Duchess' Deer Domain

Here in SW Colorado it has been feeling like cool, Fall weather is approaching and the monsoon rains coming in the afternoon.

AND … a big ear Doe with a fawn and young buck were grazing in our backyard. Photo on the left is of the big ear doe with one of her big ears perked to the approaching NW Okie with camera.

As for college football, was that a close game between Oklahoma State University (OSU) and Houston, or what! In my opinion, and I'm no football expert, but OSU's downfall came when they fumbled late in the game and Houston recovered to push them slightly ahead. Here is a shout-out to an old Texas friend, Ellen, in Houston Texas, "Sorry I have not written lately, have had other things on my mind."

NW Okie has been browsing through old newspapers of the 1905 era and has included some of those stories in this week's newsletter. Is it true? Has September 2009 already at the halfway point? Hope you all in Oklahoma and the northwest parts are feeling cooling and getting some moisture.
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Insight Into Grandma & John C. McClure

December 1905, finds only one short note/letter to Miss Constance Warwick from John C. McClure. John is still working at the First National Bank in Alva, Oklahoma Territory. Miss Constance Warwick is receiving her mail care of rural delivery (RFD) and teaching in a rural school somewhere in northwest Oklahoma Territory.

December 13, 1905, Alva, O.T., written on The First National Bank of Alva, Oklahoma, stationery -- Jno McClure writes in his beautiful penmanship, "Alva, O.T., Wed. Eve, Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, O.T., Dear Connie, Say, Connie, can I come out and see you again sometime. I hardly think I could come out Sun. Eve., because I think now I must go up by Capron. Perhaps I could come out before. Mebby (sic) you won't let me come out at all. Your Friend, Jno McClure."

Is this sweetheart thing between John and Constance dwindling? Has Constance found another fella? Will Constance write a few "Dear John" letters? Stay tuned for more letters to follow in 1906. Meanwhile … visit Grandma's Letters for more of John C. McClure's letters to Miss Constance Warwick.
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1905 - John B. Doolin, Alva OK

I found this 1905 cartoon of John B. Doolin in the December 1905 newspaper of The Oklahoman. I believe this John B. Doolin must have been the father of the John Doolin that my father, Gene McGill, and his brother, Bob McGill, grew up with as young boys after 1914 in the northwest Oklahoma community of Alva.

The December 1905 front page, "Pages From the Cartoon Book, Men of Affairs in Caricature," The Oklahoman said, "When John B. Doolin was five years old two unfortunate things happened; both his parents died.

But this didn't discourage young Doolin who was thrown upon his own resources at an early age.

"Misfortune is more often like the storm which buffets the young oak, causing it to take a firmer hold upon the earth that it may grow stronger and expand. John gleaned most of his education format he three best teachers: observation, experience and books. Then he began to see opportunities.

"He left his home at Cameron, Missouri, where he was born in 1879 and moved to Oklahoma. This was in 1896. In the new country Mr. Doolin entered the dry goods business. Over in Woods county the people wanted him to be register of deeds because he was a democrat and capable. His plurality was 533. At that time he was the youngest public office holder in Oklahoma, being 22 years of age. His democracy is undisputed. He declares he has been of that political faith since the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.

"John's friends assert that if he should ever change his politics he will have to change his name, because it is a synonym for democracy and then both begin with "D." Doolin and Democracy -- alliteration, the student of rhetoric would call it. Now Mr. Doolin is in the abstract, loan and insurance business at Alva, where he has the only complete set of abstract books in Woods county.
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1905 - Frank James May Have Lived In Oklahoma

On the second page of the December 1905, The Oklahoman the headlines read, "Frank James May Live In Oklahoma." It goes on to say, "Former bandit thinking of leaving Missouri -- is now visiting at Fletcher."

Fletcher, O. T., Dec. 1, 1905 -- "Frank James and wife are in our city and will be for a week or more, visiting some old acquaintances. Mr.a nod Mrs. James are thinking of leaving their old state, Missouri, and becoming residents of our vicinity.

"Mr. James is interesting our people with stories of his life from the early sixties until 1882, when he surrendered to the authorities of Missouri. Mr. James and wife are very interesting people in conversation and are exceptional entertainers. Mr. James is recovering in health and is almost at himself again after a month's sickness."
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1905 - Guthrie Railway Gossip

On page twelve of The Oklahoman, dated December 2, 1905, the small headlines read, "Guthrie, Okla., Dec. 2, 1905 -- The Guthrie, Fairview & Western railroad company, building westward from Guthrie toward Denver, as an Orient feeder, has let the contract to John Harishorn to construct the first twenty-five miles of of the road west of Fairview, where it crosses the Orient main line.

"The final survey shows the road's course to be northwest from Fairview through the Persimmon valley to Woodward, Fort Supply, May and westward through Beaver county.

"The Orient is pushing the construction work on the main line, in Greer county, building north and south from Altus, where it crosses the Frisco.

"To the south of Canton the railroad company has opened a new town named Oakwood. It is expected to have the road completed from Altus to the Red River by January 1 (1906), Only a small portion of the track, between Nashville and the Orient main line is yet to be completed.

"From Cherokee to Kansas City the Denver, Enid & Gulf will use the Orient tracks. A. B. Sutton has been granted the contract to construct the Oklahoma & Northwestern railroad north from Berlin, in Roger Mills county, to Woodward, and the grading is being rapidly completed in Roger Mills county.

"President Stone of the Oklahoma & Texas railroad has closed a contract with the people of Lindsay, I.T., to build the road through that town for $26,000, terminals and right of way for five miles each way. This gives Lindsay three roads.

"The people of Comanche, I.T., have also signed a contract for the Oklahoma & Texas, giving a $10,000 bonus.

"J. L. VanCamp, of Oklahoma City, has made a proposition to the citizens of Woodward, Beaver City and Liberal, Kansas, to run an automobile stage line from Woodward via Beaver City to Liberal, something over 100 miles. There is no railroad at present through that part of Oklahoma. The stage line would connect the Santa Fe at Woodward with the Rock Island at Liberal."
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1905 - McLoud, Oklahoma Tragedy

On page eight of the December 2, 1905, of the The Oklahoman, the headlines read, "M'Loud Tragedy." It goes on to say, "Dr. E. N. Hilborn, a dentist, shot by P. O. Sullivan, his father-in-law. Slayer acted in self-defense. Hilborn went to Sullivan's home with avowed intention of killing him and was himself killed."

"The town of McLoud in Pottawatomie county was the scene of an unusual homicide at 7:30 o'clock Thursday evening, the victim being Dr. E. N. Hilborn and the slayer was his father-in-law, P. O. Sullivan.

"The coroner's inquest was held last evening and resulted in Sullivan's discharge, as having acted in self-defense. It was shown that for some time past the deceased had been addicted to the use of cocaine to such an extent that even his wife considered it dangerous to live with him and frequently took refuge at her father's home, next door to her own residence.

"It was developed that Hilborn had been demanding money from Sullivan, first asking for a hundred dollars and finally increasing the amount of demand to five hundred dollars and then threatening to take the life of his father-in-law in case the latter declined to give him the money. It is believed that, when he went to Sullivan's home Thursday evening it was his purpose to put his threat into execution in case the money was not forthcoming. Sullivan was forewarned and slayed the man who doubtless intended to assassinate him.

It appears to have been further developed also that Dr. Hilborn had, before going to Sullivan's house, taken a sufficient quantity of the deadly drug to the use of which he had become addicted to have earned his death even had he not been shot by Sullivan.

One bullet fired by Sullivan struck one of Hilborn's hands and another struck him just below the heart and glanced around his body, not touching a vital point. It is alleged. A physician who attended Hilborn is quoted as saying that the shot in the hand was more serious than that which struck the body, as when the man's finger was amputated the wound did not bleed.

He also asserted that, had it not been for the shock to his body from the pistol shots, Hilborn would have died before morning from the drug with which his system had been impregnated. As it was the man was shot at 7:20 o'clock Thursday night and did not die until 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

Sheriff Grace, Coroner Martin Fleming and County Attorney Fleming were summoned to McLoud immediately after Dr. Hilborn's death and an inquest was held with the result above stated.

The decedent was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Dr. Hilborn was engaged in the practice of dentistry at McLoud. His father-in-law, P. O. Sullivan, was a money leander and one of the oldest, most respected and best known citizens in that community.

Hilborn and his wife did not get along very well and Mr. Sullivan naturally became involved in their differences on behalf of his daughter.

The story goes on to state, "Sullivan and Hilborn met on the street Thursday afternoon and at that time a shooting affray was averted by a friend separating them. In the evening Hilborn went to Sullivan's house with the avowed intent, it is alleged, of killing his father-in-law. When he stepped on the porch with a pistol in his hand, Sullivan opened the door and commenced firing upon him. The first shot struck hilborn's pistol hand, breaking his fingers and shot off his pistol guard. Sullivan did all the shooting, discharging his pistol three times."
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1905 - An Accidental Killing

On page 13 of The Oklahoman, dated December 3, 1905, the small headlines read, "An Accidental Killing." It goes on to say, "Prominent Chickasaw woman is shot and killed by her son-on-law."

Special to The Oklahoman, Ardmore, I.T., Dec. 2, 1905 -- "Mrs. Joe Brown, mother of Gov. Brown, speaker of the lower house of Chickasaw legislature was shot and instantly killed this morning by the accidental discharge of a shot gun in the hands of her son-in-law, F. H. Conkin. An investigation was made but it was clearly shown that the unfortunate affair was an accident. Her husband, Joe Brown, died at Tishomingo two weeks ago. The family is prominent among the Chickasaws."
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1905 - Northwestern Normal News

On page 23 of The Oklahoman, dated December 3, 1905, the small headlines read, "Northwestern Normal." It goes on to read, "Prof. H. C. Meier left for Waynoka last Wednesday to visit his wife and to spend Thanksgiving in the country on his farm. During his absence his classes were taught by Prof. G. H. Wilkinson and Prof. Herod."

It goes on to read, "Sandor Vigg of the senior class delivered an excellent oration last Tuesday morning in Chapel on the Might of Destiny. Mr. Vigg is a young orator of no mean ability and we predict a brilliant future for him. He won first honors last year in the Intercollegiate Oratorical contest.

"The rhetoricals for the second quarter being next Monday and many are looking forward to them with fear and trembling.

"Prof. John W. Wilkinson by special request has just completed an article on Radium for the Journal of Education in Boston, Massachusetts, and one on Oklahoma and Woods county for the Western Trail, a monthly periodical published by the Rock Island railroad.

"A splendid address was given to the students last Monday morning by Dr. J. F. McCormic on the importance of proper sanitation and cleanliness. He stated that nearly every case of typhoid fever was caused in a measure by the presence of the common house-fly and yellow fever by certain kinds of mosquitoes usually found only in houses.

"The bubonic plague he claimed was usually scattered by fleas and the common house rats, malaria by the swamp mosquito, and son on. All came from causes which he said could easily be eliminated.

"The usual cold snap materialized in time for Thanksgiving and the thermometer dropped to freezing without giving due notice.

"Mrs. H. C. Fellow has returned from Woodward county and will spend the winter in Alva with her husband, Prof. Fellow.

"Several nice new cement walks have been laid around the school premises of the Alva City High School, which materially add to the beauty and convenience of the premises. The time is not far distant when Alva will need another handsome building fully as large as the present one.

"Miss Della McDaniels was initiated into the mysteries of the Order of the Shakespearians last Saturday night and we have no doubt that she will prove a worthy member of that society.

"President Conway by special request gave a short talk to the physicians of Woods county at their special meeting over which Dr. McCormic presided last Monday afternoon. President Conway endorsed the doctor's statements condemning the use of patent postures which contained for the most part nothing but the vilest of whiskey."
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1905 - Fred Vanbibber Held For Murder

Remember the murder O. C. Andre by Fred Vanbibber, his brother-in-law? On the front page of The Oklahoman, dated December 5, 1905, the headlines read, "Held For Murder." It goes on to state, "Vanbibber, who killed a man in Woods county, under bond. Enters plea of self-defense. Killing was result of quarrel between brothers-in-law."

Special to The Oklahoman, Guthrie, Okla., Dec. 4, 1905 -- "Judge John Pancoast, presiding in the Woods county district, has held Fred Vanbibber under $10,000 bond for the killing of his neighbor, O. C. Andre, during the latter part of October. Vanbibber went to town after the killing and surrendered to the officers and has since been in the county jail. Recently he entered a plea of self-defense and asked release from jail. After hearing the testimony Judge Pancoast placed his bond at $10,000, which Vanbibber has not yet given.

"Vanbibber and Andre were brothers-in-law, and lived on adjoining farms, within six miles of Alva. The two had quarreled frequently and as a result a bitter feud had existed for years. On October 25 (1905) the quarrel was renewed by Andre who had driven to the Vanbibber home. A revolver was found in his pocket after the killing. The dead body when found, was still upright in the buggy seat, the team standing in front of Vanbibber's house.

"Three separate shotgun wounds showed plainly. One arm was nearly off, one shoulder was torn away and the third wound was in the berate, just above the heart. When the body was undressed buck-shot dropped out of Andre's back, having entered in front.

"A coroner's jury was soon empaneled and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the above facts, holding Vanbibber for the murder. He waived a preliminary trial and was placed in jail. Vanbibber's sister was the wife of Andre."
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Fletcher, OK

Fletcher is located in the upper northeastern corner of Comanche County on U.S. Highway 277 and just north of Interstate 44. The town is eighteen miles northeast of Lawton. Founded in 1902, the community was named for Fletcher Dodge, who gave half of his 160-acre homestead for the new townsite.

Development was spurred by the crossing of Dodge's homestead by the Oklahoma City and Western Railroad (later the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway). Although the rail line crossed through Fletcher, it took until 1904 for a depot to be built, and even then it was paid for by the townspeople.

Fletcher has largely been an agricultural community. By 1936 it had three cotton gins, an elevator, two chicken hatcheries, three cream and poultry stations, and a large sweet potato house. Sporadically through the years, oil and gas have also aided the local economy. In the 1930s there was a shallow oil field three miles south of town, and a large gas field thirteen miles to the east supplied gas to Fletcher and Lawton.

Eight years after the town's founding, Fletcher's population stood at 374. In 1920 the number of residents rose to 482. By 1930 the town claimed 739 citizens, representing its largest population jump. The Great Depression years of the 1930s resulted in a gain of exactly fifty persons. Continuing to climb, the 1950 population rose to 875. Gaining only nine residents by 1960, the 1970 population escalated to 950. Because of the oil and gas activity and Fletcher's proximity to Lawton, the number of people calling Fletcher home in 1980 peaked at 1,074. Dropping slightly in 1990 to 1,002, the population went up to 1,022 by 2000.

Several newspapers have informed the townspeople. The Fletcher Herald began publication in 1922 and continued into the twenty-first century. Other newspapers have included the Advocate, the Fletcher Sun, the Fletcher Times, and the Fletcher Enterprise. The latitude of Fletcher is 34.823N. The longitude is -98.243W. It is in the Central Standard time zone. Elevation is 1,385 feet.

Major ancestry groups reported by Fletcher residents include:

· German - 21%
· Irish - 14%
· English - 10%
· American Indian tribes, specified - 5%
· Dutch - 5%
· Comanche - 3%
· Scotch-Irish - 2%
· Russian - 2%
· Italian - 2%
· Polish - 2%
· Mexican - 1%
· French (except Basque) - 1%
· Swiss - 1%
· French Canadian - 1%
· All other tribes - 1%
· West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups) - 1%
· Dutch West Indian - 1%
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Warwick England & Family Name

Warwick (pronounced /ˈwɒrɪk/ WORR-ik with a silent w in the middle) is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, 18 km (11 miles) south of Coventry and 4 km (2.5 miles) west of Leamington Spa (although the towns are conjoined), with a population of 25,434 (2001 census).

According to early tradition, Warwick was founded on the banks of the River Avon in the year 914 AD when Anglo Saxon Ethelfleda, sister of Mercian king Edward the Elder built defences against Danish (Viking) invaders; these were to be the early origins of Warwick Castle. The name 'Warwick' means "dwellings by the weir".

A weir (pronounced /ˈwɪər/), also known as a lowhead dam, is a small overflow-type dam commonly used to raise the level of a river or stream. Weirs have traditionally been used to create mill ponds in such places. Water flows over the top of a weir, although some weirs have sluice gates which release water at a level below the top of the weir. The crest of an overflow spillway on a large dam is often called a weir.

In medieval times, Warwick remained under the control of various Earls of Warwick, mostly of the Beauchamp family, and became a walled town. Today the only remains of the town walls are the east and west gatehouses. The eastern gatehouse now serves as part of the King's High School, a sister institution to Warwick School. Warwick was not incorporated as a Borough until 1545.

The Warwick Family Name
The Anglo-Saxon name Warwick comes from the family having resided in the county of Warwickshire or in the settlement of Warwick in the county of Cumberland. The surname Warwick belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, farmsteads, counties, or other locations.

Warwick has been spelled many different ways, including Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Warwick, Warwyke, Warrick, Warrack, Warrock, Warrich and many more.

First found in Cumberland where they were Lords of the manor which was anciently written Warthwick. The first on record was Alwine of Warwick who held the castles and manor about the year 1050. His son, Turchil de Warwick appeared in the Domesday Book in 1086 as a tenant of the same manors.

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Warwicks to arrive on North American shores: James Warwick settled in Placienta, Newfoundland, in 1784; John Warrick settled in Fogo, Newfoundland, in 1804; John Warwick settled in Virginia in 1774.
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The McGill Name

The McGill name, meaning the son of a stranger or lowlander, is a Scottish name that originated in Galloway, Scotland. During the reign of King James I of England (1566-1625) the Scottish people were oppressed for being Presbyterian and refusing to submit to the Church of England.

This persecution forced many to seek shelter in Ireland, but the situation was not any better there, because the Scots and the Irish were divided along cultural and religious lines.

Many Scots again migrated, this time to America. They first resided in Pennsylvania, where William Penn operated a colony free from religious persecution. After a time, they crossed the Alleghenies and entered North Carolina and Virginia. Some time after they migrated to Tennessee and Kentucky.
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