Published in This Land, Vol. 6, Issue 3, February 1, 2015. Portions of this article originally appeared in Oklahoma Monthly, Vol. 3, Issue 2, 1977.
February is the month of true love; that’s why it’s the shortest month of the year.
Valentine’s Day has been a day of romance since the 14th century. The holiday originated in Europe with the belief that birds began to mate February 14. It seemed like a swell idea. Medieval men and maidens began choosing a “valentine,” or special loving friend, for the day. Now the holiday embraces hearts, flowers, red, poetry, cupids, and candygrams.
In commemoration of February, here are some of Oklahoma’s most famous love and marriage stories—complete with all the lacy trim from adultery and alimony to punches and gunshot wounds. “Till death do us part” is easier said than survived.
True love is sweet, but it’s no piece of cake. As humorist James Thurber wrote, “Love is blind, but desire just doesn’t give a good goddamn.”
That "Other" Woman: Jake Hamon was a politician with only "one fault—women."
Jake Hamon, oil millionaire and Republican national committeeman for Oklahoma, had just helped Warren G. Harding become president. Kinship strengthened the political ties; Mrs. Hamon and Mrs. Harding were cousins. The White House, illicit romance, and Lillie Langtry’s pearl-handled Colt clashed in Ardmore in 1920; a love story ended and a murder trial began.
Jake expected to become Secretary of the Interior. He was rich, powerful, 45, and on his way to Washington. The only cloud on the horizon was his very personal secretary, Clara Barton Smith, 29. They shared adjoining rooms in the Randol Hotel in Ardmore. He called her “my sweet little brains.” She said she made him what he was. President Harding said to leave her in Oklahoma and prepare to live a respectable family life. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Hamon smiled.