Okie's NW Corner

We did not get 6-inches of snow last weekend, but we did get a couple of inches. The 6-inches-plus of that wet, snowmen, snowball snow came our way during the mid-week. It's been cold ever since. I think Winter has made a comeback.

I was going through some friend's genealogy papers the other day trying to help sort through papers for some family history to put into the 2nd Edition of the Alfalfa County History book that is being re-written. Many of the descendants of Oklahoma Territory started their origins from the Virginias, especially around Augusta County, Virginia and Greenbrier County. The John Andrew Clark family was one those families that settled in Oklahoma Territory. Just in case some of you had ancestors that fought in the Virginia's during the Civil War -- you might be interested in The Battle of Droop Mountain that I have been transcribing all this week and have stuck over on our NW OkieLegacy website.

History of Augusta County, Virginia...

The following little article of Augusta Co., Virginia was written by a writer by the name of Peyton -- It mentions, "five years after Francis Fauquier became governor of Virginia, a peace treaty was signed February 10, 1763, at Fontainbleau, between France and England. it did not bring peace to the frontiers. On the contrary, in 1764 and 1765, war was waged by the united tribes of the Western Indians. The English traders among the Indians were the first victims. The massacres of Big Levels and Muddy creek in Greenbrier, West Virginia, when Cornstock attracted public attention. In 1763 while on a friendly visit, he suddenly fell upon unarmed whites murdering all the men and making prisoners of all the women and children. The next day at Big Levels the Indians enacted the same scene; every white man in the settlement but Conrod Yolkom, and every woman but Mrs. Glendenin were murdered."

75th Anniversary - Great Race of 1893...

I also found another little Oklahoma history tidbit about the Great Race of '93 (1893, that is). It was written in September, 1968, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the "Great Race of 1893. " I have put it up on my NW OkieLegacy website. This article was published in The Alva Review-Courier , dated Monday, September 16, 1968, in Alva, Oklahoma. It was taken from an article that was written for the Redbook Edition, back in April, 1935, and written by Gen. Hugh S. Johnson about his father (S. L. Johnson's) experiences of the Great Race of '93. The excerpts of the 1935 article appeared in the local NW Oklahoma newspaper by way of Dr. Morton H. McKean, on Sept. 16, 1968, on occasion of Oklahoma's 75th Anniversary. It starts out... "This (the boom and bust in southern Kansas prior to 1893) whole chain of events came to an abrupt end with the Oklahoma hegira. My father (S. L. Johnson) had been appointed Postmaster at the then non-existent but expectant town of Alva. He took my mother, my two baby brothers, the whole post-office paraphernalia, and some household goods ahead in a box-car, which switched to a siding, was for a week one of not more than twelve human-habitations in the place where that town was planned to be......"

About S. L. Johnson...

S. L. Johnson was one of our founding fathers, businessmen and chairman of the steering committee that worked with H. L. Ross, secretary; W. F. Hatfield, editor of the Alva Pioneer; James Kelley, editor of the Alva Republican; C. C. Hudson, editor of the Alva Review; A. H. Andrews, city attorney, and Jesse J. Todd, met and advertised for offers of land near town for a college site for the Northwestern Normal school (Castle on the Hill). This aggressive body of town fathers never gave up -- formulated other plans -- applied pressure on the legislature to secure a location of the Normal school in Alva, Oklahoma.

I have been hearing on the news that this is the 40th anniversary (February, 1964) of the Beatles touring the U.S. Back in February of '64 I would have turned or was turning 16 years of age. They did have some great songs, didn't they. What Beatle mania do you recall... besides "I Wanna Hold Your Hand?"

I see by the old clock on the wall that it is again time to STOP - Proofread - and get ready to send out this latest issue of the OkieLegacy Ezine. But... before we head out of here let me remind some of you Lovers out there that Valentines Days is just around the corner. What do you have planned for that special person in your life? Besides Valentine Days coming around the corner next weekend, Duchess will be blowing out her 1st Birthday candle (February 14). See Y'all next week. Keep warm and keep those memories flowing this way.

Alva's Old Fountain...

Old Woods County Fountain's has a New home in New Mexico. "This is a rather Close-up View of the Old Fountain from the Woods County Courthouse lawn. It is now in the yard of a prominent attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose wife graduated from Waynoka High School. The second photo (on the left) shows more of the fountain, and shows the goldfish pool at the base." -- Sandie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Col. Kirkbride...

"Enjoyed the piece about Bob Kirkbride - whenI was about four years old (in 1934!), we lived for a time in the Kirkbride Apartments. I remember the taffy pulls - we children were given lollipops made of unpulled taffy while the adults pulled the rest! My parents were Bruce Walters and Louise Fash Walters. He died in 1992 and she died last week at age 94. They both had good long lives, and would have been interested in all the information in Okie Legacy. I know I am! Thanks for the newsletter - I look forward to it every week." -- Barbara View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Col. Bob Kirkbride - My Hero...

"Seeing Col Bob's recipes made me think of the time when he made a little boy's dream come true. Col Bob was an auctioneer and handled most of the local estate sales when I was growing up. I think I was nine or ten years old when this happened. I was attending an estate auction with my father who was a hunting buddy of Col Bob's. One item at the auction was a genuine Stetson Ten Gallon hat just like the one Buck Jones wore in the cowboy movies. I had about $2.50 to spend (a princely sum for the times) but certainly not enough to buy the hat. Enter Col Bob who saw me admiring it firecely and longingly. He said, 'kid, do you like that hat?' I said, 'Yes Sir.' He then said, 'let's me and you have a little private auction how much money do you have?' I told him. He immediately went into his chant before the crowd knew what was going on and knocked down the hat to me for $2.50 before they could catch their breath to scream foul. The sale stuck and I spent the rest of the Auction refusing some handsome offers for it. I guess you know what comes next. Col. Bob will always be a hero of mine." -- Bill Barker View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Lookout, Oklahoma & Crown Hill Cemetery of Coldwater...

"Congratulations on your interesting and well-made website! I found your site while searching for information on residents of Woods County, Oklahoma that were buried in Lookout, Oklahoma or in the Crown Hill Cemetery at Coldwater, Kansas." -- Jerry Ferrin - E-mail: jdf@theriver.com - Comanche County, Kansas: History and Genealogy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Obits for Lookout, Oklahoma...

"Your Lookout webpage prompts this message. I just found it while looking for the burial place of Walter Hackney. THE WESTERN STAR, 15 October 1909 Obituary of WALTER HACKNEY -- Walter Hackney came to this city last week for treatment. His ailment was a complication of liver and stomach trouble and his condition was pronounced critical from the first. He grew worse and on Sunday night, he died at the former Nokes home, in the northeastern part of town where he was staying.....
br> I also found these Obits for Lookout on the KsGenWeb site...
THE WESTERN STAR, 14 February 1913 Obituary of ENOCH GEORGE CASTLE -- ENOCH G.
CASTLE DIES at HIS HOME NEAR LOOKOUT... Enoch G. Castle died on Thursday evening of last week, February 6, 1913, at his home three miles north of Lookout, Okla., after an illness of about 3 months, during which time he was a sufferer from acute bronchitis.....
br> THE WESTERN STAR, 11 March 1921 Obituary of ROSS COOPER ROSS -- COOPER PASSES AWAY... Succumbed to Pneumonia in a Dodge City Hospital Early Tuesday Morning. After a brief illness, resulting from pneumonia, Ross Cooper, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Cooper of this city, died in the Pine Hospital in Dodge City, Kans., at 7:45 a.m., on last Tuesday, March 8, 1921, aged 22 years and 17 days.....

THE WESTERN STAR, 6 December 1918 Marriage of T. E. HODGSON & ELLA R. BARTON Hodgson - Barton -- T. E. Hodgson and Mrs. Ella R. Barton, both of the neighborhood of Lookout,
came to Coldwater on Monday, December 2, and were united in marriage by Probate Judge Cosby....

THE WESTERN STAR, 11 June 1909 Obituary of LUTHER H. NUTTER -- Luther H. Nutter was born in Wyandotte county, Ohio, May 14, 1846, and moved with his parents to Decatur county, Iowa. From there he moved to Davis county, Missouri. Several years later, he was married to Maggie Cline on July 3, 1872, when he moved to Harrison county, Missouri, where he lived 22 years. Then with his family he moved to Harper county, Kansas, where he resided for a number of years.....

THE WESTERN STAR, 17 April 1908 Obituary of FLOYD ARLO OSBOURN -- Floyd Arlo
Osbourn was born near Mayday, Riley co., Kans., on June 6, 1890, and died at 8a.m. on Friday, April 10, 1908, at the home of his father, N. M. Osbourn, near Lookout, Okla.....

THE WESTERN STAR, 26 February 1943 Obituary of ANTON KURZ DEATH OF ANTON KURZ -- Anton Kurz, who had lived near Lookout, Okla., for about 44 years, died in the Wichita hospital Thursday afternoon, February 18, 1943, as noted in the Star last week. ....

THE WESTERN STAR, 30 November 1917 Obituary of JOHN JASPER ELDER -- Sad Death of
John Elder... John Jasper Elder, aged 20 years, 4 months and 18 days, and son of Mrs. Cora Elder, died on last Friday at his home in Coy, as the result of injuries received by being thrown from a mile which he was riding. John was working for W. G. Reed, whose home is 1 1/2 miles west of Coy....

The above material is from KsGenWeb. I am building a site about Comanche County, Ks, at RootsWeb. I just searched the site for "Lookout" and found it mentioned in a story my dad wrote... What we called the Salt Plains was at a bend in the North Canadian River south of Mooreland, Oklahoma. This river had a very high salt content. I don't know how deep the salt deposit was, but I know that at some points along the edge it was 12" to 18" deep. I don't remember how long the trip took in a wagon, but it was about 60 miles south of Coldwater so it had to take several days to make the round trip. Later, when Dad got a Model-A Ford truck, I went with him several times and going to the Salt Plains and back was a full day's trip. We went through Coldwater, then Lookout, across Highway 64 and then to the river. My first trip there I remember seeing the hood and stack of a steam engine that was sinking in the quicksand or quicksalt. It had been used in some way to work the salt deposit, I suppose, but I don't know how it was used. I recall being told that the men working with it had tried to save it when it started sinking by pulling on it with another steam engine but that they were in danger of losing the second one the same way as the first one so they abandoned the first one. Over the next 15 or 20 years, I know that the hood and stack that were visible only sank 2 or 3 more feet, and that could have been from the rust eating the metal.

If you use the Search engine on my site to search for Coy, you'll find 6 pages which mention residents of Coy, Ok. You might also be interested in the old maps which show portions of Woods County, Ok, here: kscomanc/hwy160.html -- kscomanc/hwy160_1934map.html. Another page of my site pertains to Two Pioneer Settlers of Woods County, OK, Will & Hattie Wimmer... After Hattie and Bill were married, they lived in a sod house in Comanche County until they came to Oklahoma when the Cherokee Strip was opened for settlement. They made the race for land and staked a claim 1 1/2 miles south of the Kansas-Oklahoma border. Their daughter, Lillian Pearl, was two years old at the time. The small family lived in a hillside dugout until a one room frame house could be built. The dugout served as a root cellar and storage place after the family moved into the new house.

The WWI Casualties page mentions two residents of Woods County who were "claimed" and honored as local citizens in newspaper articles: Guy Schrock and Eugene W. Wares. And, finally, here is another page you may find of interest... digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v014/v014p360.html. I've enjoyed looking at your site and have linked to it from my Links page." -- Jerry Ferrin View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Home Comfort Range...

"My mother has an Old Comfort Range with a date of 1890 on the front. Has a model number of DA and factory # M47907. It is still in good working condition. It came with an old frame house they bought in Delaware around 1975 and they moved it with them to Flordia when they relocated. We are looking for some information and history on the stove. The orginal owners might have had the last name of Herd from Felton, Delaware. Any information would be greatly appricated." -- Sandy Bernier - Email: TheNaciGirl@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Home Comfort Range...

"I had an opportunity to read on the Internet about the Home Comfort cookbook you have. I, too, have a portion of a Home Comfort cookbook (minus the front/back cover) and cannot find a date anywhere in it. The range featured in this book is a Model "B-30". I also have a good part of the range. Am not sure what is missing since it's out in a garage full of stuff that we haven't discarded since my father's recent death. I only saw the main part of the range while glancing through the garage this past weekend. I'm curious about the year of this range. Have you gotten any information through your web site? Thanks in advance for responding." -- Deb Petry, Bismarck, ND - Email: petry@btinet.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Col. Kirkbride Photo...

"Just read in the Okie Legacy about 'Colonel' (guess I was too young to know whether he was really a Colonel) Bob Kirkbride's candy making. This picture was in my folks things when we cleaned out the house. During the war when everything was rationed, the 'Colonel' would get sugar from the bakery to make his candy and then Dad would bring some of it home." -- Marvin - Email: figment1@zianet.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Guinn's of Oklahoma...

"Grandson of Virgie Mae Guinn born Oklahoma 1893. Virgie Mae is the daughter of Jermeiah Guinn. born 1805 and Nancy. Family Surnames: Guinn." -- George Dale Silvey - Email: jerilynsilvey@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Reeg's of France & Carmen, Oklahoma...

"My great-grandfather was Henri Reeg from Lampertsloch, Alsac-Lorraine France. He came to this country approx. 1851. He farmed in Canton, Lewis Co. Missouri for thirty years and moved to Attica, Harper County, Kansas around 1885. He and his sons Oscar, George made the Cherokee Strip run. They each got a homestead in Woods County. In 1900 he and his wife were living in Eagle Chief Township. He died in 1915 and is buried in Carmen, Oklahoma." -- Dana Heaven Neilon - Email: dneilon@neilon.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Kemper Alumni List & Dean & Dale Corson...

Kemper Alumni List & Dean & Dale Corson -- "Just found you while looking for my Uncle Dean Corson. Low and behold I find both my uncles, Dean and Dale on your Uncle Bob's Kemper Alumni List. I forwarded your page to my Uncle Dean and wife Ginny and they said it was really them on your list. My Uncle Dean will be inducted into the IA Baseball Hall of Fame this next Saturday at Cedar Rapids IA. (Feb 7, 2004). Anyone who knew him, would you please contact him at ginco@mc2k.com?" -- Carol L Parman - Email: clparman@ccp.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Another Cummins Descendant...

"I enjoyed reading about Scott Cummins as he was my great uncle as was George Cummins. My mother was born in Oklahoma Terr. and my grandfather Will Cummins homesteaded 22 miles northwest of Alva. He was a true sooner as he built his cabin several years before the opening of the strip." -- Arthur Rush - Email: bak1935er@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Andrew Warwick...

"I saw your write up on the Warwick's. I am descended from Andrew Warrick, b. 1735, d. 1804 in Caswell County, North Carolina. His daughter Margaret, married Robert Thomas, and their son David's son Lewis is buried in Bloomfield Academy Cemetery in Oklahoma. I am stumped at Andrew's parents, and his wife, (and Robert's lineage also) and wondered if you might have any information to help. Glad to share anything I have with you." -- Charles B Thomas, Great Falls, Virginia - Email:charliethomas@prodigy.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Warwick, Oklahoma Country School...

"Just happened upon your website. I Attended Warwick country school, first grade to 6th grade, when my family moved to Iowa. In 1945 My parents, Paul and Virgie Mackey, were turkey farmers, about 1/2 miles east of Warwick, just off Deep Fork. There were 5 boys in my class, and nyself, Pauline Mackey, was the only girl. Mrs. Mary Conley, of Wellston was our teacher. I'd love to contact my fellow students. Margie Munn, Mildred Adam, Ruth Oliver, Virginia Jones...... I'm retired living in Payson, Az, and very involved in gardening and all flowers and plants. Write me at Pauline Rodriguez , 413 E Evergreen St , 85541 Or Email: gardnrathrt@cybertrails.com." -- Pauline View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Hospital & Museum...

"Thank you for having such a wonderful site. We are on the east coast, Titusville. I spend just about my whole lunch hour reading the articles. I used to clean the Cherokee Strip Museum in the evenings with my teenagers. They would swear it was haunted, do you have any info on the old hospital or the museum now? My husbands family is the Secrest's. Thanks Again!" -- Email: horizontelecom@cfl.rr.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

H-e-l-l-o Alva & All Goldbugs (Past, Present & Future...

"I am a graduate of the Class of 1965, and am presently living in Tulsa where I work for a newspaper publisher. I have three grown children, and a grown stepson. My oldest daughter, her husband and my only grandchild live in Salt Lake City where I lived for eleven years. My son, the youngest, also lives in Salt Lake City where he a student at the University of Utah. My youngest daughter and her husband live and work in Boise, Idaho, while my stepson lives and works in Atlanta. I have spotted e-mail addresses from old classmates; don't be surprised to get a brief note. WONDERFUL WEBSITE." -- Terry Smith - Email: mysubterfuge@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Seiling, Oklahoma...

"Hi, I was born and raised 5 miles west of Seiling, left there when I was 17 to go into the Air Force. I can remember when I was 4 or 5 my mom (Wilma Bryant) and dad (Clyde Cook) taking me to Tailholt with them. They would place me on a bench to sleep while they danced. I enjoyed you website. I have lived in San Antonio, Tx since 1973. Thanks." -- Leland B. Cook - Email: aerospace2@stic.net View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Kelley manuscript of Alva POW Camp...

"My father was stationed at the Alva prisoner-of-war camp from roughly Sept., 1944 to roughly Sept., 1945. I have written an extensive manuscript about his year there if anyone involved in the prison camp's history is interested." -- Bruce Kelly - Email: brucekelly@hotmail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Neuman's Boys Choir...

"I was surfing your site when I came upon the Neuman's Boys Choir photo, VOL 4, Issue 11. Although Floyd Thompson gives me credit for being in the photo, it's not me, Terry Smith. In reviewing the photo (on the left), here is my opinion (age withstanding) of the lineup. The top row (left to right) is Tom Gruber, unidentified boy, Floyd Thompson, Marvin Quinn, Kenny Ray and Glenn Diacon. Here comes the Alzheimer's moment because I cannot remember if they were members, but the two boys on the left in the middle row appear to be Gary Johnson and Sam Long. I think the third boys is Milburn Quinn, and the boy on the right is Jerry Estle. Alan Corr is sitting in front. Adding to Floyd's memories of the choir days, Fred's store was next to Central National Bank on Flynn. The choir practice room and Fred's apartment were above the store. After choir practice, Fred would herd us across the street to Schumacher's Drug for a soft drink or ice cream cone. The beverage of choice was a 'Graveyard,' a conconction of every syrup that the fountain could dispense, finished off with carbonated water. YUMMY at the time. Boys will be boys. I am forwarding another photo, hoping that it comes through okay. The boys in the photo to the right are: Top row (left to right) Don Hawley, Randy Rauh and Terry Smith. The bottom row are Charles Bird and Marvin Quinn." -- Terry Smith - Email: mysubterfuge@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe