The Century Chest Collection

Women of '89, Oklahoma City, 1912–1913

(Transcribed from the original)

To the Pres. of the Women of '89, 2013
If there is such an Organization in existence and if not – I request one who pens and reads this to send it to any of the descendants of my posterity (if they can be found should they wish to have it.

-Myrta Shear Mitscher

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
April 22nd, 1913

To the President of the Women of '89. I great you on this 22nd of April, 1913 and hope for the continuation of the Organization until April 22d, 2013, that you may receive it. I wish to say (in justice to the one who should have permed these lines) that MRs Fred Sutton was the one who first advanced the idea of forming an Organization composed of the wives and daughters of the pioneers of Oklahoma. We called ourselves the Women of '89. and she was one of our first President.

Out of deference to me, the third and present Pres. She has graciously requested we to write this in her stead. This is the fourth year of our existence and we have the Organization on a very substantial bases and hope for its continuation by the lineal descendants of '89ers for an indefinite period. Our principle work at the present time is visiting the sick and sending flowers to the sick and the dead and while we have extended our work along a great many lines we feel that all we have done nothing that has met with greater appreciation than the giving of flowers to cheer the sick and to silently bear our message of appreciation for the departed. (over)

Where ever the casket bunch of white roses is seen tied with green ribbon, we know that the Women of '89 have (b this insigna of their organization) place the badge of honor and esteem on those who have been pioneers of the state of Oklahoma. Our earnest wish is (at the present time) that those who have perpetuated the name Women of '89 have not departed from the work we have outlined and where this is read will still be observing our beautiful custom – originated by those who were the real pioneers.

You will find with this letter our history, constitution and by laws and our first year book which will give you all information in regards to the object of organizing the pioneers of the state and purposes for which we aim. That these may be useful and interesting to you one hundred years from now, is our hope and we have spent a great deal of time writing our history to date and placing with it whatever pertains to our organization that we think may be instructive to those who follow us. Our aim has been onward and upward and in the four ears of our history we have done a great deal toward making the pioneers of the state the prominent leaders in all circles – which is only justice to the ones who paved the way for fame and fortune for others when they invaded the little stretch of country called Oklahoma, on April 22, 1889 and endured the hardships and privatiotions that were incident to their establishing homes in a new and unimproved land.

Again I greet you and hope that peace and prosperity has attended all descendents of '89ers sence the writing of these lines.
Yours very fraternally
Myrta Shear Mitscher
229 East Park Place,
Oklahoma City,
Okla.
President of the Women of '89

I leave to the world the following posterity
Zoe Mitscher married to Hugo H. Hoevel living at the present time at Cleveland Okla – one child Kenneth Oscar Howel.
Marc Andrew Mitscher, ensign in the United States Navy, married to Frances Eulalia Snialley of Tacoma, Washington.
Thomas Oscar Mitscher 0 unmarried
One sister – Helen Shear Puich living at Hillsborol, Wisconsin – five children.
Two brothers – Wesley W. Shear – married to Lora Salts – five children.
Byron Delos Shear married to Ida Cunningham – no children.
(over)

I would request that these lines be given to any one of the descendants of the ones named if they wish to have them.
Myrta S. Mitscher

WOMEN of '89
Oklahoma City
1912 - 1913
Organized, 1909
Charter Granted, 1912
Flower, White Rose.
Colors, Green and White.
Motto: An effort to make other happy lifts us above ourselves.
-Mrs. N. F. Gates
Object: To perpetuate the history of pioneer days and to extend the hand of fellowship to all '89ers.
WAND & SON, MFRS.

OFFICERS
Mrs. O. A. MITSCHER, President.
Mrs. G. D. MUNGER, First Vice-President
Mrs. MARY McCLURE, Second Vice-President
Mrs. A. S. HEANEY, Recording Secretary.
Mrs. SARAH E. WALKER, Corresponding Secretary.
Mrs. J. M. OWEN, Treasurer.
Mrs. W. R. CLEMENT, Parliamentarian.

EXECUTIVE BOARD
MRS. O. A. MITSCHER.
MRS. A. S. HEANEY.
MRS. N. F. GATES
MRS. J. M. OWEN.
MRS. REBECCA BEATTY.
MRS. GEORGE CARRICO
MRS. REUEL HASKELL

OCTOBER FIFTH
"Do the duty that lies nearest thee."
-Goethe.
Mrs. O. A. Mitscher Hostess,
229 E. Park Place.

NOVEMBER SECOND
"No one shall work for money,
No one shall work for fame,
But for the joy of the working."
-Kipling.
Mrs. Sarah E. Walker, Hostess,
315 W. Twelfth Street.

DECEMBER SEVENTH
"What we want is not talent, it is purpose. In other words, not only the power to achieve, but the will to labor.
-Lytton.
Mrs. Mary E. McClure, Hostess,
801 North Broadway.

NEW YEARS DAY
"Pioneers have taken the lands, and are Lords of all. They have chanted their deeds in song."
-Walker

JANUARY FOURTH
"Flowers are the smiles of God's goodness."
-Wilberforce.
Mrs. Guy V. McClure, Hostess,
307 W. Twelfth Street.

FEBRUARY FIRST
"There is nothing beautiful and good that dies and is forgotten."
-Dickens.
Mrs. Rebecca L. Beatty, Hostess,
911 W. Eighteenth Street.

MARCH FIRST
"The Real – the things of truth and worth;
To all posterity goes down."
-Goethe.
Mrs. E. S. Malone, Hostess,
400 W. Thirteenth Street.

APRIL FIFTH
"Woman came the days to brighten,
With her gentle smile to lighten,
And a courage none could frighten –
Long ago."
-Mrs. Holzapfel
Mrs. J. B. Garrison, Hostess,
1102 N. Broadway.

APRIL TWENTY-SECOND (Twenty-fourth Anniversary)
"Women true of eighty-nine,
Yours the place that none resign.
Coming ages will aver,
You our city builders were –
Long ago."
-Mrs. Holzapfel
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sutton, Host and Hostess.
1111 N. Broadway.
Reception for women of '89 and all '89ers in honor of our President, Mrs. O. A. Mitscher.
Hours from 3:30 to 6 P. M.

MAY THIRD
"Learn to live, and live to learn."
-Taylor.
Mrs. Frank Harrah, Hostess,
601 W. Thirteenth Street.

STANDING COMMITTES

Membership - MRS. W. O. CHURCH.
Flower - MRS. REBECCA BEATTY.
Visiting - MRS. E. S. MALONE.
Arrangements - MRS. FRANK HARRAH.
Entertainment - MRS. FRED SUTTON.
Resolutions - MRS. MARY COUCH.
Purchasing - MRS. BLANCE HAWLEY.
Reciprocity - MRS. JNO. S. KERFOOT JR.
Sick - MRS. N. F. GATES
Legislative - MRS. T. F. McMECHAN
Historical - MRS. GEO. CARRICO
Municipal - MRS. C. A. McNABB.
Civic Beauty - MRS. REUEL HASKELL.
Jurisprudence - MRS. J. W. JOHNSON.
Invitation - MRS. M. CONLAN.
Auditor - MRS. SARAH HOOVER.
Philanthropic - MRS. MARY McCLURE.
Program - MRS. JACK JONES
Financial - MRS. WM. TIGHLMAN.
Hospitality - MRS. GUY V. McCLURE.
Memorial -MRS. J. M. HOUSEL.
Reminiscence - MRS. MATTIE FLICK.
Printing - MRS. CHAS. SCHWEINLE.
Press Reporter - MRS. SARAH W. WALKER.
How strong were these on the weary road –
How brave in the silent land!
What smiles bestowed to lighten the load
That could never tear drop stand!
What hopes saw they through drouth and flood?
Did they look in the future wide,
When their throats were parched and their fevered blood
Ebbed fast with the final tide?

This they did - yea! these silent ones –
The women of the West!
Lord, let that heart beat in their sons
That counted patience best!
God gave them courage measureless,
From Heaven came their faith;
White was their hope in the wilderness,
And their great love conquered death!
-From "Pioneers," by Dr. Harry Walker.

To the President of Women of '89, 2013,
Oklahoma City,
Okla.

WOMEN OF '89
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.

To be opened April 22nd, 2013