Contributed by: Ilene Jones 
E-mail:  JonesieOK@wmconnect.com

Van AusDal Drug Store, Welch, Oklahoma

James H. Van Ausdal, a registered pharmacist, moved with his family to Welch on July 4, 1908, where he built a home and put in a drug store.  That is he in the center.  His wife was Effie Jane Jones, daughter of James Jones and Martha Eliza Rogers.  James and Effie Jane had two sons, Harvey Grant Van Ausdal and Loyal Clifton Van Ausdal,  and a daughter, Lela M. Van Ausdal, all of whom left no descendants.   James had a nephew, Arthur Campbell, who was also a pharmacist and lived with the family in the early 1900's.

Loyal and Harvey were educated in Kansas, and Lela graduated from high school in Welch, OK, then attended college at the Parsons, KS and Oswego, KS girls college.  All three children were accomplished musicians of the piano and violin.  Loyal met his death, accidentally, at the age of 25.  Harvey became a registered pharmacist and worked in his father's store.  When his father passed away in 1939, the business was left to Harvey, which he operated until 1952 when he sold and retired.  It has been said that Harvey never married.  But there are two entries in the Miami News-Record which show a Harvey M. VanAusdal married on September 30, 1934.  Then on November 15, Myrtle VanAusdal was divorced from Harvey G.  He survived his parents and siblings, and lived alone in the family home until his death sometime during the 1960's when his body was discovered by a friend after he did not respond to his knock on the door.

Lela was a piano teacher for many years in Welch.  She was also one of the directors of the Welch State Bank which was formed from the Oklahoma State Bank in July of 1923.  She was never married.