USA > Oklahoma > A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume I > Part 76
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The developments of the past ten or fif- teen years have completely transformed the frontier village. Sapulpa, besides being one of the busy oil centers of the state, has for a number of years held an important posi- tion as a cotton market, and its railroad shops, factories and general commercial ac- tivities are substantial resources of a pros- perous town.
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The population of the principal towns of Creek county as given in the federal census of 1907 was: Sapulpa, 4,294; Bristow, 1,134; Mounds, 675; Manford, 179. By the census of 1900 Sapulpa had 891 inhabit- ants, and Bristow, 626.
The town of Bristow was founded when the Oklahoma City extension of the Frisco was begun in 1898, the plat being surveyed in March of that year, and the town was incorporated early in 1899. Postoffice, ho- tels, stores, schools, churches, and practi- cally all the features of town life had come into existence during the first year.
Delaware County.
Delaware county has the least railway mileage of any county in eastern Oklahoma. It is not accessible at any point by railroad from Oklahoma. A branch of the Frisco from Southwest City, Missouri, to Grove, is a line about twelve miles in length. At the statehood census this county had a population of 9,876. Grove, the county seat, has a population of 694, and Kansas, next in size, is an inland village in the southern part of the county with 108 in- habitants.
Despite its lack of railroads and commer- cial development Delaware county is a very good agricultural region, raises good crops of corn and wheat, and with the new condi- tions arising from statehood some notable progress may be expected in a few years. A large portion of the county is classed as forest lands.
Garvin County.
Garvin county is one of the leading coun- ties of the state in agricultural and live stock production. The Washita valley is a considerable part of the county's total area, and the cotton, alfalfa and corn crops are among the richest in yield in the state. A great amount of capital and enterprise has been directed to the development of this county since statehood. The county has a population of 22,787, and its principal towns are: Paul's Valley, 2,157; Wynnewood, 2,032; Lindsay, 1,102; Stratford, 445; Maysville, 284; Paoli, 229.
Paul's Valley was named for an enter- prising white citizen of the Chickasaw Na- tion who turned the rich fertility of the val- ley to good account. He and his family leased the lands on profitable terms to the cattlemen and farmers and later laid out a town. With the building of the main line of the Santa Fe through this valley in 1887,
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the town attracted a number of persons to engage in trade and the various lines of business possible in this vicinity. Paul's Valley has also acquired some importance as a railroad center, a branch of the Santa Fe having been extended up the Washita valley to Lindsay, where recently a branch of the Rock Island from Chickasha has joined it; and also the Shawnee branch of the Santa Fe connects with the main line at this point.
Wynnewood, the second city in popula- tion in the county, was founded in 1887 with the advent of the railroad. It is a very progressive municipality, has water works, electric light plant, has modern school and church buildings, and commercially is one of the best towns of the old Chickasaw Nation.
Haskell County.
Haskell county in 1906 ranked fifth among the coal-producing counties of In- dian Territory. This industry is an impor- tant one, though the county is more essen- tially an agricultural county than some of the other counties in the coal district. The population of the county in 1907 was 16,- 865, the largest towns according to the cen- sus being: Chant, 1,232; Stigler, 1,001 ; McCurtain, 528; Tamaha, 464.
Until the present decade the territory now known as Haskell county was entirely with- out railroads. The Fort Smith and West- ern was built through about 1902, and two years later came the Midland Valley. Kinta, McCurtain, Chant were benefited by the first road, and the second resulted in the permanent establishment of Stigler, which is the county seat and a growing town. Tamaha was one of the business centers of the period when traffic was carried on by wagon and stage.
Stigler has been the seat of some com-
mercial activity for many years, and some of its leading business men were here when Fort Smith and the stations along the M., K. & T. were the nearest supply points, and all communication with them was by wagon road.
Hughes County.
Hughes county, which was named for the Oklahoma City legislator, W. C. Hughes, was formed with irregular boundaries from the southwest corner of the old Creek Na- tion with a few townships and fractional townships from the Choctaw Nation south of the Canadian river. The county had a population in 1907 of a little less than twenty thousand. Besides its resources of agricultural lands and forest, Hughes county formed part of the oil and gas ter- ritory of the state.
Since about 1895 the territory of Hughes county has been traversed by a railroad (the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf division of the Rock Island lines). In 1900 the Frisco built its line from Sapulpa to Denison, across the northwest quarter of the county, and about two years later the Fort Smith and Western was built through the north- east part. The principal towns of the county are located along these railroads. The new railroad, the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf, now in course of construction south from Wagoner and Muskogee, had trains in operation as far as Lamar in Hughes county by mid-summer of 1908.
The principal towns of the county at the census of 1907, though others have devel- oped since then, were: Holdenville, 1,868; Wetumka, 966; Dustin, 511; Calvin, 389; Guertie, 317; Yeager, 300; Hannah, 153.
Holdenville, the county seat, was located when the Choctaw road was being con- structed, and was incorporated in Febru- ary, 1899. When train service began over
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the Frisco from Sapulpa (November, 1900), the town began growing very rap- idly, and by the census of 1900 had 750 in- habitants.
Johnston County.
Johnston county contains the old capital of the Chickasaw Nation, and in many other ways is identified with the past history of the Indian Territory. The site of old Fort Washita is near the southern line of the county. The Washita valley, a very fertile part of which is in Johnston county, has been connected more or less closely with the history of Oklahoma from the for- mation of the Indian country nearly a hun- dred years ago.
Johnston county is essentially an agricul- tural and livestock county, its crops of corn, cotton and alfalfa being its best assets. However, the county is not entirely with- out mineral resources. The granite from which the capital at Tishomingo is con- structed was quarried in the county and has proved its value as a building stone.
Only within the past decade has the old capital town and the region contained in the modern county obtained connection with the outside world through railroads. The nearest railroad station for many years was Caddo on the M., K. & T. The brick from which the old council-house was built was hauled overland from Paris, Texas, and the traffic by wagon prevailed almost alto- gether until the Ardmore branch of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf was built through Tishomingo during the present decade. The construction of the Frisco line in 1900 removed many of the serious fea- tures of transportation through this region.
Both town and country have grown rap- idly. The county has a population of 18,- 672, and the population of the principal towns according to the statehood census
was: Tishomingo, 1,300; Wapanucka, 789; Ravia, 690; Mill Creek, 644; Mannsville, 529; Milburn, 416; Pontotoc, 299; Conners- ville, 148.
Latimer County.
Latimer county is located partly within the great coal area of the state, and more than half of its surface is classed as forest lands. In 1906 the territory contained in this county produced about half a million tons of coal, ranking third among the coal counties of the state. In former years the lumber industry was the largest single bus- iness resource of this region. Mining, farming and stock raising furnish the occu- pations for the greater portion of the in- habitants. The population of the county in 1907 was 9,349, Wilburton, the county seat, being the largest town, with 1,500 inhab- itants.
Some of the pioneers of the Choctaw Nation were associated with the first de- velopments of this county, and Red Oak and one or two other places have long been seats of some distinctive importance. But villages and towns were not encouraged to any extent until the building of the Frisco Railroad about 1886. The history of Tali- hina, in the southeast quarter of the coun- ty, begins with that event. The construc- tion of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad from McAlester to the Arkansas line in the early nineties resulted in the de- velopment of the coal areas in the western part of the county, and gave an impetus to the little village community of Wilburton. Wilburton has since become a railroad cen- ter, and as the county seat of Latimer county has progressed toward municipal improvement, with water works, electric lights, a new school, and other facilities and enterprises.
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LeFlore County.
LeFlore county was erected from the northeast corner of the old Choctaw Na- tion. Extending from the Arkansas river south along the Arkansas state line for a distance of over fifty miles, it is one of the largest counties of the state, and likewise has within its limits some of the interesting and picturesque places which attracted the attention of the earliest explorers in this region. The mountains of themselves have been landmarks of the Arkansas valley since the days of the French exploration, the names being reminiscent of that pe- riod. The Choctaws after their emigration made their first settlements in this county, and in the vicinity of the railroad town of Spiro is the site of old Scullyville, which during the last century was a well known center of the Choctaw people.
LeFlore county produces a large amount of coal, but its great quantities of commer- cial timber lands have kept many sawmills busy for a number of years. The raising of cotton and corn and other farm crops still remains one of the chief occupations, though the industrial activities are assum- ing a greater relative importance.
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For many years Fort Smith was the near- est market and the principal commercial town for all the region now in this county. Fort Smith was the whisky town for a large part of Indian Territory, and was also important as the seat of the United States courts for Indian Territory until such courts were established within the Territory. Nearly all the region of this county was therefore tributary to Fort Smith during the greater part of the last century. During the past twenty years pre- ceding statehood, however, many important changes have occurred in the economic con- ditions of this region. About 1886 the
Frisco Railroad was constructed from Fort Smith to Red river. The first railroad facilities resulted at once in a very rapid improvement of the fortunes of the settle- ments at Cameron and Poteau and else- where along the route. Cameron was the chief business town until the building of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf (Kan- sas City Southern), in 1897, made Poteau a junction point, and started its progress toward the place of metropolitan size and influence in this region. At an earlier day, both before and after the building of the Frisco Railroad, Poteau was one of the wild settlements of the Nation, being one of the centers of the "boot-legging" business which had its source of supply at Fort Smith.
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The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Rail- road was extended as far as Wister Junc- tion in the early nineties, and was later con- tinued to the Arkansas line. Within the present century the Fort Smith and West- ern and the Midland Valley have both con- structed their lines through portions of the county, resulting in the establishment of stations and the growth of village com- munities in different parts of the county. Bokoshe at the junction of the two roads just mentioned, in the northwest corner of the county, has attained considerable busi- ness prominence since the building of these roads. Spiro near the Arkansas river is the successor of the old Indian community of Scullyville, and resulted from construction of the Kansas City Southern about ten years ago.
The population of LeFlore county by the last census is 24,678, and the principal towns, most of which date their growth from the coming of the railroads, are as fol- lows: Poteau, 1,726; Spiro, 962; Howe, 599 ; Heavener, 473; Wister, 410; Cowling- ton, 351; Panama, 290; Cameron, 183.
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Poteau was incorporated under the gen- eral law of 1898, and it is said that G. H. Witte, who was elected mayor, was the first man to assume the duties of that office in the Indian Territory. Owing to the en- terprising character of its citizens, Poteau has acquired many municipal improvements that would be in keeping with a city of greater population. It has municipal water works, electric lights, and has numerous industries and business enterprises that con- tribute to the general prosperity and wel- fare of both city and citizens.
Lincoln County.
Lincoln county comprises portions of the Iowa, Sac and Fox, and Kickapoo reserva- tions. The two former were opened to set- tlement in September, 1891, and the Kicka- poo reserve in May, 1895. The history of the opening of these lands is described on other pages.
In the report of the governor of Oklahoma territory in 1892, the year after the open- ing, the population of county A (as Lin- coln county was first designated) was placed at 10,500, and the taxable property at $275,109.48.
The census figures for 1900 gives the population of Lincoln county in detail as follows :
Chandler city 1,430
Chandler township 946
Cimarron township 1,293 Creek township. 1,909
Fox township 1,943
Iowa township 1,187
Keokuk township. 2,090 Kickapoo township 1,545
Mckinley township.
887
North Choctaw township 961
North Wichita township. 924
Osage township.
1,525
Otoe township 1,048
Pawnee township 1,196
Ponca township 512
Seminole township 2,144
South Choctaw township 906
South Wichita township.
804
Stroud city. 800
Tohee township 880
Union township 944
Wellston city 383
Wellston township 750
Lincoln county
27,007
The population of the county according to the federal census taken before statehood was 37,293.
Lincoln county progressed rather slowly in proportion to its size and resources dur- ing the first decade after its settlement. This was due in the first place to the fact that the Kickapoo lands, forming a consid- erable portion of the total area, were not opened until 1895. A stronger reason was that this county was entirely without rail- road facilities until the Frisco line was com- pleted between Oklahoma City and Sapulpa about 1899. That was the first railroad to cross the county, and continued to be the chief transportation agency for the county in general until the construction of the Santa Fe from north to south, in 1904. Since then the Oklahoma City branch of the M., K. & T. has built across the northwest corner of the county, the Kingfisher-Guthrie branch of the Rock Island connects at Chandler with the Frisco, and the Fort Smith and Western has provided railroad facilities to the southeastern and central portions of the county.
Though the principal resources of the county consist in farming and stock-raising, with railroad facilities that are excelled by those of the few other counties in the state, Lincoln county has attained a remarkable
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degree of development within the present decade. While the rural district has changed through the more productive meth- ods of farming, the better homes and in- creased conveniences of living such as schools, telephones and rural delivery af- ford, a more conspicuous difference is seen in the towns and villages which have grown up during this period. When the census of 1900 was taken, only three towns were of sufficient size to be enumerated separately from the townships. These were located on the only railroad. The new rail- roads have brought out new towns, and both town and country life is raised to a higher plane. The principal towns of this county, with the population according to the last federal census, are: Chandler, 2,234; Prague, 998; Stroud, 1,313; Daven- port, 512; Sparks, 503; Fallis, 321 ; Meeker, 320; Merrick, 100; Carney, 310; Agra, 382; Avery, 100; Wellston, 669; War- wick, 100.
Lincoln county began spending its public moneys for bridges and other important im- provements at an early period of its history. Education also received attention, and there were 133 organized school districts in the county in 1900. Recently Lincoln county has erected a handsome court house. Dur- ing previous years the county expended more money for bridges and other neces- sary improvements than for quarters for the county officials. . The first court house cost but $2,000, and about $1,500 was spent for the first jail.
During the early years of the present de- cade the county seat town began a series of municipal improvements which have made Chandler one of the attractive smaller cities of the state. In 1904 fifty thousand dollars were expended in the construction of water works, an electric light system was one of the earlier utilities, and several excellent
school buildings, library, nine churches and other advantages increase the attractiveness as a home and business center.
Love County.
Love county was named in honor of Rob- ert H. Love, one of the ablest and most influential leaders of the Chickasaw Nation. The population of this county by the last census was 11,134. Bordering on Red river, the region contained within the county limits has been subject to develop- ment and improvement by stockmen and other men of enterprise for a longer period than the more inland parts of the old Chick- asaw country. Burneyville and Thacker- ville have been well known settlements on the north banks of the Red river for many years, long before the railroads came into this section. The Santa Fe is the only rail- road crossing the county, and since it was constructed the town of Marietta has be- come the metropolis of the region. The county seat town has a population of 1,500, while Burneyville has 300 and Leon 300, besides a dozen or more small hamlets and postoffices.
While in former years Love county was largely occupied by stockmen, its acres have since become productive of many agricul- tural crops, the diversity of the soil being proved by the yield of large quantities of cotton, corn, oats, millet, sorghum and po- tatoes, in addition to nearly a million dol- lars' worth of live stock.
McClain County.
McClain county, on the south side of the Canadian river, though formerly a part of the Chickasaw Nation, has been subject to white men's enterprise for a long time. The building of the Santa Fe Railroad through this vicinity in 1887 caused the building of towns along the right of way through the
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nation and caused a great deal of exploita- tion and development by the intruder class. The subsequent opening of Oklahoma, just north of the river, was further effective in breaking down the isolation of this country.
The region set apart and bounded as Mc- Clain county· has a large acreage of forest lands. Corn, cotton, alfalfa and potatoes are the principal crops of its soil. The pop- ulation of the county is 12,888, the princi- pal towns being: Purcell, 2,600; Byars, 550; Johnson, 230; Wayne, 200; Blanch- ard, 150.
Within the past two years the Oklahoma Central Railroad has been built through this county, intersecting with the main line of the Santa Fe at Purcell, and with the Shawnee-Paul's Valley branch at Byars, at which place a village of considerable com- mercial importance has sprung up within the last five years ..
Purcell is a division point of the Santa Fe. The townsite was laid out in April, 1887, and the prosperity of the town has always been closely identified with the rail- road. Merchants, professional men and others came to this locality during the first months, and during the period of agitation for the Oklahoma opening Purcell was a neutral town just south of the forbidden land, was the scene of much excitement and experienced a business boom during the transient residence of the "boomers." Pur- cell was one of the first towns of the Chick- asaw Nation to adopt a system of free schools for its inhabitants. The town was incorporated in 1898, George F. Jones be- ing the first mayor.
McCurtain County.
McCurtain county, named in honor of a family whose members have long occupied positions of distinction and worth among the Choctaw Nation, is one of the largest
civil divisions of the state as regards area, but in population and general development is inferior to the average Oklahoma county. The Choctaws and some of the white in- truders came to this county in the early years of the past century, and much of the enterprise and productive husbandry of the Choctaw people manifested themselves throughout the region now in McCurtain county. Hence, it is not meant to say that McCurtain county was without the agen- cies and institutions of civilization during all the years since it was first settled. But other causes have tended to an isolation of this section of Oklahoma. Only within the years of the present century has a railroad line penetrated the forest uplands and val- leys of this county. The building of the Frisco Railroad, between 1901 and 1903, along the valley of the Red river, has pro- duced many changes in this region. Hith- erto there was practically no outlet for the splendid timber resources and other prod- ucts of the county. Some corn and cotton were produced and taken overland to the nearest market towns, usually in Arkansas or Texas. Some lumbering was done and the streams used for transportation agen- cies.
McCurtain county has an area of nearly a million and a quarter acres, and according to an estimate made several years ago all but five percent of this is classed as forest lands. In recent years the county has fur- nished an increasing output of lumber.
The principal settlements are along the southern side of the county. Old Wheelock Academy, one of the famous institutions of learning among the Choctaws, was several miles from the station of Garvin. All the towns are small, but capital and enterprise are improving them rapidly. Idabel, the county seat, formerly Purnell, had a popu-
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lation in 1907 of less than 150. Valliant is the metropolis of the county.
McIntosh County.
McIntosh county as formed by the au- thorities that constituted the state and the divisions thereof is the southeast corner of the old Creek Nation and also comprises a small area of territory formerly in the Cherokee jurisdiction. The M., K. & T. Railroad crosses the county, so that its ter- ritory has been favored by railroad facilities for over thirty-five years and the towns of Checotah and Eufaula are among the old- est towns of the Territory. In the last few years the Midland Valley, the Missouri, Ok- lahoma and Gulf, and the Fort Smith and Western have touched or crossed the bound- aries of the county and afforded additional railroad facilities. This is one of the hill and forest counties of the state, and yet its cultivated area is considerable and its cot- ton, corn and other products are the princi- pal resources. The county at the last cen- sus had a population of 17,975, the princi- pal towns and their population being : Che- . cotah, 1,525; Eufaula, county seat, 1,000; Wild Cat, 375; Hoffman, 344.
Eufaula, the county seat, was laid out by a syndicate of men who had extensive in- terests in the locality and who paid a thou- sand dollars to get the railroad station located where it is. Since the founding of the town in 1872 it has been an important trading point and cotton market, and since the town was incorporated in 1898 an excess of business has come with the establish- ment of banks, newspapers and other in- stitutions.
Checotah, the metropolis of the county, was named after a noted Creek chief, Sam Chicote. Robert Burton erected the first store building there in 1888 and is consid- ered the founder of the town. In Checotah
was held, in 1893, the first meeting of the Dawes Commission with representatives of the five tribes. Checotah was incorporated in 1898 (the first Mayor being H. G. Turner).
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