History of Prairie Grove
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Editors Note: The following account of the establishment of the Prairie Grove community was sent to the Leader by Mrs. J.F. Casey, Portales, N.M. She is the former Mary Frances Stovall, daughter of the late Mr. And Mrs. John F. Stovall, pioneer settlers.

My family made a trip to what is now Okfuskee county in 1898 along with an uncle and family. We were in wagons and had a tent for part of us to sleep in. For us children it was a glorious time but for some reason my father and mother went back immediately to Missouri. We stayed two years and returned to the Indian Territory to stay permanently, this time by train.

There were no schools or churches in rural districts, not one I can remember. A group of men built the log house called "Prairie Grove.:" They cut the logs and made the shingles to roof it, probably bought nothing but the nails and windows and one door.

     The men who lived the fartherest away was to eat dinner with those who lived close by. Father always brought one or two for dinner. I was always watching and wondering who it would be this time.

The first school term was two or three months. The first patrons were as I remember the Dieballs, our uncles, Merritts, Musgroves, Beddoes, Stiles, Dodsons, Woods Wallaces, Stinnetts, Spenser, Scotts, Crawfords, Cains, Weehunts and Williams.

This page was last updated on 10/12/11

 

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