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The Burks – Rogers Elopement: Oklahoma, 1912 It was a dark, warm August night when Reg Rogers drove his buggy down the country lane. As he neared the Burks’ place he slowed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Picking Minnie up and getting away to the Texas border undetected was essential, not only for success of the plan, but for Reg’s safety. “Old man” Burks’ Irish temper was well known, and he had no desire to be caught running away with the man’s oldest and favorite child. He stopped in the shadows and waited for the last kerosene lamp to be put out, and for the household to quiet down. He then quietly stepped from his new buggy and led the horse down to the entrance of the property, where he waited in the shadows. Leaving the horse there after a bit, he slipped down the drive to the back of the house. Soon the back door silently opened. Minnie stepped out and search the shadows for him. He suddenly appeared by her side and gave her a quick kiss. He quietly asked, “Are you ready?” She put her fingers to her lips to shush him, and she held the door open to point to the trunk standing on end just inside the door. He picked it up and carefully got it out the door. Then they each took a handle and carried the trunk quietly to the waiting buggy, where Reg hoisted it into the back. Minnie and her mother had been working on Minnie’s new boarding school wardrobe for weeks, and she was determined not to leave all her new clothes behind. They got in the buggy and he quietly urged the horse forward. They had a long ride ahead to reach their destination of Dennison, Texas. He had many relatives there, where they would be welcomed, and they quickly settled down as much as possible while urging the horse on quickly, through the night. Upon their arrival in Dennison the next morning, they wasted not a moment. They promptly obtained a marriage license, and went before a Justice of the Peace to be married, not daring to breath a sigh of relief until all had been accomplished without a hitch. Meanwhile, back in Oklahoma, the Burks family had awakened to find Minnie gone, and discovered the note she had written. In the note she had told them what she was doing, but not where she was going. Her father was furious! He had not liked Reg, or the attention he had been paying his daughter, and now his suspicions were confirmed. His daughter was barely seventeen, and this man in his twenties, he was sure, was out to take advantage of her and the property she would soon come into. He hitched up his horses, loaded his shotgun, and setting his jaw, he went in search of the young couple. He went to all the Rogers relatives in the area, but they all swore they knew nothing. He informed one and all that he intended to kill “that young jackass” on sight! For the next few weeks he would travel ceaselessly throughout the county, always with his shotgun in his lap. The Rogers families in the area were concerned. They’d thought he would get over it when he had a chance to get used to the idea, but when he persisted, they decided to warn the relatives in Texas that Burks was still very angry, and it might be best if the couple remained in Texas for awhile. Paying heed to the warning, Reg and Minnie stayed in Texas a number of months and when they did return, they did it very quietly, renting a small house in town. Soon Minnie was expecting her first child. Her papa had settled down and accepted the situation, but although he became very fond of the grandson who was born the following June and named for him, he never truly accepted the son-in-law. As told to Bobbe
Budda, granddaughter of Minnie Burks Rogers.
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