Oakie's NW Corner...
Another Back Door Bear Story...
 It
is all about this medium-sized brown bear that came to the cabin
the morning of September 10th, 2002, around 8:00 a.m. to say good-bye
to this Oakie from the flatlands. I am dragged out of bed, sleepy-eyed.
I'm outside still in my pajamas with my digital camera slung around
my neck. BUT.... there was no bear to be seen when we got out there.
Want to know why?
While others were still looking around outside, I head inside and
upstairs to look out the windows in the back room. As I step a couple
of steps into the room, I hear this lapping of water. I look over
towards the south part of the room -- see this thirsty, hungry,
medium-sized brown bear that had come through the back door. We
startled each other and the bear heads to the back door to get outside.
At the same time, I pull the door to the back room shut and go out
the front door to let the other's know why they can't find the bear
outside.
We come back in and upstairs. We open the door... walk in hollering
at the bear. The bear is trying to get out the screen of the door
and gets stuck momentarily in the middle of the screen door. We
slam the wooden door shut and lock it leaving the bear hanging in
screen door. I wasn't brave enough to open the door and get that
photo-shot. It would have been a great shot, though! BUT... I'm
not that crazy!
It (the bear) finally gets free and sits on the famous retaining
wall where all the bears like to sit, eat and scratch themselves
while watching the silly humans gawk at the bears. I am slowly,
cautiously snapping photos of the bear from all angles. Later I
leave the others standing outside and head upstairs to get some
shots out the south window. The bear leaves his perch and heads
north trying once again to reenter the back door. I start banging
on the door. The bear replies with his own scratches on the screen
door.
The Bear finally leaves the door and heads north to try climbing
on the metal roof to reach another window to no avail. I rush downstairs
and outside to where the others are on the north side of the cabin.
Some are hollering and trying to scare off the bear with rocks and
swinging two-by-fours. The bear just looks quizzically and doesn't
budge. A neighbor from across the street comes over with his rifle
and finally scares the bear by aiming a shot over it's head. The
bear starts walking off to the north and finally leaves the yard.
Who would have thought that a quiet mountain retreat would be so....
exciting! Bears of black and brown, large and medium, roaming in
your yard and cabin looking for 30,000 calories per day before they
hibernate this Winter.
 I
haven't seen any bears since I got back from the Rocky Mountains,
BUT... just east of Clayton, New Mexico, in the early, cloudy, misty
morning my Tundra pickup did gather some quail feathers for it's
headdress, above the windshield on the passengers side. Who says
you need a gun!
How did that happen? It seems a covey of big, fat quail were taking
flight from the south side of the highway across the road to the
north. Most of the covey or quail made it up high enough to miss
the windshield, except for the last quail. With a loud thud that
startled me, the poor li'l quail lost his life -- and left his feathers
stuck along the top edge of the windshield.
 LaVeta,
Colorado & Bells...
There is a small community in Southern Colorado, along the Scenic
Highway of Legends (Hwy. 12) west of Walsenburg, Colorado, called
LaVeta (meaning
"the vein") .
This Colorado Bell was found in the tower of this 1877 Baptist
Church on the Main Street in LaVeta, Colorado. The reason I am sharing
this bell with you is because I have another history friend that
is collecting photos of bells in every county of Oklahoma. Of course,
this is not an Oklahoma Bell, but I couldn't resist taking this
picture.
As to Oklahoma Bells... Is there anyone out there that has
spotted any bells in the Oklahoma panhandle (No
Mans Land) for the three counties: Cimarron,
Texas and Beaver?
OR... any other counties in Oklahoma... Like Dewey and Custer County?
If you want to see the collection he has so far, click the links
for a view of more Oklahoma
History & A
Map of Oklahoma Bells. Contact
Mr. Bridges if you know of any Oklahoma Bells he could add to
his collection.
1938 Postcard of the Ship Europa...
 This
next story concerns an email I received this week from Barry in
Sandy, Utah. He sent me a copy of a 1938 postcard that showed the
Ship Europa that my Uncle Bob McGill traveled on over to Europe
during the Summer of 1938 (July).
 This
Kemper Military Swing Band of 1937-38, which my Uncle Bob
was a member, played in third class aboard that ship. They landed
in Germany, around July 8,
1938. Members of the swing band were Wm. Nelson Gibbens, Oklahoma
City, OK, backrow, sax; Phillips Brooke "PB" Gentry, piano,
Clarendon, TX; Floyd Houston Huddleston, left-front sax, Leland,
Miss.; William Olus Greer, front-center, sax; and Robert
McGill (on left-front, coronet).
We made it through another week that just happened to end the day
after Friday the 13th (Sept. 13, 2002). Have a wet, safe
mid-September weekend in Oklahoma. I will see you next weekend.
~~ Linda "OaKie" ~~
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Colorado Mountains
NW
OK Marriages '1930-'45
Yohn-Cameron
- Monday, Sept. 28, 1936... Vows Are Read For Popular
Young Couple - The marriage of Miss Louise Yohn, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Eugene Yohn, northwest of the city, and Robert Cameron,
only son of Mr. and Mrs. John Welch Cameron, west of Alva, was
solemnized Monday, September 28, at the home of the Rev. R. G.
Vaughan, pastor of the Christian Church.
Murray-Farrar
- 1936, Nuptials Read... A quiet and pretty wedding was
solemnized at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning at the home of Mrs.
Lily M. Murray, near Richmond, when her younger daughter, Miss
Mary Christas, become the bride of Mr. Ray Farrar of Alva, in
the presence of their immediate families. Rev. Charles Davis of
the Church of Christ of Richmond officiated, using the ring ceremony.
Mr. Farrar is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis
Farrar of Alva.
Sears-Conway
(Conaway) - August, 1936...
Miss Vivian Sears Weds Carson Conaway At Pretty Home Ceremony
- An impressive event of Sunday evening at 6 o'clock was the marriage
of Miss Vivian Sears to Mr. Carson Conaway of Deer Creek, at the
home of the bride's parents. Miss Sears is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. R. S. Sears of 709 Noble Street, and Mr. Conaway is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Conaway of Deer Creek.
Rauh-Brune
- November 26, 1936... Local Girl Weds At Pretty Church
Ceremony - Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Rauh, Alva, announce the marriage
of their daughter, Gertrude, to Mr. Elmer Brune, son of Mrs. Gerhard
Brune of Cherokee. Nuptials were read at a pretty ceremony at
Zion Lutheran Church at 3:00 o'clock, Thursday afternoon, November
26, by the Rev. Otto Hoyer.
In Memory of Rosie
17 year-old Dachshund
Rosie...
You may have gone to be with your friend Mandy on the other side,
but you will not be forgotten. Thanks for being a sweet, 17 year-old
companion, loyal family member.
Rosie, was born in the Spring of
1985, joining our family in the Fall of 1987. She passed away
Monday, September 9, 2002 of Kidney failure and heart trouble.
During the Winter of 1992, Rosie
had to undergo back surgery that latercaused her to walk with
a limp on her right rear leg. But... That didn't slow her down
any.
As one of the family... Rosie as
remembered by others, "She had a long life of fighting whether
it be the birds, the squirrels, the dogs, or her back. She got
to experience the best and worst of our family and I think had
a very good life. Can you just see her now playing tug-a-war with
Mandy (miniature schnauzer) and jumping all over the place. Of
course she didn't take on a bear, but you got to leave that to
the young pups."
Rosie may be gone, but she will
not be forgotten.
Menu:
Linda K McGill Wagner
c/o WWW Publishing Co
PO Box 619, Bayfield, CO 81122
Thanks! You can also view The OkieLegacy online. Copyrighted © 2008 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy.
All Rights Reserved.
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Mailbag & Links Corner....
 McCary
Family Home & Story... "Besides the Martins and Barnetts
of early Woods County, I am also descended from a McCary family who
lived in and around Alva. In the book Pioneer Footprints Across
Woods County - 1976 by the Cherokee Strip Volunteer League, on
pages 441, 442, 443, this family was written about by the late Evelyn
B. Stout.
I descend from James
C. McCary and his son Charles Henry McCary. James was my great-great-grandfather.
His wife Mary Elizabeth Slocum was his first cousin's child. Therefore
I descend from the McCarys twice. Evelyn shared
information with me.
However, in my research I later found some of that information incorrect.
James C. McCary was born about 1838 in Fluvanna County, Virginia,
according to early census records. Family tradition indicates he
raised his age when he went to Kansas so a son could do the same
and be able to homestead land.
His wife Mary Elizabeth was named Slocum, but she was already five
years old when her mother married Lewis Slocum. Furthermore, the
Union general Slocum had no brother named Slocum. So there's another
old family story that proved inaccurate.
James C. was
born into a wealthy Virginia family who owned many slaves. I'm attaching
some Photos of the McCary
Plantation Home in Fluvanna County and a paper I did about the
home and James' father, Richard R. McCary, being tried for murder,
leading to the loss of the plantation. James was the last McCary born
in the house.
"The following is the family version
of what happened. Richard owned a number of slaves. One night he caught
a neighbor, named James Noel, in the slave quarter, 'messing with
the girls.' Richard told him that if he ever caught him again he would
'beat him within an inch of his life.' About a week later Richard
caught him again. He was carrying a cane. He beat the man so badly
with it that he died about a week later. He was said to have been
arrested for murder and put in the old stone jail....." Read
More at this Link - Richard
R. McCary's Trial Story" -- -- Photo
of James C. (McCary) --
Photo of Mary Elizabeth Slocum McCary (taken in Alva) --
Photo of James - 1913
Reunion - of Veterans of Battle of Gettysburg -- Contact
Charles Cook
Comanche Pool & Dull Knife Raid 1878...
" Just briefly visied your site. Can hardly wait until I have
time to get in touch with many of the people in the guest book. I
research genealogy (Reed and Coil in Oklahoma) and local history
(Comanche County and surrounding areas) - especially interested
in anyone connected with the Comanche Pool or the Dull
Knife Raid of 1878. Haven't been on computer and net long enough
to be very organized, though. Later" -- Contact
Evelyn Reed
True
Story of Clay Allison and Wyatt Earp... "One
of the most written about events of the Old West is the 'showdown'
between Wyatt Earp, assistant marshal of Dodge City, and Clay Allison,
rancher and self-proclaimed 'shootist' from New Mexico."
Oklahoma Historical Society - Chronicles
of Oklahoma... Chronicles of Oklahoma
- In cooperation with the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Electronic
Publishing Center is currently digitizing the first twenty volumes
of this collection, which details and highlights the rich history
of Oklahoma. Also, we will begin work on the Historical Society's
Oklahoma Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
Moss Maze Farm... "I
have been looking for the web site for the Moss Maze farm near Chester.
I was told there was a site, but the address I have is not working.
Does anyone have the address? Thanks." -- Contact
Nancy Reese
Home Comfort Range... "In doing an internet
search I came across Your
Article and wanted to respond. We do have a Home Comfort Range
sitting in our garage begging to be restored. It came from my husband's
mother's mom in North Carolina and it's a model 'AC' -- And ye --
We also have the Home
Comfort Cookbook. I believe the date is 1923 or 1924. Some years
ago our son told his grandmother that he'd love to have the range
in his home. We loaded it in a rental truck and brought it to Florida.
In the 4 years that we've had it here, our son has married and will
hopefully move it into his home within the next year or so. Our daughter
has now expressed an interest so there may be a fight brewing. Actually,
I'm sure they'll work it our amicably.. Our daughter and her husband
are much more likely to have the time and energy to restore it properly
and they may win out in the end. We're happy that it'll continue to
be in the family and we'll all enjoy it for year to come." --
Linda A., Stuart, FL
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Ship
Europa - Summer of 1938... "I recently found this old postcard
my Great Uncle Charles Pearl Rhoads of Kansas City sent my Grandmother
(his sister Mae, Mrs. Ross Robison) when he was crossing the English
Channel on the Ship Europa in the summer of 1938. I was searching
more about this Ship the Europa when I found your site (Uncle
Bob's Journal - Aboard Ship. I thought you might find it interesting
so I'm sending you a scanned version of the Front
and Back of the card.
It looks like they just missed each other by a month of maybe meeting
on board according to the postmark. I too have a great deal of enjoyment
researching my family's past. Feel free to include the picture on
your site if you wish. I was just re-looking at the front of the card
and the postmark there says July 25, 1938. They might have traveled
over to Europe at the same time. Who knows how slow the postal system
was then." -- Barry at Sandy, Utah
[OKWoods Message-board] Nicholson-Davis Marriage
by Trent Jones JP... Concerning NICHOLSON - DAVIS - JONES. The
OKWoods Bulletin board Post can be read and answered at OKWoods
- Nicholson-Davis Marriage by Trent Jones JP - "My husband's
grandfather was DAVID NEWTON NICHOLSON, born 14 April 1866 in Illinois,
county and parents unknown. He married NORA A. (or EL NORA) DAVIS
(b. 17 February 1879 in Missouri, county and parents unknown) 9 July
1895 in OK Territory, signed by TRENT JONES, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
They settled in WOODS, now ALFALFA County and are found in the 1900
Census in Woods with two sons, Ellis and Arthur. Also found in the
1895 Woods County Directory with land they lived on at the time. It
is possible a Davey Nichols who was part of the 16 September 1893
Cherokee Strip Land Run was the same person. By 1910 they were no
longer on the land and by 1911 had moved to Texas, where my husband's
father was born. Would like any info on DAVID NICHOLSON, NORA (ELNORA)
A. DAVIS, or TRENT JONES, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE (where he practiced
in OT). Thanks." -- Contact
Linda Nicholson
Cheyenne
Raid, 1878... Transcribed from Vol.
I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions,
industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc... "
— When the last of the Indian tribes was removed from Kansas
to the Indian Territory, hope was entertained that depredations on
the western frontier would cease. But in Sept., 1878, Dull Knife's
band of northern Cheyennes, dissatisfied with the rations furnished
by the government, decided to return to their former homes. They
accordingly left the reservation, moved northward into Kansas, and
on the 17th attacked the cattle camps south of Fort Dodge, where
they killed several white men and drove off some of the cattle.
News of the event reached Gov. Anthony the next day and he appealed
to Gen. Pope, commanding the department, but Pope thought it was nothing
more than a 'scare.' The governor sent Adjt.-Gen. Noble to Dodge City
with arms and ammunition, but the Indians had moved on northward.
Lieut.-Col. William H. Lewis, with a detachment of troops from Fort
Dodge, pursued the Indians and came up with them at a canon on Famished
Woman's fork. In the fight that ensued Lewis was killed. Telegrams
from various points in the western part of the state poured into the
governor's office appealing for aid, but still Gen. Pope declined
to act."
Comanche
Pool... "From Mary Einsel's Kansas, the Priceless
Prairie. Each western state has its early history a famous cattle
spread that overshadowed all others. Kansas had the Comanche Pool,
which was located near Medicine Lodge, the largest cattle ranch in
the state's history. The ranch was started by four men: Jess Evans,
Wylie Payne, Richard Phillips, and Major Andrew Drumm, after an Army
order, issued from the Indian Territory, stated that no more Texas
cattle drives were to cross the Oklahoma Strip. The best source for
facts about the Comanche Pool is an old newspaper published in Medicine
Lodge, the town closest to ranch headquarters and the only town of
any size in south-central Kansas at the time of the pools
organization."
Foraker, Oklahoma Founders... "I was trying
to find a little history of Foraker, OK. My grandmother and father
kept telling me of one of our family founding it. I found Your
Site to be very helpful and a good starting point for more info.
Thank you very much." -- Contact
Ernest G. Foraker |
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