The western Oklahoma Balkcoms are descendants of James E. Balkcom b1807 and Mary (Polly) Balkcom, originally from Sampson County, North Carolina. Her parents are unknown, but were very likely neighboring Murphys to the Balkcoms in North Carolina. James' mother is now proven by DNA to be either Hester Balkcom (maiden name unknown) of Sampson County North Carolina, or a daughter of Hester. Hester was widowed in 1803 by the death of her husband John Balkcom, and James was born in 1807. There is no evidence she remarried and she carried the Balkcom name (actually spelling it Balkcum) throughout her life in North Carolina. James' father is demonstrated by DNA to be a neighbor of Hester's in Sampson County, likely a Bowen male, although which male of that family is the father is not yet known.
See the links above for detailed genealogies. It may be useful to start with the family tree of Euel Balkcom or a search for a person of interest, say Hester Balkcom.
