Saturday, June 30, 2007

German Measles

When Lucy was four months pregnant, she contracted German Measles. This can result in growth retardation, cataracts, rashes, deafness, and congenital heart and organ defects. In today's society, abortion would have been an expected "cure." The connection between German Measles and birth defects were not discovered until 1941. If little Nora had been aborted, thirty-seven people would not be alive today and seventeen mates would have different spouses.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Pastors in Early Oklahoma

When settlers wanted to get married, pastors were few and far between. In Sanford's case, he speaks in his diary of calling a "presiding elder" to perform the wedding serivce. The presiding elder was an elder in the Methodist church who oversaw churches in a certain district. This term continued until 1939 when three Methodist denominations joined and the title became "district superintendent."

Monday, June 4, 2007

Newspapers in the Indian Territory

Fifteen newspapers were published in Indian Territory. The Cherokees published one. The Cherokee Advocate, a national paper in English and Cherokee; The Chickasaw Nation had seven papers, all by non-citizens and whites; and the Choctaws printed three newspapers, one of which was Indian. Four newspapers were published in the Creek Nation; the Seminoles had none.