NW Okie's Corner

I woke up Friday morning, 25th February, with the beginning of another year in my life awaiting me. There was a light snow covering on the ground outside on this particular Friday morning, and as the last few mornings have been around here.

AND... There were 9 or 10 fat, wild turkeys strutting across the front yard from west to east ... grazing leisurely along the way. Duchess spotted them way before I did, though. I grabbed my digital camera -- snapped a few shots of them through the living room window.  These are just three of them. The others had strolled on east towards the driveway heading towards the lower east pasture. The snow didn't last very long and the turkeys wished me a Happy Birthday, then gathered elsewhere. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Military Uniforms

I found another interesting photograph taken by Hugh Donnan way back when, but not sure of the date. We think that it might date back to the Spanish-American War (1898). Why are there flowers sticking out of the tips of the guns. AND... take a look at the spats covering the top parts of the boots from the knee on down to under the sole of the boot. Looks to be a dress uniform. The photo is glued onto a cardboard decorative display imprinted with the Hugh Donnan logo. Anyone out there know anything about old military uniforms or guns that could help us out here?

This is one of those times that I wish I could reach out into the world beyond the living and pick my Grandmother Constance (Warwick) McGills knowledge of who, when, where the photo was taken. If anyone out there has any expertise, knowledge or runs across any websites that might help identify the year this photo was taken, I would love to hear from them. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Young Ladies With Diplomas

We know that there was a Hugh T. Donnan that had a photography studio in the Alva, Oklahoma and Kiowa, Kansas area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. We also know that Hugh Donnan married Lilla Wilhite, April 18,1899, in the home of Fanny and Frank Hatfield in Alva, Oklahoma.

This is another of Hugh Donnan's photographs that I found among my grandmother's old photos. We do know one of the young ladies. Seated on the lower-left, front is Nellie FUGIT. Also... each of the five young girls is shown holding a rolled up diploma of some sorts. Young graduates maybe? View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva Teachers - 1907-1908

Alva Teachers 1907-08... While I was digging through some of my grandmother's old photo, I found this photograph of Alva Teachers from 1907-08 school year posed on the steps of a school in Alva. I haven't showed this to you before, have I?

From left to right, Frontrow: Estella Stull, Lulu Keith, Jessie Converse, Edna Kelley, Edith Norris, Jenny Monfort, Guy Lisk; Backrow: Connie Warwick (McGill), Mary McKelvey (McGill) Vinson, Miss Anna Stevens, Pearl Bickel, Stella Earnest, Cal Jackson, (janitor).

As to Mary McGill... Mary was married to Augustus Grant Vinson (b. 12 JAN 1866, d. 27 APR 1940); Mary McKelvey McGill b. 1 JUN 1869; d. 14 SEP 1922; Father: William Pearson McGill; Mother: Isabelle McClure Johnson. Mary is also the sister to Grandpa Wm Jacob "Bill" McGill. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Dacoma's Cowboy Grill in 1990

A few weeks ago we mentioned the Cowboy Grill in Dacoma finally closing their doors after 80 some years. Well! If my memory is correct, these photos I ran across were taken at the 'Cowboy Grill' in Dacoma, Oklahoma the 'Summer of 1990.' One photo shows Dorthy McGill (on the far left) with Billy Whittet next to her and Estle Haltom on the far right. I forgot who the gentlemen was in between Whittet and Haltom. It will come back to me... OR... someone out there will remember and let me know. The other photo shows Dorthy seated at a table with Cecil Haltom (Estle's wife). Here is the photo of Dorthy & Cecil Haltom seated at a table at the 'Cowboy Grill'. Remember when Dorthy 'DoRight' McGill ran for State Representative, District 58, NW Oklahoma? I think 1990 was the year she was 'DoRight' and 1988 was the year she ran as 'Dynamite Dorthy.' OR... did I get those years switched around? View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Air Tour - June 1, 1946

This next photo was taken June 1, 1946 during an Air Tour we believe was at the Waynoka airport, in NW Oklahoma. Why we say Waynoka is because the gentlemen on the left with his back to the camera is Roscoe Kelsey. Next to Roscoe is Gene McGill with his wife Vada. On the far right in the background is another gentlemen by the name of Oscar Callison. View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Green Cars of NYC

Have you ever seen this kind of touring car before? What year were they used in NYC? I did spot a gentlemen in the background that resembled either Bill McGill in his younger years. If I only knew what year, I might be able to distinguish if it were "Bill". Does the clothing fit the era back then?

Anyway, McGill is located on the farside, a couple of rows towards the back of the "Green Car" -- wearing a dark suit, white shirt, tie, dark hat. The card this photo has ink sketches of the Stock Exchange looking North on Broad Street, below Wall St. -- the Sailors and Soldiers Monument on Riverside Drive. The rest of the info says, "All tours start from Hotel Bartholdi, Broadway & Twenty-third St." Click Here for the Information on the other side of the photo. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Remember Jeff Amos at OSU....

Jeff is doing a paper and research on the "POW Camps of WWII" in Oklahoma? He is doing a follow-up on his research by creating a map of the POW camps that were located here in Oklahoma. Jeff feels that a map could be beneficial for others who are interested in this subject. If you or anyone else has any information that would be helpful in his data collections for the map, he invites you to contact him -- Jeff Amos, Student Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Geography - Email: jamos@sbcglobal.net. Thanks! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Charles Fredrick Faulkner & Mattie Greear

This information and history of the Faulkner's was taken from the "Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County", pgs 213-215, as told by Greta Faith and Opal French.

Charles Fredrick Faulkner was born 7 Aug. 1864, Springville, Virginia; died 5 Apr. 1910, Alva, Oklahoma. Mattie A. Greear was born 7 July 1869, Grant, Virginia; died 23 Oct. 1944, Alva, Oklahoma. Charles and Mattie married at the GREEAR home, 18 July 1888, Grant, Virginia. Charles was a farmer and blacksmith for 5 years in Virginia. About 1893 they loaded their family of six children, father and mother into a wagon & team -- headed westward for greater opportunities and adventures. They sold their Virginia home and headed west to Taneyville, Missouri (first stop on their westward adventure).

The publicity coming from Oklahoma Territory intrigued Charles. In early 1900 Charles and his neighbor (Gains Cobb) came to Oklahoma Territory to look it over and stake a claim. They placed their filing November 2, 1900 and headed back to Taneyville, MO to retrieve their family for the move to their homestead in NW Oklahoma Territory. Homesteaders had 2 months to establish their residence on homesteads as required by law. This was also the time that Charles sold his Missouri home and interest in his blacksmith shop -- bought a wagon and team for the trip to Oklahoma Territory that was made by Charles, Mattie and six little Faulkners. A friend, preacher (Logan Matthews) also made the trip with them.
On the trail westward to Oklahoma territory, the trail was lined with covered wagons and other adventurous pioneers. At night travelers congregated in camps and cooked meals together. The Faulkner homestead was located 21 miles NW of Alva. They arrived at their homestead late afternoon, on Christmas Eve, 1900. The Old Fort Supply trail from Kiowa, KS to Ft. Supply, OK went through their homestead near their home.

In the Spring a postoffice was established with a store in their home. Charles carried mail free of charge for several months to get a post office established. It was in June, 1901 when a post office was granted with Charles F. Faulkner as postmaster -- named after him (Faulkner, Oklahoma Territory). By 1907 the Faulkner Store and Post Office changed hands and moved 3 times... from Charles Faulkner to Jim Butler to George Adams and then sold to a cousin of Mattie Greear Faulkner (Alonzo N. Greear).

It was late Summer of 1905 when Will Cummins was courting Ollie Faulkner (daughter of Charles & Mattie). That was the same time that Charles came home from Alva with a shining new "fringe top surrey." They also made a trip into Alva to see "Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show." Also, Ollie and Will Cummins were married at the Faulkner homestead and went to make their home on Greenleaf Creek.

It was Charles Faulkner who had the opportunitity to represent Woods County as a local delegate at the first state convention. He signed the ratification papers admitting Oklahoma as a state, Nov. 16, 1907 and Charles Haskell was first Governor.

Charles and Mattie had 11 children (6 boys, 5 girls): Allen, Felix, Birtie (died at birth), Blake, Ollie, Peggy Grace, Emma, Verna Drucilla, Jessie Dunn, Calvin Greear, Fay Haskell. -- Faulkner, O.T. (pdf file) View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Faulkners Bridge

"I used to go out west of Alva on US64, a few miles and then turn North and go just a mile then west again to Faulkners Bridge. This was, I think, the highest bridge in Woods County.

Mid-summer, there was very little water in the bottom. This area had lots of Alabaster rock. You could go down to the bottom near the bridge and pick up really nice pieces. North of the bridge were some nice caves too. Bats and all. If one were traveling from Freedom to Alva along US64 and knew where to turn, this would make a nice side trip. Nice sand dunes south of Waynoka." -- Steve View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Faulkners Bridge

"Faulkner's Bridge was at the site of what they called the Faulkner caves. The caves are still there, but they are gypsum and not alabaster. Deep in the main cave some of the walls may have been low-grade alabaster. There is a lot of almost glass-clear gypsum lying around in pieces in the area, though. The bridge WAS the highest bridge in Woods County, but it's kaput now. The bridge was destroyed (it was narrow, had a wood plank deck and was not rated for the weight of farm trucks they have nowadays) and was replaced by large tin whistles and lots of dirt fill. Too bad . . . it was very picturesque. As soon as you go off on either side of the road right-of-way you are on private land. It's owned (I think) by one or two Arndt families. I know that Maynard Arndt lives just west beyond where the end of the bridge was and back a way from the north side of the road and another Arndt lives to the east of it on the south side of the road. It was located north on the Cora Church road about eight miles or so and then back to the west maybe 1.5 to 2.5 miles." -- Jim View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Faulkners Bridge

"It was north from highway 64 on the Cora blacktop (maybe 13 miles or so west of Alva, I think, where the old Cora Church is still standing) ... then 'follow the directions' that you'd given. We think that the county replaced the old suspension bridge with a new concrete one ." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Baseball Pic

"I was perusing some earlier issues of Okie Legacy and 'way back in the 23 March 2002 Volume (or thereabouts) was a picture of an old baseball team that you were asking for information on. I don't know if anyone replied, but I at least have a 'hunch' about it. I remember reading in my dad's Sports Spasms column years ago that Bill McGill attended Friends University and played for their athletic teams for a year or two. I note that the picture appears to have been printed from a reversed negative as the letters on the uniform are all backwards. One of them, however, appears to have a reverse 'F'. So... I'm wondering if this might be a reunion photo of an old Friends U. baseball team. Also, the large building in the background may be the old main building on the Friends campus. I can't be certain just from memory, but the size and style of architecture are about the same. Don't know if this helps or not, but perhaps it's at least a clue." -- Jim View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Welcome Old Boys of Kemper

This is for all those who might have had a family member that attended Kemper Military school, in Boonville, Missouri, in 1937. It's a Football Homecoming program for the 29th Annual Grid Contest, between Wentworth Military Academy Red Dragons vs. Kemper Military School Yellowjackets, that was held Thursday, November 25, 1937, Kemper Field - Boonville, Missouri, 2:00P.M. To see more of the '37 Homecoming Football Program - Click HERE. It is a large pdf file and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Robert McGill attended Kemper during '37 and '38 before he went on to Kentucky University. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WARWICK Surnames

"My name is David Wayne Warwick. My father is Jimmie Dale Warwick and my grandfather is Davy Warwick. I would love to learn more about my lastname WARWICK." -- David View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

PARNELL Connection

"I'm not an Okie, actually. I stumbled upon this site because I thought that someone had made hushpuppies wrong and then got to reading your guestbook. FATE! My maiden name is PARNELL and we know very little about our families. When I tried to research the family name, they kept coming up in Pennsylvania (where my dad Leo and his six brothers grew up) and then there were a bunch in Oklahoma. I didn't have a clue what the connection was. Then I read in the guestbook that a McGILL had followed the oil line from PA to OK. It's extremely possible that some of those PARNELLs and I could be related. If you're a PARNELL from Oklahoma with a connection to Pennsylvania, e-mail me! I may have the piece of the puzzle you're missing too." -- Michelle Beck, Sparks, NV - Email: mischka4@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Samuel GWINN of Virginia

"My name is JR Cox. I came across the ParisTimes webpage a few months ago. I'm writing on regards of a GWINN, David GWINN, son of Robert and Jean. I'm curious on what information you may have about Daivd -- whether if you have any detailed history on him. The reason I'm asking for information is because I'm a direct descendant of his brother Samuel. As far as I know our archives have no information on David except his birthday and he was probably born in Calf Pasture River near Staunton, Virginia. I have a question ... are you and the founders of ParisTimes ... Descendants of David GWINN? If you're interested, I have the complete family tree of Sam GWINN, which I can duplicate for you." -- JR Cox, Stockton, California View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

GWINN Family History

"The Gwinn family originated in Wales and over the centuries established branches in Northern Ireland, in Virginia and throughout the United States. Many of the Gwinns in America are descended from Robert Gwin who settled along the Great Calfpasture River in Augusta County, Virginia sometime prior to 1745 ..... The Robert Gwin family who lived in this valley in the mid-1700s. Robert was appointed constable at the head of the Great Calfpasture River in 1746. He served with Captain William Preston's Company of Rangers in the French and Indian War, 1758, and was awarded 50 acres for his service. Three of his sons, Capt. David, Joseph, and Samuel Gwinn, Sr., served in the Revolutionary War. His wife was Jane Kinkead Gwin ..... Eventually, the West Virginia branches of the family came to settle on the spelling GWINN while the Augusta, Highland and Bath County, Virginia branches retained the spelling GWIN. Samuel's brother, Robert Gwin, Jr., moved to Woodford County, Kentucky where his descendants adopted the spelling GUYN....." -- http://members.aol.com/RCGwinn/home.htm View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Droop Mountain Map

"Thanks for the map on Droop Mt., I have been looking all day as to how the troops marched. Thanks." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

More POW Camp Information

"My name is Jeff Amos and I had communicated with you in December about some information from your website that I had used in a paper that I wrote for a class. Well I am following up this research by creating a map of the POW camps that were located here in Oklahoma . I feel that a map could be beneficial for others who are interested in this subject. If you or anyone else has any information that would be helpful in my data collections for the map, I invite you to contact me.Thank you." -- Jeff Amos, Student Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Geography - Email: jamos@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe