Tenth Generation

897. Mary Joe LESSLY¹¹⁷ was born on 16 January 1890 in near Norman, Cleveland County, OK. She died on 31 August 1973 in Norman, Cleveland County, OK.³⁹⁶ She was buried in IOOF Cemetary, Norman, OK. [Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 3, Social Security Records: U.S., SS Death Benefit Records, Surnames Beginning with K, Date of Import: May 17, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.3.120115.31]

Individual: Kuhlman, Mary
Birth date: Jan 16, 1890
Death date: Aug 1973
Social Security #: 442-64-5501
Last residence: OK 73069
State of issue: OK

Notes from Richard Ryan
Made Roserock pictures for many years, digging the rocks she used up out of the ground on her farm. She was the catalyst in introducing a bill making the Roserock the state rock of Oklahoma. Drove a 1945, WWII Jeep
to check on her cattle after her husband died.

Listed as Mary Joe, not Mary Jo, in the papers given to me by H.T. Avey.
These papers were property of Tom Avey's wife, Winnie Mae Lessly Avey.

Married John Henry Kuhlman at high noon. See husband's notes.

Henry and Mary Jo later purchased the adjoining farm, making one-half section in the home place. In 1929, Mary Jo was honored by being selected as a Master Farm Homemaker. She was again honored in 1930 when her picture appeared in the "Who's Who in Oklahoma." August 28, 1945, Henry was given a Certificate of Award by the Oklahoma Banker's Association naming him "A Friend of the Land" for his practices of Soil Conservation in the Cleveland County District. In 1957, Mary Jo and Henry were awarded the title of "Golden Anniversary Farm Family" in Cleveland County. This same year they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mary Jo continued to live on the farm they purchased on their wedding day after her husband's death. She not only managed the farm, but was a "rockhound" and aquired "museum of specimens." She had a large exhibit of rock creatures and jewelry which she made from rocks she had gathered and tumble polished.

Her main interest, however was in making Rose Rock pictures from her beloved rock, the Barite Rose. She was given a citation from the Oklahoma House of Representatives for being instrumental in getting this Barite Rose made the Oklahoma rock.

Mary Joe LESSLY and John Henry KUHLMAN II were married on 25 December 1907 in Lessly farm hom, near Norman, OK. John Henry KUHLMAN II¹¹⁷ was born on 15 September 1883 in Auburn, Nebraska. He died on 27 August 1959.

Mary Joe LESSLY and John Henry KUHLMAN II had the following children:

+1270	i.	Mary Elizabeth KUHLMAN.
+1271	ii.	Harold Edgar KUHLMAN.
+1272	iii.	John Henry KUHLMAN III.
+1273	iv.	Margaret Louise KUHLMAN.
1274	v.	Thelma Joy KUHLMAN117 was born on 27 June 1920 in near Norman, OK. She died on 21 January 1921.
1275	vi.	Kenneth Lloyd KUHLMAN117 was born on 15 March 1924 in near Norman, OK. He died on 30 March 1925.
+1276	vii.	Kertis Paul KUHLMAN.
+1277	viii.	Evelyn Sue KUHLMAN.