The forts of oklahoma paperback january 1, 1963 by vinson lackey author 4. Fort washita the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and. A peculiar state of affairs existed late in the 19th century in the present state of oklahoma. Early military forts and posts in oklahoma book book discussing the history behind the early forts and military camps in oklahoma, including fort towson, fort gibson, fort washita, etc. Early military forts and posts in oklahoma page 57 the. At the byars community center on highway 59 is a sign pointing south to the cemetery. The first half of the book lists those residing in towns and the second half lists homesteaders. Fort washita is today an historic site managed by the oklahoma historical society and listed on the national register. At dawn on november 27 th 1868 lt col custer attacked the southern cheyenne village of peace chief black kettle. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance. The information found below has been submitted to the usgenweb archive project.
After the civil war, fort arbuckle was occupied by buffalo soldiers. Washita county, oklahoma this bit of cloud chief history submitted by doyle fenn. In 1962, the fort was acquired by the oklahoma historical society, who restored some of the forts original structures. Washita county, oklahoma genealogy genealogy familysearch. Fort washita historic site and museum adventure road. Beckham, caddo, canadian, custer, dewey, kiowa, oklahoma, roger mills, and washita counties. If you have an account at first national bank of fort smith, you can do your banking at any of the other banks in the first bank corp family, including national bank of sallisaw in oklahoma. Located in western oklahoma, washita county is directly south of custer county and north of kiowa county, with caddo county on the east and beckham county on the west. Search smiths first directory of oklahoma territory year. Oklahoma territory and statehood the western section of what is now the state of oklahoma became the oklahoma territory in 1890.
Prior to that date, the medicine lodge treaty of 1867 and military campaigns in western kansas had failed to stem the tide of indian raiding on the southern great plains. Washita is a rural community in caddo county, oklahoma. The cemetery is located to the southeast of the town. Guide to washita county, oklahoma ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth. The oklahoma history centers crossroads of commerce exhibit is a.
Year commencing august 1, 1890 lists individuals living in oklahoma territory. Washita county, oklahoma article about washita county. Discover the historical events that caused the washita attack in 1868. The washita river drains most of the area, but the southwestern corner has tributaries that flow into the north fork of the red river. Fort washita is located at 3348 ok199 durant, oklahoma 74701. Fort washita, oklahoma protecting the civilized tribes.
Located in the southcentral part of oklahoma are the ruins. Established in 1842 in the choctaw nation, fort washita served as the southwesternmost military post of the united states and protected the recently immigrated choctaws and chickasaws from intruders who posed a threat to the stability of the area. The washita battlefield national historic site preserves one of the great tragedies in american history. Nov 8, 20 located in the southcentral part of oklahoma are the ruins of fort washita. She had several books of poems for which she was famous. Located in present bryan county, oklahoma, fort washita was established in 1842. But in its former use as a frontier outpost, the fort saw lots of action. The postmarks read oklahoma with but just four known exceptions out of the hundreds of towns and cities. Washita county, oklahoma po box 380 cordell, ok 73632 phone. Beulah rhodes overman was a writer of popular detective short stories. Construction of the post was performed by men of the second dragoons under the command of capt. First black graduate of the united states military academy at west point and an indian wars army officer, henry ossian flipper, eldest son of festus and isabella flipper, was born a slave on march 21, 1856, in thomasville, georgia. Biographies for washita county, oklahoma, researching. Flipper, henry ossian the encyclopedia of oklahoma history.
Washita, battle of the the encyclopedia of oklahoma. Book recommendations, author interviews, editors picks, and more. This oklahoma national historic site is located on its western edge. The battle of the washita is one of the most tragic. It is located west of anadarko on a bend in the washita river.
In 2016, the chickasaw nation partnered with the oklahoma historical society to assume. The oklahoma historical society acquired fort washita in 1962 and restored it as a historic site and museum. Fort washita the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. United states of america buy united states of america flags at. Enterprise printing company september 14, 1906 context. Fort washita historic site 3348 state road 199 durant ok 74701. Early military forts and posts in oklahoma the gateway. Cheyenne village along the washita river in presentday western oklahoma. Positioned one and onehalf miles east of the washita river, and about eighteen miles north of the red river, the site of fort washita was approved by gen.
Sep 19, 2014 search smiths first directory of oklahoma territory. If i were going to require my student to read a textbook about oklahoma history, it would be this one or oklahoma, the history of an american state by ellen blakey. In 1890, oklahoma territory consisted of logan, oklahoma, cleveland, canadian, kingfisher, payne and beaver counties. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
Jennie harris oliver wrote short stories such as it is morning and many other stories in the 1940s. The post was the southwesternmost fort in the united states at the time. There was an officially created oklahoma territory, but it refused almost without exception to use terr. Washita county history the place for oklahoma genealogy. Built to protect the chickasaw and choctaw indians from plains indians and wagon trains moving west. A municipal electrical power generation plant for anadarko is located in washita. Bricktown, oklahoma images of america series from the moment 10,000 settlers descended upon oklahoma station in 1889 and declared it oklahoma city, the land surrounding the depot was destined to become the new communitys hub of commerce. Sometime between those years, a murder took place which may have given the fort its resident ghost or at least one of them. The town of byars is located on state highway 59, about ten miles west of the intersection of highway 59 and us highway 177. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The ruins and rebuilt barracks are still said to be haunted today by this restless spirit, the. List of books and articles about oklahoma history online.
Army and american indians, the battle of the washita occurred near present cheyenne in roger mills county, oklahoma, on november 27, 1868. After years in private hands the oklahoma historical society bought the fort grounds in 1962 and restored the site. Fort washita historic site and museum is a mustvisit destination for military history buffs. Sitting close to the washita river, along the old texas road, the fort is a scenic, contemplative and quiet place where one can really reflect on history. Fort washita is also rumored to be haunted by aunt jane, a strongwilled woman who was murdered by thieves sometime before 1861 because she wouldnt disclose the location of her buried money. Oklahoma digital newspaper program and one other and was provided by oklahoma historical society to the gateway to oklahoma history, a digital repository hosted by the unt libraries. Publishing oklahomas history oklahoma hall of fame. Oklahoma hall of fame publishing, the publishing arm of the okhof, has printed more than 180 books celebrating oklahomas rich history and heritage. This and that newsletter oklahoma history ardmore, oklahoma.
Durant, ok 74701 bryan county buy oklahoma state flags at. Fort washita, established in 1842, is a national historic landmark located in the outskirts of durant, oklahoma. Washita county is directly south of custer county and north of kiowa county, with caddo county on the east and beckham county on the west. Eyewitness views of custers attack on black kettles. Its fairly easy to read and includes questions to discuss at the end of each chapter, a glossary, and project activities pgs. Positioned one and onehalf miles east of the washita river, and about. Fort established 1842 by 2nd dragoons, occupied by several rifle, infantry, cavalry, artillery companies. Washita county, oklahoma simple english wikipedia, the free. Indians lived in and migrated back and forth across what is now oklahoma as they hunted for animals and food. After having been forced to move from their homelands in the southeastern united states to indian territory, the choctaw and chickasaw settled in what is now southern oklahoma. Fort washita historic site 3348 state road 199 durant, ok.
Established in 1842 by general later president zachary taylor to protect citizens of the choctaw and chickasaw nations from the plains indians it was later abandoned by federal forces at the beginning of the american civil war. Zachary taylor, commander of the second military department. In 1922 he became a member of the faculty of the oklahoma agricultural and mechanical college at stillwater, remaining with this institution until 1927. At first, during 192224, he was head of the department of secondary correspondence, and then, during 192527, he was professor of history. Located in the southcentral part of oklahoma are the ruins of fort washita. Fort washita is the former united states military post and national historic landmark located in durant, oklahoma on sh 199. The washita river drains most of the county, but the southwestern corner has tributaries that flow into the north fork of the red river. Fort washita, oklahoma was established in 1842 by general zachary taylor to protect the choctaw and chickasaw nations from the plains indians. Oklahoma okla people humma red from the choctaw language. Texas county, oklahoma images of america series by harold. In 2016, the chickasaw nation partnered with the oklahoma historical society to assume responsibility and management of fort washita.