Caddo- My Home Town

Cat's Paw, 1931

The Caddo Herald

September 18, 1931

The Cat’s Paw

Inez Hogan, Editor-in-Chief

Edna Earl McGraw, Associate

Tony Harris, Associate

 

New Faculty Members

Our new Superintendent, M. C. Bevens, comes to us from Madill, after a four year stay there and six years at Wells. We are pleased to have Mr. Bevens and feel fortunate in securing him.

E. Oscar Henninger is our new principal. He is a graduate of Caddo High and of S. T. C. at Durant. He has spent last four years teaching Liberty School north of town where he attained great success.

Arthur Campbell, our new coach, is also sponsor for the Cat’s Paw. He is highly recommended as an instructor and coach. During his last years at Southeastern he was editor of The Southeastern and president of the Senior Class. He was a member of the Savage football team for four years, playing half back.

Mrs. Downs, home economics instructor this year, comes from Durant. Mrs. Downs is a graduate of S.T.C., is very competent and we know she’ll prove a big success here. We are proud to have her as a member of our faculty.

Mrs. M. C. Bevens is supervisor of the music department for ’31-’32., is a graduate of Galloway College at Searcy, Ark. We, the school, appreciate her faithfulness to carry out our aim.

W. J. Dowd and Mrs. C. H. Grayson only returning members of last year’s faculty need no introduction. We are happy for their return and feel that their presence will inspire us to fulfill every hope.

 

General News

The 1931-32 school term opened Monday Sept. 7^th with the student body prepared with the faculty to make this the biggest and best year in the history of Caddo High.

Assembly was had Monday morning. We had a large group of visitors including Revs. Tyson and Gurley, who gave inspiring talks. Our new Superintendent M. C. Bevens also addressed assembly, outlining the program for the year.

Junior High faculty:

Eighth grade- Willie Taylor

Seventh-Mrs. C. H. Grayson

Sixth- Mrs. Bill Owen

Mascot- Bill Dean Downs

Thursday Coach Campbell introduced the football men for ’31. Everyone in school pledged the boys their loyal support. Pep Club chose Rachel Barber as yell leader. Our slogan for the next few weeks is “Beat Tishomingo”.  

 

Library Notes

Library of Caddo High opened Monday morning with more than a thousand books catalogued.

Irene Kennedy is head librarian: Nadine Guthrie, Ava Jo Wright, Bessie McGraw, Lois McIntosh, Edna Earl McGraw and April Green are assistants.

We wish to thank Mr. Bevens for the English classics he so kindly donated to the library.

 

 

 

Business, 1931

The Caddo Herald

January 30, 1931

Re-Opened

B. Jacobs last Friday bought the bankrupt stock of C. A. Trading Co. and re-opened the store which he formerly managed.

He announces that he is ready again to serve the people with the best of everything at lower prices than ever.

 

Howard Holmes Heads First State Bank Here

At the meeting of the directors of The First State Bank of Caddo, held Tuesday, January 20^th, the following officers were elected for the coming year:

Howard Holmes, President

H. F. Bass, V. President

D. B. Mason, Cashier

J. D. Maytubby, Asst. Cashier

Weldon McGraw, Bookkeeper

 

The following directors were elected at that time.

Howard Holmes

Ralph Ownby

W. E. McIntosh

H. F. Bass

D. B. Mason

 

Get Ready to Run!!

 

The Buffalo Stampede will start at 8:00 a.m. on October 1^st.    

Entry forms may be picked up at Caddo’s Shamrock Bank, Craighead’s or The Rex II Theater. Contact Don Tidwell at 589-367-9898 for more information.  

Cash prizes totaling $150 will be presented to the overall male and female winners ($50 each) as well as to the Masters male and female winners ($25 each).Those four will also be presented coveted buffalo art works. 

There will also be a one mile fun run for those not wishing to run the full 5K course. Chip timing will be used this year for the first time in the history of the Stampede.  Packets may be picked up at the back entrance of the Caddo Presbyterian Church in downtown Caddo.  Chip the Buffalo t-shirts will be presented to the first 150 to sign up.

Come on out and have some fun! If you aren’t running, cheer your favorites!

Alf Miers, 1931

The Caddo Herald

October 2, 1931

Alf Miers Dies at Gin Thursday, Heart Trouble

Alf Miers died at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon of heart trouble.

The funeral was held Friday afternoon from the Jim Foster residence. Burial in Caddo Cemetery conducted by Rev. Geo. E. Tyson, pastor of the Methodist church.

Mr. Miers was at the Cherokee Gin with a bale of seed cotton and was working the suction when he remarked, “I feel bad, take it boys,” fell over and died almost instantly. Previous to that he had been in his usual good spirits, jollying with people he knew, making plans and trades as of yore.

Alf Miers was  63 years of age, lived eight miles northwest of Caddo on his own place. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Dollie, who is attending Caney High School. He was a man of strictest honor and probity, one respected by all who knew him, had worked hard all his life, having perhaps cleared more land than any man about here. In his community he was a leader for good things of life, and his passing will sadly be missed.

Poem

This post is a bit unusual, but I have always considered Mr. G. A. Crossett, the editor of the Caddo Herald, to be a fascinating man of many talents. I only wish I had found this poem before I included his biography in my book. But that is the way of discovery and the plight of genealogists everywhere. Just when you think you know as much as you can about someone, along comes a bit more that surprises you.

July 20, 1928

Birth of Pushmataha

By G. A. Crossett, Caddo, Okla.

By the Creek of Dancing Rabbit

In the state of Mississippi,

Within the forest wild and new,

With God’s vaulted dome above them;

Where the lichen, moss and grapevine

Covered trees in wild profusion,

Lived the tribe of Choctaw people,

True to simple life and habit,

Who became a might nation.

 

With this people dwelt a Chieftain,

Bold and brave, in stature perfect

Friend of Jackson and of white man,

Wise in council, fearful never—

Led the tribe to fame and fortune.

 

Came the wars of white man’s making

Greed for power, land and glory—

Came the agents of the white man

Seeking aid of Choctaw people:

“We give thee glory fame and honor—

Bright trinkets from beyond the sea;

Your land as long as grows the grass;

Come with us to fight the foe.”

 

Lured by hopes of gain and glory

Indian warriors joined the fury;

Marched away with Old Hickory,

Battled and bled, suffered and died;

Widows were made, and orphans, too.

 

Came the remnant home in gladness

Loaded rich with spoils of war:

Blankets many, pots and vessels,

Bright red robes, shot and powder—

Danced the war dance.

Widows mourned, but had comfort,

Because the land was saved to them

Forever more.

Always white man would be their friend.

 

Named the Chieftain Pushmataha,

Of valor great and courage true.

Of this Chieftain none knew kindred,

Alone, single, thus they knew him,

(None dare ask, none were ‘lightened).

 

 

Big White Chief and he grew merry

Telling tales of battles grim.

“Tell me, Chief, of whom art thou?

Hast no father, mother, brother?”

I will tell thee, friend of mine,

Though none else hast heard me say.

Pushmataha, he has neither,

Father, nor mother, nor kinsman

Upon this earth.”

 

“What! No kinsman, how be it then

That thou are here?

Wert never so with other men.”

“Listen, while I to thee relate

How Pushmataha came to be.”

 

In the forest of the Choctaws,

S’rounded by fen and foul morass

Grew an oak of giant stature—

O’er the heads of all it towered,

Mighty monarch of wood and field.

Once there came to this great forest

A storm of wind and rain and hail

Lightnings flashed –thunders roaring.

A bedlam ‘twas.

 

Seemed as if the Great Almighty

Sought destruction.

From the heavens a lightning bolt,

None more wicked, and none more fierce,

Flashed across the ashen skies.

 

In gleeful play it struck this oak,

Proud might king of dell and dale,

With such fury that the giant

In equal twain was sundered.

From that riven tree so parted

(A miracle),

Leapt a warrior perfect

In stature—in wisdom profound.

‘Twas Pushmataha.

 

 

 

 

 

Dresses

The Caddo Herald

October 12, 1928

Women Win at Fair for House Dresses

Four Bryan County house dresses won first prize at Oklahoma City Fair and fifth prize at Muskogee after winning first at the Bryan Count Fair. The total is $6.25 for each of the four women who made the dresses; three from Caddo and one from Utica. Mrs. H. W. Thompson, Mrs. R. H. McGraw and Mrs. M. B. Taylor are the Caddo women whose handiwork was so excellent.

Now this is something worthwhile. Why should our good women have their dresses made in New York or elsewhere and pay several profits when they can do it better and for less money themselves? Mrs. McGraw says the dress she made cost $1.15.

We always did say Bryan was an excellent county and this proves it along an industrial line.

Dear Santa, 1929

The Caddo Herald

December 6, 1929

Santa Claus Letters

 

Dear Santa Claus:

I am a good girl in the second grade at school, have not got a whipping. I want a table and chairs, if you have them. Mother wants a new car and my Daddy wants a Lintoype, but I’m glad it don’t hurt to want. And please don’t forget the other boys and girls. Your little friend, Nina Fay Crossett.

Please send me a pair of skates, doll, doll buggy, a good story book, a pair of rubber boots, wrist watch, a gold ring, a pair of warm gloves, a croquet set, a pair of No. 1 shoes and silk stockings. I am 10 years old. Mary Lee Hickenbottom

How are you? Fine, I hope. I am just fine now. I want a big doll and doll buggy, a pair of skates, some dishes, a doll bed, a little story book, some candy, some pictures, and a ring. Your friend, Erolyn Claborn.

I want you to send me a doll and doll buggy and a little truck for my little brother too little to write, and I want lots of candy, oranges and apples. I will be glad when Christmas comes. I hope I get what I want. Maxine Grewell

How are you now? I am feeling fine. I read in the paper that you had dolls of every kind. I saw that you had dolls that could walk alone. Santa, you will know if I have been good, won’t you? I don’t want much this Christmas, but bring my dog a nickel’s worth of meat and I will put up a stocking for him. I want some silk stockings, a parchessi game and two doll dresses. Maxine Gross

I want a drum, airplane, football. Ralph Evans

How are you? Fine I hope. I have been a good boy. I want a football, air gun and some acorns. Your friend, Thomas Henry Dorsey.

I want a Bylo* doll, a doll buggy, a story book and a set of dishes. Nell Hogan

I want you to bring me a wagon, sky rockets, electric train, a football, basketball, and a bag of fruit. Bill Semple

I want a set of dishes and a Bylo doll, also a doll buggy and banjo. Esther Schaffer

I want a big doll, doll buggy, and a pair of skates. I have a picture of you. Lots of love. Your friend, Juanita McClaskey

I want a new pair of shoes, a farm set, a tractor, a plow, a set of tools, a watch that will run, a book satchel, a football, a sweater, a coaster wagon, an airplane and a bebe gun. J. C. Campbell

I want a little car, a train, a fire truck, a tractor, wagon, an Uncle Wiggly** game, an airplane and air gun and candy. Milton Campbell

I thank you very much for the nice presents you gave me last Christmas. I would like an air gun, a story book, a dancing monkey, fireworks, fruits, nuts, and candy. Edward Propps

I want you please to bring me a Bylo baby doll with a bottle, a doll buggy, and a pair of skates. Mildred Jean McCreary

I want a beautiful doll that will sleep and say mother, blanket, some candy, apples, and an orange. Veda Mae Ellis

I’m fifteen months of age. I’d like a drum, ABC blocks, some firecrackers, and hammer and nails. LeRoy Downing

I am Mozelle Harris. I want a cradle, please, a doll and some apples and candy.

I want a buggy, a doll, a cradle, apples, and candy. Willie Mae Jones, age 8

I want a pair of skates, a football and a dollar. Harold Geter

I want a pair of skates, a big doll, buggy and cradle. I am 8 years old. Lucille Gilcrease

I want a pair of skates, a doll, a scooter, some candy and a dress. Francis Blakney

I am a little girl 7 years old. I want a doll, a buggy, a cradle and some candy. Margie Sue Powell

I want a little red wagon and lots of nuts and fruit. Don’t forget the rest of my friends. Ray Lindsey

I want a doll, a basket, some dishes and lots of fruit and nuts. Kathleen Rice

I want a pair of skates, a buggy, a truck and a wagon. Lucille Adair

*The Bye-Lo baby was designed by Grace Storey Putnam. In the year 1923, Grace was inspired to create a doll that resembled a baby at three-days old. Graces bye lo babies are very life-like and although they are no longer being produced today they are still collector’s items.

**Howard R. Garis created the character "Uncle Wiggly Longears" for a children's book in 1910. The game based on the children's story was first introduced by the Milton Bradley company in 1916. Milton Bradley modified the game in 1923, 1949, and 1955.

 

Meat Loaf, 1929

 

Mrs. Keith, 1929

The Caddo Herald

January 18, 1929

Mrs. W. T. Keith Dies

At the family home in Caddo last Thursday evening at 6, Mrs. W. T. Keith died of pneumonia. The body was buried Saturday in Caddo Cemetery beside her son, Elmer Keith, who was killed in France ten years ago.

Mrs. Keith is survived by her husband and three children, Mrs. Denny Craghead, Homer Keith, and Miss Minnie Keith.

Mrs. Keith was 68 years of age and had lived a life of usefulness to those with whom she lived, a good neighbor, ever ready to relieve human distress.

 

Craighead's 1938