Museum of the Western Prairie

06/23/2026

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day from the Museum!
Please enjoy these photographs of early southwest Oklahoma fathers and their families!
The first photograph, circa 1895, is of John E. Edwards with his wife Nettie, and their daughters, June, Vivian, and Gladys.
The second photograph, circa 1900, shows Herny and Bertie Austin, with their children Pearl, Analue, and Ada, in front of their home.
The third photograph, circa 1902, is of Francis Harris, his wife Aggie and their daughter Allie.
The fourth photograph, circa 1904, shows outside of their Tipton home stands A.J. Manning with his family, Nancy, his wife, and his children Ed, Tom, and Mary.
The fifth photograph, circa 1905, is of the Garrett family in front of their house. Father, Llewellyn Garrett, his wife Dee Garrett, and their children, Emma, Charles, B. W., Jackie Fay, and Arabelle.
The sixth photograph, circa 1910, shows Jerome Colville farming with his son, Edward Hinkle.
The seventh photograph, circa 1910, is of Christopher Edwards with his wife, Sarah, and their children, Royden, Harold, Zelma, and Zalia.
The eighth photograph, circa 1920, shows Ivan Cunningham helping friends with threshing with his father, Mr. Cunningham.
The ninth photograph, circa 1930, is of Bill Cann, of Olustee, Oklahoma, preparing for a hunting trip with his son, Junior Cann, also known as William Conrad.
The last photograph, circa 1941, shows the Howard family, which includes Warren Howard, father, Farrie, mother, and their children, K. C., Sam, Jessie, Wash, and Betty.

06/17/2026

In 1988, the Museum of the Western Prairie identified ninety-one Living Legends residing in our community and presented their stories on KWHW radio. We believe that these are people we should still be celebrating and think you will agree with us. Watch for Living Legend posts and join the celebration by adding to the stories of the legendary individuals in the Comments section of our posts. Today’s post about Arthur and Arleigh Davidson was written in 1988 by Loweta Chesser, the first curator of the Museum of the Western Prairie.
Charter member of the Eldorado Historical Society, Arleigh Davidson and his brother, Arthur, had given many hours of volunteer work to the Eldorado Historical Society, especially on the building as both were carpenters by trade. They were the oldest and third sons of five whose parents were Ben T. Davidson and Lettie Rexrode Davidson. Lettie came to southwest Oklahoma in late 1899 or early 1900 with her parents David H. Rexrode and Letitia Coffey Rexrode from Fannin County, Texas.
Arthur always said that he didn’t know what a bad cloud and big rain looked like because his grandad would make them go to the cellar. They lived with the grandparents as their father died when they were children.
Arleigh and Arthur were awarded a plaque by the Eldorado Historical Society in appreciation of over one-thousand hours each of volunteer carpentry labor on the Eldorado Museum during 1985-1986.