Oakie's NW Corner

With March here, is Spring far behind? We were traveling to OKC from Alva the other afternoon, March 3, Monday. Out in the countryside a few miles south of Alva and west of Carmen, Oklahoma a huge gaggle of geese were heading north. When we were getting near Oklahoma City and traveling along the NW highway, a few miles west of OKC, we spotted another, but smaller, gaggle of geese heading northward.

Are we going to have an early spring and short winter? It sure seems like it!

Besides the gaggle of geese, I now have in my possession a 108-110 year old family quilt that my great-grandmother (Isabelle Johnson McGill) had made for one of her sons, James. James Acel McGill carried it with him to the Oklahoma Territory around 1893 and the Cherokee Outlet Run. You should see the meticulous stitching, quilting in it. It is beautiful - fantastic quilting work. It measures 72"x80". The colors (Turkey red, Orange anemone, brown on an off-white linen-type background) are true, good condition, but the brown is worn in a few spots. It has always been in the McGill family. I had a chance to purchase it and keep it in the McGill family. So... I DID! Does anyone have any ideas how best to display this antique family quilt without hiding it away in a cedar chest or subjecting it to folded crease marks, dust, sunlight and other harmful things that plague antique quilts?

The 1906 Standard Atlas of Woods County... This thin book caught my eye this week when I was browsing for family pioneers that homesteaded land in NW Oklahoma. I did find some McGill's that owned land in the South half of Section 4-T26N-R14West Indian Meridian (WIM) - James & W. P. McGill - James was son of W. P. & Isabelle Johnson McGill). John R. Warwick (my great-grandfather, father of Constance Estella Warwick McGill) owned land in the NE quarter of Section 23-T26N-R14WIM, N half of Sec. 36-T26N-R14WIM, NE quarter of Section 35-T26N-R14WIM (north of railroad tracks at Phillips Station or Hopeton, Okla.). Wm. Warwick (possibly, John's father) owned the NE quarter of Section 35-T26N-R14WIM (south of railroad tracks at Phillips Station. SEE Twp. 26N-14WIM Map... Check out these maps to view other NW OK landowners of 1906.

For those of you interested in the Dacoma (Dakoma or Homer) area in Northwest Oklahoma, I scanned the 1906 Atlas map of Woods County, Twp. 25N-R13WIM that shows the listed owners of the land surrounding that area near Dacoma, Oklahoma, in northwest Oklahoma. That is where some of my PARIS ancestors settled, SW of the Dacoma area.

Waynoka Historical Society - Membership & Annual Fund Drive... We did our part this week when we made our donation to the Log Cabin & Depot Fund Drive to help out the Waynoka Historical Society. You can, too! They Need Your Help... to preserve their smalltown history!

As Sandie says in our Mailbag Corner this week, ".....Waynoka is a small town with a large history ... the society must rely on the help of friends who share their love of the town and its past, or those who have never heard of Waynoka before, but recognize and appreciate the value of preserving its great history. If you would like to be a part of this preservation, the Waynoka Historical Society -- Welcomes Your Donation of any amount. Their mailing address is PO Box 193, Waynoka OK 73860. President Sandie Olson's phone number is 580-824-5871; her email address is sandieo@pldi.net. If you would like to earmark your donation for the Log Cabin or Depot Fund, please note that on your check. Visit their web site at waynoka.org."

The Waynoka Historical Society has copies of a map of the Cherokee Strip Livestock Ass'n Ranches for Sale in the Museum Gift Shop. They're $3, plus 9% tax. They are 11"x17" - and frame nicely.

The weathermen have promised a decent Friday and Saturday this weekend, with a slight change in weather to hit around these parts on Sunday. This outdoor-type lady has plans to enjoy as much of the sunshine and outdoors as possible. Help us preserve our ancestor's pasts anyway you can! See you all next weekend!

~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~

NW OK Marriage 1943

Oklahoma -

Meixner-Harney - Wednesday,1943, Alva, Okla. - Elizabeth Meixner Married To Ensign Lew Harney Wednesday - Miss Elizabeth Meixner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Meixner, Sr., Alva, became the bide of Ensign Lew Harney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hal H. Harney, Hansen, Idaho, Wednesday morning at the home of the bride's mother, 922 Center. The single-ring ceremony was performed by the Rev. M.F. Langley, pastor of the First Baptist church.

Allen-Vetter - Saturday, 1943, Cherokee, Okla. - Allen-Vetter Vows Saturday - In a quiet ceremony performed in the Methodist parsonage in Cherokee, Miss Kathryn Allen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burr Allen, became the bride of Norman Vetter, son of Mrs. Harry Vetter. The vows were read by the Rev. Roy Miller at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

Delhotal-Murrow - Sunday, 1943, Alva, Okla. - Wedding Vows Read Sunday In Murrow Home - Miss Lorraine Delhotal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Delhotal, Pampa, Texas; and Max Murrow, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Murrow, Alva; were married in a quiet ceremony Sunday morning at 9 o'clock in the Murrow home, 709 Eighth St. The Rev. Lambert of the Dacoma Church of God read the nuptial vows.

Bloom-Feagins - Saturday, 3 April 1943, Grandfield, Okla. - Lowana Bloom Married To Robert Feagins - Mr. and Mrs. Orville Bloom, Wichita, Kans., announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Lowana Bloom, to Robert T. Feagins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Feagins, Blackwell, Okla., Saturday, April 3, in the parsonage of the First Baptist church, Grandfield, Okla. The Rev. James E. Smart performed the single-ring ceremony.

Kunzman- Kletke - 17 May 1943 - Party Given To Honor Newly Wed Couple - A housewarming party was given Wednesday evening in honor of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Kletke, who returned recently from their wedding trip to Taos, N. M. The party was given by relatives and friends at the bridal couple's newly established home, 721 Flynn. Mrs. Kletke, the former Mrs. Hannah Kunzman, and Mr. Kletke were married. May 17, in the home of the bride. The Rev. Otto Hoyer of the Lutheran church read the nuptial vows using the double-ring ceremony.

McBee-Batchelder - Sunday, 6 June 1943, Wichita Falls, Tex. - McBee-Bachelder Vows Exchanged In Wichita Falls Sunday Morning - Wedding vows were taken at dawn Sunday morning before a white archway covered with pink roses and greenery in the Central Church of the Nazarene in Wichita Falls, Tex., by Miss Laura Eunice McBee of Wichita Falls and Pfc. Kenneth Lee Batchelder of Sheppard Field and Alva, Okla.. The Rev. Arthur A. Miller read the ceremony assisted by the groom's father, P. A. Batchelder of Alva.

Clark-Meyer - 14 September, 1943 - Miss Jesse Clark, Leo. A. Meyer Wed September 14 - A marriage of interest to their friends is that of Miss Jessie Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Clark, Alva, and Leo A. Meyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Meyer, Alva.

Meskimen-Welty (handwritten above article - Freedom 2-16-42)... A marriage of much interest to their many friends was that of Mrs. Ruby Meskimen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wilson, and Ellsworth Welty, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nove Welty, which was solemnized at Coldwater, Kansas, Sunday, with Judge M. M. Cosby officiating. The bride wore a street length dress of blue, with black accessories. Pete Welty, brother of the groom, and Miss Grace Keon of Woodward were the only attendants. Mr. and Mrs. Welty, who will make their home on the Ruby Eden ranch, east of town, have many friends here who extend congratulations to the happy couple.

Riggs-Murrow (handwritten above article - Dacoma 2-20-42)... Wedding vows were exchanged between Miss Delores Riggs and Dean Murrow at high noon Sunday in the home of the bridegroom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Murrow. About 4 o'clock the young couple left for Wichita, Kansas, where they will make their home. Dean has employment with the Cessna Airplane factory.

Early 1890s Family Quilt

McGill Family Quilt --

Recently this part of the McGill family has acquired an early 1890s McGill family quilt. The quilt books called the pattern the North Carolina Rose.

The Great workmanship has withstood those over-100 years very well!

This family heirloom came from the Wm. P. McGill family when W.P.'s wife, Isabelle Johnson McGill, pieced and quilted it for one of their sons, James A. McGill at Coats, Kansas, between the years 1890-1895. James was an older brother to my grandfather, Wm. Jacob McGill.

It has been in the McGill family ever since my great-grandmother Isabelle Johnson McGill sent it with James A. McGill when he came to the Cherokee Outlet Run in Oklahoma Territory.

There was a note card that came with it and handwritten by James' sister, Lulu McGill Erskine, that reads, "James A. McGill quilt. Pieced and quilted by mother McGill at Coats, Kansas. I would say between the years of 1890 to 1895."

READ Quilt history...

NW OK Pioneers

Mr. Haines was a native of Indiana. He was acclimated in Kansas and came to Alva in 1899 and engaged in the clothing business, which had grown with the town. He always did his best to keep the "bandwagon" moving ahead.

MORE NW Okla. Pioneers....

Waynoka Historical Society -Membership & Annual Fund Drive

"The Waynoka Historical Society is conducting a Membership & Annual Fund Drive. Annual dues are $25, and include free admission to the
museum, and a subscription to the Waynoka Chronicles, a quarterly publication that is new this year. Of course donations of any amount are appreciated so very much. They also have special funds for the Log Cabin Restoration and Depot Restoration.

Waynoka is one of Oklahoma's most historic towns, beginning with the establishment of a cattle shipping point when the railroad was built across Northwest Oklahoma in 1886. Eventually the largest rail yards in
Oklahoma were built at Waynoka by the Santa Fe Railroad. About 1000 men went to work every day on the railroad and at the Railways Ice Co. at Waynoka, working three shifts seven days a week.

Waynoka's Aviation history... began in 1911 when W.D. Lindsley built an airplane. He wrote to Washington, asking them to place orders for his plane, saying that the airplane would be the greatest factor in the history of the world in establishing world peace. How very prophetic he was. We see the truth of his statement very clearly today. Lindsley and his friend Clyde Cessna both took their planes to the Great Salt Plains for testing. Lindsley sold the engine from his plane to Cessna, and went into the fly swatter business.

Transcontinental Air Transport... the Lindy Line, built a big airport at Waynoka in 1929. Ford tri-motor airplanes flew between Waynoka and Columbus, Ohio on an air and rail venture that took passengers from
coast to coast in 48 hours. A night train ride between Waynoka and Clovis, New Mexico, with dinner or breakfast at the Waynoka Harvey House, was necessary because of the dangers of night flying in those early days of aviation.

Waynoka became more than a rail siding and a post office when the Cherokee Strip was opened for white settlement on September 16, 1893 in the greatest land run in the history of the world. The town was a trade center for the pioneer families who excitedly claimed the land near the cattle shipping point.

Waynoka's history is fascinating and unique... The historical society has successfully restored the Harvey House, and hopes to restore the Old Santa Fe Depot next to it. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has pledged $240,000 toward the project, with the society responsible for a $60,000 match. The Harvey House restoration, and exterior work on the depot, cost in excess of $1.3 million, and was completed in 2000.

Waynoka is a small town with a large history... the society must rely on the help of friends who share their love of the town and its past, or those who have never heard of Waynoka before, but recognize and appreciate the value of preserving its great history. If you would like to be a part of this preservation, the Waynoka Historical Society would Welcome Your Donation of any amount. Their mailing address is PO Box 193, Waynoka OK 73860. President Sandie Olson's phone number is 580-824-5871; her email address is sandieo@pldi.net. If you'd like to earmark your donation for the Log Cabin or Depot Fund, please note that on your check. Visit their web site at waynoka.org. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Birdie Smecher - Smelcher Sod House, Early Woods county

Smelcher Sod House -- "This photo from my Barnett family collection of early Woods County is inscribed, 'Birdie Smelcer.' I gather that this family and the Smeltzer family, of German ancestry are often one and the same. I'm entranced by the contrasts in this photo. The sod house and surroundings are 'dirt' poor - pun intended. Yet, look at the nice clothes and the 'cutsie' doggie. These pioneers were literally living in a hole in the ground. Their pride is still apparent." -- Charles M. Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country - Email: cookmmc@iamerica.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Riggs-Murrow wedding 1942

"A writer in the March 1st edition of your newsletter's "Mailbag" mentioned the 1942 article of my parents' wedding in the Dacoma newspaper -- Miss Dolores Riggs and Mr. Dean Murrow. Their wedding was the 15th of February (this year would have been their 61st anniversary - Mom died in 1999) and the newspaper was dated the 20th, I believe." -- Rod - Email (rod@murrow.com)
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Teachers Institute Photo

"I was very interested in the photo of the 1894 Teachers Institute. Mary Jane Riggs was a teacher at the Green Valley school, which was originally located on land donated for that purpose by her brother, Grant Riggs. We have a photo of her and the students posed in front of the original sod house structure in the early 1890s.

Mary Jane was born in 1874, so would have been 20 years old at the time this photo was taken. There were several unidentified persons on the photo and I was naturally curious to know if perhaps Mary Jane (who was known in the family as "Aunt Doll") may have been in attendance at the institute. If any readers can provide additional names for that photo, it would be helpful. Mary Jane Riggs was the daughter of William L. Riggs, and Grant Riggs was her BROTHER.

She and Grant Riggs (and others) were siblings of my great-grandfather, Charles Riggs (Charles was the father of Sam Riggs, who owned Riggs Supply in Alva for so many years; Sam's wife, Oneita, is still living and is a resident at the Homestead Retirement Center in Alva. One of Sam's older brothers, Bertsell Riggs, was my grandfather).

Thanks -- I always enjoy your newsletter...and have recommended it to many friends." -- Rod - Email (rod@murrow.com)
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Oklahoma Survey and Virtual Cemetery

a href="http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Eokcemete/okcem.htm">Oklahoma Survey and Virtual Cemetery... "If you have not visited the Oklahoma Survey and Virtual Cemetery website. (Oklahoma Cemeteries Mailing List Homepage) lately, you should take a moment and check out all of the cemetery data that has been added and is being added daily. This website is becoming one valuable research tools on the internet, for those looking for the missing graves of their ancestors of Oklahoma. As you enjoy the information take a moment and send a quiet thank you to the many many volunteers who have made this site possible for us. These volunteers spend their free surveying cemeteries, taking photos and placing the data online so we can have access to the information from our homes.. They do it only for the love of helping their fellow Oklahoma researchers, never ask for thanks or regeneration. I for one am in awe of this kind of dedication." -- Kathleen Burnett, List Mom View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva Public Library - Genealogy Section

"Something you want to look at when you are in Alva (Oklahoma) if you haven't seen them before at the library in the genealogy section there are about 10-12 Volumes of books about Alva and the surrounding area residents or former residents.

Someone had a very time-consuming project - they took archived newspapers (from the Alva area and any other state/city they found any articles in from around the country) and cut out the articles relevant to Alva residents or who formerly lived in the Alva area, etc... (and surrounding towns too). I found poems written by Rose NICOLA on umpteen pages of this one book and it was a compilation of her poems written weekly for the local newspaper - for over 3 years!

They were all grouped together - which I thought was really neat!

I found obits from California and other states about (former) residents, etc.! ANYWAY, I don't remember what the title of the volumes are called but they're divided into the volumes and then topic matter (e.g. weddings, deaths, activities, etc.) and indexed! In the instance of the weddings announcements I told you about .... there were 3 articles cut out of a newspaper and then all 3 were Xerox on this one page - (pg. 342) of the Weddings Feb. 1942 section. That page happened to have my mother and dad's wedding announcement - and it also included the Meskimen - Welty marriage from the Freedom paper (I assume ... since someone has handwritten 'Freedom' just above the article) and then hand written a date - which I presume is the date it was published in that particular newspaper. Here are the 2 wedding announcements transcribed as they are on the page:

Meskimen-Welty (handwritten above article - Freedom 2-16-42) -- A marriage of much interest to their many friends was that of Mrs. Ruby Meskimen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wilson, and Ellsworth Welty, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nove Welty, which was solemnized at Coldwater, Kansas, Sunday, with Judge M. M. Cosby officiating. The bride wore a street length dress of blue, with black accessories. Pete Welty, brother of the groom, and Miss Grace Keon of Woodward were the only attendants. Mr. and Mrs. Welty, who will make their home on the Ruby Eden ranch, east of town, have many friends here who extend congratulations to the happy couple.