Joe and Lola in Oklahoma

Cotten Family about 1930

Joe and Lola were married November 15, 1921 in the back of a barber shop in Elk City, Oklahoma.  The wedding party consisted of the bride and groom, Lola's sister Maude and sister-in-law Drue, one barber, one shoe shining boy, and one guy getting his shoes shined.

During the next 9 years, Joe worked in the oil and cotton fields in Oklahoma and Texas.  Work was scarce, and living conditions were rough as shown from this account from Lola's book:

"Our tent was one mile from anyone.  We had to haul water 1 1/2 miles to use.  One day I gave both the babies a bath.  They went to sleep before I got them dressed.  I laid down and went to sleep also.  Something woke me up,  The tent was full of smoke.  I ran outside thinking the oil rig was on fire but it wasn't - - It was a forest fire.  I got a baby under each arm and ran as fast as I could.  In about 3/4 of a mile there was a place that was pretty clear of brush.  I didn't think I had made it because it was coming so fast.  Again God was helping me for I made it.  I watched and just knew everything had burned up. I walked down to the road.  I was a mile from where we lived.  Some men were working putting up a high line.  My little babies were wanting water.  I asked a man if he had any water.  I told him the fire burned up everything we had.  He said there are 50 men fighting the fire.  Maybe you can get someone to go see if everything is all gone.  He went up and talked to his men.  He came back and said 'I'll take you up there.  If  everything is burned up I'll take you to the store until your husband gets here.'  My little son couldn't walk because I didn't pick up his shoes and the ground was burning yet.  We went back to the tent.  It was still there.  The fire had burned right up to it.  He asked me if I had water.  I told him yes.  I asked him what I owed him.  I told him I had some money in the tent.  He said 'You don't owe me anything.  You did the best thing.  If you would have stayed, the little ones would have died.  You are  a good mother.  All you were thinking about was your children.'  That was a desolate place."