The Titchenal Cherokee Connection

Chapter 1 - Introduction
"I leave my love to all of you because I am not rich."

• The Weak Little Voice
• Lives of Adversity
• Collecting Information
• The Angry Step-Father
• Dora Remembers
• The First Surprise,An unexpected twist
• William's Gravesite
• A Talk With William's Granddaughter
• Reaction to the Discovery
• The Impossible Search

Chapter 2 - Ruben William Freeman Keith (Paps or Big Daddy)
his life, personality and tall stories of his connection with the Belle Starr gang

• Vernon Remembers
• Jailer Paps
• Paps and Belle Starr
• Aiding Outlaws
• Another Connection to Belle

Chapter 3 -
Life in Indian Territory (1835-1902)

• The Indian Starr family
• The Cherokee Civil War
• Peace and another war
• Belle Starr's early life
• William Freeman Keith's connection to Belle Starr
• The outlaws of Indian Territory
• Legends of Belle Starr
• Belle Starr's actual life
• Life in the Briartown area
• Interview with Dr. Culledge, recollections of Tom Starr
• William meets the Arnett girls
• William and the girls attend an Indian baptism
• The Stomp Dance
• Life in Indian Territory
• [1892] William Freeman Keith marries Alma Arnett
• [1892] El Dora is conceived (the author, Oliver Titchenal's mother)
• [1893] Annie's first child, El Dora, is born
• Possible sources for the name "El Dora"
• [1896] Anna (Annie) Arnette marries Charles Pfieffer in Checotah, OK
• [1893-1896] The complication of children out of wedlock
• Interviews with early settlers (from the Forman Collection)
• [c1900] Charles leaves Annie for work in California
• [c1900] Scenes around Wilburton
• [c1903] Charles Pfieffer returns and moves the family to Santa Monica, California
• [1903+] Life in Santa Monica
• [1917] Dora and Charles Titchenal move to Crown King
• Life in Arizona
• Annie's children grow to adulthood

Chapter 4 -
Who were my ancestors and when and why did they, the Arnetts, Keiths and McClures live in Indian Territory?

• Tracing the Arnetts
• Clues to Alma and Annie's Parents
• Finding the Arnetts in Grayson, Texas
• Fitting the pieces together
• The Keiths, Arnetts and McClures
• The Scotch-Irish Connection
• The Keith Connection
• The McClure Connection
• McClures in the Eastern Cherokee Nation
• The Link to James McClure
• The Link to John Arnett
• Intruders in Indian Territory
• Story of CJ Atkins - GrandFather to the Arnett children

This web site is based on the works of the late Oliver R. Titchenal (c)1996. Not-for-profit use of Mr. Titchenal's material is encouraged provided he is credited. Mr. Titchenal researched and wrote these stories over his lifetime. We were not always able to determine where specific material came from or who should be contacted for use permission. Our apologies if we have included other's work without acknowledgement or permission. If you are the copyright owner and would like something credited or removed please contact:

The Titchenal Cherokee Connection is maintained by Stephen Titchenal