Spencerville, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Spencerville is a community in northern Choctaw County, Oklahoma
, 12 miles northeast of Hugo, Oklahoma
, adjacent to the Pushmataha County
border.
Spencerville, named for U.S. Secretary of War John C. Spencer, was home to Spencer Academy, a Choctaw Nation
boarding school for boys. It was founded in 1844. It was here that Negro freedman "Uncle" Wallace Willis
composed “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
”. He was inspired by the Red River
which reminded him of the Jordan River and of the Prophet Elijah being taken to heaven by a chariot.
Spencer Academy was operated on behalf of the Choctaw Indians by the Presbyterian Board of Missions. Prior to Oklahoma's statehood Spencerville was in Towson County, Choctaw Nation--but only barely. Nearby Frazier Creek formed the boundary separating it from Cedar County
to the north. The Kiamichi River
formed the boundary separating it from Kiamitia County
(Kiamichi County) to the west.
A United States Post Office operated at Spencerville, Indian Territory from January 22, 1844 to July 22, 1847 and was established again on May 17, 1902. The community and its post offices took their name from the academy. The academy later relocated to Nelson, Oklahoma
several miles to the west.
Like the community of Hamden
-- also on the Choctaw and Pushmataha county boundary -- and Honobia
, on the Pushmataha and Le Flore county border -- Spencerville straddles the county line and defies classification as belonging solely to one county or the other. Residents of both counties traded there, used its postal services, and worshipped there. The site of old Spencerville is less than 1,000 yards from the Pushmataha County border.
Choctaw County, Oklahoma
Choctaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 15,342. Its county seat is Hugo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, 12 miles northeast of Hugo, Oklahoma
Hugo, Oklahoma
Hugo is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, bordering Texas. Hugo is the county seat for Choctaw County and has a population of 5,395 as of 2009 estimates. The city serves as winter quarters for some circus performers...
, adjacent to the Pushmataha County
Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
-Administrative History:* Ca. 1000-1500: Caddoan Mississippian civilization at Spiro Mounds* 1492-1718: Spain* 1718-1763: France* 1763-1800: Spain* 1800-1803: France* 1803–present: United States...
border.
Spencerville, named for U.S. Secretary of War John C. Spencer, was home to Spencer Academy, a Choctaw Nation
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
boarding school for boys. It was founded in 1844. It was here that Negro freedman "Uncle" Wallace Willis
Wallace Willis
Uncle Wallace Willis was a Choctaw freedman living in the Indian Territory. His dates are unclear: perhaps 1820 to 1880. He is credited with composing several Negro spirituals. Willis received his name from his owner, Britt Willis, probably in Mississippi, the ancestral home of the Choctaws...
composed “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is a historic African-American spiritual. The first recording was in 1909, by the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University....
”. He was inspired by the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
which reminded him of the Jordan River and of the Prophet Elijah being taken to heaven by a chariot.
Spencer Academy was operated on behalf of the Choctaw Indians by the Presbyterian Board of Missions. Prior to Oklahoma's statehood Spencerville was in Towson County, Choctaw Nation--but only barely. Nearby Frazier Creek formed the boundary separating it from Cedar County
Cedar County, Choctaw Nation
Cedar County was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. The county formed part of the nation’s Apukshunnubbee District, or Second District, one of three administrative super-regions....
to the north. The Kiamichi River
Kiamichi River
The Kiamichi River is a river in southeastern Oklahoma. A tributary of the Red River, its headwaters rise on Pine Mountain in the Ouachita Mountains near the Arkansas border...
formed the boundary separating it from Kiamitia County
Kiamitia County
Kiamitia County, also known as Kiamichi County, was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory. The county formed part of the nation’s Pushmataha District, or Third District, one of three administrative super-regions....
(Kiamichi County) to the west.
A United States Post Office operated at Spencerville, Indian Territory from January 22, 1844 to July 22, 1847 and was established again on May 17, 1902. The community and its post offices took their name from the academy. The academy later relocated to Nelson, Oklahoma
Nelson, Oklahoma
Nelson is a community in northwestern Choctaw County, Oklahoma, six miles north of Soper, Oklahoma.Spencer Academy, a Choctaw Nation school, was moved here from Spencerville, Oklahoma. A United States Post Office was established at Nelson, Indian Territory on March 10, 1881 and operated until...
several miles to the west.
Like the community of Hamden
Hamden, Oklahoma
Hamden is a community in northern Choctaw County, Oklahoma, seven miles southeast of Antlers, Oklahoma.A United States Post Office was established at Hamden, Indian Territory on March 31, 1894 and operated until May 15, 1924. Hamden is on the boundary separating Choctaw County and Pushmataha...
-- also on the Choctaw and Pushmataha county boundary -- and Honobia
Honobia, Oklahoma
Honobia is a community on the border between western LeFlore County, Oklahoma and eastern Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, 15 miles southeast of Talihina.- History :A United States Post Office was established here on August 30, 1919...
, on the Pushmataha and Le Flore county border -- Spencerville straddles the county line and defies classification as belonging solely to one county or the other. Residents of both counties traded there, used its postal services, and worshipped there. The site of old Spencerville is less than 1,000 yards from the Pushmataha County border.