Andrew Pruitt
b. 12 Mar 1893 Mahan, Payne, OK
2. Versie Mane Pruitt
b. 30 Dec 1894 Agra.Lincoln, OK
D. 11 Dec 1953 Kennewick, Benton, WA
(I attended her funeral)
3. Thomas Henry Pruitt
b. 22 Feb 1896 Agra,Lincoln, OK
d. 29 Oct 1973
bur. Soonerville Cemetery, Cushing, OK
4. Mary Jane Pruitt
B. 1 Sept 1898 Agra, Lincoln, OK
d. 1971
Bur. Soonerville Cemetery, Cushing,OK
5. James Nathaniel Pruitt Jr. (Dan)
b. 18 Mar 1900 Agra Lincoln OK
d June 1970 California
6. Howard Charles Pruitt
b. 2 Jan 1902 Agra Lincoln OK
d 1950
7. Herbert Anthony Pruitt
b. 1 Oct 1903 Agra Lincoln, Ok
d. 29 Mar. 1988 Tulsa, OK
8. Beatrice Pearl Pruitt
b.11 Aug 1905 Agra, Lincoln OK
D. 20 Feb 1974
bur. 23 Feb. 1974 Rose Hill Memorial Park, California
9. Clifford William Pruitt
b. 24 Feb 1907 Mehan, Payne, OK
d. 10 Mar 1958 Yakima, Yakima, WA
bur. 13 Mar 1958 Yakima, Yakima, WA
10. Twin of Clifford (unnamed)
b. 24 Feb 1907 Mehan, Payne, OK
d 24 Feb 1907
bur. Soonerville Cemetery, Cushing, Payne, OK.
11. Abraham Pruitt
b. 1908 Mahan, Payne, OK
d. 1908 Mahan, Payne, OK
bur. Soonerville Cemetery, Cushing OK
12. Murrell Marie Fleecy Pauline Pruitt
b. 21 Feb 1910
d. Oct 1958
13. David Leroy Pruitt (Jack)
b. 10 Jan 1912 Mahan, Payne, OK
d. Colorado
14. Prinston May Pruitt (Buck)
b. 2 Feb 1914
d. 3 nov 1970
bur. Flynn Memorial Cemetery, Cushing, Payne, OK

Newspaper clipping from funeral:
Pruitt Funeral Service Held
Burial made in Flynn Memorial Park following rites for James N. Pruitt 82
years old retired pioneer farmer of south of Cushing who died Tuesday
afternoon were held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 in the Church of the First
Born with R. N. Tibbett in charge.
A quartet composed of Mrs. Lorene Todd, Mr. & Mrs. Clinton Smart and
Vernon Todd sang "Never Meet Again", "Precious Memories" and "Just Inside
the Eastern Gates".
Flower girls were grand daughters and included Geraldine and Darlene
Rodgers, (Aunt Murrell's daughters) Beverly Pruitt,(Anthony's daughter) Sue
Pruitt, Willa May Pruitt(Anthony"s daughter) and JoAnn Cargill(Henry's
daughter).

Pallbearers were grandsons and included H.T. Pruitt( Son of Henry) Doyle,
Jimmy, Dewey Pruitt, Harold Huntington and Harvey Owings.
Burial under direction of the Farley Mortuary was in the Flynn Memorial Park.

Source: Copied it at the Funeral Home.