The Okie Legacy

Why Heart-Heart? -
Because I Care . . .

For everything you intend to do, there is a because. For everything that you experience, there is a because. Using the word "because" begs the question of "why?" Thoughtful use of the word "because" will bring your most powerful motivations to light." - The Daily Motivator

Good Morning, Friends! One of my friends asked me, "Why Heart to Heart?"

My response, "Because I want to share those special people, places and memories that I hold dear to my heart and soul. There are so many special - caring - kind friends out there and I've felt that I have been blessed to connect with the majority of them. AND -- I know I haven't met ALL of them yet! :-) BUT -- I'm working on it!" LOL <G> :-)

As another of my friends says, "Everything is New!"

Though you can't see them, you can feel them in your heart through their words. You only have to open your heart and reach out with unconditional - unselfish friendship for those same friendships to gravitate towards you. What you give you get back in abundance! Be thoughtful of what you give to others! Because... Because you will get it back!

There will be those that try to pull you under - Hold you as hostage - Turn you out as a refugee from your own hopes and dreams. They may even refuse your unselfish hand of peace. You can't force them to accept it. Perhaps their anger and hatred is so strong that they can't see to trust anyone or anything. -- And they feel they have to slash out in anger. I don't know where the answer lies!

I understand, though -- Because my oldest sister is alot like that. She refuses to accept my unconditional, unselfish heart and hand of peace and friendship. That is fine for now! I'm NOT here to force anything on anyone. I'm here to bring a safe, peaceful feeling place where souls can meet in friendship and live in unity. My heart will always be there to offer her that same peace when she is ready to accept it! :-) I know that I don't have all the answers, nor do I profess to know it all. I'm still learning everyday of my life about my friends, strength and character.

I would like to dedicate this week's Newsletter in honor of all the caring - loving individuals of the Freedom Community in NW Oklahoma. This one is for you! Thanks for letting me adopt you - Come into your lives - And soar with the Freedom Eagles of NW Oklahoma. It is a grand privilege! :-) AND --- I'll make you proud!

Even though I am NOT a resident of Freedom, I do have ties to that area, because... My Great-Grandfather (John R. Warwick) owned farm ground just east of there in a small, rural area known as "Fair Valley." Fair Valley no longer exist today... BUT... You can still find descendants of Fair Valley holding their annual reunions in September, "Grandparents Day", in the community building in the nearby town of Freedom, Oklahoma.

For those of you who don't know where Freedom is -- It's located approximately 30 minute drive west of Alva on state hwy 64 & then south on hwy 50 a few miles. It is a quaint, picturesque, Biggest, Little Community" & "Smallest Certified City" of truly caring people. They have strived to keep the picturesque, old west look on it's main streets and in it's business district. I'll get you some pictures later. Or... If someone out there reading this is from the Freedom area has a scanned JPG or photo that they would like to share, please send it to me c/o "The Call" in Freedom, Box 172, Freedom, OK 73842 - OR - Email Linda

During the summer month of August, you can enjoy the biggest, little rodeo, barbecue, and staged bank robbery & shoot-out on their main streets and at their rodeo arena north of town. Everyone in the community participates while visitors crowd into this small, unique, picturesque community each August. Cars usually line the streets and overflow this western town during Rodeo season. so get there early and bring your friends! :-)

My friends, Jan and Vic Burnham, own and run the weekly paper, "The Call", and the hardware store in Freedom. I have some other friends (Lana and Alan Burkhart) that live south of there at New Pringey (Pop. 4). They are in the business of manufacturing and selling wholesale "Cimarron Alabaster" products produced and hand painted from around that area.

Freedom has an Old Pioneers stone monument marker in their community park which lists all the pioneers who have come together to leave their mark in this western community. My great-grandfather John Warwick was one of those listed. This URL will give you a slight glimplse of that monument - Freedom Monument .

Can I ask a favor of you for a few former residents whose ancestors settled there long ago. If you can help them in anyway, I've included their Email Addies with their names and who they are searching.

1. Therese Colvin (mailto:colvinp@ibm.net) -- Looking for info on BINGAMON, WRIGHT families from Freedom, OK. Allan Bingamon married Sarah Caroline Wright. They moved to Freedom about 1894. Sarah died there in 1924. Can anyone help her?
2. Stan Whittet (mailto:swhittet@gte.net) -- Looking for info on his grandmother's family. Her name is "Jennie Reba REILY". She was born 28 Sep 1885 in Kansas. Her father, John Calvin REILY, was married to,"Kate CLEMENS". He has no dates on them. Jennie died in Freedom on 2 Jun 1952 and is buried in the Freedom Cemetary. She married "John Daniel Whittet" on 3 Jul 1913. She was the postmaster in Freedom for many years. They lived in Woods County for many years.

I've recently connected to a Goldbug classmate of '66. I would like to welcome CB & his wife (Red) Thompson (mailto:buckaroo@nr.infi.net) to "Oakie's Heart to Heart" and thank them for sharing their memories with me.

Floyd is living in Winston-Salem, NC now with his wife Marilyn (a native of North Carolina). He was telling me that his mother was born in Freedom, Oklahoma and he used to visit his Great-grandparents there quite often when he was younger. Welcome, CB, to Oakie's Heart to Heart! It was good to hear from you. Love your letters!

CB & Red, your description of your North Carolina sounds beautiful to this heart. Thanks for sharing it with me. I've got my bags packed almost and my heart is ready to tour the whole east coast and see all the historical sites and meet new friends.

Here is what CB had to say about North Carolina. I would like to share it and encourage others to send some info about their homeplaces, also.

CB says, "North Carolina's latitude here is about the same as it is in Alva, and so the climate is very similar. But... The suns angle here is different than up north, and it reflects just a tad different. Two hours to the west of us are the mountains (blue-ridge mountains). It has the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Four hours to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. Raleigh east to the coast, the soil is very sandy and flat. From Raleigh west, the soil is so very much like it is up in Alva, Oklahoma - meaning it is red clay. It isn't flat either, so the farming is done in much smaller parcels than you would see in nortwestern Oklahoma. This is truly a beautiful place to live, and beautiful. We have million Dogwoods blooming now and those trees grow wild so you can see them everywhere. April is the best for viewing new growth. Fall is another beautiful time of the year with the Fall colors."

My (Oakie's) ancestors are from those Smokey Mountains of West Virginia and Virginia where the two states come together. I love those winding valleys - Enjoyed every breath-taking moment - Every scenery of the small, picturesque communities dotted along the way. My Heart has been drawn towards that area ever since I've started searching my ancestors roots. I was chatting with a friend on ICQ recently -- He told me that he couldn't understand why more people didn't write a newsletter giving some history of the area they are from.

Well! That started the "Bells and Whistles" going off in my head. It got me to thinking. Why don't some of you that like to write, send me a small snippet of the history and/or description of your area. We can share it here through Oakie's HTH (Heart to Heart). Together... We can make this Heart to Heart "Our Heart to Heart"! Giving others a glimpse of the our own little communities treasures we hold deep in our hearts and souls.

Speaking of History -- Little over a year ago I started an "Oklahoma History Webring" of web sites that have done research on history from all over the state of Oklahoma. You can view the list that I have gathered so far at The Oklahoma History Ring List. They all have something very special to offer. From "Native American History" to the "Cimarron Trails from Texas to Kansas thru Oklahoma".

If you have an Oklahoma History web site to add to the webring, then follow this URL paristimes.com/okring.html and Join us in spreading our history with others at the "Oklahoma History Ring".

Why I do this? Because... Because I get to share with my friends a part of myself that I love and hold dear to me. I love learning - About my ancestral history - About my state - About my friends - About my ancestors - And about my strengths.

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