Koweta Mission Site
Encyclopedia
Koweta Mission Site is a NRHP
site.
In 1843, white missionaries arrived in Coweta
to teach the Indian children. Reverend Robert Loughridge
and his wife, Olivia, bought an empty cabin for ten dollars and began teaching. He named the mission "Koweta". http://coweta.lib.ok.us/CityHistory/history.html
and preaching. But in 1843, Rev. Robert Loughridge was granted permission to open the Koweta Mission, primarily because Creek leaders recognized a need for education for their children. The Koweta Mission was well-received by Creek families who sent their children to study there. Rev. Loughridge wrote in a letter to the white Creek agent, Colonel
James Logan, which described the beginning of his work with the Creek people: "Although the old chief at first had a manifested some fears of our religious influence interfering with their old customs, yet he gave us a cordial welcome, and requested me to locate the mission in his town. This I did and called the station Koweta, after the name of his home town. It was situated about 24 miles northwest of Fort Gibson, and one and one-half miles east of the Arkansas River
. There was on the place selected a vacant Indian cabin 14x24 feet, with a dirt floor and covered with clapboards. Connected with it was a small unfenced field and a few fruit trees. For the whole premises, I paid the owner ten dollars. As planks could not be hauled a great distance, I had hired some men to split out 'luncheons' and floor the house. In this little cabin we lived happily for more than a year, and in this cabin our first child was born. As by agreement I could only preach at the Mission station. My first object was to build a log house to answer the double purpose of school and church. As soon therefore as it was ready for use, my wife commenced teaching a school of fifteen or twenty children, and the neighbors were invited to attendance at the Mission, while the most of them were devotedly attached to their old customs and superstitions. The outlook was very discouraging." The school operated for about 3 months until sickness and a lack of inadequate accommodations caused the school to be closed temporarily. After a while Rev. Loughridge started to overcome Indian objections and more and more Creeks began to attend his services. Loughridge's wife Olivea gave birth to her second child on September 5, 1845, unfortunately the nearest physician who lived in Fort Gibson
was not in the area. Olivia died of puerperal fever
on September 17, at the age of twenty-nine. One year later on September 26, 1846 the child died and was buried next to Olivia. Creek officials granted permission for a second school to be built called Tullahassee Mission
. It was located 16 miles east of Koweta Mission and 10 miles west of Fort Gibson, it was completed in 1859. The Rev. and Mrs. William Robertson were in charge of this boarding school
.
The Koweta Mission was abandoned and then burned during the Civil War
. Other schools and churches that had been built were also abandoned among all the tribes. Most of their children had received at least a few years of education. Sadly, the war disrupted the mission work forcing most of the ministers and teachers to leave Indian Territory
for the duration of the conflict. Olivia and her child are buried in the Bruner Family Cemetery on the Hopping Farm a mile and a half southeast of Coweta. Today the site is marked only by a cemetery.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
site.
In 1843, white missionaries arrived in Coweta
Coweta, Oklahoma
Coweta is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States and is a suburb of Tulsa. As of 2010, the population was 9,943.-History:Before statehood, when the Five Tribes or Five Civilized Tribes were moved to Oklahoma from the Eastern United States, the area that is now Coweta became part of the...
to teach the Indian children. Reverend Robert Loughridge
Robert McGill Loughridge
Robert McGill Loughridge was an American Presbyterian missionary who served among the Creek Indians in Indian Territory. He attended Miami University, Ohio, and graduated in 1837; Loughridge was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in October 1842. In 1843 Loughridge entered Indian Territory and...
and his wife, Olivia, bought an empty cabin for ten dollars and began teaching. He named the mission "Koweta". http://coweta.lib.ok.us/CityHistory/history.html
History
For a time the Creeks resisted mission work and schools, even outlawing ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and preaching. But in 1843, Rev. Robert Loughridge was granted permission to open the Koweta Mission, primarily because Creek leaders recognized a need for education for their children. The Koweta Mission was well-received by Creek families who sent their children to study there. Rev. Loughridge wrote in a letter to the white Creek agent, Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
James Logan, which described the beginning of his work with the Creek people: "Although the old chief at first had a manifested some fears of our religious influence interfering with their old customs, yet he gave us a cordial welcome, and requested me to locate the mission in his town. This I did and called the station Koweta, after the name of his home town. It was situated about 24 miles northwest of Fort Gibson, and one and one-half miles east of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
. There was on the place selected a vacant Indian cabin 14x24 feet, with a dirt floor and covered with clapboards. Connected with it was a small unfenced field and a few fruit trees. For the whole premises, I paid the owner ten dollars. As planks could not be hauled a great distance, I had hired some men to split out 'luncheons' and floor the house. In this little cabin we lived happily for more than a year, and in this cabin our first child was born. As by agreement I could only preach at the Mission station. My first object was to build a log house to answer the double purpose of school and church. As soon therefore as it was ready for use, my wife commenced teaching a school of fifteen or twenty children, and the neighbors were invited to attendance at the Mission, while the most of them were devotedly attached to their old customs and superstitions. The outlook was very discouraging." The school operated for about 3 months until sickness and a lack of inadequate accommodations caused the school to be closed temporarily. After a while Rev. Loughridge started to overcome Indian objections and more and more Creeks began to attend his services. Loughridge's wife Olivea gave birth to her second child on September 5, 1845, unfortunately the nearest physician who lived in Fort Gibson
Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
Fort Gibson is a town in Cherokee and Muskogee counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 4,054 at the 2000 census. It is the location of Fort Gibson National Cemetery and is located near at the end of the Cherokees' Trail of Tears at Tahlequah, Oklahoma.Colonel Matthew Arbuckle of...
was not in the area. Olivia died of puerperal fever
Puerperal fever
Puerperal fever or childbed fever, is a bacterial infection contracted by women during childbirth or miscarriage. It can develop into puerperal sepsis, which is a serious form of septicaemia. If untreated, it is often fatal....
on September 17, at the age of twenty-nine. One year later on September 26, 1846 the child died and was buried next to Olivia. Creek officials granted permission for a second school to be built called Tullahassee Mission
Tullahassee Mission Site
The Tullahassee Mission was founded on March 1, 1850 by Rev. Robert Loughridge. The mission was originally built for the Creek Indians, but after a devastating fire the Creeks left Tullahassee and the mission and gave it to their former African slaves....
. It was located 16 miles east of Koweta Mission and 10 miles west of Fort Gibson, it was completed in 1859. The Rev. and Mrs. William Robertson were in charge of this boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
.
The Koweta Mission was abandoned and then burned during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Other schools and churches that had been built were also abandoned among all the tribes. Most of their children had received at least a few years of education. Sadly, the war disrupted the mission work forcing most of the ministers and teachers to leave Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
for the duration of the conflict. Olivia and her child are buried in the Bruner Family Cemetery on the Hopping Farm a mile and a half southeast of Coweta. Today the site is marked only by a cemetery.