Genius Is 1% Inspiration

They say, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." We can believe that! That one percent inspiration has had Wagner's oldest son (Michael) and Oakie laboring all this week with the NEW LOOK for The Okie Legacy and it's database-driven newsletter/ezine. Perhaps things will start to settle down for awhile before "Oakie" has anymore Inspirations! We couldn't have done it without you, Michael.

FYI... It was Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), Inventor, whom that quote was made. The source of the quote came from Edison's autobiography, Life of Thomas Edison (1932). Thomas Edison was a tireless tinkerer who loved to boast of his prodigious capacity for labor. Once ensconced as the "Wizard of Menlo Park" and regarded as America's resident genius, he strove to live up to his reputation as "a fiend of work." It is said that he drove himself and his staff to the point of exhaustion, sometimes working around the clock to meet a deadline. At his death Edison had 1,300 U.S. and foreign patents to his credit.

Sometimes this Precious Pug thinks Oakie's inspirations creates "a fiend for work" for those around her. BUT... we do try to take breaks now and then in the Spring-like mountain sunshine that has been coming out this week. I hear our next inspiration is to reorganize all our photos that we have online into their perspective categories on the OkieLegacy Photo Gallery. With Spring just around the corner, this Precious Pug may take a much needed break.

As we said a few days ago in our Notice of NEW Interactive Look, we will be adding the "Mailbag Corner" features for viewing during the week with Duchess & Oakie's SW Corner following on Saturday. After each feature there will be a "View Comments" and "Write Comments" link. If you have any information to add or share, don't be shy -- just Click on "Write Comments" and give us a tryout. BUT... keep your comments clean, decent. We do have the power to "delete" those "unwanted" comments.

Just Remember... With everyone's cooperation, consideration, understanding and decency, together we can do almost anything. We can share, preserve our knowledge, thoughts, history, genealogy -- connect with those thousands of miles away and around the World.

We would like to see this "Newsletter/Ezine" become an Interactive Forum that you can use to Connect -- Share your Genealogy, Legacies, Memories, Old Photos, & Knowledge of growing up in Oklahoma and other surround states. We also realize that some of you were born and raised in Oklahoma, but for some reason have moved with your families to other parts of the World -- with a longing to connect once again with memories of your past -- searching for your geneaology roots.

We appreciate those of you that have already replied, "I too would like to show my appreciation for the new format. There have been many times when I wanted to make a comment, now I can. Maybe too often." View/Write Comments (count 5)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Speaking of Old Photos

We Have a few we would like to share with you this week. AND... You can also see them in our OkieLegacy Photo Gallery. Many of you know that our father, Gene McGill, would venture coyote hunting in his airplane with friends. AND... we are sure that there are a few stories out there that we haven't heard about Gene's coyote hunting days. Honestly, We would love to hear some of those.

This photo shows one of those coyote hunting ventures. We are NOT quite sure who the gentleman on the right is holding the rifle, BUT... Gene McGill is on the left with his airplane in the background. What year do you suppose that is? Notice the tie-downs on both wings and on the nose of the airplane. From the farm machinery in the background, it looks to be out at his Ranch 10-miles North of Waynoka. If you or a friend recognize the other gentleman in the photo, please leave us a comment... or email us some of your coyote hunting day stories. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Grandpa and Friends - 1 February 1930

We couldn't resist sharing this next photo with you of our Grandpa Bill McGill standing in front of his automobile parked at his house in the 800 block of Maple Street, in Alva, Oklahoma. Bill is shown with his golf clubs and a couple of lady friends. We are uncertain who the ladies are, but with the looks of snow on the ground, chains on the tires... would he be playing golf in NW Oklahoma? Can you help us identify the ladies in the photo? AND... for all you old car buffs out there, what kind of car is that... Ford? We don't know our old car-models that will, but maybe someone out there can educate us. Thanks! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Three Comrades

We just love this next old photo that we found in our Grandmother's treasure chest of photos & memories. We were wondering if the two gentlemen on the right are of Indian decent? Is that gentleman on the left a WARWICK relative of Grandmother's? If only we could go back in time and pick our grandmother's brain, we could discover more about these "Three Comrades." We need some more help identifing this old photo and what year it might have been taken. On the backside of the photo is a faint handwritten in pencil that looks like, "Uncle B__sly _____). Have you... or do you know of anyone out there that has seen this photo before?



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Sketches of John Jacob & Mary Jane (VANCE) WARWICK

We heard from a lady in California whose family has had two framed Sketches of John Jacob WARWICK and Mary Jane VANCE WARWICK that her husband's father had picked up at an auction. It has been hanging on their wall for 40 years or so and they are looking for some WARWICK family to sell it to. We went back through our WARWICK family and found that Jacob & Mary (VANCE) WARWICK would have been our 6th Great Uncle & Aunt on our grandmother's WARWICK side of the family.

On the backside of Jacob's framed sketch it gives a faint, handwritten history of Jacob WARWICK: "Born 1748 - died 1826. A Virginian by birth. He was with the Army of Gen. Andrew Lewis at the Battle of Point Pleasant October 10, 1774, and was then called upon to mourn the death of his three brothers, who were slain in that conflict. Mr. Warwick was naturally jovial in dispositon, tho dignified in manners. It is said that the heart-rendering scenes he witnessed in the Battle of Point Pleasant saddened his life to a great extent. He was an Officer of the Revolutionary War and served as clerk of both Courts of Bath Co., Virginia many years. He passed in his 83rd year. His remains were carried up the West Bank of the Jackson River and buried in a spot reserved for family burial. In that lonely, but beautiful valley retreat, the _____ing busy man has found repose."

Mary Jane (VANCE) WARWICK sketch is also has a faint, handwritten note on the back with the following: "Wife of John Jacob Warwick and daughter of Col. John Vance of N. Carolina, was a woman of highly refined taste and took all possible pains in making home attractive. her table service was really elegant and a prince might well enjoy her dinners. She had a well supplied library, book in the nicest clytr (not sure of this word written on the backside... either start with a "c" or "s".) of bindig and she made good use of them too. When there was knocking at her home, all present were pressingly invited to remain for dinner." View/Write Comments (count 8)   |   Receive updates (6 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Remembering In Last Week's News of the Virginia Loggers

While we were sorting through all our family photos, we did find a few photos of Isaac Eckart (Echart), born in Monterey, Virginia. Isaac was our Great-grandmother Signora Belle (Siggie) WARWICK's nephew. We are assuming that this photo shows Isaac (seated) with his wife (standing behind and off to the rightside of Isaac). We have another photo of Isaac Eckard in a postcard during the early 1900s with his "Gal." It was sent to his Aunt Siggie and from Monterey, Virginia. Isaac & his Gal in Monterey, Virginia

With your help... We shall continue Seeking the Inspiration within us ALL... Lighting the Fire Within... Learning the Past ... Living the Present! See Y'all next weekend with more Okie Memories, legacies and photos.

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Man who invented 'Okie' dies in California

"This is too late maybe for the Okie Thread, but until I became acquainted with Richard Reddick, I had no clue this is why we are called Okies. Richard is also a list owner to the Daly site. Ben Reddick who coined the Okie title is the father of Richard Reddick a great friend of mine. Richard also was the editor of the Paso Robles Daily Press, the same paper his dad owned. He is retired now due to health problems. Here is Ben's obits: Man who invented 'Okie' dies in California

Named an 'honorary Okie' in 1968 - By S.E. Ruckman, Staff Writer - Posted October 27, 1997 TEMPLETON, Calif. -- Newspaper publisher Ben Reddick, credited with coining the term 'Okies' when he was a freelance writer during the Depression, died Thursday. He was 82." - SEE Ardmoreite News dated 10/27/97: The Daily Ardmoreite - dated 10/27/1997 - Headlines -- Named an 'honorary Okie' in 1968.

I know some will be happy to learn where our nickname came from. I feel privileged to know the son of the man who made that history for Oklahoma. He said if you type in "Ben Reddick, Okie" in Google you will get a bunch of hits. Remember to out the comma after Reddick. I can not remember if I sent this URL to you with the others, but it is also good reading about OKIES." - www.ok-history.mus.ok.us/enc/okie.htm -- Lois View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie - The Perfectionist Goofs Up

"As to your blunder, This "Perfectionist" has done it again! Duchess tells me sometimes to just let it be. BUT... sometimes I can not resist messing, fiddling around with perfection (among other things).... "So you really are human, sweetie. Just could not resist that." -- Lois

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Alva's ATSF Depot

"Three items for the next Okie Legacy - if you have room for them, that is:

(1) One of Alva's recently completed murals was based on the attached postcard. I have one such postcard in my possession that is postmarked 1912. In a gathering of railroad buffs in Alva a few weeks ago, the question was raised about when the tower on the depot was removed. In all the years that I have known of the depot, there was no tower. Do you suppose any of your readers might have an answer to this question?

(2) Also, the gathering surmised that the BNSF folks razed the old depot instead of selling (or giving) it to the City of Alva is because they already knew of the plans to double-track the line through Alva - and since the old depot could not be moved, it had to be torn down. That idea makes sense, but I wonder if the RR really had that much foresight.

(3) Finally, I hope that the Waynoka group will study the efforts of the Norman group, whose restored depot is a nearly-identical twin sister to the Waynoka depot, as they begin work on their restoration efforts. The Norman depot is a beautifully restored architectural and historical gem." -- Rod View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Woods County Question

"I have a book, WOODS COUNTY OKLAHOMA RURAL CEMETERIES, that is a good source for this information. In the index of names, there is only ONE by the name of Conn, namely Jack T. Conn, who was chairman of the Oklahoma Diamond Jubilee (of which this book was one part of that state-wide project). There are no other CONN family members listed. Likewise, there are no COLE family names listed. There are a few cemeteries in this area (Freedom, where I live), but if the dates are around 1950, they should be in this book. I'll forward your request to a couple of folks that may be able to provide some help. I hope you'll get some helpful responses." -- Rod

[Editor's Note: Howard wrote the following Email to Rod... "I saw on the Woods County site that you had walked the Pleasant View Cemetery, checking it out. Are there other cemeteries in the area? I am looking for the burial site for members of the CONN family. Especially Nettie (COLE) CONN who died about 1950 in Freedom, OK. I suppose you get such requests all the time, and I hope this is not imposing to ask. Thanks." - Howard Boswell - thebugman71@comcast.net] View/Write Comments (count 3)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

I Told You NOT To Do That

"Just think of all the experience you are gaining. Then... you have little Duchess feeling proud that its you that messed up this time and she can be the one to say, I told you not to do that!!!!" -- Glenda View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Remembering Those Great Old Burma Shave Road Signs

"For those who never saw the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930's and 1940's. Before the interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields. They were small red signs with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1-line of a 4-line couplet... and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream. Here are more of the actual signs:

TRAINS DON'T WANDER - ALL OVER THE MAP - CAUSE NOBODY SITS - IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP - Burma Shave

SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH - BY MISTAKE - SHE THOUGHT IT WAS - HER HUSBAND JAKE - Burma Shave

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD - TO GAIN A MINUTE - YOU NEED YOUR HEAD - YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT - Burma Shave

DROVE TOO LONG - DRIVER SNOOZING - WHAT HAPPENED - NEXT IS NOT AMUSING - Burma Shave

BROTHER SPEEDER - LET'S REHEARSE - ALL TOGETHER - GOOD MORNING, NURSE - Burma Shave

CAUTIOUS RIDER - TO HER RECKLESS DEAR - LET'S HAVE LESS BULL - AND MORE STEER - Burma Shave

SPEED WAS HIGH - WEATHER WAS NOT - TIRES WERE THIN - X MARKS THE SPOT - Burma Shave

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE - OF PAUL FOR BEER - LED TO A WARMER - HEMISPHERE - Burma Shave

AROUND THE CURVE - LICKETY-SPLIT - BEAUTIFUL CAR - WASN'T IT? - Burma Shave

NO MATTER THE PRICE - NO MATTER HOW NEW - THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE - IN THE CAR IS YOU - Burma Shave

A GUY WHO DRIVES - A CAR WIDE OPEN - IS NOT THINKIN' - HE'S JUST HOPIN' - Burma Shave

AT INTERSECTIONS - LOOK EACH WAY - A HARP SOUNDS NICE - BUT IT'S HARD TO PLAY - Burma Shave

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL - EYES ON THE ROAD - THAT'S THE SKILLFUL - DRIVER'S CODE - Burma Shave

THE ONE WHO DRIVES - WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING - DEPENDS ON YOU - TO DO HIS THINKING - Burma Shave

CAR IN DITCH - DRIVER IN TREE - THE MOON WAS FULL - AND SO WAS HE. - Burma Shave

And my all time favorite: PASSING SCHOOL ZONE - TAKE IT SLOW - LET OUR LITTLE - SHAVERS GROW - Burma Shave

Do these bring back memories? If not, you are such a child. If they do, you're older then dirt, like me." -- Joel View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The OkieLegacy's NEW Interactive Format

"CONGRATS Linda! Sounds like you are well on your way to having one of THE best ezine/bogs around! Congratulate your son, Michael, also on his wonderful work! (who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks? snicker)." -- Karel View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NEW Improved Ezine

"I will be looking forward to getting my new and improved ezine! You do such a fabulous job, it is hard to believe it can be better, but I know it will!" View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Anxiously Awaiting NEW OkieLegacy Format

"I am anxious to see the changes. If I get any happier with the new format, I will be delirious (ha! ha!) I so appreciate the time and effort you do for so many of us. Keep up the great work. P.S... I like to be called an Okie, too. (har har) Even a barefoot one as far as that goes." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

11 Mar 2005: Woods County obit....

www.rootsweb.com/~kscomanc/links.htm. I am not inviting or authorizing you to copy and repost the material, but am asking you to provide a link to it on your site to the web page under discussion on my site. Thank you." -- Jerry

[Editors Note: See also City of Coldwater, Comanche County, Kansas] View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

11 Mar 2005: Woods County obit....

www.rootsweb.com/~kscomanc/links.htm. I am not inviting or authorizing you to copy and repost the material, but am asking you to provide a link to it on your site to the web page under discussion on my site. Thank you." -- Jerry

[Editors Note: See also City of Coldwater, Comanche County, Kansas View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Coldwater Centennial Notebook, Comanche County, Kansas....

"The town of Coldwater is located in parts of four sections. The legal description is the SW1/4 of Section 7, the NW1/4 of Section 18 in Township 32, Range 18 west; and the SE1/4 of Section 12, the NE Section 13 in Township 32, Range 19 west.

There are several accounts of people in the area before it was chartered as the town of Coldwater. If they did not actually walk within what is now the city limits, they were close. In 1843, Col. Jacob Snively and 176 mounted Texans crossed from the northern Oklahoma line to the Arkansas (river), in southwest Edwards County. He was in pursuit of Mexican traders who had robbed Texas citizens....." -- Coldwater Centennial Notebook - Commanche County, Kansas View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

OkieLegacy Guestbook Entry

"I have been away from Oklahoma for a long time and miss it very much. It is very nice to see all this stuff and have a lot of old memories come back." -- Stephanie (Morris) Gruwell - Email: gruwell@frontiernet.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

You Never Know Who You Will Run Into

"You know, it is so funny and ironic. My boys brought home an assignment to do a family tree. Your newsletter got me to prowling around on the internet over the holidays, and since, and I was able to get a few tidbits of information that I didn't know. We have been able to go back to their great-great-grandparents. It has been interesting figuring this stuff out. One of your regular readers really helped a great deal. By going to and listing the names and info on those who are buried in the Ludlow, OK, cemetery, I was able to tell my children who their paternal great grandfather's parents were. It is little things like this that are so valuable to people like me who live so far away from the old homeplaces. My dad is 80 and I don't know how much longer I will be able to pick his brain for information. I took the list Kathy had posted for the cemetery, read the names to my dad and he told me who was related to me and what the relation was. Many of the folks in the Ludlow cemetery are part of the WILLIAMS family -- that is my family. Another sweet lady had gone to the Holly Creek cemetery in Broken Bow, OK, and done the same along with color photos of tombstones. That is where my maternal grandparents are buried. Now I am on the quest to find a listing for the cemetery in Idabel, OK. I know these areas are in the opposite corner of OK from where most of your readers hale, but you just never know who you will run into that will have that small tidbit of information that your looking for." -- Brenda Williams Sivado, Louisville, KY View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NEW Interactive OkieLegacy Look

"Very Cool. Can't wait to see this new interactive feel and look. You are so ambitious. Thank You again so much for all your work." -- Marty View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe