Pushmataha County Historical Society

We are in Summerville sc and, thank God, all we got was overnight wind and rain. Just tree debris. FL, FA and NC are a different story. Prayers for them!

Does anyone know anything about this couple? Antkers 1890 - 1900s. Last name is Wonsch, Henry.

Homecoming 2024 All Class Check-In location will be at the Pushmataha County Historical Society(the train depot). All Pushmataha County Schools are WELCOME!! Go by and see Mr. Bray Friday June 14 or Saturday June 15 from 9 am-2pm and check in your graduating class in!!

>List of events for Homecoming 2024 will also be available here!

Pushmataha County Historical Society updated their phone number.

I think I finally have this site fixed. You should now be able to post historical info, pictures, etc. that pertain to not only Antlers but all of Push County. Do take a look at previous postings. As always, if you can identify any of the folks on the pictures we post, please let us know. As we work on various research projects we hope to post on them also. Do let us know if you have trouble posting. Happy and Blessed Easter, everyone!

On March 31, 1889, Muriel Wright (Choctaw) was born in Lehigh, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Wright was an accomplished historian, author, teacher, and the longest-serving editor of “The Chronicles of Oklahoma.” Her tireless work helped to preserve our state’s history for future generations. Browse articles from “The Chronicles of Oklahoma” at https://gateway.okhistory.org/explore/collections/crnok.

Photo c. 1909 (13681, OHS Photograph Collection)

DAYS GONE BY: Have you ever wondered about the person that the Antlers VFW is named in honor of? Well, Michael Bray wondered and here is what he found: GEORGE L. SPARKS lived with his sister in Antlers and completed two years of high school. He joined the army in 1941 just after the Pearl Harbor attack and was sent to Australia then to New Guinea. George was killed in action in December 1942 and eventually buried in the Antlers City Cemetery. He was the first person killed in combat from Pushmataha County and was honored by the VFW Post 3658 here in Antlers soon after his death.

Recently, the Pushmataha County Historical Society received a unit training picture of Fort Sam Houston Battery F. The picture originally belonged to William Kennedy Roebuck's parents, David and Elizabeth Roebuck of Antlers. William was Killed in Action in Loraine, France in 1944. He is buried in the American Cemetery in Lorraine, France. William is 7th from the left on the top row of soldiers. We know there are Roebuck descendants in the area. Do stop by to take a look at this amazing gift. The picture was donated by Mrs. Kay Breshears.

The Push County Board met today. We want to let everyone know that we are open on Tuesday, 9-12; Wednesday thru Friday, 10-12. Come in to see artifacts telling of Antlers past and to research your history. Among the many collections are microfilm copies of all the Antlers American newspapers. We also have the Pushmataha County Cemetery book, Dorothy West’s History of Pushmataha County and much more for sale. Hope to see you soon!

DAYS GONE BY by Francine Locke Bray
DO YOU NOW how the residents of Antlers crossed the Kiamichi River before the bridge north of town (on 271 North) was built? The answer is actually very simple – by boat, raft or FERRY. If by ferry, who operated the ferry? The ferry north of the present day bridge was known as the Locke Ferry and operated by a Chickasaw Freedman named Mack Hill. In 1916, the Locke Ferry was replaced by the new bridge in 1916. Frank Amend was the first person to cross it driving his automobile (Antlers News Record, 28 July 1916, p. 4). Who was Mack Hill? Mack was born ca. 1860 in either Doaksville or Fort Towson. His Dawes Roll record ( #4125) tells us his mother was Hettie Hill. Both Mack and his mother were slaves of Harriett Folsom. According to Mack’s obituary, his father was “North Hill who drove the carriage for the LeFlore family.” Mack’s obituary (Antlers American, 12/17/31) tells us that in 1886 Mack became “attached” to the Locke family. Victor Locke, Sr., following service in the Civil War, found his way to Indian Territory and subsequently Doaksville. Mack apparently followed the Locke family to Antlers and was present during the Locke-Jones war. We have been told that he was considered Victor, Sr’s., bodyguard and a close family friend. Mack married Caroline Spencer, a former slave of Thomas LeFlore. She is registered on the Dawes Rolls ( #3273) as a Choctaw Freedman. Mack and Caroline had several children and lived out their lives in Antlers. The final paragraph in his obituary reads, “Mack Hill was known as a good negro, and his devotion to the Locke family was no stronger than his devotion to principles of honorable life.” For several years I have been working on an anthology of Ben D. Locke’s writings. Amongst them we found a lengthy poem dedicated to Mack which we plan to include in the anthology. We also have a story our great-aunt, Mary (Dollye) Locke Archer, sent us as children that talks about stopping in at Mack and Caroline’s house when the river had flooded and they could not cross. Obviously, he was much loved by the Locke family. In 1931, Mack died from a paralyzing stroke suffered two years earlier. He is buried in the Locke Family Cemetery and we recently placed a memorial at his, Caroline’s and their son Jim’s graves. The picture below is one of two that we have of the Locke Ferry. We are able to use it, thanks to the Oklahoma Historical Research Center in Oklahoma City. They identify the operator as Mack Hill. If anyone knows of Mack and Caroline’s descendants, we would love to hear from them. Email: [email protected]

In antlers in front if St Agnes Catholic Church. Dates from ca. 1900. CD

Hitching post.

It's now easier to send Pushmataha County Historical Society a message.