That NW Okie piled me (Duchess) and that black little Pug into the automobile Wednesday, September 7, 2005, AND... headed towards NW Oklahoma for a few weeks. We did notice that the further East we went towards norhtwest Oklahoma Territory that the gas prices got down below $3.00. Friday afternoon they were $2.899 at Alva, Oklahoma. Check out Okie's Mailbag for other gas prices this week.

We arrived just in time Thursday afternoon to check-in on our friends, Bud & Lovina Clark, and attend the Woods County Free Fair, in Alva, Oklahoma. We hear that Oakie got to watch some grown men & women play broom polo while mounted on their horses. Oakie didn't take us, though. Boy! That Sadie Pug could have run circles around all those horses in the arena... IF they didn't trample her first!

Oakie spent Friday afternoon up at Northwestern's library viewing old newspaper archives of the 1920's. She was looking for any mention of a fire that killed some OSBORN(E) family & children, in Alva, Oklahoma around 1920. Oakie didn't find anything mentioned about the fire in the Renfrew's Record dated January thru December 1920.

BUT... She did find some other interesting items about NW Oklahoma in the 1920's. Did you know that in Renfrew's Record, dated January 30, 1920, frontpage, there was an article about Jett Mercantile Comes to Alva, Oklahoma? Oakie will include that and other 1920 articles in the future Okielegacy newsletters.

Besides that... we have heard from a great-great grandson of the "Pilgrim Bard" (Scott Cummins). AND... Check out Okie's Mail Bag for more information concerning "Candy Bob" (a.k.a. Col. Bob Kirkbride). We have added a few more video clips of Rally in the Rockies and Duchess, Sadie & Little Bill View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Farry Community Band & Conway Springs Wells...

We heard from a reader that sent us a couple of pictures [Farry Community Band 1916 & Conway Springs wells 1898]. The picture on the right is at the Conway Springs wells in Conway Springs Kansas. Samples and Walker families were enroute to Oklahoma territory in 1898. Destination was Farry community.

The Names starting from left to right are: Billy Brison, Hugh Mitchell, John Sample, Howard Walker, Manely Murshul????, Ed James, Max Lot????, Dave Sullivan????, Kirk Collins.

Hugh Mitchell,John Sample,Howard Walker, and Ed James were all first cousins. Ed James was the father of the recently deceased Edwin James of Freedom. His wife Pat still resides in Freedom and was a former cafe operator there. Howard Walker taught school at Farry, published the Freedom Express later -- later was Woods County Treasurer from 1930-34. Later Howard and his wife Stella published the Hardtner Press for many years. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Miller Not Paroled - 1920...

Remember the Old Opera House Murder of 1910? This photo is a photocopy of N. L. Miller's Prison Card showing a "Citizenship Pardon" dated 12/18/1929. There are other dates from 9/9/1921 to 11/14/1923 (showing Miller paroled).

This news article was taken from the October 8, 1920 Renfrew's Record, a Woods County, Alva, Oklahoma newspaper, known as "The Only Democratic paper in Woods County."

The news article concerns N. L. Miller, convicted of the murder of Mable Oakes in the Old Opera House Murder of 1910. The news article was on the front page of the Renfrew's Record, dated October 8, 1920, Friday, titled - Miller Not Pardoned -- "It has been persistently rumored in Woods County that N. L. Miller had been pardoned from the state penitentiary. We have a letter from the pardon and parole attorney stating that nothing has been done for this man as far as executive clemency is concerned and that the Governor has not issued any orders in this case whatsoever." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pilgrim Bard's Great-Great Son...

"Want to Thank you for this wonderful web site I was researching the Pilgrim Bard. I am very proud to say 'He is my great-great-grandfather.' I am son of Frank Cummins and grandson of Scott Cummins. I was born in Alva and grew up around Freedom. If anyone is not familiar with Musing of the Pilgrim Bard, I would suggest getting a copy. It reveals a lot about our Oklahoma Heritage." -- Phillip Cummins - Email: kustom@starband.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Houma, Louisiana Headlines Today...

"I thought you might be interested in seeing what our Houma Newspaper's web site, looks like at this point after Katrina's passage. We're just outside the most severely damaged area." -- Charlie - Houma, Louisiana Today View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WWII POW Camps In Oklahoma...

"Many thanks for these excellent articles on WW2 POW camps in Oklahoma." -- Pat Browning Email: patbro4@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Farry Community Band 1916...

"Here is a picture of the Farry Community Band taken in 1916. I also have a picture of the Darr School in 1906-07. Howard Walker was the teacher but I don't have the identification of any of the children. I also have Farry School pictures circa 1917-19. The Names starting from left to right are: Billy Brison, Hugh Mitchell, John Sample, Howard Walker, Manely Murshul????, Ed James, Max Lot????, Dave Sullivan????, Kirk Collins.

Hugh Mitchell,John Sample,Howard Walker, and Ed James were all first cousins. Ed James was the father of the recently deceased Edwin James of Freedom. His wife Pat still resides in Freedom and was a former cafe operator there. Howard Walker taught school at Farry, published the Freedom Express later -- later was Woods County Treasurer from 1930-34. Later Howard and his wife Stella published the Hardtner Press for many years." -- Gilvin Walker, Harper, Kansas - Email: kargilwalk@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Rainey (Aldridge) -1st Fort Supply Patient...

"My name is Vonnie, I have been receiving your email regularly, and enjoying them as well. I need some help. My Great-Grandmother passed away in Ft. Supply Hospital she was one of the first patients to arrive in 1908. I have gone to Oklahoma to visit family, and visit her gravesite. Just to let her know she's no longer alone. Other family members have gone before me. Being that our world is so different today, she would have lived a very productive life in todays times. She was manic depressive as we have found some old paperwork. What I am absolutely sure of, is that Bob Rea (the keeper of the history) at Ft. Supply Hospital/Fort has literally hundreds of pictures of the people that lived there in the hospital. Because we were limited on the time we could spend in Oklahoma (my mom and I) I was unable to go through some of the pictures, but I did see some that showed the first patients arriving there. I need to find out if Bob has made any further progress in putting those pictures in some sort of format? He was somewhat accessible, but no longer. I hope I wasn't a pest, but I am so close to Lou Ann Rainey(Aldridge) history, it's really getting hard to be patient. I haven't tried to contact Bob for a couple of years. I need a plan B. Can anyone help? Please and Thank You." -- Vonnie W. - Email: vnwright1977@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Katrina Disaster Relief...

"Linda, I am in the heart of Acadiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, and I have seen this tragedy with my own eyes. It is so sad, people walking around in a daze. I have donated as well as volunteered my time at the cajundome, taking food donations, clothes, baby goods, you name it. It is the saddest thing I have seen in my Life. Tuesday, I did nothing but cry. It was so horrible. It could have been us here in Lafayette, but when it hit Grand isle, LA it turned East and went in on the backside of New Orleans instead of headon, it will be a long time for all these people to have homes again. All support is appreciated. May God Bless all of you out there that is helping with the hurricane Katrina devastation." -- Punkin in Lafayette View/Write Comments (count 3)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wrought Iron Range Well Bucket - On Ebay...

"Hi Linda, Todd Plough here. Sorry for the delay. I have listed the wrought iron range well bucket on ebay this week if you would like to take a look and/or let others know it is for sale @ $25." -- Todd - Email: tsawmill@localnet.com - Wrought Iron Range Well Bucket - Ebay View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wild Atlanta Gas Prices...

"I didn't have a chance to get pictures of ALL the wild and crazy Atlanta gas prices I saw this week, but here is today's (9/5/05), now that things have settled down a bit. Tuesday night, Atlanta, 11 PM news was predicting gas shortages by Wednesday Noon. That prompted me to make a midnight gas run to fill up all our cars at $2.799. By Wednesday at 3 PM, it seemed to have been a joke. Everything was normal. But by 6 PM, the prediction had come true. The few stations that had gas to sell were ranging from $3.299 to $5.699 (can you say gouging?) and the lines to fill up your car were wrapped 20-30 cars long and blocking traffic. By Wednesday night and into Thursday and Friday, nearly every station in our area was out of gas. The posted prices were all BLANK! Thursday, the State of Georgia lifted its tax on gasoline sales, so that prices would drop by 15 cents per gallon. Great plan, if anyone had gas to sell. By Friday afternoon, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was trying to calm everyone down, assuring us that the stations would have gas to sell before Labor Day Weekend was over. Yeah - right - this is the same guy who got elected by promising all of Georgia's teachers their first pay raise in several years. And once he got elected - OOPS! Just kidding! But this time he kept his word. 75% of the gas stations in our area did have gas to sell by this afternoon (Labor Day), and the going rate was just over $3.25. I got lucky by finding this QT at $2.999." -- Scott View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Perry, Oklahoma Takes in Katrina Survivors...

"Perry was probably the first Oklahoma town to plan to receive homeless victims of Hurricane Katrina (even though there wasn't much mention of it until the media started talking about Stillwater's effort to do the same). Some church members traveled to Louisiana at the end of last week to begin bring folks to our town and the 'set the wheels in motion' to enable others to come here. A special emergency meeting of the town council was held Saturday to approve the use of a recently closed nursing home (now owned by the city) and volunteers began yesterday cleaning the building and making necessary repairs to bring it 'up to code'. The efforts were begun by some local businessmen who were joined by the Chamber of Commerce, the town council, The Perry Ministerial Alliance, law enforcement, Noble County Emergency Management and the school system here. Also a local highschool Junior Class girl last week organized (with the help of the school counselor), a drive for all sorts of non-perishable items to be taken to any of the three school campuses. All food-stuffs will be donated to 'Feed The Children'. Our 'Operation Blessing' program will probably have enough clothing and small appliances to give our new arrivals (the victims of Hurricane Katrina) a 'new beginning'. Perry has quietly set about to 'do it again'. We are known as the community of 'Hopes and Dreams' (which the statue in front of the courthouse boldly states)." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 6)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Col. Bob Kirkbride - Candy Bob...

"I am writing you for information about Colonel Bob Kirkbride (also known as Candy Bob). I’ve seen a couple of articles or reader’s responses about him on the Okie Legacy web site and thought you might have more information available. I am trying to put together what information I have about him and confirm it or add to it. I’ve tried to summarize below what information I do have. From what I’ve been told or can find in my copy of a family history, he is my great-grandfather’s brother and his given name is Robin Wilson Kirkbride. Robin Wilson is the only brother’s name that equates with “Bob.” Any information you can provide would be appreciated and I will try to look through my family pictures to see if I can find pictures of Colonel Bob when he was younger. I know I have picture of his family (parents and siblings) but only know which person in the picture is my great-grandfather (Guy Carmi Kirkbride).

The information I have from a family history is that Colonel Bob was born on 12/7/1887, probably in Stratton, Nebraska, to Franklin Wilson KIRKBRIDE and Flora WELLS. He was the sixth child out of nine total kids and the last of the three boys in the bunch. Robin married Pearl E. Huff on 11/23/1910, and it’s not clear if Pearl is from Alva or that they were married in Alva. The text about him reads: ”Born 12-7-1887, married Nov.23, 1910 to Pearl E. Huff, Alva, Okla.” Robin and Pearl had three girls and no boys. The girls are 1) Dorothy Wells (born 8/23/1911 and died 3/23/1915), 2) Margery Lee (born 6/29/1914), and Mary Doris (born 10/1/1920). It appears that Margery Lee is the Margery Clyne that Marvin Henry was referring to in The Okie Legacy (5 May 2001, Vol. III, Iss. 18).

I have heard that Colonel Bob was an avid duck hunter, an auctioneer, and made candy. Bob and my great-grandfather (Guy) started out working together by traveling around to buy and sell cattle. My great-grandfather worked as a butcher (one reason to buy cattle) or farmed land in the various places that he lived (Trenton, Nebraska until the dust bowl and then in Vernonia, Oregon). Either Robin or Guy (depending on which family member is telling the story) had a Buick that broke down and stranded him, causing him to lose a sale. He wanted to make sure that it didn’t happen again so he bought himself another Buick to make sure he had at least one running car.

My grandfather (Byron Kirkbride) told me that when Candy Bob was running an auction and the bidding slowed down, he would take a break from selling and tell a ribald story or two to loosen up the crowd (and their wallets), and then he would resume the sales. And usually, the bidding would pick up.

My father told me that Colonel Bob Kirkbride was killed as he was driving by a couple of duck hunters, when one of the hunters followed a duck in flight with his shotgun and happened to fire it when the duck was in line with Colonel Bob. My father made it sound like Colonel Bob died relatively young but the Alva, Oklahoma library web site (www.alvaok.org/Library/pdf/k.pdf) shows his date of death as June 20, 1947, making him nearly 60. Although, with what I’ve seen about of my family, 60 could be considered relatively young. Thank you in advance for whatever help you can provide." -- Randy Kirkbride, Kennewick, WA - Email: rakirkbride@charter.net View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Gas Prices In NW Oklahoma...

As Duchess, Sadie and I were traveling mid-week to NW Oklahoma through Colorado, New Mexico we spotted a few gas prices along the way. In Raton, New Mexico, Wednesday evening it was $3.18 for Unleaded. Thursday morning it dropped a few cents. We didn't get a snapshot of those price, though.

It stayed about the same until we reached Boise City, Oklahoma where Gas prices reached below $3.00 ($2.999 per/gal unleaded). This photo shows the gas prices on Thursday at Guymon, Oklahoma at $2.999, BUT... we did find a place on the north edge of Guymon that had gas for $2.939. Thursday afternoon, when we arrived in Alva, OK, gas prices were $2.999. BUT...

Friday morning in Alva, Oklahoma gas prices had dropped 10-cents and unleaded was going for $2.899 per gallon Friday (9/9/2005). Saturday, 10 Sept. 2005, gas prices in Alva had dropped another 10-cents - $2.799. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Looking For Skippy ALLMAN...

"I am looking for Skippy ALLMAN, son of Nadine SHROYER and Schuyler ALLMAN. Nadine and Schuyler were great friends of my parents, Jim and Doris (MEEK) LISK from Alva, Oklahoma. I have lots of great letters written to my parents from Schuyler. I thought Skippy might like them." -- Cynthia Lisk dePrado - Email: WCDeprado@hotmail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1920 - Jake L. Hamon Shot in Ardmore Hotel...

Taken from Renfrew's Record, Alva, OK, Friday, November 26, 1920 -- Probably Woman In Case... Jake L. Hamon, Ardmore millionaire oil man and Republican National Committeeman was shot in that city Sunday night. Charges of immorality have been filed against him and his stenographer. Mrs. Clara Hamon, a twenty-seven year old beauty and the wife of a nephew of Hamon. It is said that she has been his stenographer since 1914. She is charged with a assault with intent to kill. Mrs. Clara Hamon is said to be a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Smith of Ringling, Jefferson County. During 1915 she is said to have been with millionaire Hamon constantly, even traveling with him. It was in 1916 that she is said to have married his nephew, but the couple never lived together.
      Jake Hamon was wounded Sunday night in a room in an Ardmore hotel (Randol's Hotel) where he makes his home. He claims it was an accident, but it is said the woman fled.
      Hamon showed a pistol to a Physician and said: "There's the d___ old thing I did it with. Isn't it a pretty looking little old d___ thing to have caused all this trouble?"

[See Oklahomahistory.net - Hamon for more information on Jake Hamon's Murder.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1920 - Did Clara Smith Hamon Shoot Jake Hamon...

Taken from Renfrew's Record, Alva, OK, Friday, December 3, 1920 -- Dallas, Texas, Dec. 1. (1920) -- E. W. Sallis, Dallas chauffeur, today stated that he had, a week ago yesterday, driven from Dallas to Cisco, Texas, a woman who said she was Mrs. Clara Smith Hamon, wanted in connection with the recent death of Jake Hamon, millionaire oil man and Republican national committeeman for Oklahoma, at Ardmore, Oklahoma. Sallis, in repeating to newspaper men the story he previously had told to Dallas policemen, said the woman purchased a railroad ticket to El Paso. Sallis said the woman told him that she had shot Mr. Hamon because of a misunderstanding that arose over certain things Mr. Hamon wanted her to do.
      Sallis said that the woman went to the union station at Dallas to board a train for El Paso, but saw a policeman standing at the head of the stairway leading to the train shed, became frightened and decided to leave Dallas by motor car. he said the woman apparently was greatly confused and that she wore a pari of horn-rimmed glasses as a disguise.
      Sallis said he was interviewed last Sunday by Russell R. Brown, county attorney of Ardmore. Charles C. Cunning, Dallas chief of detectives, said he had been informed by Sallis that he had driven the woman from Dallas, to Cisco, but that he did not think Sallis consciously broke the law, and that he was not placed under arrest.
      "I first saw her on the evening of Tuesday, November 23, (1920)," Sallis declared, "when she approached my car and asked to be driven to an aeroplane field where she might charter a plane."
      "I drove her to a field in East Dallas and we located a plane, but were unable to get an aviator at once. Soon she became restless because of the delay and got back into my car, asking me to drive her to San Antonio. I started to San Antonio, but she changed her mind and said that she wanted to go to Cisco instead. It was on the way to Cisco that she told me that she was Mrs. Hamon."
      "At Cisco she left my car and bought a ticket to El Paso. She told me that she had never been inside a railway train since leaving Ardmore, but had traveled entirely by motorcar."
      "She didn't have any jewels with her but she had lots of money -- apparently about $10,000, all in bills. She was expensively dressed and wore a heavy veil. She told me that she had made a will three months ago."
      Sallis said that he believed the woman was today within thirty-six hours journey from Dallas.

Ardmore, OK, Dec. 1. (1920) -- Russell R. Brown, county attorney of Carter county was absent from his office this afternoon and no confirmation could be secured of dispatches from Dallas stating that a motor car dirver named E. W. Sallis had been interviewed by Mr. Brown in Dallas relative to the appearance in that city a week ago yesterday of Clara Smith Hamon, wanted here in connection with the death of Jake L. Hamon, Republican National committeeman. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Friday, Aug. 27, 1920 - Remailing Ancient Letter...

This 1920 news article was taken from The Renfrew's Record, Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma, Friday, August 27, 1920 -- Remailing Ancient Letter

A few days since J. P. Renfrew of this city mailed a letter to his cousin in Galesburg, Ill. that was written in July, 1846 by her father Wm. R. Johnson of Plainfield, Ohio. The letter was originally written and mailed to John Renfrew, (father or J. P.) Marioin, Linn County, Iowa Territory. As was the custom in those days before envelopes were used, the letter was folded the size of an ordinary envelope and held together on the back of the letter by a plaster of red sealing wax about the size of a nickel. The front side of the folded letter was left blank on which to write the address. The letter described the enlistment of 125 Coshocton county, Ohio volunteers for the Mexican war, May 30, 1846. The war spirit spread rapidly in those days as the battles of Palo Alto and Resaco de la Palma, the first battles of the Mexican war were fought on the 8th and 9th of the same month. Mr. Renfrew's uncle, Edward D. Johnson went with these volunteers. When the regiment was being organized at Cincinnati, a few weeks later, seven of the Coshocton boys deserted and returned to their homes. The letter states this and gives the deserters names. Mr. Renfrew says that when he was a child his mother told him the sotry of the deserters and said that her mother hoped that Edward would come home also. her father took a different view of it however. "If that young man comes home, a deserter, I'll send him right back to the army. I'll not allow a son of mine to disgrace me by deserting when his country need him." Ed didn't desert, however, but came home with his regiment two years later and was honorably discharged. As Mr. Renfrew's cousin had expressed a desir to get possession of the letter written by her father so long ago, it has been again mailed 74 years after it was first mailed. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe