Beckham CO. OK - History of Carter, OK page 8 ==================================================================== USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jerri Hodde ==================================================================== Descendants of Page Eight Carter, Oklahoma Generation No. 1 1. PAGE EIGHT3 CARTER, OKLAHOMA (BECKHAM COUNTY2 OKLAHOMA, BECKHAM1 CO.OKLAHOMA). Notes The POARCH Community & School Beckham County By: Mrs.L.STREET -- Some of the first men to file for land in the POARCH School District Number 49 in the 1880's and 1890's were : Grandpa LUTLY and son,Harry;Ivesley CAIN and sons,George and Bob; R.L. WARD and Homer BUNTON;Sam TABOR and Alex JONES;M.W. PRESKITT and Robert PARKER;Bud DYER and L.STREET;Mack WALDROP and sons,Eunice and Jim;Bill VAUGHN and Mack GRAVES;Mr. McDUFF and son,Fred;John,Kirby and Capp POARCH,brothers;Jim,Bob,Ed,and Ben JONES,brothers;Mary and Sally JONES,sisters.----Some of the teachers:first was Mrs.Lela (Rufus)KING,in her home.Next was mrs. YOUNG,after a one room school was built.Then Miss Ora TENNEY;a Mr.PRESKITT;Columbus UPTON;a Mr.and Mrs.SHIPMAN;Oscar SIMPTON and wife;Mr.CONNELLY and Miss Minnie WOLFE;two room school,Tony VAN VACTER and daughter,Duby;Adam HUNT and Miss Millie LYONS.The above were some of the teachers until the school was consolidated with Carter.The POARCH school was first called "Lone Cottonwood"Public School District No.49,Beckham County,Oklahoma.This school was taught in 1908 by Mrs. Ora TENNERY.A.R. HARRIS was the County Superintendent.Pupils were;Barney HOGAN,Leslie HOGAN,Montie HOGAN,Effie McINTURFF,Lucile SIMPSON,Minnie WARD,Herman WARD,Neal WARD,Delis JONES,Charley JONES,Irene TABOR,Elbride TABOR,Walter LOCKE,Stella ALLRED,Lizzie DAVIS,Madelin PRESKITT,Artie PRESKITT ,Eula CROMWELL,Ruby SIMS,Edward CURTIS,Zona HYDER,Dee HYDER,Mittle CORNELIUS,Charley DYER,Bernice WOODS,Ross McINTURFF,Cuba HOGAN,Pearl McINTUTFF,Carl MCINTURFF,Lucy STREET,Claude STREET,Lillie WARD,Ida WARD,Dee WARD,Berta JONES,Sam LOCKE,Pearl LOCKE,Roy TABOR,Earlie LOCKE,Forrest VAUGHN,Thelma VAUGHN,Elmer ALLRED,Jim DAVIS,Gerald PRESKITT,Kronger PRESKITT,Gordon CROMWELL,Queenie CURTIS,Bennie CURTIS,Lonnie ALLRED,Myla CORNELIUS,Jessie MCINTURFF,Chester HYDER,Clarence GRAVES,Authur LOCKE and Robert HYNES.---- School board members were:Alex JONES,St.McINTURFF,W.M.PRESKITT.Some incidents that happened in the POARCH Community in the early days were the following:During the first revival meeting in this community someone set fire to the brush arbor under which it was held and burned it to the ground.The next day men folks got together and built another arbor.The revival went on without missing service.We thought nothing of going 25 or 30 miles in a wagon and team in those days.The revival was conducted by Rev.J.T.STANFIELD,a Nazarene evangelist,of Chico,Texas.This was in 1902.During a tornado which swept through this community.one family who failed to get to the dugout was injured and their house was blown to pieces.Another family got to the dugout but their house was wrecked.The men made this remark,"It was a good time for prayer meeting."Another place the house was torn apart with the husband left in one room and his wife in another.Men with wagons and team volunteered to haul lumber from Granite with which to build the Zion Chapel Church which still stands as a memorial.It was built in 1905.The Free Methodist Pastor,Rev.N.C.SUIGART,was the main Carpenter.Others donated their work.N.A. (Averill)STREET bought the building after we were unable to keep a pastor due to the death and moving away of so many members.It stands now as a memorial to early day religious work.-----LAND OPENINGS IN OKLAHOMA-By:Lore Staff--(1.)"Old Oklahoma,"or the unassigned Lands:opened April 12,1889.(2.)No Man's Land,Oklahoma Panhandle:opened by Organic Act of Congress May 2,1890. (3.)Sac,Fox,Iowa,Pottawatomie and Shawnee Reservations:opened by run,September 22nd,1891.(4.)Cheyenne and Arapaho reservation:opened by run,April 18,1892.(5.) Cherokee Outlet,"Strip,"Pawnee and Tonkawa reservations;opened by run September 16,1893.(6.) Kickapoo reservation:opened May 25,1895.(7.) Old Greer County:opened by County Homestead Act,January 1897.(8.)Kiowa-Comanche-Apache and Wichita-Caddo reservations opened by lottery August 6,1901.(9.)The Big Pasture,3 smaller pastures and Wood Reserve opened by sealed bids,late 1906.----POARCH COMMUNITY -Beckham County-By Mrs.L.STREET** Poarch Community was named in honor of the first Postmaaster,James H.POARCH,who served from July 15,1899 until December 31,1911.(1.) A blind man we called "Blind KELLY,"Albert and Andrew JACKSON,brothers,and Mr.and Mrs.John Wright were owners who operated a grocery store near the post office,at different times.The Methodist people built a church at that same point but moved the building away after a few years.Then the Baptist people built a church but moved away later.POARCH was three miles east and one mile south ,and two miles east from the present Carter,Oklahoma.The Free Methodist Denomination built a church in1903 one and a half miles west of the POARCH post office.The building still stands as a memorial,but had to be discontinued since so many of its members died or moved away.POARCH school has been consolidated with Carter.The late Dr.DENBY bought the teacherage and moved it to his farm.Mrs.Lafayette Street is a Carter pioneer,well versed in the history of the area. (1.)POARCH Postoffice,Roger Mills County,O.T.was established July 15,1899.(U.S.Postal records).----- ZION CHAPEL FREE METHODIST CHURCH By Mrs.L.STREET -Below in parenthesis is a part of a slipping which appeared in the Daily Oklahoman just recently: "State charter filings reach a milestone.These are the words of James Bullard,Secretary of StateBullard said the first corporation on record was the Turner Hardware Company,Muskogee,filed February 20,1901,in Indian Territory.First charter in Oklahoma Territory was Zion Chapel Free Methodist Church,near Poarch,Roger Mills County,filled March 14,1906.The first filing after Statehood was Beckham County State Bank,Sayre,Incorporated November 18,1907.') The little country church 3 miles east 1 mile south,one and one half east of Carter,oklahoma still stands after 52 years or more fo service. It was dedicated and used for God until its members passed away thenservices had to be discontinued.Besides church services while in use.other meetings included Christmas,Thanksgiving,Easter and Childrens Day programs.Also gospel Singing Conventions,funerals,weddings,but best of all were revivals when souls bowed at the altar and prayed through to victory.Lafayette STREET now deceased,canvassed the country for funds with which to build the chapel in 1901.He did this in a wagon and team.All the carpenter work was done voluntarily.The main carpenter was our 3rd pastor,N.C. SURGANT,N.A. (Averill)STREET has bought the church and will let it stand as a memorial.If you would like to visit it ,on the inside wall on the south side is a plaque showing names of all the pastors,superintendents and other information including the donors and charter members.This writer is the only charter member now living(1968).I always enjoyed music and as soon as we got financially able we ordered an organ from Sears Roebuck.Later on we sold it and bought a piano from Dr.DENBY.