McClain County, Oklahoma

Miscellaneous Data

2008-S Proof Oklahoma Quarter

Oklahoma State Quarters were released on January 28, 2008 as the forty-sixth coin in the State Quarter series. Oklahoma's original Statehood date was November 16, 1907.

The reverse design features the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, "E Pluribus Unum." The coin's reverse was designed by Susan Gamble and engraved by Phebe Hemphill.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is Oklahoma's state bird. The design depicts the bird with its distinctive tail feathers spread. Beneath the bird, there is also the state wildflower called the Indian Blanket.

Citizens of Oklahoma submitted over 1,000 narratives as design concepts for the new quarter. This was narrowed to five, which were sent to the United States Mint. Of the artistic design renderings, the governor chose the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher design. The US Treasury Department later gave final approval of the design.

The Philadelphia mint produced 222,000,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 194,600,000 coins. To date, the Oklahoma Quarter has the lowest combined mintage of all the 2008 State Quarters.

January 11, 1895

Duel To The Death

On Wednesday evening about fifteen miles south of Purcell near John SWAIN'S farm, SWAIN and his father-in-law, Mr. RYAN were passing along the highway on horse back, when they met Garl VINCENT and his son Charlie. who were in a wagon.
There had been bad blood between the parties for some time, Charles VINCENT having brought a lease for a place near SWAIN'S which was also claimed by some negroes. The negroes at one time put VINCENT's goods from the house and took forcible possession. When arrested for this SWAIN went on the bond of the negroes and during the course of the trial he and the VINCENT'S got into a quarrel, which has since been kept up until it grew into a bitter feud. The testimony of all the eye witnesses to the affair is substantially the same.
As John SWAIN passed the wagon of the VINCENT's he remarked to them that they might as well file the sights from their Winchesters, as they were too cowardly to use them. He is also said to have used other abusive language. Garl VINCENT told him to go on and let them alone, as he wanted no trouble with him. SWAIN continues his remarks and the VINCENTS got out of their wagon. SWAIN used an insulting name in connection with the Vincents and Garl told him he must not call him that. Swain then turned his horse and started towards the VINCENTS with his hand on his pistol to draw it. As he neared him Garl VINCENT fired his Winchester and the bullet entered the right side of SWAIN'S stomach, passing out at the back and severing the spinal cord. SWAIN'S horse reared and he fell, his foot hanging in the stirrup and he being dragged for some distance. Garl VINCENT at this time got a shell caught in his Winchester so that it would not work. SWAIN, as soon as released from the stirrup, got up on his hands and knees, with his pistol in his hand. VINCENT clubbed his gun, rushed in and attempted to knock the pistol from SWAIN'S hands, but missed, Swain rose to his knees placed the pistol against VINCENT'S breast and fired. VINCENT fell dead, the bullet passing through his body and breaking the backbone. SWAIN then shot at Charlie who returned the shot, each missing. SWAIN fired the second shot at Charlie, also missing, and Charlie fired the second time, his shot entering SWAIN'S left breast just above the heart. SWAIN then fell and died almost instantly.
VINCENT's remains were taken to the home of Charlie VINCENT and prepared for interment. On Thursday they were taken to Elsiemond, a church on Rev. HOLSENBAKE's place, south of Lexington, where they were interred. The services were conducted by Rev. HOLSENBAKE and Rev. L. OLMSTEAD.
The funeral was very largely attended. Garl VINCENT was well known in this community, having resided here since 1875.
He was raised on Chariton Co. Missouri, served in the confederate army during the entire war in Joe Shelby's brigade. After the war he went to Texas, from which state he came here.
He leaves a wife and six children in reduced circumstances, though at one time he was quite wealthy. VINCENT was a warm and intimate friend of the Rev. L.D. HOLSENBAKE, who gave us many particulars of the dead man's life, and who can yet only speak of the dead with faltering voice and tear dimmed eyes. The tie between them was that-Strongest of all- which comes of the comradeship of soldier life. Men who have marched shoulder to shoulder, who have slept beneath the same blanket, perchance have shared with each other their last crust, develop a love stronger than any ties of kinship. An now, as these old heroes are passing away, what wonder that the survivors, as they look their last upon the faces of their loved dead comrades, find their eyes filling with tears, their voices choking with emotion.
SWAIN's body was brought to town and prepared at HOUGHTON's undertaking establishment for burial after which it was removed to the residence of Deputy Marshal Matt COOK. The funeral took place from the Baptist church at 10 o'clock Friday morning, services conducted by Rev.W.H. NICHOLS, of Oklahoma City. A large crowd was in attendance and followed the remains to their last resting place in the cemetery west of town.
John SWAIN was born in Missouri, went from there to Tennessee from which state he came to the territory. He was thirty three years, two months and twenty eight days of age at the time of his death. For eight years he was connected with the force of marshals in the territory, having only about two weeks ago surrendered his commission. During his term of service as deputy marshal he participated in many dangerous conflicts, bearing himself at all times with courage and proving himself a man of indomitable nerve-a character fully sustained by the desperate fight he made in his dying moments.
He had been twice married, his first wife having been of Chickasaw blood, which gave him the right of an inter- married citizen in this country. He took quite an active interest in matters relating to this class of citizens, serving most acceptably as chairman of their meeting held here last summer. Mr. SWAIN'S marriage to his second wife, the charming lady who in widowed sorrow mourns her loss, was one of those events that read like a page from an old romance.
When the HUDGINS gang robbed CAREY's store out at Fred and killed poor Will CAREY, a small gold watch was taken from the dead man by the robbers. This watch was the property of Mrs. SWAIN, then Miss RYAN. SWAIN pursued and captured the gang, after adventures that would almost file a volume and found the watch on the person of the leader, Bill HUDGINS.
Returning it in person to the young lady, he was attracted by her winning personality, an acquaintance was formed that soon ripened into mutual love and the two were united, leading since that time a life of happiness, shadowed only by the young wife's dread of the danger that constantly menaced her husband in his official position.
Charlie VINCENT is about twenty two years of age and is an inter-married Chickasaw citizen. He surrendered to the authorities immediately after the shooting and has been under guard ever since. He has a preliminary examination before Commissioner GATER here Saturday.

In the Hillside Cemetery in Purcell stands a Tombstone like most have never seen. It is in honor to Sam and Prince, to horses of the Purcell Fire Department. It reads:

1902 - 1922

In these hallowed grounds lie Sam and Prince, two horses, the pride of Purcell's Fire Department.

Fifteen years of service to the Purcell Fire Department. May 1913. These two horses and the Purcell Fire Department set a world record in the "Bunkout" contest, with the time of one minute, seven and 2/5 seconds. Team: Frank Boyer, Charles Curtis, Henry Krapf, Arthur Sykes and George Wilson. Trainer' Henry Dodson

McClain County: Purcell Register, Thursday, July 4, 1935

Dr. Alexander With Clark Jewelry Firm

Announcement was made this week that Dr. T.B. ALEXANDER formerly of Batesville, Ark. will be associated with H.C. CLARK, Purcell Jeweler, in the near future.
Dr. Alexander has spent many years in his occupation. His father established a jewelry store in Batesville in 1876. He is an optometrist and is an outstanding watchmaker and engraver and does jewelry repair work. Dr. Alexander is recommended very highly by the Batesville chamber of commerce as being a splendid citizen and Christian gentleman.
Dr. and Mrs. Alexander and son, Baxter, moved to Purcell recently.
L.E. PENN, formerly with Mr. Clark, is taking a much needed rest and will be greatly missed by his many friends and old-time acquaintances in Purcell. Miss Helen NICKSON will continue with the firm as bookkeeper and sales lady.

McClain County: Purcell Register, Thursday, July 4, 1935

Pace Family Returns From Eastern Tour

Judge and Mrs. Tom PACE and son, Bobby, returned home Wednesday form a month trip to the eastern states.
They visited Mr. Pace's mother, Mrs. Florence B. PACE, in Maxton, North Carolina, and Mr. Pace's brother, Dr. D.B. PACE in Greenville, N.C. They several days with Dr. and Mrs. K.B. PACE at Atlantic Beach, N.C.
On the way to North Carolina the Paces went to Washington D.C. and visited with Congressman, Josh LEE and other members of the Oklahoma delegation.
During their stay Judge Pace stated that the country they traveled through is very dry and in much need of rain. He says that this state is far advanced in crops, especially cotton and corn. Mr. Pace says and believes that Oklahoma crops and vegetation far surpass any other state that he visited.

Remembering Purcell's historic fire horses

Written by Chris Schutz

Published December 16, 2007

PURCELL — Two fleet-footed athletes who were born before statehood and only lived into their 20s still hold a special place in the hearts of Purcell residents.

In case anyone forgets them — it's been 85 years since they died — their memorial occupies a place of honor in Hillside Cemetery, just east of the entrance.

The memorial, dedicated in 1987, reads in part:

"In these hallowed grounds lie Sam and Prince, two horses, the pride of Purcell's Fire Department. Fifteen years of service to the Purcell Fire Department.”

Most people who saw Sam and Prince in action are probably long gone, but it's not difficult to find people who have heard stories about the horses who were so swift to answer the fire bell.

"They're a part of Purcell's history,” said Angie Wallace, granddaughter of Louis Groothouse, first chief of the Purcell Volunteer Fire Department and the wife of retired Purcell Fire Chief Joe Wallace.

"I come from a long line of firefighters,” she said.

But Sam and Prince's main claim to fame, and one that helped make a name for Purcell, was the 1913 world record of one minute, 7.4 seconds they set in the popular "bunk-out” competitions of the time.

One such bunkout competition is described in a history of McClain County at the McClain County Historical and Genealogical Society:

"The firemen were in makeshift bunks on the course when the bells rang. They jerked on their overalls and boots, slid down a pole to harness Sam and Prince and then drove the one-quarter-mile course. Whereupon the four men hit the ground running and laid out 250 feet of hose and attached the nozzle to the water supply!”

Sam and Prince, who were half-brothers, were raised by John Demmer on a farm 1½ miles northwest of Purcell.

"Our father, Leo Demmer, helped break these horses,” said John Demmer's grandson, Leo, of Union City. "They turned out to be really pretty fast horses.”

According to his father's stories, people noticed that the horses could make a pretty quick trip into town, and the fire department offered to buy them, probably in 1905 or 1906, Demmer said.

In addition to pulling the wagon to fires, the horses began to compete in bunkout competitions in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Ardmore, Sapulpa, Shawnee, Chickasha and Blackwell, "winning prizes and plaudits wherever they appeared,” according to the McClain County history book.

The horses worked for the fire department for 15 years, retiring when the department got its first motorized fire truck in 1920, said Joe Wallace, who retired as chief in 1987.

With all the bunkout competitions, the Wallaces aren't sure when the horses had time to go out to fires.

"That's a good question,” Angie Wallace said.

She said she never heard whether Prince and Sam had fathered any speedy offspring.

"They were too busy traveling all over the dadgum country,” she said.

She doesn't know of any other horses that were owned by the department, she said.

Years later, when Joe Wallace had joined the volunteer fire department, the old-timers used to tell stories about Sam and Prince, who didn't realize the newfangled fire truck had put them out to pasture.

"When the fire bell rang, the horses would show up at the station. They'd jump out of their fences and show up at the station,” Joe Wallace said.

He said he enjoyed the stories of the team of horses that wouldn't quit.

"It always fascinated me,” Wallace said.

Prince died Aug. 6, 1922, and his half-brother died a short time later, according to the county history book.

After that, things get a little hazy, Joe Wallace said. The horses were buried somewhere in the vicinity of the cemetery, perhaps outside its boundaries.

He tried researching their location, "but nobody could seem to locate the actual resting place,” Wallace said. "I never could come up with an answer.”

The memorial has served its purpose, Wallace said. When elderly relatives of the early day firefighters visit the cemetery, old stories about Sam and Prince come out.

"When they come back and see that monument, they can remember.”

Another stone in the Hillside Cemetery in Purcell is this one:

Scrapper

Badge No. 61

June 1985 June 1993

"Here lies "Scrapper." Purcell Police Departments first Narcotic Detector Dog in service with the Police Department for five years. During which time he was responsible for over two million dollars in drug and property seizures. Scrapper, a gentle eight year old golden retriever, earned the respect of law enforcement agencies and criminals alike. He was a valuable asset in the war on drugs in Purcell and surrounding areas. Scrapper will always be remembered for his friendly face and wagging tail. He will be sorely missed by all those who's hearts he touched, especially the dog handlers and officers of the Purcell Police Department."

Home