Volume 9 , Issue 34

Old Timers In Three Counties

"We early timers lived in three counties without moving. The first was M, then Woods, these two comprised the now Woods, Major and Alfalfa counties. At statehood these divisions were made. Our county seat was Alva, which was quite a distance to go to pay taxes and do legal business.

From this part of the county, it either meant a very early start in the morning, getting home later at night or a stay over for the night as most of the travel was by wagon and team. For the 'proving up' of the claims for homestead four witnesses were necessary. So five or more men would try to get the same time for claim proving and go together, thus making one trip do for all.

The county superintendents did not do a lot of school visiting, perhaps not more than once in two or three years. But would come anytime for some school business. They came in buggies and would sometimes stay with the patrons overnight, therefore, visiting a number of schools before going back to Alva. Mr. J.B. Cooprider stayed in our home once. The three superintendents I remember were Mr. Myers, Mr. Cooprider and Mrs. S.V. McGreevey. I think she was the last from old Woods County.

This may sound unreasonable, but it is true. We had an elderly neighbor, Mr. Henry Demott, who was a great walker and he used to walk to Alva and back to pay his taxes. He lived 2-miles east of Byron. One time his folks insisted he ride one of their mules as the Medicine River was flooding and they wanted to be sure he could get across. He started on the mule, but when he had gone a way, he got off and led the mule to the river, then got on and rode across. Then he got off, tied the mule to a post and walked to Alva. He came back, rode the mule across the river again and proceeded on home leading the mule." -- written by Jessie Sluder Guffy, submitted by Lois Caywood Guffy, Byron, OK
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