Caddo- My Home Town

State Song

This clipping is from the Kingfisher newspaper, 1949. This was our state song from 1935-53. 

Locals, 1943

 

Durant Weekly News

August 6, 1943

Caddo

After a month’s vacation at home, Miss Annette Powell left last Monday for Konowa to resume her duties as Home Economic Instructor in the Konowa schools.

Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Henninger of Jenks are visiting relatives in and around Caddo.

Isadore Schaffer of McAlester spent last week end with Mrs. Schaffer and friends.

D.O. Nail, employee of The Oklahoma Livestock Co., spent last week end at home.

Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Middleton of Jacksboro, Texas, have returned home after visiting their daughter, Mrs. Roy Walker.

Mr. and Mrs. Luke Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Bud Jones have returned to their homes in Odessa, Texas after visiting relatives here and at Caney.

Miss Sara Sue Call, who has been attending summer school at O. U., is home for a month’s visit with relatives and friends.

Mr. L. L. Hodges is visiting relatives in Knoxville, Tenn.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Ward, an 8-pound girl, July 29^th at their home in Caddo.

Mrs. Lucy Cotfield of Ada, while visiting Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Hodges, fell off the porch and fractured her leg.

John Hill of Konowa is visiting Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Hodges.

Mrs. Geneva Knoche of Bigsbee is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. G. L. Barnes.

Mrs. N. Cotton left last Sunday for a month’s visit with relatives in Dallas, Texas.

Joe Meadows, in the U. S. army, has returned to camp Dodd, Dodd City, Kansas, after a ten-day visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Meadows.

Mrs. Marinell Cointepas returned home after a week’s visit with friends in Ft. Smith, Arkansas and McAlester, Okla.

Mrs. Augusta Richardson visited in Durant and Calera last Saturday.

Dr. J. C. Curry, District Supt. of the Durant District, and his wife, visited Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Littlejohn last Friday evening.

100 Laborers

1943

Soap

Welcome Encyclopedia of Cookery

and Valuable Recipes

1890

An Excellent Hard Soap

Pour twelve quarts soft boiling water on two and one-half pounds of unslaked* lime; dissolve five pounds sal soda** in twelve quarts soft hot water; then mix and let them remain from twelve to twenty-four hours. Pour off all the clear fluid, being careful not to allow any of the sediment to run off; boil three and one-half pounds clean grease and three or four ounces of rosin in the above lye till the grease disappears; pour into a box and let it stand a day to stiffen and then cut in bars.

It is as well to put the lime in all the water and then add the soda. After pouring off the fluid, add two or three gallons of water and let it stand with the lime and soda dregs a day or two. This makes an excellent washing fluid to boil or soak the clothes in, with one pint in a boiler of water.

*not caused to crumble by treatment with water

**a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soapy powders and glass and paper

Approved Methods for Home Laundering

 

While researching an article about early laundry services, I came across a splendid little booklet: “Approved Methods for Home Laundering” by Mary Beals Vail, 1906. Mary wrote these very detailed instructions for the Proctor & Gamble Co. Established in 1837, they produced several popular soaps used by housewives for generations.

Also included in the booklet is this handy little schedule for the week. Imagine your poor ancestor trying to accomplish all of this while raising children, cooking meals, tending a garden, and taking care of her church and community obligations. Is it any wonder that laundry service was a popular and profitable business?

March 14, 1913

Laundry- We call for laundry each Tuesday and deliver it each Friday. Family washings at 6c per pound. Give us a trial with your laundry. Phone 23 and we do the rest. Freeny

 

Sounds like a bargain!

Plan for the Week

Monday

1. Put the house in order.
2. Plan and cook for Tuesday.
3. Sort clothes.*
4. Mend clothes.
5. Take out stains.
6. Soak soiled clothes (3 tubs).
7. Lay fire for morning.
8. Fill boiler.
9. Get tubs and other things ready.

*1. Table linens. 2. Bed linens, body linens, towels, handkerchiefs. 3. Flannels. 4. Colored cottons and stockings. 5. Soiled towels and cloths.

Tuesday

1. Light the fire and heat water.
2. Make soap solution
3. Do washing (There are 8 pages of general instructions, followed by about forty pages of tips for specific fabrics and items. Also lists of supplies needed, and folding charts.)
4. Sprinkle and roll clothes.

Wednesday

1. Iron and bake.
2. Do thick starching.

Thursday

1. Finish ironing.

Friday

1. Put house in order.

Saturday

1. Bake and plan for Sunday.

Civic Club, 1911

The Caddo Herald

September 22, 1911

Civic Club

                The Civic Club held their regular meeting with Mrs. F. P. Semple with a good attendance. The picnic committees gave in their reports.

                The subject, “What Constitutes True Charity,” was led by Mrs. McPherren. Kate Barnard and her splendid work in Oklahoma was discussed by the club. Mrs. Morris gave a very interesting sketch of Clara Barton and the old Red Cross Society. Booth and the Salvation Army by Mrs. Brewer was very interesting. Mesdames Hill and Bilbo played a very pretty duet. The hostess served cream and cake.

                The president reported the sum of two dollars and fifty cents collected from Mr. Shofner for a grave in the city cemetery for Alf Chiles. Owing to the lack of funds, the cemetery work will have to stop until better collections are made. Labor is much higher and we will have to make better collections if we carry on this work. In fact, all collections have fallen off to a great extent.

Grave in City Cemetery…2.50

Collection, North Side….2.75

Main St., July and Aug….11.30

South Side……………………..1.25

                Total………………………17.80

Labor………………………...41.75

Lawn Mower……………….7.70

                Total……………………..49.45

Poppies

The Caddo Herald

May 25, 1923

Wear a Poppy

                Everybody is asked to wear a poppy on Memorial Day, May 30, in honor of those brave boys who fell in battle in the World War. The local Post of the American Legion has received 100 poppies to be sold here at ten cents each, and every man, woman, and child in Caddo should procure a poppy and wear it on Memorial Day.

                The proceeds obtained from the sale of the poppies is used to help sick and wounded veterans of the war. They have been sold for Memorial Day for the past two years and many disabled soldiers have been helped who would otherwise have received no help. The lives of many have been saved when the poppy sales permitted them to be sent to hospitals and given treatment. Wear a poppy. The expense is small but the help is inestimable. You can get them at both drug stores.

Mothers, 1917

Calera News

May 25, 1917

Memorial Day

Worth repeating:

 

October 21, 1921

Soldier Funeral Attended by Thousands

Sunday morning at eleven o’clock the funerals of Corporals Elmer Keith and Corbett Benefield were held at the Presbyterian Chapel lawn, attended by fully three thousand people. The sermons were delivered by Rev. Rylant of the Baptist church, and Rev. Naylor of the Methodist church.

            The remains were taken in charge by the Elmer Keith Post American Legion, proceeded with it to the cemetery, followed by the largest cortege ever had in Caddo. There the salute was fired and the bodies laid to rest side by side.

            The funeral offerings were very numerous and exquisite, by friends of the families and by the Ladies Auxiliary.

            Rev. Beasley, as chaplain, and Grover Braudrick, as commander of the Post, delivered the eulogies and prayer at the grave.

            Fitting as in life- these soldiers lived as buddies, as comrades, as boys-they were buried together. 

            It is estimated that fully three thousand people were here on this occasion, a fitting tribute to the American lads who laid down their all, that us at home might be safe from the hand of the ruthless invader. They came from all the country aroundabout, from Atoka, from Caney, from Kenefick, from Bennington, from Bokchito, from Durant, came the multitude thus to honor the soldier dead. The band from Durant, twenty strong, came and rendered the appropriate music, adding solemnity and color to the occasion.

            More than three hundred autos, wagons, and carriages were in the sad procession that marched to Gethsemane, filled each with its load of grateful people. None other Caddo people had done so much for America as these lad; they paid the big price, and nothing the folks at home could do will ever repay or requite them, but the nation will know that a grateful folk live in the boundaries of Caddo, and their graves will ever be green, kept by loving hands and loyal hearts.

            Elmer Keith was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Keith and Corbett Benefield was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Benefield who live near Caddo. They were members of the same regiment and company, trained at the same place, went away together, fought together, died together, came back together, and buried simultaneously, no difference will there be in the esteem in which they are held.

            The attention paid these comrades by the American Legion, is also worthy of mention. Diligent watch was kept at the Chapel by details in uniform of the Post. Each member seemed to be glad to do for their fallen comrades, and their attendance in uniform, fully a hundred strong, attested also that the spirit that went to France still lives in the hearts of the citizen soldiery.

            The Herald can add nothing to the honor of these dead heroes, voicing the sentiment of their fellow townsmen we can but say we shall remember them in kindness and honor.

The Arrest of Rev. Dilbeck

Rev. Gusta Mac Dilbeck was from Carter County, but I’m posting his story because this incident occurred in Bryan County and one of the jurors was from Caddo. Mr. Dilbeck was known throughout the region and had been preaching for quite some time. He was married and had ten children. Mr. Kennedy and his wife had six children. Nina Prue was the oldest. The 1920 census lists them as residents of Calera.

 

Durant Weekly News and Bryan County Democrat

August 27, 1920

Minister is Held for Trial

G.M. Dilbeck, Charged with Assaulting

Miss Prue Kennedy, is Held to

The District Court

                Lassoed, hog-tied, gagged, and hobbled, Rev. G. M. Dilbeck was delivered to the sheriff’s force by an irate father at an early hour one day last week. Naturally there was a good and sufficient reason for the undignified arrival of the clergical gentleman at the portals of the county Bastile.

 

Note: After complaints were made by Rev. Dilbeck’s supporters, the reporter retracted this opening statement and apologized for exaggerating Rev. Dilbeck’s condition to capture the interest of readers.

 

                The reason for the clerical gentleman’s plight was brought forth at the preliminary hearing which was held Thursday of last week before Justice of the Peace Archibald at the District Court room in this city.

                There was a record crowd at the court house to hear the evidence, one of the largest crowds that has ever been drawn to listen to the testimony in a preliminary examination in this county, the prominence of all parties concerned and the nature of the alleged attempted crime being such as to arouse intense interest in the southern part of the county which was exceedingly well represented at the hearing.

                The facts as brought out at the preliminary hearing Thursday were substantially as follows:

Rev. Dilbeck had been conducting a protracted meeting at the Bushnell schoolhouse and was stopping, for that night at least, with Walter Kennedy, prominent member of the Bushnell community. Mr. Kennedy and his family, accompanied by Rev. Dilbeck, had returned form the meeting last Saturday night and Mr. Dilbeck had been shown to his room. He left the room temporarily and while he was out Miss Kennedy, the 15-year-old daughter of his host entered his room for the purpose of getting some extra bed covering which was in it. As soon as the young lady entered the room, Mr. Dilbeck returned and entered into conversation with her.

                In a few moments the young lady started to leave the room, but was detained by the preacher, who seized her and according to the girl’s testimony, he held her in his arms and despite her struggles he kissed her. She screamed and her father, who was in the yard back of the house, looking through the window of the room saw what was going on and started for the room; the young lady, breaking free from the preacher’s hold, ran out of the room.

                Mr. Kennedy testified that he got his gun with the intention of killing the preacher, but that the entreaties of his wife prevailed and he brought him to town and turned him over to the officers.

                At the conclusion of the hearing the accused was held to the district court and as feeling is running high against the prisoner, his attorneys, Messrs. Philips and Shirley, asked that the matter of bail be held in abeyance for a while and the prisoner was returned to jail.

                Rev. Dilbeck is very well known over a good part of this country as an evangelist and had several meetings booked ahead when his arrest put a stop to his evangelistic activity. He is a married man and the father of ten children.

                His trial will come at the next term of the District Court in October.

Note: Other papers note that Miss Kennedy was serving as organist for the revival. Her father had gone out to the barn to get something and ran to the window when he heard her scream. Her mother was in the room next door and also ran to the room.  

                Rev. Dilbeck’s bail was set at $2,000 but not met; he wasn’t tried until November. The jury consisted of S. H. Duncan, B. G. Brown, G. G. Graham, John Washer, J. W. Smith, A. P. Blackwell, H. L. Cox, C. G. Morgan, J. M. Davis, H. C. Pualk, and Forbis Manning.

Durant Daily Democrat

December 3, 1920

Rev. Dilbeck is Dismissed from the Methodist Ministry

                Rev. Dilbeck, who at the recent term of district court was convicted for assault upon a young lady, was yesterday expelled from the ministry of the M. E. Church, South, and also from membership in this church.

                This was the result of a trial before seven members of the church, summoned by Presiding Elder Blackburn of this district, which was held yesterday afternoon in this city. Mr. Dilbeck has a right to appeal from the decision of the committee to the Methodist conference if he so desires. He was tried under the laws of the church, the presiding elder naming an investigation committee at the time the trouble first came up. This committee filed charges of gross immorality against Dilbeck and the trial yesterday resulted. He was not present, but had been notified to appear, but refused.

                Evidence was taken at the trial and it is understood that it was a unanimous verdict. The trial of Dilbeck created a great deal of excitement at the time, for the reason that he was a minister of the gospel and was holding a protracted meeting at the time the assault was said to have been made.

                He was found guilty and convicted, being given thirty days in the county jail and to pay a fine of $75. He has appealed from the decision of the district court to the state supreme court.

                He is now at his home in Carter county. It could not be learned whether or not he expects to take his case before the annual conference when it convenes next year.

Note: I could not find any information about the appeal or the Methodist conference. However, the November 1927 issue of the Muskogee paper notes that “Rev. Gus Dilbeck of Pauls Valley” preached at Whitehead.