Oakie's NW Corner

OKC, Oklahoma - Well! Last weekend, Feb. 1, 2003, started off on a sad note last Saturday morning as the Columbia Spacecraft was re-entering for a landing in Florida. It didn't make it! It crashed somewhere over Texas.

Towards the end of the week a slight snowstorm that hit through these parts late Wednesday evening and swept through the rest of Oklahoma on Thursday as it made it's journey to New York this Friday (February 7, 2003) as I type this week's newsletter. The sun did come out and shine, but... Brrrrr... it was chilly out there. The weathermen say that Sunday will give us another chance of snow, but slight.

I dugout my copy of The Alva Pioneer, souvenir edition celebrating Alva's tenth anniversary, dated January 1, 1904. I have started putting some photos and a little bio of NW Oklahoma Territory pioneers and founding fathers that were listed in this 1904 edition. In the Woods County/Alva section of our website - you can Click on Alva's Pioneer Fathers to read more about our earlier 1893 pioneers.

Speaking of Northwest Oklahoma, here are some 1909 Alva pioneer tidbits pulled from the 1904 Tenth Anniversary Edition of The Alva Pioneer. We find out that the first serious fight that occurred in Alva, was on the night of February 16, 1894, when Chas. Sollers and Ed Williams were brutally beaten in rooms over the Farmers Hotel. They recovered quickly, but their assailants got off with a light fine.

The first banquet indulged in by the Alva citizens was on March 8, 1894, in honor of H. F. Northcutt, who resigned his place on the townsite board. He was succeeded by J. B. Chapline.

You all have an Ancient Order United Workers (AOUW) lodge in your community, I presume. On November 6, 1893, S. L. Johnson got several men together and organized an AOUW lodge, the first of any secret order to organize in the Cherokee Strip.

Did you know that a group of citizens got together to organize an election and on April 16, 1894, Alva decided to incorporate. Alva was not without it's disasters... The first fire in Alva happened on February 20, 1894, when the two-room house of J. F. Simpson was totally destroyed, together with a lot of household goods.

It was on February 1, 1894 that Governor W. C. Renfrow made his first visit to Alva. The old soldiers of this Northwest OklahomaTerritory completed the organization of a G. A. R. Post and installed officers on March 8, 1894.

Here's wishing and hoping you keep warm, safe. Hope to see you next weekend for Valentines Day, next Friday. ~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~
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NW OK Marrigage 1942

Alva, Oklahoma - Lockhart-Reccius - 11 June 1950, Hooker, Okla. - Marjorie Lockhart Weds Lloyd Reccius - Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Lockhart are announcing the marriage of their daughter, Marjorie, to Lloyd Reccius, son of the Rev. and Mrs. A. W. Reccius, Hooker, Rev. Reccius read the nuptial vows for the couple in the First Baptist church in Hooker at 4 p.m. June 11, before immediate families.

French-Kirkham - 24 June 1950, Saturday, Alva, Okla. - McArthur Home is Scene of Wedding for Frances Dean French and Richard Kirkham - Mr. and Mrs. L. L. French, Capron, announce the marriage of their daughter, Frances Dean French, to Richard Kirkham, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kirkham of Sweetwater, Ala.

Wasson-Hall - Saturday, 25 July 1942, Wichita Falls, Texas - Wasson-Hall Marriage Is Announced Here - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss Laura Bess Wasson, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. A. f. Wasson, Muskogee, to Pvt. Frank Hall, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Hall, Fairview. The ceremony took place late Saturday evening, July 25, at Wichita Falls, Tex., in the home of Rev. E. T. Miller, pastor of the Lamar Avenue Baptist church.

Rudy-Cinnamon - Friday, 31 July 1942 - Ruth Rudy Becomes Bride of Lee Cinnamon At Charming Ceremony - Dignity and charming simplicity marked the wedding of Miss Ruth Rudy, daughter of Mr. J. P. Rudy, to Mr. Lee Cinnamon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Cinnamon of Garber, Friday, July 31, at 9 a.m., in the home of the bride's father. This also marks the wedding anniversary of her twin sister, Mrs. Earl Geis.

Bloyd-Ware -- Sunday, August, 1942, Alva, Okla. - Bloyd-Ware Vows Exchanged - The United Brethern church of Alva was the scene of the beautiful wedding of Velma Ruth Bloyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Bloyd, Alva, and Ernest A. Ware, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. D. Ware of Fargo at 9 o'clock Sunday morning.

Avery-Quinlan - Tuesday, September 1, 1942, Buffalo, Okla. - Avery-Quinlan Vows Are Read - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss Margaret Avery, daughter of Mrs. Kate Avery, Knowles, Okla., to Kenneth C. Quinlan, Waynoka. The vows were read at Buffalo, Tuesday, September 1, at 8 o'clock in the evening.

Conrod-Litton - 4 November 1942, Sherman, Texas - Miss Dorylas Conrod Is Bride of Lieut. Nate B. Litton - Marriage vows uniting Miss Dorylas Conrod daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Conrod, Ada, Oklahoma, and Lieut. Nate B. Litton, son of Mrs. N. B. Litton, Alva, Oklahoma, were exchanged November 4, at Sherman, Texas.

Harzman-Crowder - Saturday, 14 (sic) November 1942, South Bend, Ind. - Dorothy Harzman Becomes Bride of Earl Crowder November 14 - Miss Luella Harzman, Alva, announces the marriage of her niece, Miss Dorothy M. Harzman, to Earl F. Crowder, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Crowder, Cherokee, Oklahoma. Mrs. Earl Crowder, South Bend, Indiana, was Miss Dorothy Harzman before her marriage Saturday evening, November 17 (sic), in the Methodist church at South Bend. She is the niece of Miss Luella Harzman, 917 Flynn, Alva, and Mr. Crowder is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Crowder, Cherokee.

Gibson-Frei -15 November 1942, Wichita, Kans. - Kathryn Gibson Becomes Bride of Bethel Frei November 15 - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss Kathryn Gibson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Gibson, Goltry, Oklahoma, and Bethel Frei, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Frei, Hardtner, Kansas.

Estill-Bennett - Monday, November 16, 1942, Carrier, Okla. - Ruth Estill Becomes Bride of Lt. Bennett - Announcement is made of the marriage of Miss Ruth Estill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Estill, Carrier, and Lieut. Virgil C. Bennett, Fort Worth, Texas, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Bennett, Drummond. The wedding took place in the Congregational church at Carrier, with Rev. Walter Ross, pastor, officiating, Monday evening, November 16. The vows were exchanged in the presence of the parents of the bride and bridegroom and a few other guests including Joan DeHaas, Mrs. Ross and daughter, Barbara.

Riecker-McKinney - Saturday, 21 November 1942, Alva, Okla. - Riecker-McKinney Vows Exchanged November 21 - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss Mari Riecker, daughter of Mr. Charles Riecker, Arcata, California, formerly of Capron, to Pvt. Howard E. McKinney, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. McKinney, Alva. Rev. G. R. Vaughan performed the single ring ceremony in the First Christian parsonage, Alva, Saturday, November 21, at 5:30 p.m.

Benjamin-Snyder - Sunday, November 22, 1942 - Benjamin-Snyder Nuptial Vows Read Sunday, November 22 - Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Benjamin, Alva, announce the marriage of their daughter, Rozella Mae, to Glenn E. Snyder, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Snyder, Capron. Rev. G. R. Vaughan of the First Christian church read the single ring ceremony Sunday, November 22, in the church parsonage at 9:15 a.m.

Humes-Watkins -- Wednesday, 25 November 1942 - Humes-Watkins Vows Exchanged November 25 - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss Nora Belle Humes in the Christian parsonage Wednesday afternoon, November 25, with Rev. Ray Vaughan officiating.

Monfort-Powell -- Sunday, January, 1944, St. Louis, Mo. - Miss Monfort, Alabama Man Wed in St. Louis - Miss Felicia Monfort, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Monfort, and Mr. Roy C. Powell, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Powell of Auburn, Alabama, were married Sunday afternoon in St. Louis, Mo.
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Kathryn Gibson - 1942

From the photo, Mrs. Bethel Frei was, prior to her marriage to Mr. Frei on November 15, in the St. Mary's Cathedral, Wichita, Miss Kathryn Gibson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Gibson, Goltry, Oklahoma. Mr. Frei is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Frei. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Dorothy Harzman - 1942

From the Photo Mrs. Earl Crowder, South Bend, Indiana, was Miss Dorothy Harzman before her marriage Saturday evening, November 17 (sic), in the Methodist church at South Bend. She is the niece of Miss Luella Harzman, 917 Flynn, Alva, and Mr. Crowder is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Crowder, Cherokee. Horace Mann High School "It is my understanding from my Dad that Horace Mann was a lab school for Northwestern which began as a teachers college or normal school. My dad graduated from there. However, his other older siblings went to Alva High. I don't know how they decided who went where. They had their last high school reunion for everyone who graduated from Horace Mann about 2-years ago. If I learn any more, I'll let you know"' -- Linda View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wandell Family Obits

Coyle, Oklahoma - Renee Carroll-Sampson - rcarrollsampson@aol.com - says, "Here are the Obits for Grace, Clarence, Timothy Wandell (Clarence's father). Here are a few more Obits of family buried in the Coyle Cemetery ... Pearl (Wandell) Fansler was the daughter of Timothy and Carrie Wandell and Clarence F. Wandell's sister. James B. Cranmer was Grace E. (Cranmer) Wandell's father. Altogether we have 15 family members buried in the Coyle Cemetery. I don't have obits on all, but I do have their names and dates." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Coyle Cemtery Listing

Coyle, Oklahoma - "James B. Cranmer 1837 - 1917 (Father of Grace E. (Cranmer) Wandell)......Co. A 68 Indiana Infantry (My great-great grandfather); F ansler, Carrie (Wandell) 1862 - 1935.....(Wife of Lucious Fansler); Fansler, Lucious Orin 4/20/1852 - 4/2/1905....(Husband of Anna Spencer & Carrie Wandell); Fansler, Carrie 1883 - 1919 Daughter of Lucious and Carrie Fansler; Garner, James F. 2/15/1895 - 7/29/1955 (Clarence F. Wandell's brother-in-law); Garner, Eunice 8/2/1894 - no date Wife of James F. Garner; Thompson, Effie M. 2/1/1864 - 3/7/1932 (Wife of Frank A. Thompson); Thompson, Frank A. 1/26/1861 - 4/2/1937 (Husband of Effie Thompson (The above are my great grandparents...my mother's, father's parents); Thompson, Raymond T. 11/27/1926 - 10/10/1992 Army/Navy WWII (Grandson of Frank & Effie Thompson...son of Seth Thompson. They called him "Ted"...he was my uncle, my mother's baby brother.) - WANDELL -- Wandell, Carrie A. 1836 - 1917 (Wife of Timothy Wandell); Wandell, Clarence F. 1878 - 1957 (Husband of Grace E. (Cranmer) Wandell) (My great-great grandparents); Wandell, Doris (Indiahoma) 11/26/1904 - 10/16/1992 (Daughter of Clarence F. & Grace E. Wandell) (My grandmother, my mother's mother) Died six days after her son, Raymond 'Ted' died - 1992; Wandell, Gail 1899 - 1919 (Son of Clarence F. & Grace E. Wandell, brother of Doris); Wandell, Grace E. 1877 - 1976 (Wife of Clarence F. Wandell); Wandell, Timothy 1826 - 1918 (Father of Clarence F. Wandell); Clarence F. & Grace E. Wandell were my great grandparents)." -- Renee Carroll-Sampson -- rcarrollsampson@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Monfort Inquiry

"My name is Alan Monfort. I was attracted to your site by the name of 'Mariam Felicia Monfort'. Though I do not believe there is any relationship, it is worth a check. My Dad (Pierre George Monfort) came to the USA in the 1920's from Quimper, France. His father's name was Jean-Marie Monfort and his mother's maiden name was Georgina Feliere Marie Scordia. Do your think there is any connection. Thank-you." -- Alan Monfort Email monforta@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Names for Sorrel Colt

"Docs Sorrel Sunrise (or Sunshine), Leos Li'l Sorrel, Docs Pride, Leos Joy - just some ideas. Personally, I like Docs Pride, if you wanted it could be Docs Sorrel Pride, I also like the name Full Expectation , if I ever got a horse that it what I would name it (Full X for short- pronounced "Flex") " -- Joanisa View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Jack & Roberta McCary

"Last week I sent you a photo of Lamont High's class of 1934, that included my mother, LaRoyce McCary and her brother Jack, great-grandchildren of Joseph and Wealthy Brown Barnett, whose log cabin the Waynoka Historical Society is in the process of reassembling in that town, and the grandchildren of Hugh Martin who married Ida Barnett. Jack is still living, in Illinois, as is his wife Roberta Brown, a native of Pond Creek, Grant County, Oklahoma. They are still sweethearts. Now see what time has wrought. Jack McCary is 87, one of the nicest men I ever knew." -- Charlie Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Northwest Oklahoma Territory Pioneers

In the beginning of 1904, The Alva Pioneer printed an anniversary souvenir edition to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the incorporation of Alva, Oklahoma. We have started collecting some of the founding fathers of this northwest Oklahoma territory rural community. CLICK HERE and Read MORE... View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ancient Order of United Workers (AOUW)

Ancient Order of United Workers (AOUW) -- "The AOUW was founded by John Jordan Upchurch and thirteen others in Meadville, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1868.

Each member paid $1 into the insurance fund to cover the $2,000 benefit paid to a members dependents when he died. Each time a member died, $1 was due from the surviving members to reestablish the fund.

Fraternal benefits societies soon became quite popular as a means of providing financial protection to working class people at an affordable rate. Additionally, Fraternal benefits societies typically maintained a lodge where members could meet together in a spirit of fraternalism and brotherhood.

In at least one case - the Populist movement - the fraternity evolved into a powerful political organization providing a voice for their members. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Brief History of GAR

Brief History of GAR -- "Dr. B.F. Stephenson founded the GAR in 1866. The author is convinced he was alone in it's concept, using many friends to proof read his organizational papers and constitution and to lend guidance. The story of Rev. Rutledge, as a co-founder, described by Beath, is without merit. The name of Rev. Rutledge does not appear in any of the early papers or letters. Dr. Stepenson's daughter Mary, in her book about her father, also discredits the Rutledge story. Dr. Stephenson established the first Post in a printing office at Decatur, Illinois, because this group of veterans were about to print his constitution and he wanted them to become members before seeing the document...." -- Grand Army of the Republic View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe