Chapter I: Front Matter

The Choctaw Freedmen

AN OAK TREE

On the southeastern slope, near the Academy,
A pretty Oak,
That strong and stalwart grows.
With every changing wind that blows,
is a beautiful emblem of the strength, beauty and eminent usefulness
of an intelligent and noble man.

"He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon; like a tree planted
by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season."

THE Choctaw Freedmen

AND

The Story of OAK HILL INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY Valliant, McCurtain County OKLAHOMA

Now Called the ALICE LEE ELLIOTT MEMORIAL

Including the early History of the Five Civilized Tribes of Indian Territory the Presbytery of Kiamichi, Synod of Canadian, and the Bible in the Free Schools of the American Colonies, but suppressed in France, previous to the American and French Revolutions

BY ROBERT ELLIOTT FLICKINGER A Recent Superintendent of the Academy and Pastor of the Oak Hill Church

ILLUSTRATED BY 100 ENGRAVINGS

Under the Auspices of the PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF MISSIONS FOR FREEDMEN Pittsburgh, Pa.

ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1914 BY THE AUTHOR IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON, D. C.

Journal and Times Press, Fonda, Iowa

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. GENERAL FACTS Introduction--List of Portraits

I Indian Territory 7

II Indian Schools and Churches 15

III The Bible, An Important Factor in Civilization 31

IV The American Negro 39

V Problem of the Freedman 46

VI Voices From the Black Belt 59

VII Uplifting Influences 65

VIII The Presbyterian Church 84

IX The Freedmen's Board 90

X Special Benefactors 96

II. OAK HILL INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY

XI Native Oak Hill School and Church 101

XII Era of Eliza Hartford 107

XIII Early Reminiscences 114

XIV Early Times at Forest 124

XV Era of Supt. James F. McBride 131

XVI Era of Rev. Edward G. Haymaker 134

XVII Buds of Promise 146

XVIII Closed in 1904 154

XIX Reopening and Organization 155

XX Prospectus in 1912 162

XXI Obligation and Pledges 169

XXII Bible Study and Memory Work 173

XXIII Decision Days 183

XXIV The Self-Help Department 185

XXV Industrial Education 196

XXVI Permanent Improvements 202

XXVII Elliott Hall 210

XXVIII Unfavorable Circumstances 216

XXIX Building the Temple 227

XXX Success Maxims and Good Suggestions 241

XXXI Rules and Wall Mottoes 259

XXXII Savings and Investments 272

XXXIII Normals and Chautauquas 275

XXXIV Graces and Prayers 279

XXXV Presbyterial Meetings and Picnics 282

XXXVI Farmer's Institutes 287

XXXVII The Apiary, Health Hints 294

XXXVIII Oak Hill Aid Society 300

XXXIX Tributes to Workers 308

XL Closing Day, 1912 325

III. THE PRESBYTERY AND SYNOD

XLI Presbytery of Kiamichi 335

XLII Histories of Churches 345

XLIII Parson Stewart 351

XLIV Wiley Homer 360

XLV Other Ministers and Elders 370

XLVI Synod of Canadian 382

IV. THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL

XLVII The Public School 391

XLVIII A Half Century of Bible Suppression in France 418

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Alice Lee Elliott Frontispiece

Elliott Hall 11

Choctaw Church and Court House 14

Alexander Reid, John Edwards 15

Biddle and Lincoln Universities 70

Rev. E. P. Cowan, Rev. John Gaston, Mrs. V. P. Boggs 91

Eliza Hartford, Anna Campbell, Rev. E. G. and Priscilla G. Haymaker 108

Girls Hall, Old Log House 109

Carrie and Mrs. M. E. Crowe, Anna and Mattie Hunter 116

James McGuire and others 117

Wiley Homer, William Butler, Stewart, Jones 148

Buds of Promise 149

Rev. and Mrs. R. E. Flickinger, Claypool, Ahrens, Eaton 160

Reopening, 1915, Flower Gatherers 192

Mary I. Weimer, Lou K. Early, Jo Lu Wolcott 193

Rev. and Mrs. Carroll, Hall, Buchanan, Folsom 224

Closing Day, 1912; Dr. Baird 225

Approved Fruits 256

Planting Sweet Potatoes and Arch 257

Orchestra, Sweepers, Going to School 274

Miss Weimer, Celestine, Coming Home 275

The Apiary; Feeding the Calves 294

Log House Burning, Pulling Stumps 298

Oak Hill in 1902, 1903 299

The Hen House, Pigpen 295

The Presbytery, Grant Chapel 352

Bridges, Bethel, Starks, Meadows, Colbert, Crabtree 353

Crittenden, Folsom, Butler, Stewart, Perkins, Arnold, Shoals, Johnson 378

Teachers in 1899, Harris, Brown 379

Representative Homes of the Choctaw Freedmen 406

The Sweet Potato Field 407