The Okie Legacy
Oakie's Heart To Heart

26 May 2001, Vol. III, Iss. 21

History of Memorial Day...

According to "The History Channel" website, there was a proclamation made on May 5, 1868, by General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (an organization of former sailors and soldiers) establishing Memorial Day, May 30.

It states that Logan declared in a General Order No. 11 that:

"An 1880 Memorial Day parade on Riverside Drive in New York City. The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."

Don't forget to spend a moment of silence and decorations this weekend remembering all those who died and sacrificed their lives during the wars of the past.... No matter which side they fought on. Remember the POWs and their families as well!

Oakie's NW Corner...

Last weekend was hectic! Farmers laid down their crops, baled their wheat (before it started turing) and cut their alfalfa.

Hurry!... Hurry!... Hurry!... It's that time of year... Harvest time! One farmer told me, "It looks like the middle of June before any Wheat harvesting will start."

As you travel the country roads & highways from north to south and east to west, you will see lots of signs to that substantiate that fact. The round, square bales can be seen dotting the country landscapes along with the turning of the remaining wheat crops in rural NW Oklahoma.

The spring temperatures haven't been bad, either. We have been having beautiful, cool (mid-70 degree) temps in Oklahoma this past week with some spring rain showers the first part of the week.

Another thing happening in NW Oklahoma... NWOSU (a.k.a. The Castle on the Hill, Northwestern Normal School, NSC, etc...) got a new president. Dr. Paul Beran is Northwestern's 18th president. He begins his duties July 1 and replaces Dr. Tom McDaniel, who will be OCU's (Oklahoma City University) new president.

If you didn't hear from me during the first half of the week, it was because... My DSL & TCP/IP connections were NOT pinging properly. And still aren't... on my laptop. I could not send, receive email, nor could I bring up webpages. I did not forget about you! I was a little worried that the newsletter wouldn't be going out, though. Thank God... For a backup computer!!

Old Hennessey High School....

The mid-week found me traveling south down the Cimarron Trail, on hwy 81, through Hennessey, Oklahoma. Making a stop long enough to catch a shot of one of their old school buildings being torn down.

This small historical, little community has this old high school on the east side of hwy 81 that runs north south through the main part of town. The old school is just south of the downtown area of Hennessey. The 1927 old high school has been turned into the Town Hall & Library.

Next to the 1927 building once stood another school building & gym built back around 1941. The only part of that 1941 building still standing (as of mid-week) was the gym on the south end of the school property. Demolition crews have almost completely demolished the building that stood south of the 1927 building a few feet. The only thing left is the gymnasium and the Town Hall/Library building. I am not sure what is in the planning stage for that area, but only time and more investigations will tell.

While you are out there remembering the Veterans and their families this weekend and on May 30th, remember those veterans (Verterans & POWs on both sides of the wars) who sacrificed their lives and were buried so far from their homelands across the seas.

May the many miles, years that have passed bring a peaceful remembrance that Peace, Hope, Faith, Friendship, Understanding and Respect for other's differences will bring us together for a better World for All in the near Future!!!

Have a Safe Memorial weekend with your family and friends! Remember... With schools closing for the summer months, lots of children will be out walking to swimming holes, baseball games, etc... So.... Slow down and watch for children playing!

-- Linda - "Oakie"

Linda K McGill Wagner
c/o WWW Publishing Co

Thanks! You can also view The OkieLegacy online. Copyrighted © 2008 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy.  All Rights Reserved.

Goshen School District...

According to "The First 100 Years of Woods County," the Goshen School District 18, 1897-98, M County (pre-statehood-Woods, Alfalfa, Major), O. T., had thirty-three (33) pupils (only 31 were recorded). The teacher was unknown and W. P. Myers was County Superintendent of the Goshen School District 18.

Lists of Students.... Fred Bannard, Archer Barrow, Wade Barrow, George Griffirs, Annie Grider, Fred Gatz, Ernest Hollis, Mark Hollis, Grace Hollis, Mike Kish, Sander Kish, Ida Kish, Myrtle Monday, Cora Monday, Charles McGill, Lulu McGill, WJ McGill, Rose Osborn, Ethel Osborn, Ollie Pender, Mabel Pender, Myria Pender, Neva Pettibone, Ernest Stansbury, Doda Sniggs, victor Sniggs, Jennis Sniggs, Martha Smith Sofe, Mary Smith Sofe, Bert Snyder, Fred Thomas.

The Goshen School District 18, began around 26 June 1894, 3 miles north & south, 2 1/2 miles east & west, in NW Oklahoma Territory. In 1903 it was changed to 3 miles each way or (9 square miles). Someone once tld me that every 3 miles there were country schools.

The school house was built by Lyons and Mr. Pender in 1894. Goshen was named by Mrs. Frank Knight who was thinking "The Land of Goshen" (or land of plenty).

The first county Superintendent of M County, in O. T., was H. L. Ross. J. J. Brockway was county superintendent during 1896-1897.

Board members -- E. Osborn, director; Charles Thomas, Clerk; and Charles Stansbury, Treasurer.

Mailbag & Links....

1941 Hennessey High School Bldg...
Click the photo to see the 1941 Stone plaque on the gym and demolished school building, located south of the 1927 high school building.
More Photos... 1927 stone plaque - on Town Hall/Library (aka Old High School).

"Hi Linda, My brother Wayne sent me a packet of information on WWII POW's, which he received from the Oklahoma Historical Society. The packet of information contains: 1. Human interest story titled: "McAlester Graves of 3 German Soldiers Remembered". From "Tulsa World", 24 Aug 1983. 2. About 34 pages from the "Chronicles of Oklahoma", titled "Barbed Wire and Nazilagers" (PW Camps in Oklahoma). This also contains many pictures." -- Vernon

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Meet George, Squirrell In Training...
"THIS IS GEORGE... George just took this pecan from my hand and is demonstrating the proper way to devour it. I detected that when I give him a whole pecan he scampers off somewhere and buries it in the ground. (I would be interested to know if he remembers where he puts them). When I crack the pecans he stops his burying chore and leisurely partakes of a sumptuous repast." -- Ernest

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"Looking for Ira Howard Robertson... b 12-06-1866, SD, married to Mattie Wilson, d 3-17-1905, Enid, Garfield, OK. Had homestead in Covington, 1905, owned property in Avard, Woods, OK, worked "camp" in Pawnee, contractor who paved roads in Covington, Lucien circa 1905. Five children: Daphne, b 1891, d 4-06-1957, Britton, OK, Leona b abt 1893, Michael b abt 1899, Martha b abt 1902, and Avard b abt 1904. Mattie was bookkeeper on A.V.& W. Railroad while under construction." -- Cheri Allen

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"Woods County, OK... I am one of Ernest Wing's grand-daughter and I am looking for information on the family. Please email me at and we can exchange information - My mother is Shirley Wing Martin Stevens. Thanks." Pam King

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Some of you have asked where the West Side School was located, in Alva, Oklahoma.

This clipping of the Alva Westside Third Graders of 1910 (on the left) and the City School Faculty, 1907-08 (on the right) were taken on the steps of the Westside School.

Memorial Quote....

"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty — they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or storm, each in the windowless palace of rest. Earth may run red with other wars—they are at peace. In the midst of battles, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death." -- Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), "Memorial Day Vision," John Bartlett (1820-1905), Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.