Canadian County, Oklahoma                                                             

         

 

Miscellaneous Data
 


The largest known Oklahoma earthquake (with the possible exception of the Fort Gibson 1882 event) occurred near El Reno, Canadian County, on April 9, 1952. This magnitude 5.5 earthquake, as measured on the Richter Scale, caused a fifty-foot-long crack in the State Capitol Office Building in Oklahoma City. It was felt throughout Oklahoma and in parts of seven other states. The total felt area was approximately 140,000 square miles. Des Moines, Iowa, and Austin, Texas, were at the northern and southern limits, respectively.

 

Farmer Suicides

(The Thomas Tribune - 1902 - September)

El Reno Democrat.

G. W. Lemar, a farmer, living six miles south of El Reno, suicided (sic) at an early hour Wednesday by taking strychnine. The deceased has been acting strangely for some time and on that account his family has kept a strict watch over him. Early Wednesday morning he awoke and got up obstensibly (sic) to get a drink of water. He went into the kitchen and returned after a few minutes remarking as he went back to bed, "I have done it."

The family, suspicious that he had taken something, sent hurriedly to town for a physician, but the unfortunate man died in great agony before medical aid could reach him.

The decased (sic) had advertised all all (sic) of his personal propert for sale and today was the date of the sale.

The remains were shipped to Eldon, Iowa.

 

(The Thomas Tribune - 1902 - October)

El Reno Democrat Wants a "Devil" In the Office

The El Reno Democrat was a "devil" in the office and advertises as follows for a boy: The Democrat will give employment to a good honest boy of intelligence and education to make himself generally useful about a printing office. We do not want a boy who has worked a few weeks in some print shop and left knowing more about the business than a proprietor. We just want a common boy of intelligence, born on earth, without the traditional silver spoon in his mouth.

 

October 1943

The Nowata Star

(Footnote)

What About Points?

El Reno, Oct. 7 - After a buffalo dinner, Indians of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians held their annual meeting at Concho Wednesday. Three buffaloes provided the main course for the meal.

 

 

Bio. Wesley A. Pittman

1875 | Oklahoma and Texas

(Footnote)

 

  Wesley Alonzo settled 3/4 mile and 2 and 3/4 mile south of Gould, in Jan. 1898 from Texas.  Born  Jan. 7, 1875 in Greene Co. Illinois the son of John Henry and Elizabeth Ann Cannedy Pittman.  He married Dec. 20, 1896 to Florence Maude Vaughn(1/4th Choctaw), the daughter of Joel B. and Sally Ann Oldham Vaughn.  Florence was born April 29, 1881 at Ryan, Indian Territory, Oklahoma.

They had nine children and seven survived: Lee Roy 1898 Gould, Emmet born 1900 Gould, Oscar Albert born 1901 Gould, Alonzo Leon 1903 Gould, Stella Mae 1904 Eldorado, Alvin John Henry  1912 , Jack B. born 1914.

 Lon and Florence moved from Gould to Hooleyann, north of Childress,Texas where they built a large Victorian house and raised peanuts.  One of the family's fondest memories was the big Oak Tree in the front yard with the swing in it. Later, they lived in Kirkland,Texas then Lon moved the family to El Reno, Oklahoma where he farmed and had a combination grocery store and gas station at Union City.  Later he went to work for the Rock Island Railroad.  Lon died Nov. 14, 1936 and Florence died Sept. 17, 1947. Both are buried at Kirkland, Texas...

 

 

BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND THE OKLAHOMA TERRITORY

 

This famous group of all Black regiments earned their respect as U.S. Military men during the Civil War (1861-1865). They served the U.S. Army as the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry. For their heroism during the Civil War, twenty-two African Americans earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. The name Buffalo Soldiers came later when these troops served as scouts in the West. The Native Americans coined the name Buffalo Solders because of their mostly tightly curled hair, which was said to resemble the roaming buffalo of the Great Plains. They also saw these soldiers as being proud, brave, and strong and respected them just as they had respected their indigenous buffalo.

The Buffalo Soldiers acted as a protective force to keep "Boomers" off lands not assigned to them. Oklahoma was being designated as part Indian Territory, but the boomers kept coming. The 9th Cavalry of the Buffalo Soldiers kept the unassigned land clear since it had been set aside as places for reestablishing new homelands for Native Americans. The Buffalo Soldiers also acted as protectors of other settlers as their wagon trains moved westward. They acted as a peacemaking force keeping angry Native Americans at reason when they were thinking of War during 1880 to 1889. The Buffalo Soldiers also protected the mail routes and Railroad surveyors during this period. These soldiers were stationed at Fort Reno in El Reno, Oklahoma.

 

 

The Calumet Chieftain
November 7, 1935, Thursday

Charley LEFEVER
Charley LeFever Back Home
Charles LeFever who has been at Granite the past several months came home Sunday a free boy. He was wrongfully held is believed by every person here, but no amount of petitions and visits by leading citizens and officers could "break the political crust" to get him released.
Charles no doubt did wrong, but he has changed and has been a steady hard working boy and should have ( article cut off)

School
Sixth graders having perfect spelling lessons for the ninth week are Morris LECK, Hellen THOMPSON and Addie JOHNSON. The average for the class was 94.
Those who made perfect spelling grades in the seventh grade for last month were Kathryn CLAPPER, Bobby LAUGHLIN, Marcelia SCOTT, and Leota PRITNER.
Perfect attendance records for the month of October were made by the following: Mary Ann BARRETT, Cameron BLAGG, Glen BLAGG, Kathryn CLAPPER, Nettie DOUGHERTY, Ruby FLOOD,  Naomi GARDNER, Helen HUTCHINSON, Bobby LAUGHLIN, Martha LECK, Claude LEFEVER, Loyd MCBEE, Marjorie MCCLAIN, Leota PRITNER, Howard RUGG, Marcelia SCOTT, Calvin THOMAS, Mary Lou WEST .
These fourth graders made 100 in spelling the past week: Dick BROWN, Joan JOHNSON, Eloise SCOTT, Lucy BIG EAGLE.
Third graders who made perfect lessons in spelling are Christina HANSEN, Elouise LAUGHLIN, Joe ALAIR, Almeda WHITE, Don HUTCHISON, Billy PENWRGHT, Gene THOMPSON, George ARTHUR, and Naomi MOBERLY made perfect spelling records from the second grade

 

 

The Calumet Chieftain
November 15, 1935

Correction
In the obituary notice of the death of D.C. Yates in last week's Chieftain the names of three sons and one daughter who survive their father are Coleman Yates of Gower, MO; C.D. Yates of Ligon, KY; Arthur Yates of Albuquerque, N.M.; and Mrs. Bertha Husk of Chickasha.

 

P.G. WYNEGAR
Celebrates 91st Birthday
A number of friends and relatives met at the home of P.G. Wynegar, Sunday to help him celebrated his 91st birthday. Those present were, Mrs. Malcolm Murphy and children, of Shawnee; Misses Mary Frances Wynegar and Margaret Mills of El Reno; Mrs. May Shyrock, of Upland, Nebraska, and Charlie Wynegar. Afternoon visitors were Mrs. Charley Wynegar and Bill Brannon of El Reno.
Mr. Wynegar is a Civil War Veteran. Though he is blind and very deaf he is hale and hearty and can get around on the place quite will.

COL. L.E. WERNER of Kingfisher was a business visitor in Calumet Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Aleck HADLOCK and Mr. and Mrs. Mac HADLOCK and daughter Jean, of west of town, were the Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. M.W. RIDGEWAY and family.

Mr. and Mrs. R.E. POARCH and little grandchildren, Bobbie Lou and Billy Sue, who attend school here, spent Sunday in Kingfisher where they were the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. POARCH and family.

 

The ElReno Daily Tribune
August 16, 1947, Tuesday

GRAVITT GERLING
Marriage License
John B. Gravitt, 39, and Lydia Lorene Gerling, 30, both of Oklahoma City.

 

 

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