Duchess' Domain

Photo on left is a photo of Duchess the Pug in her earlier years when she lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

NW Okie has gone South towards Scottsdale, Arizona again for a few days and will hopefully be back Wednesday evening in the cool mountains of southwest Colorado where the highs rarely get into the 90s and the lows hang around the mid-fifties this time of year. Monsoons should be starting around here this month, also.

NW Okie says, "Sunday evening when we arrived in Scottsdale, the temperature was 108F. Monday's temperatures reached up into the the 115F of dry heat.

Meanwhile, Sadie and this Duchess Pugster are enjoying the cool mountain air while we can.

NW Okie wanted me to remind all you rodeo fans that Waynoka, Oklahoma's Cimarron Stampede Rodeo begins this coming weekend, August 6 thru 8. Freedom's Biggest Open Rodeo & Old Cowhand Reunion begins next weekend, August 13 thru 15, 2009. Would someone save me a Freedom Rodeo program so we can add it to our collection of Freedom Rodeo programs? Thanks!
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Granddaughter of Renfrew & Josie DeGeer Dies

Linda (Lippincott) Kent, daughter of Roger S. and Thelma E. DeGeer Lippincott (d) was born Jan. 19, 1935 in OK. She was the granddaughter of Renfrew DeGeer and Josie James DeGeer, as well as O.B. and Anna Lippincott.

From 1942-1954 Linda attended Benicia Grammar and High School. She loved Rainbow Girls, Ballet and Tap, Cheerleading, beauty contest and had many friends.

She lived in Vallejo from 1954-1992 and then again from 2004-2009. During that time she attended Vallejo Jr. College, modeling school, worked at the Vallejo Times Herald, Bank of America, Social Services and Lippincott Supply Co.

The highlight of her life was her years in the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce where she earned the “Athena Award”.

Linda was married to Lonnie J. Kent from 1955-1968. Together, they had two sons, Johnny (Terry L. Kent) and Danny A. Kent. In 1992 she retired and Napa was her home from 1992-2003 as well as Oakley for a couple of years.

Linda found peace on July 23, 2009 and is survived by her beloved dog, Ginger and sons, John (Terry L. Rond Kent) and Danny (Terri Fahey & Danielle) that blessed Linda with 10 grandchildren: Tammy Horvath, David, Brittany (d), Lindsay, Kate-lynn, Kelly, Brad and Sabrina Kent, Emily Fahey and Vincent Walker. Tammy and her husband, Mark Horvath blessed her with great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Hunter.

A Memorial Service will be held in Vallejo at Twin Chapels Mortuary located at 1100 Tennessee St. Thurs, July 30th at noon.

Contributions may be made to: World Wildlife Fund (WWF), P.O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180, 1-800-CALL-WWF.
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Cimarron River Stampede - August 6-8, 2009

Caption: Wes Matteson, Waynoka, has won saddles, belt buckles and trophies in rodeo roping events over several states, and will be honored at a reception on Saturday.

Sandie says, "Waynoka reception, exhibit to honor Wes Matteson -- Wes Matteson, Waynoka, was 15 when he entered his first roping competition at the Cimarron River Stampede in Waynoka in 1947. Roping and cowboying was a way of life on his family's ranch in the Quinlan area west of Waynoka and the Cimarron River. Roping came natural to him.

Over the next several decades, his roping skills won him 16 saddles and over 100 buckles and trophies in several states.

The Waynoka Historical Society is hosting a reception in honor of Wes Matteson at the Harvey House in Waynoka on Saturday, August 8, from 1-4 p.m. Some of his prize saddles and buckles will be exhibited, and refreshments will be served.

The Harvey House is located at the west end of Waynoka Street next to the BNSF Transcon. Everyone is invited to attend the reception, and visit with Wes. The Waynoka Air Rail Museum will also be open.

The 72nd annual Cimarron River Stampede will be held nightly, Thursday - Saturday, August 6,7,8, at 8 p.m. The rodeo parade will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday. For rodeo information, contact Vernon Barnes, 580-697-3349.
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Insight Into Grandma & John C. McClure

Photo on Left is a photo of Constance Warwick, on far right, around 1904 or 1905 on the East coast at Ocean View, Virginia. I believe the elderly lady next to her is her mother, Signora Belle (Guinn) Warwick.

This week's insight into grandma and John McClure's letter correspondence takes us into May, 1905, Alva, Oklahoma Territory, with two short letters dated May 5th and 22nd of 1905.

In May of 1905 we find Constance Warwick teaching at a rural school near Pringey, in northwest Oklahoma Territory. Pringey was south of Freedom, Oklahoma and south across the river a few miles and back towards the East.

May 5, 1905, Thursday, Alva, O.T. ... It is addressed to Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla., and begins, "Alva, O.T., Thurs Eve, Miss Constance Warwick, Dear Friend: I suppose you think by this time that I have forsaken the country, but I could not possibly come Sun.

I thought sure I would go out Mon Eve, but when it came, we had to work the only eve this week. I guess you were in the bank yesterday, but I did not know it till after You went out.

Will you let me hear from you by Saturdays mail. Ever your friend, John McClure."

May 22, 1905, Mon. Eve, Alv, O.T. ... It is addressed to Miss Constance Warwick, RFD, Alva, Okla., and begins, "Mon Eve, Miss Constance Warwick, Pringey, O. T., Dear Connie, I'm coming out tomorrow Eve. I was coming to night, but Had to work to late. I will come if I get away. I rec'd your letter. Yours Sincerely, John C. McClure."
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Looking Back ... Great Grandpa J. R. Warwick

Besides being born April 9, 1857, at Frost, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, John Robert Warwick was later a pioneer citizen of Woods (M) county, Oklahoma Territory.

John R. Warwick came from a long line of fighting stock, and he was never known to be afraid. Panics, hard times, sickness, death itself could come along during his life, but he remained calm. John Warwick lived on the theory that the sun set --but that it later arose!

John Robert Warwick was one of a family of 11 Children, four of whom survive him. He was also raised in the Methodist faith.

John's sense of humor never failed, nor his hospitality, as no one, either friend or outcast, ever went away hungry. Much of his determined character may have come down to him through a family trait, as revealed in an old history of West Virginia. It tells of his ancestor, Major Peter Hull who, coming from England in 1772, settled in this same valley where John Warwick later was born. Of this Major Hull the historian wrote. "He was of great influence, but very domineering."

This spirit which had run through the family for generations led him to independence of action later when he came to Kansas and taught school at Coldwater, waiting for the opening of Oklahoma's Cherokee Strip for settlement. He "made the run" Sept. 16, 1893. As he was accustomed to the water and wood in abundance on the wooded hills and plains of West Virginia, he looked first for wood and water when looking for a homestead. He staked a claim 7 miles south of Alva, on Eagle Chief, but learning by experience that more abundance lay in the level wheat lands--he sold his wood-and-water farm and bought level wheat land 5 miles south of Alva. [also known as the 3/4 Quarters that was in dispute in Gene McGill's Trust.]

Here is where John R. and his wife, Signora Belle Guinn Warwick lived until 1929 when they moved to Alva. John's wife preceded him in death three years, almost to the exact time of his death, dying in November, 1934. John R. Warwick loved his chewing tobacco and eventually died of cancer of his jaw.

John Robert Warwick loved land and became a large land proprietor. He also was vice-president and director of the Hopeton State Bank, Hopeton, Oklahoma, for many years. Until the day he died John took care of his own business and managed his farms South of Alva; East of Freedom at Fairvalley; and North of Waynoka along Hwy 14.
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The Peoples Chronology

12,000 B.C. -- The Peoples Chronology, edited by James Trager, mentions that around 12,000 B.C. the dog was domesticated from the Asian wolf and was used for tracking game. Fossil remains were found in a cave near Kirkuk in Iraq in the 1950s and in the 1970s the remains were dated by using the fluorine analysis.

10,500 B.C. -- Human habitations appeared even at the southernmost parts of the Western Hemisphere, where cavemen pursued guanaco and hunted a horse species that will become extinct. The fossil evidence was found 1,200 miles South of Buenos Aires in the 1970s."

"Homo Sapiens increased in numbers to roughly 3 million."

10,000 B.C. -- "Goats were domesticated by Near Eastern hunter-gather tribespeople who hadearlier domesticated the dog."

9000 B.C. -- The New Stone Age began in Egypt and Mesopotamia."

8500 B.C. -- Goats milk became a food source in the Neat East, where goats had been domesticated for the past 1,500 years (as determined by carbon 14 radio-activity decay studies on fossil evidence found at Asiab, Iran)." 8000 B.C. -- Earth's human population soars to 5.3 mlllion, up from 3 million in 10,000 B.C., as agriculture provides a more reliable food source. Where it has taken 5,000 acres to support each member of a hunter-forager society the same amount of land can feed 5,000 to 6,000 people in an agricultural society."
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Pioneer Footprints Across Oklahoma

Vickie Glover says, "Are there any books, Pioneers Across Woods County, left to purchase? Thanks!"
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1929 - No Sunday Movies In Waynoka, OK

Dennis Rittenhouse says, "I was looking for info for my mother's side of the family (COVEY) and coincidently found this link to Waynoka.

I had an aunt on my father's side of the family living in Waynoka, Oklahoma. My aunt, uncle and cousins lived on the East side of Waynoka by the airport.

My relatives were Lawrence and Ruby CROSS and their boys are Ronald and Denny. They lived on the first farm as you pass by the airport and turn left with the highway, on the first farm on the right.

They milked cows until pasteurization forced them to stop as they could not afford the equipment. Lawrence operated the telegraph at the Waynoka depot.

Ronald was a band teacher in Alva for the high school for several years. Denny is in South America.

I do know they knew Erma Fox. She is/was a cousin in the family. Aunt Ruby later married a retired railroader Albert (Al) Potter. He died in '84."

I guess in Waynoka you could not go see a picture show on Sundays in 1929.

I think I need an attorney to explain what this court ruling is about. Quote from ruling:

"This is an action wherein the plaintiff in error, as plaintiff below, sought to enjoin the defendants in error, as defendants below, from enforcing an ordinance declaring it to be unlawful to operate a moving picture show in the town of Waynoka on Sunday." Click HERE for the rest of the story.
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The Blue Laws

The "Blue Laws" which generally prohibited any commercial activity on Sunday. One of the justifications was that every worker should have at least one day off a week. Another reason was the religious admonition to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. Blue Laws

Throughout history and today, many communities have enacted laws requiring businesses to close on Sundays. Known as “blue laws,” these regulations can cause controversy between those who say such laws favor religious groups and those who argue that blue laws are secularly oriented with civic rationales.

Long before the United States declared its independence from Great Britain, the American Colonies were governed by laws that required that Sunday be set aside as a day of rest and worship, in observance of the Christian Sabbath. The parliamentary laws minced no words in declaring the religious reasoning for the requirement. When the United States broke away from English governance and fashioned its own, most states created their own Sunday closing laws, which mirrored their British predecessors. At the same time, the creation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause and similar clauses in the various state constitutions called into question the constitutionality of Sunday closing laws that such religiously influenced laws might be impermissible.
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Searching For Evelyn Ensor

Tracye Howe asks the following, "I am searching for a lady by the name of Evelyn ENSOR. She would be from Alva, Oklahoma. I am doing this search for a man by the name of Dr. William (Billy) HINSON. He dated Ms. Ensor in college. She attended Sophie Newcomb College and would be around 70-74 years old now. Thanks to anyone who can help."
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