Volume 9 , Issue 52

Robert N. Gray's Books - An Oklahoma Odyssey

Yesterday I received a Christmas gift of two Oklahoma history books from my friend in Harper, Kansas who publishes the Prairie Connection newspaper through the Balmer Fund Organization, in Harper, Kansas.

Rosalea Hostetler sent me the following books written by Robert N. Gray in 1995 & 1996:

The Lure of Greener Prairies - An Oklahoma Odyssey, a historical novel, published by The Sons and Daughters of the Cherokee Strip Pioneers, Enid, OK.

Observation From the Station South of Town (Enid, OK) - A Quindecennial Chronology, Roadside Notes of Frank N. Gray from his "Fillin' Station" on Highway 81 between Enid and Waukomis, Oklahoma. This book was edited by Frank's grandson, Robert N. Gray.

Robert N. Gray is deceased now. He did a lot on Oklahoma History and wanted the information in his books used freely. Bob died before he finished, but he made huge headway on all the years (1927-1941) ... only a couple decades did not get finished.

I loved this first paragraph in the Foreward of Robert N. Gray's book entitled, The Lure of Greener Prairies - An Oklahoma Odyssey. It goes like this, "The last of the sturdy pioneers who settled this nation now sleep beneath the sod they subdued, 'yet they speak to us still.' They will not die until they are forgotten. Human lives, like sunsets, leave afterglows seen long after they are gone. Men Blaze trails for others and leave a wake that influences those who follow."

I have known others across the state of Oklahoma and Kansas doing the same and probably getting little if no appreciation for their preservation of our Prairie Legacies! I hope that this NW Okie is another blazing a trail for others -- leaving a wake that will influences those who follow the pioneers of the present. AND... perhaps our afterglow will remain long after we are gone and never forgotten.

Our ancestors and pioneers shrank from no duty. BUT... at the same time, they exhibited resilience as they blended and re-shuffled their various personal involvements in harmony with the restlessness and flux of their times. Patriotism and family obligations, similar to the present, were important factors in determining the roads they followed. It is said that some chose their own direction, but others had little choice. Their lives were a balancing act between constancy, search, stability and change.

The foreward of this book, The Lure of Greener Prairies, goes on to say, "No matter where one is in this world, grass usually appears greener on the other side of the fence and pastures look greener across the road."

The pioneers were seeking a better way, always looking for greener prairies, and continuously trying to improve the situation of their loved ones.

We are not much different from our pioneers, but we do have a more advanced technology to help us in our search for greener pastures, prairies and a better life. Let us just hope we do NOT loose those freedoms, rights that our pioneers fought so hard to preserve.
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