The Okie Legacy
Oakie's Heart To Heart
Soar into the Future with the FairValley Eagle!
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The Okie Legacy
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| Millennium Edition - http://OkieLegacy.org |
28 April 2001, Vol. III, Iss. 17 |
WWII POW Buried In Oklahoma...Recently, I received a request from a gentlemen in Delware helping his brother do research for a fellow (nephew of Paul Kurt Leonhart, WWII German POW) from Germany. They are in search for an uncle (Paul Kurt Leonhardt) a German POW at FT. McAlester, Oklahoma during WWII. He died in the Ft. McAlester POW camp. Leonhardt was born 9 April 1908, died 14 February 1945, FT. McAlester, Oklahoma. The nephew of Leonhardt wanted to see if he can locate his uncle's grave and take a picture to give to his Aunt (86 years old) back in Germany. What We Know So Far... Fort Reno is a short distant west of El Reno and does have a federal cemetery containing several German POW graves. A list of names can be received at the State Historical Society (405) 521-2491 or by reaching the National Cemetery System at 1(800) 697-6947. Vernon and his wife called the State Historical Society phone number and they looked up the list of POW's buried at El Reno federal cemetery. He told the Dennis' that a 'Paul Kurt Leonhardt' was not listed. Can YOU help?... This is where your help comes in.... If anyone has any information where Vernon, his brother and Paul Kurt Leonhardt's nephew can locate info and a photo of Mr.. Leonhardt's gravestone, please contact Vernon Dennis. Thanks for any information that you can provide. If you do not have the information, can you tell us where we can find a list of WWII POWs buried in Oklahoma? McKeever Teachers...
Info from the book, "The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma 1886-1986", by Seekers of Oklahoma Heritage Association McKeever School District 23 is located on the SW corner of Section 24, 6 miles west of Alva, Oklahoma. The first school term was held during the winter of 1894-1895 in the Hulet home, 6 miles west and 1/3 mile south of hwy 64 in Section 25 of the Alva Township. The Hulet home as a dugout, 12 feet by 18 feet with dirt floors. It had a 4 foot depth with sod laid up 2 feet above that. The roof was made of poles and branches of trees covered with dirt. The McKeever School was earlier known as "North Eagle, District 191." 29th January 1895... The pupils that attended the North Eagle, Dist. 191 school were: Harry Benton, Johnnie Benton, Myrtle Cocohm, Clevie Kinney, Mary Kinney, Tommie Kinney, Amon McKeever, Phebe McKeever, Cora Messmore, Evert Litton, Jim Litton, Thomas Litton, Orwell Shirley, Bertha Smith, Cora Turner, Lola Turner, Bessie Vincent, Cora Wiggins, Della Wiggins, Gracie Wiggins. Sometime during the 1894-95 school year, Dick McKeever purchased the Hulet claims and donated the SW corner of his SW quarter of Section 24 for a frame-boxed school building that was moved from 4 to 5 miles NW of Alva and placed on the donated land. The second school term was held in this frame box house that measured 14 feet by 28 feet, with wooden floors with 1 inch by 12 inch planks, and desks that were from the same type of plank. It cost $300 to construct the original part of the school. The School District changed in 1908 from District 191 to District 23 and was known as the McKeever School. The American Elm trees which encircle the school grounds were set out about 1915 and still line the south boundary of the school yard along hwy 64. List of McKeever Teachers.... 1894-95........Maggie Shiel Oakie's NW Corner...
Yes! It is running later than usually! BUT.... this last week of 80-something, spring weather has kept me outside, in the country, with my horses from dawn until dusk. AND... there is NO new 2001 colt to report yet. Maybe she is waiting for Mother's Day, huh? The smell of the lilacs & honeysuckles filled the sunny, spring air this week while the Spireas and Irises began blooming in Oklahoma. Well! Actually, the Irises in my yard in NW Oklahoma have NOT bloomed yet, but I did see a stem with a bud pop-up this Friday morning.
This old bell was just one of the many antiques that sold that day. I wasn't the early bird to get the bell on Saturday... And I do NOT know how much it sold for -- who the lucky buyer was -- or where it's new home will be. I would love to know some history of this old bell. Did it once grace a church steeple? Did it set atop a country school or church? What history could it tell us if we listened while it chimed it's legacy? If anyone in NW Oklahoma knows who bought the Kinzie Auction Bell and how much -- OR -- Any history of the old bell, please share it with us and Email Oakie any info you might have. Thanks! Let me leave you with this quote by James D. Miles, "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." -- Linda - "Oakie" Linda K McGill Wagner Thanks! You can also view The OkieLegacy online. Copyrighted © 2008 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy. All Rights Reserved.
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Mailbag & Links....A.T. Kimmell -- "The summer of 1940, I was 15 yrs. old, and had my first job away from home -- (and many of mom's relatives)! My employer was a Mr. A.B. Newlin, who lived and farmed south of Cherokee. He and his wife were middle aged, and had no children.On a very warm Saturday morning, he and I went to Cherokee for supplies. Mr Newlin was stopped by a man wearing slacks and a very nice sports shirt -- one with a square-cut bottom. "Hi, My name is Bob Kerr, and I am running for Governor." Mr. Newlin is wearing a large farmer's straw hat, stripped bib overalls, and a full sleeved chambry shirt. Both men are big! Or at least 'ample!' A.B. Newlin says, ' I wouldn't vote for any man that goes around with his shirt tail hanging out.' And right in the middle of the sidewalk, in downtown Cherokee, Bob Kerr undoes his pants & puts his shirt inside! As I recall they shook hands & both acted pleased!" Robert S. Kerr Collection - According to this OU.edu site, "Oil man Robert S. Kerr (1896-1963) first held elective office when he became Oklahoma's governor in 1942. During the war years, he presided over a vigorous economic expansion and directed a remarkably efficient state administration. A year after leaving the governor's office, he was successful in his first attempt at the U.S. Senate in 1948." "I grew up in Cherokee, being born there in 1925- so, I remember the Depression, Robert S. Kerr, & Gene McGill, (among others) I become a Veterinarian at Okla. A & M. College in 1952, & returned to Kiowa, Ks. to practice, until 1976. Working in both KS. & OK. from near Cherokee, to near Freedom! I did some work for Gene McGill on the Angus cattle, he bought from Sen. Kerr. I have many fond memories of that wonderful area, along the State line, & the truely great people, that lived there. I recently learned of your articles -- And interested in what you are doing." Sincerely, A.T.Kimmell, DVM Link concerning German WWII POWs and places they may have been buried.... The Other POW site stated, "There are still 75 POWs or enemy aliens buried in Oklahoma. Most are at the Post Cemetery at Ft. Reno, but 3 are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery at McAlester and 2 more are buried at Ft. Sill. Not all of the 70 men buried at Ft. Reno were the POWs who died in Oklahoma. Two are enemy aliens that died there and 29 are POWs, German and Italian, that died in other states. Ft Sill Cemetery has 1 POW and 1 enemy alien. Another enemy alien that was buried at Ft. Sill was removed and reburied in Californina after the war. Four POWs that died in Oklahoma at the Camp Gruber POW Camp are buried in the National Cemetery at Ft. Sam Houston, TX." "Hi Linda, I am doing some research for my brother. He has been working with a fellow from Germany. The fellow from Germany said that he had an uncle who was a POW at FT. McAlester, OK during WWII. He said that his uncle died in the POW camp. His uncle's name: Paul Kurt Leonhardt born 9 Apr 1908 died 14 Feb 1945 in FT. McAlester, OK. This fellow from Germany wanted to see if he can locate his grave and take a picture. He wanted to give the picture to his aunt (86 years old) back in Germany. I see from your information on the Internet that after the war, (WWII) all dead pow's (66 total) in the OK area and near by states were relocated to Post Cemetery at FT. Reno. I was wondering if I could ask you a couple of questions? I hope you don't mind. Where is FT. Reno? Do you have a list of the 66 pow's buried in the Post Cemetery? Is Paul Kurt Leonhardt in that list? Many thanks for any information that you can provide. If you do not have the information, can you tell me where I can find that information? All help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much." -- Vernon Dennis More Soaring Eagles Out There... Elizabeth/Grace -- "Somehow I feel I have made it into the position of being 'sweet but strong' which is what I've been aiming for personally all my life. Funny how life's challenges 'grow you' when you least expect it. Perhaps the Eagle thought I was a deer but actually she recognized talons and wings on me that I didn't stop to notice I, myself, even had. She actually empowered me with that glance, I now realize. If the mightly Eagle can respect me then I can respect myself even more. She must see seeds of abilities in me that I myself had taken for granted. I was not there at the training with the editor to beg for a job when she looked in the room to 'check me out.' I was there to interview him to see if I even wanted to take the job that he was desperately hoping I would take. Their needs were as great as mine. They needed me to take the job and I needed a paycheck. I however, would not have begged for the job as I know that there is a God who wanted me to have a job somewhere. I knew that all I had to do was try and be all I could be. He would encourage the right people to hire and train me. I knew that if they didn't hire me that there would be something better for me elsewhere for this time in my life and so went to the interview/training (as they had already decided to have me come 'on board') before I had come in after having read a pile of my writing samples. 'The ball was in my court' as they say and I asked questions about raises and becoming a full-time reporter in the future on salary with benefits right from the outset so I could know what new goals to set if I should take this job. What have I learned this week-end? That the strong winds of life can be powerful, relaxing our spirit -- focusing our will -- working hard at using our muscles in just the right way can bring us higher using those very winds meant to bring us down to instead lift us up even higher than we were before. I've learned that once having done that simply gliding up there can be fairly easy if we don't look down and continue to look straight ahead and even up with only an occasional glance down to keep us humble and to remind us where we've come from and how easy it is to fall if we don't continue to focus and keep striving in the right way. When we get tired we can 'hold our own' and simply glide by holding our wings out wide and strong and learn to rest while we are even in flight and it becomes a whole new way of living. Higher ideals, higher goals, but humility in recognizing always our own limitations and that without God we are nothing. It is He who gave us life and empowers us in all that we do which is right. Well, I've had my morning stroll through the keyboard of the written word and now time to write up my new application for the editor and get flying to the newsroom for a bit more training and discussion and then back home to the keyboard to write my first story (deadline is wed. 4 a.m.) but likely will be tuesday 12 midnight hopefully in my mind so I can get some shut-eye that night. I'll let you know how it works out and may even send you a copy sometime some way of my story on acid-rain project going on here. Love you loads dear friend."  "This
moth was resting on my lamp post until I suggested that he needed to move
where his wing spread would show up better in a photograph - never underestimate
the power of suggestion. Soon afterwards he flew off in a most erratic way.
(10:00 AM Sat. April 21, 2001)" Ernest  Here's
something for you flowering ditty bag that I found on... "Spireas
(Spiraea species) are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. There
are two distinct kinds of spireas: the bridal wreath type, with clusters
of white flowers on arching branches in spring; and the shrubby, much lower-growing
type, which has pink, red or white flowers clustered at the end of upright
branches in summer to fall. Vanhoutte spirea (S. vanhouttei), the classic
bridal wreath spirea, is a deciduous broadleaf shrub that can grow 6 to
10 feet high and spread as much as 20 feet wide. The small leaves are blue-green
in summer with no fall color. Masses of small, white flower clusters cover
the plant in the spring."  "My
wife called them Bridal Wreath. I took this exposure on the 11th of April.
She also had a bush that was similar, which has not bloomed yet, but the
blooms are very tiny - she called it a Baby's breath. I will attach a picture
of an Iris which I took a couple of days ago - just for the heck of it.
It too is along the pasture fence."  1925-1928,
This Road built with prison labor under the direction of M.E. Trapp, Governor
of Oklahoma - W. S. Key, Warden State Penitentiary - The State Hwy Commission:
Cyrus G. Avery, chairman; Roy M. Johnson, member; F. J. Gentry, member;
I. M. Page, state hwy engineer. "Linda
-- Nita & I used to make week-end trips to many points of interest around
Oklahoma. We had a great time gathering these Selinite crystals. She gave
many of them away, but I still have these crystals to recall that wonderful
experience." Ernest"Just got these up today, enjoy and let me know what you think. Many Sides of Betty | My Explorings | More Explorings | More Explorings | More Explorings" Cyberfriend, Betty |
