Oakie's NW Corner

Alva, Oklahoma - Things have been busy this Spring week in NW Oklahoma. The mid-70 and 80 degree weather has found this writer out to pasture with digital camera in tow snapping the new colts, momma mares and other country

Do you recognize the 2002 colt from last year? Yep! That is my 2002 sorrell stud that I sometimes call George" or "Doc's Sorrell." I have not decided which name to use, but George is used the most, because last May, 2002, while I was at Parelli's horse camp in Pagosa Springs -- Big George was the horse I trained with. So... I named my last years colt after Parelli's - Big George. BUT... I also like the name "Doc's Sorrell" because George's father was Doc Bar.

My Cindy has not foaled her 2003 colt as of this writing, but I am hoping sometime this month for another precious li'l colt. I will keep you posted.

There is something special watching the new little colts stumbling, awkwardly or sleeping nearby their momma mare as she grazes in the pasture. The following are not my colts, but belong to Clark's Quarterhorses in Alfalfa County, in Northwest Oklahoma.

The first colt to make the scene was Frosty's li'l filly. She is turning into a golden delight and holds her head so proudly.

Let us not forget Bea Pig's 2003 colt, though. He was the second to arrive around March 29, 2003.

This next photo to the left shows the "Old Grey Mare and her 2003 bay-looking colt that was born around the first part of April. As more 2003 colts are born, I will no doubt share them with you all.

If you are interesting in some great looking quarterhorses, you need to check with Bud & Lovina Clark, in NW Oklahoma - P. O. Box 803, Alva, Oklahoma 73717.

Before I leave you to Spring ahead your clocks this weekend (Sunday, 2:00a.m.), don't forget to checkout the Indian Guide Monument info in the Eastern part of the state. Another reader sent me New Mexico and Mother Nature's version of "Yellow Ribbons" for the soldiers serving across the ocean.

Did you know that the Pilgrim Bard, Scott Cummins, had a brother named George Cummins? Another reader sent some information about her Cummins and Arndt Pioneers that settled in Oklahoma Territory.

Thanks for your patience and understanding as this newsletter is a bit short and late this weekend. Sometimes there is not enough hours in the day, days in the week to do everythings, but perhaps next week will be a bit more settled.

Have a great weekend! Do NOT forget to spring ahead those clocks early Sunday morning for Daylight Savings Time. AND... Here's a moment of silence and prayers of support for our troops fighting over in Iraq and the prisoners of war and those missing in action..

~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~

NEW Family Member

Alva, Oklahoma -

Precious, playful li'l Valentines Day Pug is Duchess Jade Rose Chang (Duchess), born February 14, 2003. Duchess' father is Emperor Chen Chang and her mother is Chubby Jade-Pik. Click the above picture to see Duchess in the process of rearranging and making her own bed.

Duchess' li'l playmate was caught in the act of whispering secrets the other day. I couldn't resist snapping this shot.

More History of Chinese Pug

Mother Nature's Yellow Ribbon for Soldiers

New Mexico - Mother Nature's Yellow Ribbons -- "Thanks again for the memories. While this is not an Oklahoma thing, just wanted to share with you a couple of pictures from our area. Even though we are in a drought that is becoming more severe by the day, we have had a little bit of moisture at just the right time to cause the Mexican Poppies to bloom. Although they are in bloom from the outskirts of El Paso up into the White Sands Missile Range area east of Las Cruces, the two pics are from NE El Paso.

Someone mentioned that with the numbers of soldiers deployed from Ft Bliss, Mother Nature has covered the area with her own Yellow Ribbons. Also, have a county map of Blaine County, which shows WELLS in the area of Hitchcock. Scanned it and sent it to Diana. Possibly it will help in her quest. Again, Thanks, and keep up the good work." -- Marvin - Email: nmfigment@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Indian guide Monument - NE Oklahoma

Oklahoma - Looking for any one with info about the Indian Guide Monument which originated in Pyramid Corners, Oklahoma. In the late 1800s it was torn down and moved to Centralia, Oklahoma. On the Oklahoma map look in the far N.E. corner for a town named Bluejacket, named after Chief Bluejacket, Shawnee Tribe that migrated into Oklahoma out of Ohio at the same time all the other tribes came to Oklahoma from Ohio. This particular area was populated by the Cherokee and the Shawnee. It seems strange that this monument is not documented anywhere." -- Ronald Hawkins - Email: hawkins@nationsnetwork.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ghosttowns of Oklahoma

Oklahoma - Ghosttowns of Oklahoma... Checkout this unique website with some great info about some of our Oklahoma Ghosttowns. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Descendant of George Cummins

Oklahoma - "I very much enjoyed this web page. I am a direct descendant of George Cummins. Orange Scott Cummins was George's brother. My grandma called him Uncle Scott.

I am also a direct descendant of Valentine and Parmelia Arndt. It was told to me that Valentine made the brick and built parts of the "Castle on the Hill" where my grandma attended Normal School. I will be bookmarking this page and returning. Thanks for compiling all those photographs.

My pioneer families were there in Alva. I grew up in Alva myself, but married a college student who moved me to 'Indian Territory.' I live in Fairfax, OK now, in Osage County.

I have read Scott Cummins' book 'Musings' at the Tulsa City-County Library. Since I requested the book to read, it has since disappeared from the library. I would dearly love to own a copy. Grandma's mother (that would have been Mrs. Robert Perry Arndt, who was George Cummins' dau.) had a copy, but Grandma said that it disappeared when her mother passed on.

The Cummins owned property around Winchester, which is also northwest of Alva, as you probably already know. I have information on all of these people some of it is on CD-ROM, compliments of one of my Arndt descendant cousins. The Arndt's were from Lancaster County, PA. They were brickmakers. They owned several kilns. Jacob Arndt was also a photographer and a preacher. Jacob was Valentine's father. They worked to pave highway from Pennsylvania westward. They moved to Nebraska. Their women didn't like the harsh climate there and wanted to go back to Pennsylvania, so they sold their kilns in Nebraska and bought 50 head of horses.

On their way back to Pennsylvania they met a man at a watering hole who told them they'd never get that herd back to PA alive, and that what they ought to do was to head South to the new land being opened in the Oklahoma Territory. That is exactly what they did. I believe that they didn't get land in the run, but that they purchased land afterward. Their horses, I believe, were stolen from them at some point. It seem as if I recall that they either purchased land or sold land at Tegarden. I cannot recall so much.

This may not be entirely accurate to what I have written down, but I can get my resources out and check it all, if you want me to.

I do know that my grandmother, Beulah Estella Arndt, was born in a dugout house, in Oklahoma Territory. Her parents were divorced while she was a child and she helped her mother to raise the rest of her brothers and sisters. They lived with her grandfather George Cummins at that time. She attended McKeever School and then Normal School. She married Raymond Shafer, whose parents farmed near her home. He always teased her about being 'a foreigner' since she was born in the Oklahoma Territory. He was born in Kansas.

Grandma lived through many trials in her life, and she took them all as well as she could. She was the sweetest Grandma a girl could ever ask to have though. I loved her very much.

I an currently attempting to write a novel based on the life of my pioneer Oklahoman ancestors (not entirely factual, but true to their natures) and I was searching for background information for the setting and what life was like back in their day. That is how I found your web page. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I plan to visit the old homesites sometime this spring, when my Shafer Family has it's reunion the first of May. I want to take some pictures, so that I may do some paintings of the places too. I took lessons in painting from John Hayword, when I was young. He was another of Alva's old timers. Thanks for your reply and interest in putting the history of my family in your paper.

Let me know how I can help. I have cousins who are keeping history notes also, we may want to compare notes" -- Linda Myers - Email: lmyers@cimtel.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Love OkieLegacy

"I admire all the work you do on the Okie Legacy. I am very interested in tracing my family tree but have no clue how or where to start. Can you give me any tips as to how to get started. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot" -- Di View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Freedom Rodeo Photos of 2002

Freedom, Oklahoma - "I noticed your article in the Okie Legacy (Volume 4, Issue 35), regarding the Freedom Rodeo Queens. I took pictures that day but none of the pictures turned out. Did you have anymore pictures that you wouldn't mind sending me. Thank you." -- Brye View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Orphan Train Mailing List

Oklahoma - "If you have an interest in the history of the Orphan Trains which carried thousands of children to their new homes and families in many states from the 1850's to 1930, including Oklahoma. AND... If you would like to subscribe, send only the word SUBSCRIBE to ORPHAN-TRAINS-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM.' --Kathleen View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Free Topo Foundation

Free This is a place where USGS topo maps can be viewed online. This site currently has images of these states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Chinese Pugs

Chinese Pugs... "The chinese pugs history is traced back to China, 600 BC. The chinese pug is the largest of the toy breed of dogs. The coat is short, smooth, and the colors are: black, silver, or apricot- fawn, with a dark face. The chinese pug has a tightly curled tail and carries it high over its' back....." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe