Introduction to the Generational Overview Section
This section gives an overview of each generation. It contains the information I knew at the time of writing it. There is a brief description of the main ancestors. Please note that there are much more details in other sections.
First Generation
Cantrell
For the purposes of this writing, I (James Aaron Cantrell) am labeling myself and my generation as the FIRST generation. If you have a problem with this, write your own family history!
My name is James Aaron Cantrell. I was born in Pawnee, OK on 12 Nov 1954. On August 16, 1975, I married Sharene Rae Stanley in El Paso, TX. We had four wonderful daughters: Elizabeth Ann (born: 20 Mar 1981), Valerie Kay (born: 3 May 1985), Amanda Erin (born: 29 Jul 1988), and Patricia Ruth (born: 13 Jul 1990). We divorced on 15 Nov 1994.
On 8 Aug 1998, I married Cheryl Diane Messenger, (born: 15 Apr 1948 in Speedway, IN). She brought Scott Robert Bruemmer (born: 24 Oct 1976 in Indianapolis, IN) and Kelly Marie Bruemmer Palvino (born: 17 Oct 1980 in St. Louis, MO) into our family.
Since birth, I have lived in Oklahoma, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, and now Arizona. I have lived the longest (30 years) in the St. Louis region of Missouri.
Our Cantrell line can be tracked back to Philadelphia in the mid-1600s. From there they traveled down through Virginia, settling in South Carolina for a while. Then in the early parts of the 1800s, they moved over to eastern Tennessee, staying there until mid-1900s. Then they moved to Texas for a bit, and then onto Oklahoma.
Second Generation
Cantrell / Todd
The Second Generation are my parents: Dad, (James Richard Cantrell), and Mom, (Margie Ruth Todd Cantrell). Dad was born on 18 Jul 1931 in Tulsa, OK. He has lived in Oklahoma, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M (renamed later to Oklahoma State University) and his careers included the Army, newspaper reporter, Secret Service, head of security for the US Treasury Centers, and President of Government Employees Health Association. Dad died on December 9, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mom was born on 3 Apr 1932 in Pawnee, OK. She lived in the same places Dad lived. She attended Oklahoma A&M. She actually had many diverse careers, including importantly to this document — Mother and Wife. Mom died on August 21, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Todds are probably from Scotland. Our line shows up in England in the mid-1600s, and then Philadelphia in the latter 1600s. Late 1700s have them in North Carolina and then in Tennessee in the mid-1800s. Late 1800s have them moving to Missouri and then quickly onto Oklahoma.
Third Generation
Okay, I’m going to switch from referencing individuals by their relationship to me, (ex. Mom and Dad) and go to using their names.
In the Second Generation, we introduced the Todds to the Cantrells. The Third Generation brings in the McClellans and the Whitlows.
Cantrell/McClellan
James R’s father was Horace Frances Cantrell, born 15 Sep 1905 in Van Alstyne, Grayson County, TX. Van Alstyne is about 50 miles north of Dallas. He lived most of his life in Oklahoma, but moved to Arizona in his latter days. He worked mainly in the grocery business, including running a bakery.
On 12 Nov 1927, Horace married Annie Ruth McClellan in Henryetta, OK. Annie (her adult friends called her Ann) was born on 13 Aug 1908 in Willow Springs MO. Willow Springs is southeast of Springfield, MO, in the Ozark Mountains. She lived most of her life in Oklahoma, moving to Texas in her latter days.
They had two children: James Richard Cantrell (see Second Generation) and Margie Ann (born 21 Oct 1929 in Okmulgee, OK. Died 3 Jul 2016 in Fort Worth, TX)
Horace and Annie were divorced on 29 Sep 1947. Horace remarried twice; first to Ethyl Irene Protsman and then to Marguerite (Maggie) Watson (born: 7 Jul 1921 in Gatesville, TX; died: 12 Feb 1997 in Gatesville, TX). Annie never remarried.
Annie’s main occupation was office worker for a local doctor.
Horace died on 29 Nov 1974 in Phoenix, AZ. Annie died on 25 Apr 1995 in Cleburne, TX, which is just south of Fort Worth.
The McClellans are from Scotland, as late as 1762. They show up in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. They show up in Minnesota in the late 1800s and then Missouri in 1900. In 1920, they wee living in Oklahoma.
Todd/Whitlow
Margie Ruth’s father was Richard (Dick) Aaron Todd. He was born on 26 Aug 1911 in Norman, OK. Norman is just south of Oklahoma City. He lived his entire life in Oklahoma. His careers included cattle rancher, oil field worker, and in his latter years, custodian of the Pawnee Oklahma Hospital.
On 21 Dec 1929, Richard married Jessie Mildred Whitlow in Pawnee, OK. Jessie (everyone called her Mildred) was born on 1 Dec 1910 in Reeds, MO. Reeds is a little east of Joplin, MO. She lived most of her life in Oklahoma. Her work life, other than the full time job of mother and farm wife, included a telephone operator and office worker in the local doctor’s office.
They had three children: Margie Ruth (see Second Generation), Elton Ray (born: 5 Sep 1933 in Pawnee, OK. Died: 6 Sep 2006 in Stillwater, OK), and Richard (Dicky) (born: 13 Jan 1940 in Pawnee, OK).
Richard died 29 Aug 1996 in Stillwater, OK. Jessie Mildred died on 1 Jul 1999 in Stillwater, OK
The Whitlows are traced back to England in the 1500s. They appear in Virginia by 1669, moving to North Carolina early 1800s. Mid-1800s have them in Illinois, a brief stop in Kansas in 1864, then onto Missouri around 1870. They moved to Pawnee in 1898.
Fourth Generation
Cantrell/Page
Jacob Franklin Cantrell, father of Horace, was born 9 Mar 1866 in Etowah, McMinn, TN, which is in the eastern portion of Tennesse on the border with South Carolina . He moved to Van Alstyne, TX by 1900. By 1920, he had moved to Henryetta, OK, which is 90 miles east of Oklahoma City. 1930 has him in Sapulpa, OK, which is just southwest of Tulsa, OK. Jacob drove cattle on the Chisolm trail and ran a cotton gin in both Texas and Oklahoma. He is known to have been one of the first in his area to employ black employees.
Jacob died in Henryetta, OK on 15 Jun 1949.
Jacob married Stella Almeda Page on 11 Oct 1898 in Pilot Grove, Grayson, TX, which is 9 miles east of Van Alystyne. Stella was born on 16 May 1881 in Big Piney, Pulaski, MO which is very close to Fort Leonard Wood. She shows up in Van Alstyne, TX by 1900. 1920, she shows up in Henryetta, OK and then Sapulpa in 1930.
Stella died on 2 Jun 1973 in Tulsa, OK.
The Page line first show up in Virginia mid 1700s. They moved to South Carolina in the late 1700s where they stayed mid 1800s, where they show up in Illinois. Late 1800s show them in Missouri. 1900 has them in Texas and then onto Oklahoma by 1920.
Cantrell/McClellan/Turner
William Atchison McClellan was the father of Annie Ruth. He was born on 8 May 1862 in Baileyville, PA, which is in central PA. 1880s have him in Minnesota. He is in Willow Springs, MO by 1900 and then to Henryetta, OK by 1920. He died on 6 Jul 1921 in Boynton, OK, which is 55 miles south southeast of Tulsa, OK.
On 17 Jan 1892, he married Martha Annie Turner in Edgerton, MN, which is in the southwest corner of the state. Martha was born on 4 Apr 1873 in Belmont, WI, which is 30 miles northeast of Debuque, IA. She died 3 Jun 1942 in Chatanooga, TN.
The Turners appear in New York in the middle 1700s. They show up in Wisconsin by 1860 and then moved to Wisconsin in 1875. After a brief stop in Missouri, around 1900, the are in Oklahoma by 1920.
Cantrell/Todd/Richardson
Samuel (Sam)Aaron Todd, father of Richard, was born 14 Nov 1860 in Tennessee. He is found in Murfreesboro, TN, (a little southeast of Nashville), in 1870. 1880 has Samuel in Morgan, MO, (a little northwest of Springfield) and by 1900 he was in Swan, MO,(just east of Branson). By 1910, Samuel made it to Oklahoma, listed in Noble in 1910, (Noble is just southeast of Norman, which is just south of Oklahoma City), and then in Pawnee by 1920, (Pawnee is 30 miles northeast of Stillwater). Samuel died in 1927 in Norman, OK.
Samuel married Hettie Ellen Richardson on 28 Mar 1909 in Cleveland County, MO (a little northwest of Tulsa). Hettie was born in Missouri on 7 Apr 1879. In 1880 she was listed as being in Township 8 in the Creek nation of Indian Territory, (which in 1907 became Oklahoma). Creek Nation appears to be land just to the southwest of present day Tulsa. By 1900, she had moved to Noble, OK, which is just south of Oklahoma City. She is listed in Pawnee, OK in 1920. She died on 28 May 1964 in Pawnee.
The Richardsons show up in Tennessee in 1822, then Missouri in 1850. They are in Oklahoma by 1900.
Cantrell/Todd/Whitlow/Harrison
Robert Burns Whitlow, father of Jessie Mildred, was born on 31 Aug 1883 in Hume, MO, (halfway between Kansas City and Joplin). Robert is listed in Pawnee, OK in 1900, in Sarcoxie, MO (23 miles east of Joplin) in 1910, and then back in Pawnee by 1920. For some reason, his WW I draft registration should Douglas, WY as his address. Strange! He was said to having lost his job at a Pawnee gas station because he refused to join the KKK. Robert died on 21 Feb 1975 in Pawnee, OK.
On 7 Oct 1907, Robert married Edna Mae Harrison in Stillwater, OK. Edna was born on 30 Mar 1893 in Reading, KS, which is about 100 miles southwest of Kansas City. She was in Barclay, KS, (about 8 miles northeast of Reading (in 1895) and in Autry, OK, (halfway between Wichita KS and Oklahoma City OK) in 1900. 1910 finds her with Robert in Sarcoxie, MO and then onto Pawnee by 1920. She died on 16 Jul 1973 in Pawnee, OK.
We know quite a bit about the Harrisons. The oldest date we have is about 1549 in England. 1699 has them in Virginia where they stay until the middle 1800s where they show up in Indiana. 1880 they appear in Missouri and bounced around Kansas and Arkansas. 1900 has them in Oklahoma.