Volume 15 , Issue 4

Great Grandma's Bible

Back in 2002, I had rummaged through some old family boxes of memories, finding what I thought to be some great family treasures. One of those treasures was my Grandmother's (Constance Estella Warwick McGill) bible that was handed down from her mother Signora Bell Gwin Warwick.

My Great-Grandmother's book (bible) was received when she was thirteen almost fourteen years of age. On the inside she wrote, "Siga B. Gwin's Book" with the date she received it: "February 27th, 1876."

It's what I found folded between the pages inside that are the real treasures. One was an old Alva newspaper clipping dated November 23, 1934. It showed Gr-Grandmother Signora B. (Gwin) Warwick's Obituary. On the backside of the November, 1934 Alva Paper was some interesting tidbits concerning the history of the Salt Fork River bridge, which we put in The OkieLegacy a few weeks ago.

The Obituary of Signora Belle

"Signora Belle Gwin was the daughter of Sam and Ellen Gwin. She was born near Monterey, Virginia, August 31, 1861 and departed this life at her home in Alva, Oklahoma, November 16, 1934, at the age of 73 years, 2 months, and 15 days."

What was interesting to me was the facts about the three children born to John Robert & Signora Gwin Warwick. The clipping stated that, "To this union were born three children, Constance, Robert Lee Warwick and Wilber."

Wilber is the child I had never heard my grandmother, father mention. Wilber died at the age of one year. Perhaps a childhood disease like influenza. Wilber was the youngest. He was born and died in Oklahoma Territory after John & Signora, including Constance and Robert, of their family came West around 1894 (or later) to homestead land seven miles south of Alva, just North of Hopeton, Oklahoma.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---