John Bryant Bendure and Mary Diadema Hobbs Bendure

John Bryant Bendure was born September 2, 1871, in Deleware District of Indian Territory, later known as Oklahoma.  He was the eldest of five children born to James H. Bendure and Sarah "Sallie" Ann Ward.  Sarah was of Cherokee descent.  James H. Bendure originally came from Ohio.  He served in the Union forces during the Civil War where he lost fingers on a hand in the Battle of Shiloh.  It is still to be determined why he came to Oklahoma.  One family legend had him meeting Sarah while she was on the Trail of Tears migration, but no evidence has been found to prove that.

John Bryant ran a livery and was also a cobbler in Chouteau.  At this time, Chouteau was a prosperous community in the county.  John also played fiddle for local dances.  (His fiddle was passed down to his grandson, Donnie Bendure.)  John had 4 siblings:  George Edward, Nancy (who died as an infant), Charles Hubbard, and Frank (who also died as an infant).  Because their mother was of Cherokee descent, they were included on the Dawes Rolls and received land from the government. 

Mary Diadema Hobbs was the daughter of Isaac G Hobbs and Ava Oxford.  She was born March 15, 1875, in Washington Co. Arkansas.  It is believed that Isaac was a deputy sheriff of Washington Co., Arkansas.  It is unknown why Isaac and Ava came to Oklahoma.  Isaac died at Eureka Springs, Arkansas a few years before Ava died in Oklahoma.  More research needs to be done on this information.  Mary had 5 siblings:  Margaret, a baby, Charles, Emory, and Johnnie.

Mary, at the same time that John Bryant ran the livery, also ran a hotel in Chouteau that was located near the current Bank of Chouteau location.  It is also believed by the family that she also owned a second hotel in town.