The Okie Legacy
Oakie's Heart To Heart

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Millennium Edition - http://OkieLegacy.org

8 September 2001, Vol. III, Iss. 36

W. E. Eutsler Grocery...

This is a trade token from Alva, Oklahoma that made it's way onto Ebay last weekend (Sept. 3, 2001).
     A friend stoked the curiosity in me when he sent me a copy of the ebay link concerning the W. E. Eutsler Grocery token. The last bid went for $11.35 on September 3, 2001. No! I did NOT place a bid on the tokens.
     The tokens from the W.E. Eutsler Groceries was good for $1.00 in trade during the war years in the '30s & '40s. The token is the large version square made of aluminum and measures 35mm in diameter. Since it was made of aluminum, we assume it was used during the WWII era when copper was reserved for the government and the war effort. You can Click on the photos to see a larger view of each of the tokens.
     History of Eutsler Grocery... Instead of bidding on the token, I got out my "Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County" history book to see what I could find out about the Eutsler Grocery.
     I also asked an Alva Friend if he remembered W. E. Eutsler's Grocery. He told me that he remembers when it was on the eastside of the square in downtown Alva. His dad used to deliver cream to the Eutsler store and other grocery stores in the area.
     The eastside of the square in downtown Alva now has the Old Runnymede Hotel on the northend of the corner with the Professional building next door to the south and the Farmers Co-op on the southend of the corner.
     Eutsler Grocery also had a grocery store in Dacoma with the company store located in Alva.
     As we flip through the Pioneer Footprints book... Look under Eason (Walter T. Eason) written by Walter T. Eason, Jr. This exerpt was taken from Eason's memories of the earlier stores in Alva, ".....Some of the early stores I remember were the Lee Wagner grocery, Eutsler grocery, The Tea Store, Sears Bootery, Meixner bakery, Howard grocery, Sonderup Livery Stable, Crowell Lumber & Coal Yard, Shafers Leather Shop, Reeds Poultry & Cream....."
     In March, 1904... Jacob Jay Glaser boarded a train for Alva. When he arrived he stopped at the first barber shop he came to and asked for a job. Guess who that proprietor was. Yep! It was W. E. Eutsler! To make a long story short, Eutsler hired Glaser on the spot and a friendship followed. Glaser worked for Eutsler until he saved enough money to open his own shop. Glaser's shop was on the NW corner of the square in the basement of the Green Building. Glaser closed his shop October, 1906 before statehood.
     Eutsler's is mentioned again... In the Spring of 1928, Ed Hazard and his wife (Mildred) moved back to Alva and Ed went to work for W. E. Eutsler in his grocery store on the northside of the square until 1932.
     The Red Tag Food Market was established by Ed Hazard, Sr. and Fred Cox, Sr., in the 400 block on the northside of the square and operated until 1939.
     Sometime after that, Ed went to work for W. E. Eutsler again in Eutsler's grocery on the eastside of the square until Eutsler sold out. I'm not sure of the date that Eutsler sold out. If anyone out there has a memory jog and can fill in some of these little tidbits, please feel free to Email Oakie.
     After Ed Hazard left Eutsler's grocery, Ed went to work for Shalloup Packing Co. and worked there until he went into business for himself at 720 Oklahoma Blvd, in September, 1952 (what was known as "Ed's Mart."), retiring in 1973.

Oakie's NW Corner...

Sept. 3, 2001, NW Oklahoma Sunset

It's been a windy, hectic week as we rounded the corner into September last weekend, I caught this heavenly ray of golden colors lighting up the evening, western skies in NW Oklahoma, north of Watonga, September 3, 2001. The golden rays just seemed to reachout and grab my attention... So... I had David put on the brakes and stop alongside the highway -- I got out my trusty digital camera -- and Click... another NW Oklahoma memory for our present day journal of legacies.
     Build It & They Will Come... And that is what hundreds of passer-bys have done... made the trek to Gerald & Ramona Moss' Maze Farm northwest of Chester, Oklahoma. The Moss's Maze farm opened September 1, 2001 and is open on Tuesdays by appointment and on Thursday, Friday & Saturday until October 31. They have a 6-acre corn field maze in the shape of the state of Oklahoma that they allow you to wander through with map in hand for at least an hour or so. I hear they have "corn cops" standing by just in case you get lost inside the maze.
     If you are traveling on Highway 281 up around Chester, go to the blacktop road north of Chester -- A large sign at the corner denotes the Elm Grove church to the west and a cemetery to the east -- Take the west turn and travel the twists and turns of the tree-lined, blacktop road through the country and over a bridge. The Moss farm is the first dwelling on the southside of the road after crossing the river. For more information, call 580-989-3292 or 580-922-5807.
     As I leave you now... let me remind all the Paris descendants that the Paris Reunion is being held at High-Noon, at the Chester Community Building, in Chester, Oklahoma. Stop by the Chester Community building and say "hello" to the Paris' clan as they gather for their annual reunion this Sunday, September 9, 2001. Hope to see you there.
     Have you hugged your grandparents lately? This Sunday is "Grandparents Day." Give your grandparents a call and get together. Take them to dinner -- a family reunion -- let the family legacies come alive as you jot them down in your daily journal. Learn your Past! Live your Present! Look to the Future!

Your Favorite Redhead,
-- Linda - "Oakie"

Linda K McGill Wagner
c/o WWW Publishing Co

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Mailbag & Links....

Woodford, OK -- Info from Mike Wilson...
     "I stumbled across your website looking for something else. In regards to your page about Woodford , you write at the end of the page "Does any of Woodford still stand today?"
     The answer is "OF COURSE!"
     My family has been living there since before statehood. In fact, I visited my parents there just the week before last.
     Mostly at the old townsite there are a handful of homes (I think about 8 or so, I'm not sure if all of them are occupied, though). The only thing close to a business is the store, which was closed in the early 1990s as the owners aged (and have since died).
     Many of the locals (there are probably about 100 people within a 3-mile radius) attend church in nearby Milo (the church was recenly burned and has been in the news). Woodford has its own phone exchange (prefix 561 in the 580 area code).
     Most active is the volunteer fire department, which services the area of north-central Carter County west of Springer, north of Lone Grove, and east of Fox.
     Recently a historical marker has been erected at the sulphur spring there. The Milo-Woodford Community Association has adopted a 4-mile stretch of Highway 53 for litter control, and there is a community reunion-picnic each year (in June).
     My mom reports there are fewer and fewer people at the reunion each year, however. Just about all the people there are ranchers or are retired.
     A couple of years ago, a rancher sold his land a few miles east of Woodford and subdivided it. Several large ranch homes were built there, on lots about 10 acres in size. Some new people have moved in, and the population of the area is probably not declining, but most new people don't have a sense of community toward Woodford, especially since it exists more as a community than a place now.
     Many of the area residents have very long and close ties with nearby Springer. Since the cemetery at Springer is full, more people are now being buried at Woodford (including many of my recent ancestors) than there used to be.
     Yes, considering what it used to be, Woodford is a ghost town. But the place isn't gone yet. I have a lot of photos of this and that around. If you like I can scan them and e-mail them to you. I have photos of "The Farm" on my website.
     Our place is 2.5 miles south of the "official" Woodford site. But, I don't think I have any photos of Woodford proper on my website. Go to the web address at the bottom of this e-mail and select "PHOTOS" and look in the scrapbooks at the bottom of the page. I hope I have scratched the itch of curiosity you have about little ol' Woodford." -- Mike, Mike's Virtual World
Pioneers - Chester (Cottonwood Corners)...
"Teacher 1921-22... Leota Smith. Teacher 1938-1940... Donna Louthan. Sold 10 acres for townsite... Johnah Logsdon. Ran a grocery store... R. B. Hedrick. Postmaster 1908... C.Z. Logsdon also ran a grocery store. Lawrence Louthan built tile block building sold 5 acres to my grandpa William Logsdon. Louthan sold out to Albert Rothenberger in 1942. 1961 Virgil Louthan leased the station until 1972. Among town musicians... Frank & Bill Hedrick. Elden Louthan bought property from Mr. Lytle which was originally owned by George Ball. 1930 Town baseball players... include Elden, Floy, Howard, Leonard and Lister Louthan, Vernie (Vernon) Paris (Vada Paris McGill's older brother). Ersel Hedrick bought the condreay store. Croquet game particpants... include George Hedrick, Frank Hedrick, & Floy Louthan. Postmasters... include 1906-Riley Hedrick, 1908-Charles Z. Logston, 1918-Emma Hedrick, 1947-Elden Louthan, 1975-Leola Louthan. Eldel Louthan held this position the longest in town history.
.........................................................................
If our grandparents were alive wouldn't they really get a kick out of us finding and chatting with each other about the history of the town they surely so fondly remember. The land that my families (Woods & Ball) bought from, sold to, and traded with your families and so forth. The internet has certainly made a small world even smaller. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I have take care." -- Trina in Phoenix
"I loved this! Thank you SO much for sending it along, and also for mentioning me and my websites! What wonderful information here. You do a super good job on this. My best to you." -- Lou...(your Southern Okie friend.)
Warix... "I am searching for information on Jasper Warix, born 9-8-1841, died 6-6-1914. He was buried at Antioch Church, Obion County, TN. His death certificate lists his father as Thomas Warix. I find Jasper in the 1870 Jefferson County, TN census with wife Mary J, and daughters Maggie (6 yrs) and Louella (2 yrs). I can find some other Warix, Warrix, Worix, but cannot make any connection with this Thomas Warix listed as his father. Could his name Warix have been Warricks, or Wyricks? I know that he could not read/write. There are Warix family members in Obion Cnty, TN and some in Kentucky, but I cannot make the connection. Help!" -- Lou Ann
Belle Starr & Bruce Younger... "I am the ggg-grandaughter of Belle Starr. I am trying to find any info on Belle, her daughter Pearl and Pearl's children: Flossie and Maude. Any info would be appreciated." -- vickis_lab@hotmail.com
Davis, Wm & Ida and children... "Addie Iddruss Davis, born.02-26-1864; died 02-16-1933 married Thomas Mortimer Hess, born.11-21-1858, died 08-23-1920. They married 03-24-1883 in Simpson, Kansas and came to Alva in the land run. Thomas and Addie named their first child, Blanche H. Hess, born 04-10-1884. Any connection? Addie I. Davis was born in Evansworth, Wisconsin. Addie died in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, but is buried at Alva.Thank you." -- Tomhess@iname.com
Long Query... "I am looking for information on the family of Christopher Ware Long, who was b. January 11, 1860, in Iowa, and in 1912 was living in Fairview, Oklahoma. Any information on the Long's of this area would be much appreciated." -- wdlong2@home.com
Betty's Fantastic Explorings... Check out Betty's Fantastic Exploring Index.
McGill/Magill... "I'm trying to find information on my gggrandfather, Robert McGill, who was born around 1780 in either North Carolina or Tennessee. He married Elizabeth (Betsy) ?(maybe Blackburn) who was born in 1810, and lived in Miller's Cove, Blount County, Tennessee. Their children were Catherine (born 1833), John (born 1837) and Thomas (born 1839). That's as far back as we have been able to trace this family line. I'm wondering if this could be the Robert you list as one of the sons of William Magill, Sr., who settled in Greene County, Tenn. in 1783. Any further information on that Robert? I found your website when looking for information on my grandfather's sister, Caldona Ann McGill, who was born 30 Sep 1874 and went to the "Indiana Territory/Oklahoma" as a missionary. Nice site! Easy to navigate. Thanks." -- Betsy McGill Benn
Grandparents Day... "The impetus for a National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. President Jimmy Carter in 1978, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day."
You Can View Webshots... At Oakie's Webshots. Just Click On the particular Photo Album you would like to view. While you are checking out Oakie's Webshots... stop by and sign my Webshot Guestbook.
Oakie's Messageboard - Stop by! What is happening where you live! Do you have an inquiry or family history to share with others? Share Your family findings, favorite vacation, etc. HELP US START SOMETHING! ! !

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