Duchess of Weaselskin

Bayfield, Colorado - NW Okie just noticed this butterfly hanging around her greenhouse and flowerbed. It is (I believe) a black and white, Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. We did notice a faint yellow on the wings and spots of blue and orange near its tail. At first glance in the sunlight, it appears to be all white and black, but closer look you can see the light yellow and the blue and orange near the tail.

The link above states that the adults feed on nectar from a variety of plants and its habitat is open woodlands, streams, river banks. The plants that attract this butterfly are Lavendar and Zinnia. We do not have any zinnia plants, but we do have a pot of Lavendar. The host plants are Flowering Ash, Aspen Tree, Willow.

How does your garden grow? NW Okie's garden of tomatoes has lots of green tomatoes ranging from small to large. The zucchini and squash are getting bigger but no blooms yet. We also have two different kinds of cucumbers and greenbeans.

Let me leave you here with a quote I found online that we like. It goes like this and is a quote by Susan B. Anthony in 1896, "I distrust those people who know so well what god wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires!"

Stop the Obstructionism of the GOP congress! Where is the jobs, Boehner?

Good Night & Good Luck! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

100 Years Ago Today - 11 June 1912

America - In The Washington Times, dated Tuesday evening, 11 June 1912, the headlines one the frontage were: "No Nomination Now Looked For On First Ballot," "Marines Help Cubans Resist Rebels' Attack," "Legislator Who Was Killed by Train," Much Mystery In Wickliffe's Tragic Death," "Clayton Names Men To Conduct Beef Trust Probe," "Railroad's Ships Cannot Use Canal," "Goldsborough party Motors To Chicago."

The Goldsborough party that motored to Chicago concerned the Governor of Maryland, one of the delegates to the Republican national convention. Governor Goldsborough had left Maryland for Chicago in an automobile, traveling with several prominent Maryland Republcans. Governor Goldsborough was extremely optimistic regarding the outcome of the convention, and declared that everything would be adjusted satisfactorily before the business meetings of the great political conference were concluded. All members of the traveling party seemed to coincide with the optimism expressed by their leader.

No Nomination Now Looked For On First Ballot

As most National Conventions goes, there were cries of fraud in the states, in the battle of Republicans Roosevelt and President Taft. Committeemen were expected to give Taft all of Kentucky. The republican national committee voted 38 to 11 to seat the four Taft delegates-at-large from Kentucky. Chicago, June 11, 1912 -- The first contests to come before the national committee were those from Kentucky, involving three district delegations and the delegates-at-large. It was conceded in Advance that the contests would be awarded Taft by the committee, if it followed the rule set the day before in not going back of the returns of any convention or primary to ascertain whether or not fraud had been perpetrated.

The entire Kentucky contest was based upon the contention of the Roosevelt forces that the Federal machinery used strong-arm methods in several districts and in the State convention to gain control and elect delegates.

Fraud was charged in the attack by Roosevelt forces on the Taft delegates-at-large from Kentucky, W. C. Bradley, James Breathhitt, W. D. Cochran, and J. E. Wood, it was alleged that because of fraud seven counties were prevented from participating in the convention, that the result should be thrown out, and the contesting delegates-at-large seated.

As the Republican National Convention politicians settled down to the conviction that no candidate would have votes to nominate on first ballot. The Taft men yielded their plan to steal California the day before. They took Indiana, but everybody had understood from the start that they would do that. They had not taken a single delegate that they had not listed throughout the fight as their own. Nor a single one that the Roosevelt inside figures did not concede they would take.

There was uncertainty about Missouri. Roosevelt's people were expected to win most of the contests there and they were expected to save the Washington State delegation. Their policy in giving up on Indiana strengthened them in Missouri and Washington. In Indiana they made the concession that a primary ought to be given recognition as prima facie honest, and that was just what they wanted their opponents to admit in Missouri and Washington State.

There were indications that the national committee, under pressure of public opinion, would try to be reasonably decent about Washington. practically all thought of stealing Oregon and South Dakota on technicalities that were given up by the Taftites. petty larceny appeared to be about the caliber of the outfit in charge of the steam roller.

The big, basic question of electing the ticket was being megaphoned at the leaders by thousands of people who were coming into Chicago from the surrounding States, and demanding that the party management be sane. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie's Corner

Bayfield, Colorado - [Pictured on the left is a photo of my Grand Aunt Reuhama "Hami" Gwin Eckard.]

Do you have any SIMMONS and ECKARDs out there with ancestors settling in the Highland, Virginia area in the 18th & 19th century?

We find our GWINs marrying into the ECKARDs and the ECKARDs into the SIMMONS. We find Claude ECKARD (1884-1937) married Linnie M. SIMMONS, born 6 Jun 1884, in West Virgnia, Died Jan 1975, in Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg City, Virginia. I believe that Claude Eckard was a nephew of my Grand Aunt, Reuhama "Hami" (GWIN) ECKARD (1857-1921).

Linnie Simmons & Claude Eckard were married 24 Dec 1913, Pendleton, West Virginia. Their children were: Raymond Kenneth (1917-1990), Ruth (1921-), Richard (1922-), Dorothy (1924-).

Linnie M. Simmons' parents were Eligah (1861-) & Barbara M Simmons (1863-). Their children were Linnie M. (1884-1975), Lon (1888-), Elva J (1893-), and Nettie L (1896-).

Reuhama "Hami" Gwin

I love the name Reuhama. Reuhama "Hami" Gwin (1857-1921). Hami was married 24 May 1877, in county court, Highland, Virginia to Job E. Eckard (1847-1911). Reuhama Gwin was the second child, oldest daughter of my 2nd Great Grandparents, Samuel & Eleanor Ellen (DEVER) GWIN. Sam & Ellen's children were Walter P. (1856-), Reuhama (1857-1921) and Signora Belle GWIN (1860-1934).

Great Grandma Signora Belle GWIN was married 16 Jan 1882, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson, West Virginia, to John Robert Warwick (1857-1937). Signora & J. R. Warwick had three children: Constance Estella (1882-1968), Robert Lee (1887-1952) and Wilbur William (1895-1896). Constance and Robert were both born in Monterey, Virginia, while Wilbur William was born in Oklahoma Territory and died in Oklahoma Territory.

Signora and J. R. Warwick showed up in the 1870 census in Monterey, Highland, Virginia. After 1884 (sometime before or around 1893), I find no records of J. R. & Signora Warwick in the census until 1900 (Oklahoma Territory). I know from J. R.'s obituary that he was teaching in Coldwater, Kansas just before the 1893 Run in Oklahoma Territory. I know that J. R. Warwick had a couple of brothers, Peter Hull Warwick and Wm. N. Warwick that may have come West into Kansas between 1884-1893. Pete and his wife and two daughters lived up in Kansas while J. R. & Sigga Warwick were residing in NW Oklahoma, near Alva. There may have been some other WARWICKk / GWIN / ECKARD relatives that migrated to Cherokee, Oklahoma to settled.

I would love to know more about J. R. & Signora (Gwin) Warwick's whereabouts between January, 1884 thru 1887 and 1893, before they settled in NW Oklahoma Territory.

I will NOT . . . submit, rollover, comply, sit down and shut up when I see an injustice! Let's Move FORWARD with Solutions, Equality for ALL!"

Good Night & Good Luck searching your family ancestry! View/Write Comments (count 3)   |   Receive updates (3 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Highland, Virginia - Biographic Paragraphs of Highland Men

Highland County, Virginia - This week we learn from reading Chapter XXIII, of the "History of Highland County" something about the biographical details of particular Highland men of more or less prominence. We ran across our HULL (HOHL) ancestors. I have found those names and the following names: Hiner, Sitlington, Stephenson and Keister lineage. There is also mention of the Ruckman lineage.

John Bradshaw, son of the pioneer, was county surveyor eighteen years and was also a veteran teacher, number of persons of some prominence being his pupils. He wrote the will of John Graham, which, through no fault of his, led to a noted lawsuit. Eighteen hours of rigid cross-examination failed to bring out any flaw in his testimony. His son, Captain Robert H. Bradshaw, had a promising career cut short by his death at Fort Republic.

Thomas Brown (Tomaso Bruno in Italian) merits mention as Virginia only pioneer of that nationality. He was said to have been a sea captain in the War of 1812, about which time he came to America. He lived a while near the city of Washington.

Andrew H. Byrd, legislative father of Highland county, served 12 years in the House of Delegates. His son, John T., was in the legislature one term, but declined a renomination. In the great war, he served with much ability as a leader of Confederate cavalry. Prior thereto he was a major of militia. As a farmer, he was one of Highland's best. His sons, Clifton E. Adam M., and H. Houston, were graduates of the University of Virginia, and all were in professional life, the last named being the Commonwealth's Attorney of Bath. The father and paternal grandfather of the pioneer Campbell were Presbytarian divines. His son Thomas possessed fine mathematical ability and was the first surveyor of Highland. Austin W. was one of its best read citizens and perhaps the first one to join the Masonic Order. Walter P., engaged in the real estate business at Roanoke, was Commissioner of the Revenue for 21 years. Still other members of the connection have held positions of honor and trust.

Cornelius Colaw was a justice of the war period. His son, John M., received the Master's degree from Dickinson College in 1892, and after taking his Bachelor's degree from the same college studied law at the University of Virginia. For three years he was principal of the Monterey High School. Though an active attorney, Mr. Colaw had cultivated his strong mathematical gift. He was a member of the American Mathematical Society, a frequent contributor to mathematical journals, and the author of mathematical textbooks.

Collingwood A. Dickson, a well-read merchant of Trimble, was a son of General Sir Collingwood Dickson of the British Army.

William W. Fleming a native of Nova Scotia, came to Highland shortly before the formation of the county. He was a man of strong intellect cultivated by constant reading. His personality was felt in every phase of public enterprise, and in particular he was a surfy friend to the cause of education. He as recognized as an honest, upright, and intelligent citizen.

Captain David Gwin (my 4th great grandfather) was a wealthy landowner of Jackson's River. Captain Gwin was a steadfast soldier in the wars with the Indians and British. He was one of the men who went tot he relief of the Wilson family, and his military career continued until the close of the Revolution.

Jacob Hevener, Jr., was a wealthy and prosperous stock grower of Crabbottom, as had been his sons.

Benjamin H. Hiner graduated in law in 1892, but even before his admission to the bar he was nominated as Prosecuting Attorney of Pendleton, holding that office eight years. In 1908 he was a candidate for Congress, and though defeated he ran ahead of his ticket by 1,500 votes. Mr. Hiner was a very active attorney.

The Hull (Hohl) family was very prominent in the early annals. The pioneer himself was a man of large means for his day. Peter (another of my ancestors), the oldest son, increased the estate, zoning a large portion of the Crabbottom, his possessions in 1818 including 16 slaves, 19 horses, 43 cows, and 60 sheep. Peter was an officer in the Revolution, a colonel of militia subsequent thereto, and a legislator also. Peter was very influential, but also domineering. Major Peter Hull, his son, lived at McDowell, where he was a heavy landholder. He also sat in the Legislature and held various local offices. This branch of the Hull family was locally extinct in the male line. The late Joseph, a well-to-do farmer and upright citizen, was kindly remembered by his associates.

The Jones connection had included quite a share of names of ability, education, and financial competence. Thomas, son of the pioneer Henry, was a prominent public man of Pendleton. Charles P., a grandson, took his LL. B. degree from the University of Virginia and had been in active practice since 1868 in Highland and adjoining counties. He had been leading counsel in numerous important civil and criminal cases. He had served in both branches of the State Legislature, and had been the only STate Senator form Highland. From 1898 until 1906 he was Rector of the State University. He was President of the Citizens' Bank of Monterey. Since 1900, his son, Edwin B., Commonwealth's Attorney, had been associated with him in legal practice. Dr. Harrison H., senior physician of Highland, had been a practitioner since 1867, and had given all his children a liberal education. He was well known as a Sunday school worker. His brother, Jared A., a popular, influential, and well-to-do citizen was County treasurer from 1879 until his death in 1910. Clarence A., son of Jared A., was a physician of Staunton, and Andrew L., another son, was an attorney of Monterey.

William H. Keister was the very popular and efficient Superintendent of the Harrisonburg schools.

Joseph Layne was a well-informed person, and very useful in public life, especially during the war period.

The sons of Samuel Life were of superior attainments and three were college graduates. William and George M. took theological courses at Princeton and became Presbyterian divines in New York and Iowa. The former was likewise an educator. He founded a seminary at Rye, NY, and remained connected with it until his death. Abraham had an inventive gift and constructed several useful appliances.

Paul Lightner took the Master's degree from Dickenson College and practiced law in Illinois. Returning he represented Bath and Highland in the House of Delegates and was considered one of the best educated men in Virginia.

Captain Jacob C. Matheny, twice wounded in the Confederate service, was County Clerk 44 years. The office had since been held by his sons.

Daniel G. McClung was a merchant more than 40 years, conducted a mercantile house at Richmond during the war and supplied the Confederate Army with uniforms. The latter part of his life was spent at Franklin, West Virginia, where he organized hand was President of the Farmers' Bank.

John S. McNulty was Supervisor and the holder of other local offices. He had seen more public service than any other living citizen.

Samuel Ruckman was a prominent and useful man, and had much to do with the organizing of Highland. His son, John H., invented a sewing machine.

The Rev. William J. Ryder was remembered as a man of high character and sterling qualities. Stewart Ryder was also a preacher.

Charles L. Siron, a graduate of Washington and Lee, spent two years in the Philippines as a teacher. He collected a large number of the folklore tales of the native, and it was his design to prepare these for publication.

John Sitlington, son-in-law to Colonel Peter Hull, was a large landowner and cattleman, first in Crabbottom and afterward at McDowell. he was also in local public life.

Washington Stephenson succeeded tot he ownership of the Wilson farm at Bolar Run, held the office of Sheriff longer than anyone else.

Lucius H. Stephenson took up the study of law at Lexington in 1859, and practiced his profession at Monterey until his death in 1911. he was Commonwealth's Attorney 26 consecutive years, a visitor of the Virginia Military Institute, and a Director of the National Valley Bank of Staunton. He was also an incorporator and promoter of the Citizens' Bank of Highland. Mr. Stephenson was not only an energetic, painstaking, and successful attorney, but a prosperous man of business. He acquired large possessions and during his long and active life he wielded a great influence among his fellow citizens. In matters of local history he was exceptionally well informed.

Samuel W. Sterrett was educated at Washington and Lee University. He taught in Crabbottom, and was ruling elder in the church at New Hampden. He served his adopted county as chairman of its Board of Supervisors, and represented it for three terms in the House of Delegates. He was there a member of the Finance Committee and drafted several important laws. His son, Robert S., was a graduate of the same institution, and principal of the Monterey High school.

J. R. Sitlington Sterrett, reared at McDowell, received a very thorough education at the University of Virginia and at several German universities, taking the degree of PhD. at Munich, in 1880. He also studied at Athens, Greece. For several years he was engaged in a archaeological work in Asia Minor, Assyria and Babylonia. Since 1886 he had been professor of Greek in Miami University, University of texas, Amherst College, and Cornell University. he received the degree of LL. D. front he Uninersity of Aberdeen, Scotland, was a member of the Board of Managers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, and also was a member of several learned societies. As an author he was elsewhere mentioned.

Amos Thorp was an eccentric and versatile bachelor hermit of the Bullpasture. Though entirely without school education he made himself well informed and even scholarly. He acquired a practical knowledge of surveying, constructing his own instruments. He labored some time on a Dictionary of the Bible, the manuscript of which he burned.

William S. Thompson was another of those versatile men who were useful in a community. He surveyed land, taught school, and wrote numerous legal papers. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Threshing Machines & Cook Shacks

oklahoma - There was mention of memories of Threshing Machines and Cook Shacks in our Archives of the "OkieLegacy Ezine, " Vol. 8, Iss. 5 -- 2006-02-04, when Earl Fugit remembers, "In the 1940's I worked on Jay Leepers Thrashing crew. The grain bundles were brought to the thrashing machine on slat sleds pulled by tractors.

"The bundles were dropped beside the thrashing machine by stretching a chain across the bundles and pulling the slat shed forward. The slat sled would the go back to the field to get another load. I had the job of using a bundle fork to pitch the bundles into the front of the thrasher.

"It was hard work but Jays wife fed us good 5 times a day. Breakfast at the house, Sandwiches and lemonade in the field at about 9:30 or 10a.m., Lunch back at the house. More sandwiches and a cold drink mid-afternoon and a big supper at the house after we came in from the field. Another nice thing Jay insisted that after lunch we rested under a big shade tree for a 1/2 hour or so before going back to the field." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Henry Morgan Tomlinson & 1884 Lynching In Monterey, VA

Monterey, Virginia - This week there was a comment in The OkieLegacy, Vol. 14, Iss. 20 - 2012-05-14 left by Kevin Fansler on 2012-06-06, where he says, . . . .

"Hello Michael, I came across your letter below and I thought I would comment on it. Thanks for finding out about the identity of the lone man to be tried for the murder. I have also been interested in this incident. My great grandfather was Henry Morgan Tomlins on and my grandmother is Mary Huldah Tomlinson. I am related to most of these suspects. If I am not related by blood I am related by marriage.

"I am also related to John Sydney Ruckman who was wounded by Atcheson. Ruckman was later murdered in a dispute with African Americans in 1896. One of his slayers was then lynched at Watonga, Oklahoma. My grandmother wrote the account down in a poem. The first part is lost because my mother burned a lot of this correspondence. I think it upset her to read it. I have the second part of the poem and I am surprised that she did not also burn it.

"Henry left immediately after the murder. He immediately went to Conwaw, Kansas but then quickly went to McPherson, Kansas. He had relatives there. According to the census one of the relatives was probably A.W. Gum. He was then living under an assumed name of Charles with the surname Morgan. My grandmother told us about this and I had no difficulty locating the family in the 1885 Kansas census.

"I have tried to find the other suspects using their real names but they do not show up in the Kansas 1885 census. The rest of the family followed after the farm was quickly sold and a sale was planned to dispose of other property. They received hardly any cash but held a note as promise for future payment.

"They rented land in Kansas and had frequent visitors from Virginia preparing to settle or just visit. Some visitors were the Ruckman's, the Erevin's, and Overholt's. They practically ate them out of house and home. The money from the note never came and the rent on the land was high. The family went from a prosperous state to being impoverished. "In 1893 Henry Clay went down to settle on a quarter near Fay, Oklahoma. In 1894, Mary was coerced by her father and brothers to come down and make a claim as she had some resources from her occupation of teacher. Mary left a fiance behind in Kansas. She finally moved down for good in 1894. I have some old photos made when they were in McPherson, Kansas and a little later when they first came to Oklahoma. By joining Google Plus you will be able to see these photos." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Western Normal College

Alva, Oklahoma - The Western Normal College that sprang up in the northwest parts of Oklahoma Territory around 1893 or so, inspired this poem written by the Pilgrim Bard (Scott Cummins), Pg. 39 - Musings of the Pilgrim Bard.

Look ye! once that hill was bare,
Sunset rested on a prairie;
Short the space since buffalo O'er the spot grazed to and fro;
Has Alladin's lamp and fairy
Caused the change so wondrous there?

Look ye! once upon that hill
Stood the roving red man's tepee;
There at pow-wow and at dance
Roasted dog was served perchance;
Squaws and bucks, in blankets creepy,
Sought repose when all was still.

Gone, the shaggy bison wild --
Gone poor "Lo," his business busted;
Far away the gray wolf's yell
Of the past the funeral knell;
Farmers, with the east disgusted,
Claim the place of nature's child.

Look ye! towering o'er yon slope
Stands a monument of knowledge;
Thing of beauty, massive, grand,
builded by skilled workman's hand --
Alva's Western Normal college,
Nucleus of our country's hope. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Susan B Anthony & 2nd Woman's Congress of 1895

San Francisco, California - The Inauguration of the Woman's Congress at Golden Gate Hall, took place 20 May 1895, in San Francisco, California, with the following women: Rev. Ada C. Bowles, Rev. Anna H. Shaw, Sarah B. Cooper and Susan B. Anthony.

It was in The San Francisco Call, dated Tuesday, 21 May 1895, page 4, that we find this mention of Susan B. Anthony and the "Inauguration of the Woman's Congress of 1895."

On this date (20 May 1895) the second annual session of the Woman's Congress of the Pacific Coast was called to order in Golden Gate Hal,l at 10:30 a.m. by the president, Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, of San Francisco. Enthusiastic Women and their escorts were packed into the Hall and the aisles were crowded with many ladies and quite a number of men (brave men at that) to venture into such a maze of "feminine loveliness, wit and wisdom," as the newspaper reported.

The "grand old woman" of woman's rights, Susan B. Anthony, beamed upon the welcoming faces before her. The Rev. Dr. Anna H. Shaw, the first Lieutenant of Miss Anthony, received her full share of the praise of the audience. Shaw's utterances were merrily pointed shafts at many things, none the less telling for their humor, and served only to strengthen the impression the people had gained of the reverend spinster through the prints of the country

. It was reported that the address of Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, the president, was one of the most beautiful, direct and logical ever delivered from any platform in San Francisco, as it took the congress by storm. Miss Kelso of Los Angeles took occasion to come to gentle issues with Miss Anthony during the afternoon on the question of "marriage bondage." Miss Millecent Shinn and Miss Anna Stoval of San Francisco read papers which covered them with honor.

Women of all kinds and degrees filled the hall and balcony. They stood against the walls, filling the aisles. They were enthusiastic and hopeful and full of excitement. The new woman insisted upon sharing man's political and business life, intending that the man should be compensated by increased responsibility as husband and father.

It was reported that the most striking thing about this woman's convention was the spirit of camaraderie it fostered. These congress women self-possession was not the assertive arrogance of small-minded, notoriety-seeking females. Their conviction was tempered with dignity and charity. They were not shrewish, and they delivered their message in a frank, good-natured way. They had learned how to disagree without quarreling, and they were willing to admit that there were two sides to a question and an infinite number of points of view.
Rev. Anna Shaw's deep and full voice was strong, that when she spoke clearly, she could be heard all over the hall.

More than a quarter of century before this meeting of the Woman's Congress, year after year, Susan B. Anthony struggled with Senators and Representatives at Washington to obtain the political rights of women, who had persistently since and continuously fought the battle of freedom. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe