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Alva Charlson and her grandson Braydin Krivanek stand outside one of the original buildings on the family farm.
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The original deed.
Discussion
Family homestead purchased before statehood
Meet Your Neighbor
NINNEKAH - Alva Charlson has a rich history in the Grady County area that dates back prior to statehood. She sat down at her antique table and pulled out a box of memories caught in film. “Well, where should we start?” said Charlson. She then pulled out a picture of her grandfather and his five brothers standing in front of an old cabin-style home.
“The year was 1900” and a series of events that followed brought ancestors of Alva Charlson to the Grady County neighborhood. Charlson’s Grandfather, George Washington Boswell, was hard at work in a coal mine in Arkansas when he had a wild hair to head west into Indian Territory. He loaded his family belongings in a covered wagon and he, his wife Martha Alice, his two week old infant son Loyd, and three hard working mules began the long move west to Tecumseh, Oklahoma. After farming there for one year they were able to save enough money to make a new homestead in Ninnekah, Oklahoma.
They decided to settle 2.5 miles southwest of Ninnekah, where Boswell purchased 80 acres from Ben and Sallie Fillmore, citizens of the Chickasaw Nation, and residents of the Southern District of Indian Territory. The hundred and four year old deed revealed that the two parties agreed to a sum of $100 dollars, to be paid each year on the first day of January for five years. A total of $500.
The Boswell’s lived at the original homestead for 15 years where several additions to the family came along. Ted, Finis, Alva, Erby, Author, Ernie, Melton, and Jack were all born during that time. In 1919 Boswell purchased another 80 acre farm one mile north when their youngest son Jack Boswell was two years old.
Jack grew up on the farm, and took care of his father and mother until their death. Jack, who was born Woodrow Wilson Boswell, changed his name to Jack Wilson Boswell and married Ruby Spencer Boswell and they had two children Gene Paul Boswell and Alva Ann Boswell.
Now, in the year 2008, Alva Ann had a new last name of Charlson. Alva married a Ninnekah resident named Larry Charlson and they currently live on the same site where the family homestead once sat.
While many homes and buildings have blown or withered away around them, the old home, shed, and barn still stand. The home was moved by homemovers in the 1960s about 40 yards away from where it originally sat. A new homestead was built in 1969 in its place and a new generation of Boswell-Charlsons run around and play in the same pastures as their forefathers.
Charlson graduated from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s in education and then attended East Central University where she received her Masters Degree. She then moved with her family to Lindsey Oklahoma where she taught elementary classes from 1981 to 2004 when she retired from teaching. She then moved back to what her mother called “the valley of lovely people” where she currently farms with her husband, daughter Sondra Williams, her son-in-law Hoyt Williams, and grandson Braydin Krivanek.
“My mom used to talk about the depression and growing up in hard times. She had many sayings that always comes to mind. Waste not-Want Not. And they used to say when things got rough, they would eat every part of a hog...except for its squeal. But, most importantly she would say, be firm in a life with Jesus Christ, take care of your land and family, and be honest.” said Charlson as she showed a quilt that her students helped make when she retired.
Charlson currently raises grass fed calves, two llamas, one horse, and plans to one day open a trading post on Highway 81.
“I hope one day, my children and grandchildren, will take over the Boswell Homestead and care for it with pride. This farm has meant so much to my family and me.” said Charlson as she told other stories about her family portraits that lay in black and white on the top of her kitchen table.
One story that was morbidly interesting was of her Uncle Magnis Boswell that stumbled upon some moonshine at an abandoned drilling well while walking with a friend. Magnis thought he had happened on a little free booze and good luck, but after they drank it, it “turned out it was poisoned.” They died right there on the spot and were later buried in Ninnekah.
Another story that related to her namesake Alva Boswell standing next to her future husband Jesse Carroll and their earlymodle automobile.
However, she is just as interested in the present as she is the past. She then showed pictures of her grandson in the landrun reenactment at school a few weeks ago and one could see how proud she is of her family. Later, after placing the historical pictures back in her mother’s old wooden chest, she walked outside to play with her grandson, the future of the Boswell Homestead, and his covered wagon.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
