Duchess Corner

First of all, we would like to apologize for this weeks newsletter coming to you late. Most of you might have already received a short email from us about the "OkieLegacy - Running Late." NW Okie has been working on the database again because some "unwanted" comments were finding their way onto our "OkieLegacy Ezine" and were deleted as fast as they showed up.

Then our database locked up and we were having trouble bringing the ezine up in the browser. It has been one of those frustrating weeks. It was late Saturday evening that we finally got connected with our database so we could build this weeks newsletter. BUT... We survived and continued on.

Can you find Waldo (or the hummingbird) in this photo? Look towards the center of the picture where there is a small, blackish/grey nest. We wanted to share this special photograph we took of a hummingbird setting in her nest. This week we were up at Vallecito Lake and fortunate to have witnessed this small hummingbird in her nest which had two, small pink eggs. As you can tell in this photograph, she was keeping her eye on us.

While we were up north of Vallecito Lake, we caught this glimpse of this crisp, cool flowing stream of water making its way down Weaselskin Creek. We thought perhaps some of you in the Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas heartlands experiencing the record breaking temperatures earlier this week and thunderstorms this weekend, might enjoying escaping into this cool rocky mountain stream photograph while you browse the web on this "Father's Day" weekend, June 18, 2006.
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Kansas, Indians & 1867 Peace Treaty....

Have you ever wondered what the "Rest of the Story" was concerning the Medicine Lodge Creek Peace Treaty of 1867?

We recently learned about the horrors of the people of Medicine Lodge (Kansas) and how the Indians, especially the Comanche and Cherokee, were treated around the time of the signing of the "Peace Treaty." Most history books never mention this aspect or the indians side of the story. Were the Indians really caged like animals with inadequate food, shelter, and beaten? We also understand, realize that the majority of the history being published is the "white man's" version. We are in search of scholarly indian research that would give us BOTH sides of the story.

Did the Medicine Lodge "leaders" FORCE the signing of the Peace Treaty by the imprisonment of the native americans?

We don't know about you, but we would love to discover, share the "Rest of the Story." We need your help searching for any individual, research concerning the "Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty (1867)" that took place around Medicine Lodge, Kansas around the mid-1860s.

Are there any Native American history scholars or other scholars out there that might be able to provide us resources, research and point us in the right direction so the rest of the story can be told? We believe this is a story that needs to be preserved! We believe quite a few of those descendants live in Oklahoma now? Would you and knowledgeable Indian scholars, historians help us find the "Rest of the Story?" You may leave comments at the end of this feature and/or CONTACT: LK McGill Wagner - EMAIL: mcwagner.lk@gmail.com -- OR -- Rosalea Hostetler - EMAIL: wepreserve@balmerfund.org. Thanks for your help!
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In Memory of Our Father - Gene McGill...

In memory of our father (Gene McGill, deceased since June 16, fathers day, 1986), we found this photo of our father on one of his flying trips. The photo we believe is an old photo taken around the early 1960s at a small airfield somewhere in Colorado. Looking through a magnifying glass at the writing on the right side, we can make out "Field Elev. 7655." The thin gentleman on the left with the crew cut is Gene McGill. We are not sure who the gentleman is on the right. AND... that is not Gene's airplane. Gene may have been flying someone to and from some business, politcal trip in another person's airplane. Also... Those two gas pumps are "Crown" gas pumps. See the crowns on top? If anyone out there can make out anything more in the old photo, we would love to hear from you by email or in the comments below. Thanks for your help.

Happy Fathers Day to ALL Fathers out there!
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The Rest of the Story...

'Vacation & Covered Wagons of 1950's... Your picture of the 1951 Plymouth station wagon with the double windshield reminded me of a cartoon in Motor Trend magazine some time in 1934, one of the first years of the double windshield.

Pink Roses... that beatiful opened picture of the pink rose is astounding & I can smell it through the computer. my mother's side of the famly were the "rose" girls, always planting & having beautiful roses & we also passed down through generations wonderful old tubers of peonies (especially the older fragrant ones, which are hard to get started & established).
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Woods County Prairie Chickens...

"I saw the turkey picture sent in by Jim Bradley in your current issue and I thought, 'How nice of him to share.' Then I realized that I had something to share, too. Back in April I went up into northwestern Woods County with Rose Blunk and Dr. Paul Nighswonger in an early morning run to observe prairie chickens on their booming ground. We were quite successful and I snapped a number of pictures. I don't have the best ones loaded on the computer I'm typing this on, but thought you might like a peek at some anyway. This picture was shot in the vicinity of the "cowboy graves" northwest of Camp Houston.

Also, I'm sending a photo of the Alva downtown square taken probably sometime in the early 1940's. It was enlarged from an Alva Chamber of Commerce membership card that belonged to my wife's father, Noel Taylor. The card was dated 1953, but I'm sure the picture is at least eight years older than that. Take a gander at all of the center-parked cars around the square and even a block west of the square on Barnes and Flynn Streets. Alva's square was a dynamic place then! Still enjoy your e-mag. Keep up the good work." -- JIM
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'53 Reunions & Former AHS Goldbug...

"My daughter and I have enjoyed your website and reading all of it and the links. She's helping me do the computer part for my Class of '53, 53rd reunion which will be in Branson, Missouri in October. Looking for these classmates of '53 for our Alva High Class of '53 reunion, October 3-6, 2006 in Branson, Missouri. We are missing the following members of AHS Class of 53:

Warrick-Fawcett Connection...

"Don't know if this is already common knowledge, but in reading the book Reminiscences of Early Fawcettstown or East Liverpool by William G. Smith, I found that the Warricks of East Liverpool are connected to the family of Thomas Fawcett, who founded the town. In brief: Thomas and Isabella Fawcett, the founders of East Liverpool, had a daughter Abigail, who married Joseph Smith. Their daughter Mary married William Warrick (1802-1873), and their other daughter Hester Ann married Isaac W. Knowles, the son of Rachel Warrick and John Knowles. Also, James Warrick (b. 1800) married an Elizabeth Fawcett--not sure, but she may have been a grand-daughter of the Fawcetts. If anyone can flesh out this connection I would appreciate it." -- Email: tgart25646@cs.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ben Warrick - Old Newspaper Obit (Brother of Sid & Wiley Warrick...

"The Dothan Eagle-12 Feb 1915 (a newspaper in Dothan, Houston Co., AL) -- Ben Warrick Ben Warrick, brother of Sid and Wiley Warrick, of Dothan, died Wednesday at his home in Goldsboro, NC. There is an interesting bit of history connected with the dead man.

In 1883 it is alleged Ben Warrick killed a man named Lee at Brundidge in Pike County, where the Warricks lived. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Shortly after the trial he escaped from the Pike County Jail and left the state and has been living in North Carolina most of the time since. It is said that public opinion was strongly in favor of Warrick and one of the largest petitions for pardon ever gotten up in Pike County, a petition signed by the presiding judge, solicitor and jury was ready for presentation to the governor, but Warrick was not then in the custody of the state, hence a pardon could not be granted.

It is said that there has probably not been a governor of the state who would not have pardoned Warrick if he had only returned to the state and surrendered to the authoriities. They say he would never consent to do that, preferring to remain in North Carolina where he was a prosperous citizen. No effort was ever made by the Alabama authorities to bring him back, it is said, and it is the universal belief that he was justifiable in killing Lee. He was unmarried."
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1937 NSTC Ranger & Forrest Mussen...

"Forrest Mussen (see 1937 Ranger Seniors and gridiron stars) is my husband's uncle. He became a highway patrolman and later went into insurance in Clinton, Oklahoma. One daughter still resides in Clinton. Most of the Mussen boys records were destroyed by fire, so it is a real treat to find this." -- Donna Mussen Email: dmussen@exeter.k12.ca.us
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Pine Valley, Oklahoma Story...

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Pine Valley (Oklahoma) story. We bought 10 acres in Big Cedar about 14 years ago. We have retired here and enjoy every minute of this beautiful valley. I never realized how much history there is in this area. I am looking for information regarding WWII concentration camps in this area. If anyone has information on this subject, please e-mail me. Thanks." -- Deb Winkenwerder - Email: marieciaran@yahoo.com
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Memories of Fathers by K. Updike...

We are in the process of taking down Kenneth Updike's stories and ramblings of "Growing Up In Oklahoma" because Kenneth asked us, "To remove all of my previous writings to you about my Ramblins. Personal stories that I told you and your readers. My Son has had all of my writings, and notes copyrighted so that we can put them in a book or booklet. His idea. I really have no objections to this, but he insists we can be viewed by more people. I leave it up to him. Thanks for your help in the past, and I still read your Okie Legacy nearly every week."

If you find some of Kenneth's Ramblings that I have missed, Please email me the link with Vol. and Iss. numbers so that this NW Okie can remove them. Thanks for your help!
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Oklahoma Gas Prices...

"Our gas prices in Perry, Oklahoma dropped back down on Tuesday to $2.69 at the Sinclair, $2.679 at Philips and Conoco; and at the two main independents it's $2.649 (all of these prices are for regular unleaded gasoline). The other independent with the "super low prices" at $2.559 is selling for cash only, no credit cards or checks. Our weather is hot (breaking records), more like late July and early August instead of June." -- Roy
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Comanche History - Part III...

"While the army was making its own plans to deal with the hostiles by force, the federal government decided to make one final effort to resolve the conflict through treaty. The result was a milestone peace conference held at Medicine Lodge Creek in southern Kansas (October, 1867). In exchange for a wagon train of gifts brought by the commissioners and the payment of annual annuities, the Comanches and Kiowa signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty exchanging Comancheria for a three-million acre reservation in southwestern Oklahoma.

The White Man's History... The arrangement did not work as intended. Because of an outbreak of cholera in their camps, the Kwahada neither attended the conference nor signed. Afterwards, they did not consider themselves bound by the Medicine Lodge treaty and chose to stay on the Staked Plains. Most of the other Comanches moved to the vicinity of Fort Cobb and remained on the reservation for the winter, but since the treaty was not yet ratified, there was no money to pay for rations. After a hungry winter, most of the Comanches and Kiowa left Fort Cobb and returned to the plains during the summer of 1868. Once again raids were made into Texas and Kansas, and the new reservation was used as a sanctuary to prevent pursuit by the army. Even Fort Dodge, Kansas was attacked, and its horse herd stolen. The frustrated Indian agent at Fort Cobb just resigned and went east leaving the Comanche - Part III

See ALSO: The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek
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The Peace Treaty History...

"The Formation of The Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Council Treaty Memorial Association -- In 1926, the newly formed Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Council Treaty Memorial Association invited Kiowa Chief I-See-O to Medicine Lodge to locate the exact spot of the signing of the 1867 Peace Treaty. I-See-O was 18 years old at the time of the Medicine Lodge Peace council. He located the exact spot where the treaties were signed, one-fourth to one-half mile south of Medicine Lodge just below where the Medicine River and Elm Creek intersect. Thus began plans for the first ever Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Treaty Pageant...." -- The Peace Treaty History
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Update: SW Colorado Tomatoes...

The tomatoes have found a bigger, newer home. They have outgrown their pots and have been transplanted from their root-bound pots to a larger above ground planter this week. We found a four-foot diameter tin-horn that stands a couple feet above ground and made us a planter that we wouldn't have to bend down to take care of. Seems to work great! Plus... We gave everything in our garden another feeding of "Miracle Gro." We counted eight tomatoes on this one tomato plant. Everything is adjusting to the new planter in fine shape.
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