Excepts taken from Guymon Herald, Guymon, Okla., Mon., July 2, 1990, written by Donald Orren Nelson, Courtesy Northwest Flats Heritage, 1979
Alta Barbara Denning, daughter of Jonathan Denning and Sarah Bell Denning, and Edward Albert Nelson were married in Douds, Van Buren County, Iowa on Dec. 3, 1891. He purchased two relinquishments of 160 acres each in "No Man's Land" and before leaving Iowa, Alta made up her mind she would like it and would stay. She chartered three railroad cars, and loaded all with household goods and farm machinery. Also, she carefully packed three trunks full of young fruit trees. In addition, she brought two teams of horses, several cows, ewes, and hogs.
By doing this their son, George, then 13 years old, could travel in the cattle cars and tend the stock and not be charged extra expense for his fare. After loading the livestock, there was room left, so Alta purchased fence posts and apples from her neighbors to fill the remaining spaces. She sold apples (except those needed for her family) all along the railroad route. By the time she arrived at what is now Hooker, 1909, she had sold enough apples to pay for the expense of the railroad cars.
There were four children in the family when they came to Oklahoma, Letha Mary born Feb. 7, 1894, George Edward born Nov. 20, 1896, Wilma Rachael born Nov. 18, 1905, Reva Elizabeth born Jan. 9, 1908, all were born in Douds in Van Buren County Iowa. They had a fifth child after moving to the Panhandle, Vera Bessie (Betty) born Nov. 30, 1910. She was born in Guymon.
The family lived and grew up on their farm north of Guymon, attending church and school in the Pleasant plains school located just south of their property. One teacher the children remember is Gertie Talbot.
Because the nearest doctor was miles away, people soon learned that they could depend on Alta. She was called on in all kinds of sickness and any time a delivery was imminent.. She always sent the father for the doctor. During the 31 years that Alta lived in the Oklahoma Panhandle, she delivered 52 babies and two sets of twins.
Since the plains were without trees, the people had to burn coal, which had to be hauled 30 miles from Guymon. Often for heat they would burn cow chips, which were plentiful. Alta knew how her cultured, civilized family from Iowa felt about this, so any time they had visitors from Iowa, they planned to burn coal. No one mentioned burning cow chips. But it is a child's nature to be devious and as all the cousins and aunts were sitting around the stove, in came little Wilma holding a big cow chip. As proud as she could be, she said, "look at the big cow chip I found. Let's put it in the stove and burn it." The secret was out.
Ed and Alta moved to Goodwell when the children were ready to attend Panhandle A & M. There were no student dormitories. The Nelsons housed girls in their home in Goodwell. Alta was often called on to chaperone the girls living in their home. All dates were chaperoned in those days.
After the death of her husband, Alta sold their home in Goodwell and divided her time staying with her children. All the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren looked forward to "Greaty" to come for a visit.
She was always happy and very modern and up-to-date. After her 90th birthday, she had major surgery, recovered, fell and broke her hip,and recovered to walk again. Her mind was clear and alert until the time of her death at 93. She died at the home of her daughter, Wilma Phillis, in Amarillo, Texas on Aug. 5, 1964. She left a legacy of education, religion, and the beauty of life dedicted to constant betterment.
Published n the Guymon Daily herald, Monday, July 2, 1990, p. 2.
Alta Barbara Denning, daughter of Jonathan Denning and Sarah Bell Denning, and Edward Albert Nelson were married in Douds, Van Buren County, Iowa on Dec. 3, 1891. He purchased two relinquishments of 160 acres each in "No Man's Land" and before leaving Iowa, Alta made up her mind she would like it and would stay. She chartered three railroad cars, and loaded all with household goods and farm machinery. Also, she carefully packed three trunks full of young fruit trees. In addition, she brought two teams of horses, several cows, ewes, and hogs.
By doing this their son, George, then 13 years old, could travel in the cattle cars and tend the stock and not be charged extra expense for his fare. After loading the livestock, there was room left, so Alta purchased fence posts and apples from her neighbors to fill the remaining spaces. She sold apples (except those needed for her family) all along the railroad route. By the time she arrived at what is now Hooker, 1909, she had sold enough apples to pay for the expense of the railroad cars.
There were four children in the family when they came to Oklahoma, Letha Mary born Feb. 7, 1894, George Edward born Nov. 20, 1896, Wilma Rachael born Nov. 18, 1905, Reva Elizabeth born Jan. 9, 1908, all were born in Douds in Van Buren County Iowa. They had a fifth child after moving to the Panhandle, Vera Bessie (Betty) born Nov. 30, 1910. She was born in Guymon.
The family lived and grew up on their farm north of Guymon, attending church and school in the Pleasant plains school located just south of their property. One teacher the children remember is Gertie Talbot.
Because the nearest doctor was miles away, people soon learned that they could depend on Alta. She was called on in all kinds of sickness and any time a delivery was imminent.. She always sent the father for the doctor. During the 31 years that Alta lived in the Oklahoma Panhandle, she delivered 52 babies and two sets of twins.
Since the plains were without trees, the people had to burn coal, which had to be hauled 30 miles from Guymon. Often for heat they would burn cow chips, which were plentiful. Alta knew how her cultured, civilized family from Iowa felt about this, so any time they had visitors from Iowa, they planned to burn coal. No one mentioned burning cow chips. But it is a child's nature to be devious and as all the cousins and aunts were sitting around the stove, in came little Wilma holding a big cow chip. As proud as she could be, she said, "look at the big cow chip I found. Let's put it in the stove and burn it." The secret was out.
Ed and Alta moved to Goodwell when the children were ready to attend Panhandle A & M. There were no student dormitories. The Nelsons housed girls in their home in Goodwell. Alta was often called on to chaperone the girls living in their home. All dates were chaperoned in those days.
After the death of her husband, Alta sold their home in Goodwell and divided her time staying with her children. All the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren looked forward to "Greaty" to come for a visit.
She was always happy and very modern and up-to-date. After her 90th birthday, she had major surgery, recovered, fell and broke her hip,and recovered to walk again. Her mind was clear and alert until the time of her death at 93. She died at the home of her daughter, Wilma Phillis, in Amarillo, Texas on Aug. 5, 1964. She left a legacy of education, religion, and the beauty of life dedicted to constant betterment.
Published n the Guymon Daily herald, Monday, July 2, 1990, p. 2.
Excepts taken from Guymon Herald, Guymon, Okla., Mon., July 2, 1990, written by Donald Orren Nelson, Courtesy Northwest Flats Heritage, 1979
Alta Barbara Denning, daughter of Jonathan Denning and Sarah Bell Denning, and Edward Albert Nelson were married in Douds, Van Buren County, Iowa on Dec. 3, 1891. He purchased two relinquishments of 160 acres each in "No Man's Land" and before leaving Iowa, Alta made up her mind she would like it and would stay. She chartered three railroad cars, and loaded all with household goods and farm machinery. Also, she carefully packed three trunks full of young fruit trees. In addition, she brought two teams of horses, several cows, ewes, and hogs.
By doing this their son, George, then 13 years old, could travel in the cattle cars and tend the stock and not be charged extra expense for his fare. After loading the livestock, there was room left, so Alta purchased fence posts and apples from her neighbors to fill the remaining spaces. She sold apples (except those needed for her family) all along the railroad route. By the time she arrived at what is now Hooker, 1909, she had sold enough apples to pay for the expense of the railroad cars.
There were four children in the family when they came to Oklahoma, Letha Mary born Feb. 7, 1894, George Edward born Nov. 20, 1896, Wilma Rachael born Nov. 18, 1905, Reva Elizabeth born Jan. 9, 1908, all were born in Douds in Van Buren County Iowa. They had a fifth child after moving to the Panhandle, Vera Bessie (Betty) born Nov. 30, 1910. She was born in Guymon.
The family lived and grew up on their farm north of Guymon, attending church and school in the Pleasant plains school located just south of their property. One teacher the children remember is Gertie Talbot.
Because the nearest doctor was miles away, people soon learned that they could depend on Alta. She was called on in all kinds of sickness and any time a delivery was imminent.. She always sent the father for the doctor. During the 31 years that Alta lived in the Oklahoma Panhandle, she delivered 52 babies and two sets of twins.
Since the plains were without trees, the people had to burn coal, which had to be hauled 30 miles from Guymon. Often for heat they would burn cow chips, which were plentiful. Alta knew how her cultured, civilized family from Iowa felt about this, so any time they had visitors from Iowa, they planned to burn coal. No one mentioned burning cow chips. But it is a child's nature to be devious and as all the cousins and aunts were sitting around the stove, in came little Wilma holding a big cow chip. As proud as she could be, she said, "look at the big cow chip I found. Let's put it in the stove and burn it." The secret was out.
Ed and Alta moved to Goodwell when the children were ready to attend Panhandle A & M. There were no student dormitories. The Nelsons housed girls in their home in Goodwell. Alta was often called on to chaperone the girls living in their home. All dates were chaperoned in those days.
After the death of her husband, Alta sold their home in Goodwell and divided her time staying with her children. All the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren looked forward to "Greaty" to come for a visit.
She was always happy and very modern and up-to-date. After her 90th birthday, she had major surgery, recovered, fell and broke her hip,and recovered to walk again. Her mind was clear and alert until the time of her death at 93. She died at the home of her daughter, Wilma Phillis, in Amarillo, Texas on Aug. 5, 1964. She left a legacy of education, religion, and the beauty of life dedicted to constant betterment.
Published n the Guymon Daily herald, Monday, July 2, 1990, p. 2.
Alta Barbara Denning, daughter of Jonathan Denning and Sarah Bell Denning, and Edward Albert Nelson were married in Douds, Van Buren County, Iowa on Dec. 3, 1891. He purchased two relinquishments of 160 acres each in "No Man's Land" and before leaving Iowa, Alta made up her mind she would like it and would stay. She chartered three railroad cars, and loaded all with household goods and farm machinery. Also, she carefully packed three trunks full of young fruit trees. In addition, she brought two teams of horses, several cows, ewes, and hogs.
By doing this their son, George, then 13 years old, could travel in the cattle cars and tend the stock and not be charged extra expense for his fare. After loading the livestock, there was room left, so Alta purchased fence posts and apples from her neighbors to fill the remaining spaces. She sold apples (except those needed for her family) all along the railroad route. By the time she arrived at what is now Hooker, 1909, she had sold enough apples to pay for the expense of the railroad cars.
There were four children in the family when they came to Oklahoma, Letha Mary born Feb. 7, 1894, George Edward born Nov. 20, 1896, Wilma Rachael born Nov. 18, 1905, Reva Elizabeth born Jan. 9, 1908, all were born in Douds in Van Buren County Iowa. They had a fifth child after moving to the Panhandle, Vera Bessie (Betty) born Nov. 30, 1910. She was born in Guymon.
The family lived and grew up on their farm north of Guymon, attending church and school in the Pleasant plains school located just south of their property. One teacher the children remember is Gertie Talbot.
Because the nearest doctor was miles away, people soon learned that they could depend on Alta. She was called on in all kinds of sickness and any time a delivery was imminent.. She always sent the father for the doctor. During the 31 years that Alta lived in the Oklahoma Panhandle, she delivered 52 babies and two sets of twins.
Since the plains were without trees, the people had to burn coal, which had to be hauled 30 miles from Guymon. Often for heat they would burn cow chips, which were plentiful. Alta knew how her cultured, civilized family from Iowa felt about this, so any time they had visitors from Iowa, they planned to burn coal. No one mentioned burning cow chips. But it is a child's nature to be devious and as all the cousins and aunts were sitting around the stove, in came little Wilma holding a big cow chip. As proud as she could be, she said, "look at the big cow chip I found. Let's put it in the stove and burn it." The secret was out.
Ed and Alta moved to Goodwell when the children were ready to attend Panhandle A & M. There were no student dormitories. The Nelsons housed girls in their home in Goodwell. Alta was often called on to chaperone the girls living in their home. All dates were chaperoned in those days.
After the death of her husband, Alta sold their home in Goodwell and divided her time staying with her children. All the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren looked forward to "Greaty" to come for a visit.
She was always happy and very modern and up-to-date. After her 90th birthday, she had major surgery, recovered, fell and broke her hip,and recovered to walk again. Her mind was clear and alert until the time of her death at 93. She died at the home of her daughter, Wilma Phillis, in Amarillo, Texas on Aug. 5, 1964. She left a legacy of education, religion, and the beauty of life dedicted to constant betterment.
Published n the Guymon Daily herald, Monday, July 2, 1990, p. 2.
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