Caddo- My Home Town

Jim Kiersey

I do some of my family research online and I’m always looking for good websites. One of the resources that have helped me find online genealogy websites is Internet Genealogy magazine. (internet-genealgoy.com) They feature and review websites and also give instructions in various research techniques.

When you are researching locally don’t forget church and business directories, as well as old phone books, as sources of information. Directories are good sources of names, addresses and sometimes relationships. The Calera Genealogy library has old church records for Pleasant Hill and Bennington.

The Caddo Herald

November 15, 1929

Jim Kiersey is Killed

Jim Kiersey was killed last Wednesday night in a gun battle with Owen Edwards at Harjo near Seminole. Both men were killed. Other officers were with Kiersey at the time but escaped uninjured.

Funeral services were held at Durant Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock with Masonic honors.

Jim Kersey was well known and well liked in Caddo. He was a candidate for Sheriff in 1924 and came near being elected. He was at one time Chief of Police at Durant, and had a good reputation as a peace officer. He was 40 years of age, married and leaves his wife and three children. He had been working at Seminole the past year as a peace officer.

Mrs. Bilbo

 

The Caddo Herald

October 1, 1942

Mrs. Ella Bilbo Died at Her Caddo Home Friday

Afternoon, 72 Years Old

Mrs. Ella Bilbo died last Friday at 4pm in her home in Caddo after several months’ illness. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. Lardner W. Moore, a former pastor who until lately was a missionary to Japan. Burial in Caddo Cemetery, upon which Mrs. Bilbo lavished much time and affection in her long lifetime in Caddo.

Pall bearers were Henry F. Bass, Lake Brewer, John L. Boland, F. A. Henderson, Henry Edwards, C. C. Semple. 

Mrs. Bilbo was born in Nevada in 1870, the daughter of Dr. C. McCoy. They moved to Colbert soon thereafter and to Caddo when she was 7 years old and where she has lived ever since. She received her education at Mary Nash School in the city of Sherman.

She married C. A. Bilbo when 20 years of age and to them five boys were born, only two of whom are now living: Chas. C. Bilbo, Caddo and W. W. Bilbo, San Gabriel, Cal. Three grandsons and four granddaughters and three great grandchildren also survive her.

Mrs. Bilbo led a useful life. She was gifted with rare qualities of leadership; she was a good musician and devoted much of her life to playing sacred music for religious services, often playing the organ when too small to reach the pedals. Early in life she united with the Presbyterian Church, nearly all the time being in charge of the music. She organized the Civic Club and the Music Club in Caddo, was an active member until a few years ago. Care and keep of the Caddo Cemetery was originated by Civic Club, which has continued unabated until this day, a monument to the skill and untiring work of a group of civic minded women.

A good and useful woman has gone to her reward, and it may be said of her “She hath done what she could” which was much.

 

 

Civic Club, 1941

I have long been an admirer of the Civic Club. They have been active supporters of Caddo for decades and have been involved in numerous improvement projects at the cemetery and around town. But equally important has been their support and education of generations of women. They took it upon themselves  to learn more about the world and to inform their members about a variety of topics.

 

The Caddo Herald

May 8, 1941

Civic Club Enjoys Art Exhibit and Talk of Miss Mary J. Haden

The civic club held its regular meeting at the NYA house Wednesday afternoon, hostesses being Mesdames Guthrie, Beck, and Davison. Mrs. Huddleston presided over business session.

Mrs. Fox and W. Driver are new members. Mrs. Locke was program leader, subject “Fine Arts”. Miss Mary Jane Haden, instructor in Art at Southeastern was guest speaker, using a projection machine to show many types of art. Miss Fuller assisted at the machine as Miss Haden told of types and kinds of art. With her was a beautiful display of pictures of the art department.

Mrs.McKinnis gave a very interesting report of the state meeting in Chickasha.

A Bundle for Britain containing 31 articles was turned over to Mrs. R. D. McCalman by Mrs. Cochran, local chairman.

The Club has adopted a boy for 1941. His name being Dennie Chivers.

Main St. collections 13.15

North side 2.00

South side 1.70

Out of town  3.00

Balance April 1  96.31

Bonds on hand  7.10

Total  123.66

Disbursements  35.00

Balance on hand 5-1  88.66

Club fund bal April 1  181.34

Collections  22.50

Total  203.84

Disbursements  154.00

Members present 24; visitors 3: Misses Haden and Fuller of Durant, Mrs. Call, Caddo.

Dessert course was served by hostesses. May baskets filled with flowers were favors.

 

Board, 1941

I am trying to reach Denise Seay regarding some Cooper family information.

I would like hear from anyone who has information about Caddo during the thirties.

The Caddo Herald

May 8, 1941

W. L. Guthrie is New President of Board, Downing is Waterman

Upon retirement Tuesday of the former Board of Trustees of the town, W. L. Guthrie was chosen President of the Board. Roy T. Downing was chosen to be water superintendent.

A.E. Boydstun was chosen night watchman.

Joe Gibson is the new city treasurer, elected in March.

W. E. McIntosh is the only holdover of the old board.

Other board members are:

Clarence Maddux, ward 1.

Mike Cassidy, ward 2.

Heck McGraw, ward 4.

Roy Downing was water superintendent up to two years ago and he knows the work.

Emmett Boydstun is a good office and he keeps things in good shape.

Guthrie has been president of the Board before and is in every way familiar with town government.

Lloyd Manning is town clerk, having been elected in March.

 

January 1921

The Caddo Herald

January 7, 1921

H. T. Chiles was in Durant Tuesday.

We will grind your sausage. Hancock Grocery

All kinds of holiday goods at Moran & Meadows

For Sale- A few good milk cows. J. W. Crutchfield

Work goat, wagon, and harness for sale. Jim Wideman

Coffee that is Coffee- Chase Sanborn at Hancock’s.

Lloyd Manning returned to school at Muskogee Monday.

H. W. Braudrick is here from Coalgate visiting homefolks.

Mrs. Elmer L. Craghead solicits your picoting and hemstitching.

Miss Alma Hauer visited friends in Coalgate Saturday and Sunday.

Miss Charleen Hogue returned Saturday to her school at Texarkana.

Ellis Smith returned Friday to his studies at Baylor Medical College.

Miss Fannie Bell Hulsey was up from Calera last week visiting relatives.

Pay cash and pay less at Moran & Meadows.

Mrs. Boland from St. Louis is visiting her son J. L. Boland and family.

Citron, spices, and pie fillings at Moran & Meadows.

We deliver groceries in town without extra cost. Moran & Meadows

Clarence L. Dodd returned Wednesday to his studies at Texas University.

Mrs. A. F. Manning, Misses Jennie and Margaret, visited in Denison, Tuesday.

Bring your hemstitiching and picoting to Mrs. Elmer L. Craghead. She will do it right.

Mrs. Dr. F. E. Rushing of Coalgate, were the guests of Miss Alma Hauer this week.

Misses Marion Naylor and Edith Moore have returned to their work at Collinsville.

Remember Sovereigns tonight. Important business at the Circle. Please be on hand.

Sam Maytubby, Jr., was in Durant Mondays seeing the new county officers take charge.

Mrs. Barlow Roberts of Sherman, spend Christmas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Rathburn.

Groceries are not high if you buy from us where you pay cash and pay less. Moran & Meadows.

Miss Dora Hogan, who spent the holidays here with homefolks, returned to her school at Kemp Sunday.

Mrs. Jim Abney from Ada was here yesterday visiting old friends. She formerly was a citizen of Caddo.

J. A. Moore, W. W. Baxter and A. F. Manning had business before the county commissioners Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Jess Heath of McAlester are here visiting Mrs. Heath’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Clower.

Land Posted- No hunting or trapping on my farms. J. W. Crutchfield

Your hemstitching and picoting done while you wait. Mrs. Elmer L. Craghead

See our adv. with prices. Come to the store and see some more prices. It pays to pay cash. Moran & Meadows

If you want to see a good picture, or spend an hour pleasantly, drop in at the Royal any night or when a matinee is on.

Mr. and P. L. Rogers and son, Mrs. and Mrs. A. R. Smith and daughter, visited Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Rogers near Tushka, Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawson England and children of Durant spent Sunday here with Mr.(?) England’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Pinson.

The Presbyterians will hold services next Sunday morning and evening at the Woodman Hall. Everyone is cordially invited to be present.

The Presbyterian Aid Society will meet with Mrs. Jim Goddard Tuesday, with Mrs. John Petty as leader. Members will pleases be present.

We’re in the hauling business. None too large for us. No job too small for close attention. Phone 34. Sargent Bros.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Slack returned to their home Sunday in Hardwood, after spending the holidays here with their son, V. W. Slack and daughter Mrs. Elmer Craghead.   

In mentioning the names of the new county officers on the first page the name of R. F. Pinson, county weigher, was accidently omitted. Mr. Pinson will make a good officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information

While I continue to find Caddo history and genealogy information in The Caddo Herald and will probably never stop reading its pages, I want to share some other sources of information that are helpful, especially if you are visiting in the area and can stop at the Genealogy Library in Calera. I’ll mention a few each day this week to get you started.

First of all, don’t overlook other newspapers, especially if you have a particular date for an event. The Durant, Bokchito, and Bennington papers often recorded Caddo news because so many families were spread all over the county. I recently found an obituary for a Caddo man in the Bennington paper, but never did find it in the Caddo paper.

The library has a copy of Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory, but it is also available online at Google books. It was written in 1891 and contains biographies of many prominent men.

I recently bought a copy of “Court Records- Blue County Choctaw Nation, I. T. (CTN26-Book1) abstracted by Lucille Brimage. It’s a fascinating book containing civil and criminal court records from 1858-1894. I’ve used the library’s copy many, many times in the past and found it to be quite useful, so I finally bought a copy of my own. This morning I want to give you some examples of the cases recorded. In the first fifty pages I found over a dozen murders, numerous divorces, burglaries, and lists of witnesses. There are also records of estates and administrators of those estates.  

Thursday, November 17, 1858- A True Bill was found against Robert Newberry for the murder of Pashikuhi.

4^th Monday of February 1859- Application of Branis for divorce from wife, Lute, was granted.

MURDER, Thomas Keys was tried for murder and was to be executed 25 September 1866.

Case No. 66. Petition asking for appraisers on the Estate of D. C. Betts, also a further sum of one hundred and fifty dollars be set aside for the widow and children under seven years old, this November 5, 1877.

Case No. 52. Robert J. H. Bryant vs. Willie Wilson and Luci Wilson, July 6, 1885 for the murder of Lewis Bully.

 

The library is located at 203 N. McKinley in Calera, OK. You can also contact them by calling 580-434-5848.