Caddo- My Home Town

Drug Store Burglary

Caddo Herald-June 10, 1910

Dodd's Store Burgled

On Monday night unknown parties entered the Corner Drug Store stole sixteen trays of jewelry, $1,500 in cash and a few cigars. Mr. Dodd estimates his loss at several hundred dollars. Entrance to the building was gained by breaking a small hole in the glass door at the rear of the building and then breaking the padlock on the inside of the back door. Two or three parties claim to have seen a light in the drug store along between one and two o’clock at night and it is thought the theft was committed about that time. Up to this time no clue has been found whereby the guilty parties can be located. Five robberies have been committed in Caddo within the past twelve months, to begin with the robbery of the tailor shop of Tom Odil about a year ago, then the robbery of the Bass Co. , of the Ben Siegel Store, of Smith, Moore, Williams Co., and this robbery of Monday night. In all these cases between $2,000 and $2,500 worth of stuff was stolen, and in not one single instance has a clue been found whereby the guilty party can be run down.  The thief who has been making these raids is no novice, but is an old and experienced hand at the business and he is evidently making it pay him pretty well. Herald believes that when the man is found who committed the Dodd robbery that the man who is guilty of all the other robberies mentioned will also be captured, for we believe that it is the same party who is guilty of all of these crimes. There is a striking similarity in the methods employed in each case. 

Charles Bilbo

Another biograhphy from Leaders and Leading Men:

Charles A. Bilbo (Choctaw)

Born in Leake county, Mississippi in 1857; son of William Bilbo. Charles was educated at Kings’ College, Bristol, Tennessee, and came to Caddo, Choctaw Nation, in 1885; after which he entered the mercantile establishment of W. H. Ainsworth for two years. In 1890 he opened a drug store and confectionery business in Caddo, where he is also proprietor of a livery stable. He is also owner of three farms of 250 acres, besides a pasture containing 2,000 acres, which he rented out at the rate of four dollars per head per annum until the passage of an act forbidding the introduction of alien’s cattle into the Nation. Mr. Bilbo married Miss Ella McCoy, daughter of Dr. McCoy of Caddo in 1890. He is highly connected, being a nephew of Mrs. Flack, of Atoka, one of the oldest citizens of the Indian Territory.

(…Mrs. E. A. Flack, who represented one of the most ancient families of the tribe. Mrs. Flack died last June at the age of nearly eighty. Her nieces, nephews and other relatives were almost numberless throughout the Nation, so that her death was deeply regretted.)

Trades Day

Caddo Herald

March 6, 1925

Trades Day Saturday was Largely Attended

Last Saturday was the first Trades Day in Caddo under the new plan. A very large crowd of people were present, though the day was very raw and cold. Mr. McCants, who is putting on this event for the Caddo merchants, was present and did the auctioneering. Prior to selling the goods he made a speech telling the people about the plan and about how the Caddo merchants wanted their trade and were willing to offer reasonable inducements to get it. Further more he told of how if there were no local merchants that the schools, churches, and other public enterprises would be deprived of a large amount of support. Caddo, he said, was a good town, had many up-to-date merchants and that their prices were as low and the quality of goods as high as any town in the country.

          The auction was spirited from start to finish. More than $200 worth of merchandise was furnished free by the merchants. Some of the articles brought a high price. It required $60 of Red Seal Money to buy a pair of B.V.D.’s. A sack of flour sold for $80. A pair of shoes- good shoes- brought $80. A sunshade for an auto brought $261. Many other articles(can’t read) prices. In the sale were overalls, shirts, caps, toilet articles, auto accessories, groceries, flour, meal, syrup, etc. 

          The crowd was good natured throughout. The next Trades Day will be Saturday, March 28, at which time, as many or more articles will be put up and sold for Red Seal Money. Meantime you get Red Seal Money in Caddo by trading in Caddo. See list of merchants elsewhere. Save your Red Seal Money. It is worth something to you and will buy something worth while. Trade in Caddo.

Following are Red Seal merchants:

Hancock Grocery

Moran, Meadows, & Hogan

McGraw Bros.

Lake Brewer

Boone & Styron

I. Schaffer

N. Damie

Bradshaw & Jones Co.

Lingo-Leeper Co.

Caddo Motor Co.

W. L. Guthrie

Caddo Herald

A Splendid Start

Sometimes I run across an item in the old newspapers that seems to make a perfect statement for today. This is just such a piece. I have only recently noticed the name of Mr. Carraway on the masthead of several issues during this time period. I have yet to determine if he worked for Mr. Crossett or if he owned the paper for a time. I only know that each issue where his name appears contains some sort of positive editorial about Caddo. (He later went to Texas and became a newspaper publisher in Mineola.)

The Caddo Herald

Friday, May 20, 1910

R. H. Carraway, Prop.

A Splendid Start

It seems that the people of Caddo were ripe for a suggestion for the organization of a commercial club. Since the last issue of The Herald, 52 of Caddo’s progressive citizens have signified their willingness to become members of an organization organized along the lines suggested by The Herald, or some plan that is better. Caddo MUST have an organization of this character, that is if we ever expect to do anything toward making this a bigger and better town. There is not a town in the whole country today that amounts to a fig that has not got its commercial organization. Property valuations in Caddo can be increased 100 per cent in twelve months- that is just how strong we believe in a commercial organization organized along the line suggested. That’s pretty strong we’ll admit, but we believe it. Below are the names of certain citizens who are in on the commercial club; there are many others who will join. Let’s get busy and place the membership at 100 by the time the next issue of The Herald appears. Next week we will give the names of new members that have been added and so on each week until the club membership reaches 100. Everyone should strive to attain this end. Following are the members:

W. Malone, U.S. Markham, Art Wright, R.R. Carraway, Rockwell Bros., H.T. Chiles, Jno. Schenk, Dr. Allen, M.L. Tanner, M.F. Haralson, E. K. Morris, Henry F. Bass, J.E. Bass, J.D. Freeny, H.G. Huffman, Oscar Driver, H.T. Styron, J.M. Goddard, Roy Riddles, D. McCoy, A.F. Manning, W.L. Cooper, J.H. Franks, G. S. Cobb, Ed Payne, J.H. Cossart, P.W. Howe, Chas. C. Semple, Dr. L. Nettleton, J.A. Moore, J.H. McCalman, H. W. Wells, D.O. Nail, H.M. Dunlap, H. Edwards, W.T. Smith, W. J. Moon, J.K. Bass, Mrs. Mattie Bloom, A.B. Rutherford, W.W. Boon, W.E. Thedin, Jno. M. Hall, F.P. Semple, Jno. Schwartz, Amos K. Bass, Ben Siegel, Lake Brewer, W.F. Dodd, Ben F. Payne, A.E. Richey, D.B. Williams. 

*Don’t forget to boost a little for Caddo when you are visiting in other towns.

*Things are looking exceedingly good around Caddo just now. The splendid rains of the week, the enthusiasm with which our people are taking hold of the proposition to organize a commercial club and numerous other things doing the work.

*Caddo’s star is on the ascendancy. The prospects are bright for the future. Our people are coming alive to the fact that we have got to get out and hustle if we want Caddo to keep up with the cadence of the state in the march of progress. Watch Caddo grow during the next twelve months.

Remember, The Herald will give a year’s subscription to every member of the Commercial Club if there is a vacant house, residence, or business in Caddo twelve months from this date. If you have not joined the Commercial Club, send in your name at once. If you can’t jar yourself loose from the $2 per month at least be good enough to give the club your MORAL SUPPORT. Do not stand around the street corners and cuss the fellows who are trying to ADVANCE YOUR INTERSTS BY MAKING CADDO A BIGGER AND BETTER TOWN.

Charles Maurer

I found this "biographical sketch" in Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory, by H.F. O'Beirne, 1891. (I don't know if he is related to any of my husband's relatives. I haven't found any quick answers.)

Charles Maurer (Choctaw)

"Among the earliest white settlers in the Choctaw Nation were Charles J. Maurer and his father, both of whom were native born Alsatians from the Rhine district. Charlie was but four years old in 1850 when he arrived in Red River county, I.T., settling close to Pine Creek church, north of Clarksville. His father pursued his trade of wagon making at Doaksville, and in 1860 moved his shop to Boggy, at that period the most important trading post in the Indian Territory, being the center of commerce for the native and white settlers living within two hundred miles west, and the same distance north and south. Young Maurer when only sixteen years of age assisted in J.P. Kingsberry’s mercantile house, and in 1868 became a citizen through his marriage with Mary Freeney, sister of Clay Freeney, of Blue County, an extensive stockman. By this union Mr. Maurer has two children- Leonidas, aged sixteen years, and Cecil, thirteen. After an experience of some years in the establishment of G. B. Hester in 1884, he opened business in his own name at Boggy, and has ever since been steadily accumulating. He has three farms containing over one thousand acres under fence, three hundred and fifty of which are in cultivation. Besides this he is the owner of some 700 head of cattle and other stock. Mr. Maurer has never interfered in political or public matters and is much respected by the Indian people."

I also found Leonidas M. Maurer listed in the 1910 census for Ardmore (District 43, Ward 3, page 17):

36 years old, Indian, retired

wife Eunice, 20, white

son Leonidas, 17 months

father born in France, mother in OK

And these Maurers are listed in the 1860 Federal Census of the Choctaw Nation, I.T.:

F.J. Maurer, 40, wagon maker

Ann Mary, 35

Ann Mary, 15

Charles Joseph, 13

Odiel Victor, 10

Edward, 8

Lucy Louesa, 3

Monkey Business

 

Ad from Caddo Herald

March 1911

Big Balloon Ascension

on show day at

Caddo, Okla

Wednesday, March 29^th

All kinds of Wild Animals, Trained Dogs, and

Ponies, Funniest Clowns, Fine Bands of Music

Don’t Miss Seeing

Pat Rooney

The only Monkey in the World Making a

Balloon Ascension and Parachute Leap

A FREE ATTRACTION

Cole & Roger’s

Railroad

Shows

Come to the Show Grounds Early

Remember the Day and Date

Two Performances Daily, Rain or Shine

Doors Open 1 and 7 p.m.

Shopping

Shopping hasn't really changed that much if you read old advertisements! This one is from the Caddo Herald, January, 1911.

Huffman Dry Goods

Nineteen hundred ten has been a satisfactory year with us. Our business has been good, for which we thank the people of Caddo and vicinity. In closing the year’s business we find a number of desirable articles in Dry Goods, Shoes, Clothing, and Notions, which we do not desire to carry over another season, therefore, to close them out at once, we are making substantial reduction on all items of winter use.

(I’ve only listed a few of the items from the ad.)

Dress Goods

Everything in Ladies’ Silk and Wool Dress Goods at 1-5 off.

Shoes

Ladies’ 3.50 Shoes at …….$2.99

Ladies’ 3.00 Shoes at……..  2.49

Men’s 5.00 Shoes at………  4.00

Men’s 4.00 Shoes at………  3.49

We carry the Buster Brown, Blue Ribbon School Shoes, none better. ASK TO SEE THEM.

Hats

Men’s 3.50 Hats at ………..$2.69

Men’s 1.00 Shirts at …….79

Cadet Hosiery for Men, Women and Children, the best Guaranteed Hose in the world. We are exclusive agents for Caddo.

Wedded Bliss

These wedding “announcements” are from the Caddo Herald.

December 30, 1910-Betts-Folsom

           A brilliant wedding took place at Caddo Hills, Wednesday afternoon at the residence of W. F. Barker and Mrs. K Barker, over one hundred of the best and most respectable people for Pleasant Hill were present for the occasion.

            At 2 o’clock in the afternoon in the parlors of the residence, Mr. J.D. Betts and Miss Bessie Folsom were united in marriage by Rev. Jno. Cashman. Prof. Hanks played the wedding march and several other lively pieces. Mr. Betts and Miss Folsom were highly esteemed among the young people of Pleasant Hill and in the surrounding community where they made many friends. After the marriage ceremony dinner was served to all who were present for the occasion, many can say with the writer of this article that they had the square meal of a life time. The occasion will long be remembered for the courtesy and kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Barker to the many friends who were present. The young couple are starting out in life under favorable prospects, there are no clouds in their sky at present, long may it continue so. They are going to set up housekeeping among their many friends at Pleasant Hill.

May their days be bright and happy.

May their troubles be but few.

May peace and joy attend them.

As through life’s journey they go.

A Guest.

January 6, 1911

Committed Matrimony

L.M. Wood and Miss Mary Etta Crossett, of Caddo, Okla. came to Sherman yesterday afternoon and after securing the necessary license were united in marriage at the Travis street Methodist parsonage, Rev. J.L. Morris, pastor of the Travis Street church, officiating. Immediately after the ceremony the bridal couple returned to Caddo where they will reside.- Sherman Democrat.

Miss Crossett has been for sometime past, employed as stenographer at the Katy Mill & Elevator Company, she is well known here and has many friends. She is a sister to G. A. Crossett and Mrs. Ben Payne. Mr. Wood is a young man of sterling worth and worthy of the bride he has won. Their marriage was quite a surprise to many of their friends here.

Caddo Couple United in Marriage at Three in the Morning

January 27, 1911

Pull Preacher Out of Bed

“Please Go ‘Way and Let Me Sleep” is a song that may put some people to flight, but not the Caddo couple who came to Durant on the early train Sunday morning.

Alighting from the train, which was more than half an hour late, they made their way with friends to the Methodist parsonage on Third avenue.

The groom rapped on the door, and in a few seconds Pastor. G. C. French emerged from his abode with the interrogation: “What can I do for you?”

“We want you to marry us”, said the groom pointing to his bride standing by his side.

“What’s your hurry and why come at this time of the night?” was asked by the clergyman.

“Well, its just a fool notion of ours, thought we would slip off from the old folks.”

Being assured that the couple were marriageable age and that the necessary licenses were in hand, Rev. French invited them into his parlor and united in marriage James C. Gross and Miss Ellena Robinson, both of Caddo.

And then they went their way, and the minister went back to bed. –Durant Democrat

Mr. Gross is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Gross of this city, and his accomplished bride is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Lorena Robinson, who reside a few miles east. Both young people enjoy a large circle of friends who are wishing them all kinds of unalloyed happiness.

            

Caddo Ought to be Thankful

From the Caddo Herald, November 25, 1910-

Caddo Ought to be Thankful

The fair city of Caddo and trade territory has much for which we should return thanks to Him who is the giver of all good gifts.

Aside from unusual good health our people have been prosperous the past year, we have made good crops and many of us who were in debt have either gotten even with the world or have materially reduced said indebtedness, for this we should be thankful.

The town of Caddo owes much of its present prosperity to the very complete system of water works installed during the past year. The system cost the town $55,000 and it has been estimated that the town has been benefited that much this year, for of the 6,000 bales of cotton marketed here we could scarcely have counted upon more than 2,000 because without water the gins could not have handled more than that, we would not have had the new Wilson & Hartzog gin, nor would we have located here the Caddo Lime Co., the Katy Grain and Elevator Co., or the new and up-to-date electric light plant now being installed in Caddo, and it is doubtful if the M.K. & T. would have spend $10,000 here on erecting one of the handsomest depots on its line. Besides these things, in the last year two dry goods, one gents furnishing, one furniture, one general, and one hardware store have been established here, they are all doing well, and they all are doing their part toward making a greater Caddo.

One year ago there were any number of vacant residences and quite a number of vacant store buildings in town, today there is not a desirable building in either class to be had, notwithstanding the fact that a dozen new residences have been built during the last six months. Then did you know that property values are 50 per cent higher in Caddo today than they were this time last year? For all these things we should be thankful.

At the close of business on November 16, 1909 the loans and discounts of the Bryan County State bank were $107,803.03 and the Caddo National Bank $89,488.08. Making a total of $197,291.11; the deposits of Bryan County state were $133,780.82 and those of the Caddo National were $122,546.00. Making a combined total of $256,326.82. This year at the close of business November 10 the loans and discounts of the Bryan County were $85,489.35 and those of the Caddo National $76,954.25 combined total of $162,443.60, just $34,847.51 less than they were last year, the deposits of the Bryan County on the 10^th were $130,313.49 and the Caddo National $151,812.57, combined deposits $282,125.06, which is an increase in bank deposits over this same time last year of $25,799.24.

After having reviewed our business records of the past year, we say again, Caddo has much to be thankful for.

Progress

Not much to look at yet, but that slab being leveled will be the new Dollar General store. Scheduled for completion by the end of the year. Lots of speculation about how it will affect the local economy. As with any change, only time will tell. I'll keep you posted!