Tom J. Dyer's Writings

Thanks to Joy Sherman agreeing to share her grandfather's stuff on our NW OkieLegacy website. Her father was Prof. John Cameron, Physics, NW State College. Her grandfather was Tom Dyer, one of the pioneer cowboys in the Woods and Alfalfa County, Oklahoma Territory -- in Barber and Kiowa County, Kansas during the Cherokee Strip Cattle Pool days. Her great-grandfather was none other than Scott Cummins, known as the Sage of the Nescatunga or the Pilgrim Bard. Thanks, Joy, for sharing this great pioneer material with us all concerning the early days of the Northwest Oklahoma Territory. Thanks, also, to Jim Barker for contacting her and transcribing the following pieces of Northwest Oklahoma history.

Charles F. Colcord -- An obituary written by Tom Dyer in memory of Mr. Colcord. The Colcord ranch was not far from Coldwater, Kansas and it was from here that the "Salt Haulers" set forth from when they wound up being killed by Little Wolf's and Dull Knife's Cheyennes during their flight back to the Dakotas.

Wiley Cowan -- Obituary penned by Tom Dyer. One of Wiley's daughters is Opal Nighswonger, a principal at Longfellow School in Alva during 1947-1951.

Ed Hinton -- Another Dyer's tributes to the passing of an old-timer. The name is variously spelled as "Hinton" and "Henton" in the article.

Tribute to Alpha G. Updegraff -- Another Tom Dyer's tributes to one of his old saddle mates.

Horse Thieves -- by Judge T. H. Dyer, Jan. 31, 1933. Tom Dyer reminisces about various horse thieving incidents that he was aware of.

Great Event is Recalled by Pioneer -- T. J. Dyer, September 16, 1933.

Elm Springs - Shady Grove -- by T. J. Dyer, April, 1931 & Peoples Forum -- October 2, 1934

Roster of Names of Cowboys -- list of cowboys that Tom Jefferson Dyer had known. Alphabetized and submitted by Jim Barker.