Duchess Corner

Unlike Oklahoma... It has been a little dry here in the southwest valley, south of Bayfield, Colorado. If we accurately measure the rain we have gotten this week, it might make it to over 1/10th of an inch -- maybe more.

It was Friday evening (just before dusk) in the valley south of Bayfield, Colorado when we heard a clap of thunder that sounded rather close. It was loud! As I stepped outside to see what was going on, I felt wet, pelting rain drops falling on my head. The clouds were scattered in the blue evening sky, except for over our place south of Bayfield, Colorado. The rain did not last for very long. Hardly enough rain to measure. BUT... I did manage to catch this glimpse of a rainbow off beyond the trees to the southeast. No pot o'gold, though. Just a few pink rosebuds blooming in the foreground.

As to SW Colorado gas prices... I did noticed our gas prices here in Bayfield, Colorado have finally dropped to #3.399 for regular unleaded. We seem to run about 30-cents to 50-cents higher than you all in Oklahoma and Texas. Diesel at the pump here was $2.999.
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Share Bros. of Oklahoma Territory

I was doing some looking back at bits, pieces that I have gathered on the Share Brothers of Oklahoma Territory. Amongst the information, it looks like the Share brothers were native of Michigan and had a mercantile business in Harper, Kansas in what is known as the 'Buckeye building' before moving their mercantile business to Alva, Oklahoma Territory.

Charles C. Share was a native of Michigan, but engaged in the mercantile business at Harper, Kansas, for several years. He moved his stock of goods to Alva in 1901 and consolidated it with that of Sylvester B. Share & Bros' department store. Charles C. Share had been a cashier of that big institution in 1904. He was also in the class of Woods County progressive citizens.

J. D. Share was also a native of Michigan. He located in Wellington, Kansas, 1872, and engaged in the drygoods business until he came to Alva in September, 1895, where he was already had an interest with his brother, Sylvester B. They built the first brick business house in the city. Afterwards adding two more brick rooms, making the buildings combined 75 by 150 feet. They also built the Alva National Bank block of four business rooms, with offices upstairs, and later the post office building. Mr. Share was vice-president of the 'first commercial club,' and was always active in furthering any enterprise for the general benefit of the city. He served one year (1900) as a member of the 'Territorial Board of Education' for 'Normal Schools', and in 1901 was elected a member of the city council and was active in re-organizing Alva as a city of the first class, making its laws, among other things.

Sylvester B. Share was an Alva, Oklahoma pioneer native of Michigan. Sylvester B. Share came to Harper, Kansas, about 1884 and engaged in the mercantile business. Sylvester B. Share came to Alva, Oklahoma Territory in the spring of 1894 and opened a large general merchandise store. Sylvester B. Share was very liberal, enthusiastic in furthering the interests of the city. Like his brother, Sylvester served two terms on the city council, years of 1894-5. In 1909 he was of the firm of S. B. Share and Bros. large department store in Alva, Oklahoma Territory.

It seems as though the Share brothers and their descendants touched many lives in this northwest Oklahoma Territory and across the northern border into Kansas. Today many northwest Oklahomans will remember Charles Morton "Corky" Share as the son of Charles C. Share. "Charles Morton Share Trust has been used to build many businesses, new hospital, library, etc...

As a little girl living on the southwest corner of 7th & Church Street, in a two-story white, frame house, in Alva, Oklahoma, my family (including myself, a.k.a, & Linda Kay McGill) were neighbors of Charles "Corky" Morton Share.

To this impressionable, shy little girl in the 1950's, Charles 'Corky' Morton Share was a single, quiet, heavy set man, whom lived in the white frame house just south of us. Corky Share (Charles Morton Share) died June 13, 1959 and is buried in block A-086-07 of the Alva cemetery with his parents.

I do not remember much about the man and my neighbor as I was a rather shy, introverted, impressionable young thing in my early youth back then and things seemed to easily scare me. All that I remember about "Corky" Share was that he seemed to be a quiet, heavy set man that kept to himself and lived with his widowed mother. I don...t know if that is true or not. BUT... I kept to myself and really did not get to know him like I probably should have as a neighbor.

Corky seemed tall to this short shy neighborhood girl in her early youth. I can only speak for myself, Corky seemed a bit frightening. I don't know if it was the neighborhood kids that started the rumor or not, but we were told that if we went in his back yard all hell would break loose. Now that I have grown older and wiser, I see that the rumor may have been something that the kids in the block started because Corky kept to himself. It is always easier looking back and seeing what you would like to change, isn't it?

I remember the many fruit trees he had in his backyard. There was one year that Charles Morton Share let my baby sister, Amber, pick some fruit from his trees to make him a pie. I guess my baby sister was a bit more outgoing than I was. BUT... I think my mother made the pie for her.

Anyway, when Charles Morton Share died in 1959, he bequeathed a stuffed pelican to my baby sister, Amber. That pelican has long since been donated to the museum at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

As we glance, read through the "Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County" history book, you get a glimpse of the many lives that were entangled with the Share Bros. businesses. BUT... there is no other family history of the Share brothers personal family life.

Who was Alva's benefactors, Charles "Corky" Morton Share? Charles C. Share; J. D. Share; and Sylvester B. Share?

If anyone out there has a more detail history of the liberal, enthusiastic benefactors (Share Bros.) that progressively help build northwest Oklahoma Territory and parts of Kansas to the North, we would love to learn more about these Michigan natives that stopped in Wellington and Harper, Kansas before moving on into northwest Oklahoma Territory. CONTACT: Linda McGill Wagner, PO Box 619, Bayfield, CO 81122 - Email: mcwagner.lk@gmail.com.
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Flying Farmer '57 Article

This 1957 article was written by J. B. Kelsey in 1957 by request of his youngest son, Jack Kelsey, for the monthly Flying Farmers magazine. it was originally passed along to the Waynoka Historical Society. AND... now The OkieLegacy via of J. B. Kelsey's grandson, Barry Kelsey, has received a scanned copy to share with you all. Page #2, Page #3 and Page #4.

"Jack asked me to write an article for this month's newsletter. I asked him what he wanted me to write about and he said, 'everything I want to write about, but would like me to say something about flying.' Well before I start, I would like to say 'hello' to my old flying farmer friends. When I was one of the Oklahoma Flying Farmers Directors -- back in the forties -- but before I say anything about flying, I am going to say something about transportation in my lifetime.

I first came to Oklahoma with my parents when I was two years old -- in the spring of 1894. We came to my father's homestead from Greensburg, Kansas in a covered wagon. We had three small horses, one cow, sod plow, a keg of water and a grub box -- my father and mother and four small kids. I was the third in the family -- two sisters older than myself and sister just a baby. My father was in the run of the opening of the Cherokee Strip -- staked his homestead and filed on it and lived there the remainder of his life. We still own the old homestead and is one farm in Woods county that never had a mortgage on it.

Yes, our transportation was a high wheel wagon with a spring seat and two broom-tailed bronks hooked to it. When the family went anyplace, mother and dad rode on the spring seat and us kids would ride on the floor in the back. We would throw a little hay on the floor and used an old buffalo robe spread over the hay for us kids to sit or lay down on. there were no automobiles or airplanes then. Could not use automobiles if we had them. There were no highways then, just trails across the country. Our transportation was horseback and high wheel lumber wagon. You will wonder how we made a living. Well, we always had plenty to eat. It did not take much money then. Every body planted a garden and a little corn. Broomcorn was our money crop. We did not know nothing about canning those days. The only thing I can remember my mother canning was sand hill plums and grapes. We would dry out corn and make hominy. We had all the meat that we wanted. There was plenty of wild game such as quail, prairie chicken, deer and rabbits. We raised our own beef and pork and had plenty of milk, but about the only way my father could get a little money were to haul cedar posts out of the hills west of the Cimarron River. Three or more homesteaders would go together with a wagon each and camp in the canyons until they got a load of posts out and loaded. It was hard work. The big drudgery was to ford the river with a load of posts, and then after they got home with their posts, they had to haul them up in Kansas and sell them to the farmers and ranchers for 9 to 10 cents each and would haul 100 to 150 posts to a load. If they got $10 or $12 dollars for a load, they were doing good. It would take about that many days to cut the posts and haul them to Kansas and get them sold.

My father did not sell many posts; he had a small business of his own. He had a little broom factory after he got to raising his own broomcorn. He always saved a few bails to make up in brooms in the winter months. There were a little grocery store in Waynoka and he would trade brooms for groceries and clothes. When he got a wagonload made up; he would load them up, put the bowes and wagon sheet over the wagon and start out making the little inland towns between Waynoka and Guthrie. When he got back, he would have some money and plenty of groceries and clothes for us kids. Yes, our transportation was the team and wagon and sure everybody had a saddle pony. If not, they would walk us kids -- walked to the school two miles and did not think nothing of it. My mother did not think nothing about walking one-half to one mile and half to a neighbor to borrow a little flour or something else to run us till father got to town to get supplies. When she walked and followed a path, she always carried a long stick or a garden hose to kill rattle snakes and they were a plenty of them there.

Well, this kind of living went on for years, as times progressed, so did the people. After so many years when us kids got where we could be a little help, my father would break more land and plant more broomcorn and finally he got a new spring wagon that was a light wagon with springs under the bed and had two seats we could all ride in style then. A young man's ambition was to own his own saddle and pony, then after he got a year or two older, he wanted a buggy all his own and when he got it by working for some rancher or farmer for a year or more, he would break his saddle pony to drive single and get him a girl. Pearl, my wife and I, did all our courting with horse and buggy. Then along came the automobile and the airplane. The first automobile I ever owned was a 1913 Model T Ford and of course -- it was the best Model T in the country. Everybody's Model T was the best and fastest. The first airplane I every saw was one that the Wright Brothers made -- it was back in 1909 or 1910. a neighbor boy and I put a tongue in my buggy and made a team out of his and my ponies and drove about 35 or 40 miles to Carmen, Oklahoma. One day to go and one day there and one day to come back home. They had some kind of big blowout, but the big attraction was the airplane that was flown in. He lit out in a pasture north of Carmen and what a crowd. People came in from every place to see this plane fly. Most people would not believe it till they saw it. When he got ready to fly it, he ask some of us boys and men to hang on to it till he got his engine warmed up and his prop enough speed to take off. When he got his engine started -- how our hats did fly. He finally motioned for us to let go and the way he went -- three or four hundred yards down across the pasture and finally set it back on the ground and I said right then, if I ever get a chance to ride in one of those blooming things, I was going to do so.

Well in 1912, Pearl and I was married and I had a lot of things to think about instead of flying, but I never got it out of my system. Every time I would hear of a airplane in the country any place, I would try and be there. The first lady flyer that I ever saw was in Wichita, Kansas. They were having a big wheat show in Wichita and it lasted for several days. I heard that Ruth Law, the great lady flyer -- in fact I think the only woman flyer at that time -- was going to do some flying and sky writing. So, I said to pearl, 'you and I are going to Wichita to the big wheat show.' Of course, what I really was thinking about was to a woman fly an airplane and at night. Well, we went and we went out to the Park where she was going to take off at that time. Wo when it got dark, Miss Law took for the sky after she got some altitude she went to writing her name in the sky RUTH LAW. she done a real good job. that was sure something then when she started to land she got lost and could not find the place to land, so she flew around awhile and finally set it down in the river without injury to her or her plane. Her plane sure was a crude looking thing. She sat out in front and the prop was in the back.

Well, as time went on -- airplanes got more common. More people learned to fly, so finally one day there were a small plane came to Waynoka. Some fellow had learned to fly it. He was out barnstorming trying to make money to pay for it. He set it down in a small pasture east of town and of course every body went out there, even some of the stores closed up to go and see the airplane. He was taking rides and charged $10 per person. Well, he was not doing so good. $10.00 was a lot of money those days and most people was afraid to ride in a airplane. So here was my chance at last. I asked the pilot if he wold let me take my 4-year0old son with me for $10.00 and he said he sure would. My little boy was at home taking his afternoon nap. I call his mother on phone and told her to get him ready he was going to take a airplane ride I knew he would like it because he watched every plane he ever seen just as long as they were in sight. Well, the ride was sure something. Everything I expected and more too. Roscoe, my small boy, liked it just as well as I did and he can tell about his first ride yet just as well as I can.

So, time went on they built better, faster and safer airplanes. One of my neighbor's boys went to Wichita to learn to be an automobile mechanic and while he was there, he learned to fly an airplane and he traded his car and some money for an old Jennie open cockpit and water cooled. When he would come home, he would land in his father's pasture. All I had to do to get a ride was to furnish the gas and him and I sure would have a lot of fun flying. I sure like it, buy my wife thought I was spending too much time flying with Ira Fox. He finally got rid of his plane and it sure did please Pearl.

Well finally the big thing happened! Charles Lindburgh flew in and made location for a big TAT Airport -- one large enough to land the big thru motored passenger planes on. The location was just across the road from my home place. What a time! My brother and my wife's brother owned the land -- 320 acres and they sold it for double what they gave for it. Things sure did pick up around Waynoka. They built three blacktop runways and a big hanger 150' x 205' -- office building, water system, boundary lights clear around the field and about every contraption that could be used around an airport. Finally, they got it completed. This was back in 1929 and the big planes started to come in from the East. This before they done much night flying. The passengers would come in from the West on the Santa Fe train. They had an airplane depot at Waynoka and big busses to haul the passengers from the train to the Airport ad from the Airport to town to take the train. They would travel at night by train and day by plane. Roscoe and Roland, my two oldest boys spent most of their time when they was not busy at the airport and watching the big planes take off and come in. They run three out in the morning and three in the evening.

This went on for a year or two, then they got to flying at night instead of the planes stopping at Clovis, New Mexico, they just came on through and would pass Waynoka up. Stopped at Wichita to take passengers on and off. Waynoka Airport was a dead duck, just used it for an emergency landing field. Finally, they sold the land and moved the big hangar and other buildings off. By this time, Jack and my two oldest boys, Roscoe and Roland, were like their Dad -- quite air minded. Roscoe and Jack went to Woodward and learned to fly. They never told their mother anything about it until they had soloed. So, one day here they came flying over our house each of them in a J-3 Cub, so I knew I had to do something about a strip for them to land on. I knew I had a good place down in the pasture just across the road where the old airport was, so I went to work and made a strip for them to land on.

Well, Jack went tot he Army and was gone for over two years, but Roscoe and Roland went ahead with our little airport. We made three runways and built a hangar. Gene McGill had a small plane and did a lot of flying, so we got an Instructor and started a school and about every kid in the country wanted to learn to fly. We had about all one instructor wanted to do. Some of them got their own planes, but not many of them could afford one. We finally got a little Aeronca Champion and how we did use it. It was in the air most all of the time when the weather would permit. Jack finally got back from the Army and he took over. Him and I bought us an Aeronca Champion and how we did use it for about every thing that you can use a plane for. I don't think there was hardly a town in a radius of 100 miles that I did not know it from the air.

I was a member of Oklahoma Flying Farmers and attended all of the meetings. I was elected to the Board o Directors and when the question came up how long a member was to serve on the board, they were writing up a new set of by-laws. I suggested that we should stagger the Directors and elect one each year. We had directors then, so we decided to do that. so We put 5 numbers in a hat and, of course, I had to draw the -year term. Well, I served 4 years and resigned my last year, then was when Jack got into the game. he was put on the Board. I think he served three or four years, then was elected President in 1956 and was elected back in 1957. He is still serving as you all know. I was very proud of him and I think he made a good president. I understand his time will be up when you have your next State Convention this year. I think two years is long enough for anyone to serve as State President.

The old Transcontinental Air Transportation Airline that colonel Charles Lindburgh routed and mapped was taken over by the T.W.A. and today the TWA Airlines is one of the largest in the world. When they were stopping at Waynoka, we got to see a good many noted people and a lot of movie stars. Meeting charles Lindburgh and his wife, Ann, and visits with them at the airport. Also, I talked to Will Rogers. He came in several times and always liked to ask questions.

I think I have already wrote too much for an article in the newsletter and I am guessing that Jack will never ask me to write something again. They say in two or 4 years, we will have Space Ships that will be taking us to the moon. Maybe we will have our National Convention on the moon sometime -- who knows. -- written by J. B. Kelsey in 1957"
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Okie Legacy Centennial Moment

The Alva Pioneer, Alva, O.T., Woods County, dated Friday, July 26, 1907 - The headlines read: Constitution Was Filed - Secretary Filson Has Rreceived A Certified Copy - President Murray Also Addressed A Letter To Governor Frantz Concerning the Matter.

Guthrie, OK, July 23, 1907 -- In accordance with the instructions of the constitutional convention, the proposed constitution for the state of Oklahoma, as amended by the convention at its session last week, was formally filed with Charles H. Filson last evening at 3:50 o'clock by William H. Murray, president of the convention. It was accompanied by a certified copy of the election ordinance, the explanation being made by President Murray that the engrossing of the original of that ordinance had not yet been completed. The resolution adopting the constitution of the United States, the ordinance accepting the terms and conditions of the enabling act, and the article of statewide prohibition separately submitted to a vote of the people were also filed with ithe constitution and election ordinance.

The filing was accompanied with very little formality and was the occasion of much good natured bantering. In calling up Secretary Filson to make an appointment for the filing of the constitution Murray referred to it as the "sight unseen consitution," and in presenting it to the secretary he stated that it was the instrument with which, by the grace of President Roosevelt, the democrats expected to redeem Oklahoma from the clutches of the "piewumps."

President Murray also addressed a letter to Governor Frantz, in which, after informing him of the constituion and ordinances, he says:

"From said ordinance you will as certain that you are given preference in the right to issue proclamation and also the same to be duly published as provided therein before the 26th day of July, 1907, or within ten days after the adoption of said ordinance. I beg to request that you issue said proclamation in due time, and that you conduct and hold said election agreeable to said ordinance and the laws governing election in force in the territory of Oklahoma, as provided in said ordinance."
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The Hoya Blooms

A few years ago a Alva Friend, Lee Chelf, gave me a cutting off of her Hoya plant. Can't remember the exact year she gave it to me, but maybe it was about seven years ago. I believe Lee & Gene Chelf have since moved to Woodward, Oklahoma. I wish I had her mailing address so I could send her a photo of the Hoya cutting she gave me.

I have that Hoya plant setting near the East, South window and have been watching it climb and tangle around a lattice stake that I placed in it's clay pot. It finally showed me it's waxy, star blooms this week. This photo on the left shows the pre-bloom stage on the left -- the full bloom stage on the right of the photo.

They say the Hoya Plant is one of the easiest plants to grow. This is one of those plants that you water sparingly -- allow the soil to dry completely between waterings and then only apply enough water to wet the upper inch or so. The wax plant or shooting star is a vine that loves to be ignored. They do very well in hanging baskets both indoors and out. The plant has gorgeous blooms that are called umbels. This is a bonus to the already beautiful plant. Each plant has it's own personality. Hoya Plants have a wide variety of leaf shape and color. The older the plant the more magnificent the blooms.
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1904 Pioneer Articles

Some articles transcribed from The Alva Pioneer 1903 Souvenir Edition, dated January 1, 1904 and published by W. F. Hatfield, in Alva, Oklahoma Territory, Woods County (M) can be viewed over at our OkieLegacy - Pioneer 1904 webpages. -- NW Okie
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OkieLegacy Guestbook

Descendants -- "My husband was a descendant of Hugh Martin shown on this web site. His name was also Hugh Martin." -- Ardelle Martin - Email: amartin2@bresnan.net

Vernon Case (married Clara Hurt) -- "Hello! Great website! I think one of my relatives married into the Hurt family - Vernon Case, son of Oscar, married Clara Hurt. Oscar was the son of James and Nancy McKinnis Case. Oscar age 3 was living with his parents/family in 1870 Jackson Co., OH." -- Nancy

WWII German POW's -- "I think it's awesome that you created this great source. My grandmother used to tell me stories of the German POW's on her farm during the war. I now attend the ceremony for those that died in Yukon every year. Thanks again!" -- Lindsay - Email: crimclove17@yahoo.com

Guinn Family Tree -- "Hello, I was very lucky to inherit pictures and records going back prior to the Civil War. In fact, going back to 1826. However, my D.A.R. records switch from John Guinn to, his wife, Rachael Shield's ancestors in 1826. I would love to see if my family is descended from Owain Wynn. If anyone has any info they would like to share, it would be wonderful to hear from you. Great website." -- Charlsa Guinn - Email: Charlsaguinn@hotmail.com

193rd Tank Bn. -- "HI! Correct email for Bill Wood re the photo of 193rd Tank Bn. is wildwillies@suddenlink.net Thanks!" -- Bill Wood - Email: wildwillies@suddenlink.net

Slapout, OK -- "My mother was born just out side of Slapout Oklahoma, in Beaver county in 1909, she was born in sod house or dugout.... she moved to Cushing in 1912 when she was 3, by covered wagon.... do you know any Skinners???" -- Charles Swanson - Email: cswanson6@cox.net

Family Ties -- "My grandmother was raised near Avard from 1905-1921. She married and moved with her husband who worked for the Frisco. She received her teaching degree from the Avard school and went on to have eight children. She passed on her love of reading to me and I have passed all her life lessons on to my kids. She died 1979 at the age of 74 and never a more loving lady lived. (Gladys Maire Brown-Sims)." -- Mary Sabin - Email: bfhok1@suddenlink.net
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Flying Farmers '57 Article

"My Uncle Jack Kelsey found this in his barn. It was written in 1957 by my Grand Father. My Uncle Jack had ask him to write something for the monthly flying farmers magazine. Since Gene McGill was mentioned and the old Kelsey air field etc. I think it may interest you. It's fun to know that my family were pioneers." - Page #2, Page #3 and Page #4. -- Barry Kelsey




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Packsaddle, OK

"My brother and I were out and about last weekend during our Family Reunion. He drove by a place that he seems to think that was a community called Packsaddle. When we got back to his place and I looked it up on the computer but could find no mention of a community by that name.

As I understood it, we were South of Hardtner and headed for Alva. South of the highway, there was a little valley and Gary, my brother, said that he thought there was at one time a community here. Then he had talked to some other prople and they too, had a feeling that there was a small town there also. He is the one that told me about the name "Packsaddle." I thought I'd ask you as you are the expert on Woods County. Thanks." -- Dean Gerber - Email: sandhill_13@yahoo.com
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Black Mesa Region - Oklahoma

"In 1969, I made a trip to the extreme western region of Oklahoma, Black Mesa region. There was a stone monument about 5 feet high at the corner of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. A man who lived near there took me about a few miles and showed some dinosaur tracks in stone of a creek bed. Black Mesa was formed when lava ran down a creek bed from Colorado and this made a cap rock as the region was eroded. It is the highest spot in Oklahoma." -- Graham Kendall - Email: grahamkendall@yahoo.com
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POW Camps

"We are doing some research on American POW camps and would love to know if you have other sites that others have sent. My son is a retired army officer and has thought about writing on them so that others can find out where they were and who was involved. If you'd care to share info we'd be very interested. Thanks." -- Kay Osorio - Email: kaydeej2006@yahoo.com
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AAA's Fuel Gauge Report

How accurate is this to where you live?

fuel gauge report -- Data provided by Oil Price Information Service. Media are encouraged to localize fuel price stories by contacting their local AAA club media representative. Current State Averages: Click on state for detailed information *Prices Are In US Dollars Per Gallon.
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AHS Class of '57 Reunion

"If anyone from the Alva High Class of 1957 is reading this, we're having a reunion here in Alva on September 21-22. Most of you have received information, but we've lost track of the following people: Anita Costillo, Ramona Costillo, Allen Curry, Joe Moore, Gerald Pritchard, John LaFon, Delano Smith, Dick Yakel and Sharon Neufeld.

If anyone out there knows how to contact one or more of these people, please contact me at my e-mail address: (jpbarker@itlnet.net), or give me a call: 580-327-1943. Thanks!" -- Jim Barker
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Flag Day in the USA

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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'56 Tragic Death of Mildred Anne Reynolds

"Very tragic death of Mildred Reynolds. Speculation is of course a little false as decisive information may be known to law enforcement but not the public. Although, certainly appearing suspicious, definite proof of murder, which one would expect to find, is missing, and proclaimed evidence - blows to her head and shoulders, "criminal" (or attempted) assault, tire tracks of another vehicle forcing her off the road - remain unproven under further examination. Her actions strike me as more consistent with a freak accident than being forced off the road or threatened with a firearm.

Mildred Reynolds could have been taken ill, attempted to turn back to Alva, making a 3-point turn far too fast - if she fainted, her foot, a dead weight on the accelerator. She could have taken out her bag, bleeding a little from striking her face against the windscreen or steering wheel, lost a shoe, then returned to the car as brake fluid exploded. Have there been further developments in the following half century?" -- Rhys Pidgeon - Email: rhysandjan@ozemail.com.au

[Editor's Note: Read more about the "Old Avard Road unsolved Mystery" over at OkieLegacy - Mysteries]
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Greetings From Jet, Oklahoma

"Carolyn and I are now residents of Jet, with her appointment to the Jet and the Prairie Valley United Methodist Churches. Our first Sunday was June 10th; we moved into the parsonage on the 8th. I'm still working at Northwestern OK State University in Alva (but am in Enid one day each week), so I'm driving slightly further and from the opposite direction from Freedom (no more driving into the rising sun early of a morning!).

Here's a Link to a Rainbow I saw develop as I was on the way to Alva Thursday morning and nearing Cherokee (stopped along highway 64 south of Cherokee to take this photo). We've had rain nearly every day this week, it seems. It's hard to imagine that only a few months ago, we were wondering if it would ever rain again in northwest Oklahoma! Now some of the folks are wondering if it will ever stop!

There seems to be an interest in sharing gasoline prices on your Okie Legacy ezine, so thought I'd share with you that Carolyn filled up at the local Co-op station for $2.839 this morning (Friday)." -- Rod Murrow
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Pinkerton Springs, Animas Valley & Animas City, Colorado

"Just for the record; Judge James Harvey Pinkerton isn't related to the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Thanks for a great forum and very interesting website. Judge James Pinkerton oldest daughter was Nancy Minerva born in 1854. She was the oldest of 5 daughters and 3 sons of the Judge. Nellie (Mary Ellen)was born in 1858. Belle (Susan Isabella) born in 1867 was 2nd youngest and my Grandmother, Margaret Louisa,born in 1869, was the youngest of the tribe. I have the other's details but what you have here kind of "sweeps the floor". I have more info if you'd like as this is my family on my Dad's side. " -- Jim Leiper- email: shirley4446@yahoo.com Pinkerton Springs, Animas Valley & Animas City, Colorado
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Old Obits

"I was looking through the obits compiled by Evelyn B. Stout put together in a book 1930-1936 looking for names of old funeral homes and those years the obits were so informative and told exactly how a person died and all the circumstances. There is also lots of history in the write-ups. Found the names of some funeral homes. Not all obits listed a funeral home.

I found a Alba Rose McGill daughter of Thomas David & Ida McGill." -- Marty
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Gas Prices In Heartland

Oklahoma Gas & Weather... "June 9, 2007 -- Conoco-Phillips has posted the price of regular unleaded at $2.81.9 today. I'm still looking for that 35 cent gas like I sold about 30 years ago. And unleaded (white gas) sold for about the same as kerosene at less than 25 cents a gallon.

Wow! Just heard thunder and stepped outside to see stars in the eastern sky but moisture hitting me in the face, and now it's raining. It's been dry all week here and I've been mowing again. Not quite finished yet." -- Roy

Arkansas City Gas Prices... "Gas in Arkansas City was $2.98 on Friday, but found it at $2.97 just south of Ark City at the gas station Casino in Oklahoma." -- Christy - Email: ccoulton@cox.net
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ROBERTS, Donald Kent Dies May 16, 2007

"Maxine taught third grade, not first, and that was at Horace Mann. I still remember her stern grey eyes, both those on the front of her head and those on the back. First was taught there at that time by Miss Mattie Lydie. The tattered remnants of my once formidable memory tell me that Byron was called "Starbuck," but probably not by his wife. Sorry to hear about Don." - Roberts, Donald Kent Dies - Joe Melton - Email: kickstartjoe@earthlink.net
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Watson Legacy of NW Oklahoma Territory

"Looking for information about my Great-Great-Grandmother that taught public school at the turn of the century close to the Kansas line. I notice by looking at the Oklahoma, Woods County 1906 plat map that there is an old school house on Isaac T. Race's land south of the Watson farm near the Kansas line, north of Alva. This is only a short distance from the farm. This is also, near Winchester Township.

My Grandmother's name was Eva J. Watson, born 1868. Her husbands name was William Perry Watson, born 1868. She had two boys that were of school age and would have attended school. Their names were Jake Watson, born 1888, and Chauncey Watson, born 1890. Their farm was close to Winchester Township. Their daughter, Phyllis was born in Alva in 1902. I believe Grandma also taught in Hardtner, Kansas and in Wichita, Kansas. Any help would be much appreciated." -- Richard D'Eon, Denver, CO - Email: richarddeon@msn.com
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May 1907 - Judge Pancoast Sustained Injunction

In The Alva Pioneer, dated Friday, May 17, 1907, Alva, O. T., Woods (M) County, the northwest Oklahoma Territory citizens were reading about, "Judge Pancoast Sustained Injunction - Is Against the Calling of Election In Major and Alfalfa Counties."

Friday's Daily -- In the District court of Woods County, Oklahoma Territory, G. E. Autry, Plaintiff vs. Frank Frantz, W. H. Murray, John M. Young, C. H. Chowning, C. M. Delsell, M. R. Manafield, Charles Bowman, J. C. Major, I. J. Corwin and Charles B. Powell, Defendants.

"This is an action in equity, commenced in this court, the object and prayer of which is to enjoin the defendants, Frank Frantz, W. H. Murray, and John M. Young from issuing or publishing any proclamation in which proclamation it is proposed to submit to the electors of the proposed state of Oklahoma, either as a part of the proposed constitution or as a separate ordinance, any clause or provision dividing or purporting to divide Woods County, or changing or in any way interfering with any township or precinct therein, and to enjoin and restrain the said C. I. Overstreet, C. H. Chowning, C. M. Delzell, M. R. Mansfield, Charles Bowman, J. C. Major, I. J. Corwin and Charles B. Powell from in any wise interferring with or usurping or attempting to usurp any of the duties of the county commissioners or county clerk, or any or either of them, of the county of Woods in or about the said proposed election or any of the preparations therefor, or in any part of the territory of the county of Woods, as now described and existing, and from in any wise acting or attempting to act in any capacity or to any extent in any election to be held in the said pretended counties of Alfalfa and Major or either of them.

"The defendants filed a demurer to the petition, questioning the jurisdiction of the court, and also filed a motion to dissolve the temporary injunction issued by Probate Judge Wilson.

"Judge Pencoast (sic) very pertinently and forcibly pointed out his authority for hearing and acting in the case, and 'the plaintiff claiming that the division of Woods county by the constitutional convention and the appointment of these officers (In Alfalfa and Major) and prescribing their duties is an unwarranted and illegal assumption of power not granted by the enbabling act, either by express provision or by implication; that the division of Woods county, the appointment of the officers and the holding of an election in the manner provided, are each unauthorized.'"

"It is true that the case is one of public interest, as well as individual interest, but the fact that the case is one of public interest does not deprive the individual of his rights to a remedy for wrongs committed."

"Practically all the questions submitted turn and hinge more or less upon the construction contended for by the parties of the powers of the convention."

"It is contended by the plaintiff that the power and authority of the constitutional convention is derived solely from the powers granted in the enabling act and that every power granted to the convention must be found and expressed therein; that the power granted by the enabling act embraces no legislative grant, but confers only the power of a committee to adopt and propose fundamental propositions which, upon ratification, may become the fundamental law of the state."

"The powers conferred by the enabling act are to be liberally construed with a view of giving full expression to the intention of congress. At the same time the powers of the convention must be controlled by the act bringing it into existence and by the intent of congress as expressed therein. The powers granted are delegated powers. The convention possesses no inherent powers, nor any sovereignty of the people. In the congress of the United States is vested the supreme legislatuve power over territories, and the power to admit new states carries with it the power to provide for their admission and the power to restrict a constitutional convention in its acts."

"To give the enabling act the construction contended for by the defendants would be in effect to say that congress, without any express grant, but by mere inference, delegated to the convention an unlimited and hidden power -- divested itself of its right and interest and duty to the people of this territory, and conferred upon a body of mere agents a blank warrant of absolute power to dictate and determine upon many, if not all, of the most cherished interests of the people. It matters not that it may be said that the convention has not seen fit to exercise the full extent of its power in this regard, yet if the power exists, it may have done so."

"To admit the argument that because nothing is said upon a given subject in the enabling act, that on that subject unlimited power is conferred, then all power has passed both from congress and from the people of the territory."

The entire decision would cover a page of the Pioneer, and at this time we cannot give it in full, but we have quoted many of the essential points and the instrument all the way through is concise, comprehensive, reasonable, and sound from both legal and equitble standpoints; and we believe Judge Pancoast has promulgated a decision that will easily stand the test of the higher courts.

It is to be regretted that the leaders in the constitutional convention did not listen to reason in their actions, and that all the delegates did not look up some law themselves and fight against the grievous errors that are now causing trouble.
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July, 1907 - New Engine for 1908

The Alva Pioneer, Alva, O.T., Woods County, dated Friday, July 26, 1907 - The headlines read: New Engine for 1908 - No Fire, No Steam, No Coal, No Tender - It Will Speed From New York to Pacific Coast Without a Stop

A locomotive without water, fire or smoke, unnencumbered by the five trips coal and 7,000 gallons of water usually carried by the steam engine drawing no tender, but provided instead with an engine for generating electricity; speeding from New York to San Francisco without stop or delay, at the average rate of 100 miles an hour, is a dream of modern traction. It is now being constructed for the Southern Pacific railroad and is soon to be put to the practical test of a long trial run.

It is generally believed by railroad managers that the limit has been reached in steam locomotive construction. One exiom in this line has been a "pound of weight to carry a pound of weight." Locomotives have gained 100,000 pounds in wieght in the last five years, and tender capacity has been increased accordingly. Of the fuel used by the steam locomotives, 96 per cent of the energy produced passes up the snokestack, 4 percent goes to the boilers, and 2-1/2 per cent only to the drive wheels.

A prominent mechanical engineer in discussing steam locomotives today said: "Driving wheels can be made just so large and no larger. Connecting rods can be made just so large and no larger. If the driving wheels are giant affairs it means a tremendous weight to the machine that must come on the tracks in a comparatively short space."

"There is one way to spread the weight and that is to have longer connecting rods. But here a difficulty is encountered. Tractive power necessary for high speed or great draught cannot be obtained if the rods are much over 12-1/2 feet. This fact has put steam locomotive builders between the devil of big wheels and the deep sea of the short connecting rod. If the steam locomotive could be made compact, greater power could be obtained, but, on the other hand, the weight would be so concentrated that there is not a curve in the roadbed or a bridge on the line that coulde stand the strain."
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