USA > Oklahoma > Woods County > History of Woods County Oklahoma > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
The Statehood Proclamation
A new day had dawned for Oklahoma. In the election that followed the Constitutional Convention, the vote for the Constitution and for a united state- hood was carried overwelmingly. So at 10 o'clock A. M., November 16th, 1907, President Roosevelt issued the proclamation admitting all of Oklahoma as the 46th state of the Union. As by magic all the church bells of Oklahoma were set ringing; a thousand steam whistles filled the state with their shrill noise, and every where the people began a joyous celebration.
At the time of her admission she already had a population of 1,400,000 of which 116,000 were In- dians. It is said that our state had four times as much population as had any other state when received into the Union. Only 104 years before, Jefferson had pur- chased from France the Louisiana country from which we had now carved 13 states, the last of which was Oklahoma.
89
:
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XX
GEOGRAPHY OF WOODS COUNTY
Of the 77 counties in Oklahoma, Woods ranks eleventh in size and 55th in population. It is triangular in shape, its northern and eastern boundaries being straight lines, and its south western being the Cimarron river. The distance by nearest roads following section lines, from the northwest to the southeast corner of the county is eighty nine miles. The elevation of the county varies approximately 500 feet, with an elevation of 1350 feet at Alva and nearly 1900 feet at the north- west corner of the county. It is located in the north- ern part of the state being bounded by Barber and Comanche counties, Kansas, on the north and its county seat, Alva, is 243 miles from New Mexico on the west and 227 miles from Missouri and Arkansas on the east. Its longitude is 99 degrees west, and latitude 36 degrees, 50 minutes, north. It is bounded on the east, south and west by Alfalfa, Major, Woodward and Harper counties, with U. S. Highway 64 leading directly to Alfalfa and Harper counties and State High- way 15 leading to Woodward and Major counties. Everyone should know that Alva is located in Town- ship 27, Range 14. Then, by figuring six miles north or south for another township and six miles east or west for another Range all locations in Woods county can easily be found.
One of the most essential assets of any progressive and prosperous country is a healthy, invigorating climate. Indeed it is claimed by many authorities that inheritance, social environment and climate are the three most powerful factors in determining human destiny. If this be true the people of Woods county
90
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
are richly blessed for, first, they have come from the best stock of America; second, the moral, religious and educational (social) conditions are among the best in the state, and third, the climate is classed with the most invigorating and salubrious in the entire country. Writers on climatology give this section of the country a very high rating. Climate makes more people live with robust health and succeed in business than almost any other factor.
Topography and Drainage
The prevailing winds are from the south and southwest but very many days each year they come from the north and northwest. The heavy dashing short rains come from these directions, while the slow, drizzling rains that last for several days come from the
M'CORMICK.DEERING
Combine in Woods County Wheat Field
east. The average rainfall for the last 20 years has been between 28 and 30 inches, four fifths of which falls between the first of April and the last of October. On an average the sun shines 255 days of the year. The average temperature is 35 in December and January, 60
91
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
in April and October, 75 in June and September, and 80 in July and August. The first killing frosts come about the 25th of October and the last about the 6th of April. Hail is most prevalent during the months of May and June.
Crops and Soils
The county has an area of 803,000 acres. Of this amount, 725,000 acres were included in farms in 1925 and each farm averaged 350 acres. More than 300,000 acres were actually cultivated, whereas there were about 400,000 acres of pasture land. The various crop acreages were oats, 8,000 acres; hay, 11,000 acres; corn, 22,000 acres; sorghum, 58,000 acres and wheat, 195,000 acres. All of this farm land had an average value according to the U. S. census of 1925 of about $30 per acre. The prevailing soils may be described as gypsum clay in the northwest third of the county; as sandy in the south and southeast third, and clay loam in the northeast third. In this last section is grown most of the wheat. The northwest third is used mostly for pasturage. The southeast third including the whole valley of the Cimarron is especially adapted to the pro- duction of fruits and vegetables.
Railroads and Towns
One of the main lines of the Santa Fe railroad from Chicago and Kansas City to California crosses the county from the northeast to the southwest. On this is located Capron, Alva, Avard and Waynoka. Branch- ing off the main line at Waynoka, the Santa Fe has a line running up the Cimarron valley to Buffalo. Freedom is the principal town on this road. The Frisco coming from Enid enters the county from the east and extends as far as Avard. On this road the most impor-
92
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
tant town is Dacoma. The Rock Island enters the county from the east and terminates at Alva.
Cimarron
7
64
64
64
Buffalo.
Woods County
era
17
Drainage, Highways, Towns, Railways
Fairedem. RR.
.A. T. - S.E.
15
1. Alva
15 and +5
2 Avard
State Highwayo
45
3. Maynota
64 US Highway
4. Capton
17 Eagle Chiet Creek
5. Dacoma
18 Sand Creek
6. Freedom
White Horse Creen 20 Red Horse Creek
7 Lookout
8. Galena
21 Turkey Creek
9 Hopeton
& Gypsum Hills
Map 5
93
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XXI THE PEOPLE OF WOODS COUNTY
In the previous chapter is found a discussion of the most important geographic elements that influence the lives of the people. It was there shown that the three things that explain why we are what we are more than all else are our ancestors, our neighbors, and our climate. We therefore want to tell you about the people of Woods county in this chapter.
Woods County People Compared
Children and young people who have always lived in this part of Oklahoma and have not traveled exten- sively, quite naturally suppose that the people everywhere in the U. S. are very much like us. This is not true. In the United States there are 125 foreign-born for every 1,000 peo ple, but in Woods county there are only 40 for each 1,000. In the United States there are 100 negroes for every 1,000 people, and in Oklahoma there are 70 for each 1,000, but in Woods county there are none. In the United States there are 3 Indians for every 1,000, and in Oklahoma there are 30 Indians for every 1,000, but Woods county has none. In some sections such as New York, California, Wash- ington and Oregon there are from 5 to 20 Japanese and Chinese for every WILEY MORSE Healthiest Boy in Oklahoma, 1928. 1,000, but Woods county has none. You now see how the people of Woods county differ from those of
94
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
other parts of the United States do you not? Don't you think you prefer our people?
Although we love all of America and especially Oklahoma, we have peculiar reasons for being partial to the particular part of the state in which Woods county is located. We have a higher altitude and therefore a dryer, colder and more wholesome atmosphere. This means that we can do more work and live better than other folks. Do you think it is just an accident that seven of the nine boys and girls who have won the state wide health contests, and all of the twelve boys who have won the state stock-judging contests have JESSE J. DUNN Ex-Chief Justice of Oklahoma Supreme Court. One of our most noted citizens. come from the northwest half of the state? Four of these honor people have come from our own Woods county. Remember this, that Woods county's climate is one of its chief assets.
Elements of Progress
There are about 16,000 people in Woods county, and one-half of these live in the towns of Alva, Way- noka, Dacoma, Freedom, Capron and Hopeton. The other half of our people are farmers who generally own their farms. If we compare the farmers of Woods county with those of the rest of the state our per cent of farm-owners is almost twice as large. We wish we were able to make just as strong a statement about the farm improvements as we have about the farm owner- ship but we cannot. Perhaps our meager improvements in many cases are due to the fact that the county is yet
95
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
new. The boys and girls now in school must learn how to beautify their homes with painted buildings, flowers, shrubbery and trees. Especially promising in this re- spect are the numerous and thriving social, educational and vocational organizations, such as the 4-H Clubs, Home makers Clubs, Parent Teacher Associations, Poultry Associations, Women's Clubs, Kiwanis and Rotary. These are indicative of the wide awake, in- telligent, moral and progressive character of the Woods county citizenship.
The Schools and Churches
In the kind of schools and the number of boys and girls who go through the grade schools, the high schools and the College, our county ranks among the very highest in the state. While we have no statistics on which to base any statements about the moral and religious character of our people, it is the opinion of persons of state wide and nation- wide acquaintance CHICK STUDIO, ALVA, ORLA. that the citizens of FRIENDS CHURCH First Church in Alva. (Congrega- tional.) Woods county com. pare favorably in these respects with the best sections of the whole nation.
Most of the Christian churches of the United States have strong organizations here. Probably the most numerous in membership are the Catholic, Meth-
96
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
odist-Episcopal, Baptist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Friends, and United Brethren. These wield an influence for progress scarcely second to that of the schools. What an honor it would be if we could say that there are no criminals, no illiterates, and no help- less poor in our county. If all the children now in school learn how to live clean, moral, healthy and in- dustrious lives, this hope may soon come true. With the fine type of citizenship now in Woods county, let us all "boost" for such an ideal condition and thus make our County and ourselves the pride of the state and the nation.
97
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XXII HISTORY OF ALVA
While half of the people of Woods county live in the towns, only about one-fifth of the wealth is found there. Of course the towns could not live without the country, but it is also true that the country people are served in many valuable ways by the mills and eleva- tors, the railroads, the churches, the telephone system, the markets, the stores, the hotels, the skilled tradesmen, the doctors, the hospitals and educational institutions, all of which are found mostly in the towns. Each helps the other and they should know that whoever would cause one to be envious of the other is not a true friend.
Alva is the first town of the county, being located and named before the opening of "The Strip" in 1893. When the Panhandle line of the Santa Fe railroad was built through the "Strip" in 1885-6, Alva was located as the first town south of the Kansas line. When the company sought a name for the new town, the sugges- tion was made that it be named Alva in recognition of the services of Alva Adams who was at that time an attorney for the Santa Fe. Later Mr. Adams moved to Colorado and became governor of that state.
Lots In Demand
On the day of "The Opening," September 16, 1893, many people "ran in" or came by train directly to Alva and took a city lot rather than a quarter sec- tion of land since the government gave them their choice. So it came about that Alva grew from an open field to a town of several hundred people all in one day.
Before the "Opening," the national government divided the whole country into counties, each of which was to be given the name of a letter of the alphabet.
98
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
This was called "M" county, and Alva was made the county seat with the United States land office located on what is now the court house square.
Townsite Described
The original townsite extended 3 blocks east, 2 south, 3 north, and 5 west of the square. Much of the original town was located between the square and the Santa Fe railroad. Every thing south of Church street, including the Northwestern college campus was vacant land and fields until the location of the college in 1897.
Aside from the general development of the agri- cultural industry of the county, especially the growing of wheat, the most influential and significant factors in the development of Alva have been the following:
Important Developments
1. Location of Northwestern State Teachers' col- lege here in 1897.
2. Bridging of Salt Fork in 1898.
3. Erection of court house in 1898.
4. Construction of a city water system in 1899.
5. Extension of the Rock Island railroad in 1901.
6. Installing the light and power plant in 1903.
7. Construction of a city sewer system in 1907.
8. Closing of the saloons with the admission of the state into the union in 1907.
9. Paving of the city square in 1910-1911.
10. Coming of the Alva Roller Mills in 1916.
11. Voting of bonds for the erection of the city high school building in 1917.
12. Location of the U. S. highway 64 in 1924 (Albert Pike Highway, 1917.)
13. Purchase and equipment of the fair grounds in 1925.
1.
2
3
4
5
6 7 8 9
10
.
ALVA INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT
1. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.
2. A. T. & Santa Fe Freight Depot
3. W. B. Johnston Grain Co.
4. Farmers' Co-operative Assn. Elevator
5. Alva Roller Mills
6. Court House
7. Bell's Ice Plant, Ice Cream, Pasteurized Milk
8. Houston Lumber Co.
9. Bell Hotel
10. Alva Laundry and Dry Cleaners
100
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
14. Erection of Bell Hotel in 1926.
15. Bringing of natural gas to Alva, 1929.
16. Location air port, Western Air Express, 1929. 5,500 Population
At present Alva is a town of approximately 5,500 excluding the college students, who, added, make a community of 6,000 or 6,500. Its trade territory covers an area from 50 to 75 miles in diameter. Its industries and improvements include mills, elevators, wholesale groceries, poultry houses, hatchery, bottling works, coal and lumber yards, planing mill, steam laundry, ice plant, ice cream and milk pasteurizing plants, ten com- modious churches, modern hotels, numerous large gas stations with garages and skilled mechanics besides an excellent assortment of mercantile establishments - miles of pavement and scores of beautiful homes.
ALVA HIGH SCHOOL
No town of equal size in the state is better known throughout the country. In the first place it occupies a unique geographical position, being the largest town between Woodward on the south and Kansas on the north, and between Enid on the east and New Mexico on the west, a territory covering over 6,000 square miles.
101
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XXIII WAYNOKA AND AVARD Waynoka
Next to Alva in size and importance among the towns of Woods county is Waynoka about twenty five miles southwest of Alva. The name is of Indian origin -"Winneoka" meaning good water. When the Santa Fe railroad was built through the county, seven years before the opening of the "Strip" a shipping station and a section house, with small amount of siding was located here. Immediately after the "opening" a town- site was offered by John Keifer, who had filed on the land as a homestead. George Nickerson, Charles Cecil and W. H. Olmsted joined with Keifer in platting the town. Mr. Nickerson put in the first store and Mr. Olmstead established a lumber yard and carried a stock of farm implements. Soon Waynoka developed into a splendid trading point for all the southern part of the county.
Waynoka has become a very attractive urban community of approximately two thousand people. City water, light and sewer systems, the paving of the entire business district, a beautiful city park, a large variety of mercantile establishments, good churches, many comfortable and attractive residences and a fully accredited high school make a town of which the people are justly proud.
By making Waynoka a freight division point, with residence for approximately one hundred em- ployees, and by establishing a Harvey Eating House here, the Santa Fe railroad has contributed much to the development of the town. The establishment of an air port by the Guggenheim Transcontinental Air Service
102
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
near Waynoka promises to be of nation wide interest. This air service is operated in connection with the Santa Fe railroad, the passengers traveling by air during the day and taking the fast through train at night. Thus Waynoka promises to become one of the household names to a large part of the country.
A water supply, 99 per cent pure was secured 3 miles southeast, where the Santa Fe constructed a pumping station with 10 wells, which supply water for the round house and ice plant. On the securing of water, a large round house and machine shop, car re- pairing and storage house were established. Here the Kansas Ice Company constructed an ice manufacturing plant, the largest in the state. California fruit cars are iced here. A well-equipped reading room is maintained primarily for Santa Fe employees.
===
WAYNOKA HIGH SCHOOL
WAYNOKA AIR PORT
104
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Avard
Avard received its name from the mother of Frank Todd, from whom the land on which Avard is located was purchased. The town came from the efforts of A. F. Wolf, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, who in 1904 anti- cipated the extension of the Frisco railroad westward from Enid. As Avard is the end of the Frisco line and here intercepts the Santa Fe it makes a valuable junc- tion and calls for the location of a town. It now has a population of about 350.
Most of the surrounding country is very produc- tive and Avard makes a good local trading and ship- ping point. The town has a full supply of mercantile establishments, a good bank, which Mr. Ed S. Roberts established at the beginning of the town. Mrs. Roberts has been vice-president and active in the bank since its establishment. Mrs. Roberts is one of the best known authors of this part of Oklahoma. Her published works
AVARD HIGH SCHOOL
105
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
include "Genealogy of the Oklahoma Daughters of the American Revolution;" "Four Revolutionary Soldiers and their Descendants," and "Some Colonial Families." She is also a frequent contributor of feature stories to the metropolitan press.
Mr. M. T. Pugh is another of Avard's most enter- prising and benevolent citizens. He has done much to promote the development of interest in drilling for oil near Avard.
Irene Goulter, a well-known missionary to China, hails from Avard.
106
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XXIV FREEDOM, CAPRON, DACOMA Freedom
Freedom was born in 1918, as the result of the building of the Waynoka Buffalo railroad up the Cimarron valley. W. W. Vincent and A. T. Walker two courageous pioneers, undertook the construction of this railroad with their own resources but sold to the Santa Fe when the work had progressed as far as Free- dom. The new town was to be named "Annis" after one of the pioneers but when the name was submitted to the U. S. Postal Department it was rejected since that name had already been given to another post office in the state, and the name "Freedom" was substituted by the postal authorities. The name is characteristic of the country and its people and has always been popular. The town has a population of 400 and is support-
FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL
107
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
ed by a large trading territory extending up and down the Cimarron valley for more than thirty miles. Among its early settlers was Marion Clothier, who in 1889 established the first post office of the county west of Alva. He was an outstanding character in many re- spects, strongly supporting all civic, educational and religious movements, and sitting in the State Legisla- ture for two terms. Q. A. Winningham was the first merchant in the new town. Jim Brown, R. I. Eden, Robert Spencer and Bunk Snapp were among the early ranchers and shippers who were builders and boosters for the community.
Freedom is a forward-looking, ambitious town with many flattering prospects. Many of the mer- cantile establishments compare favorably with those of towns three times its size, notably the Farmers Co operative Co., Frank Kamis General Store, Art Hepner's grocery, Reily and Dygert grocery, Clifford and Parsons hardware, Sam Updegraph hardware, and the Starr lumber company. Probably the most appreci- ated of all business establishments is the Freedom State bank whose cashier and manager is Senator D. H. Powers. Senator Powers is the president of the local Chamber of Commerce and is recognized as the out- standing citizen of the community which he has often served in its civic and economic affairs.
Freedom's commercial interests are so exceptional as to make it one of the most important shipping points of its size in the entire state. Last year (1928) it re- ceived and distributed 37 cars of machinery, 100 cars of gas and oil and 327 cars of other freight; while it shipped to world markets, 146 cars of stock and 463 cars of wheat.
The main center of community interest is the fine
108
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
consolidated high school. Here scores of boys and girls in the western part of the county find their only oppor- tunity to secure a high school education.
Dacoma
For several years Dacoma tried two other names before a group of citizens finally asked the U. S. Post Office Department to give it the manufactured name of Dacoma. The extension of the Frisco railroad west- ward to Avard created the demand for a town at its present location.
PARMERS ELEX AND MILL CO.
2
3
4
DACOMA WHEAT ELEVATORS
1. Farmers Mill and Elevator Co.
2. Choctaw Grain Co.
3. Enid Milling Co.
4. Farmers Mill and Elevator Co.
109
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
The most important fact affecting the history and development of Dacoma is its fertile wheat producing territory. It would be difficult to find two other towns in the state that are more beautifully and more richly environed by endless fields of wheat than are Dacoma and Capron, the one 14 miles S. E. and the other 11 miles N.E. from Alva.
In Dacoma there are five large elevators that mar- ket annually more than one-half million bushels of wheat. In addition to these Mill and Elevator Compa- nies Dacoma has some of the best business establish- ments of the county: among which should be named the A. W. Lewis Lumber, Grain and Coal Co. (G. W. Crowell, partner), the State Bank of Dakoma, J. H. Dye, cashier; C. V. Poulson, grocery and hardware; George Whittet, grocery; W. E. Hiatt, general store; P. E. Swan and Co., dry goods and ready to wear; and
DACOMA HIGH SCHOOL
110
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
the very unusual garage and repair shops of Bruner Bros.
Dacoma is particularly proud of her moral and cultural advantages. With a population of 400 it boasts two thriving churches, a well equipped fully ac- credited high school in a handsome brick building, and several beautiful modern residences.
Capron
Capron received its name from Captain Capron, a personal friend of Theodore Roosevelt and a distin- guished officer of the "Rough Rider" regiment. Before finally accepting this name it had tried Sterling, Kermit and Vergil. The town was established in 1895 by W. G. McClure on whose quarter section of land it was located. This land was purchased by Bud Mason of Kiowa for $750, which amount was more than realized from the first sale of town lots.
Capron High School in Course of Construction
111
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
It has now grown to a town of over 300, support- ing a good church and a fully accredited four year high school well patronized by both town and surround- ing country. It has always been an important shipping point, stock being driven here long distances from the west.
Like Dacoma the fact that makes Capron famous and prosperous is that it is surrounded by more than a quarter million acres of the finest wheat land in the
3
.
5
CAPRON ELEVATORS
1. Southwest Elevator Co.
2. C. E. Heaton Grain Co.
3. Farmers Co-operative Elevator Co.
4. E. A. Johnson Grain Co.
5. Santa Fe Depot
112
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
state. Supplying these wealthy farmers with gas and oil for their tractors; with machinery for their farms, and shipping their grain to the world's markets, makes Capron a thriving town all the year round.
113
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XXV NATIVE ANIMALS OF WOODS COUNTY Extinct Animal Life
There are few topics more interesting to boys and girls than animal life. First they should know that in the long ages past, when our coal and oil were being deposited, and later when the limestone rocks were being made, all of this country was a vast sea, and that many huge saurian (reptile-like) animals lived in this sea. The remains of some of these can be found in the deep river banks a few miles south of Alva and in other parts of the county. Some of the bones of these mon- ster extinct animals are found in the Museum of North- western State Teachers' College.
Reports of Early Travelers on Our Animal Life
Edwin James, Major Long, Washington Irving, Colonel Albert Pike and other early explorers of this southwestern country call attention to the great variety of wild birds and beasts that inhabited this particular section nearly a hundred years ago. The broad, moist beds of the streams attracted great numbers of geese, ducks, pelicans, snowy herons and long plumed egrets; the rank and abundant grass gave protection and nest- ing for prairie chickens and turkeys, and food for great herds of deer, antelope, elk and buffalo. The rugged crags of the gypsum hills attracted numerous golden eagles; the deep canyons gave ideal protection and homes for the big lobo wolf, the coyote, the bob cat, the coon, the opossum, the badger and the frequent, but not numerous panther, catamount and black bear. Of course, prairie dogs, snakes, jack rabbits and cotton- tails were abundant.
114
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Because of the great abundance of the animal life, these early explorers have stated that carrion birds such as "the turkey buzzard, black vultures, raven and crows appeared in swarms like blow-flies." Before the occupa- tion of the white man this was a veritable Garden of Eden for hunters and trappers. The bird life was varied and attractive. S. W. Woodhouse made a list of 142 species for the southwestern country as early as 1850. In 1903 Dr. G. W. Stevens, then a professor in "Northwestern," listed 227 varieties of Oklahoma birds, and later, in 1908, Professor T. C. Carter, of "Northwestern," has listed and carefully described 162 varieties, many of which are found in Woods county. Mounted specimens of most of the birds and wild animals of Woods county can be seen in the Museum of Northwestern State Teachers' College.
A List of Present Birds
Here is a list of 37 of the most common and most interesting birds that are now to be found in Woods county. We think all the boys and girls should know them at sight and should know when and where to find them. We are dividing the list into song birds and game birds although some of them hardly belong in either class. They are arranged alphabetically.
Song Birds
Blue bird, Baltimore oriole, black bird, brown thrasher, blue jay, cardinal, crow, cow bird, dickcissel, flicker, hummingbird, indigo bunting, king bird, king- fisher, mourning dove, mocking bird, meadow lark, red- headed woodpecker, robin, road runner, scarlet tanager, scissor-tailed fly catcher, sparrow, shrike, and gold finch.
The Scissor-Tailed Fly Catcher-the most characteristic bird for this part of the country. They are abundant in Woods County.
116
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Game Birds
Crane, curlew, duck (many varieties), geese, golden eagle, heron, jack snipe, owl, pheasant, plover, prairie chicken, quail and swainson hawk.
Game Fish
While this is not a good fishing section of the country, there are a great many fish taken from the Cimarron and Salt Fork and such bayous as the Win- chester lake ... In these streams, the most common and important fish are the channel cat, the river and mud cat, the blue bill cat, the buffalo, the bass, the perch and the carp. To satisfy the demand for local anglers, there have been built several privately owned lakes. These are well stocked with black bass, croppie, bream, and perch, the finest game fishes. Among the best known of these lakes are the Armour Crystal lake, the Kendall lake, the Wilson lake, and the Haines McGerry lake, all in the southern part of the county; the Hale lake, southeast of Waynoka; the Gatz lake, southwest of Alva, and the Gutsch lake, southwest of Dacoma.
Fur-bearing Animals
Woods county is especially rich in fur-bearing animals. A local dealer in Alva has supplied the very interesting data given below. From September 1, to January 18, 1928-29, he paid out for pelts:
Kind
Number
Prices Pd.
Coon
25
$ 150.00
Badgers
50
250.00
Coyotes
150
900.00
Muskrats
300
200.00
Civets
500
375.00
Skunks
3500
7000.00
Opossum
7000
5250.00
117
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XXVI SOME BUILDERS OF WOODS COUNTY
Col. CHARLES H. ELDRED
Organizer and executive secretary of the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association. Chief source of official in- formation about that re- markable organization.
SCOTT CUMMINS
The "Pilgrim Bard," author of Reminiscences of Early Days, Shadow and Sunlight, Musings of the Pilgrim Bard, and Twilight Reveries. Most interesting and loveable of frontiersmen and scouts.
Sen. ALF G. UPDEGRAFF Woods County representa- tive in Territorial Legisla- ture and member of first State Senate. Aggressive fighter for Woods County.
ANDREW JACKSON ROSS Able lawyer and editor. Wise, popular and efficient legislator. Science Hall, N. S. T. C. is the result of his service. Greatly beloved citizen.
118
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Judge H. A. NOAH
Always in demand for un- official public service. Al- ways a booster, always a friend, always a leader. Associated with all public movements.
Prof. E. A. HEROD
The outstanding man in every circle he entered. Man of many talents and broad interests. Over 20 years professor in "Northwestern." Popular legislator. "Herod Hall" is a memorial to his great service.
WILLIAM H. OLMSTEAD
Long-time legislator. Lead- ing "builder" of Waynoka. Generous in support of all worthy causes and unfortu- nate people. Wise counsellor and active participant in re- ligious, educational and poli- tical life of his community.
GEORGE W. BELL
Builder of industries, patron of all civic improvements, trusted and honored public servant. Hotel Bell commem- orates the love and esteem of his fellow townsmen.
119
HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
JOHN W. MONFORT
Modest, wise, efficient orga- nizer and leader of men. Many - sided, encyclopaedic mind. Authority on all pub- lic affairs. Officially and in- timately identified with prac- tically all public improve- ments.
SAMUEL L. JOHNSON
Organizer of A. O. U. W. at Alva and Grand Master Workman of Oklahoma for twenty-five years. Valuable legislator. Good-road booster.
J. P. RENFREW
Courageous and liberal idea- list. Writer and collector of history. Leader of the state press. Trusted public official. Always a great teacher through school and press. Lover of men and builder of his community.
W. F. HATFIELD
Founder of first Woods County paper, "The Alva Pioneer." Our most noted editor and publisher. For over 20 years sole custodian of the A. O. U. W. cemetery. Donor of Hatfield Park to city of Alva. Ideal pioneer and public spirited citizen.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.