Tributes to other Ministers and Elders

Butler.-Colbert.-Gladman.-Bridges.-Starks.-Meadows.-And Elders Crittenden.-Shoals.-Folsom.-Butler.

"Walk about Zion and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following." David.

Rev. William Butler

"The kindly word, how far it goes along life's way!
The kindly smile, how it lights up a sad, gray day;
The kindly deed, how it repays the doer."
-Mary D. Brine.

Rev. William Butler (B. 1859), pastor of St. Paul Presbyterian Church at Eagletown, and of Forest Church near Red River south of Millerton, is a native of the community in which he still lives. His parents, Abraham and Nellie Butler, were the slaves of Pitchlyn and Howell, Choctaws; and William was about seven, when freedom was accorded the family in 1866. His home and work as a minister until recently have been in localities remote from the railway and good schools. The short period of one and a half months was all the time he ever went to school. He learned to read by a regular attendance at Sabbath school, and by private study at the fireside. The Bible and the Shorter Catechism were the books that occupied his spare time and attention. As a natural result, he became a Christian and united with the Church at an early age.

In 1885, at the age of twenty-six, he was ordained an elder in the St. Paul Presbyterian Church. He then began to read the Bible to the congregation and to hold religious meetings. While preparing himself for the work then in hand, he was led to see the great need of more teachers and preachers for the colored people, and, believing he could render efficient service as a minister, he undertook a special course of reading and instruction under Rev. John Sleeper, his pastor, and later of Rev. E. G. Haymaker, superintendent of Oak Hill Academy, instructors who lived 12 and 35 miles distant, respectively.

In 1894 he was enrolled as a candidate for the ministry under the Presbytery of Choctaw, Three years later he was licensed by the Presbytery of Kiamichi and appointed the stated supply of St. Paul and Forest Churches. He has continued to serve these two congregations, faithfully and acceptably ever since that date, a period now of sixteen years. His ordination occurred in 1902. Other fields, that he developed and served for short periods are, Bethany, two years; Mount Gilead, one year; and Mount Pleasant, one year.

A Winner Of Souls
Mr. Butler is a man, who experienced a hard struggle in early life, in the effort to train himself for his life's work, as a minister and farmer. He has overcome many of these difficulties in a manner, that is very praiseworthy and commendable.

He is a man, who carries with him a happy, hopeful spirit, and a countenance full of good cheer. Seeing the need of a religious leader among the people of his home community, he decided to fit himself to supply that need, and has done so hitherto in an efficient and admirable manner. To win souls to Christ and instruct them aright from the word of God, have been his aims during his ministry. He has been to the people an example in righteousness, and has labored with faith and zeal in the vineyard of the Lord.

His annual visits to Oak Hill Academy during term time were always anticipated with considerable interest. They were made the occasion for special evangelistic services, followed with an opportunity for decisions; and many times his heart was gladdened at the close of the sermon, by seeing more than a dozen of the young people manifest their decision to live a Christian life.

The people, whom he serves regularly, have shown their appreciation of his efficient and long continued work among them, by according to him a loyal and constant support. He has always lived in the wilderness far removed from the railway, notwithstanding the fact the Frisco railway in 1902 passed through the country, lying between Eagletown on the north and Forest Church on the south. He has always had a pony circuit, of two or more rural Churches, widely separated. The faithful and acceptable service rendered these widely distant Churches, makes him a good representative of the itinerant work of Parson Stewart, his pioneer predecessor.

The following lines by Hastings, are an appropriate prayer for all, who like Bro. Butler faithfully and patiently minister to those, who dwell in the wilderness.

"O thou, who in the wilderness
The sheep, without a shepherd, didst bless,
Oh, bless thy servants, who proclaim
In every place thy wondrous name.
May voices in the wilderness,
Still with glad news the nations bless;
And, as of old, in deserts cry,
'Repent', God's kingdom draweth nigh."

Rev. Richard D. Colbert
Rev. Richard D. Colbert of Grant, is one of the young men, enlisted in the work of the Church, by Parson Stewart. He attended Biddle University from October 1884 to June 1887, three years, when he returned home, on account of impaired health. Regaining his health after a few months, he became a teacher and taught school eleven years during the territorial period.

In the spring of 1897, he became a licentiate of the Presbytery of Kiamichi, and two years later was assigned the pastoral oversight of New Hope and Sandy Branch Churches. He was ordained in 1903. Most of his ministerial labors have been devoted to Sandy Branch and Hebron Churches, serving the latter until 1913. As a result of accidents that happened in making the journey to the Hebron Church in 1911, he experienced the loss of an eye and other injuries that resulted in total blindness in 1913. He endeavored to make a good record as a teacher and preacher, and has served his generation faithfully.

Rev. Samuel Gladman
Rev. Samuel Gladman, who died Jan. 11, 1913, at Eufaula, Okla., was a native of Westchester, Chester County, Pa. During the early seventies he went to western Texas and engaged in teaching. Sometime afterwards he was licensed and ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.

In 1896, when the Presbytery of Kiamichi was organized, he was enrolled as one of its charter members. He was then living at Atoka. During the next year he served New Hope and Sandy Branch Churches, but continued to reside in Atoka until 1900, when he located at Lukfata. Three years later he took charge of Bethany, near Wheelock, and in 1905, effected the organization of the Church in the new town of Garvin. In 1910, he voluntarily resigned the work at Bethany and the office of stated clerk of the Presbytery, and located at Eufaula.

As a minister and life-long teacher, he rendered a very helpful service to the various communities, in which he lived and labored.

Rev. Thompson K. Bridges
Rev. Thompson K. Bridges, (B. Dec. 6, 1856), Lukfata, is a native of Ellisville, Jones County, Miss. He grew to manhood and received his early education at Claiborne, Jasper County. Later he attended the city school at Meridian, and then took a course in theology at Biddle University. He began to teach public school at the age of 21 in 1877, and taught fourteen years in Mississippi. In 1891, he located in Indian Territory, and has now taught sixteen years in Oklahoma. In 1899 he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Catawba and in April 1902 was ordained by the same Presbytery. His first ministerial labors were at Griffin, Indian Territory, where in 1903 he effected the organization of the Ebenezer Church. The next year he continued to serve Ebenezer, but located at Lukfata, where he has since continued to serve as the stated supply of the Mount Gilead Church, and teacher of the local school. He served two years, 1904 and 1905, as stated clerk of the Presbytery of Kiamichi.

Mr. Bridges has been a progressive teacher and minister. In his youth, he formed the habit of having a good book or paper always at hand to occupy his attention profitably, whenever he had a spare moment. That habit of private study in spare moments has enabled him to keep abreast of the times, and the changes that have taken place in recent years, by the addition of new branches of study to the public school course. Ever since he began to render service to his people as a teacher, he has made a highly creditable record for efficiency and faithfulness. As he looks forward to the future it is full of hope and bright prospects.

He has never ceased to be grateful, for the benevolent aid, generously furnished him by the Presbyterian Church and Sunday school at Purcell, Okla., while he was pursuing his theological studies at Biddle university. The persons, whose names are most associated with these grateful memories, are those of the pastor, Rev. S. G. Fisher, and two of the elders, Mr. Lotting and Will Blanchard. This generous aid, which made possible an education for the gospel ministry, has led the recipient ever since to feel, that he is under a special but very delightful obligation, to render to the Church a faithful and efficient service, as long as he lives.

Rev. William J. Starks
The Lord Jesus, who brought to the world the glad tidings of the gospel often finds his messengers in strange or unexpected places; and leads them, in remarkable ways to the accomplishment of his purposes. No one can tell, what is going on in the mind of a young man, brought under the influence of the divine Spirit; nor how deep the impressions, that may have been made upon the heart of those, who naturally seem most unlikely to become heralds of the gospel.

William J. Starks (born March 14, 1876), Garvin, is a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. After completing the grammar course in the public school of that place, he prepared for college under special teachers.

The Falling Spring Presbyterian Church of that city, maintained a mission that was attended by white and black. Mr. J. M. McDowell, a white lawyer, was the superintendent of this mission. His special interest was awakened in young Starks, by the fact he committed the entire list of 107 questions and answers in the shorter catechism, in one week after a copy was placed in his hands. The superintendent proposed, he undertake special studies under him as his teacher. In 1897, he entered the college at Lincoln University and graduated from it in 1901, and from the Theological department in 1904.

After one year spent in mission work at Mercersburg, Pa., he became in 1905 the stated supply of the New Hope Church at Frogville, and in 1908, also of Sandy Branch. On November 1, 1912, he became the successor of Rev. W. H. Carroll at Garvin.

During his residence of seven years at Frogville, he maintained a six months term of school every year in the chapel, serving the first five years as a mission teacher under our Freedmen's Board, and the last two as a teacher of public school. In September, 1910, he was elected stated clerk of the Presbytery of Kiamichi, and is still serving in that capacity. In October, 1910, he served as moderator of the synod of Canadian at Little Rock, Ark.

Rev. Plant Senior Meadows
Plant Senior Meadows, (Born Feb. 15, 1841) Shawneetown, is a native of Lewis county, Mo. At 17 in 1859, he was sold by the administrator of the Cecil Home, and a sugar planter at St. Mary's Parish, La., became his master. Here he was employed at various kinds of mechanical work, until he was accorded his freedom, at 26 in 1865. Mrs. Cecil taught him to read, and during this early period, he made the best possible use of his spare moments, by reading all the good books that were available. As soon as he was free, he became a teacher and in connection with ministerial duties taught twenty-two years in Texas, and since 1908, in Shawneetown, Okla.

On Nov. 10, 1867, he was licensed and in 1869, ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry, by the A. M. E. Church of Texas. After 41 years of faithful service in that Church, which included a term as presiding elder, in 1908 he located within the Presbytery of Kiamichi, Okla., and, becoming a member of it, was placed in charge of the Presbyterian Church at Shawneetown. Bethany and Pleasant Hill have since been added to his field. He has made a good record and is still doing splendid work at 73.

Oak Hill Pioneers
Henry Crittenden, 1830-1894.
Teena Crittenden 1831-1898.
John Ross Shoals 1849-1885.
Hattie Crittenden Shoals, 1850-1909.

Henry Crittenden and Teena Crittenden his wife, John Ross Shoals, his son-in-law and Hattie C. Shoals, his wife, all of whom were buried in the Crittenden Burying Ground near the old Crittenden pioneer home east of Valliant, were four of the six original members of the Oak Hill Church in 1869.

During the last years of the slavery period, they lived in the neighborhood of Doaksville, and there enjoyed the occasional privilege of attending Sabbath afternoon meetings for the colored people, in the Choctaw Presbyterian Church. These meetings were at first conducted, by Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury and Mrs. Charles Stewart, wife of the storekeeper, and later by Parson Stewart. The instruction, given by the parson, consisted principally in reading selections from the Bible and shorter catechism. The rest of the time was spent in singing familiar hymns and giving testimonies. They became Presbyterians and formed a part of Parson Stewart's first congregation at that place.

When they were accorded their freedom about the year 1865, they chose their permanent location in the Oak Hill neighborhood, about fifteen miles eastward. Parson Stewart followed them, and began to hold occasional services at the home of Henry Crittenden. He became the first elder of the Oak Hill Church, when it was organized in 1869, and during the remaining 25 years of his life rendered a zealous and faithful service.

Henry Crittenden enjoyed the reputation of being a "master mechanic." During the slavery period, he was trained as a blacksmith, tinsmith and carpenter, and later acquired the art of repairing jewelry. Soon after he located on the Crittenden land, he built a shop. His intelligence and skill as a workman enabled him to attract customers from long distances. He was industrious and economical, and accumulated savings more rapidly than any of his neighbors.

He was a firm believer in the Bible and a regular attendant at Church. He encouraged the establishment of the Oak Hill Sunday school, of which J. Ross Shoals, his son-in-law in 1875, became the first teacher. He furnished most of the materials for the first frame school house in the Oak Hill district in 1878, and in 1887, when it was used in the erection of a larger building near the "Old Log House" and since known as Oak Hill Academy, he covered the deficit on the building estimated at $100.00.

Henry Crittenden	Simon Folsom	Elijah Butler
Mrs. Perkins Stewart	Rev. C. L. Perkins	Mrs. R. D. Arnold
Johnson W. Shoals	James G. Shoals	Isaac Johnson

Matt And Mrs. Brown


The Teachers, 1899
Photo by Mottle Hunter

He and Parson Stewart were the most influential of the Choctaw Freedmen, in securing the establishment of Oak Hill Academy, as a training school for teachers. He manifested his joy, not only on the day of its lowly establishment by Miss Hartford in February 1886, but at every successive enlargement of its work, while he lived. He knew better, than many of his fellow Freedmen, the value of youthful training, and was enthusiastic in his zeal, to have every family far and near take advantage of its open door. An early teacher, who frequently heard him, writes: "He was a dear, good old man, a remarkable man in many ways. His ability to read was quite limited, but his voice was splendid for service in meetings."

Teena Crittenden, his amiable wife, was as industrious and frugal in the home, as her husband, in the shop and on the farm. She was a devout Christian, one that loved the Bible and enjoyed the privilege of having a place at the meeting for prayer. She died at 67 in 1898, having outlived her husband four years.

John Ross Shoals, in addition to the Sabbath afternoon meetings at Doaksville, took some additional night work, that fitted him to become the first Sunday school teacher in the Oak Hill neighborhood in 1875, and an efficient elder in the Church. He died at 36 in 1885, leaving to Hattie, his wife, the responsibility of raising and educating a family of nine children.

Hattie Crittenden Shoals inherited the industrious and religious traits of her parents, in or near whose home she always lived. She surpassed many of her people, in the intelligent forethought she manifested in all her plans, and in the ability to exercise a correct judgment of men and conditions.

"I mean to have my children begin life, at a higher step than I did." This was an ambition oft expressed in the presence of her children. She succeeded in giving all of them a good education, by sending them first to Oak Hill and then to other institutions, including Biddle university, Scotia Seminary, Tuskeegee and the Iowa State Agricultural college.

Simon Folsom
Simon Folsom, one of the first elders of the Forest Presbyterian Church is now one of the oldest living representatives of the slavery period. Nancy Brashears, his third and present wife, enjoys the distinction of having been the most influential of the early leaders in effecting the organization of that Church. He became an elder in 1887. After twenty-six years of faithful service under very unfavorable circumstances, he is still trying "to hold up for the faith."

In 1901 he enjoyed the privilege of being one of the commissioners of the Presbytery of Kiamichi, and attended the meeting of the General Assembly in Philadelphia. Many of the good things heard and fine impressions received on that occasion, have never been forgotten, and they have furnished him interesting themes, for many subsequent addresses. Though unable to read, he quotes the Bible as one very familiar with that sacred book. He inherited a good memory, that serves him well in public address, and he is always happy and ready when it comes his turn to "speak in meeting." His messages are always notes of joy and gladness, and the ebb and flow of his voice in prayer often seem like the chanting of a sacred melody.

He was an ardent supporter of the Oak Hill school and two of his sons, Samuel and David, both now deceased, were among the brightest and most promising, that have attended that institution. He has been for many years the coffin maker, for the people of his community, and both of these boys became skilled carpenters. Samuel, after completing the grammar course at Oak Hill, spent two years 1903-5 at Biddle University and served one year as a teacher at Oak Hill. His skill as a workman and ability to serve as a foreman of the carpenters, made it possible for the superintendent in 1910, to erect Elliott Hall by the labor of the students and patrons of the Academy. Both worked faithfully on this building and died soon after its completion, during the early months of 1912. Both were members and Samuel an elder of the Oak Hill Church.³

Elijah Butler
Elijah Butler, Lukfata, was an uncle of Rev. William Butler. He was one of the early leaders in Christian work in what is now the northeast part of McCurtain County. In 1878, when St. Paul Church was organized at Eagletown, he was ordained as one of its first elders, and became an active Christian worker. A few years later he moved to Lukfata, and when the Presbyterian Church of that locality was organized, July 26, 1885, he and his son, Elisha Butler, were chosen as two of the first elders of that Church.

Elijah Butler, like Apollos of old, was a man, "fervent in spirit," and was teaching others of the people, what he knew of God and the Bible, when Parson Stewart first visited the Lukfata neighborhood. His zeal and faithfulness, in magnifying the call of God to him to be a Christian leader among his people, suggested to them the propriety of naming their Church, at the time of its organization "Mount Gilead," the home of the prophet, Elijah, in his honor. As an elder and Christian worker, he "kept the faith" and "finished his course with joy."

3. Simon died May 17, 1914.

Choctaw Freedmen

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Choctaw Freedmen and Oak Hill Industrial Academy, 1914, Robert Elliott Flickinger