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Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: September 29, 1937
Name: Mrs. Thomas T. Inge
Post Office: Atoka, Oklahoma
Residence Address:
Date of Birth: August 20, 1848
Place of Birth: Green County, Georgia
Father: Reverend R. J. Hogue
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Etta D. Mason

Before the Indians were removed to Indian Territory, missionaries had been laboring among them. Through all the trouble connected with removal, the missionaries had remained staunch and faithful friends and advisors of the Indians. As soon as possible, after the removal, missions were established and schools were opened for the Indian children in what was then, Indian Territory.

During the Civil War, almost all missionary work was discontinued, but immediately after the war ended, new missions were built and the religious work started again.

The missions and schools were supported by several missionary societies. The oldest and most influential was the American Board. This board was composed mostly of Presbyterian and Congregationalist. There were also the Methodist Missionary Society and a Baptist Missionary Society. The Baptist Board of Missions came next to the Presbyterian Board in strength.

Missions had been established in all the tribes, and the work of the missionaries continued until the beginning of the Civil War.

Cyrus BYINGTON, Cyrus KINGSBURY, Ebenezer HOTCHKISS and others, revived missionary work after the war.

The Presbyterian Board had more missionaries and missions in the Choctaw Nation, and also in the Chickasaw Nation, than in the Cherokee Nation. The missions throughout the Choctaw Nation were at Pine Ridge with Mr. Kingsbury as superintendent, and at Stockbridge with Mr. Byington as superintendent. There were missions also at Bennington, Mayhew, Goodland, Spencer and Wheelock, and at Wapanucka, which was in the Chickasaw Nation.

Over 300 missionaries were sent out among the Indian of the different tribes to work.

Mr. Byington was a scholarly man and an able translator. The men and women sent out by the different boards were a heroic band of workers who devoted their lives and fortunes to missionary work.

A Baptist Board of Missions had been established as early as 1844, and after the war this board became active and some Baptist missions were working in all the tribes.

My father, the Reverend Mr. R. J. HOGUE was sent by the Baptist Board of Missions to the Chickasaw Indians. He established several missions in the Chickasaw Nation. Afterwards he moved to the Choctaw Nation and was stationed at Boggy Depot. He is buried at that place. Many of the missionaries have been at our home at Boggy Depot.

My husband, Thomas Inge, was also a teacher and minister among the Indians at Boggy Depot. In my opinion, the work of the missionaries has been the most important phase in the building and development of Oklahoma.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Ruth Atterbury-Adams, April 2001.