Caddo- My Home Town

Drowning, 1916

The Caddo Herald

July 14, 1916

A.B. Smith Drowns

Monday afternoon about 2:30 o’clock, little A. B., the 4 year-old-son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Smith drowned in the old Caddo Gin Co. tank near the depot. The funeral occurred from the McCoy residence Tuesday afternoon at three o’clock, conducted by Rev. A. P. Johnson.

The little fellow in company with two other small boys wandered from home, and went to the tank. A. B. as near as can be learned, started to wade in the tank and soon became helpless. His little playmates hurried back home to inform the grandparents and they rushed to the scene, some three hundred yards from the McCoy residence. Too late however to be of any aid in restoring life and the boy must have been dead a half hour by the time he was rescued.

This sad occurrence has caused a pall of sadness over the entire town. He was a bright little boy, the delight of his parent, grandparents, and other relatives. Everybody in town knew and like little A. B. Their hearts go out to the bereaved relatives in this affliction.  

Ouch

The Caddo Herald

August 14, 1925

Craghead Hurt

Last Saturday afternoon Denny Craghead was badly hurt in a fall while working at the Choctaw Gin.

He was working at the top of a press when his footing slipped and he fell some eighteen feet, striking his ribs on an iron support of the press. He was given quick medical attention and taken home where he is resting well and soon will recover. A rib was broken and other minor injuries were sustained. 

Dog Bites Alton Pace

Last Saturday a dog belonging to W. N. Green bit Alton Pace five times on the thigh as the boy and his brother, Harry, were going by the Green home.

The dog’s head was sent away for analysis and was found not to be affected with rabies.

Alton is getting along nicely.

Helen Shelby Breaks Arm

Last Friday evening while cranking a Ford, Miss Helen Shelby had the misfortune to break her arm just above the wrist. Medical aid was quickly given her and at present she is improving.

Airplane, 1920

The Caddo Herald

February 20, 1920

A New Way of Traveling

                Monday afternoon George Shields, undertaker at Denison, was called to Caddo to do some embalming, and since the trains were so uncertain he came in an airplane, taking just twenty-two minutes for the journey of 33 miles.

Owing to the lateness of starting they had to remain over night, but ordinarily he would have returned immediately after getting through work, and there was not a safe place for landing at Denison at night.

This is the first time a commercial trip was made in this part of the country, and while regretting the seriousness of the business, yet the convenience and value of the airplane commercially was fully demonstrated. Of course there are difficulties yet to be overcome, but time and the inventive genius of American people will soon make the airplane a common article of use.

 

First Annual

 

The Caddo Herald

May 14, 1926

The Cat’s Paw

Last Friday The Herald delivered to the Seniors the first High School Annual ever printed for Caddo Schools. This Annual is named “The Cat’s Paw” and is printed by The Herald, wholly in this office. It is superior in work to the average High School booklet; contains fifty pages, is illustrated with pictures of the faculty, seniors, classes and other interesting features of the school.

It contains a list of the alumni of this school. Including the 21 seniors this year Caddo has issued diplomas to 190 young men and women since 1908.

Miss Lucille Grassham has been editor in chief of The Cat’s Paw, a department of The Herald, all year, and she has done a vast amount of work along this line and as editor of the Annual she shows great talent. The staff of the Annual has done a large amount of work, and altogether this annual is a credit both to the school and to its editors.

Copies may be had upon application to Thomas Ray Coffey at $2 each until the edition is exhausted.

Classs of 1926

1. Richard Briggs

2. Mary Cochran

3. Charles Cobb

4. Thomas Ray Coffey

5. Mark Davis

6. J. C. Davison

7. Alton Downing

8. Lucille Grassham

9. Oscar Henninger

10. Lillie Mae Hickenbottom

11. Dow McCalman

12. Margaret Jayne McGraw

13. Madge Richey

14. Dadia Robison

15. Eugenia Sargent

16. Grady Sargent

17. Alline Sessions

18. Zora Smith

19. Opal Smith

20. Willie Taylor

21. Clovis Wood

 

Faculty: O. E. Van Meter, Supt.; C. P. Crudup, Principal; Mrs. T. J. Coffey, English; Miss Edith Moore, F. Language; Mrs. Frances Grayson, History; Miss Ernestine Carroll, Home Economics; Miss Allegra Byers, Expression

 

Locals, 1931

The Caddo Herald

January 30, 1931

Of Local Interest

Miss Mary Lee Hogan was visiting in Atoka Saturday.

Mrs. Ruth Fields has returned from a visit to Chetopa, Kansas.

Mrs. Cecil Womble has returned from a visit with friends in Atoka.

John Hogan and James Hogan were visitors in Paris, Texas last Sunday.

Max Meadows was here from Seminole last weekend visiting homefolks.

Mrs. J. L. Sargent and Mrs. Gladys Carlton were Durant visitors last Monday.

Mrs. Lake Brewer and Mrs. Nannie Folsom were Durant visitors last Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Franks were visiting relatives and friends in Bokchito last Sunday.

Miss Permelia Rice who teaches at Clarksville, Texas, spent last weekend with homefolks.

Miss Bebe Chiles was here last weekend visiting homefolks and friends from Denton Texas where she is in school.

Boone & Styron are rebuilding the front of their store with brick under the show windows and a new awning.

For Sale- Fine modern residence in good condition on edge of Caddo, 10 acres of land. Worth $10,000 but will sell for less than one-third. Easy terms. Write for photos. Box 501. Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

Miss Ruby Nichols and Mrs. Claude Nichols were here from Bokchito last Saturday shopping with local merchants.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Davison and Mrs. H. T. Chiles were in Denison Tuesday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Charles T. McGregor.

Haskell Taylor and Albert Smith left Sunday to resume their work in Amarillo, Texas after a short visit here with homefolks.

Mrs. H. C. Robertson has returned to her home in Oklahoma City after a pleasant visit here with her daughter, Mrs. Guy G. Crossett.

Rufus Ballew, a former Caddoite, but now a resident of Shreveport, La. was here a few hours last Saturday visiting former friends and acquaintances.

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Harris were here from Pilot Point, Texas last Sunday visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Sessions, who live west of town.

A fine young lady came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Guy G. Crossett last Saturday morning to make her home. Both baby and mother are doing nicely.

Saturday evening the B.Y.P.U. surprised Rev. Gurley with a birthday party. A large crowd was present of the occasion.

C. L. Cooper died Monday at Durant after a short illness and was buried in Durant Cemetery. He was 56 years of age, and formerly lived in Caddo. He was a brother of Mrs. W. R. Evans who attended the funeral Tuesday.

Rev. Gurley and several members of his congregation went to the church at Rock Springs Sunday afternoon where a short sermon and program was given, accompanied by an illustrated chart lecture given by Mrs. Gurley.

Word has been received here of the death of an old-time former resident of Caddo, Mrs. Charles T. McGregor, which occurred Monday at the family home in Denison. The funeral was held Tuesday with a large cortege of friends present to pay their last respects to the deceased.

The funeral of Mrs. A. E. Folsom, 78, was held in Caddo, Thursday afternoon with a large number of friends in attendance. Deceased was a former resident of Caddo, but at the time of her death was living in Shawnee. Deceased was a sister of Mrs. W. F. Clower of this city.

 

 

 

 

William Oscar Springer

I don't often post items about my own family. And I haven't done a lot of research on the Springer side. This week, prompted by the work of a cousin, I decided to look for an obituary for my great-grandfather. Here it is:

 

The Durant Daily Democrat

July 28, 1953

Last Rites Today for W. O. Springer

Funeral services were scheduled to be held at 4p.m. today in the Holmes Chapel for W. O. Springer, aged 82 and a resident of Bryan county for 43 years who died at his home, 115 East Mulberry, Monday after an extended illness.

Grandsons of the deceased were to serve as pallbearers with burial in Highland Cemetery under the direction of Holmes Funeral Home. Officiating minster was the Rev. L. L. Armstrong.

Mr. Springer was born Jan. 7, 1872 in Omaha, Arkansas. His wife preceded him in death July 14, 1942. He was a Mason and a member of the Baptist church.

Survivors include five sons: Woodrow and R. E. Springer of Durant; W. F. of Utica, J. L. of Caddo, and O. F. Springer of Caddo, two daughters: Mrs. Virgie Box of Plainview, Texas, and Mrs. Pearl Green of Tishomingo; one brother, Bryan Springer of Sunkist, Okla., and one sister, Mrs. Sylvia Caldwell of Crescent, Okla., 27 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Peter Pitchlynn, 1925

The Caddo Herald

June 26, 1925

Mrs. Pitchlynn Dead

Mrs. Grace Pitchlynn died in Caddo Friday afternoon at the home of her son, Earnest Pitchlynn. The deceased was sixty-three years of age and for the past several years has been confined to her room.

Mrs. Pitchlynn, who was formerly Miss Doss, married in Washington, D. C., many years ago, her husband holding an official position at the capitol in the Indian Department. Several years after the marriage Mr. Pitchlynn died and was buried in Washington. Before being confined to her room Mrs. Pitchlynn divided her time, spending part of her time in Washington and the other part in Caddo.

Mrs. Pitchlynn’s funeral was held Saturday afternoon at five at the Presbyterian chapel with Rev. Ebenezer Hotchkin of Durant. The remains were laid to rest in the Caddo Cemetery. She is survived by four sons: Earnest Pitchlynn, of Caddo; Paul Pitchlynn, of Berkley, California; Carlisle Pitchlynn, of Washington, D. C.; and Garland Pitchlynn, of Washington, D.C.  Paul and Carlisle were not able to attend the funeral but Garland was here, having been with his mother during her last few days.

Mrs. Pitchlynn was a very loving character and well thought of by all who knew her.

 

This interview with her son is from Pioneer Papers.

Pitchlynn, Evertt Interviewed by Lula Austin, May 26, 1937, INTERVIEW 5949

An Interview With Evertt Pitchlynn, Caddo, Oklahoma.      I was born in Eagletown, Choctaw Nation, January 8th, 1860. When I was very young I was taken to Washington, D.C., with my Father, Peter Pitchlynn, who was the Chief delegate of the Choctaw tribe of Indians. I received my education in Washington and obtained work there in the United States Government Printing Office. Major J. W. Powell was head of this printing office. I was also employed in the post office in Washington for twelve years under D.B. Auger, Thomas L. Tullock, Harry Scherwood and Frank B. Conger, we were asked to make bond. W.J. Ward signed my bond for $5000.00.      At the age of thirty-six years I returned to my old hunting ground in Indian Territory and worked in the post office in Caddo, when Harry Bates was postmaster. It was then that I ran the post office with everything locked in the safe. The postmaster would get o­n a drunk and leave town sometimes for two weeks. I would borrow from the Durant post office and the Atoka post office and manage to keep the post office at Caddo open. The citizens of the town reported Mr. Bates and the Federal men came and inspected the post office at Caddo, but found everything in A-1 condition. They asked me if it was true that Mr. Bates was off o­n a drunk. I told them I did not know; I supposed he was just taking a vacation. So in that way I helped him to hold his job.      I was married to Sue Maytubby, Choctaw, who lived at Maytubby Springs. Calvin Robinson, a Presbyterian minister, married us. Her father, Peter Maytubby, owned a forty-room hotel at Maytubby Springs. Visitors used to come from all over the southern part of the country to partake of the waters. There were four or five different springs. The water contained salt, sulphur and magnesia. We reared nine children; all are living. My wife died February 22nd, 1920.      My second wife was Harriett Woodal, daughter of Aliade Wooddal, who was the wife of a Union Officer, and after her husband’s death an employee of the Interior Department and returned with a pension of $5000.00 a year. She died January 10th, 1935 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery beside her first husband, being the o­nly woman to be buried there. The United States Government gave her children that privilege.      My brother, Lee Pitchlynn, came from Washington to visit me; the train arrived at 1 o’ clock A.M. I met him at the depot and we walked o­ne mile to my home. He said, “Brother you are a martyr to live like this.” I said, “No, I love the people and the country.      Indians used to come to Caddo from forty miles around to trade then; Caddo then had four stores and o­ne cotton gin. The Indians would trade yearlings and hogs for groceries and merchandise. That is the way most of the merchants got started in the cattle business. They would brand cattle and turn them out. Every fall they would have a big round up to separate the cattle, selling what they did not want to keep.      When war was declared between the North and South father was in Washington and President Lincoln granted him a pass to go through the Confederate line to get to this country. It was said in Washington that my mother looked so much like Abe Lincoln that people thought she was his sister. My father came home to attend the Indian Council near Double Springs. Different Indian delegates would visit in our home while they were in Washington. They would sit out under the trees and smoke their pipes, passing them around. My father could understand all the languages of the different tribes. My father was also given permission by Abe Lincoln to put a tent o­n the Smithsonian Institute grounds so he could be out in the open air. Charles Lombardy was my father’s secretary.