Okinawa Island: A Chronology and Daily Life Overview
The article traces Okinawa’s geographic position within Ryukyu and notes three gunto groups, with Okinawa Jima as the main island. It surveys historical ties to China and Japan, sovereignty shifts, and a social view of Okinawans as a distinct people. Climate, monsoons, rainfall, water access, and daily life in villages are described, including farm layout, housing, food, and manners.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Okinawa
Ryukyu Retto- Sakishima
Amami
Shima
Jima
Okinawa Jima
Ryukyu
Japan
Formosa
China
Naha
Gunto
Tokyo
Kyushu
United States
California
Record Rodeo and Barbecue Draws Large Harper Crowd
A record crowd attended the rodeo and barbecue at Stewart's Grove last Saturday sponsored by Walter Parker & Son, with 150 to 200 couples at the W. O. W. dance. Fans from surrounding counties cooled by Ray Walker's electric units as the modern event drew numerous entries across rodeo contests and horse racing. Top finishes included Clifford Martin in Llano with 17.3 seconds in a timed event, Jack Jones winning calf breakaway, and multiple placings in cow milking and flag race events based on Parker’s rodeo notes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Stewart’s Grove
Walter Parker & Son
Harper
The
Woodmen of the World
Citizens Auto Co
Melody Kings
Ray Walker
Herald
Walter Parker
Mrs B D Hood Complimented With Shower At Jacksonville
Mrs F Lindner hosted a miscellaneous shower Friday afternoon at Cove Springs community in Jacksonville. Mixed summer blossoms decorated the rooms and guests were served from crystal cookie trays with punch at opposite ends. Attending were Mrs Omer Hood, Mrs Henry Lindner, Mrs Bledsaw, Mrs D Nunnally, Mrs A L Dunnam, Mrs D O Hood, Mrs Dow Brooks, and Mrs Bob Tipton.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jacksonville
Texas
Daily Progress
F. Lindner
B. D. Hood
Margaret Oehler
Harper
Cove Springs
Omer Hood
Henry Lindner
Bledsaw
D. Nunnally
A. L. Dunnam
D. O. Hood
Dow Brooks
Bob Tipton
Mrs Kinsey Hosts Visit By Local Families Thursday
Mr and Mrs C J Whitewood and Mr and Mrs Maurice Bell with children visited the A J Kinsey family Thursday evening in a social gathering reflecting neighborhood ties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
C. J. Whitewood
Maurice Bell
A. J. Kinsey
Strack Family Visits Whetstones in Goldthwaite Sunday
Mr and Mrs Hilmar Strack bein and children visited Mr and Mrs Albert Whetstone at Goldthwaite Sunday according to local society notes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hilmar Strackbein
Albert Whetstone
Goldthwaite
Mrs and Mrs Klaehn visit Fred Bierschwale home family
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Klaehn and their children were recent visitors in the Fred Bierschwale household, sharing time with the family.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charlie Klaehn
Fred Bierschwale
Helping Hand Club Adds Sixty Dollars To Funds
Members of the Helping Hand Club solicited funds for the Cemetery Cleaning campaign last Saturday and sold pies at the rodeo netting 60.52 dollars. The money is in the club treasury to fund cemetery cleaning, placing a new tank, and piping hydrants for watering flowers and shrubs on the graves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Helping Hand Club
Visitors from several Texas towns spend Sunday in Houston home
Mrs. G. C. Pearson and son Miss Evelyn Stoveall of Willow City Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Stove all of Houston Mr. and Mrs. Willie Bierschwale and Miss Billie of Junction were visitors in the Fred Bierschwale home Sunday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
G. C. Pearson and Son
Evelyn Stoveall
Willow City
C. O. Stove
Houston
Willie Bierschwale
Billie
Junction
Fred Bierschwale
Miss Mary Lou Eathorne Visits Brother's Family
Miss Mary Lou Eathorne and a girl friend from Temple spent the weekend with her brother John Eathorne and his family.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mary Lou Eathorne
Temple
John Eathorne
Mr and Mrs Jesse Millie Visit Harper from Ingram
Mr and Mrs Jesse Millie of Ingram visited Harper on Tuesday, staying as guests and touring the town.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jesse Millie of
Ingram
Harper
Dabneys of Austin Visitrelatives This Weekend
Con. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Dabney of Austin visited relatives here during the weekend.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ed. Dabney
Austin
Death Notices Reflect Mary Ann Thurman and Pvt Scharnhorst
Mary Ann Thurman of Fredericksburg dies at 83 after a long life with 11 children and extended kin. funeral held at home and family cemetery near Harper. Also noted is Pvt Elgin August Scharnhorst, 21, killed in Okinawa May 11 1945. memorial service set for July 1 at Albert Lutheran Church with American Legion participation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pvt
Elgin August Scharnhorst
Edwin Scharnhorst
Selma Immel Scharnhorst
War Department
Okinawa
Blanco County
Camp Robinson
Arkansas
Fort Ord
California
Philippines
Pvt. Scharnhorst
Ruby
Felix Birch
Sgt
Clayton Scharnhorst
China
Milton Scharnhorst
Camp Hood
Texas
August Immel
Scharnhorst
Albert Lutheran Church
Paul Leonhard
P. Leonhard
American Legion
Louis Jordan Post
Alf, Neffendorf
Kerrville Marine Dies in Okinawa Action at 21
Pfc. James Edward Stehling from Kerrville is killed in action June 12 during the Okinawa battle. A Navy telegram confirms his death. He served in the Sixth Marine Division after Guadalcanal, earlier battling malaria in Australia and the United States. He was 21 and a Notre Dame Institute and Tivy High School graduate who left Schreiner Institute and the University of Texas to join the Marines. Surviving are his parents, two sisters Loretta Stehling and Mrs. John V. Bergmann, and his brother Lt. Martin F. Stehling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kerrville Times
Kerr County
James Edward
Jimmy) Stehling
Rudolph Stehling
Jefferson St
Stehling
Alexander A. Vandergrift
U. S. Marine Corps
Okinawa
Guadalcanal
Australia
Pacific
Marine Division
Notre Dame Institute
Tivy High School
Schreiner Institute
University of Texas
Marine Corps
Ruldoph Stehling
Loretta Stehling
Kerrville
John V. Bergmann
Fort Meyers
Fla
Martin F
Kerrville Jaycees Stage 3 Day Rodeo in July
Kerrville Jaycees sponsor a three day Hill Country championship rodeo at Kerrville on July 2 3 and 4. Prize money totals 2200 with top rodeo stars competing in events such as calf roping steer riding bronc busting bulldogging. Jack Sellers rodeo stock from Del Rio to be used in Wild West thrillers as crowds are expected. Performances start each night at 8 30 p m in Ivy Stadium.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kerrville Jaycees
Kerrville
Jack Sellers
del Rio
Ivy Stadium
Sgt Levi Kensing Married In England
Sgt Levi Kensing son of Mr and Mrs Eddie Kensing of Mountain Home married Pvt Jean McIntire of Manchester England on May 5 1945. Bride member of Wrens England. After tea the couple left for Scotland for their honeymoon. Levi long known rancher in Harper area and served in England for over two years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Levi Kensing
Eddie Kensing
Mountain Home
Jean McIntire
Manchester
England
M. Kensing
The
Wrens
Women's Service Organization of
America
WAC
Pearson
Scotland
Harper
Levi
H. P. Gartrell
Herald
Birthday Dinner For Cpl Weldon Phillips
Mrs. Leslie Phillips honored her son Cpl Weldon Phillips with a birthday dinner attended by family and guests including Mr and Mrs Belmore Roberts Tuter Pfc Kenneth Parker Mr and Mrs Hood Phillips and their two sons.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leslie Phillips
Cpl
Weldon Phillips
Belmore Roberts
Tuter
Pfc
Kenneth Parker
Hood Phillips
Luther League Meet Held Last Sunday at St James
The Luther Leaguers at St James Lutheran Church presented a program on Sunday June 24. The service included opening hymns responsive reading and a reading on Christian Homemaking. Thirteen members attended with guests including district president Miss Cora Hannemann of Fredericksburg and Hilmar Dittmar.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Luther Leaguers
St. James Lutheran Church
Ida Honig
Adeline Wendel
Cora Hannemann
Fredericksburg
Hilmar Dittmar
Mrs Anton Loth Dies After Long Illness at 78
Mrs Anton Loth nee Anna Meurer born January 18 1867 in Gillespie County died June 25 1945 aged 78 years 5 months 7 days after an operation for leg amputation. Surviving are eight children 37 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren one brother and one sister. Funeral services were led by Rev F X Wolf Thursday morning at Schachter's Funeral Home and St Marys Church with interment in the Catholic Cemetery in Fredericksburg.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mary Ann Thurman
Fredericksburg
A. R. Allen
Harper
Mrs. Thurman
Blanco County
Thomas Lackey
Mary Ann Lewis Lackey
Andrew Jackson Thurman
Mr. Thurman
Johnson T. Thurman
Burnet
Nathaniel A. Thurman
Leander
Frank A. Thurman
Jacob L. Thurman
Wiley W. Thurman
James E. Thurman
Kerrville
Nancy
Chris. Young
Burnett
Mary Bell
Charlie Coffey
William
Eli Hue
Daniel Pearson
Anton Loth
Anna Meurer
Gillespie County
Peter and
Anna Kunz Meurer
Marie
Herman Kaiser
Tillie
Arthur Zenner
White Oak
Robert Eddie
Adolph
Frank Loth
Clara
Ernst Borchers
Houston
Margaret Durst
Mason
Ad. Meurer
Lina
Joe Diet
Mrs Icke and daughter visit from San Antonio
Mrs. Mary Icke of San Antonio visits this week with her young daughter Bonnie Joe. Bonnie underwent tonsil surgery at a Fredericksburg hospital and stays with her parents and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Metzger.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mary Icke
San Antonio
Bonnie Joe
Bonnie
Fredericksburg
A. A. Metzger
Group Of Gillespie Selectees Report For Pre-Induction
A Gillespie County group reported to Fort Sam Houston Tuesday for pre induction physicals. Walter Jenschke, secretary of the local selective board, lists selectees including Milton Adolf Gerhard Wilburn Edo Brown Elgin Anton Weinheime r Robert Arthur Zenner Harvey Frank Stein Emil Henry Kasper George Creighton Stevens August Johannes Edwin Behrend Robert William Langehennig James Clarence Neffendorf Milton William Knaupp Leonard Ray Wisson Theophil Kuennecke John Joseph Kunz Lewis Hilmar Langechennig Juan Aleman Manuel Aleman.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gillespie County
Fort Sam Houston
Walter Jenschke
Selective Board
Milton Adolf Gerhard
Wilburn Edo Brown
Elgin Anton Weinheimer
Robert Arthur Zenner
Harvey Frank Stein
Emil Henry Kasper
George Creighton Stevens
August Johannes Edwin Behrend
Robert William Langehennig
James Clarence Neffendorf
Milton William Knaupp
Leonard Ray Wisson
Theophil Kuennecke
St James Women's Missionary Society Meeting Held
The St James Women's Missionary Society met June 20 at 3 p m with 18 members and one visitor. Programs included readings, a playlet Open Doors to Service and a magazine quiz. Reports covered the Seguin District Convention. Next meeting is July 18 at 3 p m with cookies for the San Antonio Service Center.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. James Women's Missionary Society
Milton Casper
Mvirs
Max Lange
Romilda Petermann
Wee Assembly
Chester Itz
Seguin
San Antonio
Couple from Junction Visit Rogers Family
Mr and Mrs Toby Bunter of Junction spent the week end with her parents Mr and Mrs J J Rogers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mrs
Toby Bunter
Junction
Mra
J. J. Rogers
Mrs Whitewood moved to San Antonio hospital
Mrs. J. S. Whitewood who has been very ill for several weeks was removed to the Nix Hospital in San Antonio. Her daughters Mesdames Nabers and Brown of Kerrville accompanied her.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Whitewood
Nix
San Antonio
Mesdames Nabers and
Brown
Kerrville
Kenneth Parker Spent Weekend Here With Relatives
Kenneth Parker spent the weekend here with relatives, sharing time at nearby homes and visiting local spots. Family members report a pleasant visit and looked forward to future gatherings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ife
Kenneth Parker
Two escapees captured after Texas manhunt near Harper
Earl C. Sparky Davis and Walter Selhorn were found asleep under an oak tree in the Henry Hopf pasture near the Fredericksburg Harper road five miles from Harper. Rangers and patrolmen from Austin Kerrville Fredericksburg Seguin and Fredericksburg teamed to trap the pair after a two week Texas-wide escape from Camp Hood. They stole cars rifles and clothing and traveled through Crabapple Corpus Christi Linton and Seguin before being captured. They were taken to Fredericksburg then Austin and likely to the North Camp Hood stockade.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harper
North Camp Hood
Earl C. “Sparky” Davis
Eldred Manning
Walter Selhorn
Henry Hopf
Fredericksburg
Texas Ranger
Stone
Austin
Purvis
Hopf
Bob Loth
Davis
Camp Hood
Texas
Crabapple
Corpus Christi
Coroua Christi
Linton
Selhorn
Seguin
Shady Nook
Loth
Nace Felps
J. C. Golden
Texas Rangers
State Highway Department
KTXB
Market Square
Frederic A ii
Fred C. Olson
Harry Hutchison
San Antonio
N. R. Smith
State Highway Patrol
Also Mentioned on This Page
Contraiputen
Clifford Martin
Llano
Jack Hoggett
Clifford Haynes
Round Mt
Jack Jones
Smoky Kirkendall
Cherokee
Frank Shelley
Billy Brown
E. Marlowe
Jaz Bierschwale
Ottmer Schnerr
Inez Hogan
Shorty Hogan
Dorothy Rietter
OLD Man's
Paul Jones
H. A. Porter
Wester Parker
Jess Lane
Fleming
Taylor
Melvin King
Sidney Grona
Morris Ranch
Earl Howl
Baikei Soi
Darwin Day
Day
Merrill Shelton
Shelton
Alexander Fleming
Barber Sol
Elgin Scharnhorst
Albert Church
James E. Stehling
Lydia Mae Burke
Round Mountain
Ida Kneese
Cpl. Weldon Phillips
Hopf Pasture
Michard
the Spirit OF America
Luther League
Gillespie
Lutheran Missionary Society Melting
Harper High Way
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!