Duchess' Corner...
 Yep!
Oakie finally let me get my paws on the keyboard this weekend. Besides
that... we are "On the Road Again" moving a certain member
of the family to somewhere in Southwest Texas.
I'm kind of glad I got all this furry skin to keep me warm this
week. Burrrrr..... the chill to the bone weather came in Wednesday...
or was that Thursday? These on the road trips cause me to loose
the track of days around here anymore.
It was during the early morning hours of this chilly, cloudy, Friday
that we embarked upon our eight hour trek from Oklahoma to the Southwest
parts of Texas (Odessa). By the afternoon of 1:00 o'clock, we had
seen the sites of Munday (Texas) and taken a much needed pit-stop.
All I got out of it was relief and a durn dog treat. I tried several
unsuccessful, desperate attempts to trade my favorite chew-toy (blue,
stuffed moose) for a taste of the chocolate malt that Oakie had
gotten, BUT... she hardly ever gives me anything exciting to eat
like that. I'm not complaining, though. She does look out after
me and gets down on all fours sometimes to play with me when I tug
at her heels.
Anyway, we arrived in Odessa around suppertime with the misty rain
beginning to fill the night air. Right now, as I sit at this keyboard
trying to hit the tiny keys with my paws, Oakie is standing over
my shoulder.
I gave Oakie the weekend off to do all the hard moving stuff while
I took over her job of writing this weekend's issue. We found some
great late 1890s tidbits of Alva, in Northwest Oklahoma Territory
to wet, jog your memories. There are also some interesting things
in the Mailbag Corner below. Let's begin with the late 1890s tidbits
printed in The Alva Pioneer newspaper dated January 1, 1904...
February 1, 1894 -- Governor W. C. Renfrow's first visit to Alva
was on.
February 16, 1894 -- The serious fight that occured in Alva, was
on the night of when Chas. Sollers and Ed.Williams were brutally
beaten in rooms over the Farmers Hotel. They recovered quickly and
their assailants got off with a light fine.
February 20, 1894 -- The first fire in Alva happened when the
two-room house of J. F. Simpson was totally destroyed, together
with a lot of household goods.
March 8, 1894 -- The first banquet indulged in by Alva citizens
was on in honor of H. F. Northcutt, who resigned his place on the
townsite board. He was succeeded by J. B. Chapline.
March 8, 1894 -- The old soldiers completed the organization of
a GAR post and installed officers.
April 16, 1894 -- An election was held in Alva on when Alva decided
to incorporate.
August 11, 18 & September 4, 1894 -- The first county conventions
held in Woods county were: Populists, August 11; Democrats, August
18; Republicans, September 4, 1894, and a total of 3593 votes were
cast at the election in November.
September 25, 26 and 27, 1893 -- The first census of Alva... Jesse
J. Dunn furnished The Alva Pioneer with the original list
of names making up the first census ever made of the inhabitants
of Alva, taken by C. T. Greever. Mr. Greever's affidavit was attached
to the list, that the number was 863.
W. G. Hatfield, got the first deed for a town lot and that deed
was the first recorded in the county. Lot 3, block 50, south side
of the square.
November 6, 1893 -- S. L. Johnson got several men together and
organized an A.O.U.W. Lodge, the first of any secret order to organize
in the strip.
November 27, 1894 -- The first term of District court in Woods
County was begun in Alva by Judge Jno. L. McAtee on Tuesday, November
27, 1894. Judge A. G. C. Bierer came here on April 24 and convened
court, but after examining the docket, adjourned.
T. L. Lindley of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, was the first man to file
on a 160 acres of land, the SW 1/4 of 29-27-13; and C. S. Jobes
was the first to file a soldier's claim, now the southeast part
of town. H. C. McGrath settled on it and in the contest, he won
it.
September 16 to 22, 1895 -- The first daily paper ever printed
in Alva, was the Daily Review, published only during fair week,
by C. C. Hudson and R. E. Stafford, both now of the Oklahoma City
Oklahoman.
I'm out of here for tonight, BUT... as Oakie says each week, "Keep
those Okie Memories coming this way!" Thanks, Jim, for helping
spread the word about our FREE weekly online OkieLegacy ezine/newsletter.
We really do appreciate everyone's feedback and sharing of memories.
We couldn't do it without you. THANKS!!!
~~ Duchess
& Linda "oaKie"
~~
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