Mike Friend
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.
