Thomas Alfred Key was the eldest of two sons born to Joseph and Mary (Lane) Key. Mary died in 1858 shortly after the second son was born. Joseph was a Methodist circuit rider and after Mary died, he left the two boys with neighbors while he rode "the circuit." Thomas's brother was burned while with this family and Mary's sister and one of her brothers found out and came and got the two boys. The Lanes were related by marriage and by business dealings with Charles Goodnight, so Thomas's early training was with Charles Goodnight, Wes Sheek, and Lane uncles. During a trail drive, they came through the western part of Oklahoma and Thomas decided he wanted to settle there eventually. In the 1890s he purchased 640 acres south of what is now Dill City, Washita Co., OK. The Bell Cemetery is on the southeast corner of his land, which he donated. Two of his children are buried there. During the late 1890s, he was involved in a gun fight at Cloud Chief. Circumstances are not known; but, he did not go to jail. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Old Mtn. View and then to Gotebo.
Thomas Alfred Key was the eldest of two sons born to Joseph and Mary (Lane) Key. Mary died in 1858 shortly after the second son was born. Joseph was a Methodist circuit rider and after Mary died, he left the two boys with neighbors while he rode "the circuit." Thomas's brother was burned while with this family and Mary's sister and one of her brothers found out and came and got the two boys. The Lanes were related by marriage and by business dealings with Charles Goodnight, so Thomas's early training was with Charles Goodnight, Wes Sheek, and Lane uncles. During a trail drive, they came through the western part of Oklahoma and Thomas decided he wanted to settle there eventually. In the 1890s he purchased 640 acres south of what is now Dill City, Washita Co., OK. The Bell Cemetery is on the southeast corner of his land, which he donated. Two of his children are buried there. During the late 1890s, he was involved in a gun fight at Cloud Chief. Circumstances are not known; but, he did not go to jail. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Old Mtn. View and then to Gotebo.
Bio by: KiowaGal
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