On several occasions over the years, residents of Oil City stepped forward to assist neighbors in distress. Several examples will be provided here, though others may have occurred, but were never recorded and are now lost to history. If you are aware of a story, please contact this writer.
1911 - Reed Girls Bitten By Rabid Dog
"Who Will Aid This Father?" was the headline of a November 1911 article reporting that two children, from a poor family, had been bitten by a "mad" dog and were in need of rabies treatment at the Pasteur Institute in New Orleans. Unable to afford it themselves, Sheriff J. P. Flournoy issued an appeal to area citizens and donated $5 himself. To date, $40 had been contributed by OC residents.
Shreveport Times 07-Nov-1911, Page 6
The children were later identified as sisters Nolia May (actually Nola Mae) and Mollie Reed, aged 11 and 9 respectively; who were residents of Caddo City, once a separate community but now part of Oil City. Including these girls it is said there are nine children in the family.
The (Shreveport) Caucasian 07-Nov-1911, Page 1
Numerous people from Oil City, Shreveport, and the surrounding area contributed to the T. R. Reed family's cause. Note due to inflation, one dollar at that time equals approximately $25 today Nola was misidentified as "Norma" and both her and Mollie's ages were incorrect. It was stated that Mr. Reed's occupation was that of rig builder, but he had been out of work due to a lull in activity in the oilfield.
In addition to previously mentioned Sheriff Flournoy, among well-known names cited above were:
W. H. B. Croom - State legislator from Mooringsport
Several others on the list were Shreveport civic leaders and/or businessmen of the day. Of special note however is the $5.00 contribution; matching the highest reported single amount given by Sheriff Flournoy, by Annie McCune. She is generally recognized as Shreveport's most famous madam, who at the time operated a bordello in the St. Paul Bottoms section (red light district) of Shreveport.
The article below states a total of $150 ($3,776 today) was raised for the girls' trip to New Orleans and treatment.
About The Family
The good news is that both girls survived their condition, though whether either suffered lingering effects afterward is not known. The following is what could be found about certain family members.
The father, Thomas Robert "Buddy" Reed (1872-1945) was a Vinton, LA native who had been a private with the 2nd Volunteer Infantry of the U. S. Army during the Spanish-American War. The family appeared to have moved quite frequently, and may have lived at Caddo for only a short time. In respective U. S. Censuses, Buddy, wife Elizabeth or "Lizzie" (1872-1920); and an ever increasing number of children were noted living in Calcasieu Parish, LA (1900), Sour Lake, TX (1910), and Houston (1920). He died of tuberculosis in 1945 and is buried in Morgans Point Cemetery; Harris County, TX. There is apparently no connection of this family to the Reeds who later operated a grocery store in Oil City.
Nola Mae Vickers Sample (1900-1986) is shown below with husband Bob Vickers, possibly at their wedding; where she would have been around 15-16 years old.
Nola Mae Vickers Sample (1900-1986) is shown below with husband Bob Vickers, possibly at their wedding; where she would have been around 15-16 years old.
Source: Ancestry.com contributor
There are inconsistencies in her past. In the 1920 U.S. Census, she was listed with last name of Vickers as a 19 year-old widow with three year-old son Edwin, living with her parents. The 1930 Census listed her living with Bob, apparently not dead (though he did die later that year), and with children Elwyn and Maydell. Edwin had died in 1929. By 1940, she was married to Harry T. Sample (1903-1988) and living in rural Harris County, Texas with her now teen-aged children. Nola passed away in 1986 and is buried in Earthman Memory Gardens; Baytown, TX.
Pearl Mollie Reed, daughter of Thomas Robert and Elizabeth Reed, is shown with the last name "Ayers" by an Ancestry.com contributor, however no source is provided. No other information regarding her later life has been found.
1941 - Mother's Heroic Efforts Result In Her Death
Verner Cox Spoon was severely injured when she ran into the family's house ablaze twice to rescue her four children.
Times 31-Jan-1941, Page 1
She suffered first, second, and third degree burns over her entire body, and her hair and clothes had been burned off. Below, her seven year-old son Billy Ray described what happened.
Times 27-May-1941, Page 10
The children had slight burns, but were not seriously injured.
Misidentified as Verna, and her husband as R. D. Spoon; her name was Verner (nee Cox) and her husband was Edward A. Spoon, an oil field worker.
Oil City merchants raised funds to assist the family.
Times 01-Feb-1941, Page 14
Unfortunately, Verner passed away four months later from her injuries.
Times 27-May-1941, Page 1
Mrs. Verner Cox Spoon (1913-1941) is interred in the Old Shongaloo (LA) Cemetery.
1947 - Welch Family Given New Home
Report of their plight brought help in the form of assistance from government social services, and an outpouring of contributions from persons as far away as Baton Rouge and Texas.
Times 31-Jul-1947, Page 1
Some of the Welch children pictured on the front page of the Shreveport Times.
Times 02-Aug-1947, Page 1
A new home was constructed for the family on a lot in Caddo, approximately one mile north of downtown Oil City. Below, local tradesmen gave their free time to work on the house.
Times 04-Aug-1947, Page 8
The house shown near completion. Materials were provided by Shreveport building supply stores.
Times 05-Aug-1947, Page 3
Below the Welch family is given the key to their new home.
Times 07-Aug-1947, Page 10
1941 - Mother's Heroic Efforts Result In Her Death
Verner Cox Spoon was severely injured when she ran into the family's house ablaze twice to rescue her four children.
Times 31-Jan-1941, Page 1
She suffered first, second, and third degree burns over her entire body, and her hair and clothes had been burned off. Below, her seven year-old son Billy Ray described what happened.
Times 27-May-1941, Page 10
The children had slight burns, but were not seriously injured.
Misidentified as Verna, and her husband as R. D. Spoon; her name was Verner (nee Cox) and her husband was Edward A. Spoon, an oil field worker.
Oil City merchants raised funds to assist the family.
Times 01-Feb-1941, Page 14
Unfortunately, Verner passed away four months later from her injuries.
Times 27-May-1941, Page 1
Mrs. Verner Cox Spoon (1913-1941) is interred in the Old Shongaloo (LA) Cemetery.
1947 - Welch Family Given New Home
A destitute family attracted an outpouring of sympathy and generosity not only from the local community, but from the greater Caddo and Bossier Parish area.
Willie Welch, reportedly a farmer who could neither read nor write, lived in a shack two miles southeast of Oil City with his wife Cornie (Antee) and 10 children (ranging in age from 14 to a nursing infant). Destitute, all the family had to eat was green corn. They had moved to the area approximately a year earlier from Montgomery, Louisiana..To add to their hardship, Willie had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and said to only have six months to live. He had not applied for relief, as he was concerned the authorities would take away his children, who were all undernourished.
Report of their plight brought help in the form of assistance from government social services, and an outpouring of contributions from persons as far away as Baton Rouge and Texas.
Times 31-Jul-1947, Page 1
Some of the Welch children pictured on the front page of the Shreveport Times.
Times 02-Aug-1947, Page 1
A new home was constructed for the family on a lot in Caddo, approximately one mile north of downtown Oil City. Below, local tradesmen gave their free time to work on the house.
Times 04-Aug-1947, Page 8
The house shown near completion. Materials were provided by Shreveport building supply stores.
Times 05-Aug-1947, Page 3
Below the Welch family is given the key to their new home.
Times 07-Aug-1947, Page 10
A total of $2,209.24 was raised for the family, the equivalent of $24,450 today. Oil City Bank, headed by O. B. Roberts, administered the funds; and Mrs. Frances Mandina served to check on the family and assess financial need and ensure funds were put to appropriate use.
Times 12-Sep-1947 Page 15
Epilogue
The family apparently did not remain in town long. Several of the children appear in the 1948 Oil City High Bengal yearbook (1947-1948 school year), however none are shown in the 1949 edition.
Despite the report (whether real or not) of his impending death, William "T-Boy" Welch, Jr. (1908-1996) and spouse Cornie M. Antee Welch (1913-2006) both lived long lives.
Despite the report (whether real or not) of his impending death, William "T-Boy" Welch, Jr. (1908-1996) and spouse Cornie M. Antee Welch (1913-2006) both lived long lives.
1953 - Craig Home Rebuilt
Like an old-time barn-raising, the citizens of Oil City once came together to help friends in need. On 04-Sep-1953 the J. C. Craig family of four returned from the Vivian-Oil City football game to find their home and possessions totally destroyed by fire. A bad water heater thermostat was thought the likely culprit.
Times 13-Sep-1953, Page 11-A
A near spontaneous effort, called "Operation Rebuild" sprung to life, led by Reverend Robert A. "Bob" Salser, pastor of the First Christian Church and a former building contractor. He coordinated with other OC ministers, who spoke to their congregations the Sunday after the fire. Those mentioned included:
Times 13-Sep-1953, Page 11-A
A near spontaneous effort, called "Operation Rebuild" sprung to life, led by Reverend Robert A. "Bob" Salser, pastor of the First Christian Church and a former building contractor. He coordinated with other OC ministers, who spoke to their congregations the Sunday after the fire. Those mentioned included:
Rev. Roy Ferguson, First Baptist
Rev. Hardy Stone, Nazarene
Rev. James Sermons, Ferry Lake Baptist
Rev. Billy McJunkins, Church of Christ
Rev. Patterson (no first name given), United Pentecostal
Times 06-Jul-9154, Page 5-A
Rev. Salser drew up plans for a new house and supervised its construction. However he deflected all credit to the community, as the project was the effort of Oil City men, women, and children volunteering their labor, with local building supply companies furnishing most of the materials. The local Eastern Star chapter and church groups held showers to restore the family's furnishings and clothes.
A group of 20-25 men that included Mr. Craig, with skills in carpentry, roofing, insulation, plumbing, and electrical; or just providing helping hands, gave their day off to put up the new house on the Craig's lot, still blackened by the house that burned.
Named among the participants were pipe fitter Alvin C. Norman, who led plumbing activities; and Shelton Flash, heading painters. Under carpenter foremen supervision, high school students nailed on roof shingles. While the men worked, local ladies - Mrs. Craig, with wives and daughters including Mrs. W. A. Floyd and Mrs. Walter Womack, supplied sandwiches and hot coffee. The original plan was to complete the home in one day, however delays in obtaining certain building materials caused a slight delay.
