Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas Tatum Family Bio

BUTLER COUNTY'S EIGHTY YEARS BIOS

THE TATUM FAMILY

(Transcribed by Lori DeWinkler)

For 63 years, the W. E. Tatum family has been a part of the Van Huss community. W. E. and Caroline (Edwards) Tatum came to Leon community in 1871, in a covered wagon drawn by ox team, from South Point, Ohio, with their three small children, George B. M., Lydia Ann, and Charles Ernest. They drove through the sparsely settled country with Mrs. Tatum’s brother, Charley Edwards, and his family. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tatum in Kansas were Clinton and Willie (now deceased;) Thomas Milton, Effie Louise and Maude Elizabeth. Clinton when 16 years old, was killed May 30, 1888, when a horse he was riding across plowed field, stumbled and fell upon him. Mr. Tatum also was accidentally killed while riding a mule, in October, 1890. After his tragic death, Mrs. Tatum and her children carried on with the tasks he had started.

The Tatum brothers own farms in Van Huss District, although George Tatum and his family reside on their farm southwest of Leon. Tom Tatum and his family live on the old home place, and Charles and his family live on their own farm, a mile south of Van Huss schoolhouse. W. E. Tatum hauled native walnut 100 miles from Humboldt with ox team and wagon, to build the house which is today, with additions, used by his youngest song and family. Clothing and food were purchased and mail received at Humboldt.

Thomas Milton Tatum purchased the homestead from the heirs, in 1909, and has the last patent granted W. E. Tatum, by President U. S. Grant, secured June 15, 1876, and recorded October 28, 1886. He was born on the homestead March 18, 1877 and lived there with his mother until her death in 1913. On August 20, 1913, he married Sarah M. Gaskill and to this union were born seven children, Mary Agnes, Edna Mae, Willard Marion, Dorothy Louise, Donald Thomas, Lloyd Arthur and Ruth Caroline. George Tatum married Lena Wheeler, January 1, 1901; three daughters were born to this union, Pansy, (deceased) Pauline and Audine. Charles Tatum was married Augusta 31, 1900, to Miss Leona Pickrell, and to this union were born Bert, Frank, Minnie, Iva and Ray. Lydia, the oldest Tatum daughter, married Denny Mulkey and resides in Oregon. Their children are: Merle, Ed, Maude, Lenna, Charles and Lula. Effie Tatum married Alonzo Pickrell,June 4, 1902, and their daughters are Estel Marie, Lillian and Grace. Maude, the youngest daughter, married Ben Johnson, and their children are Clarence, Charner, Lionel, Nina and Hester. There are now living six children, twenty-eight grandchildren, and thirty-six great grandchildren of the Tatum pioneers. Mr. Tatum was born March 11, 1830, and died October 2, 1890. Mrs. Tatum was born October 22, 1844, and died July 9, 1913. Mr. Tatum was a Civil War Veteran.