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Oakie & Duchess' SW Corner

Vol 6, Iss 52 HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005!

Since this is the last day of December, 2004, we thought perhaps we could catch many of you tonight before, after and/or at midnight to ring in the New Year for 2005. I guess you could say that this is a No frill or "vanilla" version of the OkieLegacy in Summary.

The Pilgrim Bard (Scott Cummins) says it best in his 1926 poem about New Years Eve & New Years:

"Another year its shuttle threads
The twelve month spool we all unwind;
Fate's calendar hangs o'er our heads,
Time's scythe is mowing close behind;
Yet enter we the glad New Year,
Filled with fond hope devoid of fear"
-- by The Pilgrim Bard (Scott Cummins)

We saw where last year at this time that our OkieLegacy visitor counter clocked a total of 200,000 visitors. I believe our counter today was something like 325,000 plus.

January 2004 -- Remember Fort Reno, Oklahoma? Fort Reno - fortreno.org - a military camp in 1874 -- was established as a military post in 1875 with construction of permanent buildings began in 1876. The Fort and Darlington Agency served the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians across the Canadian River. Together they preserved the peace and directed the orderly transition of that part of Indian Territory from reservation to individual farms and ranches. Troops from Fort Reno supervised the first Great Land Run of 1889 that opened the Unassigned lands for settlement. Buffalo Soldiers of Fort Reno (Companies of the 9th & 10th U.S. Cavalry) were made up of Six black regiments, two of cavalry and four of infantry, and were authorized by congress in 1866 and stationed at Fort Reno. The name was given by the Indians to the black regiments for the color and texture of hair between the horns of the buffalo. The Buffalo Soldiers had the reputation for effective, consistent fighting against the lawless whites, Mexicans and Indians.

Then later in mid January we experienced the Red Hat Ladies (Okie Dokies) in Alva (Oklahoma). It was their monthly group gathering for dinner at the Alva Bowl Cafe. The ladies included in this "Red Hat Club" are: Barbara Case, Liz Stanaway, Ginny Hubbert, Eleanor Ring, Rose Elmore, Verla Vogts, Viola Marquette, Betty Cushenbery, Joan Nelson, Agnes Pemberton, Doris Marcus, Phyllis Devery, Leona Corbin, Dottie Gatz, Emily Rathgeber, Jane Gaskell, Jean Rose.

Also, in January we learned of another NW Oklahoma mystery of an abandoned boy in Waynoka between 1939 or 1940. Nancy Eddy was wondering, "If anyone had ever heard any stories about a small boy being abandoned in Waynoka, Oklahoma? I now live in Topeka, Kansas and just started doing some Genealogy work. My step-father, Jack Beaman, is from Waynoka. He was adopted about 1939 or 1940. He was abandoned by his father with last name Ray when Jack was about 3-years-old. We know they came from California and stayed at an apartment in Waynoka for about 2-months. One morning little Jack Ray woke-up and his dad was gone. He never heard or saw his father again. The people who owned the apartment had the last name of Beaman which they gave to Jack at age 13 or 16 when they adopted him, thus he became Jack Ray Beaman. Maybe there might be old registers around somewhere? I know at some point Jack went into the airforce, his social security number comes from Kansas. Even his own children don't remember anything. To them that was in the past. I don't know if I told you he was a twin. He also remembered that they (he and his dad) came from California and his mother was a concert piano player. Now... how hard would it be to find a concert piano player who gave birth to twin boys." -- Nancy Eddy -- Email: neddy1115@hotmail.com

January brought us a new connection via a descendant of Harry Short. Harry had played on the Austin Senators (South Texas League) baseball team at the same time as our grandfather (Wm J. "Bill" McGill) in 1906. The great-grandson of Harry Short was Andrew Short that had contacted us. This is what Andrew had written, "My name is Andrew Short. I believe my great-grandfather, Harry Short, was a teammate of Will McGill's on the 1906 Austin Senators. I wanted to send you a note to thank you for the wonderful website you have put up - oakielegacy.org - honoring among other things your grandfather, his life, and his baseball career. In trying to do some research on my family history, I found your website and with it a great deal of history about my great-grandfather as well. I was wondering if it would be okay for me to download a copy of the 1906 team photo (backside of photo with names of players) so that I might be able to add it to the documents I am collecting about our family history? There is a story in my family that, like Will, my great-grandfather at one time was called up to play with St. Louis in the Major Leagues. Although, for which St. Louis team I'm not sure. When he told his wife, she refused to move to St. Louis, thus ending Harry's Major League baseball career. He became a player/manager in the Texas leagues instead, in addition to other careers. I have at home some newspaper clippings and stories from various Texas newspapers in the early 1900s about Harry's baseball career. I will go back and review them to see if any of them mention Will McGill as well. If they do, I would be happy to copy them and send them along to you. In addition to playing baseball in Texas, I know that my great-grandfather and other relatives also lived for awhile in Oklahoma. Again, I simply wanted to thank you for all the hard work and effort you've put into your website. In doing so, you have allowed me to reclaim a piece of my family history. Best regards." -- Andrew H. Short

February 2004 -- We thought we had found the whereabouts of the old Woods County fountain that once graced the downtown courthouse square, but it was not the three-tiered big fountain after all. It turned out to be only the Dragon Head fountain that now resides in a prominent Albuquerque, New Mexico private courtyard. We found out from one of our readers, "It (Dragonhead fountain) was a drinking fountain that stood on the walk outside the west steps of the courthouse and adjacent to the goldfish pond. The fountain, pond and dragonhead drinking fountain were located on the westside of the old Woods County courthouse square in downtown Alva, Oklahoma. We do NOT know where the towering, three-tiered fountain that once graced our courthouse park is located today? Jim Barker sent us a picture of his brother and sister (Bill & Ruby) posing on the railing of the courthouse fountain.

The 75th Anniversary of the Great Race/Run of 1893 in Oklahoma Territory brought back memories when we shared tidbits from a local newspaper printed in Alva, September, 1968, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the "Great Race of 1893. -- okielegacy.net/75thanniversary-1968.html

Remember when one of our readers sent us a doc-file of his father's memories during WWII when he was stationed at the prisoner-of-war camp in Alva, Oklahoma from September 28, 1944 to September 17, 1945. Memories of Cpt. Miles W. Kelly's Year in Alva... "After service in North Africa and Italy during World War II, my father, Dr. Miles William Kelly, was stationed at the prisoner-of-war camp in Alva, Oklahoma from September 28, 1944 to September 17, 1945. He was one of the medical officers at the facility. For the most part, this account is based on the letters that he wrote home to my mother. At least one local history, newspaper articles, and a small amount of government documents also added much to this narrative. Before relating his story, however, a few words must be said on the history of the prison camp itself. The following paragraphs are largely a paraphrase of a section of the camp in Alva, Oklahoma: The First 100 Years, 1886-1986 (1987) by Seekers of Oklahoma Heritage Association augmented by some of the government documents mentioned above. -- Bruce - Email: brucekelly@hotmail.com -- okielegacy.org/WWIIpowcamps/Alva Year.doc

Towards the end of February we learned from a 1939 news article in the Waynoka News, dated Thursday, June 15, 1939 about the biggest privately owned man-made lake in the state that was in the Dust Bowl of area of Oklahoma's Panhandle, on the 3200 acre farm of O. W. Tucker, in Cimarron County. It's dam was 45 feet high and would hold 900 acre feet of water and would irrigate 300 acres of alfalfa (started in 1937) through ditches running from both sides of the dam. The 1939 news article mentioned that C. T. Sturdevant was extension service engineer of Oklahoma A & M College back in 1939 and was assisted by someone called "Uncle Bill" Baker (Cimarron County agent) and Tucker's two sons when they made the original survey for the lake, dam.

Remember the link to the 1930's Dust Bowl Stories with excerpts from The Dust Bowl, Men, Dirt and Depression by Paul Bonnifield. The 1930's Dust Bowl was a term born in the hard times from the people who lived in the drought-stricken region during the great depression. The term was first used in a dispatch from Robert Geiger, an AP correspondent in Guymon, and within a few short hours the term was used all over the nation. The Dust Bowl Days, also known as the Dirty Thirties, took its toll on Cimarron County. The decade was full of extremes: blizzards, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and dirt storms. Early Thirties Economy -- In 1930 and 1931, the decade opened with unparalleled prosperity and growth. NATION'S BUSINESS magazine labeled the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas as the most prosperous region. The Panhandle was a marked contrast to the long soup lines of the Eastern United States. -- www.ptsi.net/user/museum/dustbowl.html

April 2004 -- Alva was in the process of beginning another mural (Castle on the Hill) at 5th & Oklahoma Blvd. with local artists, Jim Richey, Warren Little and Rod Dunkin. They began by outlining the design for the Castle on the Hill mural at the corner of Fifth Street and Oklahoma Boulevard.

It was in April 2004 when K101 Radio Early Morning Show, 20 April 2004, talked about the OkieLegacy and the Ann Reynolds Story mysterious fiery death in 1956. -- okielegacy.org/mystery/annreynolds/index.html

May 2004 -- The artist, Don Gray, and the Alva Mural Society finished the Charles Morton Share Mural on the Professional building in downtown Alva, OK.

July 2004, Waynoka, Oklahoma celebrated seventy-five years (July 8, 1929) when transportation history was changed for travelers from the east and west coasts when a 2-day air and rail trip was established that would take them across America in 48 hours. Charles Lindbergh was an officer in Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT). TAT was the company that developed the service and selected Waynoka as the western terminus of the eastern division. It was a place where passengers would switch between trains and planes, morning and evening -- eating breakfast, dinner at the Harvey House. It began in June and continued into July when we made our move from Oklahoma to SW Colorado. This was one of those months that found us on the move between Oklahoma andColorado. Duchess' favorite spot outside was sitting, waiting by the pickup door for hints of our next journey.

September 2004, We received 1926, 1937 and 1938 Northwestern State Teachers College yearbooks that we began transcribing shortly afterwards (beginning with the 1926 yearbook). We are still transcribing on the '38 yearbook from Northwestern's College, in Alva. Check out our Old Albums -- OkieLegacy.net -- http://community.webshots.com/album/187403166kaVbcy

We did finish scanning the 1926 NSTC Ranger Album. We learned that 1926 was the first year of the Junior High School (7th, 8th, 9th grades) on the campus of Northwestern with Miss Ann K. Wilke as Director & Principal. The large room on the second floor of the Science Hall was formerly occupied by the library and had been assigned as a study hall for this department. October 2004 -- We started transcribing the 1937-38 Student Directory of Northwestern State Teachers' College and found our mother's name, address where she was living in '37 & '38 while going to College. We also recognize lots of other names listed in the student directory. We had started transcribing the 1937 Ranger album. By mid-October we were still transcribing the 1937 Ranger annual. -- okielegacy.net/NSTCRanger1937/index.html -- okielegacy.org/DOC files/StudentDirectory37-38.doc

We finished the transcribing of the 1937 Ranger yearbook, learning that the Northwestern Alumni Association was established in the spring of 1934? A banquet was held at the Presbyterian Church to organize an alumni organization to include the alumni back to 1921. In the spring of 1935 the alumni association enlarged the group to include the classes receiving degrees, diplomas each year from 1900 to 1937. In 1936 the alumni held its annual banquet in the Bell Hotel dining room, and included all the graduating classes from 1900 to the present day in the mid-1930s. They held their alumni banquets each spring and sponsored the biggest event of the year for Alva and Northwestern -- the annual Homecoming event.

Remember When Thelma DeGeer Lippincott celebrated her 100th year in June, 2004 and past away Oct. 28, 2004 as her family and friends gave celebration to her 100+ years.

November 2004 -- The latter part of November we were trying to find the descendants/families of the 1930s NSTC Students so we could return the original photos taken at Ellis Studio in Alva and Saunders Studio in Woodward, in NW Oklahoma during the 1930s. Most of them have a firstname signed on the photo while others might have a first and lastname. BUT there are two photos that had NO names on them - unknown male and unknown female. We hope someone out there can help us locate their descendants. We did find a couple of homes for a few of the photos. -- www.okielegacy.net/slideshow.htm

December 2004 -- We did have some success in finding a home for the Roberta Edwards and Reo McVicker 1930s photos with descendants of the Edwards and McVicker families.

Also, in December we found out that the 1st graduating class of Northwestern High School (NWHS) was 1937? It was located in the NEW Horace Mann building on Northwestern's College Campus. We found this little tidbit in the 1937 Ranger Album when she was reading about the Training School they had on the Northwestern State Teachers' College campus to train future teachers. You can read more about the Demonstration School & Class History of NWHS over at our NW OkieLegacy website - 1937 Ranger Album.

We didn't get started transcribing the 1938 Ranger yearbook until around mid-December. We also put the 1926, 1937 & 1938 Ranger yearbooks into a pdf file for your Christmas present to share with you all. You can now view them over at pbpartnersllc.org by clicking on the "Old Albums" link. We are still in the process of scanning the 1938 Ranger yearbook. -- pbpartnersllc.org/OldAlbums.html -- pbpartnersllc.org/pdf-files/Ranger-1926.pdf -- pbpartnersllc.org/pdf-files/Ranger-1937.pdf -- pbpartnersllc.org/pdf-files/Ranger-1938.pdf

Duchess and The OkieLegacy family would like to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2005. We thank you for sharing your Okie Legacies throughout the past year and hope to hear from you in 2005. See you next weekend and next year with our regular HTML format. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Duchess' SW Corner

Vol 6, Iss 45

Oakie tells me that some of you missed last week's newsletter and were wondering if your email program or ISP had screwed up again. We are here to tell you that your ISP/Email program did NOT screw up.

We usually take off around Thanksgiving or Christmas. We know it is neither of those holidays yet, but with adjusting back to standard time, ghost & goblins and post election blues. We hope this hasn't inconvenienced anyone too much, but we are trying something new out here this weekend -- changing the day we send this newsletter to the wire. Hope Saturday evenings appeal to Y'all.

This week Oakie has been in NW Oklahoma helping count, tag, sort, move horses to greener pastures before the wet weather pours out here in NW Oklahoma. After this we hope things get settled back down and into any easier rhythm for us all. Thanks for you patience and understanding.

Daylight/Standard Time Adjustments -- We lost an hour in the Spring. By the time we got our body used to those new times, we found ourselves trying to get readjusted again in the Fall. Does that affect this Pug? Woof. I don't know! I do notice that the deer come down an hour earlier in the evening to graze in the yard.

Speaking of Deer Shots... this photo was taken in the early morning hours in SW Colorado in the pasture north and east of our house. While the deer were grazing in the pasture, the higher elevations of the mountains near our house were getting a slight dusting on the upper half of the mountain in the background of this photograph. Click on the smaller image to see the bigger picture.

Duchess' Deer Drive -- Whew! Was Oakie ever cross and pissed-off with me last week! It all began when I made my evening woof at the front door. That is Oakie's cue to open the door for me. Well! Oakie let me out one evening last week when I was doing the scratching, woofing thing at the door. You see, that evening I was already in third-gear while standing at the door. When the door was open, I made a mad dash, woofing towards the deer grazing a hundred yards or so in front of me. Boy howdy! How those deer did bounce and scamper off yonder to the trees in the lower pasture with this Scoutin' Woofin' Pug on their furry white tails. Can you just about imagine this small little pug (barely two-years-old) driving these huge wild, graceful creatures?

Can you guess who was scurrying and cussing behind me in her stocking feet? Yep! Oakie was talking "Bad Dog" to me all the way out and back. I ran as fast to the house as I ran out of the house after the deer. The next evening I tried the same thing, BUT got a stunned, jerked response after I had scouted about 6-feet out the door. Oakie had hooked this dang old, thin-line, 6-foot, wirey link of some sort onto my collar and off I went, at least until I was jerked back in a choking, woofing flip causing my frontside to halt abruptly and my backside to jump ahead. Whoa! What the heck!

The deer still come around at dawn and evening hours, but this Pug has to watch them from inside the house, on the stool, in front of the window. Oakie doesn't let me out that much anymore unless there is an all-clear of outside wildlife. Darn-it! I guess I blew that privilege, huh?!

Veterans Day, Nov. 11 -- "If you forget my death, then I have died in vain" -- Have you forgotten? Have they died in vain? We haven't forgotten and do NOT want you to forget either! So... this Veterans Day this last Thursday we are saluting -- remembering ALL Veterans/Soldiers that have given their lives in past and present Wars. Even the "Unknown Soldier."

We have started a list of Soldiers who have died in the Iraq War. May they always be remembered and rest in peace. May their memories be kept alive for the sacrifices that they have made. May their deaths be remembered, nor be in vain. The names keep growing every hour, every day, every week. YOU can help by clicking on the "Comments" link at - OkieLegacy Soapbox - In Memory of Veterans - to add the soldiers names that you know. Thanks for helping us all remember our Veterans/Soldiers of ALL the Wars on this past Veterans Day (11 Nov. 2004)! Do you have a Veteran's story, poem? We would love for you to leave your Veteran's stories and poems in the "Comments" section under the above posting... It can be for WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, or the present War in Iraq. Thanks for helping us keep the Veterans Memories alive. They ALL deserve our honor and respect for the sacrifices that they have made for us ALL! Don't let their deaths be forgotten, nor let their deaths be in vain! Thanks!

The Gleaners painting by Millet.

Oakie found this great print of a famous oil painting done by a French painter, Jean François Millet, born Oct. 4, 1814, died Jan. 20, 1875. Millet was a French painter noted for his depictions of peasant life. In 1857 he painted The Gleaners. This somewhat faded print that Oakie's Grandmother had is only about 8-inches by 6-inches or so. On the back of >The Gleaners print is written in pencil "The Gleaners - m2302." What do you suppose the m2302 means?

P.W. Camp 126 -- Where was it located? Tennessee? Nebraska? We received an email from a gentlemen looking for information concerning P.W. Camp 126. This person found an decoish aluminum ashtray at a flea-market in Tennessee. The ashtray has a camel and a palm tree (or something) on it. It also has "NORTH AFRICA" on it. On the underside it says P.W. Camp 126 and on the one side is engraved M/Sgt H.R.Smith, U.S.Army. Does this ring a bell with anyone out there? Maybe you might know of someone out there can help shed some light on P.W. Camp 126. Was it in Tennessee or neighboring State?

See Y'all next Saturday evening with more Okie Legacies! ~~ Linda "Okie" & Duchess ~~ View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oakie's NW Corner

Vol 5, Iss 3 OKC, Oklahoma -

The 1941 era brings us to a time when young couples were scurrying to the altar before young servicemen were sent off overseas to fight in WWII. Some other young men were working on their Master degrees at Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College in Stillwater. One such young man was Wm. Hankins Hughes that wrote his thesis on Old Fort Supply.

It was a bitter, chilly second-half of this week that found this writer doing some transcribing of this 1941 Thesis concerning the history of Old Fort Supply written by Wm. H. Hughes for his Masters in History at Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College. Mr. Hughes wrote in his preface, "... the history of life on the Great Plains furnishes some of the most interesting reading in American History. The colorful lives of the plains Indians, the ruggedness of the scouts and soldiers, and the dogged determination of the frontiersmen combine to present an unending source of adventure, bravery and endurance....."

I have been transcribing more NW OK Marriages that occurred around 1941 amongst the young in the northwestern community in Woods County, Oklahoma.

In case you haven't stopped by Oakie's Webshots to view the Old Alva Studio Pictures, we have some Unknowns that we could sure use your help identifying. You can Click on the View Guestbook under the Old Photos Albums and leave a message concerning any of the Old Alva Photos.

Before I head out of here and leave you to explore -- one of my new readers family grew up in a northwestern community called Abbie, Oklahoma. I am NOT quite sure where it is, but believe it to be in the vicinity of the Moundridge School District and near Lookout somewhere. If you have any information on Abbie, Oklahoma or old photos to share, we would love to hear/see them. Also, does anyone out there know where the Hobart Oil Mill was located? Thanks!

No matter what you hear in the coffee (gossip) shops -- There is always another side to the story. Keep an open-mind! The Eagle still soars above it all! See you next weekend with more Okie Legacies! ~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~

Thanks For the Memories

Vol 9, Iss 6 We want to thank all those that recognized some of the names of the World War I soldiers KIA while fighting for the Canadian/British expeditionary forces during 1914-1918.

If anyone else out there recognizes any of the the WWI soldiers "Killed In Action (KIA), please email either Sidney J. Clark directly -- OR.... you can email this NW Okie (paristimes@earthlink.net). We will forward your information along to Sidney J. Clark. If any of the names of WWI soldiers listed in last week's OkieLegacy Ezine (dated February 3, 2007) have a memorial monument, we would love to have a digital photo to share, preserve their memory. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Thanks to Charles Cook in the Louisiana Bayou country for finding us this obituary for James Hiram Mondy in the "Footprints Across Woods County" history book, pg. 475-476. It reads as follows:

• The Obituary - WOODS COUNTY BOY WHO FELL AT VIMY RIDGE -- "Captain J. C. McCary, of Alva has just received notice of the death of his grandson Hiram Mondy, who fell in action March 30, in the assault on Vimy Ridge, near Lens, France.
  
  Hiram was born on a farm near Alva in 1896, as son of E.(Elwood)T. and Ida McCary Mondy. He attended the public schools of Woods County until the family moved to Paynton, Sask., Canada ten years ago, where he grew to manhood......"

Those Oklahoma Hills

Vol 9, Iss 4 Those Oklahoma Hills - Many a month has come and gone - Since we wandered from our home - In those Oklahoma hills where we were born. - Many a page of life has turned, - Many a lesson we have learned.....

Even though months, miles have past since we have wandered from our Oklahoma Hills where we learned many lessons, we have not forgotten from where we were born and raised. That's why we gather these OkieLegacies to leave behind for the future generations to find in the future.

We hope we can jog a few memories this week. There is a gentleman in Wales, UK, doing research on Oklahoma soldiers that might have fought in WWI for the British & Canadian forces. Mr. J. S. Clark is searching for information on J. H. Mondy, Pvt, who was in the Canadian army. Clark would like to know if you know about this soldier, and is he entered on any Roll of Honour or town memorial. Clark's interest is on a non-commercial research and he writes short stories on soldiers from the USA who served in the British or Commonwealth forces during the 1st World War.

We have heard from several Oklahoman's about your low gas prices in Oklahoma. WOW! Oklahoma's gas prices are lots better than here in southwest Colorado. Our gas prices in Bayfield, Colorado were ranging around $2.359 for awhile until it finally dropped to $2.259 a week ago.

We heard from another northwest Oklahoman that Dub Garnett died this week. For those of you who might not know Dub Garnett, you might remember the Garnett Conoco gas station on 6th and Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, Oklahoma.

Finally... We are searching for memories of an Alva business, a medical center on the east side of college Avenue called "Youngs clinic." We understand that besides being a regular doctor's clinic, it also had hospital rooms. Anyone out there have any memories of Young's clinic in Alva, Oklahoma? Thanks again for sharing your memories and inquiries with the OkieLegacy this week. View/Write Comments (count 4)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

148th Coast Artillery Corp WWI

Vol 11, Iss 39 The 148th Company of the Coast Artillery Corp (CAC) was in operation during WWI. The photo on the left shows a baseball team with the emblem of the 148th CAC on their shirts and equipment laying down front of the seated group of men.

Since the photo was amongst some of our grandma's keepsakes, we assume that one of the young men is Robert Lee Warwick. BUT... Alas! We are not sure which one that is, because we have no recollection or photo to compare it with.

Is there anyone out there that remembers the Coast Artillery Corp Company & the soldiers that fought in WWI with the Canadian/British forces?

Robert Lee Warwick enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary forces, April 12th, 1917, serving in France.

We know Robert Lee Warwick was with the C.A.C. in 1914 before he joined the Canadian Expeditionary forces. He enlisted at Fort McDowell, California, January 19th, 1914 and furloughed to the western department in Class A reserve, 18 January 1917, Fort Terry, New York. About four months later he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force under the name of "R. Lee Warwick."
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Looking Back - OkieLegacy Issues of 2007

Vol 9, Iss 52 We began January 2007 by switching from a PC to a Mac computer. AND... we are glad we did. If I ever buy another computer it will NOT be a PC! It will be a Mac!

AND... everyone knows that with the new Mac Operating System Leopard with built in Bootcamp, you can partition your Mac hard drive and install Microsoft Windows on one side of the hard drive and run Mac OS Leopard on the other with the intel core duo chip. I hear tell that Windows runs faster & better on a Mac computer. This ain't a paid advertisement! Just a former PC -- NOW a Mac Lover's observations!

The first week of January, 2007, Clayton, NM was getting drifting, flurries of snow that created one lane of traffic that continued up towards Walsenberg and northward towards Denver, Colorado.

Snow and ice reached as far as Pauls Valley, Oklahoma the second week of January 2007 and things were getting underway to celebrate Oklahoma's Centennial for their 1907 statehood, November 16, 2007, across Oklahoma.

Gasoline prices in Oklahoma during January were at $1.899 per gallon of regular unleaded gas.

We learned that there is a gentleman in Wales, United Kingdom, doing research on Oklahoma soldiers that might have fought in WWI for the British & Canadian forces. Mr. J. S. Clark was searching for information on J. H. Mondy, Pvt. and others who were in the Canadian army. With the help of our OkieLegacy readers, we found some relatives of Mondy's that are living in the Perry, Oklahoma area.

We learned that NWOSU's Lincoln Bust sculptor and creator was created in 1914 by Frank Ingels and he donated it during the Spring commencement of 1915 graduating class when his brother Roland Ingels graduated.

In Vol. 9, Iss. 5 of The OkieLegacy we learned a bit more about Woods county, Oklahoma Terriotry newspaper legacies with the information we retrieved from the Oklahoma Historical Society in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There was also a list of Oklahoma WWI Soldiers that served and died in the British & Canadian forces 1914-1918.

In Vol. 9, Iss. 6 of The OkieLegacy we learned that the Old Miller Hotel in Waynoka, Oklahoma was owned by Wm. E. Miller and his wife, Cordelia, who came to Waynoka in the Run of '93. The Millers built the hotel on the north end of their property near the Santa Fe rail yards, expecting the town to build near there. However, the town was built nearer the train station, south of the rail yards about a half mile.

That was just the first few weeks of January, 2007. You can visit our Journal Archives & Volume 9 Archives for a more detailed look back at The Okielegacy Issues of 2007.

For those of you just now getting onboard with The OkieLegacy, a BIG Welcome is extended your way.

We have enjoyed hearing from many of you -- sharing your stories -- learning your legacies throughout the last nine years. We hope to see you next year, 2008, and share more family legacies, genealogy and stories with you. In 2008 we will be changing our weekend publishing of our FREE weekly OkieLegacy Ezine from Saturday to Sunday.
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Robert Lee Warwick, WWI Soldier

Vol 9, Iss 4 My grandmother, Constance Warwick McGill had a younger brother, Robert Lee Warwick, that fought in WWI with the Canadian forces.

In 1914, Robert Lee Warwick enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served three years with the Coast Artillery Corp. 5th Company. Warwick then joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Toronto, Canada and was sent to France with the Canadian Army. Robert Lee Warwick served through World War I and received his discharge June 29, 1919. He came home broken in health and after a few years entered the Fort Supply hospital in Fort Supply, Oklahoma.

The image on the right is a worn copy of his discharge papers from the Canadian Forces. See the backside - CLICK HERE. This Clipping is a letter from the King for Warwick's service in the Canadian forces and signed by King George V. We also have an old photo of Robert Warwick's Costal Artillery Corp group that we will include in next week's newsletter. We only wish we knew what Robert Warwick looked like back then. We never really knew him. View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Obituary - Edward Theodore Hodgden, 03/13/1926 to 05/28/2006...

Vol 8, Iss 22 Services were held Friday, June 02, 2006 at 10:30 AM, Wharton Funeral Chapel, Alva, Oklahoma. Edward Hodgden, age 80, longtime resident of Alva, Oklahoma, died Sunday, May 28, Ascension Sunday. Funeral services for Mr. Hodgden were held at Wharton Funeral Chapel on Friday, June 2, at 10:30 a.m., with rites following at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. A vigil service was held Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Fr. Shane Tharp presiding at the services.

Edward Theodore Hodgden was born on March 13, 1926, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Theodore William (Ted) and Rose Dora (Hudnall) Hodgden. Ed's grandparents were Walter Perry and Ella (Nagle) Hodgden. Walter Perry Hodgden was twenty-one years old when he joined other Kansas men making the Run into the Cherokee Strip. Walter left his home in Ellsworth, Kansas riding his horse to Arkansas City and was ready to race into the Strip when the gun was fired, September 16, 1893. The line broke early, and though the soldiers were shouting and calling people back, they all just raced on, so the gun was fired so all could go.

Ed's grandpa, Walter Hodgden, rode that day with Billy Morton, a blacksmith from Ellsworth. Their horses "lasted too long" and when they stopped on Black Bear Creek, they found they were in Indian country. Not getting a claim they rode on into Enid and Walter took up school land southwest of Enid. Billy was to spend the rest of his life on the Hodgden ranch, dying in 1936 at 85 years.

Walter Hodgden operated land at his home in Garfield County and Walter began ranching in Woods County in 1897, starting in Section 36-Twp23-Rge13 and later acquiring Section1 and 2-Twp22-Rge13 and other acreages. This land is in the southeast corner of Woods County and on the south by the Cimarron River.

In may 1897 Walter returned to Ellsworth to marry Miss Ella Nagle, then returned to his home where they both continued to live until their deaths. That summer he harvested his first wheat crop, having been "hailed out" the three previous years. On a trip to Iowa he purchased seven Registered Hereford cows and a Registered Hereford bull. This was on of the first Registered herds in Oklahoma and surrounding states. Especially did northwest Oklahoma benefit from this improved blood and herds in Garfield and Woods Counties continue to show its influence.

Walter Perry Hodgden was born in 1872, died in 1921, but Mrs. Hodgden and her sons Theodore and Walter continued to operate the ranch. Mrs. Ella (Nagle) Hodgden died in 1960 and Theodore in 1973. Walter Perry and Ella (Nagle) Hodgden had three children: Theodore, Walter and Mary.

Ed Hodgden, son of Theodore William "Ted" and Ella (Nagle) Hodgden, was raised and educated near Drummond, Oklahoma, and at Ft. Hays, Kansas. Ed attended St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Enid, Oklahoma. He served in the Navy during WWII in the Philippines.

Ed married Joan Wagner in 1949 in Blairstown, New Jersey, and they were married 37 years, until her death in 1986. Their surviving children are Susan Belinda and her husband Jim Nance; Maura Bethann and her husband Larry Leslie; Melissa Joan and her husband Eric Nuttall; and Amy Melanie Hodgden. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandgirls; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Agnes and Thomas G. Romine; one brother, Francis Hodgden, two brother-in-laws and their wifes, Lou and Kay Wagner and David and Linda Wagner and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Ed began his career in the oilfields of northwest Oklahoma as a roughneck and worked on the first oil well to be drilled in Woods County. He continued several businesses in the oil and gas industry until the age of 79. Throughout his 53-year career in the oil and gas industry he and his family served this northwest community well and he will be greatly missed.

He leaves behind his present wife, Donna. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents, and his infant daughter, Nora. Contributions may be made in Ed’s memory to the Alva Senior Citizen Center. Click here to leave your condolences at Wharton Funeral Guestbook.
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148th Co. - Coast Artillery Corp

Vol 9, Iss 5 We need help identifying these young men of the 148th Company of the Coast Artillery Corp (CAC), during WWI. Notice the baseball equipment laying down front of the seated group of men. We really need your help in finding more information about this 148th Co. CAC during WWI era. Can you help us?

Since the photo was amongst some of our grandma's keepsakes, we assume that one of the young men is Robert Lee Warwick. BUT... Alas! We are not sure which one that is, because we have no recollection or photo to compare it with. That is sad!

Is there anyone out there that remembers the Coast Artillery Corp Company & the soldiers that fought in WWI with the Canadian/British forces?

Robert Lee Warwick enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary forces, April 12th, 1917, serving in France.

We know Robert Lee Warwick was with the C.A.C. in 1914 before he joined the Canadian Expeditionary forces. He enlisted at Fort McDowell, California, January 19th, 1914 and furloughed to the western department in Class A reserve, 18 January 1917, Fort Terry, New York. About four months later he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force under the name of "R. Lee Warwick."
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65 Years Ago

Vol 11, Iss 23 This weekend, June 6, 2009, was the celebration of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day at Normandy Beach, on the coast of France. This is the online link that has more information about D-Day, June 6, 1944.

My Uncle Bob McGill did not storm the beaches of Normandy on that day. Uncle Bob was about to graduate from Officers candidate school and five days earlier had just married Helen Louise Soper, 1 June 1944 after obtaining a marriage license on 31 May 1944 and they were married in Alva, Oklahoma 1 June 1944 with Gene McGill (Bob's brother) as a witness. Bob & Helen's marriage was just another of those pre-war romances before the soldier got sent overseas to war. Uncle Bob and Aunt Helen were Divorced 22 June 1948.

Back to the 65th Anniversary of D-Day ... It was June 6, 1944, when as described at The National D-Day Memorial Foundation, "150,000 Allied soldiers clambered aboard heaving landing craft and braved six-foot swells, waves of machine gun fire, and more than 6 million mines to claim a stretch of sand at a place called Normandy. Their mission was to carve out an Allied foothold on the edge of Nazi-occupied Europe for the army of more than one million that would follow them in the summer of 1944. This army would burst forth from the beachhead, rolling across Europe into the heart of Germany, liberating millions, toppling a genocidal regime, and ending a nightmare along the way. But it all began on this beach in France, with an army of teenagers on a day called D-Day."

The youngest D-Day and WWII veterans turned 82 years of age today ... or this year. D-Day was a turning point in the course of WWII and signaled the beginning of the end of the age of fascism and the return of hope to millions in occupied nations globally.

Did any of your ancestors storm the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944?
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The WWI Stammering Song

Vol 10, Iss 33 Remembering K-K-Katy! Many of you out there might remember this song once sung by the WWI soldiers and Sailors as they were saying goodbye before they headed off to war in France. Do you remember singing this stammering song in your youth?

One of the reasons I am writing about it this week is because I ran across an old Pathe Phonograph record that my grandmother had collected in the early 1900's. This particular phonograph record of mine was published by Pathe Phonograph Company and sung by Louis Winsch. Louis Winsch enjoyed modest success as a Pathé recording artist during the World War I era, but wisely kept his day job at a Philadelphia phonograph store. -- mainspringpress.com

K-K-K-Katy sung by Billy Murray was considered a comic song, with words and music by Geoffrey O'Hara. It was written in Kingston, Ontario. It became one of the most popular songs of the World War I era, especially among the troops. Published 16 March 1918 by Leo Feist with the subtitle The Stammering Song, it sold over a million copies in sheet music form and was recorded with great success that same year for Victor (18455) by the US tenor, Billy Murray.

Ten other vocal and instrumental recordings of 'K-K-K-Katy' from the 1920s are listed in Roll Back the Years. In 1940 the song was revived by Jack Oakie in the movie Tin Pan Alley.

The song has been done by Mitch Miller, Bill Murray, Buddy Clark, Jon English, Charlie Mariano, Cliff Edwards, Alice Fay, and Louis Winsch, among others.

It was billed as The Sensational Stammering Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors.

It was regarded as something of a 'goodbye' song. The 'Katy' in the song was Katherine Gertrude (Craig) Richardson of Kingston, Ontario and was composed at Richardson's house in 1917 by Geoffrey O'Hara. O'Hara was originally from Chatham, Ontario, taught music at Columbia University and the University of South Dakota, and died in Florida on January 31, 1967, at age 84. During his career, he composed a great many songs, mostly hymns and other sacred music, but none so far have lasted like K-K-K-Katy.

The song was first played at a garden party fund-raiser for the Red Cross in Collins Bay on Lake Ontario.

Here are the complete lyrics to K-K-K-Katy
Jimmy was a soldier brave and bold,
Katy was a maid with hair of gold,
Like an act of fate,
Kate was standing at the gate,
Watching all the boys while on parade.
Kate smiled, with a twinkle in her eye,
Jim said, m-m-m-meet ya by and by.
That night at eight,
Jim was at the garden gate,
Stuttering this song to K-K-K-Kate.

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.

No one ever looked so nice and neat,
No one could be just as cute and sweet,
That's what Jimmy thought,
When the wedding ring he bought,
Soon he'll go to France, the foe to meet.
Jimmy thought he'd like to take a chance,
See if he could make the Kaiser dance,
Stepping to a tune,
All about the silv'ry moon,
This is what they'll hear in far off France.

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
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Ghostly Spirits of Alva's Old Hospital

Vol 9, Iss 42 With Halloween just a few weeks, days away, we thought we would throw in some mention of possible ghostly spirits that may, may not roam the halls of the Old Alva General Hospital.

One of Alva's most famous ghostly, haunts of ghostly spirits is the Old Alva General Hospital that sets at the top of Fourteenth & Maple Street, looking East down Maple Street. Actually, it is about three blocks up the hill from my house.

Is it haunted? The old hospital, that is? How did the red spot get on the old hospital's hall black & white tiled floor? How come it keeps coming back after they clean it? What is the story of how it got there?

I don't have those answers, BUT... I do know that the old Alva hospital was built in 1932, Alva, Oklahoma. It was used as a hospital until.... I'm not sure exactly what year they built the new hospital in the South part of town, South of the University Campus.

I've never experienced any ghosts up at the old hospital, but I hear others have felt the cold, leery stares of the ghosts from the past.

I remember when I was just a young girl, say about 5 or 6 years old, and had my tonsils out. At least I think it was around that age. That's been over 50 years ago. What I do remember those infamous backless gowns that loosely tie in the back at the neck and somewhere else down the back. Instead of rolling down the hall to the surgery room on a rolling bed cart, Dr. Travis gave me a piggy back ride on his back. Of course, you probably all expected that this five year-olds tiny bare backside was showing, mooning all those we passed in the hospital hall on the way to the surgery room! BUT... being only five years old, what did I know of being embarrassed! I was just thrilled with the piggy back ride. What a treat for a five-year-old!

I another memory I have about the old hospital was around February, 1954, when my Uncle Bob McGill was in the hospital and Dad took all of us up to visit Uncle Bob in this small, dark room. That was the last time I saw my Uncle Bob McGill alive. He died shortly afterwards of lung cancer. I never really got to know my Uncle Bob, but from reading some of his old letters to family members and his WWII memorabilia that Grandma Constance McGill saved, I got a special glimpse of this good looking gentleman, WWII Major and soldier.

Another old hospital memory I have takes us back to August, 1968, when my grandmother Constance Warwick McGill died.

All these memories of visiting the old hospital to visit dying relatives seems kind of morbid, doesn't it? Are they some of those spirits souls that haunt the old hospital? Do you have any memories or heard any ghostly talk about the "Old Alva Hospital?"
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Fort Reno & Fort Sill - WWII...

Vol 6, Iss 2 Fort Sill's telephone line installed in 1879 soon linked Fort Reno and the Darlington Agency and eventually Fort Supply; Amelia Earhart landed her autogiro at the Fort Reno airstrip in the 1920's; During WWII the famous Lipizan horses were held at the Fort Reno riding hall for a period of time; Black Jack, the riderless horse in President John F. Kennedy's funeral procession was born and raised at Fort Reno.

The German WWII internment camp was erected in 1943 on the eastern edge of the Fort property. Prisoners began arriving July 4, 1943. By August 30 of that same year, 1000 prisoners arrived at Fort Reno POW Camp. It included 65 temporary structures including an administration building, barracks, hospital, canteen, guardhouse, shops and mess halls. Originally the POW Camp was intended for Japanese soldiers, but the increasing numbers of German and Italian prisoners captured by the Allied Forces in North Africa changed the nationality of the occupants. The 435th Military Police Escort served as guards for the camp and included 130 men and two officers. The only remaining landmark of the Fort Reno POW Camp is the concrete water tower. There were over 1000 Germans who were captured in North Africa that were imprisoned at Fort Reno. It was during this time that the German POW's were hired as laborers by local farmers and worked as farm hands for the Remount Station, and built the Fort Reno Chapel located on the north side of the Parade Grounds. The west side of the Fort Reno Post Cemetery is the location of the POW Cemetery where 70 former prisoners are interred. 61 of the 62 Germans came from POW camps located in Oklahoma. The 8 Italians came from the POW camp locaed in Herford, Texas. The most famous German buried at the Fort Reno POW Cemetery was Johannes Kunze of the Tonkawa Camp. Kunze was beaten to death by fellow POW's who accused him of being a traitor. Those charged with Kunze murder were found guilty, executed and buried. The death of Kunze is the subject of a novel by Vince Greene entitled Extreme Justice.

The WWII POW's worked at a variety of locations and were paid 80 cents per day. Many worked as farm laborers at Fort Reno. Local farmers paid the government $1.50 per prisoner per day. The government paid the prisoners 10 cents per hour in script money which could be used to purchase items from the Canteen. The farmer provided transportation to and from the camp for the prisoners and a guard. Other prisoners worked at Tinker Field and Douglas Modification Plant in Oklahoma City. 250 to 260 German prisoners each day performed jobs at Fort Reno that included carpentry, bakery, shoe repair, auto mechanics, tailoring, butcher, and hay hauling. The prisoners constructed two buildings at Fort Reno... Lucas Hall, the Chapel and enlarged the Officers' Club. The German POW's planted trees on both side sof the entrance road to the Fort Reno post. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Human Statue of Liberty - 1918, Iowa

Vol 10, Iss 10 I received this 1918 photograph of a Human Statue of Liberty in my email inbox this week, but have misplaced who sent it to me. Here is what I found out about this TRUE Event.

As the web site of the Iowa National Guard explains, the displayed photograph of a "human Statue of Liberty," formed by 18,000 posed soldiers, was taken in July, 1918 at Camp Dodge, Iowa, as part of a planned promotional campaign to sell war bonds during WWI:

"On a stifling July day in 1918, 18,000 officers and soldiers posed as Lady Liberty on the parade [drill] grounds at Camp Dodge. [this area was west of Baker St. and is currently the area around building S34 and to the west.] According to a July 3, 1986, story in the Fort Dodge Messenger, many men fainted -- they were dressed in woolen uniforms -- as the temperature neared 105 degrees F. The photo, taken from the top of a specially constructed tower by a Chicago photography studio, Mole & Thomas, was intended to help promote the sale of war bonds but was never used."

"The design for the living picture was laid out at the drill ground at Camp Dodge, situated in the beautiful valley of the Des Moines River. Thousands of yards of white tape were fastened to the ground and formed the outlines on which 18,000 officers and men marched to their respective positions ..... From the position nearest the camera occupied by colonel Newman and his staff, to the last man at the top of the torch as platted on the ground was 1,235 feet, or approximately a quarter of a mile....."

Among Other Things...

Vol 7, Iss 30 We received an email this week from Mario, whose grandfather (Karl Wegmann) was a German Air Force soldier in North Afrika during WWII. Karl came to Camp Alva in 1943 as a prisoner and worked in the camp kitchen. Karl was from Theilheim, near Wuerzburg, Germany and died in 1982. Mario is looking for anyone that could share stories and information concerning Karl Wegmann. Mario's Email address is listed in the Mailbag Corner. Thanks for any stories, information that you might be able to share with us and Mario.

We have also made contact with Dewey Charles Mosshart the fourth Great-grandson of D.C. Mosshart and William Dee "Doy" Julian of Alva, Oklahoma, concerning the Old Postcard of Ora F. Mosshart that was sent to our Grandmother Constance (Warwick) McGill.

Hope Y'all are keeping cool during these Dog Days of Summer. It can't last much longer. Hang in there. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wewoka, Seminole County, Oklahoma

Vol 12, Iss 26 Wewoka, Oklahoma - Homer sent us this link to Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture concerning information on Wewoka, Oklahoma. Did you know that Wewoka was a Seminole word meaning "barking water?"

Wewoka was located in east-central Seminole County, at the the junction of State Highway 56 and US Highway 270. It states that Wewoka was originally located in the Seminole Nation, Indian Territory (I.T.) and was the location of the sEminole national capital.

have you ever heard stories of a "whipping tree" (pecan tree) located near the council house where Seminole and African Americans who broke the law were suspended from the tree while being whipped?

A Timeline of Events around Wewoka, Oklahoma:
* 1849 - Gopher John (a.k.a. John Horse) and other Seminole slaves were located near present Wewoka.

* 1866 - Elijah J. Brown, a white trader, was selected by the government tolead SEminole refugees from Kansas to I.T. and they settled near Wewoka where Brown established a trading post (Wewoka Trading Company, 1891) and was postmaster when the post office was established May 13, 1867.

* 1866 - Rev. James Ross Ramsey, Presbyterian missionary, founded Ramsey Mission (first school in present Seminole county.)

1867 - Federal government established a remount station nearby for soldiers traveling between Fort Gibson and Fort Sill.

* 1877 Seminole Gvoernor John F. Brown unified tribal factions and had a log house erected at Wewoka as the Seminole capitol.

* 1895 - Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway after 1902) ran its line from McAlester to Oklahoma City passing through Wewoka.

* 1897 - Seminole National Council decreed that the town lots were reserved for American Indians only.

* 1902 - Settlement of the town was opened to white settlers.

1907 - After Statehood the population was at 794.

* 1908 - Wewoka was elected as county seat in special election.

* 1910 - Population at 1,022.

* 1920 - Another election was held, because Seminole and Konawa towns people contested Wewoka as county seat. * 1923 - March 1923 Roland H. Smith drilled Wewoka's first commercial oil well (Betsy Foster Number One).

* 1927 - Seminole county courthouse was completed.

* 1928 - May 1928 an amusement park had been added for recreation near Lake Wewoka.

* 1929 - Junior college courses were offered at the high school.

* 1930 - Wewoka's population peaked at 10,401 with the oil and gas industry. Post WWII -- Wewoka lost residents.

* 1950 & 1960 - Census reported 6,747 and 5,954.
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An Okielegacy Centennial Moment

Vol 9, Iss 26 This is an old WWI photograph that Roy Kendrick shared with us. It is the Truck Company #6, 110 Motor Supply Train, 35th Division, at Camp Doniphan, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, taken October 26, 1917.

It is not very often that you can view such an old photo with the last name (in ink) of everyone in the picture. Incidentally, I am told by Roy that the man kneeling at the far right is probably Fred Madden of Perry, Oklahoma.

This is a list of names in the photograph. Beginning with those standing (left to right): Elliot, Tays, Hanke, Hudson, Casey, Revery, M.Castle, Worland, Weihl, McCoy, Tooey, Neville, Brown, McKinney, O.Castle, Jackson, Jager, Drummond, Wiley, Schmitt, Sohaff, Lee, Madinger, Steidel, Beihl, Allan, Muster, Kaucher, Farris, Harmon, Starmer, Hinde.

Those kneeling (left to right): Marcell, Hopkins, Knudson, Hedges, Sherwood, fisher, Vinburg, Lt. M.P.Habecker, Ogden, Herndon, Banes, Bova, Walters, Bower, Hemenover, Madden.

Here is another old photo of WWI soldiers in training at Auxiliary Remount Depot, No. 333 and Troops in training at that Depot. Major Stanley Koch, Comdg, Camp Joseph E. Johnston, in Florida. I couldn't read the writing that great to tell if that was Jose or could it have been Camp Joseph E. Johnston? Maybe someone with better (20-20) eyes could get a better read.

The photo was taken by S. Silverstein Photos., 320 Park Ave., W. Savan, GA.

If any of these names, photos ring a bell, jog old memories cells, we would love to hear from you. You may leave your "comments" below this issue item -- OR ... send your WWI, 1917, Ft. Sill soldier & Auxillary Remount Depot, No. 333 memories to Linda - Email: mcwagner.lk@gmail.com. Thanks for sharing your legacy and memories!
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Doughboys & Doughnut Girls of WWI...

Vol 6, Iss 13 Remember the "Doughboys" of WWI? What about the "Doughnut Girls?" Another reader sent us a story they found online concerning the Doughnut Girls of WWI. It seems the Doughnut Girls were a part of the Salvation Army that were sent across the ocean -- feeding, caring for the soldiers fighting in WWI. Did your father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc... ever talk about the doughnuts and the Doughnut Girls of WWI? We would love to hear about it.

Uncle Bob McGill, Tank School, KY, WWII

Vol 11, Iss 8 This NW Okie's Uncle Bob McGill is the good-looking Lt. standing on the backrow, third from right, at a Tank School, in Kentucky. The WWI tank in the background, I believe, is a British Mark IV, male, made in 1917-1918 on display and shown in background behind the soldiers. I understand that it was a super heavy tank.

Does anyone have any other pictures of this tank?

Perhaps some descendant of some of these soldiers pictured in front of the tank might recognize some of their relatives in the picture. We would love your help in identifing some of the others pictured here.
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Haskell POW Camp Painting

Vol 11, Iss 20 Vol. 11, Iss. 17 - WWII POW Camps & Haskell, OK -- A few weeks ago one of our readers posted information about a WWII POW camp near Haskell, Oklahoma. Susan said, "My mother walked that way to town every day and somehow, (I guess the prisoner spoke some English) struck up a conversation with this POW. He was talking about his own daughter who was about my age and how homesick he was.

"Long story short, he painted a picture of his home and gave it to my mother for me. I would LOVE for someone who was related to that POW to have something their father or grandfather painted. If someone out there has an interest, I can get it down and see if we can read the painters signature, if any exists." -- Susan Dalberg at Email: wolfpaw81@aol.com

This week Susan says, "I got up in the rafters and found the painting. The soldier's name was apparently Grosier. Underneath his printed name it says CP '45. (which would be the year it was painted as I was born in 44)."

Susan also mentioned, "My grandfather came to Oklahoma in 1912 and sold the first tractor, at least in Haskell. He had a furniture store there from 1916 until he retired in 1972. I’m an Okie myself."
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WWI 1917 & 1918 Photos

Vol 6, Iss 41 Oklahoma - One of our readers sent a couple of WWI photos taken around September, 1917 & 1918. We are in search of some names and identifications of those in the these photos.

If you can help identify some of these WWI veterans, we would love to hear from you. CLICK the small images on the right and left to view the larger pictures.

These photos were taken by Chick Studios of Alva. We are also searching for the records of Chick Studio and do they still exist and, if so, could the date of the portait be determined? Did Chick Studios offer some sort of a 'deal' for departing soldiers to have portraits made with loved ones before they left? If you know of someone that can help us out, please let us hear from you. Thanks! -- okielegacy.blogspot.com -- waynoka-ioof-freedom-group-photos.html View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1917 - WWI Soldiers At Ft. Sill, OK

Vol 9, Iss 26 "It's me again, Linda! This photo is one I picked up at an auction several years ago and have never shown to folks before. It is another "yard long" panoramic view that was so popular in the early days of photography. This one is of the "Truck Company #6 - 110 Motor Supply Train - 35th Division - Camp Doniphan (Fort Sill), Oklahoma - taken October 27, 1917" and is very remarkable because someone went to the trouble of adding (identifying) the last name (in ink) of everyone in the picture.,

Incidentally, the man kneeling at the far right is probably Fred Madden of Perry. He and his wife Essie Madden lived on a farm just across the highway and south of the farm where I lived (with my wife and kids) for seven years. My sons were allowed to ride their bikes down to Madden's corner and back when they wanted to ride on the blacktop. Mrs. Madden was a spry little woman who had been a school teacher in Guthrie (in the early days of one-room-schools), and would always tell us if the boys tried to ride "too far".

Since your ezine is so widely circulated amongst Oklahomans (and other folks of the southwest states), surely someone can recognize a relative or friend who was in the military during the "war to end all wars" and tell us a brief history of that person.

This is such an exciting quest that I'm going to "dig out" another photo that I have (somewhere in my "storage" files) that is in pieces and see if I can put it together enough to scan it in and see if you can work your magic again. Fortunately, I'm one of those folks who never throws away something that I think can be salvaged if I just wait long enough to figure out "how to do it". Apparently the time has come and I've lived long enough to see other miracles take place!" -- Roy K.
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WWI Soldier - Frederick Gayland Sandy, Pvt.

Vol 9, Iss 11 "This morning (actually yesterday) March 15th, my friend Gayland Sandy brought me a complete copy of his family history dating back to 1379 in Cumberland County, England and I've glanced through it some. I hope to have some answers for Sidney Clark in Wales, UK. within a week or so.

This is one of the most fascinating family histories I've come across. He had ancestors who arrived on a ship BEFORE the Mayflower! The first child of Henry Sandy (son of Sir Edwin Sandy, Jr. who in turn was the son of Archbishop Edwin Sandy, Sr.) born in America was Henry Miles Sandy, born in 1642 in James City, Virginia Colony!!! Also mentioned in these notes is that the Mayflower was supposed to land at Jamestown but got lost in a storm and landed in Massachusetts instead! I didn't recall knowing that. I find names in this also of some folks who may be related to friends of my past in Oklahoma City." -- Roy K.

[Editor's Note: You can refresh yourselves with a List of Oklahoma WWI Soldiers by clicking this link. Thanks!]
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List of Oklahoma WWI Soldiers

Vol 9, Iss 5 "Thank you for the response to my email that was forwarded to you on my behalf regarding a particular soldier from the 1st WW who is shown on my list as coming from the state of Oklahoma. I have attached the names of seven soldiers/servicemen that are on my database of approximatly 2000 US citizens who joined the British and Commonwealth forces during the 1st WW, all were KIA. On my database it also list where the individual soldier is buried, mostly in France but some are buried here in the UK.

If any of the information is of interest to you please use any of the details as you deem to be correct, it may be of help to any family members if they are still in the areas named in the report.

1st World War Servicemen K.I.A from the State of OKLAHOMA who served in British and Canadian forces - Commonwealth War Dead 1914-1918:

• FROMENT, Sergeant, LEO, 121802. 69th Bn. Canadian Infantry... Died of pneumonia 3rd July 1920. Son of Telesphore and Regina Froment, of 1425, West Main St., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.; husband of Vandella Froment, of Charmy, P.Q. Alternative Commemoration - buried in Quebec City (Notre Dame De Belmont) Cemetery.
• REUSS, Private, H H, 925931. 5th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)... 15th August 1917. Age 27. Son of Mr. L. Reuss, of 420, West Mansur Avenue, Guthrie, Oklahoma, U.S.A. XIV. K. 2.
• SANDY, Private, FREDERICK GAYLAND, 3105740. 102nd Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)... Killed in action 30th September 1918. Age 20. Son of James T.and Ida M. Sandy, of 2601, South Central, Oklahoma, U.S.A. C. 21.
• GUNN, Gunner, FREDERICK CHARLES, 41443. 2nd Bde. Canadian Field Artillery... 30th April 1915. Age 29. Son of Charles and Charlotte I. Gunn, of 506, North Quannah Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A. II. D. 34.
• GRIFFITH, Corporal, JOHN, 316346. 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders... 25th September 1915. Age 28. Son of John Griffith, of Oklahoma, U.S.A.; husband of Mary Ross Griffith, of 116a, George St., Glasgow. Panel 115 to 119.
• MONDY, Private, JAMES HIRAM, 887171. 46th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)... Killed in action 30th March 1917. Age 20. Son of E. T. and Ida Mondy, of Paynton, Saskatchewan. Native of Alva, Oklahoma, U.S.A. VI. H. 8.
• TAYLOR, Fireman and Trimmer, GUY HARRY, S.S. "Membland" (West Hartlepool)... Mercantile Marine. Presumed drowned 15th February 1915. Age 26. Son of Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Taylor, of Durant, Oklahoma, U.S.A. Born in Texas, U.S.A.

The Rest of the Story

Vol 9, Iss 6 The Old Paint Says... "Oops, the NW Okie has made a mistake! September 16th. is the anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Landrun. It is NOT the centennial anniversary of the great state of Oklahoma which (I believe) is November 16th. My dad and his twin brother were born in Lindsay, I. T. on September 23, 1907 (before statehood). I am a proud 3rd. generation Oklahoman and these dates are very important to me." -- Roy

1st World War Soldiers... "Below is an obituary from a Woods Co., Oklahoma newspaper for H.J.(Hiram James)Mondy. The Mondy family is recorded in several articles on pp.175-176 in "Pioneer Footprines Across Woods County. (1976) One article states: "When the First World War broke out Hiram (James Hiram) enlisted in 1916 in the 188th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and sailed for France late the same year. Almost at once he saw action at the front with the 46th battalion of the 10th infantry Brigade. On Mar. 30, 1917 he was killed in the drive o Vimy Ridge. He is buried in Villers Station Cemetery near Arras, France. In the 1914-1918 Book of Rememberance his name appears on page 295. This book is displayed in the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower of the Parliament Buildins in Ottawa, Canada. His grandfather, James Calvin McCary was my great-great grandfather, as well......" -- Charles Cook, Louisiana Bayou Country

List of Oklahoma WWI Soldiers... "I was surprised when I recognized the name of one of my friends among those on this list and so I copied the list and took it to our church and asked Jackie Sandy if her husband Gayland had an ancestor who fought in WW-1 and she said yes, that Gayland had been named for him and that he''d been killed in action. I then said that this must have been him and gave her the print-out. I''ll let you know more when I''ve heard from Gayland himself." -- Roy

Those Oklahoma Hills... "Dr. Young had a Clinic and Hospital, in a home, in Freedom. The office was on the bottom floor and hospital rooms were upstairs. It was located one block north of the main street, where The Freedom State Bank is on the West side and the Locker Plant is on the east side. A family by the name of Daughtee owned the house at one time. Back in 1941 or 1942 my two brothers and myself, had our tonsils and adneoids taken out, all at the same time, maybe my parents got a bargain deal." -- Francis R. Melkus - Email: fmmel@sbcglobal.net

Alva Fire in late Teens/Early 1920s Kills Several Children... "Has anyone gotten any info on this article?" -- Victoria Glover - Email: vglover776@sbcglobal.net

Snow Rolls... "Okie, I love all the story's, since my family the Pittman's, Osborn, Humphrey, Gibson families lived in Oklahoma at one time or another. I'm just fasinated. I have been told the Pittman and Osburn families went to 4 Square Gospel Church 1919 - 1928. Can anyone tell me if there is a rooster of families, with baptisms, weddings,deaths etc. Thanks." -- Vickie J

Alva Newspaper Info... "Jim, I'm hoping you can help. My family the Osburn were killed in a house fire. Walter Harvey (he was a piano tuner) and his son Oscar it was 1924 there might have been more family killed in that fire. Do you have any info? They say the wife might have started that fire?? Or if anyone can help. They went to 4 Square Gospil church. They buried at Whitehorse." -- Vickie J Glover- EmaiL: vglover776@sbcglobal.net
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WWI 1918 Photos...

Vol 7, Iss 29 Back in October, 2004, one of our readers sent a couple of WWI photos taken around September, 1917 & 1918. We have located some names in the WWI 1917 photo above and thought perhaps we might run these photos again... just in case someone out there has a memory spark and can help us. We are still in search of some names and identifications of those in the these photos. If you can help identify some of these WWI veterans, we would love to hear from you. These photos were taken by Chick Studios of Alva. We are also searching for the records of Chick Studio and do they still exist and, if so, could the date of the portait be determined? Did Chick Studios offer some sort of a 'deal' for departing soldiers to have portraits made with loved ones before they left? If you know of someone that can help us out, please let us hear from you. Thanks! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

James Hiram Mondy, WWI Soldier

Vol 9, Iss 6 "A quick estimate is that the young James Hiram Mondy was a first cousin twice removed. His mother was a McCary. He and my Grandfather Clarence McCary were first cousins. I doubt that grandpa ever heard of him. I am not a Mondy descendant. Much of my information was recorded by the late Evelyn B. Stout of Cherokee, OK, another McCary descendant. I stopped and visited her once when we were on our way to Vallecito. My late mother never heard of her either. Sometimes the families split and spread like an explosion. Imagine that kid being from Alva, growing up in Canada and lies buried in France…and he died about the time he achieved manhood. We genealogists try to glue the pieces back together.

I’m not sure what all problems my great-great granduncle Carl Barnett had, other than lung troubles. I do remember his sister Daisy Barnett Talkington speaking of it. They were my Grandma Hazel Martin McCary’s aunt and uncle.

I still enjoy your weekly endeavors in the Zine. Keep up the good work." -- Charlie
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WWII History Center

Vol 10, Iss 4 "After seeing all the info and questions on The WWII prisoners, I have to tell everyone about the WWII History Center in El Dorado near Wichita, Kansas. A new non-profit organization who are trying to fund and build a museum dedicated to WWII. Please go to their website to learn all about the research offered now and many efforts to record oral histories of soldiers and homefront workers/families. Many displays and links to help you find info. WONDERFUL! WWII History Center." -- Leann (May) Bird - Email: leannbird@hotmail.com
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WWI Oklahoma Soldiers

Vol 9, Iss 6 "I am truly in your debt for the information that you sent to me by email, it is an excellent account of James Hiram MONDY. The full name of the cemetery as shown on my data base where he is at rest is Villers Station cemetery, Villers-Au-Boise- Pas-De-Calais where there are a further 26 Canadians interred. In the text it mentioned that he was amongst those who fell at Vimy Ridge. My database shows that there are 200 US citizens who are commemorated on this memorial, something I suspect that is not generally known.

I shall attempt to make good use of the information in a future story assuming that Mr. Charles M. Cook would have no objections, if required please pass on my email address to him.

As I am a member of the WFA-USA and the WFA-UK any stories that I write are submitted to the Editor and may be accepted for publication at his discretion. These are then produced in the quarterly magazine for the interest of all.

I have been fortunate with a story that I wrote in October 2005 regarding a 15 year old from Ohio who was KIA whilst serving in a British regiment. Family members have very recently come across my story and have I have been able to be of assistance to them with further details. They are visiting the UK this May and will be coming to visit me at my home where I shall present them with the two medals he was entitled and all the other information I have obtained from the National Archives UK. I am hoping that something may develop on a similar basis from your kindness shown to me by publishing the names of those soldiers from Oklahoma.

It would seem that we have given some people food for thought on these soldiers, I have a friend in Oklahoma City who is trying to make contact with any REUSS family members in Gutrhrie who may be related to the soldier on the list. When more information is made available perhaps I could supply whatever I have to your magazine in the form of a short story to help keep the memory of these soldiers alive.

May I ask if the 1st World War is part of the schools curriculum in conjuction with other history projects? it is over here in the UK but it is hard work at times. Whatever towns these fallen soldiers came from I would like to know if they do have there own War Memorial - Roll of Honour as they do here in the UK. Assuming they do have a memorial it would be a marvellous gesture to have their names included upon it.

If anyone care to write to you regarding the soldiers may I suggest asking if they have a photograph of their local war memorial they could share with both of us, I would pay any expences incurred in taking the picture in advance if required. If I can be of help to you in any way please ask I will always try." -- Sidney J.Clark, Wales UK - Email: clark_sj@tiscali.co.uk
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193rd Tank Bn. -- WWII

Vol 10, Iss 49 WWII, 193rd Tank Bn ... This WWII, 193rd Tank Bn, was submitted by Willie H. Wood, Staff Sgt. The photo was cropped for viewing to show Right & Left side of photo separately. Do you recognize any of these WWII fellow 193rd Tank Bn soldiers?
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Pvt. Frederick Gayland Sandy, WWI Soldier

Vol 9, Iss 6 "When I saw the name of Private Frederick Gayland Sandy among that list of WWI soldiers that you published in last week's issue of The Okie Legacy, I immediately printed a copy to take to church with me this morning, and when I asked Gayland's wife, Jackie, if he'd had an ancestor in the 1st. World War, she replied "yes, that Gayland had been named for him and that the ancestor had been killed in action. I handed her the printout saying that this must have been him. She confirmed that the parents listed were correct. " -- Roy K.
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Silver Star in the Dark of Dawn (WWII)...

Vol 7, Iss 24 "Of interest to what your taste is a newpaper article on my father concerning his actions while with the Third. What maybe of more interest is a book my sister wrote on his life. Some of your followers may find it of interest of a different life and time of a boy to man story before, during and after WW-2. It is called: An Oklahoma Soldier - A Ride In One Sans saddle - by Barbara L. Nielsen. Available thru www.iuniverse.com - 1-800-288-4677, ISBN 0-595-35044-5 51295. If you could post this so we can get the history out it would be appreciated." -- B K Brooks



This WWII stories starts in the dark, before dawn, on Jnauary 30, somewhere during WWII. Sgt. Bert Brooks, Jr. moved up the dim, snowy street of a strategic little town in France. Thus, as a one-man assault troop, Bert Brooks of Oklahoma City opened the way for the advance of battering American forces pushing toward victory. And for this 'gallantry in action' he was awarded the Silver Star. He returned to the states, 4 days after Pearl Harvor.
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Chick Studio, WWI and 1918...

Vol 6, Iss 40 "I think I previously sent you a copy of a photo of a group of Woods County men, taken in front of the old courthouse in September 1918, as they were getting ready to leave to join the military service. On closer inspection of that photo, I have learned that my maternal grandfather, Bertsell Riggs, is wearing a suit identical to the suit he is wearing in a portrait with my grandmother, Fern (Sherrell) Riggs. I have wondered if that portrait was their wedding portrait (June 1919), but my mother's sister thought it had been taken earlier than that, perhaps in 1918. So now I am curious.
      The WWI photo of the boys was taken by the Chick Studio in Alva - the portrait picture has no studio mark. I think there are three possibilities so far as the circumstances under which this portrait was taken:
      (1) my grandparents, not yet married, had an appointment to have their portrait made at an undetermined date and Bertsell wore his only formal suit (he was a construction worker and a farmer, and I assume that he only had one suit, though I am not certain);
     (2) the portrait was taken on the same day that the men departed, either as a personal decision by my grandparents OR through an arrangement with Chick Studios to take such portraits of the men before they left for the service;
     (3) this may be my grandparents' wedding portrait, taken in June 1919. My questions for area historians are these:
      (1) Do the records of Chick Studio still exist and, if so, could the date of the portait be determined?
      (2) Did Chick Studios offer some sort of a 'deal' for departing soldiers to have portraits made with loved ones before they left?
     I have TWO photos of WWI men - I'd be happy to send them along; it would be great if more of the men could be identified." -- Rod Murrow View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WWI - Sensational Stammering Song Success Sung by Soldiers & Sailors

Vol 10, Iss 33 "K-K-K-Katy" was a popular World War I-era song written by Geoffrey O'Hara in 1917 and published in March, 1918. The sheet music advertised it as "The Sensational Stammering Song Success Sung by Soldiers and Sailors," reflecting a time when speech impediments could be poked fun at -- albeit gentle fun in this case.

The song tells the story of Jimmy, a young soldier "brave and bold," who stutterd when he tried to speak to girls. Finally, he managed to talk to Katy, the "maid with hair of gold." The chorus is what he spoke:

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the cowshed,
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.

"K-K-K-Katy" was recorded by Billy Murray on March 8, 1918 and released on Victor 18455. -- Wikipedia - Victor records
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Letters of Private Melvin W. Johnson (WWII)...

Vol 6, Iss 17 Letters of Private Melvin W. Johnson (WWII)... "These are my Grandfather's letters. Written home from Boot Camp and later, the fighting in France, they allowed me to glimpse into the heart and mind of a man I never knew. To see what our soldiers gave up to preserve the freedoms we can so easily take for granted. These pages are dedicated to all of those who bravely answered their country's call. It is especially dedicated to the brave men of the 79th Division and those who never came home, who lie mute beneath rank upon rank of white marble markers and other unmarked places forever known but to their god." -- Letters of Private Melvin W. Johnson (WWII) View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe