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Blog Entries: 1 to 7 of 7
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Taylor's Inn
Taylor's Inn
Contributed by Nancy Reidy-Howard
Of course, the place is long gone now, burned to the ground many years ago, but Taylor's Inn was a big part of our childhood, when we lived "out in the country" and even after we moved to town.
The place had its biggest heyday, long before we knew it. It was a roadhouse place back in the 1940's. Big band orchestras and folks like Bob Wills played there. When we knew it, it was a restaurant, a beer joint. A popular place for folks in Poteau to go enjoy a steak or go sneak a cold one.
The Taylor family were Lebanese. "Mama" Taylor, her sons, Fred and Ellis, and daughter Marie are who I remember. Not sure when Mr. Taylor died or how, but he was never mentioned in my memory. Fred pretty much ran the place (after Mama Taylor passed). Ellis and Marie had their store and motel in Talihina. Mama Taylor ruled the roost. Rather sharp tongued, and controlling, she ran her children's lives. Fred and Marie never married, but Ellis had once. He was divorced (not a good thing for a devout Catholic family) and I think I remember a son mentioned, but I don't think he ever saw him much. I remember Ellis as a pretty sharp dresser, (compared to Fred anyhow) - I believe he probably did not allow his mother to run his life (as much). I remember he used to go the horse races in Hot Springs and other places, "Mama" did not approve. Our mom always said that Mama Taylor had never allowed Fred or Marie to marry - no one was good enough for them; she always thought that was sad. Our mama, of course really liked Fred and Marie, and even Ellis to some degree, but I think that Mama Taylor was hard to be around sometimes for her. One nice memory I do have about her is that she always kept petunias; blue, pink and white in the window boxes at the Inn. Even after she passed, a few came up volunteer now and then for many years.
Fred was Godfather to Mary, Theresa, Kathy and Kevin and a very good friend to our family. He was very kind and always genuinely pleased when we came by to visit. I always thought that he thought of us like family to him. He loved us all, but I think Mary might have been his "favorite," maybe because she was his first godchild.
Taylor's Inn was famous for its steaks, fried chicken, lamb fries and Fred's garlic salad, which was wilted lettuce and tomatoes drenched in a garlic dressing - it was all good. We went there quite often, usually got the chicken and French fries; Daddy of course got the steak. They had the old Coke cases, and we would go pick out our own drinks. Frosty Root Beer, Orange Crush, Grapette, and Mountain Dew were favorite choices. Mama and Daddy usually had Busch beer, but sometimes Mama would also get one of her Pepsi's. Fred's prices could vary for folks, ours were sometimes free, sometimes not, I do remember that. Not everyone got them, but other dishes were provided sometimes to special folks (us included). I can remember tabouli salad and stuffed grape leaves, also when Mama Taylor was alive there was a beef soup she did. Full of meat, potatoes, macaroni and seasoned with mint and lots of black pepper. Our Mama was always a little afraid that the soup might have been made with left over steak from peoples' plates, but it was very tasty. Mama Taylor would send it home with us in big canning jars.
We often got to roam the large, old building, back into the dark, musty dance hall, where we would slide across the huge wooden floor. Dance on the old dusty stage where all the bands played. Bang on the keys of the old piano. Do "skin the cats" on the iron bar at the long-abandoned ticket window.
Fred kept a store too for many years. Mainly staples, but also this and that, from straw hats to school supplies. It was full of stuff. What a treasure trove that would be today; and of course, candy - which he often just gave to us, Paydays and Zeros, Snickers and Hershey bars.
Other folks associated with Taylor's Inn - Pat, the itinerant, who stayed in one of the old "cabins" on the property for a while. He gave us some puppies, I remember. Also, Esther, the ancient waitress who was 70+ but had jet black hair. She had worked there forever. Then there was Charlie our neighbor across the road who was developmentally disabled. He was grown, but sometime rode his stick horse down the road to get a soda pop. All those folks are gone now too. |
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Women's History Month
Women's History Month
Celebrating LeFlore County Women
By Barbara Lewis-PVGS Member
Women's History Month was officially created by Congress in 1987 — but its roots go much deeper. As a genealogy society, we are always interested in roots. These roots started with trying to get women the right to vote in the early 20th century. Many suffragists met in Manhattan, Feb. 28, 1909. It was held on Sunday, so they would not miss work. The next year all 17 countries at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen agreed to recognize it as an International holiday. It was not celebrated in America until the United Nations recognized it in 1975.
In order to persuade schools to comply with Title IX laws passed in 1972 to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any school or education program receiving funds from the federal government, California did a week-long celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society. In 1980, President Carter issued a proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. By 1987, Congress declared the entire month of March as National Women’s History Month.
LeFlore County has had many notable women to make a difference in the structure of the county from years past to present. The following are just a few:
Pansy Ingle was born in 1890 in Paris Arkansas. In 1912 she moved to Poteau. With a Masters’ Degree in English and Library Science from Indiana University, she became a third-grade teacher. In 1915 she married Frank Kidd. Since a regulation of the 1915 school board was not to hire married female teachers, she had to quit teaching. Pansy did not teach again until 1921 when the regulation was finally changed. For 40 years she taught with all her heart, and was called by many, "Dean of Poteau's Teachers." Mrs. Kidd taught whatever her superintendent needed her to teach. During her tenure she was a teacher of Science, Math, and English, Librarian, Counselor, and Principal. She organized the beginning of the Junior High School. Pansy Kidd taught for 42 years and retired in 1960. She lived in Poteau until her death in 1978. Pansy Kidd Middle School was named in her honor.
Nora Harrison was born in 1896 at Waldron. At the age of 16 she became the second wife to 37-year-old Daniel Alexander Shaw. Daniel was born near Waldron and at that time was a Methodist Minister at Wilburton with 6 young children to raise as his wife had recently died. After Daniel and Nora married, they moved to Poteau, and he was editor of the Poteau newspaper from 1914 to 1919. In 1916, he was elected County Judge. Shortly after he was elected mayor of Poteau and in 1926, he was elected State Senator. He died Jan. 2, 1927; the day he was to be sworn in as Senator. Nora and two opponents filed for the remaining term of Mayor. Nora was elected and served out the remaining term and in 1927, she was elected as Poteau’s first woman Mayor and the first Mayor elected for a town in Oklahoma. By 1935 Nora moved to Oklahoma City and worked at the State Capitol. She died at age 95 in Palm Springs, California.
Ramona Reed was born in 1930 in Talihina to Ben and Marie Reed. She auditioned at Nashville singing and yodeling and was given a spot on the Grand Old Opry. She shared a dressing room with Minnie Pearl as they were often the only females there. Ramona sang with Roy Acuff and the Smokey Mountain Boys and then toured with Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys for 3 years. After her marriage to Lt. Jim Blair, a decorated Korean War vet she semi-retired to their home in Clayton. She would always work with Bob Wills and the playboys if they were in the area, and that included performing at Taylor’s Inn.
Tabitha Hickman Heavener Ward- A Choctaw that moved their store from Skullyville to what later became Heavener. Heavener was named for her and her husband Joseph Heavener.
DeGrace Thomas - A Choctaw born in Talihina became schoolteacher and in 1921 was the first woman to ever be elected in LeFlore County when she was made Supt. of Public Instruction.
Lois White Burton -Teacher at Shady Point for many years, later served as Choctaw Tribal Council Woman and Tribal Judge. She served on the Choctaw Nation’s Hospital Governing Board and the Jones Academy Board of Education. Presently the Pharmacy Refill Center at the Choctaw Clinic in Poteau bears her name.
Gloria Farley - investigator, researcher and author of information regarding the Heavener Runestone and contributed to its protection within a state park.
Females from LeFlore county serving in WWII include:
Gillie Pauline Pitcock Tanksley, schoolteacher, served from Bokoshe in WAAC and WAC as TEC 4 during WWII earning many medals including a bronze star.
Margie Rosalee Shelton of Shady Point served in US Army during WWII. She served 21 months discharging as Private First Class.
Frances Earle Myatt, daughter of Earl and Vera Plumlee Myatt from Poteau served in the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant. She served 35 months and was later a member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Goodwyn Page Johnson of Spiro served as army nurse from July 1942 until Apr 1945. She is buried at Ft. Smith National Cemetery.
Pauline Sturgis Cotner was from Monroe but also lived in Poteau. She attended college at Durant and taught elementary school prior to military service with W.A.C. Detachment 1883 in El Paso, Texas. She was Honorable Discharged November 18, 1945, from the U.S. Army as TEC 5. Pauline served as an x-ray technician and received the American Theatre Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Ribbon.
Virginia Peden, daughter of Goen and Florence Akin Peden of Heavener, enlisted Jan 1, 1943, and served 3 years in the Navy Waves. She married Dan Abrams Aug 23, 1945, in Honolulu. She discharged as an Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class.
To research these women and many other notable LeFlore County women stop by PVGS library on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10-4.
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Last Murder Trial in the Choctaw Courts
By PVGS Member Barbara Lewis
Jacob Jackson was a Choctaw living in Harrison, now Shady Point. Jackson was running for Governor against Wilson Jones, the Governor at the time. Jones was a Progressive and favored opening Choctaw Nation to the Whites. Jackson was a Nationalist and wanted to keep the whites out as much as possible and retain Choctaw Nation exclusively for Indians.
After Jackson was defeated Silan Lewis started a campaign of extermination of the followers of Jones and was caught after he killed Joe Hoklatubbee near Hartshorne on September 10, 1892. Someone had reported Hoklatubbe was buying lots of cartridges in Hartshorne, so that night several men rode up to his home where he was sleeping on the porch and riddled him with bullets. As Silan Lewis was recognized as a leader of the opposing faction, he was tried for the killing.
A Grand Jury of the Mosholatubbee Circuit Court, Choctaw Nation returned an indictment against Lewis on December 16, 1892 for murder. A jury trial on April 19, 1894, found him guilty as charged.
Judge Neal J. Holson was the circuit Judge for the Choctaw Nation. Holson Valley and Holson Creek were named for Judge Holson, and he owned land all through the valley and in Summerfield. It was reported that the Indian Court House was a wood structure with slats over the cracks like many buildings in those days and stood across the creek from Summerfield in Coleman’s meadow. The Judge sentenced Lewis to jail to be held until a scheduled execution on May 4, 1894. Lewis appealed the sentencing to the Choctaw Supreme Court and the decision was affirmed with the execution date set for November 5th, 1894.
Lewis could have had his freedom. The sentiment of most of the white people was with him and most of the officials would have liked to see him escape. A deputy by the name of Limon Pusley offered him a good horse, new saddle, bridle, a new Winchester rifle and $100. The plan was for him to ride into the Kiamichi Mountains and hide for a year or two as the tribal courts were expected to soon be abolished and he would be free. Lewis refused as he claimed to be a man of his word and had given his word to be at the appointed place at the appointed time. He camped with his family near Red Oak, the site of the execution and walked out of the woods the next morning to meet two Choctaw light horsemen and was escorted to the site. The Choctaw method of execution included the chest was bared and an “X” painted over the heart and a rifle or pistol was used. Pulsey was told that Lewis’ heart was on the right side. To be sure several men were called and affirmed the heartbeat was on the right side of his chest. When shot it went thru his right lung and knocked him on his back. Two Indian tribesmen restrained him and suffocated him with a handkerchief. Silan Lewis is buried on his homestead near Blanco in Pittsburgh County, Oklahoma.
Judge Holson’s wife was Lizzie LeFlore and they had 3 children, Ada, Boyd, and Clara, all 5 being full blood Choctaw and on Dawes Roll 8330-8334. Ada married William J. Harris who later became the Mayor of Poteau. Their only child was a daughter Wyllie Sue Harris-Black. Wyllie died in 2019 and is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Poteau, Oklahoma. Wyllie Sue has a daughter. Janna Sue, a graduate of Poteau High School and OSU Graduate and she became a physical therapist in Dallas.
Clara died in 1902 at age 13, Boyd died in 1905 at age 19, Lizzie died in 1910 at age 59 and Judge Holson died in 1912 at age 61. They are all buried in Summerfield Cemetery, Summerfield, Oklahoma.
If you have Native American Blood, come by Poteau Valley Genealogy Library, and let us help you in your search for roll numbers. Poteau Valley Genealogy Library is in the Patrick Lynch Public Library in Poteau. Our e-mail is pvgs1977@gmail.com, mailing address is P.O. Box 1031 Poteau, Oklahoma. Be sure and check out our Facebook page, Poteau Valley Genealogical Society. |
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Rube Foster
By PVGS Member Barbara Lewis
Most genealogists are familiar with Find A Grave site and know they list famous people buried in each cemetery. I located only one famous person in LeFlore County. That is George Foster, known as “Rube.” His father Jonathan Foster, a chair carver emigrated from England with wife Mary and four sons. George was the first child in the family born in America. He was born in Lehigh Indian Territory January 5, 1888. By 1900 Jonathan died and the family lived in Pittsburg, Kansas. George began playing baseball with Tulsa in 1908. By 1910 Mary remarried and they live in Bonanza Arkansas. All males including George and his 16-year-old brother are listed as coal miners. George Foster, 23, married Ruby Marie Wright, 17, on Christmas Day 1910.
The 1915 World Series was Oct 8-13, with the first two games in Philadelphia. The Phillies won the first game 3 to 1. Boston Red Sox won the next four games. In Game 2, Woodrow Wilson became the first U.S. President to attend a World Series game. During this game, Rube Foster pitched a 3-hitter, allowing no walks, retiring the last 10 Phillies he faced, and batted in the game-winning run with a single in the top of the ninth. He was the star of the 1915 World Series.
Foster was the subject in 1916 of a profile by Tim Murnane, who on a cross county train trip stopped at Fort Smith and made the 28-mile side trip to Foster’s farm in Bokoshe. Foster’s 300 acres purchased for $6 an acre had numerous oak trees; he cleared and planted a 14-acre apple orchard, and 30-40 acres of cotton. He had mulberry and cherry trees. He learned cherry trees attracted birds and kept them sufficiently satisfied to leave other crops alone. He was building a new home on a hill overlooking the town “sleeping in the valley below.” Both Foster and his wife told Murnane he planned to pitch a few more years, make what money he could, and settle down and enjoy the simple farm life with family. His nickname “Rube,” he said, had been given him by Boston pitcher Charley Hall.
On June 21, 1916, “little George Foster, the farmer boy from Oklahoma” (as the New York Times described him) threw the first no-hitter in a Red Sox game at Fenway Park beating the Yankees, 2-0. Foster walked three, one apiece in the sixth, seventh, and eighth. but nary a base hit. The win earned Foster a $100 bonus from Red Sox President Joseph Lannin. The next day’s Boston’s Globe added, “Little George looked mighty big yesterday.” The Red Sox returned to the World Series in 1916, this time facing Brooklyn. Foster missed time near the end of the season due to a lame arm. The Boston Red Sox star of this series was left-handed pitcher Babe Ruth. Four days after the Series was won, the players divided up the receipts, and Foster announced his retirement. He was 28 but ready to settle in with family and work his farm. His retirement lasted three months. Asking for a modest $500 salary increase he returned to the Red Sox. Still suffering from a sore arm; he didn’t play much; finishing with an 8-7 record.
The Red Sox hoped he would return in 1918 but he demanded $6,000 and the Red Sox traded him to Cincinnati Reds. Foster refused to report to the Reds. He had played his final major league game on 29 Sep 1917. In 1920 he is proprietor of a furniture store in Fort Smith. The last of 1920 he played with a Fort Smith team and a team from Springfield, Missouri. He took up other work in 1921 doing unspecified duties for the U.S. Secret Service. In 1923, Foster, living in Arizona, signed with the Vernon Tigers, a minor league team. In late August, Rube refused to travel with the team to Salt Lake City as his wife was seriously ill. The manager “said he did not believe Mrs. Foster’s illness was serious enough to warrant Foster’s absence from the club.” and Foster was released on August 25. In fact, she was quite ill and died on November 15, leaving their three children in Foster’s care. The Oakland baseball team started a fund raiser and donated all proceeds of their game to him. His teammates went into the stand and collected $1,122 additional money making him more than four thousand dollars richer.
In June 1925, Foster married Demarious Quick. Their daughter Beverly was born in Tucson in 1928. By 1930, they live on South 18th street in Fort Smith, and he is manager of a baseball team. By 1940 he is farming in Bokoshe, divorced, and raising Beverly. Foster died in Bokoshe in 1976, age 88. His daughter Beverly Foster Teague died in 2020 at Alma, age 91. His granddaughter Shirley Teague Wynn died Jan. 24, 2021, age 73. All three are buried at Milton Cemetery at Bokoshe. |
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The Story of Buck Davis
By PVGS Member Barbara Lewis
On Oct 15, 1861, at age 19 in Carroll Co. Georgia, William H. “Buck” Davis enlisted as Confederate in Co G 16th Alabama Regiment. Buck married Hester Noe and their firstborn, Garrett Wilson Davis was born near the end of the civil war.
On Dec. 1, 1867, Hester’s parents, Robert and Mary Noe lived near Sulligent, Alabama. They had Dr. Mack DeGraffenreid come tend their 10-year-old grandson. While there, the doctor was attacked and killed with a poker by an intruder. As Robert Noe got out of bed to help the doctor he was beaten to death with an ax handle. When Mary was caught trying to escape out the door she was killed in the same fashion. The mayhem was discovered the next morning by a hired hand. He located the grandson hiding under the bed and together they quickly reported the incident. The perpetrator was found straightway in a nearby barn loft. His name was Samuel Briggs. Samuel had been a Methodist minister before being committed for insanity. He had been released just prior to committing these murders and was promptly re-institutionalized.
After leaving Lamar County Alabama, Buck and Hester’s family arrived in Old Hartford, Arkansas about 1873 then moved to Indian Territory in 1874. They had eleven children. The last four were born in Indian Territory. In 1881 they moved to the Poteau area settling west of Tarby Lake. They were the third white family to arrive in this area and had to camp there until the Poteau River went down enough to safely cross. Several of their relatives soon followed them to the area. They included Buck’s sister and husband, John and Ophelia Maxey and Hester’s sister and husband, Robert and Dezina Turman.
Buck built a one room 10x20’ peeled log home. To get supplies it was necessary to ford Poteau River and travel 5 ½ miles northeast to Kully Chaha. Buck soon built a skiff boat and began carrying people across. He then built a ferryboat by cutting pine logs for gunwales. He got lumber for the floor from Pace’s sawmill located above the McKenna Fruit farm on Cavanal Mountain. In 1884, his 19 year old son, Garrett was coming down Cavanal Mountain with the last load of lumber when tragically the wagon overturned and killed him.
Buck’s ferry was likely located where Old Hwy 112 crosses Poteau River. The ferry could easily accommodate a team and wagon, and standard fare was fifty cents to ferry people across the river. Buck Davis and Sam McKissick had the first blacksmith shop in Poteau.
In 1882 Washington gave the Frisco railroad the right to build a line from St. Louis to Paris, Texas. A road camp was established at the foot of Cavanaugh Mountain with Melvin Fleener in charge. Rocks were quarried from Town Creek for the piers and ties cut by the camp. They were hauled to Buck’s ferry to take across the river. Buck Davis and his family became wealthy. They built a 2-story addition to their home and offered railroad workers the use of their home.
Buck’s life was once again hit with tragedy in 1894 when his wife, Hester died. She was buried in the Lewis Cemetery. This cemetery is on private property located northeast of (West or Old) Hartford near where they used to live. Unable to cope with all the memories of his home, Buck sold the house and land to Will Page, a full blood Choctaw. Three months later, Buck married Mary “Mollie” McKenna James. She had previously married Davis James, a Choctaw. They moved to Tarby Prairie, about 3 miles north of Poteau Switch in order to help her four children get their Indian land allotments at that place. Buck and Mollie had 6 children.
In 1900, Dave Mason became interested in Buck’s 15-year-old daughter, Grace. She took extraordinary measures to avoid him and Buck repeatedly warned him to stay away. On December 19, 1900 an intoxicated Mason once again rode out to win her heart. Buck rode to meet him and after a heated argument Mason pulled his pistol and shot and killed Buck Davis.
Buck was buried at Maxey Hill Cemetery, a small family cemetery with maybe 30 graves. All of the tombstones have since disappeared. This old cemetery is now part of someone’s yard at the southeast corner of what is now Central Street and Oakwood Drive in Poteau.
Much of this information was from The Birth of Poteau Book and from Indian and Pioneer Historical Collection, 1937. Both items offer much more information and are available at our Poteau Valley Genealogy Library. |
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Native American Heritage Month
Written by Kim White-Robertson, PVGS Lifetime Member
Celebrating Native American Heritage started out as a weeklong celebration in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed November 23-30, 1986, as “American Indian Week.” In 1990 President George H.W. Bush signed proclamation made by a joint congressional resolution to recognize the significant and historical contributions that Native American and Indigenous people have made to our country. As a result, the whole month of November is now recognized as Native American Heritage month.
ONE CHOCTAW FAMILY
The forced removal of the Choctaw tribe from Mississippi, beginning in the early 1830’s, brought the Choctaw people to Oklahoma Territory. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is now comprised of ten and one-half counties in southeast Oklahoma.
Jerry White, born in Mississippi in 1830, came across the Trail of Tears with his father, Lewis White, when only a toddler. Records show that nine members of this family, 1 male, 2 females, and 6 children, arrived on December 16, 1832 and received their rations. One family member was recorded as deceased.
One of Jerry’s wives was Rebecca Bacon. It is speculated that she was related to Peter Conser’s first wife, Amy Bacon. Jerry and Rebecca had two children, Ann and Livingston Buck White. Jerry had several more children from other marriages. He served in Co. G, 1st Bn., Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles in the Civil War. He then became a Judge for Sugar Loaf County and was a census taker for the 1874 Sugar Loaf County Census. In 1894 Jerry ran for Senator of Wade County, Choctaw Nation but lost by 39 votes to G.W. Dukes.
The General Allotment Act authored by Sen. Henry Dawes, of Massachusetts was passed in 1887. It provided for the allotment of reservation lands to tribal members. At the age of 69, Jerry White applied to the Dawes Commission as a member of the Choctaw Nation. He was approved and awarded one hundred sixty acres.
Jerry’s son, Livingston Buck White was born February 7, 1869 in Sugar Loaf County, Indian Territory. Buck, as he was called, was sent to Mississippi to be educated. He could read and write in English just as well he could in Choctaw. He was considered well educated for a Choctaw.
Buck applied to the Dawes Commission, along with his Inter-married (white) wife, Angeline Mitchell White and seven children. Angeline was never placed on the final Choctaw roll or approved for allotment but six of their children were. Those approved were Robert, Eliza, Nancy, Roxey, Samson and Ora. Their son John Albert died on October 25, 1900, and was therefore stricken from the roll. The Secretary of the Interior approved the final roll for the White family on January 17, 1903. Each of the six children was awarded an allotment of 160 acres.
Buck White never allowed his children to speak the Choctaw language but did teach the language to others. Samuel Robert Wilson lived with Buck’s father for awhile as a young man and learned Choctaw from Buck. Sam Wilson later became a prominent figure in this area. During his lifetime, Buck was a farmer, Baptist preacher, surveyor and post master. He was a well-respected man who happened to be of Choctaw descent.
There is little doubt that today Buck would be proud to know that many of his descendants have honored their heritage and culture by being public servants for Choctaw Nation and for LeFlore County. His grandsons, Rubin White, Dale Cox and Delton Cox served many years as Tribal Councilmen for the Choctaw Nation. His granddaughter, Lois White Burton also served as Tribal Councilwoman and Tribal Judge.
Buck’s great-granddaughter Melba Steelman Hall has served as LeFlore County Court Clerk for many years and his great-great-grandson Marion Fry is Associate District Judge for LeFlore County. Another great-great-grandson, Craig Olive, is the LeFlore County Commissioner, Dist. 3.
To be of Choctaw descent is something that no one can take away. We wake up every day Choctaw and go to bed every night Choctaw. Heritage runs deep within each Choctaw member, regardless of degree of Indian blood. We celebrate it and are proud that the United States of America recognizes our culture and heritage by setting aside November as Native American Heritage Month.
If you would like to research your Native American ancestry, stop by the Poteau Valley Genealogical Society.
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A Most Serene Place to Heal
Written by Kim White-Robertson-PVGS Lifetime Member
Nestled within the tall, whispering pines and oak trees between two beautiful mountains, Winding Stair and the Kiamichi Mountains in Southeast Oklahoma, was the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tuberculosis Sanatorium and the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium. They were located near the quaint town of Talihina, LeFlore County, Oklahoma. The Sanatoriums were used to treat the “white plague”. The lung disease did not discriminate on the color of a person’s skin as diseases still don’t today. The best non-medicine to cure the disease was sunlight, rest, pneumothorax medicine, plenty of nourishing food and good, fresh mountain air. Often times surgery was required to improve the patient's chances of survival.
The Choctaw-Chickasaw Tuberculosis Sanatorium was built in 1917 by funds authorized by the Choctaw Council and signed by G.W. Dukes, Pres. of the Senate. The main building was of two stories, steam heated with modern ventilation. There were two wings on one story, east and west, with two large rooms for bedding the sick and for rest rooms. This facility was built for the Indians as G.W. Dukes was seeing that many full bloods were dying of consumption and there was little to no medical attention and scarcely any help to overcome the disease. By 1918 the facility consisted of twenty patients but had a projected capacity of sixty patients and by 1939 the tribe conveyed the hospital and land to the federal government, and they allocated more money for conservation and construction which was done by the WPA (Works Progress Administration). The 1940 Federal Census for Latimer County showed a total of 112 people with most being employees. With the decline in tuberculosis patients and those that remained, the ill were moved to state facilities in 1963.
On November 1, 1921, the doors to the newly constructed Eastern Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium were opened. It could accommodate 50 white patients. Application was required to enter along with a medical certificate completed by the patient’s doctor. If patients were unable to pay the $10 a week charge required for every patient receiving care and treatment at the State Sanatorium, they could have the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of their county fill out the other blank. Colored people could do the same and send their application to the Sanatorium Superintendent at Boley, Oklahoma.
When coming to the sanatorium the patient needed to bring a fever thermometer, bathrobe, bedroom slippers and pajamas or night gown, which should be of flannel or light weight material according to the season of the year. Toothbrushes and other toiletry articles were to be furnished by the patient. Everything else was provide by the facility.
The 1930 Federal Census for Latimer County showed patients, nursing staff, doctors, maintenance, cooks, laundress, family members, etc. at the EOTS facility. There were 182 people accounted for with the majority listed as patients on the census.
The Sanatorium boosted an open-air pavilion, with screened-in sleeping porches and private dressing rooms, this gave the patients the benefit of the pure mountain air while in bed on the sleeping porches. The arrangement of the building(s) placed each patient on the south side to give them a large amount of breeze in the summer and protection in the winter.
By December 1930, after much construction the total patient capacity was up to 185; 125 adults and 60 children. The new children’s building was constructed to house them. EOTS was a place to treat everyone, young and old.
The sanatorium arranged activities for patients that felt well enough to participate. They included going to a moving picture show, playing cards, attending church services, and school for the children. Patients were also encouraged to write letters to their loved ones. Classes were taught to instruct patients to deal with having had tuberculosis. The sanatorium was a like a village with all of the conveniences of a city. They even had a monthly publication called “Mountain Air”. It consisted of useful information pertaining to tuberculosis, building progress at EOTS, musings, new patients, dismissed patients and deaths.
With tuberculosis on the decline, due to the improved social and economic conditions in the country and the introduction of tuberculosis drugs, several sanatoriums across Oklahoma had closed their doors and merged with other sanatoriums. Patients were not having to stay as long, and they could recuperate at home. In March 1972, the Western Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Clinton, OK closed and all patients were transferred to EOTS in Talihina.
On May 2, 1973, the State Legislature voted to change the name of Eastern Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium to Oklahoma State Sanatorium. In June 1973 it was announced that OSS would assume increased outpatient responsibilities. However, the end drew near for the OSS. For 54 years, the EOTS/OSS treated many tuberculosis patients. Some lived to tell the story and others weren’t able to overcome the disease.
On July 1, 1975, the Oklahoma State Sanatorium facility was transferred to the War Veterans Commission and became the Oklahoma Veterans Center, Talihina Division for both men and women.
I close with a short letter from my grandmother who stayed 155 days in the facility. This letter, dated December 19, 1943, is to her sister-in-law Susie White, wife of Robert Jerry White. (Robert was away at war during this time.)
“Dear Susie & all, After so long, I ans your letter. How does this find you all. Fine I hope. But I no you are lonesome like myself. And the kids all scattered. How is Xmas going to be with you all. I guess it not be much here. I sure would love to went home a few days to be with the children. But guess I’ll not get to. I still hurt & don’t look like I’ll ever get to feeling good again. How is ever one. Are they any flu around there now. I thank they are a lot off it in some places. Well this is no place for news. But plenty of gossip. Where is the boys at now. Write me all the news when you can. Remember a shut in. With love, Edith.”
Edith Johnson White passed away April 24, 1947, at the age of 41 in the Eastern Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Talihina, Latimer County, Oklahoma.
In 2020 Oklahoma had only 67 cases of tuberculosis. Medicine and prevention have come a long way in the last 100 years.
Poteau Valley Genealogical Society would love to help you explore any connections you may have to any of the Tuberculosis Sanatoriums.
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