The BOOK

MEMORIES LAST FOREVER
by Janice "McConnell Taylor" Cowan




Welcome to this Web Page I have worked on this book for years. I was going to publish it when I finish but this way I can make changes as I need to add.

Design a website

The Book "Memories Last Forver"
Please Enjoy My Stories
List of Stories In This Web Book
1. Preface To Book & dedication
2. Clarence LeGrande & Nellie Juanita (Zinn) McConnell
3. The Four McConnells by Mary(McConnell) Holbrook
4. A story by Aunt Mari (Nance) Zinn
5. The story of The Zinn Banner Aunt Mari Zinn
6. The 1902 Wedding Picture
7. A story about Arlie (Ward)Logan by Mari Zinn & Janice
8. A story about The John Mose McConnell family
9. A story about Claremce LeGrande(Shug)McConnell Trucking by Janice
10. The Five Zinn brothers Two Sisters
11. Aunt Velva & Uncle Bud Gandy
12. Christmas Memories Past by Aunt Mari & Janice
13. Zinn Family Crest and information
14. Story of Three Zinn Brothers to America
15. Doris & Dub Mcconnell Family
16. School Memories of LoneWolf by Mary Lou (Mc)Heslip
17. The Anderson Family Information
18. Story of Uncle Butch Holbrook Story Sue & Janice
19. Daisy Our Family Dog\
20. War Memories Story by Mari(Nance) Zinn
21. Story about Josie Aiken by Janice
22. Note about Josie Aiken by Linda Kay (Schriener)Allan
23. Uncle Ferd & Aunt Ethel Burnett
24. A Story by Candi (McConnell)Bolin
A story by Melody Lynn (McConnell)Stroud
25. A Story about James Dalrymple by Janice
26. A Story about John Milton McConnell by Janice
27. A Story aboutLloyd Wayne McConnell by Janice
28. A Story about Kenneth Owen McConnell by Janice
29. A Story aboout Diana Johnson by Janice
30. A Story about Mari & Domby Zin
31. Quilt Story & Little Doll by Janice
32. A Story of Wylie & Rose (Ward) Zinn by Janice
33. A Story by Tim Zinn (Uncle Albert & Aunt Nadine)
34. A Story of Carol (Newton) Egene Trinkle by Carol
35. The Zinn's At Dinner Time by Mari Zinn note by Janice
36. A Story of Douglas Zinn
37. Domby & Mari Zinn by Mari
38. A Story about Rebecca Lodge by Janice
39. Dewayne & Dwight Dalrymple by Janice
40. Uncle John Clyde Zinn Plane by Janice
41. Doris June (McConnell)Johnson
42. Stories about Vernard & Sue Holbrook and family by Sue
43. A story about Vernadean & Bill Decker




Preface to my book "Memories Last Forever"
By: Janice(McConnell) Taylor ~ Cowan
This book has been a very long in coming. I am dedicating this book to our Mother, Nellie Juanita (Zinn) McConnell. It was mother that got me started on the search for family history. Over the years my love for genealogy grew into what it is today and that is where this book comes from. I started my search for the family roots in 1960 while I was in high school. I did a report in school on "The Family Tree" and here over 45 years later I am putting it on the internet instead of in print like I thought it would be. So many thanks to Tonia for making this possible for me to show this book to more people. I figured that more people could read it and enjoy the family history and the many memories of times past. . My hope is for all the family to pass it down to their children and their children’s children. Keeping the family memories alive for generations to come.
Over the years I have worked on this book, putting it up just to get it back out and work some more. Now I find it hard to find a stopping place. I decided that it is time for me to bring this book to print. It is the content of the book that gives me the title for this book,"Memories Last Forever".
I have had a lot support and help over the years. When I first started out of course Mother helped me. Vernadine (Holbrook) Decker, my first cousin also gave me my inspiration to work on the family tree. I have however changed the format many times over the past few years. She is the one who taught me to search the libraries for information and for this I appreciate her help. I have also had many conversations with my cousin Vernard giving me information for stories about Daddy and my brothers I thank him so much for bringing those memories to me. Over this past few years I have traded information with Vernards wife Sue. I really could not have done a lot of this without the help. Without all her help and her continued help this web blog would not be possible and I so appreciate all the time we spend online together. We plan on that lasting forever. It is so much more fun to share this with someone who loves this family as much as I do.
Of course I need to thank Aunt Mari (Zinn), and Mary Lou (McConnell) Heslip for all their help and all of the encouragement that they have given me in my search for stories for the book. They have helped me tremendously, also my sisters that I have bugged to tell me things they remember from our childhood and before I was born. Also my sisters who I have ask for information so many times. It is such a shame that they have all passed away and cant enjoy this book that I have worked on for so many years. My wish is for their children to be able to enjoy the information. I have begged, borrowed and begged some more everyone that I have come in contact with in the family for information. I have taken hundreds of pictures over the years. These pictures have come in very handy for me with my book. All the pictures that I have that were Mother’s, Grandmother Zinn’s and Aunt Arlie’s are a big part of the book as well. I have kept them for all these years for this very purpose.
When I first started this search and desire to actually put in print what I have worked on all these years, I was going to put names and dates and births and deaths and this was my family tree. I then realized that in doing it in that format that I would not really pass down much other than births and deaths. My goal was to have "Memories That Last Forever" to be a book of memories that each generation can enjoy and hopefully add to in years to come. As a result of this I then decided to pick the format for the book as just short stories that I would gather from family members and stories that I put together myself from research that I had done. I only wish I had thought of this years ago and I could have talked with some of the ones that have passed on. Oh the stories I could have written had I only talked with Mother and Daddy, Grandmother and Grandfather Zinn. So I do the next best thing and that is to just ask everyone I can to give me memories of their families and past so I can gather what I need for stories. I have to thank each and everyone that has given me stories of memories. I have had to add a few sad stories as well as a lot of happy stories but that is what life is made up of both good times as well as bad times.
I want this book to be passed down to my boys and my grandchildren, Anthony James and Candice Elaine, to Kyleigh Marie and any other children that Candi or Anthony may have in the future. . I have put in many hours more than I can even count but it has sure been worth it. Now it will never be a finished product because I will work on it until I die.
Please I want each one of you that read this book to come away with some memories of your own that can last forever!! I will say that the sad part of the time that I have spent on this book would be the immediate family members that have passed away during this time. Daddy, Mother, Lloyd, Kenneth. Johnny and James., all four of my sisters, Doris, Katha, Arlene and Linda Sadly we have lost Aunt Velva, Uncle Albert, Uncle Clyde and Uncle Van who were a big part of my Zinn information for the book. Mothers family pretty much gone. Three of our young family members both Diana Lynn and Keith Alan and Mark Stephen that left this earth far to young. These family members are all a part of the memories in this book and I appreciate the part they played in the gathering of information for the book. I am proud of this book as it has always been a big part of my life.
Please Enjoy The Memories From My Heart To Yours


Clarence LeGrande (Shug) McConnell My father was larger than life and I mean really larger than life. He was 6 ft 6 and I always thought he looked like John Wayne. He always was dressed in Levi's and a Gray Chambery Shirt and a Cowboy Hat and boots. In the summer it was a straw cowboy hat in the winter a felt one. Always had it on his head even in the house. Now on occasion Mother would fuss at him and he would take it off. I can just see him sitting at the breakfast table waiting for his breakfast and with my mother cooking it you can bet it was a good one. He would sit at the head of the table kind of sideways in the chair because his legs were to long to go under the table. Yes with his hat on. My Dad which was called Shug by everyone in Lone Wolf and all over Oklahoma and even in Texas. My Dad was a man to be remembered. He could make a deal stand on its head. He was quite a trader and people would say that "Shug could sell a eskimo a ice box. This was very true, because he was quite the cattle and hay man. Our father had serveral trucks and my brothers all at one point in time worked for him. Vernard my cousin also worked some with the boys. I have seen on more than one occasion where the boys had loaded one or the other of the trucks with a load of hay (now this was a hard task to begin with you must understand) but Daddy was sure picky about his loads. If it was not really a neat load he would make them unload it and fit it until it was right. He would never drive down the road with a truck that was not loaded perfect. That was just a Shug thing.
Daddy loved his children and grandchildren and the get together’s that we would have. Mother would make big meals and we would make homemade ice cream the kind you hand crank. In the summertime there was always watermelons of all kinds and mothers fried chicken and baked beans and potato salad and of course several kinds of homemade pies. Daddy loved to eat and love to have others eat with us. Our dinner table would sometimes look like the "Waltons" on tv with lots of people around it. No sandwiches at that house because Daddy wanted a real meal. (smile) So I would say we ate pretty well at the McConnell table rather it was good old biscuits and all the breakfast things we liked to a full lunch and then supper. Mother spent a lot of time in that old kitchen in that big white house on the corner in Lone Wolf. I really didn’t know for a very long time why he was nicknamed "Shug" and I found out that one of the waitress in a cafe in Hobart that he owned at one point - called him Shug one day and from then on it was Shug of course not to my mother she called him Clarence or CL. Over the years he has been owner and then part owner of a couple of cafes in Hobart and in a little food store. He had trucks that he and the boys and then also his only brother Leland drove as well. Daddy was a cattle trader as well. He spent a lot of time in the Cattle Sale Yards. I know that Linda loved to go with him to the sales. She told me that it was really something to sit by him and watch him in action. He would bid by a little secret jester that would alert the auctioneer know he was bidding. I know I went a couple of times but it was not for me. Linda liked to go and she was pretty much like another son because she liked to go with him and also she would ride in the rodeo's with him and Kenneth. Daddy was always really proud of Linda because she could do about anything he ask her from plumbing to helping to brand the cattle or pitch hay to feed. That was a tough job as well. Daddy always hired a couple of guys to do odd jobs and to load and unload the trucks. They like to work for Mr Shug because he was good to them and Mother feed them really well. Daddy always said that if they worked a hard day they needed to eat a hearty meal and mother made sure of that. It was not sandwicheseither she would feed them a full meal with dessert included. One of the guys was Donnie and his nickname was Chief.
Benny worked for us for a long time he was one of the few black guys in Lone Wolf back in those days. But I tell you one thing in my Daddy's eye they were no different then he was and you better not let him find you saying it or treating them any different. We were taught that from a very early age and I carry that through today in my life. Daddy worked hard and in those days you had to in order to support eight children and he did that well. I know in the later days when Linda and I came along, we were the youngest I think people said and they were right that we were a little spoiled. The older kids remember some hard times during the time with the world was having tough times but myself I just dont remember those days.
Another little story about Daddy. When he would get home from his hay trips after several days he would have been paid sometimes in cash. He would let Linda and I count his hundred dollar bills. We thought that was just really special. n the summer time he would take a truck down in south Texas and bring back a full load of Watermelons and he would park the truck down town and let Linda and I sit in the back of the truck and sell them and then give up the money. It was really fun. Boy I can taste those big ole Black Diamond Melons today. Linda and I had a really fun time and made some money as well. I can just close my eyes and see that truck backed up downtown at the old station and loaded with straw so the melons would not be bruised. Boy I loved those yellow meated melons and you just don’t find those today.
Daddy had a cattle barn and corrals just up the road form the house across the train tracks. This was also just past were Aunt Mary and Uncle Butch lived. Linda and I liked to go up there and play on the stacks of hay in the barn only we did not let Daddy know because he was pretty picky about the hay stacks. Another good memory is that Daddy kept a pop machine in the barn and always kept Orange Pop and Strawberry Pop and a Grape Pop. I really loved that Strawberry pop. (smile) Another memory is that when the circus would come to town Daddy would let the circus people unload the animals and water them and we always got to go to the circus free. One year I even got to ride a elephant in the circus parade. Boy that was something and I thought I was very special - guess it was to me anyway.

There are so many memories of the early day in Lone Wolf and even a few from Luther but since Mother hated it there in Luther the short time we were there I don’t write much about it. In fact she always said she did not want a mention of us ever living there in her obituary and we didn’t. You see when we did move up there they just closed up the house and then we came back to it just as it was left. Mother was much happier then that is for sure.
Daddy died at a very early age he was only 56 years old and died in his sleep. Linda was still in highschool and living at home. She went in to wake him and it was on Christmas Eve and he had passed away in his sleep. I still have trouble with Christmas Eve and guess I always will. So this is just a little glance into the life of a really great Daddy and in my eyes he was as big as life.


This story was written by Mary Frances (McConnell) Holbrook in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. Given to her daughter Vernadine (Holbrook) Decker in 1968. This is copied by Janice (McConnell) Cowan in the exact words and spelling of Aunt Mary. Vernadine has the original in Aunt Mary’s handwriting.
Who? The McConnell’s
On a neat little farm at Garvin, Texas lived John Moses and Margret McConnell. To this world was born eight children, five girls and four boys. In six miles from this family lived the Issac Easley Swafford family. They were the Post Office Postmaster and Postmistress in 1909 at Keeter, Texas where my mother was born. In the McConnell family was one son Qwen Wesley who my mother met later on as they grew up together. Owen, as a young man taught singing school and it was his favorite job. At the Garvin and Keeter Church’s which were eight miles apart.
Later on as time passed they were engaged and were married at the Garvin Church, as it now stands in a most simple wedding. They rode up to the Church in a Buggy, the minister came to the Church steps with his Bible and preformed the ceremony simple but sacred. The lap robe neatly over their laps. Which was considered the style in those days in 1901.
They settled and moved to Annevile, Texas on a farm and were happily settled as my Aunt (Mrs) Charley Young lived in four miles of them. They visited a lot. And in 1905 C.L. my oldest brother (Clarence) was born and they visited back to their parents at Garvin and Keeter. My father was a farmer back in those days. Each family had a small farm and plowed with horses. In 1907 my youngest brother was born and all was well with them. My mother became very ill and Dr. Redford of Boyd, Texas pronounced her with Siatic-Rheumatism and my father became so frightened and framed their wagon and covered the wagon and left Anneville and traveled for her health. The children, C.L. was two and Leland a few months old. They traveled miles and miles my mother was on crutches and could not walk and had to have help with the boys. My father was good help. They soon traveled a month and reached Memphis, Texas, bought a farm and settled down. They loved the country and Church and he taught singing school here and joined modern Woodman’s and settled down. Was a successful farmer. As time went on and passed my mother’s health improved and in 1911 a baby girl came - Mary Frances. My father named the birls, mine after my Grandmother Swafford the Mary and the Frances after my Grandmother McConnell. And I was the only girl so they decided for four since her health improved. So in 1909 Anna Pearl was added to the family.
We had an ideal family, boys and girls. All was well and happy and we all became very ill in April 1913. We called the doctor and in those days they made house calls. So my father took very ill. The doctor came at once and he told my mother, “where did we get our drinking water?”. She said from a cistern. He had the water tested and we all had typhoid fever. All in bed. The neighbors all came to our aid. My father got some better and was up and around and went walking to the barn to check his houses and plows and put out hay for the horses and water. He started back to our house and fell and hemorrhaged at the yard and was carried to the bed. Passes away suddenly. Sad and a shock. Plans were the Modern Woodman’s helped with burial plans and located us at Boyd, Texas between both is parents and my mothers parents. We bought a home and grew up to school age on insurance check and farm my mother used it sparingly. My mother lived a sad life but enjoyed us children. Doing her best toward us. We all went to Boyd school and was taught to help our parents. My mother she helped us and we all shared our home. We grew older and married and went our separate ways. My mother passed away in 1945 and CL passed away in 1966.

The Story Of The Banner by: Mari Zinn
There was a time when windows told a story. Perhaps it wa another life time ago, few people seem to remember it. But, once just by driving down the street of Anytown,USA, there was an intimate connection to the pople inside. To be sure it was only a tentative connection but one that touched the heart strings and involuntarily produced feelings of gratitude. Here was a small white banner with one star, there one with two and only so seldom - one with five stars. The color of the star told the level of sacrifice. If one held a gold star, it seemed that the world should stop to take notice for this was a family who had given a child, almost always a son, so that you and I could drive on that street or any street - free-. Yes the cost of freedom is extremely high. Evan when there was not a gold star among the others, we all knew that this mother and father lived each day in hope and anticipation and dread.
The window in the front room of athe small frame bungalow at 102 SW Boundary, Hobart, Oklahoma, held one of those rare banners with five stars. With the coming of Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941, no one's world would ever be the same. From the radio came the unthinkable news that the United States had been attacked by Japan. All that Sunday arodios were turned to the news Monday brought a day of continure disbelief - school classes stayed in home rooms all day to hear the somber news - the United States was at war. The unforgettable voice of President Franklin D. Roosevelt told us this was a day that would live in infamy and then, like a father to a nation, he told us the only thing we had to fear was fear itself. but there was much to fear - the unknown most of all. With Germany at war in Europe and Japan, the future was not at all certain. This very uncertainty prompted acin from the young men across this continent. Even before a draft could be initiated, bolunteers lined up to be sworn in and after the friefest of training, sent to corners of the world they never knew existed. And so, one by one, Rose and Wylie Zinn saw their boys leave - Albert, Van, Clyde, Doug and finally Domby = and five stars marked their absence for all the world to see. How can anyone even imagine the feelings of that mother and dad as they watitd not days or months but years for a letter to come from one of the boys: from Clyde (now become Johnny, the military didn't vare what you were called at home, your first name ws your name) in England or Domby at sea on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific or the others wherever their bases were. Long hat days melded into long cold days and the years passed and the unthinkable came to an end. Not one gold star replanced another on the shite banner in the window. By the spring of 1946 all Zinn boys had returned "home" safe and sound, but changed forever. Changed by the reality of life - and death. Changed by everything that wasr brings about.
Somewhere in some box, perhaps the banner still exist. If it does it needs to be framed and kept in a prominent place for all the world to see. Let it bear witness in some window again that freedom is not free. Let it tistify that this country and this family produced men of valor who willingly gave years of their lives and would have given even their very lives for their country, their families and themselves that each of us could enjoy a way of life undreamed of in most of the world and most of time. The next time you drive by 102 SW Boundary, look carefully at the south living room window -can you see it? It's ust a small white banner with five stars.
Note: by Janice
This story is one of my very favorite stories and it was written by the wife of one of the five that the stars represent Mari Zinn. These five brave men are my mothers brothers and our family has always been so proud especially today when we are in the time of war again and there are young men and women losing their lives each day for the freedom that we as Americans take for granted. God Bless each and every one of them and God Bless America. Thank you Zinn Uncles and special thanks to my dear Aunt Mari for sharing with me not only this story but many more.

Wedding Gift
This picture is one of my prize possesions in all of my Genealogy photos and items. I was given this picture by my Aunt Agnus McConnell the wife of my fathers only brother Leland Leroy McConnell. This picture hung in their home for many years and as a child I always loved it. When Aunt Agnus passed away this picture was left to me in her will. I was surprised and overjoyed that she cared enough for me to give me this great gift. This picture was a wedding gift to my father's mother Ludella Pearl (Swafford)McConnell from his father Owen Wesley McConnell. This was in 1902. They were married at Garvin Church and the story I was told by my mother was that they just drove up to the church door and the preacher came out and married them with them sitting in the buggy. I think this story is just a jewel and they had across their laps a laprobe (my sister Linda had it)I really don't know know where it is her husband had said I could have it but I really doubt that will happen.
I gave this picture away and I had never regreted anything so much and I am very sadden that I did this and I wish I had it back.

Arlie Elene Ward) Logan
Written by: Mari Zinn
Arlie Elene Ward was born in 1898 (?) to a true pioneer family John Martin and Drucilla Lee Ward (spelled different ways in different places). I do believe that she was the youngest of 15 children Some of these may be been still born but
I know one brother was killed in a gun accident,
Arlie's childhood was one of great poverty although the family probably did not ever think it so. With such a large number, each and everyone worked on the farm in what is now Beaver County or Greer County which changed from Texas to Oklahoma. Apparently there remained family members in both places as they sometimes traveled between the locations in two covered wagons. Grandmother Zinn said it took them about 1 weeks and they would camp by creeks on the way. Their dad would let the end gate down on the wagons and the girls would dangle their feet to let the tall grass tickle - an image very vivid in Grandmother's mind long after all other things were beyond recall.
I believe Aunt Arlie's young life was a very happy one. She loved school and went through the 8th grade twice because that was as far as school went where they were. She often told stories about drying fruit on the roof of the house to keep for the winter.
Being the youngest daughter to survive, she assumed the role of many of her generation, caretaker of her parents i their old age. I do not know much about the years between their death and those approaching World War II. Aunt Arlie worked at Douglas Aircraft - now Tinker Field - during some of those war years gaining her the title "Rosie the Riveter" as many thousands of women left their homes to become a part of the war effort. Immediately following that time she lived with her sister Edna in a big, old house on NW 6th Street in Oklahoma City and worked for John A. Brown Department Store. At some point she moved back to Hobart and lived in Mrs. Medlin's apartment house in the block south of the Methodist Church. At that time she worked at Burr's Department Store which was next to Tate's Hardware. After moving to Plainview when Bud and Velva Gandy were there, she returned to Oklahoma and lived in Bethany for many years.

About age 68 she was introduced to a widower, Bill Logan, a preacher who lived in Albon, Oklahoma in Choctaw area where Bill's first wife who was a full blood Choctaw, gave birth to and raised their 12 children. Their short marriage was a time of great happiness and fulfillment for Aunt Arlie. After his death she moved back to Bethany where she remained until her death. Aunt Arlie was a devout Christian and life long member of the Nazarene Church. Hers was a life well lived without concern for wealth or property. She told me once how thankful she was the she started life with nothing because it had prepared her well for her whole life. As her life bridged two centuries, her experiences bridged unimagined change - a true pioneer woman.

Memories From Janice on Aunt Arlie (Ward) Logan I have many really special little memories of Aunt Arlie. I think that the one thing that we all remember about her is her long beautiful hair. As little girls Linda and I remember the times when we would sit and brush her hair. It was so long she could sit on it and this was so fascinating to us when we were little. I remember when she lived in the apartment that was close to the Methodist Church in Hobart. We loved to go by and visit her.
I also remember coming over and going to Bible School at her Church which was the Nazarene Church in Hobart. This would have been the old church not the new one that was across from Grandma Zinn’s house.
Another thing is that she had a lot of pictures and she knew I loved pictures and when she passed away I was lucky enough to get a lot of her pictures. I also received a couple of her Bibles and a few personal things that are really special to me. Aunt Arlie had such a kind heart and she loved the Lord and just being around her for a few minutes you would know it.
It was pretty much thought that Aunt Arlie would never marry. Much to our surprise she met and married a very nice man, Rev. W.F.(Bill) Logan.

John Mose McConnell was born in 1856 the second son of John Gilland McConnell. He married Margaret Carleton and they had a large family consisting of three sons and five daughters. (One of which is Owen Wesley - our great-grandfather). They were married in 1876 in Springtown, Texas. He died May 7th, 1896.
Margaret Carleton was born September 22, 1860 in Naples, Cass County, Texas. She died on July 21st, 1939 in the home of her daughter Mrs. Joe Taylor in Hobart, Oklahoma. They had eight children. Years later after her family was grown and after her husband had passed away, she came to Hobart to make her home, moving from Boyd, Texas. Owen Wesley preceded his mother in death, in 1913.
Owen Wesley was born 10-30-1877 (my grandfather)
and died 5-5-1913 was only 36 years old when he passed away. He married Pearl Ludella Swafford.
They had two sons, Clarence LeGrande and Leland Leroy and two girls, Anna Pearl, Mary Frances.

James William was born 2-27-1881 and died 4-4-1940. He married Mamie Irwin on 11-15-1903 in Boyd, Texas. Mamie was born 12-12-1949 at Wichita Falls, Texas and they are both buried at Hobart Rose Cemetery.

Dora Jane was born 1-17-1884 and died 6-5-1966

Ora Mae was born 10-9-1886 and died 5-31-1965 she married Joe M.Taylor on 12-18-1904 at Boyd, Texas. Joe was born 1-26-1881 at Garvin, Texas. He died 12-29-1960 and they are both buried at Hobart Rose Cemetery.

Nora Lee was born 4-20-1889 and died 5-31-1965. She married James Percy Flake on 9-15-1907 at Garvin, Texas. James was born 11-3-1883 at Aurora, Texas and died 7-19-1962 at Plainview. Texas.

Johnnie Eli was born 11-25-1891 and died 1-21-1963. He married Beulah Goodger on 12-14-1913 at the home of her parents in Garvin, Texas. Beulah was born 3-19- 1891 in Garvin, Texas. They are buried at Hobart Rose Cemetery.

Maggie Mary was born 4-15-1894 and died 6-4-1991. She married Clyde Harris on 12-22-1912 at Garvin, Texas. Clyde was born 7-15-1890 at Mt. Hope, Alabama and died 12-22-1963 at Hobart, Oklahoma. They are both buried at Hobart Rose Cemetery.

Gladys Bassie was born 1-21-1897 and died 4-12-1969. She married Jim Davis on 11-5-1916 at Boyd, Texas. Jim was born 10-21-1895 at Decatur, Texas and the son of Pinkney “Pink” and Allie Sarah Moore Davis.


Clarence LeGrande (Shug) McConnell Oklahoma Transfer CompanyThis was one of the Teams that both Grandpa Zinn and Daddy used to deliver freight from the train station to different business places around Hobart and the surrounding area.
I would call this a early trucking business. I find it very special that Daddy would have a trucking business from the very beginning. Of course Daddy did many other things in his lifetime. He owned and operated a couple of café’s in Hobart and bought, sold and hauled a lot of cattle, sheep and many loads of hay.
After Daddy had his heart attach and was not able to work anymore he bought a building in downtown Lone Wolf and put in Surplus Store. He had all kinds of things in that store but most of all it was something to keep him busy. He had worked hard all his life and it was pretty hard for him to just stop working. He had the store until the time of his death and after he died we had a auction and sold the stuff and the building so Mother would not have to mess with it.
Below is a couple of the trucks that Daddy used in his trucking business. Over the years all of the boys, Lloyd, Kenneth and Johnny and Vernard his nephew drove with Daddy Uncle Leland, Daddy’s only brother also drove a truck with him. From what I can gather from several sources Daddy was pretty particular about who drove his trucks and I know that he was sure picky about how a load of hay was stacked. On more than one occasion I hear that he made the boys unload and stack the load again. I would think that did not happen to many times.
My Five Zinn Uncles and Aunt and Mother
This was the last photo taken of them together
The Zinn Uncles
Written by:
Arlene (McConnell)Newton & Janice (McConnell) Cowan
It was a beautiful fall day in September of 1997 as we gathered in the home of Domby & Mari Zinn in Oklahoma City to recall the memories of the Zinn children’s life in the early days. My sister’s Janice, Doris and I were there to meet with the Zinn uncles, brothers of our Mother, Nellie who is deceased. Present that day was Albert, Van, Domby , also the wife’s Mary and Zola May. They were there to add to the memories that maybe the boys could not recall all the details. Missing was Clyde in California, who is very ill and Velva, the only surviving daughter who lives in Weatherford which she was ill as well and could not be there. The account of childhood stories was given by Albert, Van and Domby. These stories and events are not in chronicle order as different ones recalled things at different times in their lives.
The earliest memory of Uncle Albert was when the family farmed in Beaver County, Oklahoma. Wylie and Rosa (Ward) Zinn his parents and John Martin and Drucilla Ward his grandparents lived only three miles apart in Beaver County. The only children alive at this time were Albert (8 or 10 years old), Nellie and Leroy. They lived in a half dug out house and raised cotton and watermelons which they layered in straw to preserve thru the summer. Wylie’s parents, Jacob Albert, lived in Blair, Oklahoma community. He was a Cumberland Presbyterian Preacher and preached at Zion’s Chapel, five miles north of Blair. When the Wylie Zinn family decided to move back to Southwest Oklahoma. Grandpa Ward also moved to Blair in the Warren area. The Zinn’s and Ward’s both had family in the area. The Wylie Zinn family moved to Sentinel for about one or two years. This is where Van was
born. When Van was about two years old, they moved to Hobart and settled on the Shelton farm located 4 miles west and 3 miles south of Hobart where they lived for a couple of years. They farmed crops on the shares. Van recalls an incident when the family returned home from town in their car and discovered that Clyde had been gassed from the fumes from the car. They sent for the neighbors to help revive him. Everyone was sure he was dead. The family moved into town when Domby was about 5 years old. They moved to a house on Hitchcock Street first and then Wylie and John Clyde Ward (Rosa’s brother) built the house at 102 West Boundary where the family lived the rest of Wylie and Rosa’s lives. This house and the house two doors south were built by Wylie & John Clyde Ward. Grandpa Ward lived in the house across the alley from Wylie and in the house two doors south. Grandpa Ward and his wife lived by Wylie and Rosa for most of their lives. Wylie worked as a dreysman when the family moved to town. This was a wagon and team of horses that would meet the train and deliver freight all over town and the communities around. Wylie had two teams at that time. The horses were Button & Dan and Queen & Sue. He would also haul freight to Frogan & Woodward, Oklahoma. Albert recalled a trip that he made with his dat. They camped out at night and hobbled the horses, whey they woke u p the next morning they were covered with snow and the horses were gone. When Wylie went to work as a janitor at the Methodist Church in Hobart he turned the horses and wagons and his dreysman business over to his son-in-law, CL McConnell who was our father and married to Nellie our mother.
Albert was a very versatile man and had many occupations from childhood into his adult life. Albert says that over that once he made a resume of his jobs and there were 52 of them on the list. As a child Albert worked at many jobs to help feed the Zinn family. He worked at the grocery store. He cut meant at Wallace grocery stores, and at Dennison Hardware Store after school. Albert had a horse named Black Beauty and he raised 300 chinchilla Rabbits plus he also raised chickens at tone time in his childhood. He also told us that he worked at Thompson’s café for 12.25 a week he was robbed one night while he was the night manager. He also was a projectionist at the Palace Theater. Velva, his sister also worked at the theater running the Victrola music for the silent film strips. Albert’s first radio was a Zenith that he bought for $12.00. He also was in partnership with Van on an electrician business. They worked from a Model a Ford truck with Scientific Electric Sign on the side.
In 1930 or 1931, Van at the age of 21 went to Chicago to go to a trade school. Cayne Electric for electrician refrigeration. At one time Albert and Van had a detective agency in Chicago on the Northeast side. Van tells of a trip to the morgue that is a memorable time d during this detective work.
In 1933 Wylie, Rosa, Velva and Van went to Chicago to the Worlds fair. Albert worked in Chicago at that time and had arranged to take them out to eat at a nice place. It so happened to be a night club which Wylie had not ever been to. Wylie worried about what the preacher would say if he could see him now. The floor show was somewhat of a different entertainment than Wylie was used to.
In 1936 Albert came to Oklahoma City to work at Wards. This was when he met Nadine and they were married. Albert also worked at Kelvanator. He bought a brand-new Nash for $600. He got it cheap because he worked for Kelvanator Nash. He later sold that car for $900.
Uncle Van also had many memories of their early childhood. He remembered when Wylie worked as janitor of the Methodist Church in Hobart for many years. They used to help clean and sometimes wore roller skates to put chairs in a row faster. If they helped, Wylie would let them play on the Boy Scout equipment that was there in the church. The boys also remember playing in the air conditioner ducts that ran thru out the large building. Van remembered that at Christmas time when sometime their Christmas tree was one left over from the Church. V an’s interest in Newspaper work and typesetting began in 1933. Van, Doug and Clyde all worked for the Daily Oklahoma in about the year 1946. Clyde was shut out by union in 1940 by 300 union workers on strike. Van worked 25 years at the Capital Hill Beacon and later had his own printing shop behind his house in Oklahoma City on Tabor Street.
Van and Albert made a trip to Detroit to pick up a new car for Velva that she had bought. They had talked her into letting them go get it on the money it would have cost to deliver it. On the trip home they picked up a hitch hiker and since they got sleepy driving straight through they decided to let the hitchhiker drive while they slept. Well, he also went to sleep and wrecked the car. Van was asleep in the back seat and had this gun with him. When the car wrecked he, sat up real quick and drew his gun. Needless to say the hitchhiker ran off. Van and Albert had the dented fender repaired and did not tell Velva until years later about the accident.
1942
At one time during the war (ww2) all five of the Zinn boys were in uniform serving their country. This was rare because families were not required to have all of the boys in the family in the service. Albert, Van and Clyde served in the Air Force where Doug and Domby were in the Navy. Domby was a bomber gunner in the Navy and he was only 18 years old. Domby was also in the Korean war with the 45th Division out of Oklahoma. Clyde was a pilot cadet in London during the war. This was where he met his wife to be Jo at the U.S.O. Club in 1945. They married in Oklahoma on July 21, 1946 at the Hobart Methodist Church in a triple wedding with two of his brothers, Doug & Domby. The wedding was held in the Methodist church with the reception in the backyard of the Wylie Zinn home. Clyde married Jo and Domby married Mari and Doug married Bobbie Jo. Arlene was 6 at the time and she remembers some of the events of that day. It was Grandpa Zinns idea for them to have the triple wedding. Some of the boys worked at Tinker Air Base in Oklahoma City in their early life. Clyde & Jo moved to California in about the year 1958.
Domby was a janitor at the Portland Ave Baptism Church in 1952. He also delivered milk for Wrights Produce and in 1940 & 1941 he worked at the creamery. In 1941 Domby worked at Tinker in Oklahoma.
Aunt Arlie Ward was a riveter at Tinker / Douglas Aircraft during the war. Clyde worked at the Dailey Oklahoma in Oklahoma City in 1946 . In about 1953 Clyde was in the Air National Guard and on May 1st, 1955 he was of a flight mission and his jet plane crashed and he was unable to bail out. He was paralyzed since that time. Although in a wheelchair Clyde was a very independent and resourceful and lived a fairly normal life since that time. Even driving his own car and up to a few years ago when he became more bedridden he operated his own work shop in his backyard. He always had such a positive attitude on life you didn’t feel he was any different from anyone else. He tried for many years to obtain a pilots special licence because he loves to fly. He did fly a plane again before his death.
Flying has always been a very important part of the Zinn brothers lives. Albert and Van still fly today. More often than not you can find them at their airport hanger where they store their planes. They are part owners of a small airport in Oklahoma City. In 1961 Albert built a gyro copter plane and flew it and the “Teeny Two” crashed with Albert at the pilot’s seat. But this didn’t stop their interest in flying. It is in the blood and always will be.
One thing that you can say about the Zinn brothers they are really special in many ways. They have so many stories between them that it would fill a book just their stories alone. I wish I could write it. I hope this little story will give anyone who reads this, a little look into the lives of these wonderful men who are not only sons, brothers, husbands, fathers and uncles but men who all served their country well. Not many families had five sons serve in war time at the same time. This alone is a wonderful memory that will last forever.
At the time of this writing all the Zinn uncles have passed away. I am so happy that we had the chance to visit and gather some really great memories of the past from these three wonderful uncles that we have enjoyed over the years of our growing up in this family. I will
always have special memories of such a close and wonderful family.
Especially close were these three brothers - they all lived in Oklahoma City and spent a lot of time with each other and another special thing is all the brothers had a love of flying and they shared that love until the end. “Memories Last Forever”
I have a special place in my heart for Aunt Mari. She has been such a blessing to me especially during the writing of my book. She was such a wonderful help to me.

Our Trip to see Aunt Velva, Uncle Van & Uncle Albert
By: Janice (McConnell) Cowan On March 25, 2000 which was a Saturday Morning, four of the five McConnell sisters (Katha) could not be with us) decided to go to Oklahoma City for a day. We ask Aunt Mari Zinn to join us. We made her a honorary McConnell sister for the day (she took Katha’s place for the day). We wanted to visit both Uncle Van and Uncle Albert who were both in the hospital. Seems like they had both fell on ill health over the past few months. Aunt Velva had a stroke which had put her in a Nursing Home in Corn, Oklahoma. Our plans were to visit her as well on this day.
Linda came from Burns Flat, Arlene came from Lawton, Doris from Oklahoma city, and I came from Claremore. We met Aunt Mari at Deaconess, Hospital where Uncle Van was. We found him looking pretty good and talking about going home on Monday. His daughter Cindy was there with him at the time. We did not get to see Aunt Zola she was not there at the time we were, she had gone home to rest for a little while. Uncle Van had been in the hospital for 30 days already and really ready to go home. He was telling us that the volunteers at the hospital there had gotten together a little party for him and Aunt Zola for their 50th wedding anniversary. Aunt Zola volunteers at this hospital and these were some of her friends that gave them this special surprise with a cake and all. Such a nice thing for them to do.
Uncle Albert was at a different hospital so we decided to all go out to eat and then on to the hospital were he was. The five of us girls had a really good time. We went to Denny’s for a nice breakfast before going to the hospital to see Uncle Albert. I think Aunt Mari had a good time as well being a McConnell sister for the day. I know we enjoyed her so much as she is so special to our family. It had been awhile since we had all been together like this. We went on to St Anthony’s hospital and found Uncle Albert not doing so well. He was medicated quite a bit since he had a couple of surgeries in a short time. He was pretty much out of his head and he thought he was flying. This was pretty appropriate since flying has always been a big part of his life. He did not even know who we were so we only stayed a few minutes and left.
The next part of our little trip was on to Corn to see Aunt Velva at the Nursing Home. We first stopped by Weatherford to see Uncle Bud before we went on. He was really happy to see us. He just seemed so lost without Aunt Velva there, but what could one expect they have been married for 58 years and that is a long time to be married. After a nice visit to with Uncle Bud we were on our way to Corn to the Nursing Home to see Aunt Velva. It was hard to see her in that place even tho it was a really nice home ran by the Mennonites. Linda’s Mother-in law Helen was there for several years. When we got there it was pretty hard to go into that room and see her laying there. I knew for myself that I would just have memories of Mother laying in the bed like she had for so long before she passed away. Sure enough when I walked into that room my heart was just breaking and all I could see at first was Mother laying there. Of course Aunt Velva having a stroke like she did more than likely did not even know who we were but one can hope that she did. My heart was touched and as hard as it was to go into that room I am so glad that we did. I think the rest of the girls felt the same.
It was a good day that we spent together, just us girls and Aunt Mari (honorary sister for the day). It was a good day of memories that will last forever.
It was really special that we made that trip because it was not long after this that both of our sweet little uncles passed away and so did Aunt Velva. I am just so glad that we got to see them all before God took them home.
Zinn Aunts


Christmas Memories Past
Written by: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
My memories of Christmas have to go back to the days in Lone Wolf and the family Christmas times we spent together. I think way back to when I was just very small and the Christmas tree always decorated right after Thanksgiving. Under the tree was always a box of oranges and apples that Daddy always put there. We always had plenty of Christmas candy which consist of chocolate drops and peanut- brittle in little squares and always candy canes. Always nuts to east as well. Mother always made fruit cakes and pumpkin and pecan pies. Her pies were always the very best. I think of her making pies every time that I make a pie I think of how wonderful her pies were. Our mother was the best cook that ever walked on this earth.
Linda and I always tried to find out where our presents were hidden. We would never find them tho. Some of the things I remember so well getting for Christmas were: Katha Faye bought me a set of dishes that look just like real dishes. I still to this day have one of the pieces from that set. Doris bought me a bride doll and she had clothes and a pair of roller skates as well. I still have this doll today just not dressed in the brides dress. I remember my last doll that Daddy bought me and believe it or not I was in high school.
I remember the breakfast of homemade biscuits and ham, bacon and eggs. Mother always made biscuits that would melt in your mouth and I remember them each and every time that I make biscuits. I was taught by the master. Everyone who ever ate her biscuits will never forget them.
I guess the other thing about Christmas that I remember would be the activities at Church. Lone Wolf Methodist Church where we spent a lot of time and always in the Christmas parties and plays. I remember the little brown bags full of candy and fruit that we would get at the church and at school. Those same chocolate drop candies and peanut brittle squares. Those seem to be the going candy in those days. Our MYF youth group would go caroling around to the shut-in where we would have hot chocolate and cookies. Christmas music was always a big part of the holidays. I loved singing then and now. There are no prettier songs in the world than the songs of Christmas. Singing songs of Christ’s birth was and is always special. These are songs that most everyone knows and can take part in. It was a special gift that we were given as children, the chance to attend Church and Sunday School. This is something that has stayed with me all my life both as a child and into my adult years and today. Some of my best memories are from those very times in my life as a child. This again is where I get the title to my book “Memories Last Forever”.
We would also spend some of our Christmas time at Grandma and Grandpa Zinn’s house in Hobart. There we would see our cousins and there was always the big giant peppermint stick that Grandpa Zinn always had for us. I remember so many Christmas times that were really good memories that last forever.
Of course the Christmas’s that we have today in the year 2000 are so much different than the ones we had when I was growing up. We were so happy just to receive a couple of gifts that we had put on our list. It was just as exciting if not more than today when the kids get far more than they need. Ours was a simple time and really makes for good memories of the Christmas past and memories that last forever.
After I married and had children we continued to have very special Christmas times. I always remembered the Christmas times when I was a child and tried to make them special for my boys. They of course had lots of toys each year and they loved the Christmas tree. I would always let them help in the decorating of the tree with ornaments that I used each year. I would always add a couple new ones each year. I still use those same ones today and always will. I also have had my grandchildren with me for many Christmas times so I have always tried to make that a special time for them with the memories of the past included. I first and foremost have always made sure that we celebrate the true reason for Christmas and still do today.

This would be my(Janice McConnell Cowan's)
Zinn Ancestor List (1705 until current)Garrett (Gerhart) Zinn
born March 12 1705 born in Germany
died March 4 1765 Surry County, North Carolina
Married:
Margareth W. Guth - ca 1725 in Germany
she died March 7 1773 Surry County, North Carolina
Cronomaus Zinn
born ca 1727 n Germany
died ca 1786 - 1788 Beech Island South Carolina
Married:
Christinia (Ardis) ca 1750 in Virginia
Jacob Zinn I (1st)
born ca 1762
died ca 1846-1847 Pontotac County Mississippi
Married:
Mary Bowers ca 1790 Edgefield District South Carolina
Jacob Albert Zinn II (2nd)
born February 16, 1819 South Carolina
died June 22, 1887 Tarrant County, Texas
Married:
Sara Ann Ragland November 20 1839
she died October 29 1891 Farmer Texas
Jacob Albert Zinn III (3rd)
born August 28 1843 Lafayette
died June 15 1912 Jackson Co. Oklahoma
Married:
1st
Cornelia Ann Walker January 17 1868 Tarrant County Texas
she died October 14 1883 Big Springs Texas
2nd
Emma Morrison October 1 1887 Wilbarger County Texas
she died ?
Wylie Potts Zinn
born February 1 1879 Tarrent County Texas
died March 17 1958Hobart Oklahoma(buried Hobart, Oklahoma)
Married:
Rosa Jane Ward March 17 1904 Mangum, Oklahomashe died June 25 1977 Weatherford Oklahoma(buried Hobart, Oklahoma
Nellie Juanita Zinn
born August 23 1906 Beaver County Oklahoma
she died October 29 1988 Claremore Oklahoma(buried Hobart Oklahoma
Married:
Clarence LeGrande McConnell
born October 20,1906 Wise County,Texas
he died December 24 1966 Lone Wolf Oklahoma(buried Hobart Oklahoma)
Janice Elaine McConnell
born September 2 1944 Hobart Oklahoma
Married:
1st
William James Taylor September 21,1963 Lone Wolf Oklahoma
divorced
2nd
Robert Wayne Cowan April 10 1977 Lone Wolf Oklahoma
divorced
Son: William Randall Cowan
Born: August 31,1964
his son: Anthony James Cowan
Born: July 3, 1985
his daughte Aliya Marie Cowan
Son: Rickey Lee Cowan
born: October 28, 1965
his daughter:
Candice Elaine Cowan(Pate)
her daughter:
Kyleigh Marie Pate

I do know from finding the Ship List that these brothers came to America on the
Ship Thistle of Glasgow. I have a print out of this ship list and they are on it.
THIS INFORMATION is of the three brothers that came to America one of which we are decendent from. Over the years I have read a lot of information on the Zinn as there is a lot of them in genealogy histories on the web and in the libaries. I dediced to just put a small bit about the part that would mean the most to us and our family of Zinn's The following information I got from a cousin in Texas that I met over the internet through my Web Page.
Brothers ZINN to America 1705-1749I. Brother Gerhart ZINN (Gerhardt, Gerhard, Garrett)
II. b. March 2, 1705 in Mekron ( now Meckenhein by Neustadt-
III. d. 1765)
IV. m. Margaretha W. GUTH (1702-
· Migrated from Palatine to Philadelphia on the ship “Thistle” –Aug. 29,1730 –York Co.
· Buried at Bethabara, N.C. -
· A Long Trail, by John Marvin Zinn Jr., 1812 Mission Dr., Victoria, TX 77901
· PA Historical Society PA
· PA- VA- NC- SC- GA lineage
· Moved from Ephrata to VA to NC
· Now and Long Ago, by Glenn D. Lough – 1969 – pages 56-57 tell about Garrett Zinn moved to Carolina so as not to be killed by Indians, where he died intestate leaving Valentine, his oldest son and heir, 125 acres of New River, part of 900 acres patented to Garrett Zinn, June 20, 1753. Valentine sold the 125 acres to Samuel Eckerlin of Phila, PA. This is in excerpts from Augusta CO, VA records.
II. Valentine ZINN – oldest and heir (b. circa 1730 –d. before 1791 in S.C.)
II. Philip Henry ZINN
II. Sarah ZINN
II. Christian (Christina) ZINN (1726-1785)
m. Matthias ARDIS (1724-1781)
· Matthias and Benjamin died on a prison ship off the coast of Savannah during Revolutionary War
ARDIS Children: Sarah (1750 SC), Mary (1756), Abraham (1767), Isaac, David, Jacob, John, Elizebeth, Matthias Jr., Daniel
II. Cronimus ZINN Sr. (b. 1727 Ger – d. 1776/78 in Beach Island, SC.
m. 1750 VA to Christina ARDIS (1726 -)
· (Cronomous, Cromious, Horonomas, Heironomous)
· ZINN Children: Cronomous Jr., William S., Sarah, Christine, Nancy, Jacob Albert Sr. (1762 Lancaster Co. SC- 1846/47)
I. Brother Johanis ZINN came to America in 1738 on the ship “Glasgow.”
I. Brother Casber ZINN arrived in Philadelphia in 1744 on the ship “Friendship.”
I. Brother Jacob ZINN and his wife arrived in Philadelphia in 1749 on the ship
“Edinburg” and settled in Lancaster Co. PA
ZINN Information
taken from several sources
Our ancestors were what was then called High Dutch or Hollanders. They were Huguenots and all Protestants. They fled from France to be free from the Catholic persecution during the dates between 1563 and 1620. More likely in the later date and under the reign of Henry the Eighth. In indeed it was this later date they settled on the coast of South Carolina and near or at Charles Town. This is the early name for Charleston. Little is known of them from then until the wars between the Colonies and England in 1776 an 1812. The characteristics of the family was and is that they won't stand for persecution nor oppression and they showed that during the wars with England to such an extent that the English hired the Tories and Indians to exterminate them. They nearly succeeded The Indians pillaged, burned and massacred all they could of the Zinns but a small number. Our side of the Family: (Rev. Jacob Albert Zinn) Two brothers were together a long while in the Army but by some means unknown to us they were separated from one another and each was supposed to be dead. They did not know better until near approach of the Civil War. It was discovered that one brother settled on the North East Coast of our Country and the other on the coast of South Carolina and this making the descendant of these two brothers scattered from the Atlantic to Pacific Coast. This information came from Rev. Jacob Albert Zinn. He was born in 1819. Earliest Record of Zinn's that I could find: Some intersting background information on the migration of our ancestors: It was very difficult to flee and come to America. Our ancestors came from Rotterdam to Philadelphia where the ships docked. There were three list of passengers (listed were the male heads of household only) Some of the Zinn's on this list names were spelled different than we might spell it today but this was common in those days because of the fact that so many could not write and others signed for them. Our ancestors names are found on the ship list of the ship Thistle of Glasgow with Colin Dunlap as the captain of the ship. The date on this voyage was registered at the courthouse at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 29, 1730. Even though the list had only 77 names on it there were in access of 260 people aboard (including women and children). The name of our ancestor listed was Gerard Zin (Gerhart Zinn). There were three different list for this voyage and on all the list the last name was spelled different. In checking many books at the Genealogy section of the library both in Colorado Springs and Tulsa, Oklahoma I find that there were a number of Zinns and also find that in doing this search I would find that there are many spellings of the name Zinn. I thought that a name as uncommon as Zinn would be simple to trace. Well I was wrong for sure. I decided that the best thing I could do was to just start with the first Zinns that I could find trace of that came to America. This starting in Pennsylvania with the landing of the ship "Thistle of Glasgow", in August of 1730. Some background information on the early pioneers that came to America helped me to understand where I wanted to go with the information that I gathered. It was very interesting to find out how very difficult it was to flee and come to America. Not all who left on the ship from Rotterdam. It is interesting to note that many could not write their own name and had to depend on others to write for them, thus causing the names to sometimes be misspelled in the process. On the ship there were three list of passengers (male heads of household only) kept for each ship which came from the Palatatinets, Germany, to Pennsylvania during the 1700's. List A would be the ship captains list which was carelessly kept, with names misspelled, omitted and etc. List B would have been a list where the heads of families signed the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown. List C would be a list of signers of the Oath of Fidelity and Abjuration in which the signer and his family renounced all allegiance to their Mother Country and agreed to obey the laws of the proprietor and province in which they settled. This third list, is probably most accurate since it was signed by the head of the household himself. German Pioneers Journey This was done in three stages and took more than 6 months to complete. The trip down the Rhine River lasted from four to six weeks. They were further delayed five to six weeks in Rotterdam, Holland where the passengers had to spend nearly all the money they had remaining from the Rhine trip. From Rotterdam to Dover (this being the case of our ancestors) they were delayed from one to two weeks. Ocean voyages lasted seven weeks and the passengers were packed like sardines into the tiny ships. Many died and were buried at sea. The ships docked at Philadelphia where head of households signed the new oaths of allegiance and renounced their old loyalties. Early History of the Zinn Family in the Year 1745 In or about the year 1745 numerous Brethren both from Ephrata and from the First Day Brethren congregations in Pennsylvania were traveling Southward to join the New River Settlement. Among these early pioneers were two of the Eckerlin brothers, Gabriel and Emmanual, William, Mack, John Megley, Garrett Zinn (our ancestor) John Miller and Peter Shaver, along with families of Weisers, Wolforhrts, Graffs, Webers, Gribils, Freys, Landies and Huffacres. One on the earliest recognition’s of the presence of the Dunkers in the legal records occurred on November 19th, 1746 when Augusta County Court ordered the building of a new road from :Reed Creek to Eagle Bottom and thence to the top of the Ridge that parts waters of New River and those of South Fork of Roanoke". After naming a number of men living in the area, the order added that all the Dunkers that are able to work should work on the project. In 1750 the surrounding community absorbed the New River settlement over a period of years and various Brethren continued in the area but gradually lost their Brethren identity. The original nine hundred acres that was known as Mahanaim was sold by Samuel Eckerlin to Garrett Zinn. The sale was officially recorded on June 20th,1753. This is noted in the official court records of the time. A couple of years after Henrich Zinn and the family he lived with were killed the Zinns decided to sell their land and move. He sold his 900 acres and it is thought that he moved from Virginia to South Carolina. They lived in a community there called Bethabara and after about four years they ask to become apart of the Moravians group (like a Church). This was thought to be about the year 1762. Both Gerhard and Margreth Zinn were elderly by this time. According to information from a book "Wachovia Church Book", which is a diary that was kept by the Committee of the Church. Both Gerhard and Margreth wanted to have a closer connection with the Brethren of Moravains and they left the Seventh Day Adventist Baptist which is also called Dunkards. They were allowed to become a part of the Moravians in Bethabara and they lived where until their deaths. Gerhard Zinn died on March 4, 1765 and Margareth Zinn passed away in the year 1773. From information that I could find they had two sons, Valentine and Chonomus Zinn (also with a spelling Honomus Zinn). I found information several court records that show Valentine as the executor of the estate for Gerhard Zinn.

James William (Dub) McConnell
Written by: Mary Lou (McConnell) Heslip
April 2000
James William McConnell, Jr. was born on December 17, 1908, in wise County, Texas, the third of five children. (He was known by his nickname of Dub.) When Dub was six weeks old, his family moved to a farm six miles northwest of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, Kiowa County. Dub attended Bethel County School, then went to Lone Wolf High School, where he graduated. (To get to Lone Wolf, High School he rode a horse into town which was a long ride.)
After attending Oklahoma State University which at that time was known as A&M college, for one semester, he came home to be a farmer. At the age 27 he married Margaret Doris Cunningham on June 12, 1936, in Doris’s hometown of Weatherford, Oklahoma. She was a teacher in the Lone Wolf, Schools. These were the depression-era years and it was hard for a farmer to make a living, so Dub and Doris spent part of one of the years in the late 30's living in Corpus Christi, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana, where Dub worked in oil fields. (His older brother Willard, helped him get this work.)
Three daughters were born to Dub and Doris: Mary Louise, born in 1939, Margaret Ann, born in 1943 and Jimmy Lynn who was born in 1945. When Mary Lou was in college and the other two in high school, Dub moved his family to Hobart, Oklahoma which was the Kiowa County seat, into a home that he built (with help) at 600 North Broadway. Much of the lumber for this house came from the old Lone Wolf lumber yard, which Dub had bought. He then gutted the lumber storage buildings and made them into barns, using the lumber for the Hobart house.
Dub continued to raise wheat, cotton and cattle on his Lone Wolf farms until his death on January 5, 1985. He took pride in his farming and seemed to enjoy it in spite of the very hard physical work involved. He was thought of as a good farmer. Dub had a giving nature. He helped out several unfortunate people during his lifetime with gifts of money, jobs and places to live. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Church, a member of the Lions Club. One thing he enjoyed doing was meeting with other men for coffee early in the morning for sharing news and joking around. Another favorite activity was listening to Doris play the piano and organ. He was an avid supporter of her music, as well as that of his daughters music and other activities. He enjoyed going to the University of Oklahoma football games and had season tickets for many years. Dub’s death left a big void in his family. Doris was very lost and missed him terribly. Doris passed away in 1999 and is buried beside Dub in Rose Cemetery, Hobart, Oklahoma.
Doris (Cunningham)McConnell
Written by: Mary Lou (McConnell) Heslip
Margaret Doris Cunningham McConnell was born to Eva and Charles Ross Cunningham on October 20, 1911 on a farm outside of Putnam, Oklahoma, the second of three children. When she was a child, the family moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma where her father was a rural mail carrier. When Doris was in late high school the family moved into a large house near the campus of Southwestern State College and took in roomers.
Doris attended Southwestern for two years with a major in English and a minor in music, then she began her teaching career. Her father found her a teaching position in Merritt, Oklahoma. They hired her sight unseen. Her father came home and said, Doris, I got you a teaching job! SO off she bravely went! She completed her college degree during summer terms and during classes offered during fall at cotton-picking vacations. She said "I never was much of a cotton-picker, so she took classes then, while others picked the fields! Her second teaching job was in Colony, Oklahoma. During this year, a radio fortune teller answered her letter to him which had asked, "Where will I be living next year?" with the reply, "sixty miles to the south and southwest". (Doris had her mother listen for the answer since she was teaching.) This prophecy came true when she took a music and English teaching position at Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. During this year she met Dub McConnell at Hartson’s Drug, where he asked some other single women and her to ride around. She soon began dating him.
The next year she was lured back to Colony by a salary increase of $23 dollars a month, despite prjotests from Dub! This year at Colony she was high school principal (at age 22). She made a deal with the men teachers there. If they would handle the discipline, she would be the principal!
At the end of this school year Dub won out and Doris and he were married on June 12, 1936 in Weatherford. They lived in Lone Wolf until 1960 when they moved into a new house in Hobart, which Dub had helped build with much of the lumber coming from the Lone Wolf Lumber Yard. Dub had purchased ti and converted the storage bins into barns. The leftover lumber went into the new house. Over the years after her marriage Doris continued teaching intermittently. She touched many lives through her teaching of (at various times) fourth grade, fifth grade, elementary music and high school English, speech and drama classes.
Musical performance was one of Doris’s fortes. She performed for countless church services, weddings, funerals, Sunday School classes, Ann and Jimmy Lynn’s tap dance performances, accompanying singers in music contest, and for school and community programs. One unusual performance was during the homecoming halftime ceremony at the Lone Wolf football field. Her electric organ was loaded up into the back of a pick-up truck and hooked up to a generator. The pickup slowly drove around the field as she played!
Doris was a very social creature who seemingly loved everyone. She participated in lots of church events, as well as in Pioneer Garden Club, P.E..O. Sisterhood, Fortnightly Research Club, Book Reviewers Club and Retired Teachers.
It didn’t take much to entertain Doris. As long as eating and friends or family were involved, she was always ready to go! She loved to travel and see and do different things. She would say, "Won’t we have a good time?" in anticipation of a get-together. (And she did!) She had an unforgettable smile and laugh. Doris and Dub had three children: Mary Louise Helsip, Margaret Ann Kosanke and Jimmy Lynn McConnell-Begay and five grandchildren: Melanie and Louisa Heslip and Kristin, Suzanne and Brad Kosanke. She died five weeks before her 87th birthday on September 17, 1998.


Mary Lou (McConnell) Heslip
Written By: Mary Lou Heslip
Mary Louise McConnell Heslip (called Mary Lou) is the eldest of three daughters born to Dub and Doris McConnell. She was born in Hobart, OK, on May 25, 1939, and was named after her mother’s younger sister who died at age three of croup.
Mary Lou attended all twelve years of school at Lone Wolf Schools, graduating in 1957. She then went on to graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in vocal music education. She interviewed for a teaching position in Jefferson County, Colorado school system in January before her May graduation and was offered the job as long as she decided by the next day! Not knowing where she wanted to teach, she accepted with a few fears, having never been to Colorado! This seems to have been her destiny because she became rooted in this state and met her husband, Keith Charles Heslip, of Allen Park, MI here. (He was a teacher in the Boulder, CO schools.)
She completed a master’s degree in music education in 1968 at the University of Northern Colorado after going to summer school sessions there for three summers.
After eight years of teaching in Lakewood, CO, Mary Lou took a one-year leave of absence and ventured to Baumholder, Germany, to teach music in an army school and take advantage of travel opportunities there. She had met Keith several months prior to leaving the U. S. He had a teaching job for the next year in Birmingham, England, on a Fulbright teaching exchange program. (The same year that Mary Lou was in Germany)Keith and Mary Lou were married in Baumholder towards the end of their school years in Europe on Mary Lou’s birthday, May 25, 1970. The following school year Keith returned to his teaching in Boulder, CO and Mary Lou commuted to Arvada to teach in the Jefferson County Schools once more.
In 1972 another person became a McConnell descendant – Melanie Anne Heslip, born on April 19, 1972. On July 4, 1975, Louisa Elaine Heslip became another one! This completed this family. Mary Lou stopped teaching school music for 12 years to help raise the girls, but during this time she gave many, many piano lessons! Then when Melanie was 12, she returned to part-time (and later – full-time) teaching and continued with private teaching. She “retired” from teaching in 1997, but resumed part-time school teaching 16 months later.
Mary Lou has many interests. Some of them are: piano-playing, (a passion she shared with her mother), singing (in various choirs through her adult years and in the Central City Opera Chorus one summer), tennis, hiking, skiing, biking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, playing bridge, taking classes, work with organizations to which she belongs and traveling. Her husband, children and grandchildren are very dear to her.


School Days Memories of Lone Wolf School
1945-1957
by Mary Lou McConnell Heslip
“Would I ever get to go to school?” This was the question that I must have asked myself as I turned six and still had never been to school. Lone Wolf School had no kindergarten in 1945, the year that I finally began first grade at over age six. What a joy to be in Mrs. Davis’ first-grade classroom,
even if we did have to learn to write in cursive right away and even if we had to sit in heavy wooden chairs around tables and watch one another tip backwards and land on the floor!
One first-grade story I love was hearing how one of my sister’s classmates still needed a nap when he was in first grade, so the school allowed a crib to be set up in the first-grade classroom for his nap!!
(The school wanted to make everyone happy, I guess.) Recess was always fun although the playground had no fancy equipment, but we loved sliding down the tall metal slide and bouncing up and down on the teeter-totters and going on the merry-go-round. (Once in third grade, I tore my underwear when a nail that was sticking out from the side of the slide “snared” me. When I got to the bottom of the slide I just ran home to get a new pair!) We loved to turn “flips” around the bars that were part of the teeter-totter framework. And what fun to play the “chase” game of “Bear”, for which we used one of the playground’s few trees for the “safe base”. As we got older, we played such games as Red Rover, Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” (a rhythm game) and softball games. Sides were chosen for some of the games and you always hoped that you wouldn’t be the last one chosen!
The annual class play was a highlight of each school year. I remember being Cinderella in a crepe-paper dress once. Every class was in a play at least once a year. The annual Christmas program, which could feature all the Christian music that was wanted, included something by each class in the school, although the older kids usually sang in choirs. (The choirs sat on steep, wooden risers. You always wondered if you might fall through the open part down by your feet.) The high stage (it really seemed high then) was decorated, sometimes by pinning stuff on the backdrop curtains. It was always a challenge to be quiet while waiting your class’ turn to go on stage. (By the way, those steep, rickety risers were also used for the spectators at the basketball games, which were also played in the auditorium.)
A tornado blew straight towards Lone Wolf when I was in fifth grade! The teacher, Audette Smoot, had all of us get under our desks. While crouched here, my dad, Dub McConnell, came into the room to get me and take me home to our storm cellar. I saw the tornado bearing down on the town, about ½ mile
south and traveling north. We got to the cellar fine. Later, we learned that the tornado had turned and had detoured to the east, bypassing the town. What a relief! But how sad going out to see the McLain’s house which had been destroyed! After this scary incident, a town storm cellar was built on the ne corner of the square block where the school was located. On top of it was built the school music room, (which wasn’t a bad idea because now the music classes couldn’t disturb other nearby classes) I can still remember going to the cellar in the middle of the night when the storm siren blew and being fascinated by seeing various townspeople in nighttime attire, sometimes (for the women and girls) complemented by hair rollers! It was a social event!
Since I grew up to be a public school music teacher, I must comment on the importance of the music program in my childhood. I had the opportunity to be in various music ensembles (like trios and triple trios), in choirs and to do a lot of accompanying. The music teachers entered us in lots of music “contests” such as the Roosevelt Music Festival and the one at Southwestern State College. I entered lots of piano and
voice solo events in these festivals, also. These gave me confidence and experience and enjoyment (as well as dread of forgetting notes or words!) The town valued music. I can think of several other Lone Wolf girls who

also earned music degrees due to this nurturing. We didn’t have a band (unless you count the tonette and flutophone band that Mrs. Myers had when I was in the elementary grades), so vocal music had lots of support.
All students were encouraged to take part in sports, also, regardless of ability. These provided fun for the kids and entertainment for the adults. (And taught a person how to be a good loser or gracious winner!) Basketball, football and baseball were about the only sports, but we didn’t know what we were missing by not having soccer, cross-country, track, tennis teams, etc.
I don’t know if other people raised in other small towns felt as good about themselves, but I don’t recall any serious self-esteem problems arising in Lone Wolf. Acceptance, encouragement and tolerance were the norm for everyone. And it wasn’t implanted just by the teachers. All in the community seemed to care about the young people and “boost them up”, including the dear “Lone Wolf News” which gave “ink” to almost every accomplishment of the school students. (Remember, the 6-week honor roll, the semester honor roll, the “all A’s, the “B or Better” lists and all the accounts of the ball games and reports of all the class activities and school organizations?) I have a feeling that this was typical of this time in history and wasn’t just indigenous to Lone Wolf. It was a post-war, pre-drug era. Family life was valued and happiness seemed to reign.
Thanks to Lone Wolf School for playing an important part in my childhood happiness and development.
As the words to the refrain to the Lone Wolf Alma Mater say
“Lone Wolf High School, Lone Wolf High School,
Ere to her be true.
She’s the pride of every Coyote.
Hail to Lone Wolf High.”

ANDERSON Family - This was the family of my Grandmother Ludella Pearl Swaffford McConnell - Her mother married a Swafford.
The Anderson Family

Note:
(this information taken from the book "Andersons of Rowlett’s Creek)
In all information I could find all stories have several William Anderson’s in them so it was hard to keep them straight so I took this information from this book as written.
The founder of the Anderson family in Dallas County, Texas, was William Anderson native of the Kentucky frontier and a pioneer of northeastern Missouri prior to his migration to the Lone Star State. William was born in Kentucky (it was then called Fayette County, Virginia) around 1785.
William Anderson was the eldest son of Colonel William and Elizabeth Hinkson Anderson. The elder William is said by one source to have been a Scotchman, but probably more accurately was of Scoth-Irish ancestry as were so many of the first white settlers of the Kentucky frontier.
It is very possible that our William Anderson served with the Virginia Soldiers of 1776 since this William served with a Lt. John Hinkson and this was his father - inlaws name as well. Several stories in this book back up this information.
William and Celia Ann died just a year apart. It was written that receipts deposited with his will tell that he was buried in white gloves and burial hose purchased from Smith Murphy and Company of Dallas, Texas and he was laid in a coffin that was built by his son Thomas, lined with white jaconet and covered with black cambric. In accordance with his request, his grave was dug within the site of his cabin under the bois d’arc tree where he always had called up his hogs for feeding and a paling fence was soon erected around it. William and Celia were buried beside each other as requested. Their graves mark the center of the present day Anderson Cemetery tho the grave markers are no longer standing.
Another story that has been passed along, reportedly by Celia Anderson herself to her grandson Andrew Bryant. The exact identity of the characters of this story and place where it occurred, are somewhat uncertain at this time in history, but there is little doubt that it actually happened to some of the ancestors mentioned in this genealogy of the Anderson Family.
As the story goes, the Anderson family was living in an area still having trouble with the Red Man. Although an agreement had been reached making the river of the region the boundary separating the domains of the White Man and the Indian, both parties violated the agreement from time to time. The Andersons raised a vegetable garden near their cabin, and on one occasion as Celia worked in the yard with her small son, John playing at her side, and Indian suddenly appeared out of the woods with his tomahawk poised menacingly. He demanded that she give him the child and pumpkins from the garden. Many thoughts darted through Celia’s mind in the split second it took to consider the matter, but she concluded thta is she refused and the Indian should kill her, the children could not survive without her. Therefore, nothing was to be lost and perhaps much to be gained by cooperating. She consented. The Indian took the child by the hand into the garden, chose a pumpkin and before hastily retreating back into the woods, released the child unharmed. This story could have happened when they lived in Missouri since there were still Sac Indians living along the Fabius River in northeastern Missouri as late as 1829.
William Lair Anderson was known by the community as "Uncle Billy". He was a religious man what was called a "shouting Methodist". William was one of the builders of the Locust Grove Methodist Church and was very active in civic affairs in his community serving as trustee in Precinct 5, District 11 of Dallas County schools. He was somewhat of a medical curiosity in the community when a tree fell on his head opening a hole in his skull. Some physician, evidently with remarkable ability for his day and time, closed the puncture with a silver dollar, which he carried under his scalp for the remainder of his life with no complications. **************************************************
Several interesting stories from this book about this family. Eliza had been very fond of William for many years since her early teens. Her sister Polly , had been engaged to him during this time of Eliza’s life but had "jilted" him for someone else. When she learned that her sister did not intend to marry William, she burst into tears and said that when she grew up she would marry "Mr. William". When she was 20 years of age and he was 28 they married. They had seven children which the eldest three of which were born in Missouri: James Austin (who is our decedent) , John William, George Washington, Lite Morris, Elias Tidwell, Obitha, Hampton and Samuel Andrew. Eliza Morris Anderson died on March 28, 1883 and William died on May 11, 1899. Both are buried in the Anderson cemetery.
******************************************************
According to some of the wills in this book where I got the information for the stories, the Andersons did own several slaves. They also seemed to have quite a bit of land.********************************************************* The life in Dallas County in the 1850's is revealed by the auction inventories of the estates of William and Celia Anderson. Neither inventory mentions lamps, but both include candle molds and candles which evidently was their only source of light besides the hearth fire. The inventory included fire tongs and pot hooks for cooking in the fireplace, for they owned no stove. Cooking during the heat of the summer was done out of doors in a covered Dutch oven set in a bed of coals.
********************************************* Most of what the Andersons owned prior to the War Between the States had been brought with them overland from Missouri or else had been purchased on their annual trip to Jefferson or Port Caddo on Cypress Bayou, where they sold what extra cotton they grew, beeswax and hand woven goods, and bought supplies for the next year. Dallas was at that time isolated from transportation and commerce.
William Anderson died on March 8, 1858 of a condition said to have been aggravated by a badly inflamed knee joint from which he suffered since the trip from Missouri. Despite his advanced age, he had refused to ride with the women, but insisted on leading his own ox team. His will was one of the earliest to be probated in Dallas County, indicated by the fact that it bears disposed of number 2 in the county probate records. William signed his will in a wavering hand, evidently on his deathbed, and it was witnessed by his good friend and neighbor James Loving. Very little information to be had on this family other than what I found in the book that I purchased on March 21, 1980 . The Andersons of Rowlett’s Creek by: W. Clytes Anderson Cullar and Jerry M. Flook. The book was copyright in 1973


Vernon Martin & Mary Frances (McConnell) Holbrook
Story by: Sue & Vernard Holbrook
Vernon Holbrook lived in the Sulphur, Oklahoma are in the very early 1920's. His source of income was as a self-employed meat cutter. He had a horse and a wagon. He butchered hogs, and cows., loaded them into the wagon and went up and down streets selling meat. The housewives would come out and tell him just what they wanted and he would cut off the piece they wanted. Mary Frances McConnell was going to highschool in Boyd, Texas during the early 1920's. She graduated, moved to Hobart to be a companion and housekeeper for the Calrton’s (relatives).
Vernon received a job offer to cut meat in Hobart. He accepted the job and upon arriving in Hobart he met Mary Frances at
the Meat Market. He courted her and the rest is History. They married and had three children.For a number of years, Vernon worked for several grocery stores and Mary was a housewife.
In the very late 1940's they decided to build a little Mom and Pop store, next to their home at 401 North Stephens in Hobart. The store was next to the Hunter Park entrance . Bart helped in the building of the grocery store building and later in the reconstruction of the building in Lone Wolf. The park was used by families for picnicking, fishing or just visiting. Vernon and Mary stocked the shelves as most small stores except for they had something different than most. One might call it a early day Deli. They made chicken Salad spread, ham spread, egg and olive spread, potato salad and their very own recipe for potato chips. The chips were put in a large black pot filled with lard then heated to a high temp and the chips were dropped into the hot lard momentarily it did not take long to cook them since the lard was so hot and the chips were so thin. and the skins were left on the potatoes. Families stopped to pick up their picnic supplies and before long, by way of mouth, people from other nearby towns bought the spreads. This was really before we had frozen foods or deli products.

A little story about the potato chips:
Vernon and Mary continued to make the chips and many people were buying the. They were different than the chips sold in a sack by larger companies. One day an executive from the Frito Lay or maybe at that time it was only the Lay Company, contacted Vernon about his chips. Arrangements were made for Vernon to go to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and meet with the executives of the company to talk about chip production. Vernon and Vernard his son, made the trip and arrived around 8:00am, they talked and Vernon took them step by step on the process on cooking the chips, how he cleaned the skin, size each chip should be and even told them the brand of lard to use for the chips. They talked all day. He told them how hot the lard should be and everything. Of course, the executives took Vernon and Vernard out to lunch. Vernard remembers it was to a restaurant and not just a café. At the end of the day, they all shook hands and Vernon talked all the way home about hoe he expected a "good deal" from the company. The good deal was the very ritzy lunch they had for Vernon did not realize the hand shake did not work in the "outside world". Vernon had no patent on his manufacturing of the chips. So that too, was another story. The Lay Company still manufactures the chips at this time. (2001) They are sold in the stores with the skins on which in 1945-1948 was indeed a rarity. In the mid 1950's they bought acreage in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, moved the store building to the acreage and converted it into a home. They added a room and carport. This is where they were living when Vernon (Butch) had a stoke and died three days later.
While living in Lone Wolf, Vernon butchered for a grocery in Lone Wolf and later in Granite. Vernon was getting to the point where his health was failing, about ten years before he died, so they bought the old theater building in Lone Wolf and sold antiques and (junk) This was their income until his death.
(Another little story) many people do not know that the entire 400 block on the west side of the street of North Stephens in Hobart, Oklahoma are houses Butch bought and moved the houses with horses on tractor and used telephone poles as skids. The houses are all still in use today (2001). The entire side of the block was owned by the Holbrooks. They raised Turnips etc for resale before moving the houses there.
The grocery store building was built by Vernon and Vernard and wired by a nephew Holbrook from California who was in the Hobart area working on building the Silo’s for the government. The Silo’s were used to store war heads during the cold war.

Janice (McConnell) Cowan memories of Uncle Butch and Aunt (McConnell) Mary Holbrook.
Some of my very best memories of my childhood would have to be the times that we spent playing at Uncle Butch and Aunt Mary’s house and the store by Hobart Park. I remember that they would give me a little jar of green olives which I loved so much and I would eat them all, even the juice. We would eat those little bags of potato chips that were so delicious. I loved the story of the potato chips. We would get the penny candy and the cheese spread sandwiches. (Delicious) Also I can remember the many times we walked up that road in Lone Wolf to their house there. I remember the chickens which laid the colored eggs. Aunt Mary would let me play the old antique pump organ that they had in the den, also remember the old phone that she had on the wall. I remember how Aunt Mary was such a active part of the First Baptist Church where she kept the nursery. She loved those babies and little ones.

Another thing that I remember about Uncle Butch is that he had a little horse and buggy that he would let us all ride. We really thought that was special. Even my boys when they were little loved to go up to Uncle Butch's and ride the little horse and cart. He also made the best what we called "Uncle Butch Sausage".Even after I was grown and moved away and had a family of my own, each time I would come home for a visit I would tell Mother to let Uncle Butch know so he could make me some to take home. Also the chili that was so good. Nothing like it today in the store I can assure you.
There are a lot of memories of both Uncle Butch and Aunt Mary for all of us kids.
They were good people and I am proud to have had them in my life. Can't imagine it being any different. These are sure Memories To Last Forever.



Daisy (McConnell Family Dog)
This picture was taken in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.
written by Janice McConnell Cowan
Mother and Daisy in the one picture and Johnny and Daisy in the other one.
We don’t have but a very few pictures with Daisy our Cocker Spaniel in them. Daisy was our dog for many years. The story that goes with how we came about having Daisy : When we lived at Luther, Oklahoma for a brief time, Daddy had gone to Wilson one day to the store. When he had finished his business and went to get back in the car to go home, Daisy was in the front seat and she would not get out. He just brought her home. We tried to find out if she belonged to anyone. We ran a add in the local paper and had no luck so we just made her our dog. When we moved back to Lone Wolf we took Daisy with us and she lived for many years. She was a really good dog and we all loved her very much. When Daisy died we buried her in the back yard under a tree. This is where we buried all the little birds that died as well.
Linda and I would have a little funeral for them.

War Memory Story
by: Marietta (Nance) Zinn
Sunday, December 7, 1941 was a day that would live not only in infamy but in the slices of time of everyone of memory age that day in this United States. Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. On that day I was a 12 year old daughter of a rural Oklahoma tenant farmer, Woodson Nance and his wife Ruby. Also in this house was a 17 year old son, D.W. The house was a four room bungalow on the farm owned by Mrs. W. W. Rowland and her daughter known always as Miss Stella to us. The farm was 420 acres located 4 miles west and 2 ½ south of Hobart and almost an equal distance to Lone Wolf to the west and north. In this spotless house there was no electricity or running water; however, by now propane had replaced coal as a source of heat, cooking and refrigeration. Water was amply supplied by rain filtered through charcoal and stored in a cistern on the back porch from which it was drawn in a bucket suspended from an overhead pulley. In the kitchen which boasted modern wall cabinets, water was kept in a white enamel bucket with a matching dipper which was used by everyone from drinking. The toilet was a small outdoor structure at the end of the walk - a concrete base and typical wood exterior. Darkness was softened if not dispelled by coal oil (kerosene) lamps - two, one larger for study and regular use, one small bedroom lamp. Of course, there was an Aladdin lamp which made a really bright room; but mantles were expensive and easily shattered, so it was only used when company came or on special occasions.
On the end of the cabinet sat our link with the world -our “table Radio”. At one time we had a cabinet Philco around which I sat to listen to :Jack Armstrong, the All American Boy”. I have no memory of what happened to it; but, I suspect it went the way of many things - new things replaced the old as soon as they could be afforded. Just as the old round, solid oak dinner tale had been replaced by the new walnut veneer so the more modern technology beckoned even then. It was on this radio that we heard President Franklin Roosevelt say those famous infamy words. I have no idea what I thought was but I knew it was terrible and out lives would be forever changed. I see myself even now standing at the side of the house on the hard bare yard and I feel the warm - no cold - December day. On Monday all of our students in the 8th grade stayed in Miss Katie McNutt’s home room the entire day listening to news of WAR and here we were told we had nothing to fear but fear itself. Oh, but there was much to fear. Almost immediately all the young men in our community were gone and within 6 weeks my cousin Harold Ritter would be one among many who would never return, at least alive. Those farm boys approaching 18 could under certain circumstances get deferred for farm work but few availed themselves of this privilege even though some like my brother went late with the disapproval of particularly mothers. The loss of family members and availability of farm help made it necessary to allow those of us remaining to be given driver’s license permits when we reached 14.
The high school years were ordinary school days - ordinary that is, without boys 17 or older. During that time we became accustomed to ration books and what they allowed - one pair os shoes a year being the most direct limitation. Then there were tires and sugar and gasoline carefully rationed both by the government and by the family. If the holidays were coming you saved the sugar to bake, if as seldom happened, a trip had to be made, gasoline stamps had to be saved (although it was not unheard of for gas to be “borrowed” from the pump allowed for tractor use.
Josie Aiken
Written By: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
I could not write this book without including a short story about Mrs. Josie Aiken who was our next door neighbor as long as I can remember and long before. I could only find one picture that had her in it and it was a snapshot of Mrs. Aiken, Arlene, Linda and me sitting on her front porch. I treasure this picture since it is the only one that any of us have.
I can remember sitting on that porch many days for hours and listen to her tell us stories of the olden days. It always amazed me how a blind person could live like she did all by herself and her house always be so clean all the time. Not a speck of dust to be found. I don’t know how long she has been blind. Arlene said that she could see shapes for awhile when we were small. She had diabetes and she was blind from complications from the diabetes.
I remember when we would go over to her house, she would always say “let me see your hands.” We would put out our hands to her like she could see them and she would feel of them and if they were dirty she would tell us to go in her bathroom and wash them. After we did, she would then give us a cookie or apple and most times it was graham crackers. She was a wonderful lady and we all loved her very much.
She only had one son his name was Bob and he lived somewhere in Idaho. He did not come to see her very often so we were really her family. After she died, Daddy bought her house so no one else would move in there. Mrs. Aiken was a part of our life growing up and a memory that last forever.
I can also remember when it would be stormy and they would blow the tornado siren someone would go get her and bring her to our cellar. Daddy would put us all in the cellar and he would stand up top and watch the clouds. Mother would always hold off as long as she could before going down in the cellar. She would always say “I would not want to come up and see my home gone”. I remember going to that cellar many time in the middle of the night. Many times when we were very small, Linda and I one of the older boys would carry us to the cellar asleep and we would stay there until the all clear whistel blew. Lone Wolf was right in the middle of what was called Tornado Alley and we had a lot of storms and visits to that cellar. Those were sure “Memories That Last Forever”. (ha
Myrtle (Rickets) Breashears
Across the street from Mrs. Aiken’s house was Myrtle (Rickets) Breashears. All of us kids would spend time over at her house when we could. We would sit on the front porch and talk to her for hours. She was like Mrs. Aiken there as long as I can remember and long before. She did move away for awhile to Mustang, Okla. after she married Mr. Breashears. She was a widow for many years before marrying and moving to Mustang.
When I was a little girl I would love to go over to her house and play in the little apartment house that was right next door to her house. She would let us play like we lived there. We would pretend we would cook and had a lot of fun hours playing there. She had a porch swing and we loved to go over and swing on it. Linda and I would play over there for hours and we would pack a picnic lunch and go play in the little house like we lived there.
When Mrs. Rickets married Mr. Breashears they moved off to Mustang and we would go by and see them when we were up that way.


Dr. Ferd and Ethelyn (Swafford) Burnett
Written by: Janice (McConnell) Cowan with some information taken from article in Cunningham, Kansas newspaper.
William Ferd Burnett was born in Dixon, Missouri, September 19, 1879. He was the youngest son of Joseph Martin Burnett and Sarah Ellen Sounders. Dr. Burnett died on August 29, 1965 at the Nashville Hospital in Nashville, Kansas. He would have been 86 years old in just a few days from when he passed away. He was a practicing physician for almost 60 years. Ferd grew to young manhood in Missouri, and was graduated from the Keokuk, Iowa, Medical College in 1903 as a registered pharmacist, and spent three years with his brother, Dr. N.M. Burnett in Hazleton. He received his doctor of Medicine degree in 1906, joining his two older brothers as doctors, he practiced medicine in Fowler and Garfield , Kansas, before coming to Cunningham, Kansas in 1926 to establish a practice and also to operate the drug store. He also held a doctor of philosophy degree. He married Ethelyn Swafford in Denton, Texas on April 16, 1912. They were able to observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1962. They were members of the Cunningham Methodist Church. He was a member of Kingman County Medical Society of which he was a past president, the Kingman Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Hazleton Masonic Lodge, the Wichita Consistory, Shrine Temple of Wichita and a charter member of the Cunningham Lions Club.
Dr. Burnett, who practiced medicine almost 60 years, was among the few remaining pioneer “country doctors,” who gave themselves unselfishly devoted, and unstintingly of their entire medical careers to the patients and all illnesses. Undoubtedly every family in the community has felt the helping had of “Doc” Burnett either at a time of illness or sorrow, or as friend. The Hippocratic oath, administered to doctors was a guideline for Dr Burnett who was said to live his life by the Golden Rule.
Ethel (Swafford) Burnett was the sister of Pearl(Swafford) McConnell which is my father's mother.
Eleven Generations of SwaffordsThis is the Swafford linage of Janice (McConnell) Taylor Cowan

William Swafford married Mary Caldwell (in early 1700's)

Peter James Swafford born 1725

Thomas Younger Swafford born 1783

Nasson Swafford born 1802

Thomas Nasson Swafford born 1818

Issac E Swafford born 1863

Ludella Pearl (Swafford) McConnell born 1887

Clarence LeGrande McConnell born 1905

Janice Elaine (McConnell) Cowan born 1944

William Randall Cowan born 1964 & Rickey Lee Cowan born 1965
Anthony James Cowan born 1985 & Candice Elaine (Cowan Pate)1986
Kyleigh Marie Pate


I ask my nieces and nephews to write me something about their lives.
Of course not all did but I do have a few. This one is a really good
little story and I appreicated it. Candy has always stayed loyal to me
and calling me very often and she did the same for Linda. In fact she
was pretty close to Linda and called her regulary until her death. This
is Lloyd and LaDonna's (my broter) daughter. Very special young lady and
she has a wonderful husband. A story needs to be written about him. I
do not know what Candy and LaDonna would do without Shelby. I know I have
always appreciated him and what he does for them.

My Young Life as A McConnell
By: Candace (McConnell) Boling
My life growing up was a wonderful experience. I was blessed with two tremendous parents that dedicated their entire lives to my welfare and happiness. This was a very special gift from God and each and every day that legacy means more and more to me. I entered high school in the fall of 1973 and that was a unique generation of the Vietnam Way coming to and end and my high school life just beginning. Continuing in the activities of Theater, Speech and Music.
I was very busy sever stopping. I traveled to over 200 speech and drama tournaments and competed at various music and Debate contests. This is important to note because now after a twenty one year teaching career I still travel to tournaments only I’m no longer the kid. My high school years were filled with magic and excitement. My parents were very active in my school life. Lloyd and LaDonna were the great Fine Arts parents. Daddy often came down to work on theater sets and Mother always made costumes. When I think of the 10 different cast parties they hosted it makes me so happy. My mother and daddy were a part of everyone’s parents. When ever school needed a trip sponsor or some job done the McConnell crew stepped in. My house became the place that friends came by. In fact, numerous Duet Acting scenes were blocked in my living room. So after qualifying for State and Nationals in two different events (duet acting and poetry) the memories are very rich and full of pride and excitement.
I began doing plays when I was in the third grade. It became a family affair. We did a lot of community theater as a whole family. This was a great adventure in the McConnell lifetime. I know that the love for the art cultivate my interest into building a career choice around theater. In high school I played numerous lead roles in major musical productions. Attending Coronado High School was a great honor. Its average daily attendance was 3,800 students. This was just before the broke it into a three year 10-12 grade. In the four years I attended we were one of the largest over crowded high school in El Paso Country. This made the selection of me in major lead roles all the more exciting. It also afforded me the opportunity to work under a very special lady named Margaret Card who became my mentor. She was one of the best in the business and she trained me very well. She allowed me to play such characters as Nancy in “Oliver Twist”, Julie in “Carousel” and Aunt Ellen in “Oklahoma”/ I became Annie Sullivan in “ The Miracle Worker as a freshman I played Anne in the “King and I”. I also played Queen Victoria in the One Act Play “Victoria Regina” This was a highlight of my senior year. I guess because the range of the character. She aged from 18-97. Soon after graduation from High School I packed my bags and left to be an intern in Washington D.C. For my Congressman Richard White of EL Paso. Mother and Daddy were Campaign managers for Richard’s 1976 Congressional Bid. He was a big time Politician and I was the little kid from El Paso with hard working parents and the family that every person on Mr. White Congressional Staff admired. This was their way to show all of their gratitude to Lloyd and Ladonna. Oh my goodness it was an outstanding experience for me. I flew into National Airport and a new cosmopolitan way of life began. I would ve earning a salary I made about $6000.00 that summer and I thought I was on top of the world. It was a grand adventure of sight seeing. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend ballet performances at the Kennedy Center, Operas and Professional Theater productions. I was able to watch the Bicentennial fireworks over the Potomac River and the mall on Washington. I traveled to New York and that is where I viewed my first Broadway show “Annie” and “Chorus Line” My boss encouraged me to finish college and he said that if I still wanted to come back to Washington he would put me to work at the French Embassy. Upon my return I entered college in the fall of 1976 and I was cast in the lead of a musical of “Carnival”. This was a great experience and provided me with the skills to enjoy college and to establish myself as a team player. Mother and Daddy were very supportive and I knew that my father’s words of saying to me that College was like a life insurance policy. It was an investment in my future. Boy was he right. Each and everyday I appreciate his wisdom. I majored in Speech
and Drama and obtained my Early Childhood teaching endorsement. I also have a certificate in English.

I traveled to Lone Wolf, Oklahoma to see my grandmother Nellie. College allowed me to be very close to her and I truly enjoyed our special weekends together. I often had the chance to visit and spend
precious amounts of time with her. We often cooked and looked at countless pictures and she told great stories of our family. My college years were wonderful. Grandma Nellie often expressed how proud she was of me for getting my college degree.
In the first year of teaching I moved to the little west Texas town of Post. This town was named after the famous cereal king. I fell in love with the town’s people. And they willingly accepted a young dedicated teacher in their school system. My career her in Post has been wonderful . In the past 21 years I have produced and directed 39 plays and 12 Musicals. In my time here I have coached 5 State Champions in UL competition. Cy CX Debate team just took the silver medal at State this past spring. (2000). My job requires a lot of travel . Out of the 18 weeks of a school semester, I trave 12 weekends a semester. This is a real demand of my time. I love kids and a training them to excel and become great leaders of our world has been very rewarding. As we have traveled the world over I have grown with them. In 1993 I traveled with two teachers and three students all over Europe. We went to Amsterdam, Germany, Austria, Switzerland , Italy, France, England, Scotland and Ireland. We were gone for 8 weeks. We stayed in Bed and Breakfast in every country. It was a teaching tour and a marvelous theatrical tour. It was a once in a lifetime experience. It was a trip that highlighted all of the spectacular sites to see and the museums and operas and fashion. I have also traveled to New York with kids to see Broadway shows and see former students that are trying to make it in the acting industry. For the most part my professional life has been exciting and rewarding.
I waited a long time to get married. I needed to find the right man. And the Good Lord up above blessed me with a man named Shelby Boling. We met in 1993 and I was getting ready to travel to Europe. I knew that my heart was captures when I kept thinking about my boyfriend all 8 weeks we were in Europe. Another teaching friend of mine informed me that I was hooked and I had it real bad for the guy. I returned from my trip and we dated for several more years. Because of mother’s and Melody’s health I decided to get married on June 15, 1996 in El Paso, Texas. This made things so much easier for all of us. Numerous friends from Post came to our wedding and it was very magical. Shelby has been a great asset to this family. He is the sweetness of the earth. We honeymooned in the Mountains of New Mexico. Shelby has a heart of gold and is always cheerful and enjoyable to be around. Shelby is a mechanic and repairs small motors. He has created a small business here in Post. The townspeople have fallen in love with him as well. Marrying Shelby made me an instant grandmother. Shelby has three kids from his previous marriage.
His son is named Jimmy and he works in Lubbock. He is not married. Both daughters have two children. Michelle has Christopher 14 and Stephanie 8. Angela has Corey Daniel 6 and Courtney 4. We enjoy our grandchildren and see then often.
Our life is very full. LaDonna has been a great inspiration living next door to us. She has a beautiful home and enjoys redecorating each room and making everything lovely. My family consists of the three of us. Shelby has been wonderful in helping care for Mom since Daddy passed away .
She has had some health problems in her first year and half here, but she is really doing well now. We have a little game called “Have meals will travel.” Each and every night I send food over to moms for dinner. She sometimes doesn’t feel well enough to walk up steps so Shelby is our full time runner. We laugh because we have our little version of Meals on Wheels. Mom and I enjoy shopping and going to see movies. Mom, Shelby and I attend St Paul’s Lutheran church in Wilson, Texas. This is a very small farming town 19 miles from Post. It reminds us of Lone Wolf because of the people and the size of the village. Shelby and I try to take at least one summer vacation. I enjoy being a homemaker and hobbies of cooking and sewing. Shelby likes to work with mowers and collect old cars and refurbish them. We have created a good solid life together and it’s very special.

Story by Melody (McConnell) Stroud


.Melody Lynn (McConnell) Stroud
Daughter of Lloyd and Ladonna McConnell
(written at my request by Melody for my book)

When I was twelve years old, Daddy got transferred and we moved from Deming, New Mexico to El Paso, Texas. (A little over a hundred miles apart).
To give you a time frame, we move in October of 1965 and Grandpa McConnell died Christmas Eve 1966.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I met a radio disk jockey and we became friends. He invited me to come by the radio station one day, so I dragged my best girlfriend and went down there to check it out. Well, to make a long story short, I was totally and completely hooked and made my mind up that very afternoon to become a radio announcer. So in my spare time I began studying hard for my FCC license. I took a broadcasting course and learned about transmitters, diodes, resistors, etc. and when I felt I was ready, I went to the courthouse and took the FCC test. I passed and was awarded a third class radiotelephone license. (That is what they called it back then). However I still needed a broadcast endorsement in order to go on the air. So I studied some more to prepare for yet another test.
That summer, the family took a trip to visit Uncle Johnny and Aunt Shirley in Bremerton, Washington. On the way, we stopped in West Covina to visit Uncle Clyde and Aunt Jo Zinn In the course of conversation, I mentioned to Aunt Jo how I needed to take another FCC test, but in EI Paso, they only gave it twice a year, in Los Angeles they administer it every weekday. Aunt Jo graciously offered to take me to downtown Los Angeles so I could take the test.
I was thrilled yet very nervous, but Aunt Jo, in her wonderful, inimitable English way, gave me the encouragement I needed and soon I found myself being dropped off at the Los Angeles Court House to take the test. I passed, and soon had my complete radio telephone third class license with broadcast endorsement.
Back home, one of the DJ's at a local radio station decided he wanted to do his part to promote woman's lib, so he asked me if I would like to come down to this station and take over his show for the day. He had gotten the station manager's approval, but nobody else knew, not even the program director. So, one Thursday afternoon, I skipped my afternoon classes at school, drove to KINT radio station and Jay Franklin Atwood let me take over his afternoon/drive time radio show.
It was an unbelievable experience! The phones went crazy with calls coming in fast and furious the entire four hours I was on the air. Jay stayed in the control room with me, just to be on the safe side. I still had a lot to learn about the mechanics of working the console, but I was definitely on my way! At this point I should mention that I was the first woman radio disk jockey in EI Paso. I was just fulfilling my dream and little did I know that I was making history.
The summer after I graduated, I got a summer job at the EI Paso Natural Gas Company (where Daddy worked), until I left for Los Angeles in October. I attended an airline school and from there segued into a job with Avis Rental cars at the main office in downtown, LA.
While working there a friend of mine took me to a LA restaurant that was owned by a local radio personality, Dick Wittinghill. Dick was a big name in radio at the time and I was nervous, but my friend's brother was a pal to Dick’s brother so we used that to break the ice. I told him that I wanted to break into radio in LA area and asked for his advice and he did more than that and gave me a personal recommendation and he told me who to talk with at the station. I found myself employed by KMPC.
After working at KMPC for a year I accepted a job at KPSA a rival radio station.
I worked there until my health problems forced me to return to El Paso.
Once I was well again, I got a job as an advertising copywriter, I had always written well but it was during this particular job, where I was able to hone this skill. I discovered what I really wanted to do. Writing is in my blood and I love it. I worked in this advertising job for about a year, and then took another job with the El Paso Housing Authority. Eventually, I got another job working for the State Comptroller's Office. I moved to River City (Austin) Texas. Katha and Bill graciously offered to let me stay with them until I found an apartment.
After living in Austin for two years, I once again became sick with my reoccurring hepatitis. Daddy came to Austin and drove me down to Galveston and stayed with me for a week while I was checking into a hospital and had tests to determine why this hepatitis kept recurring. One of the test was a liver biopsy (not a pleasant procedure, I assure you) which revealed that my liver was in remarkable good condition, considering I had been hospitalized with hepatitis seven times since 5th grade. It was determined I would have this disease in my bloodstream, and to this day I have to take certain precautions and make lifestyle adjustments.
I made the decision to return home yet again, to recuperate. This was beginning to become an undesirable, reoccurring theme in my life. Little did I know the huge impact this particular move back home would have on my future.
The day after I returned to El Paso, I was sitting in the den talking to mom when the phone rang. She answered it and put her hand over the receiver asking if I knew a "Grady Stroud". I said yes and took the call. Grady and I had met through a mutual friend five years prior, when I was a copywriter, but I hadn't seen him in over two years.
He had heard I was in Austin and was going to stop in to see me on his way to visit his brother in Galveston. He didn't have my address or telephone number there, so he was calling to get it from my mom. He asked me out for a date, we went to dinner and then he took me to see the new movie "Star Wars". I casually mentioned to him on that date that my mother was involved with the Muscular Dystrophy telethon and I had promised to accompany her the next day to the big mall to help out.
When mom and I arrived at the mall, there was Grady sitting on a bench waiting for me.
I hadn't mentioned what time we were going to be there, so he came early in the morning and just waited around the mall all day until I got there about 4pm. That was my first indication he was serious about me. We have been together ever since.
On February 12, 1978, we had a large church wedding at Ascension Lutheran Church in El Paso, Texas with over four hundred people in attendance. We flew off the next day to honeymoon in Florida and returned ten days later to our apartment in El Paso.
After our first year of marriage, we moved to White Sands and have lived there for over twenty years. Aaron Tyler was born three and half years later and Amanda Kaye came along four years later.
Grady is an Electrical Engineer who programs computer systems for missile testing. I continue to write, even though I have been sidetracked by health problems.


Reflections From The Past
Written By: Mari (Nance) Zinn
When the 19th century turned into the 20th century and Wylie Potts Zinn and Rosa Jane Ward had not yet become wed, things were much the same as they had been at the turn of the last century and the one before that and before that. Even the new inventions and beginnings of change in the big cities meant little to a mostly rural community in Indian Territory. People still lived in sod houses and warmed themselves by wood or coal stoves and tried to push away the night with lamps filled with coal oil. Few people traveled far from their place of birth and if they did it was by foot or horseback or wagon or for the privileged few a carriage. The fields were still plowed walking behind teams of mules.
But the turn of this century seemed to be propelled by progress. Soon to come were cars and tractors and electric lights and houses made of wood in little towns throughout this new state. Henry Ford became benefactor of the open door. Through his Model T people could now travel from town to town and even state to state.
World War I, the war to end all wars, came and went. One room schools dotted the country side and churches not much bigger sprung up on the corners of the towns. The machine age came into full swing with cars, cars, cars. And trucks and now that unthinkable - the airplane. But still the country home remained little changed. Often it was a four room bungalow with a cistern out back and now if one was lucky the coal oil lamp was supplemented by an Aladdin lamp with its bright white light and fragile mantles. The toilet was still outdoors at the end of the path. And so it remained until the late l940s when Rural Electrification came to rural Oklahoma. Then came the depression and as if to punctuate the misery, the Dust Bowl. Only another World War brought prosperity and with it came change out of the genie’’s bottle. The returning soldiers had seen the world and pain and grew up in the process and few returned home. The far sighted government had anticipated the return of large numbers of young men with no employment and had in place job training and the GI Bill so millions could be educated and employed in the new industries.
And now a new century, the 21st!, has come and we look back on more changes for the human race than in all centuries combined. Because it has been so rapid people have had too little time to adapt to the drastic change. The artificial world of movies, TV and now computers interject us into an unreal world and their values have blurred the age old values of home and family and integrity. Charles Dickens, if here in 2001, would surely say again, ““These are the best of times and the worst of times””. This then is our opportunity, and our burden, the new century is ours to make. Like the old Girl Scout song, we must make new friends but keep the old.
Can you imagine if Rose and Wylie had a crystal ball in that Beaver County sod house what they would have seen for their 9 children and their children and their children too? I like to think that in it all they would still see the love and values shared and instilled in that family and to them we would say, ““Well done””.
The above Picture of early days in Beaver County Oklahoma
William Arthur Mitchell
Writen by: Bill Mitchell
William Arthur Mitchell was born August 21, 1930 in Austin Texas (Travis County). Born to William R and Julia Victoria Mitchell. Bill as he is known was the third of four children. He has 1 sister living in McCamey, Texas, two brothers, John Robert and Kenneth Leon both deceased. the Mitchells lived in Austin Texas until 1938, and moved to Beckwith Township in Louisiana, where they attended school at Singer La, in Sept 1946 at age 16 Bill quite school and joined the Army at Camp Polk La. where he was sent to New Jersey for training, then shipped to the Philippines where he served for four years. Six months after returning to the states he was sent to Okinawa where he met his first wife. Jean Nakurmura whom he married in 1952 in Austin, Texas. Jean and Bill had 5 children, Patty, who has 1 son and is a School teacher in North Carolina,
Sussie (deceased age 3 Mo.) Louise Marie, has one daughter, married Larry Garrison .Both Larry and Louise are School Teachers in western North Carolina. Dale Alan also of North Carolina. and Donna married but no children also of North Carolina, and also a School teacher. after spending 20 years in the Military with tours in the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, Korea and three tours in Vietnam Bill retired in November 1966 at Ft Bragg North Carolina. Where he attempted to as many things as possible, these things included Civil Service at Ft Bragg, working as an electrician, a telephone repairman, Service Station owner, a cook in the enlisted men club at Ft Bragg, a stone mason, a truck driver, commercial fisherman and a mechanic. Bill divorced and moved back to Texas in 1978, where he did a variety of jobs, (You might say that he was a jack of all trades as master of none.) He met and married Katha Faye Dalrymple in 1980. where he again worked as a Truck Driver, teaching Katha to drive an eighteen wheeler which they drove about seven years. In 1996 Bill and Katha settled in Elgin Texas where both got involved Square Dancing , and also in community service with the Elgin Food Pantry, and also in the Church. after they served in a number of positions Bill became a Certified Lay Speaker in Beaukiss United Methodist Church in Beaukiss, Texas. this required him to conduct services when Their Pastor was gone or sick. Bill was also called by another Church to conduct services in the absents of their pastor. At the present time Bill and Katha are holding Sunday Services in the Retirement Wing of the Taylor, Texas Hospital. Bill hopes to continue in Lay Ministry as long as He can.


James Lewis Dalrymple Jr.
James served in the United States Marines joining in April of 1952 and going overseas in March of 1953. He was selected for duty with the then newly organized Demilitarized Zone Police consisting of marines from units of the First division. The Mission of this special police force was to patrol the 2,000 meter zone between the south demilitarized zone border and the demarcation line dividing the United Nations and Chinese portions of the buffer zone.
James occupation at the time of his marriage was with a drilling company in the oil field in Wichita Falls, Texas. On September 12, 1956 James entered Texas department of Public Safety Academy where he was commissioned a Patrolman on December 1, 1956. They moved to Abilene, Texas where he was a Texas Highway Patrolman. It was February 1st, 1968 when James was promoted to Sergeant and they moved to Pampa, Texas.
James was married to Katha Faye McConnell on April 22nd, 1956 at Lone Wolf Methodist Church in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. They have twin sons, Dwight Allen and James Lewis.
On September 15, 1973 he was transferred to the Narcotics Division and moved his family to Austin, Texas. He was then promoted to Sergeant of the Narcotics Department on October 1, 1975. He was stationed at Garland, Texas for a time and worked undercover temporarily for the Narcotics Division in McAllen, Texas. It was shortly after returning to Austin, Texas that he was killed in the live of duty on June 5th, 1978. He had 22 years of service to the Texas department of Public Safety at the time of his death. James was a very well respected officer of the law. It was said at his funeral service that James was a man of few words. He was a plain spoken man. He took time to listen and them spoke straight forward. James was a person who valued his freedom, his independence and self- sucificant. He sought to protect the freedom and dignity of those around him. He despised those who would take freedom away from others. It was said that he was most at home of the highway and the life of the freedom he loved put him in danger each and every day. He knew that danger and death were a part of the life he had chosen as a Texas Highway Patrolman.
James was known for being a hard worker. He was very through and sit high goals for himself. His family knew this and it was one of the reasons that loved and respected him so despite all the heavy sacrifices his work demanded of them.
He was a hard worker and was not content with a task until it was completed. That was more than likely the reason he was on the highway so early on that Monday morning. He always demanded excellence in his work and it was excellent. James was thought of by his fellow officers as an honorable man.
James left behind his wife and twin sons. Both of his sons have gone on to make wonderful young men of there own right. Dwight as an attorney in Houston, Texas and Dewayne following in his fathers foot steps as a law enforcement officer. Dewayne is a Sargent of the Lockhart Police Department in Lockhart, Texas. James would truly be proud of his sons.


John Milton McConnell
Written by: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
John Milton McConnell was born October 30, 1937 at Hobart, Oklahoma, the son of Clarence & Nellie McConnell. Johnny died on August 15, 1998 in Seattle, Washington.
Johnny joined the Navy in November 1956 and attended his boot camp in San Diego, California. His First duty station, Aviation Boatswain Mate, Fuels on board the air craft carrier USS Lexington CVA-16. His tours included Straits of Formosa, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and the Philippines. He had tow overhaul periods in Bremerton, WA. He was discharged from the Navy in August of 1960.
Johnny worked at the Fuel Farm at Altus Air Force Base until 1965 when he joined the Navy Reserve. He transferred to active duty, and on the same day he joined the reserves. He was stationed at the Fuel Farm , Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle, Washington.
Shirley worked at the Navel Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington where she retired from the Shipyard Security.
It was in 1968 that he transferred to the regular Navy and was stationed onboard the Air Craft Carrier, USS Corral Sea CVA-43. His tour of duty started in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Vietnam. He was on the CVA-43 for approximately four months when he became ill and was Medivaced to the hospital at Subic Bay and from there to the Naval Hospital in Bremerton. He was medically retired in August of 1968
Johnny married LaJuana Booze, from Lone Wolf, Oklahoma in November 1956. They were divorced in 1957.

Johnny married Shirley Ann Anderson on November 5th, 1960 at Vernon, Texas.
When Johnny and Shirley moved to Bremerton, Washington, Johnny worked with Diamond Parking and in property management before becoming a commercial real estate agent with Coldwell Baker-Park Shore Real Estate for 15 ears. Johnny passed away on August 15, 1998 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 60 years old. He had been in ill health for several years prior to his death. Johnny and Shirley had three children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild at the time of his death. Rev. Curtis Newton, Johnny’s brother-in-law preached his funeral service.
Lloyd Wayne & Ladonna (Hohman) McConnell
Lloyd Wayne McConnell was born September 20, 1927 in Hobart, Oklahoma. He was the first child born to Clarence and Nellie McConnell. He married LaDonna Hohman August 20, 1950 in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma at the St. John’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. Arthur Pape Officiating. . Lloyd died on November 4, 1995 in El Paso, Texas and buried in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma November 7th. Lloyd graduated form Lone Wolf, High School.
Lloyd worked as a truck driver for several years with his father and Uncle Leland as well as his brother Kenneth. He served his country during the Korean War in the US Army. He was in the 45th Infantry.
Lloyd went to work for El Paso Natural Gas Company in Deming, New Mexico and later transferred to El Paso, Texas where he retired after working for the company for 30 years.
Lloyd was very active in politics. He was Democratic County Chairman in 1974 - 1976 and State Democratic Chairman 1976- 1978, Democratic County Chairman 1980 - 1982 and Chairman of El Paso Redistricting Committee in 1978. Campaign Manager for the Mayors of El Paso, Texas in 1977 - 1979 - 1981. He was active in politics until his death in November 1996.
Lloyd was a longtime Democratic Party activist, and work with the party for decades. He was considered to be one of the last ones from the old school of politics. He was a former county Democratic chairman and a former state Democratic committeeman. Lloyd was a key player in numerous campaign over the years. In his later years he was well known for signs he designed for candidates. He was generally a behind the scenes organizer in campaigns but occasionally thrust himself into the public spotlight when necessary for the party.
Lloyd was described at times as a nuts and bolts politician who pioneered the grassroots politicking of today. He did the grimy stuff and put campaigns together, hired people to canvass neighborhoods, put up signs block to block. Lloyd gave a big part of his life to politics until the day he died.
Lloyd enjoyed a hobby that was more like another job. He repaired player pianos and calliope. This came about due to his injured back after they moved from Oklahoma to Deming, New Mexico. He was not sure how long he would be able to work for the gas company so he started looking around for something else to do. It was then that he became acquainted with Vic Hon, a Czech immigrant who settled in Deming area in 1901. He was thought to be one of the best piano tuners in the country. He even rode a stagecoach to the mining towns and tuned the pianos. He was about 75 years old when Lloyd met him and died at the age of 95. Hon sold Lloyd and LaDonna his music store and agreed to teach him the art of piano tuning. LaDonna who was a music major in college helped run the store and gave music lessons and Lloyd learned the art of tuning. Hon made Lloyd promise not to charge anybody for tuning services until the teacher(Hon) thought he was qualified. It was two years before McConnell could charge for his services. There are not many good piano tuners Lloyd would say. You can’t take a book and learn the craft. No two tuners tune alike. One reason for the shortage of piano tuners is that piano tuners considered themselves a closed society. A man would teach his son, but the tuners tried to keep the skill from being widely known. As a result there are not enough tuners to satisfy the demand. Lloyd was a member of the American Piano Tuners and Technicians Guild.
Lloyd patented a Cargo Mover for pianos. The mover which operated on principal of balance can be towed behind a car. Although not manufactured on a large scale, he sold enough to cover the cost of the patent. When the gas company offered Lloyd a better job in El Paso, he decided to sell the store and move to the larger city. But he continued repairing pianos as a sideline.
LaDonna was very active in the Woman's National Democratic Club which she was President in 1976. She was also President of the District Three of Texas Federation of Democratic Women from 1976 - 1983. Campaign Manager for the 16th Congressional District Congressman in 1976. Very active and served as President of El Paso Muscular Dystrophy Chapter in 1977, chairman of Jerry Lewis Telethon in El Paseo in 1978. She served at County Clerk in El Paso, Texas from 1977 - 1979. Coordinator of the Juvenile Restitution program in Texas.
LaDonna is the daughter of Emil and Lydia Hohmann of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. LaDonna graduated from Lone Wolf, Oklahoma and attended the women’s college in Chickasaw, Oklahoma. Married Lloyd McConnell at St John's Lutheran Church in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma with Rev. Arthur Pape officiating. They have two daughters Melody and Candace

Kenneth Owen McConnell
Written by: Janice (McConnell) Cowan Kenneth Owen McConnell was born on December 12, 1929 at Hobart, Oklahoma. He was the second son of Clarence & Nellie McConnell. Kenneth died on February 2, 1976 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Kenneth was married to Louise Campbell on July 16, 1950 in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. They attended school together in Lone Wolf. They have two sons and four grandchildren.
Kenneth was a Truck Driver along with his father, brothers and Uncle Leland for several years. When Kenneth left trucking he went to work as the Lake Patrolman at Lugert Lake Altus. He was there for seven years. He then was then head of the Education Training Department for three years and left that position to become Safety Services Director in 1966 at the American Red Cross in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was there he stayed until his death at an early age in 1976.
It was said many times that Kenneth was the best safety man in the business. He proves this many times over the years. He received a Presidential Citation by the National Water Safety Congress for recognition for his personal dedication and achievements. This was an award well deserved because Kenneth’s job was very important to him and he did a wonderful job. This seemed to be the consensus of all who worked with him over the ten years that he was with The American Red Cross.
As I was doing my research for this story, I looked at several newspaper clippings and in each one there was a picture of Kenneth with a larger than life smile on his face. I think that was his special smile and I remember that smile.
Kenneth passed away at a very early age at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on February 3, 1976.

Diana Lynn Johnson was born on October 21st, 1961 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Bill & Doris Johnson.
Diana was killed in an auto accident on July 12th, 1996 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and buried at Midwest City, Oklahoma.
Diana was among 64 young adults under the age of 27 to be approved by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board as journeymen. She was assigned as a secretary in a mission office in Bangkok, Thailand.
Diana attended Rose State College and Central State University before transferring to OBU. In the Baptist Student Union she was involved in the puppet ministry and was a Southern Baptist Home Mission Board Summer missionary in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Diana also attended Oklahoma Baptist University and was the UMU dormitory director at OBU from 1989 until 1991. She was very active in her Church work.
When returning from Thailand she worked as a Social Worker at the Baptist Children’s Home in Owasso, Oklahoma and following that worked in the office of the First Baptist Church in Claremore, Oklahoma. She left Claremore to attend Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, this was one of the goals she had set for herself.
Diana was very active in her Youth Group at Howard Memorial Baptist Church. In the summer of 1976 she went with the youth group on a summer mission trip to Old Mexico. Diana and her friends performed puppet skits and songs for the little Mexican kids. Despite the language barrier they taught hundreds of village children and adults Bible stories and songs. Perhaps it was this trip that had an influence on what Diana decided to do with the rest of her life.
Diana had gone on mission trips and to Falls Creek many times and her circle of friends were Christian friends her entire life. She had a really good job at Matherly Mechanical Contracting for several years. She decided that she wanted to go to Oklahoma Baptist University and she did just that she worked her way through. Then she decided that she wanted to serve as a missionary as a Journeyman to Thailand. She spent two years in Thailand serving on the mission field, her job working in the mission office in Bangkok..
Diana In Thailand
I wanted to write a little bit about Diana’s two years that she spent in Thailand and some of the work she was doing there. I know it was a really special time in her life and it was an experience that would bring her many great memories. I take this information from the slide presentation that she presented on her tour as a missionary in Thailand.
In Thailand, all roads lead to Bangkok, and this city of seven million plus is the center of the country politically, culturally and economically just as it is geographically. Adjusting to this unique and diverse culture was quite an experience for Diana. Trying to learn the language was both humbling and challenging, but fun. The Thais would hear one word from my mouth and think that I was fluent in Thai and then begin rattling off all kinds of things that she of course did not understand.
In the markets, and noisy streets were street vendors selling just about anything like even a grilled squid on a stick. There were strange but wonderful foods and a dessert that was made from leaves, ginger, onions, coconut, hot peppers and a sweet sauce. This was very tasty!
The traffic left a lot to be desired but the public transportation added a little excitement to ne’s life, especially when you were the one hanging out the door of the bus that was packed.
Diana felt like it was a privilege to experience a place like Thailand and be blessed to be a part of the work and ministry for the Lord in that beautiful country.
For many years the Southern Baptists have been working in Thailand. The Thailand Baptist Mission projects a variety of programs of Christian witness and ministry. The main thrust of these programs is expressed in the Mission’s purpose which is “to establish New Testament churches working cooperatively with Thai Baptists toward the evangelization of Thailand and the world”.
One of the ministries that Diana had the opportunity to be involved in was in working with children which she loved to do and was very good at. Cholburi Baptist Church began a children’s worship time with the help from missionary Becky Craig and the pastor’s wife, Bao. The children would have time to play, sing and study God’s word together. Many of these children were from the slums of the city and are among the many who are hungry for the love only God can give.
Diana was I am sure a blessing to those people in Thailand for the two years she was there. I know she brought back many memories and some day dreamed of returning to Thailand. He life was cut short by a auto accident that took her home to be with the Lord on July 12th , 1996. She was very much loved by many and missed by all who knew and loved her and who’s lives she touched.


Domby and Mari (Nance) Zinn
Written by: Mari Zinn
According to Aunt Arlie Ward Logan, on the night of December 26, 1924 there were seven people in the house of Rose and Wylie Zinn. On the morning of December 27th, there were eight. Sometime in the night “Old Doc Lloyd” came and ushered in the seventh son and ninth child of Rose and Wylie. Grandpa Ward was given the honor to give him his name, Domby Lloyd. The story that was told to me was that Domby was the name of a Confederate War general.
Domby attended school in Hobart all twelve years and graduated in 1942. He joined the Navy and served three years and three months during World War II. Part of this was on an Air Craft Carrier in the Pacific where he was a gunner on a 3 man plane. After the war, the 39 months in service were very important. Under the GI Bill, veterans had the right to college education of one month for each month served.
On July 21, 1946 he married Marietta Nance in a triple wedding of First Methodist Church in Hobart. Brothers Douglas Paul married Bobbie Jo Carter and John Clyde married Josephine Kidney. The wedding ceremony was performed by their cousin Phillip Zinn. In January of 1947 Domby and Marietta moved to Veteran’s Village in Still water, Oklahoma. Domby enrolled in the school of architecture at Oklahoma A & M College (now Oklahoma State University). After finishing four years of the five year course, he was called back into service in Oklahoma National Guard for Korean duty. Mari moved back to Hobart with two and half year old Larry Lloyd and new baby Keith Alan. Keith was sixteen months old when his daddy returned. Once again Domby, Mari and family moved back to Veterans’ Village to finish his last year in architecture. On graduation, Domby was hired by Conoco Oil. Here Donita Louise joined her brothers. However, the family stayed in Ponca City for only one year before the Architectural firm Hudgins, Thompson and Ball hired him to come to Oklahoma City. He remained with this firm thirty nine years until his retirement in 1992. Mari became an elementary school teacher.
Larry married Judy Wolscheid and to them were born three children: Jessie, David and Megan. Larry is a toxicologist and Judy is a veterinarian. Keith married Linda Barron and they had two sons; Andy and Daniel. Keith died July 1st 1995 after a four year battle with cancer. Keith was a dentist.
Donita married Jim Burkett and had one son Nick and one daughter Gena. Later, she married Dale Petersen who had one daughter, Kristen. Donita is a pediatric physical therapist.

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My Love for quilting
by Janice (McConnell)Cowan
I have had a love for quilting for many years. I really did not start quilting until after both of my boys were born and toddlers. Mother had given me some little Sun Bonnet Sue girls (a applique ) that were made out of the material from my dresses and some of Arlene’s when we were little girls. When I decided to try my hand at quilting, I took these little Sun Bonnet Sue girls and appliques them to squares of unbleached muslin. This gave me enough blocks to make a twin bed size quilt. I would watch a quilting show on television on Saturday morning and this is where I learned how to quilt. I sit these blocks together and I hand quilted this quilt. I was so proud of this quilt since it was my first one and still have it and use it today. So this started my quilting hobby and I keep it up today. I love to piece quilts as well as quilt them. Bill Johnson my brother-in-law made me a really beautiful quilt frame that I used for years. I also have a really nice round hoop quilt frame that I am using now because it does not take up so much room. I have a beautiful Sun Bonnet Sue quilt in the frame working on it now that will be Candice’s when she gets married someday. Since that is my favorite pattern I have made four of them of course they are all very different but all of the Sun Bonnet Sue pattern. I think I will always love quilting and when Candi lived with me I taught her to quilt and hope she remembers how will quilt one day in the future.

Memories of a Doll
Written by: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
This is a picture of my granddaughter, Candice Elaine holding
a doll that was mine when I was four years old. It is a very special
little doll that I have yet today. This doll was given to me by one
of my Sunday School teachers at the Lone Wolf Methodist Church,
Mrs. Hinds. I made the dress and bonnet for her many years ago.
I can’t tell you the name of this doll because I would change her
name from time to time when I was little. At the time of this
writing this little doll is fifty five (55) years old. I will pass this
doll on to Candice someday.
This is just another memory among the many that I have from my childhood. I feel like I had a wonderful childhood and love to have these memories.

Wylie Potts and Rosa Jane (Ward) Zinn
Wylie Potts Zinn was born February 1, 1879 in Tarrant County, Texas. Wylie was one of seven children born to Rev. Jacob Albert Zinn III and Cornelia Ann (Walker) Zinn. Cornelia and infant child died in October 1883 leaving Jacob with seven children to raise. In August on 1887 Jacob married Emma Morrison where she became stepmother to his seven children. She was a good mother and all the children loved her. She died in April 1911 and is buried by her husband in Warren, Oklahoma.
Wylie came to Oklahoma at a early age and lived in the Warren Community with his parents. Both Wylie and Rosa were native of Texas. Rosa came with her parents from Montague County in old Greet County in 1902. Wylie came to Old Greer County as a young boy of 11 in 1890 with his parents from Young County, Texas. Wylie and Rosa were married in 1904 in Mangum, Oklahoma in Greer County.
After their marriage they filed on a claim in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle and lived there intil 1915 when they came to Hobart where Wylie worked for a number of years as a drayman for Antrim Lumber Company. He later would farm and in 1928 he went to work as the custodian of the Methodist Church in Hobart, Oklahoma. He would serve at this job for 30 years. Wylie retired only two years before his death.
In the later years of his life he had a Lawn Mower Repair shop at his home.
Wylie and Rosa have nine children two of who preceded them in death as young children.
Post Cards From The Past
By: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
For many years I have had this collection of postcards that Mother has kept since she was a little girl. Most of them are dated in 1910 and 1911. They are from an assortment of family and friends. I can remember looking at these cards since I was a little girl. I thought it would be a good story for my book of memories.
I read a story in a book about post cards and thought I would just share the memory of these with everyone. The cards reveal a part of the past that is really exciting and tells some of how things were in those days. I can just think back in my imagination as to what was going on in her life in those days. She would have been a small little girl of four or five years old when they were written. Life was so simple back then. They were from her Papa (our Grandfather Wylie Zinn) and from cousins and friends as well.
Just looking at these old cards showing both comical illustrations as well as patriotic symbols and cards for all occasions. I decided that I would just do a little research about such cards and found that the post card originated in Austria in 1869. The first card sent in the United States was around 1873. The postal department required one entire side of the card to be used for the address leaving only a small part of the card for the actual message. Then the front of the card was the greeting. They were so colorful and had such really cute pictures on them. Unfortunately the first boom in postcard production ended with the start of World War I. It was shortly after then when greeting cards came along. People also begin to take snapshots with their new found cameras to send to friends and family.
One of the most special cards that I found in this collection of about 50 cards was one that mother had received from her Papa. I can just make it out. The card is a real pretty color of green in the background and has a little girl with long blonde hair standing at a door and she has a bouquet of red flowers and a little dog at her feet that has a basket of flowers in his mouth. The says “Best Wishes” and under that in his handwriting it has Nellie Zinn. On the back of the card is written:

Hobart, Okla. Hello Sister, Papa wood (spelled just that way) like awful well to see you to and Mama. Papa was awful tired when he got here, we come awful slow when we was in the wagon. But when we got on the train we went “toot toot”. Stella wanted to know about you why you didn’t come with me.
From your Papa to Nellie Zinn.
This card was sent to Nellie Zinn from Edna Cox:
I am picking cotton and the most I have picked in a day
was 120 pounds. Walk 3 miles a day get your eats and dinner.
There is a really cute little card form Aunt Dennie
The card has a little girl sitting under a tree with a large white rabbit in her lap and a small one beside her with a hat full of Easter eggs and little chicks. It says Loving Easter Greetings. On this card was a little poem:
I Love You Little
I Love You Big
I Love You Like A Little Pig
From your Aunt Dennie Ward to
Little Nellie Zinn
I have enjoyed just looking at these cards and reading the names of who all sent them to mother. There were cards from Grandpa Zinn, Grandmother Ward, Aunt Arlie Ward, Aunt Dennie Ward, Uncle Texas Ward, Uncle Bud Lee, Gladys Cox, Uncle Charley, Nettie Price,
In today’s busy life we just email or pick up the phone and call which is nice but the cards from the past are so special because one can enjoy them many times over and just think about how simple and uncluttered the lives of our ancestors must have been. Not that times were not hard I am sure they were but also times were meaningful and that is really special to remember and most of all “Memories That Last Forever”. I have quite large collection of these post cards and hope someone will enjoy them after I am gone.

Raymond Horace & Beatrice (Brown)Zinn
Raymond is the Son of William (Will) Harris Zinn & Willie Burroghs.
William and Willie were married March 14, 1903 at Vernon, Texas Wilbarger County
Raymond owned the Zinn Appliance Store in Altus, Okla for many years. In the early days worked
for Montgomery Ward. They bought the store in 1952. He retired after working 31 years
Also farmed and raised cattle. He attended school at Warren, Oklahoma and attended a trade school for electronics in Oklahoma City,
They were such fine people. I think she is still living in Altus.
They were members of the First Baptist Church in Altus
He was born January 14, 1911 in Jackson County, Oklahoma
Married Bea June 23, 1934 in Altus, Okla.
He passed away November 30, 1997 buried at Rest Lawn Cem. in Altus, Oklahoma
They have two children:
Verna (Zinn) Savage lives in Pueblo, Colorado
Joel Zinn lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma


Tim Zinn Son on Albert and Nadiene Zinn
Since graduation from Harvard Graduate Business School in 1971, Tim has gone on to become a recognized expert regarding healthcare technology, and he has built a highly successful consulting practice in that field. He has also dabbled in venture capital, serving as CEO or as a consultant or venture partner for a number of emerging healthcare technology companies and start-ups prior to their public offerings.
Tim and his wife of thirty-five years, Ellen, lived in Chicago until 1998, when they moved part time to Rancho Santa Fe, California outside San Diego. Prior to 1998 they resided full time in an old brownstone in Chicago’s first landmark historical area, created as a result of intense lobbying and organization on Ellen’s part. Today the Zinns are still active in landmark legislation and preservation. Tim is on the Planning Commission that passes on all construction and renovation in this landmark designation. The Zinns have been actively engaged in fund raising in Chicago. In 1979, Ellen helped found The After School Center, a place for latchkey kids to go after school for craft classes, sports, homework assistance and supervision. The center serves several hundred children each year. Ellen and Tim have also been big supporters of their daughter’s schools. Tim was a member of The Chicago City Day School’s initial fund-raising committee, while Ellen ran their first three successful house tours and helped found their Parents’ Association. Ellen also created adult evening classes in computer education at The Francis Parker School. Ten years later these classes still bring in over $100,000 to the Scholarship Fund annual Ellen and Tim support Northwestern University and are generous to their daughter Jacqueline’s alma mater, Bowdoin College, as well as the Chicago Architecture Foundation, where Ellen is a former docent and remains on the board. Tim is a former Entertainment Chair and Stations Committee member of the Chicago Yacht Club, while Ellen is a former board member of Grant Hospital and Child’s Play, a touring theater company that promotes literacy in public schools all over the United States.Ellen and Tim are inveterate travelers, having gone literally all over the world. They also have a wide variety of personal interests (sailing, scuba diving, amateur archeology and western riding) and are avid beginning golfers. After 29 years in the “Windy City”, Ellen and Tim finally decided to become sun worshipers and head for sunny Rancho Santa Fe, just north of San Diego. They would like to say this was done in a very organized fashion, but it wasn’t. The truth is that they spent a month renting a fabulous house on the beach in Hawaii and decided that, although we’d had a great time there, this just wasn’t for us. So we came out to visit some Harvard business school friends here in Rancho and liked it so much we went home with a house. Last year we took a big step – we sold our big old brownstone in Lincoln Park, retaining only a loft apartment in Chicago. Tim had dreamed of semi-retirement, spending countless days on the golf course or by the pool, but that old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” must be true. Tim finds himself reinvigorated, looking at a number of new business opportunities. Most situations are involved in healthcare, but recently he has considered several technology investments on the periphery. At 56 Tim believes he has at least one more company in him and maybe a turnaround situation as well. Tim is also involved in real estate investments in the San Diego area. Ellen is just as involved in community activities as she was in Chicago. She is president of Patrons of the Prado, an organization dedicated to supporting our wonderful museum campus on the Prado in Balboa Park. She seems quite determined to raise huge sums of money for them. Her biggest efforts have been for the San Diego Natural History Museum where she chairs the capital campaign to raise money for their new addition and the renovation of their original structure. They have raised $38 of the $40 million necessary. Send checks or money orders! Tim recently was elected to the San Diego Historical Society Museum and Archives as a Trustee and is actively involved in the Membership Committee of the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. We have had a lot of fun. Last September we went to Washington, D.C. to co-chair the international premiere of the museum’s own large format film, Ocean Oasis, a beautiful rendering of Baja California. The film opened at the Smithsonian to rave reviews. When it comes to your town, go see it – it is a great “crowd-pleaser” for all ages. This spring we co-chaired the opening of the museum here in San Diego, a sell-out months in advance. Ellen knows how to entertain, and it was a great party, complete with Cirque de Soleil types 50 feet above our heads in the new atrium. We have the opportunity to travel a fair amount. We generally go to France and spend time in Provence for part of the summer. Recently we have started doing some cruising in the Mediterranean and in Central America. This fall we are planning an architectural tour of Berlin and St. Petersburgh and a cruise up the West Coast of Africa from Capetown to Lisbon. In January we are thinking about going to Antarctica with the Harvard Museum of Natural History. I guess were just destined to be in cold weather somewhere. Our favorite spot may just be Chicago, however, because that’s where our only daughter Jacqueline is. It’s hard to believe our little girl is 25 now. We admire her greatly because she studies so hard – she is in her third year of medical school at the university of Illinois in Chicago. She seldom has time to come to us, so we just solve that problem by visiting her!


Eugene & Carol (Newton) Trinkle
Carol Lynn (Newton) Trinkle was born April 6th, 1959 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is the second child and only daughter of Arlene and Curtis Newton. She married to Joseph Eugene Trinkle on July 24th, 1981 at North Miami Assembly of God Church in Miami, Oklahoma. Her father was the pastor of that church. Carol and Eugene lived in Commerce, Oklahoma when they married until October of 1981. Eugene worked for Eagle Picher in Quapaw, Oklahoma and Carol worked at Sears as a tele-typist. They moved to Lubbock Texas in 1981 where he worked for the Eagle Picher plant there and Carol worked for Lubbock Answering Service. He worked there for about six months then went to work for Lubbock Gasket and Supply. He worked there for about two years until 1984 when he went to work for the FDIC in Lubbock. Their first child Chad Alan was born on November 22nd, 1982. Carol then started a Day Care in her home. They also built a new home in the beginning of 1986. Their second child, Chance Len was born September 1, 1986. Eugene was laid off from FDIC in December of that year and went to work for South West Coca-Cola in Lubbock in January of 1987. They stayed in Lubbock until January of 1990 when they moved to Elk City, Oklahoma. Eugene transferred with Coca-Cola to the Clinton plant. Carol still had a day care in her home until February 1994 when she managed Hutch’s M&M store until October of 1996. Eugene quit work at Coca-Cola in May of 1996 and went to work for Sooner Rubber. Carol got her insurance licence and worked with the State Insurance with Managed Benefits out of OKC until October, 1999, traveling and enrolling in group insurances. Carol also did some substitute teaching in the High School and Jr High School in Elk City. In January of 2000 she went to work for Investment Centers in Sayre/Elk City as a Broker’s Assistant.
In April of 2000 they built a new home in Elk City. Both the boys are attending school in Elk City and they are all active in the First Assembly of God Church in Elk City. This is the Church that Carols father was pastor for several years.
At time of this publishing they live in Elk City both of the boys are out of school one is married and they have one grandson. They are helping with the new Church that their Dad built Gateway Church.
Arlene passed away in November of 2008.

The Zinn’s at dinner time.
Mari (Nance)Zinn
Aunt Mari Zinn who has helped me so much with this book wrote me this story and I wanted to share the story as written by her. In reading this little trip down memory lane brings back so many memories of this simple but loving couple that was our Grandparents. I remember going to their home so many times and how much fun it was. I can just see them both and it causes me to smile and remember where our roots came from. I can read this story and see much of our mother in Grandpa Zinn. Mother was a firm believer in “if you can’t say something good about someone then don’t say
anything at all”. She lived by that
rule her entire life and we see by this story that
she must have learned it from her Dad.
Story as written by my Aunt Mari (Nance) Zinn
Janice, I was thinking about what it was like eating at Grandmother and Grandad Zinn's table and I wondered if you remembered it too. It was always the same - the table against the south wall of the dining room with the black telephone just above (number 802). Dad sat at the west end and Mom at the east end near the kitchen - that is if there were only a few there. If there was a large crowd, she rarely sat at all. Dad liked and expected breakfast, dinner and supper on the table at a certain time. For those kids visiting, there was always an early morning call from Dad, "Breakfast is ready". Of course, it wasn't but by the time we got up and in there it was. Dinner (not lunch) was on the dot of 12 noon and you could set your clock by it. When the gin whistle blew we would be sitting down to eat. Dad's prayer was always the same and it would be nice if you could include it in your book. Sunday dinner was always roast - often pork roast with sweet potatoes baked with it. Any left over roast became ground sandwiches for supper. I don't remember Mom using recipes - by the time I came along, she didn't need them. Dad did the shopping and Mom did the cooking and we all did the dishes! As we look at our kitchens now, we would do well to remember that tiny kitchen Mom used all those years - just big enough for the long sink and a cabinet on either side, the cook stove, a tiny table big enough for 2, the refrigerator and the cart with the roaster oven on it. And don't forget that one window on the north - not too cool in the summer time. My favorite dish of Mom's was her macaroni and cheese always fixed in the loaf pan and in the words of our grand daughter Gena "Dee-lith-shus! Later when she was alone I remember seeing her cook 2 okra pods for herself and she liked hers boiled whole. Gathering in the back yard for a watermelon was a special event there as in most homes of the time. If you want a taste of Grandmother's green beans, just order some at Cracker Barrel where they cook them a long time with just the right seasonings - none of that crispy crunchy stuff. Oh, it is good to gather again around the table in memory lane. Remember when all the uncles came home from the war and everyone came "home" and there were so many we set up tables in the yard on the south side of the house? Dad just loved to eat and nothing made you feel better than he did when he ate at your house because he enjoyed it so. His favorite comment was "Now that was laripin". I have no idea where that word came from and have never heard it from anyone else but there was no doubt what he meant. Grandad originated the warm fuzzy for cooks! Taking him to a cafeteria was a real experience since he took such delight in food that he wanted one of everything. But then your Grandad Zinn loved everything and everybody. I never once, after I came in the family at 17, heard him say a bad word about anything or anyone. I have heard him say on more than one occasion, "If you can't say something good about somebody, don't say anything". Of money and material things, they had little; but of the things that matter, they left us all with not only wonderful memories but a great legacy of dignity and honor and integrity and just the joy of living a good, simple life. Weren't we all blessed! I have always felt that true communion takes place around a table with shared food and shared time. I want to thank you for planning it so we can be a part of that again. Love, A. Mari


Note: by Janice (McConnell) Cowan
This is a special story given to me by Aunt Mari Zinn to use in my book of memories. Just to read this story make me smile and my heart happy with memories of a true loving family that did not have a lot in material things as said in this story but so rich in family love and values. This is something that each and everyone of us can and should be proud of. I have had much joy in gathering the stories and putting this book of memories together for our children and their children to read and know where their roots are in this life. Life is what we make it and if we could just follow the pattern set down by our grandparents and their parents wouldn’t this life be so much more than what we make of it. Life was based on the simple truths of love of God and Family what better pattern could we follow. Truly “Memories Last Forever”.

Another thing that comes to my mind about Grandpa Zinn was that at Christmas time he always bought these really large peppermint sticks. Now to a child they were gaint ones and I remember the peppermint sticks that he gave to me just as if it were today. I would make that peppermint stick last for days and days. We looked forward to getting this wonderful gift of candy from our Grandpa Zinn each year. I also remember picking up Black Walnuts in the yard behind his house. We would pick them up and he would help us crack them with a hammer and a brick. Boy they were tough to crack but so good to eat. I think that is one reason I love Black Walnut ice cream to this day. Memories just last forever.


Douglas Paul Zinn
Written by: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
Douglas Paul Zinn was born April 30, 1921 at Hobart, Oklahoma to Wylie Potts Zinn and Rosa Jane (Ward) Zinn. He died September 30, 1989 at Rock Springs, Wyoming and buried on October 4, 1989 at Forest Park in Houston, Texas.
Doug was married to Bobbie Jo McLemore on July 21, 1946 at Hobart, Oklahoma. (They were married in a triple wedding ceremony with two of his brothers; Clyde and Domby at the First Methodist Church in Hobart, Oklahoma.)
Bobbie Jo was born June 8, 1924 at Wichita Fall, Texas to Samuel and Jessie McLemore. She was first married and had one son by that marriage, Richard Travis Carter. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 12, 1944. He married Judith Marie Franck and they have two children: Richard T. Carter Jr and Melanie J. Fielek.
Three children were born to Doug and Bobbie Jo, Jimmy King Zinn was born May 20, 1947 at Corpus Christi, Texas. He married Pamela Sue Carpenter and they have one son Paul G. Zinn. Robert Paul Zinn was born February 17, 1949 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and died on January 27, 1953 and buried at Forest Park, Houston, Texas. Kenneth Ray Zinn was born March 20, 1950 in Houston, Texas. He married Ava Sonnenberg who had two sons, Jeremy and Devin by a previous marriage. They have two sons from the marriage, Joe D Zinn and John K. Zinn
Doug worked in the newspaper business for 21 years, both in Oklahoma and Texas. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946. In 1958 he left the newspaper business to become director of education and evangelism for Hardy Memorial Methodist Church in Texarkana, Texas. In 1962 he moved to Pasadena where he worked in the same capacity for Asbury Methodist Church and later for Sunset Methodist Church.
Doug was also Senior Vice President and supervised the Marketing and Advertising Department of an Jacinto Bank in Pasadena, Texas. He served for six years as a director of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and five years as a director of Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo Association. He was a charter Member of the South Pasadena Rotary Club where he served as president for one term and had a perfect attendance for 18 years.
In March 1986 Doug and his wife Bobbie retired and moved to Hilltop Lakes, Texas, where they lived until his death. They were in Wyoming on vacation when he died of a heart attack. They have seven grandchildren at the time of his death in 1989.
The Rebekah Lodge
By: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
I could not write about mother without putting something in about the Lodge where she enjoyed many years Nellie Juanita (Zinn) McConnell was a long standing member of the Rebekah Lodge in both Lone Wolf, Oklahoma Lodge number 126 as well as Hobart, Oklahoma Lodge number 78. In the span of these forty two (42) years mother served as Nobel Grand Several times. She served in 1950 and 1955 in Lone Wolf also three times at Hobart Lodge, those years being 1972, 1978 and 1981. She was still a active member at the time of her death in October of 1989. These are only some of the dates that I was able to verify and I do believe there are other years that she served in this capacity of Nobel Grand. From what research I have done I think this is the same as the president of the club or lodge. I know that Mother truly enjoyed being a member of the Rebekah Lodge.
For many years I can remember as a child that mother would go to Lodge meetings every Monday night. These meetings were held at the Lodge Hall that was upstairs above Hartsons Drug Store. I can remember us kids going to the movie on Monday nights while mother was at Lodge Meetings. The movie theater was across the street from where she was meeting. Mother joined on June 9, 1947 and was a member there for many years until May 11th of 1970 when the Lone Wolf Lodge members joined with the Hobart Lodge. There were not many members that could climb the stairs to the meeting hall when they were getting older and the membership fell off. It was at that time that Mother and several others went to Hobart. Mother was an active member in Hobart until the time of her death.
The Hobart Rebekah Lodge # 78 was instituted on April 26, 1902 with a membership of 75 listed on the Charter. In the year 1980 not to much had changed because there were just over 100 member. With the invention of television and even cars since the existence of the Rebekah Lodge they have held there own. In the year of 1980 the youngest member was 22 years old and the oldest being 91 years of age. Rebekahs are constantly “Striving to win the war of Adversity: and they lend their talents, time and money to the promotion of homes for the elderly, scholarships for excelling students, sending delegated to visit the United Nations in Session. The only Fraternal Order to be able to do this. Several students from this local district have made this trip. Eye Research - Support a Chair at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. For eye research. Diabetes research, Aid as leaders in March of Dimes campaign along with research in Drug Abuse and Youth Center.
Mother always thought that they did good works to help people in need. She gave many hours to this cause. Many of Mothers friends belong to the Rebekah Lodge as well. Mother knew everything there was to know about the Rebekah’s and she took pride in being a long term in good standing member of both the Lodge in Lone Wolf and later the one in Hobart. She was driving herself and some of her friends to Hobart every week to meetings up until the time she had her stroke.

(This is the Rebekah creed)
I AM A REBEKAH:
I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and the
Sisterhood of woman. I believe in the watch-words of our Order - Friendship,
Love and Truth. Friendship - is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together.
Love - is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give,
the more you receive. Truth - is the standard by which we value
people. It is the foundation of our society.
I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends.
Then I should reach out to my community and
the World, for in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters.
I AM A REBEKAH!

Domby and Mari (Nance) ZinnWritten by: Mari Zinn

According to Aunt Arlie Ward Logan, on the night of December 26, 1924 there were seven people in the house of Rose and Wylie Zinn. On the morning of December 27th, there were eight. Sometime in the night “Old Doc Lloyd” came and ushered in the seventh son and ninth child of Rose and Wylie. Grandpa Ward was given the honor to give him his name, Domby Lloyd. The story that was told to me was that Domby was the name of a Confederate War general.
Domby attended school in Hobart all twelve years and graduated in 1942. He joined the Navy and served three years and three months during World War II. Part of this was on an Air Craft Carrier in the Pacific where he was a gunner on a 3 man plane. After the war, the 39 months in service were very important. Under the GI Bill, veterans had the right to college education of one month for each month served.
On July 21, 1946 he married Marietta Nance in a triple wedding of First Methodist Church in Hobart. Brothers Douglas Paul married Bobbie Jo Carter and John Clyde married Josephine Kidney. The wedding ceremony was performed by their cousin Phillip Zinn. In January of 1947 Domby and Marietta moved to Veteran’s Village in Still water, Oklahoma. Domby enrolled in the school of architecture at Oklahoma A & M College (now Oklahoma State University). After finishing four years of the five year course, he was called back into service in Oklahoma National Guard for Korean duty. Mari moved back to Hobart with two and half year old Larry Lloyd and new baby Keith Alan. Keith was sixteen months old when his daddy returned. Once again Domby, Mari and family moved back to Veterans’ Village to finish his last year in architecture. On graduation, Domby was hired by Conoco Oil. Here Donita Louise joined her brothers. However, the family stayed in Ponca City for only one year before the Architectural firm Hudgins, Thompson and Ball hired him to come to Oklahoma City. He remained with this firm thirty nine years until his retirement in 1992. Mari became an elementary school teacher.
Larry married Judy Wolscheid and to them were born three children: Jessie, David and Megan. Larry is a toxicologist and Judy is a veterinarian. Keith married Linda Barron and they had two sons; Andy and Daniel. Keith died July 1st 1995 after a four year battle with cancer. Keith was a dentist.
Donita married Jim Burkett and had one son Nick and one daughter Gena. Later, she married Dale Petersen who had one daughter, Kristen. Donita is a pediatric physical therapist.

Dewayne DalrympleDwayne Lewis Dalrymple is the first twin born to Katha Faye (McConnell) Dalrymple and James Lewis Dalrymple Jr. on December 2, 1957. The twins were born in Abilene, Texas. Dwayne grew up in Abilene until 1963 when his father was transferred to Pampa, Texas with the Department of Public Safety. They moved to Austin, Texas in 1972, where the twins attended Lanier High School. Following high school graduation Dewayne like his brother Dwight obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. They attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. In May of 1980 Dwayne worked as a Patrol Officer in Lockhart, Texas at the Lockhart Police Department. In January 1981 he was promoted to Criminal Investigator. It was in September 1983 that Dewayne went to work as a Deputy Sheriff at the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department. He married Tammie Reece of Bay City, Texas on December 3, 1983 and they had one daughter, Lauren Ashley who was born October 17, 1984. They divorced in August of 1985.
Dewayne went to work for the Lockhart Police Department as a Patrol Officer in June 1984 and was promoted to Lieutenant in December 1986 and then to Captain in February 1999. He served as Interim Chief of Police during this time as well.
Dewayne married Judith (Judy) Limbrick. She was a Registered Nurse by profession. She had one daughter by a previous marriage, Wendy Dawn Hermon. Dwayne loves to play golf and for many years had as his hobby team roping. Dwayne and Judy are very active in First Baptist Church of Lockhart, Texas. Dwayne also was a active in the Lions Club and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Caldwell County Humane Society. Dewayne also is the current Chairman of the Salvation Army in Lockhart and a member of the Caldwell County Juvenile Advisory Council.. Since the writing of this Dewayne has retired from the Lockhart Police Dept.
Dwight Dalrymple
Dwight Allen Dalrymple is the second twin born to Katha Faye (McConnell) Dalrymple and James Lewis Dalrymple Jr on December 2, 1957. The twins were born in Abilene, Texas.
Dwight grew up in Abilene until 1963 when his father was transferred to Pampa, Texas with the Department of Public Safety. The family moved to Austin, Texas in 1972, where the twins attended Lanier High School. Following high school graduation, Dwight obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from southwest Texas State University in 1981. During college, Dwight met Ruth Arledge. They were married on January 3, 1981. Due to Dwight’s vast knowledge of the law and his strong opinions regarding what was legally and ethically right and wrong, Ruth encouraged him to pursue a career as an attorney. In 1986, Dwight graduated from South Texas College of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree and is licensed to practice law in Texas and Oklahoma. Dwight’s legal career began in 1988 with Tejas Gas Corporation in Houston, Texas. Over the next 12 years his company experienced numerous mergers and acquisitions. Dwight is currently employed with Coral Energy, LLC, an affiliate of Shell Oil Company, and holds the position of Associate General Counsel. He is regarded as an expert in his field and respected by many of his peers as one who always does what is right. A member of management once noted in an office memorandum that “Dwight was a tower of strength” with reference to his handling of a very sensitive legal issue at the time. Dwight currently resides in Richmond, Texas. He and his wife have two sons.


(This is one of my ALl TIme Favorite Pictures Uncle Clyde didnt let anythinig get him down and his love for flying was always thare. He proved that by flying again.
John Clyde ZinnThis article is a favorite one of mine and I am putting it in this book just as it was written and published in the Sunday Tribune on December 16th, 1962 by Gladys Dragna.
Compiled by Janice (McConnell)Cowan
“There is something about flying,” John Zinn said pensively from his wheel chair while glancing thought he window at a patch of blue sky. “Its like you are in a world alone when you’re up there. The air is getting so crowded that you’d better not take it for granted, though.”
John, who grew up as a wiry youth in the Midwest, has had to depend on a wheel chair, crutches and their aids for over seven years, but has retained his sense of humor. He has also maintained his usefulness to himself, his family and the community. Driving himself to work in a hand-operated automobile, John holds a full-time job as a linotype operator. “After my injury I wondered if I would be able to set type from a wheel chair. Before I applied for a job I would go and look at the shop and see if it was situated so that I could get around the equipment. It’s a little burdensome, of course, but it hasn’t hindered me much on the job,” John says with a spontaneous friendly smile.
John joined the Air Force in 1942 at the age of 24. “When most kids were dreaming about football I dreamed of flying.” he admits nostalgically. After training at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado, John was sent to England. He took his cadet examination in London and finished his pilot training with the Eastern Training Command in April of 1945.
It was in London that John met his attractive future wife, Jo, who was hostess at one of the American Red Cross clubs there.
“She was pretty and a good dancer,” says John “but what impressed me about her was that she was so cheerful in spite of the waves of planes and bombs that raked London during the Blitz.”
John himself became accustomed to the constant threat, and he says of the British, “They were all os calm. People would go to the shelters during a raid, but in a disciplined manner. There was no panic.”
Later the young American Air Force pilot called at the home of his future wife and found a warm family welcome. “It was hard to realize that they were so closely rationed on fool. When you were a guest in their home they shared their meager rations, whatever they were, with our reservation. They were very hospitable.” Discharged from the Air Force in September of 1945, John returned to Oklahoma. A year later the British girl that he had courted in London during the Blitz came to America and they were married. Their first daughter, Patricia, a member of the Edgewood High School drill team, was born in 1947.. They also have a daughter, Christine, 11 and a son, Jeffery who is 6.
Unable to forget about flying John joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1953. There he flew f80 single engine jet planes. It was in a training exercise in Casper, Wyoming on May 1, 1955 that John received the injury that forces him to work from a wheel chair. May 1, May Day. May Day is the distress signal word for radio telephony prescribed by the International Radio Regulations for use by ships calling for help.
John Zinn did not have a chance to use the distress call on that fateful May Day. After taking off, his jet plane had reached an altitude of less than 100 feet when a flame-out of the engine caused the craft to plummet to the ground. It was carrying 800 gallons of fuel, but luckily did not explode.
As a result of the crash John spent many months in Air Force hospitals. Expert surgery help relieve some of the distress of a fractured vertebra, but could not alleviate the paralysis of the legs. “I worried at first, but I finally decided that there was no use wasting time worrying. I had to go on living.” John tapped his temple with a finger, “Once you get it licked upstairs, you’re all right. “Of course, one gets depressed,” John offered. “For instance, I loved to dance. But one must channel his thoughts to something else.”
Among the other things that John has channeled his thoughts and efforts to is woodworking. He built a playhouse for his children and a chariot for the Edgewood High Drill Team. He has also been active in the Methodist Men’s Club in Covina.
I still would like to fly, “John says, completely void of bitterness about his misfortune. “But of course it is not financially feasible. I would like to, work out a hand operated plane, but whether or not the CAA would approve of my flying, I don’ know.”
And of other future plans, John says, “We plan to build a house, someday. We’re bursting at t he seams where we are. When we do, I’ll plan a special workshop where I can accomplish something.”
And he will, John Zinn is not a quitter and every day minor miracles are not enough to satiate his zest for living. There is always a future and he will find a way to cope with it.
This article was written about Uncle Clyde in September 1986.
John Zinn may not walk, but he can fly.
Being confined to a wheelchair for 31 years has not stopped West Covina resident John Zinn from soaring in life.
Zinn, 67, was paralyzed below the waist in the crash of a jet fighter he was piloting May 1, 1955. Undaunted, he resolved to someday fly again.
He fulfilled his goal on August 22, 1985 by taking off from El Monte Airport at the specially rigged controls of a rented Piper Archer single-engine airplane.
“A person can do whatever he sets his mind to do,” Zinn said.
He traces his fondness of flying to his boyhood in Oklahoma, where he became fascinated by the aerobatics of barnstorming biplane pilots.
In 1941, Zinn earned a private pilot license and enlisted in the Air Force a year later. He finished cadet training in 1945 when the need for pilots was shrinking, and thus flew no combat missions. After the war, in 1954,. he joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard and learned to fly F80's, the first generation of jet fighters.
During a training exercise in Casper, Wyoming, he took off in formation and was at an attitude of about 100 jet when his jet engine malfunctioned. Zinn landed the aircraft intact, but it rolled off the end of the runway into a irrigation ditch. Although 850 gallons of fuel were aboard, the plane did not explode. Zinn said he remained conscious and did not know his spine had been fractured until he tried to get out and found he could not move his legs.
Zinn said an expert neurosurgeon who had retired to Casper restored some mobility to his legs, but not enough for him to walk unaided. Not long after the accident, Zinn learned to drive a hand controlled car and resumed working as a linotype operator for various newspapers, including The Tribune for 20 years until his retirement in 1977.
His handicap did not stop him from flying, either. “I figured if I can drive a car, I can fly a plane.” But he knew he could not afford such an expensive hobby while supporting his wife, Josephine, and three children.
About three years ago, after his children were grown, Zinn decided it was time to become a pilot again. His pilot license, earned in 1941, was still valid; all he needed was medical certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. It took him two years to convince the FAA he was physically fit to fly. Zinn said he has a certain type of hernia with symptoms similar to a coronary, and the FAA thought he had a heart problem.
He finally won FAA approval last summer and has logged about 35 hours of flight time since then. “I thought I’d be jittery for a while, “ he said, “but I got over it real quick. I feel comfortable up there.”
To fly, Zinn uses a device that allows the plane’s rudder, normally controlled by a foot pedal, to be operated by hand. Not being the owner of an airplane, Zinn rents a Piper Archer (the only one he is allowed to fly), usually at El Monte. Zinn who has about 100 hours of flying time in jets, said the Piper Archer, with a cruising speed of about 100 nautical mph, is “a bit tame for me.” His ambition is to buy an airplane capable of speeds between 250 and 300 knots per hour.
“But I won’t be as reckless or daring as I used to be,” Zinn said, “I’m pretty cautious flier.”
Note: Janice McConnell Cowan
I always had great admeration for Uncle Clyde. He did not let being in a wheelchair prevent him from leading a full life. He was very active and involved in so many thing and did it all from a wheel chair. They came to Colorado Springs for a vist one year and I enjoyed that time so much. Aunt Jo had a exciting life as well. Being from England she was very active in the orgazation "Daughters of the British Empire". They even hosted the Quees and I have this wonderful picture of my Aunt Jo and The Queen of Englan, now how special is that. Boy that is memories that last forever. Uncle Clyde and his oldest daughter have both passed away but I try to keep in touch with Aunt Jo. When her letters come I am so thrilled to hear from her.

Doris June McConnell Johnson

I ask Sue to write me something about their life and I appreciate her writing this for me to include in my book. Vernard was very special to me so my book would not be complete with out his family story.
Vernard Holbrook FamilyBy:Sue Holbrook Feb. 2009
Marion Vernard Holbrook and Wanda Sue Simon met for the first time when she was attending Elk View School, S.W. of Hobart, and he bought her box at a Box Supper. The next time they met was about four years later, 1946, and he was keeping his F.F.A. show pig at the Petkoff farm. Vernard had a Model and since he was older & ‘thought’ much wiser, he refused to give Frances Petkoff and Sue a ride. So, the next day he arrived to feed the pig and the two girls were chasing his pig around the pen which infuriated him. Then, on Father’s Day, 1952 , Vernard arrived home from military service in Korea and his brother , Bart, reintroduced Vernard to Sue. They married Nov. 30, 1952 and the following year, Dec. 23, 1953, they welcomed a daughter, Marion Sue.
Vernard had not completed high school when he was called into active duty with the 45th National Guard during the Korean Conflict. He was very fortunate to have a great friend , Mrs. Helen McQuire, as a teacher during this time. She mailed assignments to him and when he was required to complete tests , his Commanding Officer had him take his tests in his office. He would sign the bottom of the page showing Vernard had actually done the work. It was later learned Vernard was Dyslexic and without her help he would not have obtained his high school degree nor would he have later graduated from Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Vernard worked for the Okla. Tax Commission as a Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer and was a volunteer Hobart Fire Fighter . Sue went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in 1958 as a telephone operator. He retired and opened his own business, the 3/H Construction Co. and in 1985, Sue retired from the Engineering Dept. of SBC with 27 years of service.

Marion Sue was first a Candy Striper , which was a project of the Rainbow for Girls organization of which she was a member , at the local hospital and in her senior year of Hobart High School she became a full time nurse while in the T & I program. Her very first patient was Bobby G. Miller and one week after her graduation, in 1972 , they were married. They had a daughter , Jennifer Lynn Miller, the following year. Bobby worked at the Talley Auto Co., in Roosevelt and Marion attended graduated from the L.P.N. School at Burns Flat graduating in . They moved to Frederick, Ok. following her graduation and she worked for the hospital there. Bobby worked for the Pontiac Co.
They later moved to Hobart where Bobby was shop foreman for the Halliburton Oil Co. and Marion worked at the Elkview Hospital as their purchasing agent. Jennifer started school and so Marion became a full time stay-at -home Mom. Marion decided to return to work after her daughter married and she had helped with her first two grandchildren for a few years. She worked at the Elk City , OK. Hospital for several years. Her health started to deteriorate so she changed work to the Carter Home Health Care thinking it would be easier for her. This proved to be too much for her and she is now unable to work . Bobby had retired from Halliburton and in Feb, 2009, he retired from Mars Candy Co. , where they make dog food, in Clinton, OK.
Jennifer was very active as a Rainbow Girl and served as Worthy Advisor more than one term. Marion was active in the organization and served as Worthy Mother Advisor. Jennifer was named State of OK. Grand Love during her senior year and she and her mother traveled through out the state nearly every week-end. She graduated high school in 1992 and since she had taken some college courses during high school she was able to graduate the following year from WOSC with a bachelor’s degree. She then attended LPN School at Burns Flat and twenty years following her mother’s graduation she also graduated. They had the same instructor . She went to work for the Veterans Administration in Clinton, OK.


Jennifer married John Paul Shriver in 1994 and they had two children, Preston Scott , 1996, and Hayley Renee , 1999, before divorcing. She then married David Eric Kerley , 26 Jan. 2002. She and David had a girl, Kayla Michelle , 2003, and they are expecting another baby girl in May of 2009. She is still employed at the VA in Clinton in the Alzheimer’s unit and he is employed at the Jackson Co. Hospital in Altus, OK. in the Radiology Dept. and also works for Dr. Gallagher , Altus. They live in Hobart, OK.
Vernard and Sue became ‘Snow Birds’ in 1987 following Sue’s fight with Cancer and for the next 14 ½ years they toured 47 states, Mexico and Canada. Life was good for them and they had almost 55 years together before he passed away with Cancer in 2007. He is buried in the Lone Wolf , OK. Cemetery next to his parents, sister and brother.

Vernadine Holbrook and William Frederick Decker met in Hobart High School. She was to attend the Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK. Her dad, Vernon, took her to college and as he drove around the corner to go home , Bill drove up and loaded Vernadine’s things into his car and they took off for Vernon, TX. to be married. Bill went into the Air Force and they were assigned to a base in Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan during the Korean Conflict and where their son William Frederick Decker, III was born. During their time in Japan, her brother, Vernard, was stationed in Korea and he was allowed to fly on the mail plane to visit them several days. Bill was later transferred to the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield , CA. where their son Robert Martin Decker was born. Following his stint in the military, they moved to Okmulgee, OK. where he attended and graduated from the Okla. Agricultural and Mechanical school and she worked as telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. They moved to Hobart and he attended and graduated from Southwestern Ok. College in Weatherford, OK. and she worked for SWB. in Hobart.

They moved to Albuquerque ,NM. where he obtained his Masters Degree and she worked at the VA in Albuquerque . He taught school and also coached .They transferred to Ft. Lyons, CO. where he taught shop to the patients at the VA Rehab and she worked in the office until they both retired.

They had purchased a home in Hobart previous to their retirement and were repairing it on their trips to Hobart. Bill passed away in CO. and Vernadine, her son Robert along with his two children moved into the home until her death. Robert had married and divorced Paula Jackson, former Lone Wolf, OK. resident, and they had a daughter, Elizabeth and a son, Ryan. Elizabeth is married to Gary Regner who is a CPA, living in Plainview, TX., and they have one son. Ryan is married to Jennifer and they have two children. They are living in Hobart with his Dad in the home Bill & Vernadine purchased. Robert is a Registered Nurse and is employed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Clinton, OK.
They are both buried in the Lone Wolf OK cemetery next to her parents and two brothers.





Above a few pictures from that reunion.
McConnell Reunion “2000" This was a very special day and I am so glad that we went ahead and got this together. It was not easy because we came from so many different places but it all worked out. The only thing missing was Mohter and Daddy and that would have really been nice. It was on June 27th in the year 2000 we decided to have a McConnell/Zinn Reunion. For several months we had planned the gathering of the family and friends.
For this reunion we had a great response with the attendance of seventy five people.
This year we decided to have it at Elk City, Oklahoma at the Family Life Center of the First Assembly of God Church. This is the church that Ronnie Newton and his family attend. It was such a nice facility and worked out perfect for what we needed.
When I started thinking about the reunion this time it was with some sadness because this year their would be missing family members. Since our last reunion Johnny had passed away and Aunt Velva had a stroke and was not able to attend. One of the good things about this reunion was that both Uncle Van and Uncle Albert were able to attend. It was even more special that they could attend since they both passed away not to long after the reunion.
It was a special day to have the three remaining Zinn brothers in attendance. In the planning of the days activities it was decided that it would be nice to have a “Memory Table” in honor of the family members that had passed away and those that were unable to be with us this year. On this table were pictures of loved ones that we wanted to be apart of our day. Lloyd, Kenneth, Johnny also Mother and Daddy, Grandma & Grandpa Zinn along with the family picture of the Zinns with Uncle Clyde and Uncle Doug. There was a picture of Keith Allan Zinn and of course Dianna and James. On the table was a beautiful flower arrangement that Rickey and Randy sent to be placed on the Memory Table.
I think that this table meant a great deal to all of us. It shows that Memories Do Last Forever. Aunt Velva could not be there but Uncle Bud was able to make it which was really special.
This was a full day of visiting and sharing a meal with family and friends.

Tis Is My Personal Story by Janice McConnell Cowan


and see where it leads me.
I was born at Hobart General Hospital on September 2, 1944 and raised most of m“Memories That Last Forever



MY STORY


By: Janice (McConnell) Taylor Cowan
In putting my book together I ask everyone I could think of in the family to give me a story or two, but when it came time to write my story - Where to Start and What to Say? Mother always said my life would make a good soap opera and maybe even a mini series! Tho Mother I am sure was just saying this as a joke she was pretty much right. We can safely say that my life has been interesting and very eventful at times. So I decided that I would just write a little bit about my life growing upy life in Lone Wolf. I grew up there for the most part except for a couple of years that we moved to Luther, Oklahoma. (this is a story into itself) We really never talk much about that time in Luther because Mother hated it there so much. She was so unhappy living there and leaving Lone Wolf. Katha Faye graduated from Luther. She is the only one that did not graduate from Lone Wolf except for Arlene and she got married and did not graduate.
I always liked Luther and I had a couple of friends that I kept in touch with for years. I still am in contact with Mrs. Elizabeth Threatt and count her as a special friend. She and her husband lived a short distance from where we lived off Hwy 66 in Luther. They owned and operated a Gas Station/Bar and Café. I was just about seven or eight years old when we lived there but all these years since we left, Elizabeth sent me a Christmas Card and letter each year. I think there was only one year out of the 50 years that I did not hear from her at Christmas time. She is a really neat and special lady. Her and her husband (who passed away many years ago) have such an interesting story. I wrote and ask her if she would send me a story for my book which she did and I am including it. I am so proud to have it in my book.
I remember some things about Luther. I do remember going to the Luther Methodist Church, where I can remember sitting next to Grace Gardner, who was my second grade teacher at school whom I just loved. I would sit by her at Church and she would let me try on her white gloves, she always wore white gloves to Church. She also wore such pretty jewelry. She had a sister named Maude Paddock that taught school and I think it was the fifth or sixth grade. So my memories of Luther are good ones. I made some lasting friends.
I also remember the fruit orchard that we had there. Daddy had cattle on the place and we rode a school bus to school. The house was sure not as modern as what we were use to in Lone Wolf, but we managed. How could any of us forget how very cold it was in the winter in that back bedroom. We slept under a pile of quilts and you could see your breath it was so cold. We had a wood stove and had to use lamps in one house we lived in. We lived in two different ones the time we were there. I liked the rock house on Hwy 66 the best. We also lived for a very short time in Oklahoma City in a huge Apartment House that Daddy bought on Walker Street. We lived in that big old place just us and it was really spooky. I remember it had a basement where we found a little black rabbit and we kept it as a pet. Katha would drive us which at that time was Katha, Johnny, Arlene and myself, to school in Luther everyday. I remember that next door to that place was a Colored Baptist Church and could they ever sing. We would listen to them sing for hours and hours. Longest Church service I ever heard. (ha) This was amoung the times that Mother would never talk about and would have liked to forget. She hated Luther and our time spent there. I being just a kid thought it was and adventure.
In the summer we had a Apple Cider Stand and I remember one day a man in a truck stopped to get cider (now we were just a few feet off Hwy 66 so it was a busy highway) and this man had a gorilla in the front seat beside him. He bought cider for him and the gorilla. We thought this was so cool. >p> Well we moved back to Lone Wolf and mother was happy. I guess I was the only one that really like Luther. So the rest of the kids were happy to be home as well. Katha Faye was in the 12th grade in Luther so she had to graduate from there where the rest of us graduated from Lone Wolf HighSchool. >p> I do believe we pretty much had a normal childhood and much different than the way it is today. I think we were just content with what we had and made the best of it. Sure much different from the way kids have it today.
Memories of our home in Lone Wolf are for the most part all good ones. Of course there are a few sad ones, like the fact that Daddy passed away in that house and when Mother moved out of the house when she was no longer able to take care of such a large place.
I have memories of my old room upstairs. The way it worked as the older kids grew up and left home then we could change rooms. Finally the room upstairs was mine. I can even remember that the wall paper (Mother wall papered every room) was mint green with beautiful pink roses in it. I even made the curtains to match the roses as a Home Ec project in school. Pauline Brown was my teacher and she was really strict about even seams and such as that. I bet I ripped out those scallops a dozen times before I got then finished. But they were really pretty curtains and I was really proud of them. Of course it took me weeks working on them in class. Mother could have finished them in a matter of hours I am sure. But I was sure proud that I made then. I guess I had those curtains for a long time in that room. I don’t see pink curtains that it don’t bring back memories of my room in that big old white house.
Another memory that is special would be that Mother having so many children of course made all of our clothes. I can remember when it got close to time for school to begin we would make a trip to Hobart to J.C. Penny’s and The Dixie Store and check out the school clothes for the year. We would pick out the ones we liked and Mother would take out her little note book that she carried in her purse and she would sketch out the dress and make notes of the colors. She would then go to TG&Y or the Fabric Store there and buy the material in the color we wanted. She would go home and make the dress and you could not tell it did not come from the store. I remember that when it was close to Easter and we always had new Easter dresses. Mother would always make us a new dress for Easter. I remember one year my dress was lilac dotted swiss with a really full skirt. If I am not mistaken I think Linda’s was pink. Then of course we always got new white Sunday shoes and a purse and hat and white gloves. I don’t ever remember not having a new dress for Easter Sunday. Mother may not have always had one but I know that Linda and I sure did.
It had to be hard raising eight children in those days. Somehow Mother and Daddy did it and we had a good and happy life. I don’t ever remember hard times. The older kids say they remember when times were lean as they were for everyone during the war years.
I have a lot of memories of the House in Lone Wolf. I know that some of the other kids lived in another house before they moved to the home place. But other than the couple of years at Luther I lived in that big white two story house.
Many memories of that house - lots of time playing in that yard. We played games like “Annie Over” where we would throw a ball over the garage, also “Red Rover”. I remember catching fire flies and playing on the monkey bar that Mrs. Aiken had in her back yard. We spent a lot of time playing in her yard as well. I remember Linda and I having a little Roy Rogers tent and played many hours in it. I have a picture of us playing in that tent out under the big tree at the side of the house.
Now I have some not so fond memories of that yard! We did not have to mow the yard but Linda and I had to go in front of the mower when Daddy mowed and pick up rocks. I hated that and especially if we missed one. Believe me we heard about it. I also remember the trucks parked out back by the alley. Daddy and the boys would park them there when they were loaded and ready to go out with usually a load of hay. I remember how particular Daddy was about how that hay was stacked on the truck. It would not be uncommon for him to make the boys stack it again if it did not pass his inspection.

I remember that Daddy always had a couple of guys around that helped him load the hay an anything else that needed to be done. I think that it was Pete Wilson and his brother Chief - Donnie Wilson and then Benny. They liked to work for Shug (as he was called by everyone) because Mother fed them really well when they worked. I remember her saying many times that they worked hard and deserved a good meal. That was one of the many things she was so good at - cooking. I have been told (I don’‘t remember this because I was pretty young at the time) but I guess I put a handful of gravel in one of the gas tanks and I guess Arlene got the spanking. Of course she has not let me forget it in all these many years.
Amazing what you remember and what you forget!
I remember the morning glories that grew on a white trellis over the kitchen window. I think that is why I love morning glories to this day, they are my very favorite flowers. Mother had a big round flower bed that she planted Zinnias in each year out by the storm cellar. Which of us could forget the Cottonwood tree at the back door. We have all had a switching or two from a branch on that tree at one time or another. (ha)

Now I have always loved Lone Wolf, I enjoyed my school years very much. I always felt very lucky to have enjoyed my friends and school
During most of my grade school, Jr and Senior High years I had the same best friends. There was the three of us that did everything together. Sandy Griffen and Sandra Clare. Now Sandy’s father was the preacher of the Church of Christ and Sandra’s folks ran the beer joint. Now we were really a threesome in those days. Sandy and I were not just friends but we lived just a short distance away. We even had a path worn down back and forth to our houses. Sandy and Sandra had sisters, Letitica and Joyce Kaye. They ran around with Linda my sister so we all ended up doing things together. I can’t even tell you how many miles we put on Mr. Griffen’s Rambler. He would let us drive it but only put a few miles on it on the weekend. Well Paul Everheart would unhook the speedometer and we drove a lot more miles. Ever who got that car when they got rid of it had no idea the miles really on that car!!!! But we sure had fun dragging main in Lone Wolf in that car. We would sometimes go to Hobart and to Granite and of course we were not suppose to get out of town. Lots of fun was had in that old Rambler.
I had a boyfriend that actually lived in Granite which was about eight miles or so from Lone Wolf. My boyfriends name was Bobby Windle and we dated in my Senior Year and he was a year older and ended up going to the Army and being sent to Germany. During that time that he was around we had some good times. His folks owned a Dairy and they belonged to the Chruch of Christ in Granite. I don’t think they really liked me much after all I was a Methodist. (Ha) Bobby and I wrote back and forth from Germany for a long time and in fact until I met Bill and then that ended our long distance relationship.

After highschool and graduation I decided that I would go to Abilene, Texas and live with Katha and James to go to Beauty School. I kept the boys while Katha worked 3pm to 11pm shift. I would go to school during the day and keep them at night. Can’t mention this part of the story without telling about the fire and the handcuffs. One day I was sitting at the kitchen bar and James was at the kitchen sink polishing his boots and his gun holster. The boys had taken his handcuffs and were playing with them and had handcuffed me with my hands crossed. They had gone back in the bedroom and about the time they came back into the kitchen James turned around to say something to me and he saw that the bedroom was in flames. He said for me to call the fire department and get the boys outside. Well he ran to the bedroom and there I was handcuffed and had a hard time dialing the phone. I took the boys and went out side after calling the Fire Department. Well when they got there we had to explain to them why I was handcuffed because you see I could not get them off because the keys were on the bed that was on fire in the house. I had to wait until a Highway Patrol friend of James came over and use his keys to unhook me. That was a memory that has lasted..
It was while I was living in Abilene, Texas and going to Beauty School that I met Bill who I ended up marrying. I met him at a party, his Dad was stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. Oh was he so handsome at least I thought he was. (ha) He had a a1959 white Impala Chevy and it was a really sharp looking car. After Bill ask me to marry him he came to Lone Wolf, and actually ask Daddy if he could marry me. I remember that day well, they were standing in front of the garage when he ask him. (another memory)
Bill and I married at Lone Wolf at the Methodist Church. My best friend Sandy’s Dad married us. I had a really beautiful wedding. My flowers were really pretty and special because Aunt Velva owned the Flower Shop and she with Mother’s help really did a wonderful job on the flowers. My wedding cake was a wedding gift from Louise and Kenneth and Uncle Van printed my invitations. We had flowers in colors of the rainbow and the girls in my wedding dresses were pastel colors. I had a beautiful bouquet with a white orchid on top of my Bible that I got in Sunday School when I was two years old. Mother covered it with lace to match my dress that she made. My dress was beautiful and special since Mother made it for me.
After we married we moved to Dallas, Texas where Bill went to school and I worked in a Steel Company. I hated that town and I think I cried to go home every night. We lived there when President Kennedy was shot there. It was a really sad time for the country and I remember it well. Bill and I have two sons together. William Randall born in 1964 and Rickey Lee born in 1965. Over the years that we were married we lived several places. We lived in Abilene, Texas where I went to work where Katha worked at Southwestern Bell this was in 1967. I transferred to Pampa after Katha and James moved to Pampa, Texas. Bill worked as the Newspaper Photographer. From there we moved to Colorado Spring, Colorado where we lived for several years until we moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In 1976 Bill and I divorced and the boys and I moved to Elk City, Oklahoma where I transferred with the phone company again.

After my divorce from Bill, the boys and I moved for a brief time just a few weeks to Arkansas but that was a bad move and did not last long. We moved to Broken Arrow where I again transferred with the phone company and worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was there that I met Bob Cowan my second husband. We were married for 18 years. Bob adopted my sons after we married. We moved to Austin, Texas where I again transferred with the phone company. We moved back to Claremore, Oklahoma and I worked at Tulsa at the phone company until I retired taking early retirement in 1987. The job that I had was being eliminated and the choices were that I could move to Oklahoma City and take a chance on that job lasting until retirement or I could take my vested rights and freeze my retirement until I reach retirement age. That made me work for Southwestern Bell for 20 years to the day from when I started. It turned out to be a good thing that I did take my vested rights because the job in the city did not last even a year. Things worked out for the best since Mother had a stroke and I was free to care for her.
When Mother had her stroke we brought her to Claremore for a short time put her in a Nursing Home. This just was not working out for her to be there so we decided that I would bring her to my home and take care of her with the help of the sisters. Mother lived 18 months after having her stroke. This was a special time for us all. I can’t say it was a happy time but we all did our very best to care for her and see that she had the very best care until the end. I know that having her in my home even tho she did pass away there was a very special memory for me. It was hard work I won’t say it was not but we did it for Mother. I don’t think any of us girls regret that we brought Mother into my home and cared for her until she passed away and went on to a much better place. One could not even find the words to say how special she was and not only her children thought that but everyone that came in contact with her could say the same thing. God truly blessed us with a wonderful mother. I think we are all better people this day because of the wonderful examples that our mother put before us all our lives. She worked hard all her life to take care of eight children and that could not have been a easy task. We of course had a good Dad as well but he was gone a lot of the time rightfully so earning a living to raise eight children. Most of the child raising fell on Mother. She handled anything that came her way and handled it well. We really wanted for nothing that I can remember and she was always involved in our lives both at home, school and church.

In later years: It became necessary for me to help raise our grandchildren for several years. This was a challenge for sure. Having already raising my two sons and for most of the teen years alone, it was quite a undertaking especially with Candice requiring a lot of attention for several years.
My granddaughter Candice lived with me off and on for several years until April 2001. Anthony my grandson came to live with me in 2001. So I not only raised my own two sons but I had both of their kids to raise. I devoted most of nine years taking care of Candice and then Anthony in his highschool years.
I have had sadness in my life due to the fact that my boys both made some bad choices in life. But I have faith that someday that can be corrected. I know that I depend on the fact the God said “Train up a child in the way he should go and he will return” I just live for that day and it will come. I know that I gave my boys a good Christian upbringing and the choices they made were of their own free will but I have faith that one day we will all be together again. God can do great things and I keep that in my prayers at all times.

Over the past few years I have put this book away and I seem to always bring it out again. This time I will finish it so that my family can enjoy it and hopefully pass it on to their families. I have always thought that it is important to know your family history. I think the past has a lot of memories that will be special to our kids and their kids to come for many years. I hope that each and everyone that reads this book can get a little bit of enjoyment out of it. I know that putting it together has meant a great deal to my life both past and present.

“My Gypsy Years” 1963 until 1989
In writing of my life it would not be complete if I did not at least add a chapter about the part of my life that I refer to as “My Gypsy Years”. Once you read this part I think anyone would agree. (ha)
On September 21, 1963 I was married to William James (Bill) Taylor at the Lone Wolf, Methodist Church at Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. This was the Church that I had attended and grew up in all my life. This was a very special church to me and always will be. I was very active both as a young child until I graduated from high school. I always knew that I would be married in that church as well. Rev. Harold Griffen, who was one of my best friends father and a minister of another church in town, officiated at the ceremony as a favor to me. My two dearest friends Sandra and Sandy and cousin Veldean and sister Linda were in my wedding. Arlene sang and both my brothers Johnny and Kenneth were in the wedding as well. Daddy gave me away and Aunt Velva made my flowers from her flower shop. I had a beautiful wedding and lots of flowers and candles.
So now starts the adventure of the “ Gypsies”.>/center?
After our wedding trip we moved to Dallas, Texas where Bill went to Technology School and work at Sears. I got a job at Austin Brothers Steel Company where I worked in the office. Looking back on that job now it was so boring and I hated every day of it. I would sit all day and figure the price and weight of steel on a machine called a comptomerter (like a over sized calculator. Stacks and stacks of ledgers with row after row of figures and this was a eight hour day of sitting and doing that boring job. Another thing that was so awful was I had to ride the public bus and change buses twice to get from our apartment to where I worked. I was scared to death each time I got on that bus. Here was a girl from a little town in Oklahoma that had been hardly anywhere for most of her life and now I am living in Dallas, Texas and riding a bus to work. “Yes Memories Last Forever”
For that short time we lived in Dallas, was when President John Kennedy was shot and killed. It was actually not far from the Sears where Bill worked at the time. This was a really sad time and very strange being there in Dallas then. We also lived in a really cute little apartment a few blocks from Aunt Anna Pearl and I would get so homesick and I would walk up to her house to see her each day. The one thing I could never get use to was the amount of sirens that would go all day and night on that Central Expressway that was right by our little apartment. I think I cried everyday to go home which we finally did..
From Dallas we move to Altus, Oklahoma where Bill worked at a Jiffy Food Store. Johnny and Shirley lived in Altus at this time as well. We lived in Altus for a short time and then moved a few miles away to Blair, Oklahoma where we lived in a little trailer house. Not a nice manufactured home like they have nowadays, but a trailer house. What a difference there are in the two. (ha) I was pregnant with Randy by this time it was in 1964 and not to long before he was born we moved to Lone Wolf where we lived in Mrs. Aikens house that was next door to Mother and Daddy. Daddy had bought the house when Mrs. Aiken passed away. We lived in that house when Randy was born at Hobart General Hospital. Dr William Bernell delivered me when I was born in 1944 and he delivered Randy in 1964. When Randy was just a week old we moved once again and this time to Grapevine, Texas where Bill worked as produce manager for Buddy Food Market. I can honestly say this was one of the moves that was not as good a memory as some where. Except for the fact that we had Randy and were learning how to be parents. Randy was a precious baby and he was a handful for sure. I spent a lot of time rocking him, he was a colicky baby and cried a lot with that. Of course I was inexperienced with babies and when Randy would cry I would call Mother at Lone Wolf and I would ask her what to do. I did that quite a lot in that first year of Randy’s life. Mother was always there with advice only if you ask for it never unwanted. She was a wonderful Mother and oh I miss her so much.
Our next move in our journey would be we moved to Whitewright, Texas where we lived for a short time and then moved a few miles away to Sherman, Texas. Bill worked at Kaiser Aluminum for awhile while we live in Sherman. By this time I was pregnant with Rickey this would have been in 1965. When it came close to time for me to have Rickey I went back to Lone Wolf so Dr. Bernell could deliver him as he had Randy and me as well. Rickey was born on October 28, 1965 at Hobart General Hospital. He was such a good baby.
Well as we see by now we have moved already plenty of times and more than enough for a lifetime. Of course we are not finished with this story and there are still several moves to make. I can tell you for sure that moving all these times was not good for our children and they paid for that over the years. I don’t know why we felt we had to move around so much. I guess that Bill just was looking for something in the way of a profession and don’t know that he ever really found it. I believe that when he was the photographer for the Pampa News was where he was the happiest. He should have kept that up.
In the year 1966 Bill and I decided to move to Abilene, Texas where Katha lived. It was Katha that helped me get on at the Telephone Company. I at first worked at the little Diner that was called the Bell Diner and it was right next door to Southwestern Bell where Katha worked. I worked there until I got on at the telephone company. Bill worked at several jobs while we were in Abilene, Texas. I enjoyed working for the telephone company for a total of 20 year. I transferred several times over the next 20 years which was one of the good benefits of the telephone company. >p> In the year 1968 we moved to Pampa, Texas and as I was able to transfer I could still keep my good job and my seniority as well. Katha and James had moved to Pampa and Katha transferred and this made it possible for me to transfer as well.. We lived in Pampa for several years actually until 1972 and that was quite a length as our record for moving had gone. (ha) I think I might just have held the record of transferring with the phone company.
Well we are now up to 1972 and it is time to move again. This move was one of the best ones that we ever made and I would say the happiest time of our lives. When we decided to move to Colorado Springs, Colorado and Bill managed a Seven Eleven store when we first got there. I once again transferred with the telephone company so I had the same good job that I had enjoyed since 1967 when I first went to work for them. When we first moved there we lived in an apartment complex while they were building our house that we bought. Colorado Springs being a military town with several military bases there would of course have a lot of people from different branches of service. In this apartment complex I believe that we were more than likely the only ones that were not military. We formed some long and lasting friendships with some of the tenants. We had a lot of good times with these neighbors we had met and became friends with. About four couples of us would go out to eat on the Saturdays and have a baby sitter come to one of our homes and watch all the kids. Each week a different one of us would choose where we eat and the kids would all stay together with a baby sitter. This was fun for the kids as well. They would enjoy the evenings with their friends and we would have a time out as well. Funny how after all these years I can remember some of the places we went. Colorado Springs has a lot of wonderful eating places and we all had or favorites. For example when it was our time to choose we would pick a place called “The Hungry Farmer”. This was a really neat place that looked like a big barn and inside it was decorated to look like a farm. Wonderful food and just a fun place to go. Now one set of our friends, Mike and Ellen (she was a German girl), they would pick a German place and the week they chose we would go there. One night Bill ate Turtle Soup and was as sick as I have ever seen him. Can’t help but laugh now when I think of how sick he was and boy he even turned green. They would drink a Schnapps which is a German vodka and they would drink it along with the meal. I am sure that Mike and Ellen were use to it but Bill was not. Need I say more?? Yes Green and pea soup!! Then one of the couples in our group would always pick a place called “The Castaways” a fancy fish place that looked inside like a sunken ship. Good food and the best buffet bars I have ever seen. Lupe and Sandra were there names. He was from Porta Rico and she was from Washington I believe. For years I kept in contact with them all. I still am in contact with Mike and Ellen and they have even came to Oklahoma and visited me a couple of times. They are back in Germany and I am in email contact with them now which is great. I talk with them on the phone from time to time as well. Always wanted to go visit them in Germany. They ask me all the time to come but guess that will never happen.
We loved our time in Colorado, there were so many places to go for fun and the boys loved it as well. During this time we had our motor cycles and Bill and I both rode and took the boys with us. We even rode up Pikes Peak a couple of times and all over that area. I would put one boy on with me and Bill had the other and off we would go. Had a really fun time there. My friends find it very hard to believe that I ever drove a motor cycle. I think that those were just the best of all our travels. If wishes came true I would have wished that we never left Colorado Springs.
The reason for our next move was when Bill’s father who lived in Hattiesburg, Mississippi passed away and his Mom could not even as much as drive or had never even wrote a check. She was just pretty much unable to function. Bill decided that we should move to Mississippi and live there and help her out. So our next move was to Hattiesburg, Mississippi where I again transferred with the telephone company. We settled in there and bought a home and we were very active in the Nazarene Church. We lived there for several years and I thought we were doing fine. But as the old saying goes “the wife is the last to know”, the next move was to Elk City, Oklahoma and the boys and I made that trip alone. I guess that pretty much speaks for itself. Once again transfer with the telephone company. It was June 10, 1976 that we moved to Elk City where we lived for just a short time and we made one more that turned out to be a mistake when we moved to Arkansas but that lasted only a few weeks and I transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma and we lived in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and I drove back and forth to Tulsa. Louise lived in Broken Arrow at that time so I was not totally alone there.
It was while living in Broken Arrow that a friend of Louise’s introduced me to Bob and after dating him for a short time we married. We were married at Mother’s house in Lone Wolf on April 10, 1977 which was also Easter Sunday. The First United Methodist Church pastor in Lone Wolf, Rev. Denny Deeker officiated at our wedding. Bob was a truck driver and worked for Time DC Trucking out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He soon went to work for himself, buying a truck and going over the road long haul. This he did for the rest of our married life. In case anyone cares being a truckers wife is a lonely way to live and I did it for almost 20years.
Now my gypsy days were almost over by now, we only moved two more times. In January of 1978 we moved to Round Rock, Texas and I worked in Austin, Texas once again transferring with the telephone company. We lived there until June of 1989 and we moved to Claremore, Oklahoma where I transferred back to Tulsa. This was the last move and ended up at Claremore where I still live today at the time of this writing. Turns out that I worked for Bell Telephone company for 20 years to the day. I had my retirement party on my 20th anniversary.

My marriage to Bob ended after 18 years of marriage. I remained in Claremore where I work at the Claremore Regional Hospital as the cashier. I plan to work there until retirement time in a few years.
I feel like I have traveled a million plus miles and not really gone anywhere either. I know that I did not do my children any favors by moving around so much but that seems to be the life that was sit for me and I have lived it the best of my ability. Now this story may would made a good soap opera someday and if so perhaps some of these travels will pay off. Mother would always tell me that it would have to be a mini series since there was so many travels and so complicated. (ha) Of course Mother was right she always was.
It is now 2003 and I am 59 years old. I still work at the hospital. My health has prevented me from doing many things that I would like to do in my later years, however I stay very busy with my genealogy work on the never ending “Family History”, I also quilt quite a bit and I have my Church and I am involved with the DAR “Daughters of the Revolution” the Chapter in Claremore. I of course will be working on my book for years to come I would imagine. Seems like I can’t find a stopping place. But as long as I have breath I will be looking for stories, pictures and just anything I can find out about “Family”. After all my very favorite saying is “Memories Last Forever”.


Well here I must make an addition to my story. In 2006 I retired from the hospital and moved to Elk City, Oklahoma where I have family. With my boys both in Florida and pretty much knowing that they will never live in Oklahoma I decided that I needed to be where I had some family. I moved to Elk City and moved into a cute little duplex and have been very happy with the move. Candice moved here and that made it even better for me. She has her own little house and she has opened a Day Care and that is just what she always wanted to do. Arlene and Curtis moved back to Elk City on the same day I did which is really something. They have started a new Church here in ELk City and I have decided that I will attend this Church even tho I am really born and will die a Methodist but I do enjoy going to church with them. Arlene and Curtis children or two of them anyway live here and there grandchildren and even great grandchildren. I enjoy being part of their lives as well.