I found a mention of this little gem in Google's "books online" search feature. I went to the SOSU library and there it was, locked in an archive cabinet! Their very kind and helpful librarian let me sit and read it under the watchful eye of a student worker. I love librarians!
Indian Territory, by D.C. Gideon
published by The Lewis Publishing Co. , New York
1901
Caddo- pages 188-189
"In the heart of the most delightful agricultural section of the Choctaw nation is building a substantial city with a population now of almost two thousand inhabitants. Almost every one of the early landmarks has been destroyed by fire, but the sites of former wooden buildings in every instance is now occupied by handsome brick structures of modern design and of large capacity that would grace any town in the Territory. In every particular Caddo is “up-to-date”, and still there is room for other business enterprises, to accommodate the rapid growth of the surrounding country, the development of which is truly surprising. Situated as she is between the beautiful Blue river on the south and Caney on the north, she is without competition of any sort sixteen miles north and south and forty miles from east to west. The soil is of the rich, black, waxy and sandy loams that produce surprising crops of cereals, and it is not uncommon for these lands to produce from one to one and one-fourth bales of cotton per acre. Adjoining the village in 1900 C.A. Semple sowed one hundred and ten acres in wheat, which produced twenty-four bushels per acre, weighing sixty-four pounds per bushel, for which he was offered seventy cents per bushel at the machine. In this part of the nation oats frequently produce seventy-five bushels, and corn from fifty to sixty bushels per acre.
In addition to her delightful location as a place of residence, Caddo has a cosmopolitan population, in which the arts and professions are well represented. She has a good school, several church buildings, many large stores that carry general merchandise, a bank, two large lumber yards and two large cotton-gins, and next year will have another, four of the best blacksmiths in the country, two fine hotels, two excellent livery stables, barber shops, meat markets, and lawyers and doctors galore.
The pride of the town is the Caddo Herald, published by G. A. Crossett. The Herald is now in its seventh year, and is prosperous, widely read and one of the cleanest papers published in Indian Territory. J. S. Hancock, its former publisher, was for many years the postmaster of the village.
The first store building erected in Caddo was built and occupied my Major Aaron Harlan, who was also the first resident. His widow, Mrs. Sarah Harlan, yet resides in the property. The store occupied the site where C.A. Hancock’s store stood and is now vacant. Messrs. Cox and W. H. Ainsworth and Dr. W. S. Burks were the next merchants. Mr. Ainsworth is still in business. J.S. Hancock was the first hotel proprietor. he operated the Southern in its palmy days, but his first experience as landlord was in a large tent that stood north of Ainsworth’s store. This was in the embryonic period of Caddo’s existence and while the railroad was building.
Drs. Fendall and Williams were early arrivals, and soon afterward Dr. J.B. Jones erected a drug store and stocked it with drugs. W.P. Booker, still in business, was the first harness maker. F. M. Fox and Dick Locke, the noted Choctaw politician were the first liverymen. Peter Hamer, still in business, was the first blacksmith. The citizens built a small church, that was also used for school purposes at an early date, and in this Professor Jones taught the first school."
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