The Choctaw Freedmen | Page 2

Arnold, Shoals, Johnson
378
Teachers in 1899, Harris, Brown 379
Representative Homes of the Choctaw Freedmen 406
The Sweet Potato Field 407

INTRODUCTION
"The pleasant books, that silently among Our household treasures take
familiar places, Are to us, as if a living tongue Spake from the printed
leaves, or pictured faces!"
The aim of the Author in preparing this volume has been to put in a
form, convenient for preservation and future reference, a brief historical
sketch of the work and workers connected with the founding and
development of Oak Hill Industrial Academy, established for the
benefit of the Freedmen of the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, by the
Presbyterian church, U. S. A., in 1886, when Miss Eliza Hartford
became the first white teacher, to the erection of Elliott Hall in 1910,

and its dedication in 1912; when the name of the institution was
changed to "The Alice Lee Elliott Memorial."
Some who rendered service at Oak Hill Academy, bestowed upon it
their best work, while superintendent, James F. McBride and Matron,
Adelia M. Eaton, brought to it a faithful service, that proved to be the
crowning work of their lives.
The occasion of receiving a new name in 1912, is one that suggests the
eminent propriety of a volume, that will commemorate the labors of
those, whose self-denying pioneer work was associated with the former
name of the institution.
Another aim has been, to place as much as possible of the character
building work of the institution, in an attractive form for profitable
perusal by the youth, in the homes of the pupils and patrons of the
Academy. As an aid in effecting this result, the volume has been
profusely illustrated with engravings of all the good photographs of
groups of the students that have come to the hand of the author; and
also of all the teachers of whom they could be obtained at this time.
The portraits of the ministers and older elders of the neighboring
churches have been added to these, to increase its general interest and
value.
In as much as Oak Hill Industrial Academy was intended to supply the
special educational needs of the young people in the circuit of churches
ministered to by Parson Charles W. Stewart, the pioneer preacher of the
Choctaw Freedmen, and faithful founder of most of the churches in the
Presbytery of Kiamichi, a memorial sketch of this worthy soldier of the
cross has been added, that the young people of the present and future
generations may catch the inspiration of his heroic missionary spirit.
"All who labor wield a mighty power; The glorious privilege to do Is
man's most noble dower."
The ministers of the neighboring churches, in recent years, have been
so helpfully identified with the work of the Academy, as special
lecturers and assistants on decision days, and on the first and last days

of the school terms, they seem to have been members of the Oak Hill
Family. The story of the Academy would not be complete, without a
recognition of them and their good work. This recognition has been
very gratefully accorded in a brief history of the Presbytery of Kiamichi
and of the Synod of Canadian.
The period of service rendered by the author, as superintendent of the
Academy from the beginning of 1905 to the end of 1912, eight years,
was one of important transitions in the material development of Indian
Territory.
The allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians and Freedmen was
completed in 1905, and the Territorial government was transformed
into one of statehood on Jan. 1, 1908. The progress of their civilization,
that made it possible for the Indians in the Territory to become owners
and occupants of their own homes, supporters of their own schools and
churches and to be invested with all the powers and duties of
citizenship, is briefly reviewed in the introductory chapters.
The author has endeavored to make this volume one easily read and
understood by the Choctaw Freedmen, in whose homes it is expected to
find a place, and be read with interest and profit many years.
He has done what he could to enable as many of you as possible to
leave the impress of your personality on the world, when your feet no
longer move, your hands no longer build and your lips no longer utter
your sentiments.
The hope is indulged that every pupil of the Academy, whose portrait
has been given an historic setting in this volume, will regard that
courteous recognition, as a special call to make the Bible your guide in
life and perform each daily duty nobly and faithfully, as though it were
your last.
A life on service bent, A life for love laid down, A life for others spent,
The Lord will surely crown.