William Jackson Hoskins

Family Researcher: DeAnna Mackey deanna.mackey@usa.net

Some of the least suspicious appearing events of recent years in Oklahoma have had a vital significance in the development of the state. The capture of a plant of a liquor distillery in the mountains of Atoka County is an event of little importance in itself but it is a link in the final clearing for the use of civilized communities of a region wherein in former years flourished some of the most stubborn hindrances to the development of civilization.

The illegal manufacture and barter of intoxicating liquors was the last great hindrance. It is therefore, of interest that William Jackson Hoskins, in his official capacity, had a part in the capture of liquor manufacturing machinery. It was not the last of such machinery, but the plant was of such magnitude and the men conducting in so influential among their kind that it really marked the beginning of the end of liquor manufacture in the mountains. One result of the reform thus established was a determination on the part of law-abiding citizens of the county that it should be cleared of the bootlegging element.

In due time Mr. Hoskins became head of the police department of the City of Atoka and did probably more than any other man in that position to enforce anti-liquor laws. An illustration of the belief of the people of Atoka that he would accomplish this is found in the fact that in the primary campaign of 1915 he received more votes than his three opponents combined and more than twice the number of votes received by his republican opponent in the general election. He practically put an end to bootlegging and gambling and made the historic City of Atoka as clean as any community in the state. Two men on the police force assist him. Prior to his election, Mr. Hoskins was for nearly two years, by appointment of the mayor, head of the police department of the city.

William Jackson Hoskins was born in Mississippi, May 13, 1875, and is a son of John H. and Maggie Hoskins. His father is a native of Mississippi and early settler of Red River County, Texas and one of the oldest settlers now remaining at Boggy Depot, the oldest community of Atoka County. The Hoskins family settled in Red River County, Texas in 1876, where the present Atoka marshal first attended school. His father there engaged in farming and the boy grew up on the farm, living at one time in Fannin County, in the same state. He moved to Boggy Depot in 1900, several years after his father settled there and later moved to Atoka and for five years prior to his elevation to the chief's office was a member of the police force. Before that time, while he was engaged in farming for nine years at Boggy Depot, he served in various capacities as a peace officer. At Boggy Depot he lived on the HARKINS farm which was established more than fifty years before. His home was near the historic salt plant that was operated about the middle of the last century by the grandfather of Harkins. Among those in business there while Chief Hoskins was a resident was C A Skeen, a pioneer white citizen of the Choctaw Nation.

Mr. Hoskins was married in Texas, in 1896, to Miss Carrie Lee Guyton, who died ten years later at Boggy Depot. She was the mother of five children; Fred P., Roy Howard, Marie Lillian, Zeva May and William Claud. Mr. Hoskins was again married in 1912 at Atoka, when united with Rilla M Pratt, and they have one child; Delma Jackson, born in 1913. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Hoskins are as follows: Mrs. Annie Penola, the wife of a farmer at Madil, Oklahoma; R C who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Hunt county, Texas J N, who is engaged in farming in Bogy Depot; J B also a farmer in that locality; Mrs. Lilla M. Ford who is the wife of a farmer at Magnum, Oklahoma; and Miss Lillian, who resides with her parents at Boggy Depot. Mr. Hoskins is a popular member of the local lodges of the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of the Maccabees.

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins February 22, 1999.

Source: A Standard History of Oklahoma, Joseph B. Thoburn, 1916; Vol. 3, p 1019. (Used with permission of OKGenWeb)

 

Notes: Delma (Delmer) Hoskins was born January 1, 1912 and Rilla (still living) was born November 25, 1915, both sons of William Jackson Hoskins. Therefore this article was written between 1913 and November 1915. There are some discrepancies in the brothers and sisters listed. (per DeAnna Mackey)