Interview #9269
Field Worker: Ophelia D. Vestal
Name: Mrs. George Bundy
Date: November 22, 1937
Residence: 202 B Street, Lawton, OK
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Name of Mother:
In 1893 White Bead Hill was a small inland town located about fourteen
miles west of Pauls Valley. This little town consisted of a few stores, a post office, a
church and a school. The people were seemingly very happy, doing well here, raising good
crops because of the rich soil.
Because White Bead Hill was so close to the Washita River many people had
large herds of cattle.
Their ways of travel were by ox teams, mules and horses.
White Bead Hill was the name of a Choctaw Indian man. A white man named
Sam Garvin married a daughter of White Bead Hill. In this family was born a boy and a
girl. Mr. Garvin was a big cowman. He owned the first general merchandise store in this
little town. He built a nice home and was considered the wealthiest man in this locality.
He would lend the farmers money, taking mortgages on their crops in time of need, and
would carry the mortgages for several years.
George Shull, a German, rented land from Sam Garvin. They bought and
traded cattle together, being very close friends. One night the German dreamed that he and
Sam Garvin were in Purgatory. Here he saw the devil and a big black kettle turned upside
down. The German wanted to see what was under this kettle, so he tried to peep under it
and the Bad Man caught him saying, "Don't look under there, you'll see Sam Garvin and
he'll have a mortgage on this place in fifteen minutes". When the dreamer told Mr.
Garvin of his dream, Mr. Garvin laughed and took it very good naturedly. He was a very
good man and was liked by everyone.
The school house was built of logs and had two rooms. The seats were made
of split logs resting on short logs at each and, something like benches. The church was of
but one room, its seats being the same as for the school and kerosene lamps were used for
lighting it.
The church at White Bead Hill would have preaching once a month.
(*note - There is a different story about the naming of White Bead Hill
see information at whitebeadschool.html#towns)
Submitted by Marlene Mays Clark
