This weekend finds NW Okie settlin' in her newly acquired antique wooden rocking chair with her MacBookPro laptop next to her as she begins to put together this weekends issue of The OkieLegacy.

We are also settled in front of the NCAA sports channels on DirecTV waiting for the Oklahoma Bedlam between OU and OSU to begin. My allegiance may be a bit split, because my father, Gene McGill, was an OU Sooner graduate of 1937 with a pharmacy degree. My oldest son, Michael, is an OSU alumni graduate.

Moving away from football, though, did you all get your fill of turkey, dressing, cranberries, baked ham, greenbeans, chicken & noodles, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cherry pie and all those family Thanksgiving delicacies?

We gathered at our adobe for our Thanksgiving feast. Friday, our youngest son, Robert, caught this two-point buck settled at the edge of the trees and at the edge of the mountains. The buck was just seated/laying in the shade of the tree, chewing his cud ... or whatever. Robert used this telescope that they use to gaze at the stars, planets to focus in on the 2-point buck. Then he took my digital camera and placed over the eyepiece to catch the buck in this photo on the left. Great shot, Robert!

It didn't snow on Thursday, Thanksgiving day, but after midnight it began snowing here in southwest Colorado and dropped 4 to 5 inches of wet snow by the early morning hours of Friday, November 17, 2007.

This snow picture was taken Friday morning, November 17, 2007, around &:30 a.m., looking towards the southwest from the hill at our adobe in southwest Colorado, East of Ignacio, Colorado. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Crowell Bros Lumber of Oklahoma Territory

In The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma history book, page 168, there is a picture scene of early day elevators in 1904, showing Crowell Brothers and Harbaugh, Alva Mill Companies. We also did a search on Google's Book search and found a 1916 standard history book entitled, A Standard History of Oklahoma, by Joseph B. Thoburn, that had some history of the Crowell family from North Carolina, Kansas and Oklahoma Territory.

In this 1916 standard history book of Oklahoma by Joseph B. Thoburn, published 1916, on page 1509-1510, second paragraph, second column, it mentions the following concerning, George W. Crowell.

"Among those men of dynamic force and fine constructive powers who have been foremost in the furtherance of the civic and industrial development and progress of Woods County, Oklahoma, a place of exceptional prominence and distinction must be accorded to the sterling citizen and representative man of affairs whose name initiates this paragraph. Mr. Crowell is vice president of the First National Bank of Alva, the county seat of Woods County, was the founder of the firm of Crowell Brothers, engaged in dealing in lumber and grain; and his extraneous capitalistic interests are likewise of broad scope and importance, as shown by his being president of the Panhandle Grain Company of Amarillo, Texas, and president and treasurer of the Centennial Coal company of Denver, Colorado.

"A scion of staunch southern ancestry, George Washington Crowell was born in Stanly County, North Carolina, on 2 February 1861, his advent into the world having thus occurred about the time when the Civil war was precipitated, -- a conflict that was destined to bring his native state into prominence as a stage of military activities and ultimately to bear to it much of desolation and material loss. He is a son of James and Catherine (Russell) Crowell, both likewise natives of North Carolina and members of old and honored families of that commonwealth.

"James Crowell was born in Stanly County, on 29 April 1827, and in the same county were born and reared his parents, who there passed their entire lives. James Crowell was a prosperous agriculturist in his native county at the outbreak of the Civil war and he promptly subordinated all personal interests to tender his aid in defense of the Confederate cause. He enlisted as a private in a North Carolina regiment and with the same gave faithful an valiant service in the commands of Gen. Stonewall Jackson and the distinguished Gen. Robert E. Lee. He took part in many important engagements, including the battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg, and in after years perpetuated the memories of his military career through his affiliation with the United Confederate Veterans, though he left the south within a short period after the close of the war.

"In 1849 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Catherine Russell, who was born September 9, 1829, and whose parents likewise were natives of North Carolina. James Crowell devoted his entire active career to agricultural pursuits and the closing years of his life were passed at Pittsburg, Kansas, where he died on 25f January 1906, and his devoted wife was summoned to eternal rest on 17 March 1904.

James & Catherine Crowell, parents of five sons & six daughters:
"Margaret was born September 9, 1851; James Robert was born July 27, 1853, and died July 22, 1884; Josephine was born February 25, 1854, and her death occurred March 9, 1914; Estella was born February 7, 1858; David Henry Baxter was born December 10, 1856, and is now associated with his brother, George W., in the lumber and grain business under the firm name of Crowell Brothers, his place of residence being Attica, Harper County, Kansas; Franklin, who was born May 18, 1859, is a physician by profession; George W., of this review, was the next in order of birth; and the names and respective dates of birth of the other children are as here noted -- Thomas jefferson, May 20, 1863; Samantha, January 27, 1866; Sarah Catherine, June 14, 1868; and Mary, April 27, 1871.

"The birthplace of George W. Crowell was the old homestead farm or plantation of his father in Stanly County, North Carolina, and he was about eight years of age at the time of the family removal to McLean County, Illinois, in 1868. There his father became a substantial farmer and there he himself was reared to adult age. He continued to attend the public schools of McLean County until he was eighteen years old, in the meanwhile having contributed his quota to the work and management of the home farm. In 1879, at the age noted above, he removed to Crawford County, Kansas, and later he rounded out his educational discipline by completing a course in the Kansas State Normal School at Fort Scott, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1884. In the same year he entered the employ of the Long-Bell Lumber Company, with the definite purpose of learning the lumber business in all of its details.

"Within the same year he was promoted to the management of one of the yards of this company, and in 1886 he engaged in the lumber business in an independent way, by purchasing the yard and business of the company at Attica, Kansas, where he effected the organization of the present firm of Crowell Brothers, in which his associate is his elder brother, David H. B. Crowell. The firm now maintains a series of well equipped lumber yards, at different points in Kansas and Oklahoma and the business has expanded to large and substantial proportions under the careful, progressive and honorable management of the enterprising proprietors.

"In 1893 George W. Crowell became one of the large concourse of prospective settlers who participated in the run into the famous Cherokee Strip, or Outlet, of Oklahoma, at the time it was thrown open to settlement. He established his residence at Alva, the present thriving little metropolis and judicial center of Woods County, and the governor of Oklahoma Territory appointed him chairman of the first board of county commissioners of the new county. Mr. Crowell thus played an important part in formulating the system of government for the county and also was influential in the progressive movements made by the board for the furtherance of the best interests of the ambitious county and its people. Mr. Crowell has otherwise given effective service in behalf of the public, and especially through his several years incumbency of the office of member of the city council of Alva. He is unswerving in his allegiance to the Democratic party and has been an active worker in its ranks during the years of his residence in Oklahoma, as he has served as chairman of its county committee in Woods county and also as a member of the Democratic committee for the congressional district of which Woods County is a part.

"In 1896 Mr. George W. Crowell represented Oklahoma as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, in Chicago, and in all things he is to be designated as a loyal, progressive and public spirited citizen as well as a straightforward, alert and substantial business man. In the time honored Masonic fraternity he has received the chivalric degrees and besides being actively affiliated with the various York Rite bodies, including the commandery of Knights Templars, he is identified also with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

George W. & Etta C (Friend) Crowell Family:
"At Girard, Kansas, on the 16th of September, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. George W. Crowell to Miss Etta C. Friend, who was born on a farm in Macoupin County, Illinois, on 7 April 1862, and who was a daughter of Daniel M. and Charlotte (Lewis) Friend. Mrs. Crowell, a woman of gentle and gracious personality and a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was summoned to the life eternal on 9 June 1911, and she is survived by six children, concerning whom specific mention is made in the following paragraph.

* Frank Dee, who was born at Attica, Kansas, on the 24 December 1886, completed his education in the Northwestern State Normal School at Alva, Oklahoma, and he still retains his residence in Woods County. He has received the thirty-third degree in the Masonic fraternity, besides being affiliated with the Mystic Shrine. On the 4f October 1911, at Alva, he wedded Miss Ethel Noble, who was born at Medicine Lodge, Kansas, November 21, 1887, and they have one child, Robert Dee, Jr., who was born March 30, 1914.

* Ralph Baxter Crowell, the second son, was born at Attica, Kansas, on the 15 July 1888, and his educational advantages included those of both the University of Kansas and Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, Tennessee. August 27, 1912, he married Miss Isis Stone, who was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, on 15 December 1893.

* Hazel May, who was born at Attica, Kansas, December 14, 1889, remained at the parental home, both having taken courses of study in the Northwestern State Normal School at Alva, Oklahoma.

* James Monroe and George Washington, Jr., are both natives of Alva, where the former was born July 10, 1900, and the latter October 2, 1903.

On the 1 October 1913, Mr. Crowell contracted a second marriage, by his union with Mae Wilcox, who was born at Neosho, Missouri, on 6 April 1884, and who is the popular chatelaine of their pleasant and hospitable home in Alva." -- Google Books Search - A Standard History of Oklahoma
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Fairview, OK - BIG 300-Pound Birthday Cake

How did Fairview, Oklahoma's BIG 300-pound birthday cake turn out last Saturday evening? If anyone out there from around the Fairview area has picture of that BIG cake, send it along this way to share with everyone. Thanks!

The Fairview, Oklahoma community got together and built the State's largest birthday cake Saturday evening, November 17, 2007, to celebration Oklahoma's 100th birthday.

The community groups and individuals were busy baking 350 9x13 cakes to help in the festivities. At 3 p.m. last Saturday, cakes were delivered to a blocked-off main street to begin the task of assembling the multi-tiered cake.

Fairview wanted to do something special to celebrate the centennial that would involve many of the community's citizens. AND... everyone loves birthday cakes. So... they decided to build a large cake to mark this special day to celebrate Oklahoma's 100th birthday.

The 300-pound cake will be constructed on a large wooden frame for the multi-tiers. Plans were to have the cake built, iced prior to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 17, 2007. How did this 300-pound cake turn out?

The 4th graders from Fairview's Cornelsen elementary school performed the historical marriage ceremony of Oklahoma and Indian territory.
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44 Years Ago - November 22, 1963

Do You Remember... What, Where you were November 22, 1963?

The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, took place on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, USA at 12:30 p.m. CST (18:30 UTC). John F. Kennedy was fatally wounded by gunshots while riding with his wife Jacqueline in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza. -- John F. Kennedy Assassination
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Google Books Search

About Google Book Search - Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at Google Books Search
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Crowell Brothers

"I would like to find out if there was a pre-statehood lumber company or carpenters named the Crowell Brothers in Alva, Oklahoma Territory. Any leads would be greatly appreciated." -- Edward Lyon - EMAIL: goldbug66@gmail.com
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Oklahoma's Original State Song

Have you ever heard of Oklahoma's "original" state song, "Oklahoma, A Toast," written by Harriet Parker of Kingfisher, Oklahoma? As I said, that famous song like many other famous songs originated in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. The original Oklahoma State song, "Oklahoma, A Toast", was written by Harriet Parker Camden (the daughter of Rev. J.H. Parker). Here are the Lyrics of her former state song are as follows:

OKLAHOMA, A TOAST
I give you a land of sun and flow'rs,
And summer a whole year long;
I give you a land where the golden hours
Roll by to the mocking bird's song;
Where the cotton blooms 'neath the southern sun,
Where the vintage hangs thick on the vine;
A land whose story has just begin,
This wonderful land of mine.
CHORUS
Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Fairest daughter of the West,
Oklahoma, Oklahoma, 'Tis the land I love the best.
We have often sung her praises, but we have not told the half,
So I give you "Ok-la-ho-ma," 'Tis a toast we all can quaff.
A land where the fields of golden grain,
Like waves on a sunlit sea,
Bend low to the breezes that sweep the plain
With a welcome to you and me;
Where the corn grows high 'neath the smiling sky,
Where the quail whistles low in the grass;
And the fruit trees greet with a burden sweet,
And perfume the winds that pass.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~okgenweb/fact-oklahoma.htm http://www.pldi.net/~harpers/kingfish.htm [10-2001] (Oklahoma, A Toast)
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DoubleO Sims Grocery

"When I was a small child, my dad worked at a Humpty Dumpty grocery store in Oklahoma City, and I was told later that I always referred to the store''s name as Humpety Dumpety (hump-eh-tee dump-eh-tee). Dad''s twin brother worked at a competing store at the time and his boss had noticed that folks would carry small wicker baskets through the aisles to ''gather'' their groceries and he (Sylvan Goldman) created a cart on wheels with larger baskets installed in order to sell more groceries in his store. Thus, the shopping cart was invented and then he also started a company which made shopping carts for other stores. I have a card given to my parents (by the Sylvan Goldman family) when I was born congratulating them on my birth and enclosing a $5 bill for my bank. This was the same as 5 days (10 hours per day) wages for my dad!" -- Coubled Sims Gorcery Comment - Roy Kendrick- EMAIL: roykendrick@oklahomahistory.net
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2S Hotel At Waynoka

"All I really know about this hotel is what my cousin "Eldon Clemence" told me this summer as he and I were talking about my Great Grandfather William H. Yardley. He was a founding father of Waynoka and had lots of different businesses in Waynoka. I believe Eldon said that this hotel was on the corner of Missouri and Waynoka St's. It would have been (I believe) where Eldon's dad, Clyde Clemence had a filling station for years. I know someone has made a monument of sorts in the shape of Chimney Rock on that corner. They built bldg's beside the hotel that was a lunch counter and then bakery.

My Great grandfather bought the Cafe and Bakery and made a large place to hold fancy Dances (Ball's) for the town to have a semblence of class. This was to make the wive's happy while they settled the little town. They were so far away from the area of the Arts and things that would allow a woman to dress up and enjoy an evening of dining and dancing that resembled the events that they had given up to go west with their husbands and families.

I wrote William's story for the upcoming Waynoka History Book. Eldon has done so much research on the area of N.W. OK. that he is recognized by many as the best expert of the area. By the way, I believe it was managed or owned by Mr. Eastman that owned the Eastman Hotel. I was born at Waynoka and we alway's had a home there even when we moved to Quinlan.

I also cannot guarantee my memory as to the facts that Eldon gave me, but I do trust his memory! HA! The Clemence, Yardley's, and Maggards are my family from Waynoka. My mother was Clarice Maggard Yardley. My great grandfather was William Harmon Yardley, and grandfather and grandmother were, Archie F. Yardley and Mamie V. Clemence, Yardley. I know you are alway's active in the preservation in Waynoka History, so I never want to miss a chance to tell you thanks. I keep promising I'm going to come over and have a conversation with you, but I can't seem to keep my family well, so someday maybe. Hope this helps and thank you both." -- Glenda Maggard, Woodward, OK - EMAIL: jgmullins1@sbcglobal.net
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2S Hotel In Waynoka

"Linda, there was a heading about the 2S Hotel in Waynoka in last week's Okie Legacy, but I didn't find a story! I am always interested in the 2S Hotel, built by the Quinlan brothers in the early days of Waynoka. Did I miss the story? Thanks.

I'll send a photo of the 2S Hotel. It is very intrigueing to me. I'm glad you came to Oklahoma for the Centennial celebrations. It is a great year. We expect to have Open House at our Waynoka Air-Rail Museum in mid-December, also a Centennial project." -- Sandie
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Calling All Boys Choir Members

"Gary, I had forgotten you and Rudy after all these years. Rudy and I were class mates at Horace Mann Elementary and Junior High of course. I remember when you moved to Cherokee." -- Calling All Boys choir Members - Terry Smith - EMAIL: mysubterfuge@cox.net
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Wrong Issue of OkieLegacy Published Lastweek

"Hey, Linda... did I do something wrong? Or did the wrong issue get sent out this weekend? The date on it is correct, but it seems like an issue I recall from last year? Or maybe I'm confused... hahahaha!"
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The NWOSU Ranger Statute

"You have got to quit those long travel sequences! ;-) The picture of "The Ranger" was taken on Wednesday morning between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. On the CD I will mail tomorrow, there are some taken after 9:00 p.m. on Tues - the day of the dedication. Cheers! Attached please find a photo that I took on Nov 13th at the dedication of "The Ranger" on the campus of NWOSU. I have prepared a CD to mail to you on Monday, 19th, with more photos for you to use." -- Jim Bradley, Westmoreland, KS
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Growing Up In Oklahoma & Texas

"Hi Linda, I send along another story from My Ramblins. It relates to a Thanksgiving of my past. I dont know the proper words to describe this story. It is a funny story, but also shows the hard times we were having in just getting by. We've all had those at one time or the other. Hope you and your readers enjoy this tale. I love to share them with all." -- Kenneth U.

1958 '59 Thanksgiving and the Canvasback Duck
My wife and and I are living in Skellytown, Texas. We had rented a little 3 room shotgun house for $35.00 a month. With three young children in the home, things were kinda lean.

It was the Thanksgiving weekend coming up and we didn't have enough money to buy a turkey. Not even a chicken.

I was bound and determined that we were going to have our Thanksgiving at our house that year.

Ever since we had ben married, we had gone over to her folks place for holidays. All of her Aunts, Uncles, and cousins, (she had 52 first cousins living in the area) would come and everyone would bring plenty of food.

Anyway I told my wife we were going to have Thanksgiving at home. I told her I was going duck hunting and would bring one home for dinner.

There were a lot of natural lakes in the area and I had permission to hunt on a Rancher's land.

Got out my old 20 gauge, found a few shells and took off to the lakes. I was in luck. The first lake I walked up to was covered with ducks. Not wanting to take a chance on missing, I layed down and took aim across the water. With one shot, I got one duck. The lakes were not deep and I waded out to pick up my "game". It was a pretty good sized bird. I found out later that it was a Canvasback.

I headed for the house proud to think that I was bringing home dinner! When I got home, I cleaned the bird and told my wife to find a good recipe for duck and dressing. She either called her Mother, or found one somewhere for the next day. I told her that I had heard you were supposed bake a duck real slow so that it would be tender.

Well she put the duck and dressing on the nite before, turned the oven down low and let it cook all nite. It smelled heavenly.

I could hardly wait till dinner time.

I will say this here and now. Those birds were mis-named. They should have ben called Leatherbacks instead of Canvasback. That had to have ben undoubtedly the toughest bird I have ever attempted to eat! You could not cut it with a knife. I found out later, that I should have skinned the duck.

We had an enjoyable Thanksgiving of dressing, cranberry sauce, and deviled eggs. But no duck! At least we had Thanksgiving in our home."
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Alva Boys Choir Members Website

"Please visit the NEW Alva Boys Choir Website." -- Scott Downs - EMAIL: scottdowns@scottdowns.net
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McCormick's Near Woodward, OK

"Can anyone tell us of our family of McCormick or Syrie that lived near Woodward, Sharon and Mooreland, Oklahoma?" -- Linda Syrie - EMAIL: ljanerae@aol.com
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Oklahoma Weather & Gas Prices

"I just stepped out of the grocery store a few minutes ago and thought I'd stepped into a swarm of tiny bugs! My mistake....... that stuff hitting my face was a mixture of tiny sleet and snow!

Incidentally, gasoline dropped back to $2.94.9 a few days ago here in Perry America and has remained there. Interesting." -- Roy K.
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Applause For You

"Keep up the great work, Linda! You certainly have given the best of all gifts to Oklahoma folks with your devotion to your weekly e-zine. It takes a lot of time to be so faithful and even though I have only distant relatives in Oklahoma, I appreciate your loyal endeavors. Have a joyful upcoming holiday season!" -- Anonymous
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Kerr Center Newsletter

"Always something interesting in the newsletters from the Kerr Center: Kerr Center newsletter." -- Elizabeth
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Great Gesture For the Troops

"I was sent this today. I went to the site and it is great! It involves postcards drawn by children all over the country for our troops. Zerox copied them and making them available to anyone wanting to send a postcard to any of our troops (without having to print them off or send with postage or anything... just send from this website!). They even have several different messages you can choose from to send with the card - or you can create your own. It is free, safe, and a great thing to do right now with the holidays approaching. Please participate in this. Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving.

This is great, and timely, as we start to think of what we are thankful for.

If you go to this web site, LetsSayThanks.com, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them." -- Karel
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Fairview's Monumental Birthday Cake

Woodward News, November 14, 2007, by Rowynn Ricks - Fairview Planning 'Monumental' Birthday Cake. Susan Smith, chair of Fairview's Centennial Committee, said the preparations for the massive cake have 'really been a community effort.' The committee was able to purchase 350 vanilla cake mixes from a local grocery store, Smith said, noting that the mixes have been distributed to individuals and organizations throughout the community....."
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Shallow Waters Painting

"Hi Linda! This is the picture that I took of you winning the auction of the Shallow Waters painting. I hope you enjoy the painting as much as we enjoy all of my brother's art that we have in our home." -- Linda (Case) Pfleider
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