The Colorado hummingbirds have been keeping us busy each day -- keeping the the feeders filled. One of our readers suggested that instead of bragging about our hummingbirds in Colorado, that we should share a picture or movie clip. Well! That's what we are going to do this weekend. We managed to station ourself quietly inside while over a baker's dozen fluttered around the feeders at their evening feeding time. You can catch those videos over at OkieLegacy Videos. The largest "WMV" file is about 5mb... so give it time to load onto your computer.

We have also been keeping ourself busy organize our information over at okielegacy.org into a "OkieLegacy - Interactive database/blog" over at okielegacy.net. We have only just begun implementing some of our data into the the NEW "Database/Blog," BUT... thought you might like a "Sneak Preview" of things to come! Eventually, when we get the data transferred to the database, it will be a mirror site to our okielegacy.org website -- MORE Interactive! Want to HELP us Learn & Preserve our Oklahoma & Okie Roots? We need your help! Thanks for being out and sharing your thoughts & legacies!

Have you noticed the NEW Look? We are implementing a Menu for the Volumes. There are only Issues for Volume 7 right now. BUT... Hopefully, in the somewhat near future we will have the back Issues back to Vol. 1 included in this database ezine. Just be patient withus while we refine & streamline things around here. Thanks for your understanding & patience! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The WARWICK Clan of Virginia...

This week we received a copy of Jacob and Mary WARWICK's pictures that we helped another lady acquire from a family in California. How these Virginia WARWICK photos got California... we do not know. BUT... besides the pictures there is a piece of history recorded on the backs of each picture concerning Jacob & Mary WARWICK. They are PRICELESS!

Anyway... we wanted to share our copy with some of the other WARWICK family genealogists out there. The lady who sent me copies of the pictures is working with another group that is trying to get a WARWICK/WARRICK DNA Project started to clear up some of the misinformation out there about the WARWICK men and their connections. You can read more about that in the "Mailbag Corner."

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What's Happening...

This is the weekend of Waynoka, Oklahoma's Annual Rodeo. So... that means that Freedom's 68th Biggest Open Rodeo in the West & Old Cowhand Reunion is just around the corner (August 18-20, 2005). You can find Waynoka & Freedom nestled along the banks of the Cimarron River in NW Oklahoma. The American Legion will be sponsoring dances following the Freedom rodeo on Friday (19th August) & Saturday (20th August) nights. Do NOT forget the Saturday features, activities that take place in this unique western community. They will be having a Classic 5K Run & Fun Run -- a Western Art Show -- a FREE Noon Chuck Wagon Feed -- a gathering of "Old Cowhands" at the Cimarron Cowboy Monument in their downtown park. AND... the highlight of the day's activities will take place at 2:30 p.m. when "The Great Freedom Bank Robbery and Shootout" explodes to life on the Main Street of Freedom. It's PRICELESS!

Just in case some of you have been reading through our Old Opera House Murder of 1910 and got to the part concerning Dr. Elizabeth Grantham's testimony only to find the pages blank... we are not quite sure what happened there, but we have those fixed now since another reader sent us an email to notify us of the missing pages. Thanks, Valerie!

Last week Charlie was telling us, "I've traveled all over the country over the years, and Vallecito pulled me back again more than any other place, and just in Colorado there are a number of other places that are nothing short of wonderful."

Charlie, we know what you mean and understand your feelings for the Vallecito area. There is something special up there in those mountains at 9000 feet that draws you back. It's also a place to heal heart & soul!

Hey! Just maybe this NW Okie with Pugs intow will get to see some of you at The Biggest Open Rodeo in the West" and "ShootOut" next Saturday! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

McGill Bros. Swimming Pool...

The last few weeks we have mentioned McGill Bros. Swimming Pool that was located behind McGill Bros. Furniture, in the 600 block of Barnes Avenue east of DeGeer's Grocery Store. We found this photo of our dad (Gene McGill) and his younger brother (Bob McGill). The date written on the back was 24 July 1923. Don't you just love those swim suits & caps. In the Summer of 1923 you can see that Chick Studio was advertising along the west wall of the swimming pool. Amongst other downtown businesses in Alva, Oklahoma. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Bert Strickland Photo...

While we were digging through some of our OLD photographs, we came upon this OLD photo of Bert Strickland. We were wondering if he was any relation to the Strickland's from NW Oklahoma? Does this old picture ring a bell with anyone out there? Thanks! If so we would love to share a copy of it with a relative of Bert Strickland. Just let us know! -- NW Okie

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Old 1950s Campaign Card....

We found this old political campaign card for our dad, Gene McGill. We are assuming that it dates back to the 1950s, because we knew that he ran as a Democrat for State Senator, Woods-Woodward Counties. Gene's eyebrows are a bit tamer -- he is sporting a small mustache. In 1950 Gene would have been in his mid-thirties. Whatever happened to the Democrats in NW Oklahoma? They don't make good Democrats like that anymore in NW Oklahoma, do they? The last good Democrat that we know of from NW Oklahoma was our Sister, Dorthy McGill. BUT... She had a great mentor/teacher when she would accompany Gene along the campaign trail. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

What's Worth of WWII German POW Paintings...

"My father-in-law has several paintings that German POW's painted during WWII. Do you think they are worth anything? How can I find out? Please let me know if you can help me. Thanks." -- Reggie Tolbert - Email: ratolbert@bellsouth.net View/Write Comments (count 6)   |   Receive updates (6 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Athlete's Foot Times Rebirth...

Athlete's Foot Times is making it's comeback. This time from the West Texas plains. It is still moderated by that somewhat famous JockReport, Editor-in-Chief. AND... starring The Commish and Coach Wagner of the Reddog Roughers. It's all in Fun and about "Fantasy Football." Stay tuned in and subscribe to this unique sports minded newsletter. To receive Email updates Click HERE. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Warwick/Warrick DNA Project...

"Dear Warwick or Warrick Family Researcher: Several of us family genealogists have concentrated our efforts on resolving the relationship amongst the male WARWICKs in early western Augusta County, Virginia. This area includes the current Virginia counties of Augusta and Bath, and the West Virginia counties of Pocahontas and Randolph. We have gotten to the point where we feel the only way around the roadblock would be Y-chromosome DNA tests. So we are soliciting contributors - both DNA sample and money donors.

After much analysis of the printed histories about the pioneer WARWICKs, we find them to be inaccurate or purely guesswork. At any rate there are no records to substantiate the stories. Using county records, here are the four WARWICK Males that can be found in this area of colonial Virginia.

William WARRICK arrived in the Valley of Virginia in 1743. He came by way of Ireland. It is believed he finally settled on Deer Creek now in Pocahontas County. He had three known sons: John (who migrated to Clark Co., Ohio and died there in 1814); William and Andrew. Some of the descendants of the latter two sons remained in the area for several generations, but very few of them were male. One branch is thought to have migrated to Oklahoma for the great land rush. William Sr. died on Deer Creek and is incorrectly identified as John by some.

Andrew Warrick was in Augusta County as of 1750 and probably closely related to William. It is possible Andrew left for North Carolina with the mass exodus during the French and Indian War. We have no further information on him.

John Warwick was in Augusta County as of 1748. It is probable he was the same John who slowly made his way westward and settled at the head of the Tygart Valley River. He built a fort whose attack by Indians is retold in the David Crouch interview of the Draper Manuscripts. In 1787 he pulled up stakes and moved to Clark Co., Kentucky where he died about 1801. Of his sons, Jacob was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and because of his actions in battle, the Indiana county of Warrick was named in his honor. Another son is purported to be John. We have no proof of his existence, but a Warwick family in Tennessee claim a John Warwick who married Nancy Hamilton came from Virginia.

Jacob Warwick first appears in the records in 1774. Per printed stories, after his father's disappearance, his mother married Andrew Sitlington. There is no doubt about the latter marriage, but there is evidence to suggest Jacob was born out of wedlock. From the dates of his appearance in the records, Jacob is obviously of a younger generation than the other three pioneer WARWICKs. Jacob settled on both the Jackson River in Bath County and at Clover Lick in Pocahontas County. He amassed many tracts of land that he devised to his children and grandchildren. He had only one son Andrew S. (said to be named for Jacob's stepfather) who in turn had three sons. Two of these remained in the Bath County area.

We would like to prove if these four are related and establish a database that other researchers may use. To do so, we need to locate living male descendants with the Warwick or WARRICK surname to donate cell samples. The Y-chromosome is only passed from father to son - to son - to son, etc...

Ideally, it is suggested that at least two DNA donors be found per branch to weed out the possibility of infidelity or adoption. Said another way, if two males thought to be cousins do not have matching DNA, then there is a problem. It is absolutely necessary to have the pedigrees for the DNA donors traced back to one of the four individuals.

DNA testing is not free. Knowing that sample donors may not have the same degree of curiosity as family genealogist, we will also need money donors. So we are asking for your help to locate male DNA donors and/or to make a pledge to financially support this effort. When pledging, please specify an upper limit. We intend to divide the costs equally, but if the number of pledges is small, the share may exceed your expectation. Regardless, all donors will share in the results of the research.

We intend to use FamilyTreeDNA as the commercial lab. By creating a project with them, we will receive a discount for the tests. Since we are concentrating on just four individuals from the same time period, the 12-marker test will probably suffice to prove or disprove a relationship. The discounted cost of this test is $99.

We welcome participants who don't know if their WARWICK ancestor is connected to these four individuals as well. In this case, the cost of the test is their responsibility, but they can join the project to receive the discount and share in the results.

Before we commit to this project, we need an indication of interest and of course the DNA donors. Please contact any of the following:

W. Lynn Hutchison - lynn.hutchison@us.abb.com

Paula Hampton - Pmh52847@aol.com

Carolyn Scott - Mooloolaba@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Warwick Genealogy & DNA...

"I just wanted to update you on developments. We are trying to start a Warwick DNA Project. My niece has agreed to administer it. We are looking for contributors and or sponsors. We are trying to prove or disprove the various connections. A lot of people read your newsletters - anything you could do would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you. (I was the lucky one that got the pictures of Jacob and Mary WARWICK that you posted - thanks again for helping me do that)." -- Carolyn Harman Scott - EMAIL: Mooloolaba@aol.com

[Editor's Note: Here's the the backside of Mary WARWICK's Picture.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Colorado Hummingbirds Feeding...

"Wow! Linda, that is awesome! I've never seen that many in one place! I'm going to put it in my next T&T. I know here in Oklahoma there are not that many that congregate in one place." -- BB

[Editor's Note: Also... Checkout our digital Videos of the SW Colorado Hummingbirds at OkieLegacy - Videos. There are large & small WMV movie files of the hummingbirds listed there. AND... Be sure to check out Ruff, Nelson & Sadie in the mountains.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Vada's Diary & John Wenzel...

"I have been reading Vada's Diary and I know who John H is. This is the person she referred to as John Wenzel, full name is John Harry Wenzel. John Harry is my great-grandfather's nephew. He is buried in the Alva Municipal Cemetery. We have our WENZEL-HUGHES family reunion in Alva every summer. I am the President for next years reunion and was just trying to get more information on our family history. We have had the reunion in Alva since 1949. Most the WENZEL family that has passed is buried there and we still have alot of family in Alva. I enjoyed reading the legacy history. Let me know if you know about a WENZEL!" -- Tom Wenzel - Email: twtommylee@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Dan Shorter's Passing...

"I’m sorry to hear of Dan Shorter’s passing. He was a good friend of my parents’ and the man who taught me to play (and love) the game of tennis.
     If you’re going to brag about all your hummingbirds, then you need to share some pictures. In suburban Atlanta, I’m lucky to have hummingbirds at my feeder for two months out of the year, and I can only spot three at any given time. This year their arrival was about ten days later than usual. I remember how entertaining those little buzzers are in Colorado dive-bombing each other as they jockey for feeding positions in mid-air. Send us some photos, or better yet, video.
      It’s cool and rainy here today… a welcome relief from the 95 degrees with 100% humidity that we’ve had a lot of this summer. Lots of air conditioners gave up this year, including both in my office building. In spite of the heat, July was the 4th wettest month on record EVER in the 100+ years they’ve been keeping records here.
      Those hummers are difficult to catch! I’ve set up my digital video cam before and gotten some decent video through the window, but you have to have a remote control to start the recording. It seems they can sense any kind of movement at all inside… even the brief movement of one finger taking the camera off of pause. Atlanta is not one of their warm weather hangouts.
      I’ve got about three hummers that fight over the feeder in the cool of the evening every night. If I can find some time, I’ll try to get a little video of them. It seems we only get them from July 1 to Sept 1 at the most. Perhaps when they are traveling south again for the winter, I’m not sure? Enjoy that beautiful Colorado scenery!" -- Scott View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe