Oakie's NW Corner

OKC, Oklahoma -

Before we get started here with more Okie Legacies, let me personally thank you all for your advice and congratulations on the recent McGill family quilt that has come into our possession. We truly appreciate everyone who replied. Thanks for being such fantastic readers of this Li'l Okie Legacy Ezine. We really do appreciate your loyalty and support.

Now that we have that out of our system... We are going to share a special treat concerning some 1960's Democrats & Political Legacies of Oklahoma that our father saved in his political scrapbook. We have to say, though, we have only began to skim through Gene McGill's two, huge 1960's political scrapbooks. We shall start out with the Democratic photos of the 1960's that he accumulated while he was Oklahoma's Democratic State Chairman during the early 1960's. A couple of the photos are in this week's newsletter, but you can view the rest of the collection at Oakie's Webshots - 1960's Political Legacy.

As to Woods County Pioneers... We have added a few more names to the Northwest OK Pioneers. Some of the names listed this week are: F. G. Munson, assistant cashier in First National Bank; J. H. Hudson, Jr., clerk in First National Bank; W. R. Frazier, clerk in First National Bank; John W. Bishop, postmaster of Cleo, editor of Cleo Chieftain; Eugene Carter, clerk in First National Bank; Earl Rumsey, clerk in Alva National Bank; Lee Noah, law student in office of his father H. A. Noah; F. Hageman, Alva manager for southwestern telephone company; and J. T. Hiatt, bookkeeper in Harbaugh's grain and coal office. MORE Woods County Pioneers....

More NW OK Pioneer Tidbits... This were taken from The Alva Pioneer - Souvenir Edition, dated January 1, 1904, Woods County, Oklahoma Territory. In 1897 there was only one bank in Woods County, with deposits of between 50 to 60 thousand dollars. On January 1st, 1904, there were 26 banks, with deposits of over a million dollars. Up to 1897 the people spent all they made for improvements. It was also reported in that same newspaper of 1904, "since that time they had been putting something away for a 'rainy day'."

According to the Alva Pioneer Souvenir Edition dated 1 January 1904, The City Waterworks and Alva had an abundant supply of the very best water, which came by natural gravitation from springs 2-1/2 miles north, and which were 50 feet higher than the main business part of the city. A pipeline brought the water into a reservoir holding 80,000 gallons, located in the north suburbs of the city. It was then forced a mile up the slope to the storage tank located south side of the Castle on the Hill (also known through the past years as - Northwestern Normal School, Northwestern State Normal College, and Northwestern Oklahoma State University). The water tank held 65,000 gallons, and was about 112 feet high.

First School... J. W. Buckles, a young man from Harper, Ks., began a subscription school, Oct. 16, 1903, in a little building 12-by-12 feet on the corner where W. F. Hatfield's dwelling house once stood. According to the Alva Pioneer Souvenir Edition of January, 1904, this was thought to be the first school taught in the Cherokee Strip. If someone out there could help us out here and share with us the exact location of where W. F. Hatfield's dwelling house was located, that would be very helpful here. We would love to see a picture of it if it is available? Thanks!

Woods County Schools... In 1904, Woods County once lead all other counties in educational advantages for its young people. The Normal School at Alva was the greatest institution of learning in the southwest and was during 1904 considered to become one of the foremost normal schools in the country..... READ MORE...

We found this fantastic Oklahoma Poem, "In Oklahoma," as it appeared in the 1904 Souvenir Edition - The Alva Pioneer. It did NOT have the name of the author. You can read the full poem by clicking on "In Oklahoma.".

Where the waving fields of corn
Skirt the roadside sere and dun,
Where the river winds along
In a rhythmic, droning run,
Where the listless, floating hawk
In the azure blue is high,
Where the clouds are phantons white
On the winds that buoy them by --
There my heart is free
As a heart can be,
And my soul is in tune with Thee!.....

The Ides of March are upon us with St. Patrick's Day and the first day of Spring just around the corner. Daylight Savings Time (April 6, 2003) can not be too far behind either. Have a great weekend and enjoy the Spring-like weather while our neighbors in the North and East are still experiencing snow, Winter. See you next weekend!

~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~

NW OK Marriage 1943

Oklahoma -

Hort-Holding - Thursday, May, 1943, Alva, Okla. - Hort-Holding Vows Read In Alva Thursday - Miss Anna Hort, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hort, Sr., east of Alva, was married to PFC. Bill O. Holding, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Holding, Marshal, Thursday evening at the Lutheran parsonage in Alva. The Rev. Otto Hoyer performed the double-ring ceremony.

Phelps-Bicknell - Sunday, June, 1943 - Miss Phelps Bride-Elect of Brooks Bicknell - Dr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Phelps of El Reno announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Miss Mary Margaret Phelps, to Brooks H. Bicknell of Oklahoma city, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Bicknell, Alva. The wedding will be an event of early June.

Kinzie-Kightlinger - Thursday, 10 June 1943, Amarillo, Tex. - Wanda Kinzie Is Bride of Pvt. Kightlinger - Mr. and Mrs. Guy E. Kinzie announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Wanda Berlene Kinzie, to Pfc. Robert L. Kightlinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Kightlinger of Quinlan, Okla., Thursday, June 10, in Amarillo, Tex. The single-ring ceremony was read by the Rev. R. N. Huckabee, in the 10th Avenue Methodist church at 3 p.m.

Glasgow-Tate - Friday, 2 July 1943, Hugo, Okla. - Glasgow, Tate Vows Exchanged - Mr. and Mrs. Earl Glasgow of Dacoma announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Dana Maxine Glasgow, to Pvt. Glenard Mack Tate, Friday, July 2, at Hugo, Okla. The Rev. C. W. Lester read the nuptial vows in the First Methodist church.

Deusinger-Thilsted - Saturday, 24 July 1943, Denver, Colo. - Wanda Deusinger, John Thilsted married Saturday in Denver, Colo. - In a quiet ceremony Saturday at the First Baptist church in Denver, Colo., Miss Wanda Marie Deusinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. F. Deusinger, 1028 Flynn, became the bride of John P. Thilsted, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Thilsted, near Alva.

Hunter-Milton - Tuesday, 10 August 1943, Enid, Okla. - Hunter, Milton vows Exchanged August 10 - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Mrs. Nellie Hunter, Alva, and Mr. Ed Milton, Alva, which took place Tuesday, August 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Christian church at Enid. Rev. Sours read the single ring ceremony.

Milton-Faulkner - Sunday, 15 August 1943, Anthony, Kansas - Mrs. Verna Milton Becomes Bride of Felix Faulkner - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Mrs. Verna Milton, Alva, and Felix Faulkner, Alva. The wedding took place in the Methodist church Sunday August 15, in Anthony, Kansas, at 4 p.m. with Rev. Victor A. Major reading the single ring ceremony.

Fettke-Allen - Thursday, 16 September, 1943, Madison, Wisconsin - Norma Belle Fettke Becomes Bride of Cpl. Dale Allen - Announcement is made of the marriage of Miss Norma Belle Fettke, daughter of Mrs. Vera Fettke, Alva, to Cpl. Dale Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Burr Allen, Alva, Thursday, September 16, at Madison, Wisconsin.

20 May 1963 Political Legacy

OKC, Oklahoma -

Waiting Arrival at Airport... Gov. Howard Edmondson, State Democratic Party Chairman Gene McGill and US Senator A. S. 'Mike' Monroney awaiting arrival of Vice-Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson in Oklahoma City on 20 May 1963.

MORE Okla. Democrats & 1960...

Oklahoma Democrats & Kennedy

OKC, Oklahoma -

McGill's Photos of Pres. Kennedy

Antique Quilts

"You have a beautiful quilt. Before we go any further, keep it out of the sun. It would fade quickly.

You are very right to be concerned about creasing. The best way to preserve it and also display it would be to lay it out on a spare bed.

Even if you wanted to put a different spread on the bed, leave it there and put the other one on top. You can also fold it a few times and put it on a couch, chair , bench, etc... so that it would not receive any pressure. Periodically refold another way to relieve the first creases.

You could also sew a tube on the top of the back so the stitches do not come thru to the front. It could be hung on a wide pole to give it support and hung on a wall. To do this I would first wrap the pole with acid free paper and baste that into place to keep any stain from coming on to the fabric.

Hope some of this is a help to you. Thank you for sharing this great quilt and story. Best wishes." -- Marjorie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Speaking of Quilts

"I enjoyed your sharing the family quilt with me. One good quilt deserves another. A couple of years ago thirteen of my first cousins, my brother, and I surprised my Aunt Nell Cook Morris by gathering in Oklahoma to celebrate her eightieth birth day.

Nell flew from California with her daughter, and even though on cousin was on the plane during the leg of the flight from Denver to OKC, OK, she was completely surprised. My wife Martha is a superb quilter.

She merged high tech and low tech to create a gift quilt for the occasion. Using a special cloth that can be printed upon with a computer printer, she made the quilt shown here. It features photos from the birthday girls whole life.

Her daughter and I were exchanging photos until the wee hours of the night, just before the project started. All her nieces and nephews present signed the border with indelible ink.

Perhaps this is an heirloom of the future." -- Charles View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Family Quilts

"What a family treasure! I can remember a few quilts from my childhood that my grandmother had -- especially one crazy quilt -- but my mother was the youngest child and I don't think we ever got any of those. I am into some quilting now, and enjoying it very much. Dorthy has a couple of small things I have quilted, but I'm much a novice and have done only one small piece with hand quilting, preferring at this point to concentrate on the piecing of the tops. I'll ask around about preservation and display options." -- Marilyn View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Clark Family

"Trying to find out some info on a family that lived in Freedom. James Henry Clark b 4-20-1872. Died Sept. 7, 1946. Had a brother named Joe Clark, one of the two were boxers. James was married to a Belenda C. Dillard-Clark B. March 22,1871, died Feb. 18,1922. James and Belenda were married in Alva on 4-20-1898. Their farm was 8 miles south of Freedom. James Henry parents were William Ownes Clark, and Mary A. Pritchard or spelled Prictard who was also Princess Rain Water. We are trying to get back to this Princess Rain Water. What info you can find for me would be greatly appreciate. Thank You for your time and help.' -- Linda Bonham - Email: LDBonhamtigger@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Good Soddy Deserves Another

"This is a photo of the Cottonwood school, in pre-statehood (coined word) Woods County, Oklahoma Territory.

In the center of the rear row, is J.W. Spilman, the teacher. Mr. Spilman was the teacher of several of the siblings of my great-grandmother Ida Bell Barnett Martin, wife of Hugh Martin Jr., Woods County's first sheriff. The next photo is of the 'certificates of approbation' garnered by Daisy and Carl Barnett, Ida's siblings. Evidently they 'did good.

My thanks to Sandy Olsen, president of the Waynoka Historical Society for the school photo." -- Charles M. Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Earnest 'Jack' Wilson Inquiry

"Please add me to your mailing list. I am trying to research genealogy. My husband was born in Freedom. Earnest (Jack) Wilson. His grandfather was Luther Calvin French. I have always been told Granddad French was in the Oklahoma Land Rush. If there are any sites you can connect me to that would help in my research, I would greatly appreciate your help. I would like to know more about the old townsite of Freedom before they moved it because of the railroad." -- Patricia - Email: Patricia75633@aol.com

[Editor's Note: Newton Wilson Bio, pg. 759 and pg. 760 - Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

McNeely Family of Menard Co., Illinois

"You list a McNeeley family in your tree and they are from Menard County, Illinois. Do you know their relationship to a Thompson Ware McNeeley who became a U.S. Representative?

Also, I have an great-great-grand aunt named Sarah A. Osburn, born 1823, who is listed in your tree. We apparently crossed paths somewhere back when. My great-grandfather, Sarah's brother, took a wagon train west in 1865 and Mr. McNeeley was a member of the party.

A sister of Sarah, Lucy Osburn, wrote a biography and mentioned that McNeeley had written a book about the wagon train trip. I would dearly like to find a copy of it if it really exists. Write me. I can't believe that after running a Yahoo search on Thompson Ware McNeeley I came up with just one hit and it tied to someone in Oklahoma City. Small world!

If I find that story I'll let you know." -- Jere Osburn - Email: jere@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 3)   |   Receive updates (2 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1906 Woods County Atlas

"Thank you, Linda, for publishing our membership drive information, post office history, and information about our Cherokee Strip maps. It's very helpful to us.

The Waynoka Historical Society has Reprints of the 1906 Woods County Atlas which you mentioned. They're nice hard-bound books with a maroon cover and gold lettering. They sell for $30, plus tax of 9% for Oklahoma residents, plus shipping.

Anyone interested could contact me at Email: sandieo@pldi.net. We also have a 2'x4' poster of twelve townships in the Waynoka trade area for $5, plus tax and mailing. Thank you, Linda!" -- Sandie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Oklahoma

Oklahoma - "Having been born & reared in Southeast & Southern Oklahoma [Indian Territory] I have always known that our culture in this part of the state was somewhat removed from that of the NW part of Oklahoma.

For example, we had no land runs in this part of the state and yet it seems that when the mention of Oklahoma it conjures up images of dug out homes,Cowboys & Indians, land runs, Sooners, Boomers, etc...

The romance of the coming together of the Old Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory is often passed over in such a way as to leave many questions in the minds of those of us that consider ourselves as being true Oklahoma's.

I am proud to be known as a 'Sooner' since I have a degree from Okla. University, but had the circumstances been different I could have well been a real Sooner or maybe a Boomer or how about just someone that participated in a land run.

I would still be proud. The curriculum in our schooling required that the history of Oklahoma be taught, but even so there could be a lack of understanding concerning the plight that people in the diverse parts of our great state had to endure in its early days.

History books do not mark in detail just how these matters were so very different in many ways.

When I first went to the Oklahoma Legislature I learned much from my colleagues because they came to the Capitol from all areas of the Oklahoma. I met people that came from parts of this land that I had never heard of. I found that we all had a common bond because we loved this place we call Oklahoma - our home.

In reading your weekly E-Zine I have learned much about the NW part of Oklahoma. I thank you for sharing your research concerning the life and times of the NW part of Oklahoma. Sure -- I had traveled through all parts of Oklahoma but it finally occurred to me that this state is a great example of what should be known as a true 'melting pot' where the various cultures have come together in a spirit of fellowship.

Oklahoma was settled by citizens from both the northern states & the southern states and each brought a little of their culture with them. People came here from many foreign lands and they shared their culture with all others. And I must say at this point [and I borrowed this ] - "Is This a Great State or What???!!!

Thanks, Linda, for what you are doing." -- Ernest View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Seiling High School Seniors of 1936

Taloga, Oklahoma - "While surfing. I stumbled upon your website (Vada Paris' High School graduation) while looking up the words, 'Chester, Oklahoma' and 'Bland.' I found the page for your mother's high school graduation. Her name was very familiar to me because my mother graduated from that same class. Her name was Gladys Hedrick.

Her parents were George and Susie Hedrick and she grew up on a farm north of Chester (Oklahoma). She had two brothers, Clyde and Doyle.

My mother married my father, Emil Grade, of Taloga, in 1941. Both of my parents died in 1995. I grew up in Taloga but have lived in Topeka Kansas since 1965.

Cecil Condreay was my mother's first cousin and also graduated from that same class.

I will attach my mother's high school graduation picture here. There were a lot of Hedricks and Blands around Chester. My mother's mother was a Bland.

I used to hear the name Paris when my mother would talk about people. I don't recall hearing Hurt. I was in Chester a few days after Thanksgiving for the first time in 4 years at least. I went to the Taloga High School reunion.

There sure aren't many people out that way. My aunt Lois Hedrick still lives outside of Chester as does her son Mickey Hedrick. Bill and Frank Hedrick were my grandfather's brothers. I think Leota was a sister.

I'll get back to you after I look it up. I've heard Eunice Bland's name a lot. She was probably a first cousin of my mother. I think all of the Blands and Hedricks around Chester were relatives." -- Gloria - Email: golson@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe