Duchess of Weaselskin

Bayfield, CO - Monday morning we measured eleven inches of dry, powdery snow which began the following day (Sunday). It snowed most of the day Sunday and was cloudy most of the day Monday. This Duchess Pug hates to sink her paws into that cold, powdery snow. Yet a lone have it fall on her head. BUT . . . my human seems to love it all even when she sinks in up to her knees. That Sadie Pug does seem to be energized as she bounces around in that snowy stuff.

This week we bring you some news clippings of the death of Jesse James; more insight into Highland county and colonial, Virginia.

Be thankful for the freedoms our founding fathers fought for so that all Americans could have equal access to health, education, freedom of speech and Voter equality for All American Citizens!

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On This Day In History (6 February)

America - This week the Queen of England celebrated her 60th anniversary of her reign in England. We found the following headlines, dated Feb. 6, 1952, Britain's King George VI died; he was succeeded by his daughter, Elizabeth II. Go to article.

On Feb. 6, 1895, George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, baseball's great star, was born. Following his death on Aug. 16, 1948, his obituary appeared in The Times. Go to obituary.

On This Date 6 February:

• 1756 - Aaron Burr, America's third vice president, was born in Newark, N.J.
• 1788 - Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
• 1895 - Baseball Hall of Famer George Herman "Babe" Ruth was born in Baltimore.
• 1899 - A peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate.
• 1911 - Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was born in Tampico, Ill.
• 1933 - The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was declared in effect. It moved the start of presidential, vice-presidential and congressional terms from March to January.
• 1945 - Reggae musician Bob Marley was born in St. Ann parish in Jamaica.

NW Okie's Corner

Bayfield, CO - It takes awhile, but you can make distant family connections if you put yourself out there through this web media. I just love all of this!

About two years ago in The OkieLegacy Ezine, dated 2010-02-08, Vol. 12, Iss. 6, we featured a 30 November 1935 letter from my grandmother's cousin in Tesla, West Virginia that was mailed to Constance Warwick McGill in Alva, Oklahoma. It was from her cousin (Ethel G. Tinney) in Tesla, West Virginia that had heard from her youngest son Forrest Noel Tinney, that Constance's mother, Signora Belle Gwin Warwick, had died in 1934.

I searched back through my family tree in search for Ethel G. Tinney and see that the connection of Ethel and Constance were cousins via Constance's mother's (Signora Belle Gwin) older brother, Walter P. Gwin. Ethel Gertrude Gwin Married John Campbell Tinney and had seven children with the oldest son dying at 3 months of age. Children were: Paul Noble (1906-1906); Russel (1907-1972); John B. (1912-1982); Robert W.; Clarence Keith (1917-2005); Cecil Kyle (1917-); Forrest Noel (1920-2003).

Letitia Tierney commented on the OkieLegacy Ezine link above and says, "I just found this article about Ethel Gwin Tinney who was my great-grandmother. Her youngest as mentioned in the letter was my beloved grandfather Forrest Noel Tinney. If we can provide more info for you I can be contacted at the provided email."

I will be contacting this distant cousin to see what family stories and legacies that I might be able to add to my DEVER-GWIN-TINNEYancestry.

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100 Years Ago Today February 6, 1912

Mt. Vernon, Ohio - Back a few years ago when I was researching the Old Opera House Murder of November 1910, Alva, Woods, Oklahoma, there were mention of "Black Hand" letter threats to Mabel Oakes, the alleged murder victim.

Well! I am not saying these February 1912 "Black Hand" letters have anything to do with those of 1910, but I find it quite interesting. I never realized that I would once again run into other "Black Hand" letters.

In the November 1910 case against Justice N. L. Miller the community thought that perhaps Mabel Oakes and/or N. L. Miller made the letters up themselves. That is something we will probably never know for sure. Have you, through your history research found any other "Black Hand" letters?

One hundred years ago today it was a Tuesday, 6 February 1912, as the Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Mt. Democratic Banner front page headlines showed: "Ice Breaks Up Three Drowned;" "Dead Man Turns Up;" "Royal Decree For A Republic;" "Crude Oil For food Is The Very Latest;" "Sandles To Operate Traveling Wool Exhibit;" "Warmer Weather Due Balance of Week;" "Held As Blackmailer;" "Ends Life With Poison;" and "3 Children Cremated."

As to the headlines, "Held As Blackmailer," headlines that originated out of Alliance, Ohio, Feb. 5 -- "Secret service men arrested three more alleged members of the Black Hand society here. The officials said the arrests, with the six made previously, completed the roundup of ringleaders of a Camorra band that had terrorized Italians throughout Ohio and neighboring states for more then a year.

"Among those under arrest is G. Atiancio, a priest in the Independent Catholic church. The arrests were a direct result of the dynamiting two weeks ago of the home of James Carreta, after he had refused an alleged Black Hand demand for $5,000." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1863 June 11 White Cloud, Kansas

White Cloud, Kansas - 1863 June 11 White Cloud, Kansas According to the White Cloud Kansas Chief (1857-1872), dated Thursday, 11 June 1863, Editor Sol. Miller, there was an article entitled "Military Necessity." It concerned a squad of Missouri enrolled Militia coming to White Cloud and distorting all the skiffs. Not even sparing the one belonging to the ferry boat.

The story goes, "One day last week, a squad of Missouri Enrolled Militia came to this place, and destroyed every skiff to be found here, not even sparing the one belonging to the ferry boat. We understand their excuse was, that rebels were in the habit of escaping by means of skiffs from Missouri, without paying their tax, and that Col. Harding had ordered all on the river to be sunk. But they could show no written order to that effect.

"The Lieutenant who commanded the squad, said he had verbal orders from Capt. Hart, of Oregon; but the latter cannot show his orders. We suspect there was another cause for the act. Capt. Hart is a rebel in feeling, and has only been prevented by policy from being one in action. he was appointed to the command of the Holt County Militia, (over Capt. Baskins, who was entitled to it,) through the influence of certain seeds over there, who have not been able to sleep soundly, lest some rebel should be hurt. A good many niggers have left Holt County and come to this place, and these sham Union men saw a fine opportunity to take revenge upon White Cloud.

"The shift of the ferry boat was a public necessity, and was chartered. Many of the destroyed skiffs belonged to citizens who were engaged in logging, and to the saw-mills, where they were absolutely necessary in removing rafts from the river. Kansas is in Gen. Blunt's Department, and we cannot see by what authority even the commander of the Department of Missouri could cross into this Department to commit depredations upon the property of loyal citizens, much less a company of local militia, commanded by a rebel. Had a band crossed from Kansas into Missouri and done the same thing, they would have been called thieves or Jayhawkers.

"A word of advice to the people of White Cloud, may not be amiss here. The skiffs belonged generally to persons who never engaged in nor countenanced Jayhawking; but if we do not want suspicion to attach to our place, and acts of revenge to follow, there must be less encouraging and harboring of thieves than in times past. It is not a week since suspicious characters were lying about town, whom everybody felt confident were horse thieves, although there was no positive evidence to establish the fact.

"While they were here,horses were stolen in Missouri, and swam across the river near this place. A horse was stolen from a doctor, while on a visit to a patient, and was tracked to the river, nearly opposite here. Every one's mind is settled as to who were the thieves, yet they must have had assistance or directions from persons who were better acquainted about here than themselves.

"These fellows were permitted to stay until they disposed of their stolen property, and saw fit to leave of their own accord. If a town does all in its power to deserve a bad name, it will be sure to get it." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Siege of Vicksburg Continues 1863

Vicksburg, - It was reported in the White Cloud Chief, 11 June 1863, the latest on the siege of Vicksburg still continued. It has been decided that the fortifications were stronger than those of Sebastopol, yet Grant is still confident of success.

The siege of Port Hudson was also progressing, with favorable prospects. The rebels reported that Gen. Banks had lost an arm, but the source was not reliable.

A portion of Hooker's army was again across the Rappahannock, and more bloody fighting was imminent. We trust that the third time will be the charm.

The severest cavalry fight of the war, occurred on Monday, at Beverly Ford, on the Rappahannock. A Body of our cavalry, under Col. Buford, attacked Stuart's entire force, driving them back six miles, and killing large numbers of them. Stuart was on the eve of another grand raid into Pennsylvania and Maryland, but this little accident set him back sadly.

The Kansas Colored regiment was to be paid at last. The officers were to receive the same pay as officers in white regiments, and the privates ten dollars per month. The paymaster was on his way to the regiment. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Highland County Virginia

Highland, Virginia - I believe almost everyone had someone's ancestry that passed through or near Highland county, Virginia at some time in their lives. That is why we are giving a history of Highland, Virginia in the OkieLegacy. This week we have been reading about the America in 1745, in Oren F. Morton's book, History of Highland County..

There was no United States. Only thirteen colonies all owning a certain degree of allegiance to the British crown. Pennsylvania and Delaware were under the authority of the same governor. The thirteen colonies were with respect to one another thirteen independent, English speaking nations. It was reported that nine-tenths of the white people were of British origin. Each colony was jealous of its own rights and more or less distrustful of its neighbors.

Georgia was the youngest of the colonies. Virginia was the first founded and was not so old by thirty years as was the settlement of the Bullpasture Valley. The occupied area of the colonies extended a thousand miles along the coast. It reached inland scarcely more than a hundred miles.

West of the Alleghanies no settlement had yet been made The entire Mississippi Valley was claimed by the French, and in a slight degree had been colonized by them. Travel was by rowboat because roads were few and far between and bridges were few.

In America there were only three colleges: Harvard, yale and William and Mary. Outside of new England there were no systems of public schools, illiteracy was common. Yet in every colony there were not a few persons who were well versed in the higher education of that day. It was little else than a classical training, conducted to a style of discourse that was heavy, stilted and full of Greek and Latin names and allusions.

The men of best education were the ministers and lawyers. The daily newspaper was yet in the future. The very few weeklies were in size about like our Sunday School papers. The mails were few, slow, and irregular, and the frontier settlement did well if it received its letters once a month.

Religion was free only in Rhode island and Pennsylvania. Other s had a state church supported by general taxation, and all people were expected to attend a certain number of times in the course of the year. In Virginia this church was the Episcopalian, known also as the Church of England.

It was also a very dark age with respect to medical knowledge. Hygiene was little understood or practiced. Quacks were numerous, and in the South physicians were held in low esteem. As to legal procedure, its methods were always conservative. With respect to society, it was colored by aristocratic ideas. Even when the Federal government went into operation in 1789, only one person in twenty-five was a qualified voter.

There were taverns in every county, they always kept liquor, the use of which was general. Southern taverns were poor, but the traveler was sure of free entertainment in the homes of the planters. His visit was an appreciated break in the sameness of life in a sparsely settled country.

In 1745 England was in a very broad sense the mother country of the colonies. Not only their language, but their laws and usages were derived from England. And yet the causes which have made the American a very different person front he Englishman had begun to operate with the coming of the first immigrant ships.

Each neighborhood was a little world in itself. They were interested in little else than its own petty affairs and content in its narrowness with prejudice shown toward a stranger. I truly hope we have grown from that mentality of the mid-eighteenth century. If not, we are in trouble for sure. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Jesse James (1847-1882)

Missouri - PBS had a program on a few days ago concerning Frank and Jesse James that got me to thinking of what lead those two brothers to a life of crime. Was it the Civil War? Were Were they a part of the Missouri "Border Ruffians" that battle the "Jayhawkers" of "Bleeding Kansas," who fought for a "Free State." Anyway, it reported that frank James was the quiet brother and Jesse James was the brother who craved the attention for his crimes.

The Cheyenne Transporter Supplement, dated Monday, 10 April 1882, Vol. 3, No. 16, published at Darlington, I.T. (Indian Territory), Editor & Publisher, W. A. Eaton, page 5, had this to say about the James gang surrendering and the assassination of Jesse James.

The article mentions, "Dick Liddel, one of the most efficient men in the James gang, came in and surrendered to a sheriff. He gives the whole business of the Glendale, Blue Cut and Winston train robberies away, and acknowledges that he was one of the gang engaged in these daring outrages. Not long after the Winston affair he had a row with a member of the gang named Hite, in which the latter was killed. Liddel knew that this act would cost him his life if he was ever overtaken by James & Co. He finally decided to give himself up settle down to some honest calling. In this he is likely to come to grief, for, the James boys are bent on taking his life."

Jesse's Assassination

It was the morning of April 1882, when Jesse James was killed at his house in St. Joseph, Missouri, by Robert Ford, a young desperado whom Jesse had under training. Charles and Robert Ford had been currying their horses and making ready for a trip to Nebraska, where they intended to rob a bank.

Returning to the hues the Ford brothers met James who remarked that it was very warm and threw off his coat and pistols. Then what has always puzzled this NW Okie was why would Jesse James (a.k.a. Mr. Howard) get up on a chair to dust off some pictures? The Fords saw their opportunity, and Robert fired, the ball hitting James in the lower part of the head and coming out over the left eye.

The boys then telegraphed the news to the Governor and the authorities of Kansas City for several months, and this was the first time they had caught him unarmed. The departed desperado was married 1874, and left a wife and two small children. Mrs. Samuels, mother of Frank and Jesse James, was present at the inquest and identified the body as that of her son. Two large bullet scars were found in the right breast near the nipple. By these several parties identified him. There was no doubt but that the greatest desperado Missouri ever produced was dead this time. Jesse James was 37 years old at his death.

April 7, 1882, page 2 Weekly Graphic, Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri, had these headlines that read, "That $10,000 Corpse" and further particulars of the Jesse James Assassination.

This article is about Robert Ford that appeared in The County paper, in Oregon, Missouri, 14 April 1882, page 3. It was a sketch of Robert Ford, whose name was then familiar in every section of the country as that of the youth who killed Jesse James, the most famous outlaw and bandit of the nineteenth century, must possess a thrilling interest for all who have read of the last act in this memorable and tragic drama.

Robert Ford first saw the light in the old domain which has produced so many brave and heroic men. He was born in Fouquier county, Virginia, in the year 1862. Of him it may be truthfully said he was rocked in the storms and strifes of Civil War. The march of armies, the clash of arms, the blood stained battle fields were familiar scenes and sounds to the father of Robert Ford. At last he seems to have imbibed the courage, the daring, the iron nerve, the fearlessness of death, so characteristic of those unhappy days.

When the parents, longing for a wide field and greater opportunities to acquire a livelihood and sought a home among the fertile prairies of Missouri, Robert Ford was only ten years of age. Mr. Ford settled in Ray county, was engaged in tilling the soil. The boys attended school and received a fair education, and as they grew to manhood assisted their father in the labor of the farm.

They come of sturdy stock, for John Ford was a man of industry, physical powers and determined will. A quiet man, slow to provoke a quarrel, he knew his rights and dared to maintain them at every hazard. The family consisted of nine children, five sons and four daughters.

We must now pass rapidly on to the more exciting scenes in which Charles and Robert Ford have played such a conspicuous part of the James gang.

Strange that justice so long delayed, yet with iron heel and noiseless step, was pursuing like some avenging Nemesis the bold outlaws who had struck terror to every community and whose name, like that of Richard the Lion Heart, could only be spoken have in a whisper; whose hands were red with innocent blood and the clatter of whose horses' hoofs oft made the midnight air resound and the village weep over their fierce and bloody deeds. These avengers of blood were living in the same county, and within a few miles of the Samuels farm, constantly hearing of the train robberies and other daring crimes of Frank and Jesse James. They soon became acquainted with the James boys, frequently visiting Mrs. Samuels' house, and Jesse urged Charles Ford to join the gang. Charles Ford finally did, in order to further the ends of justice, and assist the officers in hunting down these cold blooded murderers, who had so long defied the law and spurned his officers, to return to a quiet and peaceful life.

Last November Gov. Critierden offered a reward of $50,000 for the apprehension, dead or alive, of Jesse and Frank James and their accomplices.

Several of the gang, Dick Liddil and others, surrendered themselves to the authorities and betrayed the history, the deeds of violence of which they had been a part, and afforded valuable information in regard to the whereabout of the band.

On the 4 November 1881, Charles Ford and Jesse James came to this city and rented a house at 13th and Lafayette streets. Jesse James gave his name as Thomas Howard and the Ford boys passed as Charles and Robert Johnson. They traveled much together, took a trip into Kansas and Nebraska to see how the banks looked, and which offered the best facilities for making a haul. Charles Ford went on this expedition in order not to alarm Jesse and not because they wished to participate in any robberies or murder.

About two weeks before Charles Ford and Jesse James went down to Clay county to bring up Robert Ford. They were planning the robbery of a bank and Jesse wanted some assistance. Charles suggested his brother. This was agreed to. Charles and Jesse returned with Robert, and both the boys lived with Jesse and his wife at their residence. It was agreed that they, Jesse, Charles and Robert should rob the Platte City bank. Jesse said he would kill the cashier, cut his throat, and shoot any one who interfered. The boys did not want to engage in this deed and stimulated by the governor's proclamation offering a reward on his life they decided to kill him.

On the Monday in April, 1882 Jesse James was shot from behind while standing on a chair dusting a picture, his back turned towards Robert Ford, who fired, shooting Jesse in the head and killing him in minutes.

The Kansas City Journal Comments As Follows:

"The state of Missouri is at last rid of the most daring outlaw that has ever disgraced the Western country. Jesse James has met the fate due him. Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies. 'The great King of Kings hath in the table of his law commanded that thou shalt do no murder.' Spurning this edict, the outlaw whose remains are now lying in St. Joseph to be gazed upon by gaping thousands, roamed the country for many years -- in fact from his early boyhood, committing murder after murder, defying the laws of God and man with impunity, until the very earth cried for vengeance upon him. Vengeance hath been taken and no honest man will shed a tear over his fate. He deserved it a thousand times over, and the maudlin sympathy expressed for him and his by some people, particularly in St. Joseph, only disgraces those who give expression to it. Jesse James was a curse to the land that gave him birth, a red handed murderer and highway robber, at whose taking off good people in every section of the union will rejoice. The old gang of robbers led by the James boys is now pretty well broken up. Frank lives, but nearly all of his followers are gone, and recruits will not be easily obtained. Frank will yet meet the same fate which overtook Jesse."

This is more on the story of Jesse James and the man who shot him as it appeared in The Cheyenne Transporter, 13 October 1882, page 8, when Ford, who shot Jesse James had gone back to Missouri to die of consumption.

Cheyenne Transporter, 25 July 1881, Vol. 2, No. 23, page 5, had this article concerning "Murder and Robbery" of Missouri and the James gang, and the most daring murder and robbery lately recorded was perpetrated at Winston, Missouri, on the night of the 15th inst., by men who are supposed to belong to the James brothers gang. A Kansas City Journal reporter took the testimony of a number of eye witnesses, the following being the most concise. It is from Harry Coleman, a brake man on Mr. Westfall's train:

"All the shooting of which I had any knowledge occurred in the smoking car. I sat in the rear of the car. Several seats in front of me sat a tall, spare man with heavy, black whiskers. Between me and their party Westfall was taking tickets. Suddenly the tall man sprang to his feet and shouted, 'Keep your seats; don't move.' When I saw the two revolvers and heard them go off I began to think he meant business. Westfall was leaning over putting a check in a passenger's hat. Before he could straighten up the revolver went off. I saw the wadding fly from Westfall's coat. He staggered past me to the platform and fell from the car. The shooting was kept up by the man who shot Westfall and by another man in the front end of the car. Another man who was standing on the platform was shot and fell from the car. Westfall is one of the most honest, upright and companionable men I know."

There seems to have been seven men concerned in the affair. They mounted fleet horses as soon as the train stopped and had not yet been captured. Four of the parties were thought to be Jim Cummings, Jesse James, Miller and Dick Little. It is well known that Jesse James vowed vengeance upon several men for guiding the detectives to his mother's house. Westfall was among the number. After doing all the butchering they cared to, the desperadoes robbed the express safe, taking from between $1,000 and $3,000. There was much talk of punishing the outlaws, but the State of Missouri has suffered so many outrages to go unpunished that there is little hope that these desperadoes would get their deserts.

Jesse James, Jr.

The Guthrie Daily Leader, 12 November 1898, page 1, Jesse James, Jr.'s Trial, by Scripps-McRae League, Kansas City, Nov. 12, had this short mention of "The trial of Jesse James, Jr. was set for January yesterday." This must have been the son of the famous outlaw, Jesse James.

It seems Jesse James, Jr. was wanted in connection to a robbery of the Missouri Pacific Train at Leeds. Was the son following in his father's footsteps? Or was the law enforcement harassing the son of Jesse James? Here is the article dated 12 October 1898, page 1 -- "Jesse James Is Wanted" - written by Scripps-McRae League, Kansas City, Mo., October 12 -- "Jesse James, Jr., was arrested last evening in connection with the robbery of the Missouri Pacific train at Leeds. He was suspected of complicity in the crime, and for some time had been under police surveillance."

Here is another story concerning the son of Jesse James that appeared in a Kansas City, Moissouri newspaper October 12 -- "Jesse James, Jr. was released on habeas corpus this morning, but was rearrested on a warrant charging him and Andy Ryan with complicity. The police feel sure that they are able to establish his participation."

The Guthrie Daily Leader, 20 October 1899, page 4, reported that Ed Vanderpool was the only person in Guthrie who was intimately acquainted with Jesse James, Jr., of Kansas City. He has just received a letter from Mr. James stating that he will be here next Tuesday.

The Guthrie Daily Leader, dated 19 October 1898, page 3, had the following to report on Jesse James, Jr. -- "Cushing Herald - Jesse James Jr., son of the notorious outlaw of Missouri, appears to have been implicated in a late train robbery in the Cracker Neck District near Kansas City. The young man no doubt was encouraged to enumerate his noble father's career, and why should he not. His father was referred to as a hero in place of the red-ha-de murderer that he was, who should have even caught and hung by the neck until he was dead. So long as the people glory the bloody crimes of outlaws so long must they expect that their conduct will breed plenty more such pests to prey upon society."

Whether this is true or not . . . It does seem the James family was being ruined through the newspapers of that time period. BUT . . . Can/could you believe everything you read in the paper back then? View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Jayhawkers of Kansas

Kansas - What were the Jayhawkers? And . . . What was their prominence just before the American Civil War in Kansas?

Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, states, "Jayhawkers is a term that came to prominence just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause. These bands, known as Jayhawkers, were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery groups from Missouri known at the time as Border Ruffians. After the Civil War, the Jayhawker become synonymous with the people of Kansas. Today the term is a nickname for native born Kansan."

The origin of the term "Jayhawker" is uncertain, but some think the term was adopted as a nickname by a group of emigrants traveling to California in 1849. It could go back as far as the Revolutionary War, when it was reportedly used to describe a group associated with the American patriot John Jay.

It became a part of the Missouri-Kansas border in about 1858, during the Kansas territorial period. One early Kansas history contained this succinct characterization of the Jayhawkers: