Okie's NW Corner

It's that time again to jog some of those memory cells and see what legacies come to the surface this weekend. Have you been out exploring lately in this great weather we have been having this week? Last weekend Duchess and I took advantage of the spring-like weather and headed out west to the far western edges of No Mans Land where we explored Cimarron County, Boise City, Keyes and the Black Mesa State Park. We were in search of some signs of Cimarron County's largest lake of 1939. We still haven't found that lake yet, BUT... we did get some scenic shots of another lake, Etling Lake, at Black Mesa State Park.

Before we wind-down here and wish you another wet, but great weekend, don't forget to check out the great Mailbag Corner items sent in by some of our readers to share with Y'all! Especially, the Woods County Friendship Quilt list of names shared by Charles Cook. We shall see you all next weekend. Have a Good one!

Welcome to the Historic Santa Fe Trail...

As we reached the eastern side of Black Mesa, we came upon this historical marker that welcomed us to the Historic Santa Fe Trail & Fort Nichols. We learned that the Santa Fe Trail was surveyed by J. C. Brown, in 1826-27 -- that the heaviest traffic was during the California Gold Rush of 1849 -- it was abandoned on completion of A.T. & S. F. Railroad in 1880.

The state park has maps that identify the auto tour routes which are in proximity to the trail. You can travel the auto tour, stopping at local chambers of commerce, museums and information centers to learn more about this important historic route. Some of the items marked on the map are the National Park Service Sites... 1. Pecos National Historical Park - Pecos, New Mexico; 2. Fort Union National Moonument - Watrous, New Mexico; 3. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - LaJunta, Colorado; 4. Fort Larned National Historic Site - Larned, Kansas. The U.S. Forest Service Sites are marked as... 5. Comanche National Grassland - Springfield, Colorado; 6. Kiowa National Grassland - Clayton, New Mexico; 7. Cimarron National Grassland - Elkart, Kansas. If you want more information, contact (write) Branch of Long Distance Trails -- National Park Service -- Southwest Regional Office -- PO Box 728 -- Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0728 -- (505) 988-6888. Copies of the map are located at Black Mesa State Park.

Dust Bowl Memories...

The "Dust Bowl" website link that we put in last week's newsletter had some interesting information. Do you have any similar legacies to share of your ancestor's "Dust Bowl Memories?" Did they ever mention "Black Sunday, April 14, 1935?" Here is some of what the 1930's Dust Bowl Stories - Excerpts from "The Dust Bowl, Men,  Dirt and Depression" by Paul Bonnifield had to say about that...

     "On Sunday, April 14, 1935, the sun came up in a clear sky. The day was warm and pleasant, a gentle breeze whimpered out of the southwest. Suddenly a cloud appeared on the horizon. Birds flew swiftly ahead of it, but not swift enough for the cloud traveling at sixty miles per hour. This day, which many people of the area readily remember, was named Black Sunday.
     By May, it seemed like the wind and dirt had been blowing for an eternity. Rain was an event occurring only in dreams. It was a year of intensive dirt storms, gales, rollers and floods mixed with economic depression, sickness and disaster. It was a year of extreme hardship, but surprisingly the vast majority of the people stayed. By 1935, the unusual had become the usual, the extreme became the normal, the exception became the routine.
     During 1936, the number of dirt storms increased and the temperature broke the 1934 record high by soaring above 120 degrees. On one pleasant June day in 1936, the ground began to tremble. A sharp earthquake shook the land from Kenton to Perryton and from Liberal to Stratford. By the fall of 1936, the rains began to return and the heat wave was broken. The following year, 1937 was another year of unprecedented dirt storms. Day after day, Dust Bowl farmers unwillingly traded farms as the land moved back and forth between Texas and Kansas. And of course there were the usual floods. 1938 was the year of the Snuster. The snuster was a mixture of dirt and snow reaching blizzard proportions. The storm cause a tremendous amount of damage and suffering.".

FOR SALE: 1864 Home Comfort Stove - Model #DA...

"Here is a picture but it's not cropped - pretty big! I have more if you need more detail. It has all it's parts!

I am from Pekin, Illinois and an owner of a 1864 Home Comfort Wood Cook Stove,(Model # DA, Factory # M37244) made by The Wrought Iron Range Co., St. Louis, Missouri.

I am looking for a good home for this wonderful piece of history. I found this one in Topeka, Indiana. Due to the remodeling of the parsonage we live in, I no longer have room for it. If you would like any more information, or know of anyone who is looking for one, please contact me here at meemee3@juno.com. I found your site looking for a website for The Wrought Iron Range Co. trying to find a way to sell my stove to someone who'd appreciate it and take good care of it! I really enjoyed reading The Okie Legacy! Glad I found it! Will frequent when I can. Thank You!" -- Mrs. K. Rowell - Email: meemee3@juno.com View/Write Comments (count 7)   |   Receive updates (4 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Mill Tokens...

"The mill tokens were used because of the sales tax. It was not calculated to the nearest penny as it is today. In those days an item might cost 50 cents with 5 mills tax (I don't what the actual rate was in those days.) If you gave the clerk a 50 cent piece and a penny, they would give you a 5 mill token back. The mill token's name derive from the fact that they were worth one-thousandths of a dollar and the latin for one-thousandth was millensimus (as good as my latin is.) The same reason applies to a penny, known as a cent from the latin centesimus. Anyway, even in the forties, they weren't considered worth much, something like pennies are nowadays, sometimes not worth bending over to pick one up from the ground. Just something to pay tax with and fill up your pocket. As a kid, my parents often gave them to me, wish I'd kept them, especially the metal ones." -- Gary View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Blizzards of the 1930's...

"I would have been 4 years old in '31. The reason I remember the snow storm  is I could walk over the fence on the snow drifts and I thought that was so much fun. Also the sides of the paths my parents and brother dug to the barns and the out house was over my head. I think maybe I was older than that but maybe its something that has been in my memory all my life. They must of got word the storm was coming.  I can remember the preparation my folks made for the livestock. All of the livestock was brought to the barn and corralled.  We lost all our baby chickens and baby pigs.  I helped carry the wood and coal in the house. We brought food up out of the cellar where the canned goods was stored. I have quite a few memories of that storm." -- Marty View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Moundridge & Lookout Memories...

"Saw many family members in your Mound Ridge/Lookout article. Some of the info is not correct. The first Lookout was 1-1/2 E, 1 N, and 1/2 mile E of Day Creek School, i.e., 4 N and 1/2 E of the intersection of Highway 64 and old OK Highway 50. Day Creek school was moved south to Highway 64 and used as a community center some 45 years ago. Lookout was moved 1/2 W, 3 N, and 1/4 W where it remained until about 55 years ago. There was a store, post office and livery and a baseball field. Laura Bliss became postmistress and moved the post office to the family home, 3/4 W and 1/2 S. She ran the post office until retirement. Alfred Bliss became postmaster for a few months until the post office was closed, about 1972. Two career mail carriers met and exchanged mail there -- Jack Van Erck from the Freedom, OK post office and Arlie Gray from the Coldwater, KS post office. Upon Van Erck's death, his daughter, Lucille French, took over the mail delivery. Currently, Lucille's granddaughter (by marriage) has the route." -- Wayne Bliss - Email: wbliss3@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Moundridge School Memories...

"By the time I started school in 1952 the Mound Ridge School had closed. My older brother, Wayne, started school there in 1942, but he had to transfer to Freedom about the 5th grade when the school closed." -- Dale Wares Email: dale.wares@okdhs.org View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Stephenson/Garner Relationship...

"I happened onto your ParisTimes Pioneers (Warwick ) Genealogy and the Stephenson/Garner. Have not been able to figure out how the John Garner, whose daughter Ann married James Stephenson, can be linked to this John Garner married Mary Rathbone. The Tom - Email: alpin@mountain.net seems to be wrong. Could it be Tom McAlpin? Any help appreciated. I am related to Elizabeth Stephenson that married Boyd Miller and moved to Miller Co., Missouri. Thanks." -- Jana Bickel - Email: janabickel@earthlink.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Woods County Friendship Quilt Names...

"I have an unfinished quilt-top handed down to me from my Woods County ancestors.  It is a friendship quilt, with the names of members embroidered on their squares.  Some of them were dated as well.  The earliest was 1935 and they ran through 1945.   My great grandmother, Ida Barnett Martin's name is on one square. I recently ran across the list we made of the names some years back, and thought I'd share them with you.  I sent it to Sandie Olson of the Waynoka Historical Society, and she recognized most of the names, including some related to her.  I note that the name Paris (Leona) is represented.  Can you tell who she was? My wife Martha, an avid quilter, plans to finish the quilt, eventually. After I sent you the list of names on the quilt, I got out the box it was stored in.  The quilt-top with the names of the list is a finished top.  My wife Martha is now enthused enough to plan to finish it.  That quilt does not have my g-grandmother Ida Barnett Martin's name on it.  However, there were also some other finished squares in the group, including the one I remembered with Ida's name on it.  I now believe these are two different quilting groups. The Martins lived in Alva in their younger days, before and after Hugh was sheriff.  Later, they lived at Dacoma, until their deaths.  Ida's group's squares are already quilted and are embroidered.  I scanned a couple of the squares, and attached here.  I had to look up Reydon, Oklahoma .  I wonder why someone from Reydon made quilt squares for Woods County .  Do you know anything about the Garvers? " -- Charlie Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country

[Editor's Note: Leona Paris mentioned above is (we believe) the same Leona Pearl Hall that married Alfred Henry Paris, 14 March 1932, Hopeton, OK., with  Rev. Maggie Hull, of the P. H. Church of Hopeton officiated the ceremony at Hopeton, OK in the presence of Hazel McDermott of Dacoma and Carl Hall of Alva.  In 1932... Alfred would have been 25 years and Leona would have been 19. Alfred Henry Paris was Vada Paris' (my mother) cousin. Volney Paris was one of the brothers to my Ernest Claude Paris (my grandpa). Volney married Juliett Cook and had the following children:  Alfred H. Paris (married Leona), Ralph V. Paris (married Mildred), Irving R. Paris (married Rena Murrow), Viola Paris, Pearl Paris (married William Stengle).  Alfred & Juliett Paris' children: Louise Paris (married Arthur Durkee), Cleta Paris (married Jackie Zook).] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Claud Baird's 1917 Book of Poetry...

Claud Baird's 1917 Book of Poetry... "I was quite surprised to come across my grandfather Claud Baird's 1917 book of poetry (Patriotic and Other Poems) on your site, and to see his picture as a young man. I had seen a copy of the book at his house in Stillwater 50 or so years ago but had forgotten it existed. He was quite a colorful character and led an interesting life, and it's nice to see him so honored." -- Chuck Baird - Email: zbaird@premier1.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

DAR Patriot Lookup Service...

DAR Patriot Lookup Service... " The DAR Patriot Index contains names of Revolutionary patriots, both men and women, whose service (between 1775 and 1783) has been established by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Additional information available may include: dates and places of birth and death, name(s) of wife (wives) or husband(s), rank, type of service, and the State where the patriot lived or served. If pension papers are known to exist, that fact will be included. If you are interested in knowing if your ancestor is recognized by the DAR as a Revolutionary Patriot, please complete the request form below. Our volunteers would be happy to check for you at no charge!" -- DAR National Society View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Santa Fe Trail - A Cultural Tidal Wave Through Indian Land...

The Santa Fe Trail had a profound impact on the lives of the Indians of the Southern Plains. comanche, Kiowa, Plains Apache, cheyenne and Arapaho warriors fought hard to protect their lands from the arrival of traders and emigrants. By the mid-1870's, as a result of intense military pressure and the slaughter of millions of buffalo, these Plains Indian tribes were forced to begin a new life on reservations. While the Santa Fe Trail opened the door to American expansion in the Southwest, it signaled an end to the Plains Indian's nomadic way of life. Satana (White Bear), Kiowa warrior and chief stated, "I do not want to settle down in the houses uou would build for us. I love to roam over the wild prairie. There I am free and happy." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Tourist Sites in No Mans Land (Cimarron Co., Oklahoma)...

Cold Spring and Autograph Rock - Oklahoma's sites are located on private land and are not open to the public without landowner permission. For information contact the Cimarron Heritage Center, Boise City, OK. (580) 544-3479. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Other Regional Attractions of Cimarron County...

Black Mesa State Park, northwest of Boise City off of Highway 325, offers excellent campground accommodations and quality fishing. Lake Carl Etling is stocked with trout from November until April. The lake features three boat ramps; boats are limited to a 6mph speed limit. The park has camping sites with electrical hookups as well as primitive sites. A group camp with a community building and rustic cabins is also available for rental. The actual Black Mesa is located within Black Mesa Nature preserve, about 12 miles from the state park. Managed by Oklahoma State Parks. Black Mesa Nature preserve is home for 31 state rare species (23 Plants and 8 animals) and 4 distinct types of plant communities. The Preserve is located off of a county road 5 miles north of Kenton. The Preserve is a birder's paradise throughout the year. Golden eagle, scaled quail, blackbilled magpie and pinyon jay are among the birds that can be viewed here. Black bear, bobcat, mountain lion, mule deer and pronghorn antelope inhabit the mess region. A 4.2 mile hiking trail within the Preserve leads to Oklahoma's highest point, marked by a monument on top of Black Mesa. There is no potable water at the Preserve. Hiking supplies are available at the Kenton Mercantile, which is a general store & deli -- (580) 261-7447. The Cimarron Heritage Center and Museum is located in Boise City. Exhibits explain the colorful history of the region, from dinosaurs to Native American and Pioneer heritage. (580 544-3479). View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Santa Fe Trail - A Bridge Between the United States and Mexico...

The Santa Fe Trail was established as a wagon route by William Becknell in 1822. The Santa Fe Trail became the first major trade link between the eastern United States and the newly established country of Mexico. From the 1820's to the 1860's a steady stream of wagon trains followed this historic route. From Missouri came materials and supplies that were vital to the developement of northern Mexico; Mexican traders sent silver, furs, and other products tot he U.S. Traveling only 12-15 miles per day the 800 mile trip could take 7 weeks. With the discovery of gold in California in the late 1840's, traffic increased greatly on the Santa Fe Trail. Traders, goldseekers and military troops were frequent travelers on the trail throughout the 1850's. Following the Civil War, however, conswtruction of railroads began in the region. By the 1860's and 70's trade items and military freight were increasingly carried by rail. On February 9th, 1880, when the first steam locomotive passed near Santa Fe, New Mexico, the wagon trail was no longer needed. This brought about the end of nearly 60 years of commercial use of the Santa Fe Trail. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Fort Nichols...

7 mi., SW. Established in May, 1865, by Kit Carson, hero of Valverde and Brig. Gen., New Mexico Volunteers, to guard Santa Fe Trail and furnish escorts for caravans engaged in Santa Fe trade. Santa Fe Trail crossed this highway here and was first traveled by William Becknell's expedition from Missouri in 1823. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

People on the Trail - Fort Nichols From Land of Enchantment...

People on the Trail - Fort Nichols From Land of Enchantment -- Memoirs of Marian Russell -- "Six months from the day of our meeting Richard and I were married in the little military chapel at Fort Union; that was February of 1865. From our wedding until May of that year, Richard and I lived in Fort Union. Our honeymoon in the old fort was a happy one. Our living quarters were next door to those of Colonel Carson's. I was the only white woman in the fort and the soldiers made much of me....." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe