Oakie's NW Corner...
From a dog named Rancher locking his farmer out and driving a truck
into a tree, in NW Oklahoma -- To the Ground hog seeing his shadow
last weekend (Feb. 2nd) -- To the wet, soggy, snowflakes
that left its wintery trace across Oklahoma during the middle of
the week -- To the calm, cool head of the Sheriff department in
southern Oklahoma, near Lake Murray, Ardmore to capture four
escapees from a Texas prison (as printed in The
Ardmoreite) -- To the Tennis Davis Cup going on in Oklahoma
City (February 8-10)at the Myriad Gardens -- To the National
Olympics 2002, in Salt Lake City (Utah) opening ceremony Friday
evening (February 8th) -- To the 60s degree weather this
Friday in Oklahoma -- That is just some of the things going on in
my neck of the woods and across the Nation.
 I
have spent the week rummaging through old postcards, finding a few
more Old Fort Supply, Oklahoma penny postcards dated around 1908,
from a fellow named T. Lowe (alledgedly a cousin to Constance
Warwick). Mr. Lowe was supposedly a residence of Old Fort Supply,
Oklahoma back in 1908 when he wrote, sent these postcards to my
grandmother Constance Warwick, while she was single, teaching,
living in Alva.
The middle postcard shows a picture of the Old Man Custer
building. Its was one of the old buildings located down at the Fort
(Fort Supply).
The last postcard shows a picture of Flora & William Martindale,
a couple who resided about 4 miles north of town during 1908. Flora
was an English woman, according to the information written on the
backside of the postcard by T. Lowe, Feb., 1908 to my grandmother
Miss Connie Warwick, in Alva, Oklahoma. If you have any information
concerning Flora & William Martindale, do not be shy... Send
Me and Email concerning your information. Click
Here to view the backside of the three-postcards.
I have also gotten my annual physical and mammogram out of the
way for this year in flying colors. Yep! So far everything is checking
out just great.
Hey! Did anyone catch the little mistake in last weeks newsletter
when I mention the Super Bowl, St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles?
I was wondering if someone would catch that little slipup. Well!
It wasn't the Eagles playing the Rams... It was the New England
Patriots. Thanks to those who wrote in and caught that little error.
I have since changed that in the archives of Vol.
VI, Iss. 5 to read, "New England Patriots."
Remember when -- you were in Elementary School during this
time of year, way back when the students, teachers decorated paper
bags, boxes with valentines waiting for February 14th to roll around
so we could put special little valentines in our classmates decorated
bags, boxes? Sometimes... usually getting, giving a special card
from an admirer from afar to make your day special.
There's only about five (5) days left to find that special someone
a special gift, token to show them how much they really mean to
you. Light the Fire Within!
~~ Linda "OaKie" ~~
Cindy (Louthan)
Powell writes... "I have a letter that was written about
my great-grandparents by their 10 children. This beautiful tribute
was written to them for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I am very
honored to say that I am in possession of the original hand-written
version, as well as pictures of the homesteads mentioned. I also
have pictures of the celebration honoring Bert and Belle's 50th
Wedding Anniversary. Anyone who has any information regarding our
family, I would love hear from. Thanks for reading and appreciating
this."
Fifty Good Years
September 16, 1893 is the date chosen as the beginning
of the active life of a young man as he leaves the family fold and
ventures forth to create a realm of his own. On that day Bert Louthan
and nine other men, "friends and relatives", one of them
being his youngest brother Sammie Louthan, lined up astride their
prized steeds along an imaginary line to venture into an unknown
land, there to claim a portion of this good earth as their own.
That day was the opening of the Cherokee Strip for settlement by
the white people. And these young men selected a position on the
line which was crowded with every sort of conveyance and as the
starting signal rang out, the amazing race began. As it proceeded
many people lagged and were left behind, but a few forged ahead
of the line. Bert, on his swift bay mare was one of these and he
soon dismounted and placed his stake. However, all did not go well
with this claim, since four others were contenders for the same
land. The followin' A year later he returned to the strip again
to make a search for a homestead. The find was made twelve miles
east of Alva and his home was started. That one-half dugout would
suffice for only a short time, however, as he kept thinking of taking
a bride to adorn a more elaborate home. A building was moved from
the state of "Kansas" and prepared for this purpose.
Bert Louthan and Belle Cokerham first met when Belle,
who lived in Missouri, was visiting her sister, Sally, the wife
of Eddie Louthan of near Medicing Lodge, Kansas. Burtie was farming
in partnership with his brother, Eddie, and making his home with
Eddie and Sally.
Bert and Belle fell in love and Bert wanted Belle
to marry him at once and go to the new home in the strip. Belle
was willing, but her parents thought Oklahoma was a wild place with
vicious indians lurking behind every clump of sage brush ready to
spring out and scalp every white man.
Belle didn't return to Kansas until spring of 1899.
By this time she had made up her mind to go with Bert in spite of
anything. Without waiting to make a wedding dress, she donned her
best dress and in a covered wagon loaded with belongings and all
the necessities for frontier living, including a sow and litter
of pigs, she and Bert headed for the Cherokee strip stopping in
Medicing Lodge long enough to be married on April 20, 1899.
Belle made a home for them in the bachelor shack
Bert had erected on the homestead and they lived there for two years,
then selling the place and buying one in the Barnes community in
the southern part of what was then Woods county. They built a home
on the new place. Through the years it came alive with the patter
of little feet, as the family grew together, they battled all odds,
drought, floods, wind, and storms and all the hardships of pioneer
life. Through sun or shadow, prosperity or poverty, this family
was and is still a unit. But even as a unit they did not live for
themselves alone.
In a struggling pioneer community many emergencies
arose and the neighbors know that whatever the emergency, Belle
and Bert Louthan would respond with whatever help was needed. Ten
children came to bless this home and when Sally Louthan died, Bert
and Belle opened their hearts and home to include her small daughter,
Edna. She grew up with the other children and seems more like a
sister that a cousin to them. As these eleven children grew to manhood
and womanhood they have all married and founded their own families,
five of them are honored citizens of the community their parents
helped to build. The others are scattered in six Western states,
Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, California, and Oregon. They
are all happy, healthy people.
Belle always hoped that one of her children would
become a minister. She is happy that three of them are now following
that calling. The others are government workers, farmers, engineers
and that most important occupation, housewives.
But, whatever the occupation, today, they have forsaken
it to be for one day simply sons and daughters. Today they have
assembled to pay honor and tribute to Father and Mother on this,
their day of days, their 50th wedding anniversary.
Father and Mother, words cannot express all that
is in the hearts of your children today. We are proud to be the
sons and daughters of Belle and Bert Louthan. We are proud of your
characters, of your faith, and we are proud of you, we are proud
of the strength and determination that carried you through the hard
years, we are proud of all that you are. So, Father and Mother humbly
we say you honor us this greatest of days, your wedding day. --
Fifty years later - April 20, 1949.
|
This penny postcard was sent from
Supply, OK to Connie Warwick in Alva, Oklahoma (not sure of
date, maybe summer, 1908). The picture on the front shows
a gentleman seated in a motor vehicle (is that a Model A?).
The message on the back of the card reads,... "This is
a summer scene taken on Wolf creek. If this does not interest
you please hand it to some one you think might be interested in
it." and signed by T. Lowe
Grandpa's Baseball Continues
Grandpa's
Legacy Continues
with Pg. 34, 35, & 36
Light the Fire Within... "People
are like stained glass windows -- they sparkle and shine when
the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty
is revealed only if there is a light within." -- Elisabeth
Kubler-Ross
Old Man Custer's Bldg (1908)
Located at Old Fort in Supply, OK
Menu:
c/o The PubCo - PO Box 619, Bayfield, CO 81122
Copyrighted © 2009 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy. All Rights Reserved. |
