Caddo- My Home Town

A Message from the Past

The Caddo Herald

February 17, 1933

Pride

Of course you are proud of your home town and say many nice things about her to strangers, which is proper and no more than could be expected of you. But did you ever stop to think whether or not the town should be proud of you? What nice things can be said about you and your relation to your town? What part do you have in making your town one to be proud of? Everyone can and should have a part in making his town a better town and one that all can be proud to call their home.

Heritage Day, October 3, 2009

The theme for Heritage Day 2009 is "Horses & Hitches, Overalls & Britches" to recognize the part horses and mules, farmers and cowboys have played in the lives of residents in the past as well as presently.  We are encouraging people to bring horse-drawn equipment such as plows, rakes, wagons etc. for the parade and then to display them downtown.  Bill Proctor and his band will entertain as well as provide opportunities for karaoke for anyone in the audience who wishes to participate.  Singers, vendors, and volunteers should call 367-2659 or 367-1202 for more information.

 

W. R. Evans

The Caddo Herald

October 20, 1933

W. R. Evans Taken by Death Suddenly Friday

Caddo lost one of its most honorable and upright citizens last Friday when W. R. Evans was taken from us by the cold hand of Death.

Mr. Evans had been at his place of business all day and was apparently feeling fine, laughing and joking with his many friends. Toward night he complained of being a little dizzy and sat down. Friends helped him into a car and he was taken home. Dr. Dickey was called to his bedside, but upon his arrival Mr. Evans told him that he was feeling all right, and chatted a few moments with him. Within a short time after the doctor had gone, Mr. Evans was taken suddenly ill and passed away before the doctor could again be summoned.

Mr. Evans was born in Kentucky, May 15, 1855 and moved to Texas in his early youth. He was active in politics for some time, being a member of the Texas state legislature for four years. He moved to Caddo with his family several years ago.

In 1876 Mr. Evans was married to Miss Bell Payton of Honey Grove, Texas and to them six children were born, four of whom still survive. Their mother died many years ago.

Mr. Evans was married to Mrs. Mattie Cooper Lynch of this city in 1928, who survives him.

Mr. Evans was a member of the Methodist church here and was a most devout Christian. He often filled the pulpit in the local church and in many of the rural community churches. Last Sunday night he spoke to a large crowd of friends at the Methodist church here.

Funeral services were held Sunday morning at 10 o’clock at the Methodist church with the pastor, Rev. S. E. Henderson, in charge, and assisted by Rev. J. M. James, pastor of the Baptist church.

After an impressive service the body was escorted by friends and relatives to Windom, Texas, for burial there.

Mr. Evans is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mattie Lynch Evans and four children. The children are: Mrs. Grace Evans Martin of Los Angeles, Cal.; Tom Evans of Fort Worth, Texas; Ralph Evans of Ada, Okla, and Burnett Evans of McAlester, Oklahoma, all of whom were here Sunday to pay their last respects to their father.

A host of friends mourn his passing and extend deepest sympathy to the bereaved ones.

Sketches on the Prairie

I stumbled upon this interesting account of Caddo written by Albert Hastings Markham, Captain R. N., published in 1878. It describes his trip from St. Louis to Ft. Sill to see General Mackenzie.

“Caddo station was reached at half-past three in the afternoon, and here I alighted with my luggage. From this place to Fort Sill, my destination, I had to travel by stage a distance of one hundred and sixty-three miles. It was rather annoying to find, on making inquiries, that the stage would not leave for forty-eight hours, and that I should therefore be compelled to spend that period in Caddo. It was not a delightful prospect to look forward to, but there was no alternative; so, putting the best face on the matter, I walked into a small wooden establishment situated near the station, on the front of which was painted in very large letters "Railway Hotel," and engaged a room, the only one I think in the house, whose sole furniture was a bed and a wash-hand stand; but so much space did the former occupy, and so little room was there to move, that the chamber might very truly be said to be a great deal over-furnished.

Caddo consists of about eighteen or twenty small houses and stores, and owes its existence, like many other places in this part of the world, entirely to the railroad. It contains a population of about two hundred, the majority of which are coloured. Although such a small place, it actually rejoices in the possession of three hotels! These are more for the convenience of Indians residing in the neighbourhood, with whom the greater part of the trade of the place is transacted, than for white men; indeed, with the exception of those men in government employ, the railroad officials, and those few who are allowed to keep stores—and these men have to rent their land from the Indians—no white men are allowed to settle or even to live in the territory, which is strictly reserved for the Indians. People here own no politics, nor do they possess any vote or interest in the country whatever. The only way by which a white man can reside in this region is by marrying a squaw, which according to their law transforms him into an Indian, and he can then own land in common with his tribe. As may be imagined, the majority of men residing in this part of the country—I of course allude to white men—are those whose social positions were not very exalted, being principally men who have either fled from justice, or those who were unable to get a living elsewhere.”

…

A small Congregational church was in course of construction at Caddo, but I was unable to learn whether any minister had been assigned to it. The funds towards its completion having been expended before the necessary fittings of the interior had been finished; an amateur theatrical entertainment was announced to take place in a few days for the purpose of raising a sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses. And I was solicited to prolong my visit in Caddo in order to attend. On inquiring where this dramatic entertainment was to be held, I was answered, " Oh, in the church, of course; we could not have a better place; the admission will only be 25 cents, and then there will be a supper after, also in the church, for which each person will have to pay another 25 cents; and as everybody will go, we hope to get quite a sum !"

From my experience in various parts of other Western States, I find that it is by no means unusual for lecturers, dramatic companies, concert singers, and others, to borrow, and even to hire, the use of the houses of worship in order to give their entertainments. So commonly and frequently are these churches, principally those of the Methodist and Baptist persuasions, used for secular purposes, that out of curiosity I asked if "balls and dances were ever given in them?”, but at this the line appears to be drawn, for I was answered in the negative in rather an indignant manner.

The forty-eight hours that I was doomed to spend in Caddo having at length expired, I found myself, at half-past four o'clock on a fine but sultry afternoon, seated in the stage and starting for Fort Sill. The vehicle in which I was established as the sole occupant was simply a rickety, tumble-down military ambulance that had long seen its best day, and was now working out its latter ones in the transportation of mails between Caddo and Fort Sill.”

 

A Story of Abe Lincoln

The Caddo Herald

April 14, 1933

Former Caddo Woman Knew Abe Lincoln

Mrs. E. L. Powell, who passed the 81^st milestone of her earthly journey on Monday, April 10^th, is the granddaughter and daughter of men who lived adjacent to Abraham in his early boyhood and younger manhood and until the time of his first election to the presidency of the United States. Mrs. Powell, who is the widow of E. L. Powell, who died at his home four miles southwest of Caddo, on February 1, 1928, hardly seems to be 81 years old. Her face does not give her age away, neither do her steps as she goes about her daily avocations. Speaking with a firm voice which waxed with enthusiasm as she approached her favorite character in American history, she told us the story of her early life which she spent on a farm in Spencer County, Indiana.

Mrs. Powell was born April 10, 1852 near the town of Centerville, Indiana, which is 12 miles from Rock Port and forty miles from Evansville. Tales of the story to follow were told her by her father and grandfather and her actual associations with Abraham Lincoln were confined to her early childhood. She was the daughter of Josiah Crawford and the granddaughter of J. C. Crawford. Her early home was near Lincoln City, Indiana, a town named in honor of the great American.

Thomas Lincoln, father of Abraham Lincoln, was a tenant farmer and laborer and it will be remembered from our histories that the story is once told of how Abrahams Lincoln borrowed a book from a man to read, and it was destroyed by its getting wet and he offered to repay the neighbor for the value of the book as a day laborer. The man the book was borrowed from was J. C. Crawford and the book’s title was “Weems Life of Washington”. The fence rails around her father’s and grandfather’s farms were split by Lincoln himself, who received a wage of fifty cents a day for his labor on them.

The sister of her husband, Sarah Powell, married James Grigsby, who was a brother of the man who married Sally Lincoln, sister to Abe. Mrs. Powell’s actual recollection of Abraham Lincoln was in the summer following his inaugural as president the first time in 1861, when he made a trip with his homefolks and friends, returned to Lincoln City to visit there. She remembers him from her tender age of nine years, and from her memory of him can come the cause of the esteem and respect he has commanded as an American. The fact that she can remember it so well after 72 years is easily accountable for by the impression he made on her at that one time.

Lincoln was held with the highest regard by his neighbors and his honesty and integrity were never doubted by anyone who knew him during his earlier years on the farm in Indiana.

Mrs. Powell’s mother, Mrs. J. C. Crawford was present at the death of both Lincoln’s mother and sister; and his sister’s death caused his greatest grief in that he had previously lost his mother and the lonesomeness caused by his sister’s death overshadowed the grief at the death of his mother.

A corner cupboard was made by Lincoln and given to Mrs. Powell’s grandmother, with whom he made his home together with his sister immediately after his mother’s death, in partial repayment for his and his sister’s care given by Mrs. Crawford. The cupboard now rests in the Henry Ford museum at Dearborn, Michigan, where it was brought by the automobile magnate for the reported price of $25,000. The cupboard was made of walnut and the boards were hand hewn by Lincoln himself with the aid of an old fashioned whip-saw. One feature of its construction is that the top is held together by walnut pegs while the bottom is held together by hand wrought iron nails. It stands over seven feet high and is over three hundred pounds in weight.

Lincoln also made and present to the Crawfords a “clothes presser” but what in modern times could be more accurately described as a linen closet. This cabinet work was made from cherry lumber and was held together by handmade cherry pegs. After the death of the Crawfords, it remained in the family until the completion of a new courthouse in Spencer County, Indiana in the early part of this century and was then purchased by the county and is now at the new courthouse in memory of that county’s great citizen. When her father moved to Texas, Mrs. Powell moved with the family and they settled on a farm which was later developed into the present site of the town of Dallas. Mrs. Powell moved to Caddo in 1905 and lived here at their home place until the death of her husband in 1928, and has since made her home with her various children. She is at present at the home of her son, S. H. Powell, who lives west of town on the Kenefick road. The following are her children with the present places of residence:

W. J. Powell of Granite, Okla.; Mrs. Geo. Frazier of Los Angeles, Calif.; I. S. Powell, formerly of Caddo and Durant, now deceased; Mrs. Arthur Cheney of Victoria, Texas; Mrs. H. D. Pierson of Shawnee, Okla.; Mrs. J. A. Jeanes of Clifton, Texas; S. H. Powell of Caddo; Earnest E. Powell of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Claude Powell of Los Angeles, Calif. Mrs. Powell will go on April 25 to visit with her daughter  Mrs. J. A. Jeanes of Clifton, Texas.

Coin Collection

The Caddo Herald

February 10, 1933

Jess Maytubby has Unusual Coin Supply

J. D. Maytubby, assistant cashier of the First State Bank has in his possession an unusual assortment of coins of the United States as well as some foreign countries.

One of his prize possessions is a $5 bill of the series of 1883 which in comparison to the smaller currency of today has the appearance of a bed-sheet to a pocket handkerchief. On its face appears the likeness of Grant and Sheridan and bears the signature of J. Fount Furlong as Registrar of the Treasury and D. H. Morgan as Treasurer of the United States. The bill is well preserved, but has seen much use.

In his coin collection his oldest one is a half dollar coined in 1827, with inscription around the edges, with a dime coined in 1832 running it a close second. Others in his collection include: a quarter coined in 1842, three five-cent pieces coined in 1867, 1868, and 1871, and a dime coined in 1867. All of these coins are worth above par with the premium differing the ages of the coins.

His foreign coins include Danish, Portuguese, Canadian, Japanese, French and Belgian coins of various values.

Altogether it is quite interesting collection and is quite intriguing to examine and ascertain the value of these coins.

If you have any coins of value or old coins bring them in and if you do not know the value of them, we will ascertain what they are worth for you.

Machine Gun Kelly

The Caddo Herald

September 29, 1933

Former Caddo Man Aids in Capture of Bad Man

Luther Arnold, former Caddo resident, his wife and twelve-year-old daughter, Geraldine, were the prime factors in the capture of “Machine Gun” Kelly, and his wife, much wanted by the Federal authorities for questioning in many cases  of kidnapping and robberies.

Geraldine Arnold was the chief factor in the case in that on her arrival in Oklahoma City she immediately notified the federal authorities of the exact location of the house in Memphis, Tenn. where the much wanted characters could be found.

Luther Arnold is the nephew of P. W. Arnold, a former resident of Caddo and was raised in Caddo by Mr. Arnold. Arnold spent some time visiting in Caddo the past winter and is well known here.

Note: The Arnold family once owned several businesses in Caddo, including Arnold & Attaway.

You can read more about the Charles Urschel Kidnapping and the capture of his kidnapper, Machine Gun Kelly.  

Meningitis, 1912

The Caddo Herald

February 9, 1912

Meningitis in Caddo

Last Friday morning Dr. Gunby was up from Sherman and pronounced the illness of the little child of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett to be meningitis; immediately there was quite a furor in town, everyone nearly, became scared. Due sanitary precautions, however, were taken and no danger is apprehended of the spread of the disease. The child is getting along nicely, and will recover, it is thought.

No other cases have developed in Caddo. Every known means of disinfecting have been used.

School was dismissed Friday afternoon, but resumed again Monday morning. The meeting at the church was not discontinued, but is running with increasing interest. The opera house also is filling every date. So, from these evidences one must judge that little danger is apprehended.

Parties, 1912

The Caddo Herald

January 5, 1912

Civic Club

Prominent among the festivities of the holiday season was the open house held by the Civic Club on New Year’s Day with Mrs. Bilbo. The house was beautifully decorated for the occasion. A colored man looked after the guests at the door. You were then asked to register in a beautiful little guest book presided over by Mesdames Hogan and Semple. Mrs. Nail then introduced to the receiving line, a lovely row of Maidens and Matrons representing the months in the year. You then passed to the dining room where you were served  excellent refreshments.

Before leaving you were presented with a handsome little souvenir, a Civic Club calendar and a card containing a splendid set of resolutions.

Woman’s Club

The members of the Woman’s Club entertained their husbands, friends, and sweethearts at the open session meeting with Mrs. Lake Brewer in her lovely home which was beautifully decorated with holly and Christmas bells. The program consisted of progressive conversation  interspersed with excellent readings and vocal numbers. After the program the married men were asked to describe their wives wedding dresses, the young men described the costumes of the young lady whom they brought to the entertainment and the ladies their ideal man. This proved very amusing. The ladies served a delicious two course luncheon. Little Misses Jewel Folsom and Charlene Hogan presided over the punch bowl. The guests departed at a late hour declaring this was the best time ever.

 

News and Notes, 1912

The Caddo Herald

January 5, 1912

Stork Visits

To Mr. and Mrs. Joe Strickland there came on January 1^st a boy.

On December 24^th a girl came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Hornsinger.

Jan. 3^rd a ten-pound boy came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Slack who live on the Manning place north of town.

Called a Minister

The Christian church of Caddo, has called Elder J. W. Harp of Kowa, Okla. as their minister and arrangements have been made to have preaching on the first Sunday in each month throughout the year.

Elder Harp is a man of fine ability. He holds his audience from beginning to end of his sermons, he is a man who has a knowledge of human nature as well as knowledge of the Bible, he is not radical, but he believes the Bible and preaches it in love and power.

The elder is well known in Oklahoma as he has filled some of the best pulpits in the state and has served as evangelist under the state board of the church. Remember the date of the appointment and don’t fail to hear him.

Card of Thanks

We desire sincerely to thank those friends who were so kind and considerate of us in the loss of our dear son. We may never be able to repay but will ever cherish those acts of neighborliness. Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Freeny

Bean Contest Closed

The contest for the suit of furniture at Walters & Williams closed Saturday night. J. H. Nicolds who lives on Pat Howe’s place, won by guessing 6250; the jar containing 6249. There were several other close guesses. E. C. Lawrence, M. D. Swift, A. E. Folsom, Samuel Walker, E. C. Johnson, and C. J. Powell counted the beans.

Heathen Dinner

Several young men, members of Mr. Brigance’s Sunday school class, calling themselves “The Heathen”, entertained about thirty of their friends with a most excellent dinner Christmas night at the Williams Hotel. Despite the downpour of rain the dining room was crowded and all present had the jolliest time ever. Long may the “Heathen” live.

Notice of Dissolution

Notice is hereby given that the partnership firm heretofore existing between Peter Bloom and John Schenk of Caddo, Oklahoma, under the firm name of Bloom & Schenk was dissolved on the 1^st day of January 1912 by mutual consent. All debts due said firm will be collected and receipted for by Peter Bloom at the shop, or by John Schenk at the Brick Hotel. All parties indebted to said firm are requested to make settlement at once. Peter Bloom, John Schenk

Marriage of Well Known People

Blue, Okla.- Jan. 3- Rev. J. Carroll Cooper of Mannsville, and Miss Edna Blanche Morgan of this place were married her Sunday afternoon at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. A. G. Hancock. The ceremony was said by Presiding Elder Thos. P. Turner of Soper. Only a few of the friends of the contracting parties and their relatives were present.

 

(Note: Some of you have asked about my vacation. You can read about it at View.)