ORRENS AUTOMOBILE PICTURES 1917-1919

My dad, Orren Albert Anderson, had a real love of cars.  These early day pictures were taken in Strong City, Oklahoma.  I do not know who owned the cars but dad found out that the early model “T’s” were really popular with the ladies.  The top right picture show dad driving five young ladies,  Luella Guernsey Caffey, was sitting in the back seat, far left..  The bottom right picture shows Orren standing and Alida Guernsey Anderson sitting in the back seat. 

CHEVROLET AGENCY IN KINGFISHER

Orren and Alida lived in Strong City until around 1924-25.  Orren was the manager of Herring and Young General Store,  Alida was the local 3rd grade teacher.  Orren learned that there was an opening for a Chevrolet Agency in Kingfisher, OK.   After traveling to Kingfisher, Orren went back to Strong City and told his friend Jim Sandusky, who worked in the Strong City bank,  about the beautiful farms around Kingfisher.  They had been good friends and often played the cotton futures together and now they decided to become partners in a new Chevrolet Agency.  The picture has the new car show room and parts room heated by a pot bellied stove.  Jim Sandusky is on the left and Orren Anderson is on the right. I believe the picture was taken around 1928.

They soon picked up a third partner, Alida’s brother, Curt Guernsey who had been working as the County Farm Agent in Payne County, OK.  Curt must have put up some money as they changed the name to Guernsey Motor Company.   Curt would later tell the story of trying to sell a new Chevrolet truck to the German farmers who lived around Kingfisher.  One of them told  him “vhen I know I need a new truck, and just can’t get  along  vithout it, then I don’t buy it”.  After about a year in the business, Curt sold his interest back to Orren and Jim.  This was a good move for Curt as he went back to his engineering background and eventually put together a very successful consulting engineering firm……..and did not have to sell anything to the German farmers.

Marjorie Ruth Anderson was born in 1926 while they lived in Kingfisher.  A young boy who was roaming the streets of Kingfisher at that time was Sam Walton, who later started a company called WAL MART.

In the late 20’s Jim and Orren decided to open another Chevrolet Agency in Hennessey, OK.  Orren and family moved to Hennessey where Jimmie Lee Anderson was born in 1932.  Although the 1930’s were depression years,  the two agencys did well.  Around 1936-7,  Orren and Alida decided they wanted a better school system for Marjorie and Jim Lee, so they moved to Enid, OK.  Orren sold his interest in the Chevrolet agency and started the first Pontiac Agency in Enid.

Jim Lee Anderson