VANOSS

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In 2005 Loretta M. Owens Hill writes:

It dawns on me that I’m a person without a childhood home somewhat like the man without a country.  This realization comes from several things that I was assigned to do in a writing workshop.  When asked about memories of a childhood home, I go back not to houses where my family lived but to my aunt’s house that was, I guess, my family’s anchor.

 There I spent the period between my biological mother’s and father’s divorce.  There I spent the night my father and present mother, Edna, married.  There I spent my summers with my cousin Beth who was three years older than me.

 My family was not migrant or transient in the true sense of the word.  We did, however, move almost every year of my childhood and one year we moved three times.  So towns and houses came and went and places held no lasting attachment to my memories, only fleeting remembrances.

Only the house where my Uncle Marion and Aunt Florence lived, where my grandparents had lived, where my father and Aunt Lydia in their young adult life had dug the earthen well with pick and dynamite, where we shot off firecrackers every Fourth of July, that house was always there to come home to.

Note the pages in the Hunter/Holland/Wilson Book for names that will be familiar to anyone who lived in Vanoss for very many years.  (Transcriber’s Note: This book is a compilation of research by Clyde Henry Walker Jr., Georgia Annie Fouts, Donald Eugene Wilson, Imogene Goddard Haley, Naomi Wilson McClure and Loretta Owens Hill.  A copy of the book is housed at Vanoss School.)

My father, James Willard Owens, grew up in Vanoss and lived there with his parents until he married.

He taught in the Vanoss school in the 1930’s and it is my impression that my biological mother, Georgia Anne Wilson Spears went to school to him. I know he coached a girl’s basketball team to reach some level in the state.

My aunt, Florence Brewington, and my father taught in many of the smaller schools around Vanoss.

My uncle, Marion Brewington, taught in the Vanoss school for many years.

Vanoss was my summer home and my haven when my father and mother divorced. My cousin, Beth Brewington, and I had as our main source of entertainment—walking. We walked to Christian Berger’s store to buy 5 cent comic books that had half of their front cover cut off, we walked to Dean McCauley’s store to buy whatever my aunt, Florence, needed-mostly kool-aide. We walked to Old Midland at least twice a week to visit our aunt, Ellen Ponder, and pick strawberries from her garden, and we walked to Sandy to go “swimming” in a creek that mostly had water in it about a foot deep. There were, of course, holes that had been created from water going around bends that did at times offer enough water to drown in if one wasn’t careful.

I come through Vanoss on occasion, as my father, brother, grandfather, grandmother, step-mother and aunt are buried at Lightning Ridge. The Vanoss house is there but has been renovated after a fire so it doesn’t seem the same. The church across the road north of the house hasn’t changed that I can tell. It is the church my grandparents attended. As I drive through Vanoss I look for any thing familiar that can bring back the memories of a time in my life that I felt carefree, safe and loved by the people I had around me.

Loretta Owens Hill

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Below are transcripts of published articles about Willard Owens running for public office, an obituary for J.B. Owens, a feature article about Grandmother Elizabeth (Wyrick) Owens, and obituaries for Elizabeth.

The articles were scanned using OCR and edited by Linda Marks of Vanoss School. 

 WILLARD OWENS , Prominent in County,

Enters Race or Representative

Number I, Pontotoc County

Willard Owens was born in Texas. He moved to Oklahoma when he was two years old. He has lived in Pontotoc and adjoining counties since that time. His record as a citizen is excellent. He has earned a bachelor of art degree from the teachers college in Ada. He worked his way through through college.

This candidate for the office that will permit him to represent the people of Pontotoc county knows the county through his experiences with the people. He has taught in six of the communities and worked in Ada. He is in position to carry out an unhampered program with no strings or alliance settled about him to force action on his part in any matters what-so-ever.

Mr. Owens is now employed as a landscape gardener and will keep his present position if he is elected, taking what time may be required to successfully perform the duties of the office. It is understood that a man cannot live on the salary of a representative, therefore, Mr. Owens plans to maintain himself through his present employment to represent the people of Pontotoc county in such a manner that all may say that he is not caught by the pitfalls of subsidy.

Mr. Owens is a strictly sober man. He is a Scottish Rite Mason. He is qualified both by experience and training to give the citizens of the county a program of legislation that will look toward a day of greater security in the industries, institutions, and general economic life.

He stands for: (1) Efficiency in government that will gradually reduce taxes and the state debt with no radical changes to bring disorder to the program of government. (2) An equalized public school program with an established source of revenue that will keep the school people out of the lobbyist block every time the legislature meets. It is not to the best interest of public education to leave the program hang on the eventualities of the next election. Essential to this program is the balance of teacher pay with constantly increasing qualification requirements. A law that will set the school district elections in June instead of March so that dismissed teachers and executive officials may complete the school year satisfactorily. (3) Removal of the threat of government to business and industry by laws that will lead to simplicity of administration and thus reduce taxes. (4) Direct administration of relief and old age pensions with all “grabs” removed. (5) An open minded program to hear any citizen who has something to offer for the best interest of the people. “I believe in the availability of the legislator to all people with a kindly disposed ear for all matters that may look to the best interest of the common wealth,” Mr. Owens says. (6) Support of the adult education program. It became evident during 16 years as a scout master that much good may come from a properly guided program of adult education. The adult program must keep a balance with all the youth movements and with all youth training to avoid social friction and restive hinderance to social development. (7) Protection from unnecessary delays in the courts for all citizens to avoid expense and injustice. (8) Fairness in the awarding of state contracts through competitive bidding. (9) Vigorous opposition to increased tax burden.

Mr. Owens is the people’s candidate with no private axe to grind. He wants to represent the people of the county because he believes he can do a good job of it and because it will give him the feel that comes from social service.

Going down the line with Mr. Owens July 12 in the democratic primary means a fair deal, an honest administration, and a guarantee that Pontotoc county citizens will have at Oklahoma City a representative who will fight the battles of the county from a point of view serviceable to all the people.

“It may be,” says Mr. Owens, “that I shall not be able to see you and shake your hands again in the campaign, as I am busy making a living and many others are to be seen.  But I want every one of you to remember that I should like to come again and that my political future is in your hands.”

OBITUARY: DEACON J.B. OWENS

James Barnett Owens, son of Wm. and Mary (Bell) Owen was born in Bradley County, Tennesseee, June 4, 1857; died June 5, 1933, making his life on earth 76 years and 1 day.

On Jan. 5, 1876, he married Elizabeth Wierick. In the early years of their marital life they moved to Texas, where the family of eleven daughters and three sons were reared. The widow, five daughters, and three sons survive.

July, 1891, father embraced a hope in the Lord, and on August 1, of the same year, united with the Primitive Baptist Church, then at or near WiImer, Texas. He never wavered from the doctrine of grace, nor once, to our knowledge, failed to contribute his mite for the gospel’s sake; neither was he timid in admonishing the church to look to the needs of her ministry, lest the innocent suffer through our neglect. Truly, his home was an open house to the children of God, and no stranger came within the borders of Zion without being met and cared for. The admonition, “Be ye careful to entertain strangers,” was, perhaps, one of his strongest impressions; that duty he endeavored to teach to each of his children both by precept and example. The hospitality of his personality and home were given “alike to the friend, neighbor and stranger of other denominations. Many times he and mother, have cared for the visiting ministers and messengers for other religious orders, a kindness that won admiration and respect from friend, who, although divided in doctrine, extended the same kindness to the Old Baptists who came our way.

Two days before the mysterious finger touched his brow he told one daughter that he was not afraid to die, that he knew the time was short and was ready to meet his Pilot, but desired to see all the children before he went. The writer sent a message to each of the absent ones, and all were at the bedside when the final moment came, except the oldest son. We realized that the end was near and our prayer to God was that we might have strength and courage to bear it bravely and comfort the aged mother. We hope that we are thankful to the Giver of all good for a direct answer to that prayer.

Father often told us that he was living on borrowed time and had not long to stay. As he grew more and more palsied and enfeebled with age, his faith and desire to be more with the Christians grew greater. Surely through the power of Him who called him to be a soldier we saw him die at his post, and are assured that he went home to receive a faithful soldier’s reward.

Services were conducted by Elder A. D. West in the Missionary Baptist church at Vanoss, Oklahoma; internment in Lightning Ridge Cemetery. He is at rest from all his labor and his works do follow him, May we ask those who remember us to bear us in their hour of prayer to the God of our father and mother; for, we indeed fully realize that it will be alone through the atoning merits of the blood of Christ if we are the happy reciepients of the saints’ reward.

Florence (Owens) Brewington.

Comanche, Oklahoma

Baptist Trumpet please copy.

GRANDMOTHER OWENS

A little girl that lived at Duncan says: “I got my mother from Sears, my Daddy from Ward’s and my brother from the 5 & 10 cent store and I got my grandmother from a little log cabin in Tennessee.”  Yes, indeed, who is one of the oldest citizens of Vanoss , Mrs. Elizabeth (Wyrick) Owens.

Can you imagine the happiness of Mrs. Sarah Ann Wyrick and husband when they become the parents of this lady, June 24, 1862, in Roan County. Tennessee.

Her first real sorrow was when mother died when Elizabeth was only seven years old. A few years later she went to live with an aunt, Phoebe Wyrick, until she married. While with her aunt she did various things which now a-days would he a novelty. She tended ducks and geese and sheep, the latter she often fed salt and tobacco on a certain big, flat rock. She also carded and spun but never wove any cloth. She would do the cooking a house work while the aunt wove. When she first learned to knit stockings she could finish a pair in a little over a week, but when she became experienced she could finish in 2 days.

The first organ she ever saw was in the Methodist church in Raye County, Tenn., when she was eleven.

Miss Wyrick united with the Baptist church in 1877 and was baptized with 14 others. Only she and one other of the 14 are living.

The only kind of school she ever attended was subscription school. There the pupils were just as spirited and mischieveous as of today, only they were hindered by huge bustles, hoops and dozens of petticoats. (See dictionary if you don’t understand the last three nouns). They played the games common to grade children of today. On Friday they always gave speeches and had spelling bees and the like.

In 1876 she was married J.B. Owens,of Rhea county Tenn. They moved to Texas in 1887, then to Oklahoma in 1912.  To Mr. and Mrs. Owens were born 14 children, 8 now living and 6 dead. Those living are: W.F. and Fred, of Texas, Willard, of Hart. Okla., Anna Jordan and Liddie Wyrick of Texas, Florence, of Oklahoma and the twins, Nelly Densmore of Texas, and Elley Mershom. of Oklahoma.

Mr. Omens died June 4, 1933, and Mrs. Owens is at present living alone, she will be 75 the 24th of June.

She says she is living on borrowed time, but why not if one can be such a good cook and house keeper and raise such lovely flowers. If any other friends or relatives see this she would be delighted to hear from them.

She also says: To card and spin and knit and sew used to be a girl’s enjoyment. But now to dress and have a beau is their sole enjoyment.

OBITUARY: MRS. ELIZABETH OWENS.

Mrs. Elizabeth Owens, born Elizabeth Jane Wierick, in Roane County, Tenn., June 24, 1862; married James B. Owens, January 4, 1876. To this union fourteen children were born. She departed from her earthly pilgrimage on May 18, 1941. She united with the church at the age of fourteen. We have often heard her say that the ice on the Tennessee River was broken for her baptism. Through out more than half a century she lived in devotion to her church. She enjoyed entertaining the members in her home. Since the death of her husband she lived alone frequently and was often cheered by reading THE PRIMITIVE BAP TIST. She reared to maturity twelve children, eight of whom survive. She always gave us godly counsel and advice and spared nothing in behalf of her offspring. She was a good wife, mother and friend. She went quietly to sleep in the patient way she had borne her suffering. We are so glad it was our blessed privilege to care for her during the months of her long illness. Her patience and fortitude will aid us all the days we have to live. Funeral services were conducted by Elder A. D.West, pastor of her home church. Remember us when you pray.

FLORENCE (OWENS) BREWINGTON.

R. 5, Ada, Okla.

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.

SISTER J. B. OWENS.

Whereas, it has pleased our kind heavenly Father to call from our midst on May 18, 1941, our dearly beloved Sister J. B. Owens; be it

Resolved, That we, Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, bow in humble submission to our dear heavenly Father, who doeth all things well. We know we have lost a dear and faithful member. We pray that God will watch over and comfort the bereaved. Be it further

Resolved, That we cause to be placed upon our church book a copy of these resolutions, a copy sent to our beloved paper, THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST, for publication, and a copy sent to the bereaved family.

This done by order of the church while in conference on June 14, 1941.

ELDER A. D. WEST, Mod.

LEOMA PUCKETT,

NELLIE COON,

CLARA CORBIN,

Committee.