Muskogee Co, OK

Turning Back The Clock

By: C. W. "Dub" West (c) 1985

Muskogee Publishing Company, Box 1331, Muskogee, OK 74402

Snippets # 18

(Pgs 143-144) Robe Family Left Legacy Of Service The patriarch of the famous Indian Territory missionary family, William Bay Robe, spent his last days in Muskogee. The Robe family was truly a missionary family with each member contributing his or her share to the missionary heritage of the state.

William Bay and Sarah Hunter Robe began their missionary careers when Robe was appointed Superintendent of Spencer Academy by the Southern Presbyterian Church in 1871.

... [children] Lida, oldest daughter; Robert Chalmers; John Miles; Eliza A; Marie Frances; Mary Bell; Julia

[following is a list of the various schools and the positions held by this family]

Some of the material for this article was taken from the Chronicles of Oklahoma, but has been supplemented with material sent me by Mrs. Orella Robe Dameron, a daughter of John Miles Robe.

She describes her grandfather as being a tall, dignified, handsome man with dark brown hair which never turned gray and says he was always immaculately dressed. She says he walked in his sleep, and on one occasion he "got up in the night and started down to the post office, clad only in his nightshirt. When he awakened, he found himself at the bottom of a muddy ditch where he had slipped and fallen in his sleep. This was a terrible embarrassment to him, as no one was ever allowed to see him unless he was properly dressed." She describes him as a very special person who spoiled her.

Mrs. Robe is described as "A short pudgy little lady with snow white hair, always neatly but conservatively dressed. She was an expert horsewoman (always riding sidesaddle) and could handle a team of horses like a man." Her granddaughter appraised her to be an excellent cook and needlewoman "par excellent."

William Bay Robe died in January of 1911 in Muskogee, followed by Sarah Hunter Robe in October of 1917, leaving a rich heritage of service to mankind. [photos of William Robe and Sarah Robe]

(Pgs 144 & 145) Home Served As Early School [photo "The Original Group that met in Mary E Lock's living room which later became Harrell Institute and Spaulding Institute]

The home at 1610 E. Broadway was built in 1905 by Mary E. Locke. Locke, a plucky widow with three children, came to Muscogee in 1881 from Dutch Mills, Arkansas. Her brother, Dr. Theo H. Brewer, was pastor of the Rock Church, which later became the First Methodist Church.

She had a small house built near the Rock Church, and with the cooperation of the town's leaders, including Major James A. Foreman and Joshua Ross, asked permission of the Creek Council to conduct a private school. This house was in the foreground of a picture of Muscogee made in 1881.

In 1883 and application was made to the Creek Council for the establishment of a college. A charter was made to Locke for Harrell International Institute, first sessions of the school were held in Locke's living room. ... daughters ... Fannie ... Annie .. son .. John.

... Upon the death of Locke in 1924, the daughters lived in the home until 1928 when John and his family occupied it. ... It is interesting to note that the home was listed in the city directory at such an early date, for it was 'in the country." An explanation might be that Locke was associated with the prestigious school, Harrell International Institute, and that other prominent Muskogeeans lived nearby - Dr. J.O. Callahan on the west and the Crabtrees on the east with Dr. A.E. Bonnell across the street. ...

(Pgs 145-147) Green Preston - An Extraordinary Person [photo of Green Preston] When I told Green Preston that I wanted to interview him in order to write an article about him for this column, he said that he was just an ordinary person and did not merit such an article. I told him that he was an extraordinary person, and the world should know about him. I believe you will agree with me.

Green was born Dec. 22, 1886, in Johnson County Ky., in the eastern foothills of the Cumberland Mountains.

The principal occupations were coal mining and logging. Green as a boy dug shallow coal on the Preston property for family consumption and later worked in the commercial mines.

The only work available for Green and his brother, Elbert, as boys was working for farmers at 25 cents a day.

Green came to Muskogee in 1908. A sister and her husband had come here earlier and urged her brother to come to this new state.

... Elbert joined his brother and sister in Muskogee in 1909. ...

... Green began working in the post office under Alice Robertson, serving successively under the O.H.P. Brewer, Belulah H. Cureton, and Robert V. Anderson. [following is a list of Green's activities and achievements.]

...The most extraordinary thing about Green is that at 97 he takes care of his I brother, Elbert, a double amputee, who will be 94 this month.

... Elbert, who had been in the construction business in California, came to live with Green in 1973 when the latter's wife died. Elbert's wife had died the month before.

... Green is looking forward to his 98th birthday and still insists that he is "just an ordinary person." I maintain he is extraordinary.

(Pgs 147 & 148) Black U.S. Deputy Was Popular. [Drawing of Bass Reeves]

A headline in the Muskogee Phoenix Jan 13, 1910, announced: Bass Reeves is dead. A subheadline was Man of the old days gone - deputy marshal 32 years.

The tribute given to a black peace officer was unusual for the time. It was as follows:

"In the history of the early days of eastern Oklahoma, the name of Bass Reeves had a place in the front rank among those who cleared out the old Indian Territory of outlaws and desperadoes. No story of the conflict of the government officers with those outlaws which ended only a few years ago with the rapid filling up of the Territory with people can be complete without mention of the old Negro who died yesterday.

"For 32 years, beginning with way back in the 1870s and ending in 1907, Bass Reeves was a deputy United States marshal. During that time, he was sent to arrest some of the most desperate characters that ever infested Indian Territory and endangered the life and peace of the borders. And he got his man as often as any of the deputies. At times he was unable to get them alive, and so in the course of his long service, he killed 14 men.

"But Bass Reeves always said that he never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so in the discharge of his duty to save his own life. He was tried for murder on one occasion, but was acquitted upon proving that he had killed the man in the discharge of his duty and was forced to do it."

Reeves was an Arkansas resident, and in his early days, he was a slave. He entered federal service as a deputy marshal long before the court was established in Indian Territory and served under the marshal at Fort Smith. Then when people started to come into Indian Territory and a marshal was appointed in Muskogee, he was sent over here.

Reeves served under seven marshals, and all of them were more than satisfied with his services. Everyone who came in contact with the deputy in an official capacity had a great deal of respect for him, and in the courthouse in Muskogee, one can hear stories of his devotion to duty, his unflinching courage and his many thrilling experiences and although he could not read or write, he always took receipts and had his accounts in good shape.

Undobutedly, the act which best typifies the man and which at least shows his devotion to duty was the arrest of his own son. A warrant for the arrest of the younger Reeves, who was charged with the murder of his wife, had been issued.

Marshal Bennett said that perhaps another deputy had better be sent to arrest him. Reeves was in the room at the time, and with a devotion of duty equal to that of the old Roman, Brutus, whose greatest claim to fame was that the love for his son could now sway him from justice, he said, "Give me the writ," and went out and arrested his son, brought him to court, and upon trial and conviction, he was sentenced to imprisonment and is still serving his sentence.

Reeves had many narrow escapes. At different times his belt was shot into, a button was shot off his coat, his hat brim was shot off, and the bridle reins which he held in his hand cut by a bullet. However, despite all these narrow escapes and the many conflicts in which he was engaged, Reeves never was wounded. He said he never fired a shot until the desperado he was trying to arrest had started the shooting. <complete>

(Pgs 148 & 149) The Doughboy Statue Honors Veterans [photo of the Doughboy Statue]

The Doughboy Statue in front of the Veterans Administration Medical Center atop Honor Heights is unique in that it honors veterans of the Five Civilized Tribes.

It was dedicated Sept. 5, 1925. Allece Locke Garrard unveiled the Statue. She read a poem written by her father, Ben Locke. Victor Locke, chief of the Choctaws, was her uncle, and Alice Brown Davis, chief of the Seminoles, was her grandmother.

Joseph Okahombi a Choctaw, was honored as a representative of native Americans of exceptional valor and bravery. Oklahombi, credited with more exploits than any American with the possible exception of Sgt. Alvin York, captured 177 prisoners and 50 machine guns and mortars. [following is the information on Okahombi's actions]

...The plate on the front of the base of the statue reads as: "Dedicated for the commemoration of the men of the Five Civilized Tribes, whose record of enlistment, conduct in camp, and fortitude and valor on the battlefield added luster to the triumphant victory of our contribution in the World War."

(Pgs 149 & 150) Foremans Put Red Cross Chapter In High Gear [Photo of Dr & Mrs Grant Foreman] .... Mr. and Mrs. Grant Foreman went to Washington, D.C., at their own expense, spending a week in training to supervise the work. Upon their return, Foreman gave up his law practice to take charge of the entire Red Cross program, and Mrs. Foreman became head of the women's work.

... countless workers but recalled some of the more active as follows: Mesdames Tams Bixby, P.E. Bostic, F.B. Fite, R.P. Harrison, Charles Lockhard, W F Moffatt, Leroy Wright, Ed Phelps, H C Rogers, J R Startzell and Miss Alice Robertson. ... [the article describes the activities of the Red Cross group during the war]