Caddo- My Home Town

Caddo Alumni Reunion, 2012

All former graduates of Caddo High School are invited to an informal gathering of alumni on Saturday, November 24, 2012 in the Caddo High School Cafeteria. Refreshments will be served and visiting encouraged from 2pm to 5pm. There is no charge for the event. At 3pm there will be a brief meeting to recognize classes and hear speakers. This is an enjoyable occasion that is held every four years and always draws a big crowd.

 

The first Caddo Alumni Reunion was held in June of 1935 and was a two-day event including a reception on Saturday night, a worship service on Sunday, and a “basket dinner” after the service. Registration for the event was 25 cents, but was free to all former faculty members.

The reception held at the Royal Hotel was restricted to faculty members, alumni, and their spouses. Single alumni were not allowed to bring a guest because of the small size of accommodations.  

The Sunday service was held in the gymnasium and the speaker was Rev. R. C. Alexander of Okemah. He was formerly the pastor of the Methodist Church in Caddo.

There were 370 graduates of Caddo High School between 1908 and 1935, and 170 of them attended the first reunion along with many spouses and faculty members. The paper noted that “one of the largest crowds ever to assemble for a church service was present to hear Rev. R. C. Alexander”.

After the dinner there was a formal meeting to organize a group to continue the reunion as an annual event, to adapt by-laws, and to elect officers. The following people were elected: H. W. Sargent, President; Miss Beth Moore, Vice-President; Miss Mary Adeline Boland, Secretary-Treasurer; Guy Crossett, Corresponding Secretary.

 

Almost Completed Pavilion

I went downtown to take a few photos of the pavilion. The brick work is finished. The wall will be repaired soon. The benches are a great spot to sit and rest! Such a wonderful improvement! A big "thank you" to the Town Restoration Association of Caddo.

November locals, 1918

Thanks to these old newspapers I learn something new nearly every week! Today I had to find out more about the Flyin' Frolic and why it would interest Mr. and Mrs. Siegel. And I assume that may have also been the reason for Mr. and Mrs. Bass to go to Dallas.  

 

"Flyin' Frolic" : Tailspin Cabaret at Love Field], Photograph, n.d.; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth66632/ : accessed October 20, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Municipal Archives , Dallas, Texas.

 

The Caddo Herald

November 15, 1918

 

Mrs. Ed. F. Brown was in Atoka Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bass were Dallas visitors Monday.

For all kinds of sewing call on Carnet Smiser. Phone 07.

Tom ___son and Frank White were here from Durant Tuesday.

Wm. Malone was in Durant Friday looking after United War Work.

P. W. Boxley and A. E. Ray were business visitors to Durant Tuesday.

Read announcement of the big Fur Exhibit and Sale on page 1.

Have 29 young work mules for sale; worth the  money. Cash or credit. P. H. Boxley.

Miss Nina Johnson is teaching the Wade school this year. Her parents live west of town.

U. S. Markham is teaching Pleasant Hill school, going to and from his work each day from Caddo.

Wanted- Cord wood cutters and mine prop makers. See Milton Lee or Carl Wilson, Caney, Okla.

Lost- In Caddo Saturday, one white kid glove for left hand. Finder please inform Mrs. A. F. Manning.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Siegel are spending the week in Dallas among friends and seeing the Flyin’ Frolic.

W. H. Yates and family were in Caddo this week. Mr. Yates still retains property interests at Matoy.

Have 75 acres of rolling black land for sale at $40 per acre, close to town and very desirable. J. H. McCalman.

Notice- D. Head & Son, Durant, Okla. will pay the highest cash price for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd issue of Liberty Bonds.

Come to the Durant Mercantile Sale next Friday and Saturday.

Rev. L. M. Daily went to Atoka Sunday to hold services. He is appointed pastor to that church for the coming year.

Don’t neglect your eyes, you only have the one pair and if you need glasses you need the ones which you can always get at W. F. Dodd’s.

We’re in the hauling business. None too large for us. No job too small for close attention. Phone 84. Sargent Bros.

Mr. and Mrs. Cavender from New Mexico are visiting the family of R. L. Pace. Mrs. Cavender was formerly Miss Eva Pace, daughter of A. C. Pace, and spent her girlhood in Caddo.

Ideal Coats, from $15 to $35 for immediate delivery. Ten per cent off on all Tailored to Measured Garments. Have on hand one coat and one dress to sell at cost. Mrs. Ed. F. Brown.

A young man is making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Joe Doxsee since Monday. Boy and mother reported doing well. Father had so much joy for one day: besting the Germans and owning a son. 

1948

The Caddo Herald

October 29, 1948

Locals

 

Mr. and Mrs. Hardin Meadows were here from Madill Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Lake Brewer were Fort Worth visitors last week.

Mrs. T. B. Killingsworth spent Wednesday with friends in Sherman.

Mrs. John Shuck of Dallas was here last weekend visiting her son and parents.

Mrs. G. A. Crossett is in Wagoner attending a district meeting of Women’s clubs.

Mrs. Clovis Calhoun and Mrs. John Mills spent Thursday afternoon in Denison.

Dave Horn of Borger was the guest of his brother Joe Horn in Caddo this week.

Miss Mary McIntosh, who is a teacher in McAlester schools, was at home last weekend.

Mrs. H. C. Kuschke is at home from a several weeks visit with her daughter in Dallas.

Mr. and Mrs. Bryce Cochran of Oklahoma City spent last weekend here with homefolks.

Miss Ruth Cochran, who is one of McAlester’s teaches, was home Sunday to see her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Roland Wright of Vernon, Texas, visited Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Craighead this week.

Mrs. M. E. Stoneman has gone to her home in Denison after a week’s visit with J. M. Stoneman and family.

John Mills had the misfortune to get one of his fingers cut off while working at the Brown and Witherspoon gin.

Mr. and Mrs. Delton Bennett, Jr. of Topeka, Kansas, were guests of Mr. and Mr. H. F. Bass Wednesday in Caddo.

Mrs. Bernice Studebaker, who is teaching school near McAlester, is spending the week with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Gecks.

Mrs. B. Alexander was taken to a hospital in Sherman Tuesday were she underwent an operation. At last reports she was doing nicely. B. is with her.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Watson of Atoka, Mrs. Myrtle Downing of McAlester, and Mr. and Mrs. Russell McCreary, Wirt, were guests of Mrs. M. G. Downing Sunday.

Mrs. Mollie Nance of Oklahoma City was in Caddo Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Ben Payne of Wapanucka. This was Mrs. Nance’s first visit to Caddo in 40 years. Several of her old friends were very glad to see her.

Mrs. John Mills entertained at her home Friday afternoon with a doubles pink and blue shower honoring Mrs. Willene Hampton and Mrs. Jack Dowell. Games of interest were played after which both honorees were presented a large basket of gifts. Twenty-five guests enjoyed refreshments. 

One person over time....

I was asked recently how I had accumulated out so much information about one of the merchants in Caddo. While I’m not ready to share the life of that person yet, since I’m compiling a book about him, I will show you how I use the locals to create the foundation of a biography.

 

Many people overlook the value of the “locals” because the information contained in them is often brief and sometimes even trivial. However, at the very least an item in the locals gives you the time and place that a person was alive. And as the following items about Ben Hampton show, they can also establish many relationships which can then be researched further.

 

From the following items I learned that Ben had a wife, who was the daughter of Mrs. F. R. Grayson. Mr. Hampton had a brother, Julius, who lived in Caddo and was a prominent businessman. Mr. and Mrs. Hampton lived in Caddo, but moved to Chickasha. Even after the move they retained some property in Caddo.  Mrs. Hampton was a close friend of Vivia Nail and was related to the outlaw Frank Thurmond. Mrs. Hampton had respiratory problems. The Hamptons had a daughter named Phoebe. Those few bits of information lead to many, many more.

 

Of course the computer makes much of this possible. I don’t scour the paper for articles about individuals unless I have a birth or death or other specific date. What I do is use the “search” feature and let the computer find them in the 4,000+ items about Caddo that I have collected over the years. Then I take my research to the library records, Google books, and genealogy sites.

 

The Caddo Free Press

I.W. Stone, editor

January 24, 1879

B. J. Hampton has been compelled to bring his wife to Caddo for medical treatment. She is quite ill with consumption and has been growing worse since last September.

 

The Caddo Herald

February 24, 1899

B. J. Hampton, a former citizen of Caddo, but now of Chickasha, who has been in town several days visiting his brother, Julius, and attending to business, returned home Sunday.

 

April 21, 1899

Mrs. B. J. Hampton, of Chickasha, is visiting friends and relatives in Caddo this week.

 

June 30, 1899

B. J. Hampton, of Chickasha, was in Caddo this week on business.

 

August 4, 1899

Mesdames F. R. Grayson and C. A. Hancock are in Chickasha, the guests of Mrs. B. J. Hampton.

 

The Caddo Herald

August 10, 1900

Nail-Robertson

In Chickasha, I. T. 10:45 pm Sunday, July 15, 1900, Miss Vivia Nail of Caddo, Choctaw Nation, and Mr. Albert Mitchell Robertson, of Chickasha, were united in marriage. The ceremony being performed by Judge E. M. Payne.

Chickasha has had a number or romantic happenings in marriage while moving along in a seemingly prosaic and work-a-day manner, but he wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson caps the climax in the story of our city. Theirs is a case of mutual attraction on first acquaintance, soon ripening into love, and “naming the early day”. They intended to surprise Mr. and Mrs. Hampton by going in with Judge Payne and being married after church, but found the family were not at home, and meeting Judge Payne on the avenue near the Nail mansion, on his way to the Hampton’s considered the time, place and themselves a happy conjunction, and the ceremony was performed. Judge Payne tying the knot on his best and happiest manner, and the twain were made one.

Miss Nail is one of the most charming and beautiful young ladies ever visiting in Chickasha, a brunette, with soft dark eyes, bright winsome features and graceful figure, and with a nature and disposition matching her beauty of form and feature. She has always been a welcome guest at the home of her lifelong friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hampton. Those who know her most intimately love her best. She has always received many attentions and compliments in the high social circle in which she moves.

Mr. Robertson has been a resident of Chickasha for a year past and has a host of friends here, as well as Gallatin, Missouri, his former home. He is manager of our telephone system and in business or social affairs is ever active, genial, and courteous. A large circle of friends of both the bride and groom will wish them unbounded happiness and prosperity. They are now visiting the relatives and home of the bride in Caddo and while there their marriage will be consummated according  to the Choctaw rites, as Miss Nail is a Choctaw maiden by birth. They will make their home in Chickasha. – Chickasha Express

 

November 23, 1900

The Caddo Herald

Monday Night’s Fire Burned the First Block Built in Caddo

(article and list of those affected)

Ben Hampton, two houses, $1,000; no insurance.

 

December 21, 1900

Mrs. F. R. Grayson left last week for Chickasha where she went to see her daughter, Mrs. B. J. Hampton, who was reported in a dangerous condition from an attack of pneumonia.

 

March 8, 1901

The Cattlemen’s Ball began at the Opera House last Saturday night with a grand march. The following participated: J. W. Crutchfield, Boone Williams, W. C. Nail, W. W. Blasingame, Barlow Roberts, Dick Grayson, Henry Chiles, Henry Edward, Earnest Bass, Ira Smith, A. M. Robertson, Amos Bass, Harden Smith, Mr. and Mrs. A. Manning and Misses Mary Allen, Lillian Chiles, Miss Layman, Esthel Nail, Anna Rathbum, Edna Green, Mannie Henderson, Maggie Lee Bass, Miss Folsom, Mrs. A. M. Robertson, Mrs. Ben Hampton, Rosa Leflore, and Mrs. Gooding.

 

March 15, 1901

Mrs. C. A. Hancock in her most delightful way entertained at cards Tuesday night Mesdames Robertson and Hampton, Misses Henderson and Nail and Messrs. Robertson, Chiles, Grayson, and Edwards. Dainty and delicious refreshments were served.

 

 

The Caddo Herald

April 3, 1903

Mrs. C. A. Hancock yesterday afternoon gave a reception at her beautiful home in honor of Mesdames Frank Thurmond of Deming, N. M., Ben Hampton, of Chickasha, I. T., and J. Vaughan Hardin, of Caddo. A large number of ladies of Caddo were present and enjoyed the occasion greatly. Seasonable refreshments were served.

 

April 10, 1903

Mrs. Ben Hampton’s daughter, Miss Phoebe, and Mrs. J. V. Hardin left Saturday for Chickasha which is the home of Mrs. Hampton. Mrs. Hardin will be gone about ten days.

 

School Week, 1925

November 20, 1925

Cat’s Paw- General News

Monday: We had assembly. We sang several songs and Mr. Van Meter talked to us about using polite language. After singing “A Merry Life” we went back to class feeling fine.

Tuesday: Bank day and the day of class meetings. Dr. Muerman of S.T.C. visited our psychology class and made a very enjoyable talk. He has spent much time in the Philippines.

Wednesday: There was much confusion over the junior and senior flags. As Wednesday was Armistice Day we had assembly. After singing patriotic sons we were lectured by Mr. Crossett, Mr. Van Meter, and Mr. Crudup. Following this the assembly was turned into a “pep” meeting. We were pleased with the result of the football game with Soper.

Thursday: The two literary societies met, but have not yet decided on their names. Also a senior class meeting was held.

Friday: Seniors entertained in assembly!

Last Thursday Mrs. Bilbo met with the glee club girls and the following officers were elected: Lucille Grassham, president; Beth Moore, vice-president; Sibyl Braudrick, second vice-president; Pearl Lynch, secretary; Doris Maytubby, treasurer; Lucille Coffey, corresponding secretary.

The D. M. S. play, “Miss Fearless & Company” presented last Wednesday night at the Royal Theatre was a great success.

 

 

Cat's Paw, 1925

The Caddo Herald

November 20, 1925

The Cat’s Paw

 

Lucille Grassham, editor-in-chief

Beth Moore, associate

Reporters: Senior- Eugenia Sargent; Junior-Mildred Guthrie;

Sophomore- Lucille Coffey; Freshman- Hardenia Ellis

 

Junior Jottings

Wednesday several of the loyal juniors attempted to decorate the study hall with our colors, but in vain; so they retired to the domestic art room, our class room, and proceeded to decorate it with strands of royal purple and white crepe paper.

We hoisted our class flag on top of the building but how long did it stay there?

Where is the senior flag? Perhaps some of the juniors can tell you .

Evelyn, Marilee, and Mildred got a hair cut last week. The other students were beginning to think that a collection would have to be taken to pay their barber bills.

In the psychology class Minnie Herrod was called upon to give an impromptu speech of ten minutes length on the subject of school attendance, but to our great sorrow she declined.

The junior girls on the basketball team are Odessa, Rosie, Evelyn, Marilee, and Minnie. Odessa was elected captain.

We’ve lost another member of our class to the seniors- Grady Sargent, but we know he is glad.

Senior Doings

Where is the senior flag?

American history class was very quiet Monday morning; the football boys were gone to play Bonham.

Seniors, prepare for the Literary Digest test next Monday. We are afraid that we haven’t digested very much knowledge along with the magazine.

Miss Margaret Jayne McGraw motored to Durant Friday night.

Miss Eugenia Sargent spent last Sunday very happily.

There has been quite a lot of excitement about the flags. We admit the junior flag was pretty and stayed in the building a long while, but the senior flag was up first and down last.

We are beginning to get accustomed to a few new things- but the majority rules. 

Court 1902

Court Minutes, Blue County, Choctaw Nation

Page 19

The county and probate court of Blue County, Choctaw Nation convened in regular session at Caddo, the seat Justice, on the first day of December 1902. Present were R. C. Freeny, Judge; J. W. Durant, Sheriff; F. Manning, Bailiff and L. M. Maurer, Clerk.

Ben Nail was cited by the court for violation of Permit Law, paid permit and cost and was dismissed.

On application of Robert Turnbull, by his attorney, S. J. Homer, the application for the appointment of Administrator over the estate of Mrs. Laura Kelly, deceased. The court granted a continuance of the case until the next regular term, with permission to amend the original application.

Permit of Charlie Allen, employed by W. G. Ward, No. 136, was revoked.

Henry Byington violated permit law; case was called and continued until the January term of 1903.

 Petition of Robert Buckholts to be appointed temporary guardian of the minor heirs of N. O. Buckholts, deceased was presented and granted.

The administrator, Simpson Armby of the estate of Jinsey McGee, asking the court to grant an order to sell certain farm and improvements located there on in Jackson County to pay the debts and defray funeral expenses of said Jinsey McGee, deceased.

Page 20

Court was adjourned to meet on Dec. 15, 1902, L. M. Maurer, clerk.

Page 21

The county and probate court of Blue County, Choctaw Nation, in Special Session at Caddo, met this 15^th day of December 1902. Present, R. C. Freeny, Judge; J. W. Durant, Sheriff; F. Manning, Bailiff and L. M. Maurer, Clerk.

James Killingsworth for contempt of court, held for permit and remit law.

Grover Bodyston was cited to court for violation of permit law; paid permit and cost.

J. C. Hampton, violating permit law, was required to appear at February term 1903.

Daniel Payton for violating permit law; case called and he paid 4 permits for 1902 and gave bond to the amount of $200.00. He was to appear at the District Court for the Feb. term the first Monday in Feb. 1903.

Charlie Daney for violating permit law was required to make bond to the amount of $210.00 for his appearance at the District Court, the first Monday in Feb. 1903.

Lonzo Byington, violating permit law; dismissed for payment of his permit.

Frank Anderson, violating permit law, was dismissed for payment of permits.

R. C. Bershears for violating permit law, paid cost of court, permit revoked. 

Territory Notes, 1899

The Caddo Herald

April 7, 1899

Territory Notes

Wagoner is to have a $40,000 hotel to be built with home capital.

Muskogee has a suburb called Grand View. It overlooks Muskogee.

The News of Muskogee says that “the iron hand of monopoly” is over that promising village.

Wagoner has a representative at Washington for whose services the people pay $1,000 a year.

The international school for the blind at Fort Gibson has temporarily suspended for want of funds.

The question in Eufaula for a municipal issue was why $1,000 had been paid to the Washington lobbyist.  

The Masonic hall at Wynnewood burned April first. H. Robinson, a printer, perished in the flames.

Mrs. J. A. Profit, sister of Governor Johnson of the Chickasaw Nation, died at her home in Emet Tuesday.  

Col. R. J. Downing, a onetime Territory lawyer of prominence, is reported to have died last week at Joplin, Mo.

The Territory newspapers looked sort of funny the past few weeks- a municipal campaign is new to us, but we can catch on quickly.

The residence of National Auditor Wood at Talihina ws burned last week. Loss about $3,000. All his official records were destroyed.

T. J. Farrar of Shawnee has been appointed chief clerk of the land office under the Dawes commission at Muskogee. The position pays $1,200 a year.

The Court of Appeals, which was to have gone into session at South McAlester on the 15^th of this month, has been postponed until the 22^nd of April.

Joe Kelley, a Creek, was ambushed and killed near Coweta Sunday night. He was driving along in company with his wife when shot. No clue has been discovered.

The annual meeting of the Territory pharmaceutical association will be held at Vinita May 23-25. Preparations are under way to make the meeting a profitable and pleasant one.

There are now confined in the United States jail at Muskogee 180 prisoners, of whom two are women. Forty of the prisoners are charged with the crime of cold-blooded murder.

Vinita Leader says the president has approved the act of the Cherokee council granting a franchise in that nation for a long distance telephone from Chetopa, Kansas to Wagoner.

J. Fent Wisdom of the Union Indian agency has been making a thorough investigation of the smallpox situation and reports the disease is about stamped out in the Territory.

This week a mistrial was the result of a second trial of Clarence Douglas for the murder of Editor Williams at Ardmore two years ago. The trial has cost the government thousands of dollars.

The Denison Herald says that the Indian Territory is just now entering into a stage of intruders and there are lively times ahead in the course of a few months. A great many people have an erroneous idea of the status of affairs in the Indian Territory.

Judge Clayton has decided that it is not necessary for a person to make affidavit that parties making application for marriage license are of lawful age. The rule heretofore ever since the court has been established was to require an affidavit before a license could be issued.

The appropriation for the Dawes Commission which was increased from $40,000 to $183,000 must be expended in the work of that body by July 1^st or it will revert back to the government treasury. This necessitates the completion of the allotment before that time.

The battle flag of the Chickasaws that was carried at the battle of New Orleans under the leadership of Andrew Jackson is one of the attractions that will be displayed at Denison, Texas during the Grand Army state encampment on April 20. This is the only battle flag of the war of 1812 known to be in existence in the Southwest.

The Chelsea Reporter says by the time Judge Springer disposes of the intruder cases now before him there will be little left to be said as to the rights of that class of people in the Indian Territory. Nearly every phase of the subject has already been passed upon and the decisions are uniformly in favor of the Cherokee Nation.

At Antlers Judge Clayton’s court convened April 3. His charge to the grand jury was to indict all sawmill owners who cut, sawed, or shipped any lumber or timber out of the Choctaw Nation since January 1, 1899. This charge closed every sawmill and cross tie camp in the Nation. There are thirteen murder cases to be tried at this term. The most important case is the trial of Floyd Simpson for the murder of Boley Grady, son of United States Marshal Grady. The killing occurred at Cameron about a year ago. 

Ben Siegel

I'm working on Mr. Siegel's biography. You can still see his name on his building in Caddo and on the streets of Durant.