Alva is a city and the county seat of Woods County located in northwestern Oklahoma along the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River, an area historically used by Plains tribes including the Cherokee, who were assigned lands here during the 19th century prior to the opening to non-Native settlement; Alva was founded on September 16, 1893, during the Cherokee Outlet Land Run, resulting in rapid population establishment documented in land entry files and early territorial records; Woods County was created in 1893 as part of Oklahoma Territory, providing jurisdiction for probate, land, and court records from that date, though its boundaries were reduced at statehood in 1907; a post office was established in Alva in 1893, marking the beginning of continuous local records, while Oklahoma began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1908, with earlier vital information often found in territorial records, church registers, and federal census schedules beginning in 1900; the town’s development as an agricultural and educational center, later home to a state normal school, reflects settlement stability and record continuity relevant to genealogical research.
Asa Orvel Doud, born December 19, 1916, in Alva, Oklahoma, passed away on June 23, 1984, at Promise, Oregon. A lifelong farm laborer, he never married. Asa is survived by four brothers: Vernie and Carl Doud from Oroville, California, and Lester and Lonnie Doud from Wallowa and Lostine, respectively.
H. Clay Fisk, born on August 8, 1887, in Altoona, Kansas, served as the Superintendent of Nowata schools since 1917. After his education at rural schools and Northwestern State Normal School, he held various teaching positions. Under his leadership, the Nowata high school expanded significantly, establishing new facilities and diverse programs, and increasing enrollment from 85 to over 400 students. Fisk’s contributions to the community extend to local clubs, and he is recognized for his commitment to advancing education in Nowata.