Bryan Co., OK; Town of Matoy - History --------------------------------- Submitted by the Bryan County Heritage Library Located in Calera, OK Written by Tommie Louise Robison Typed for the archives by Trudy Marlow --------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ---------------------------------------------------- MATOY HISTORY Matoy has a colorful history, but at this point in time, there is not much left except a country cemetery nestled peacefully among the trees and wild vegetation of this natural terrain and rich memories embedded deeply in the hearts and minds of those who were privileged to once live there. Perhaps "Matoy" was first federally recognized when the post office was established about 1901. It was officially named for Mary Abigail (Folsom, James) Matoy for her family's landholds there. She was full-blood Choctaw Indian, sister of Joseph Folsom, wife of William M. Matoy, mother of Albert Matoy, and an early-day school teacher in the area. (See Joseph and Lizzie Folsom Family History in the Bryan County Heritage Book.) According to history. William M. Matoy was of Cherokee Indian descent. He came from Ft. Smith after the close of the Civil War. He had joined the Confederate Army and served under General Stand Watie. During his tenure of service he had traveled by horseback through the Choctaw Nation and on into the Chickasaw Country. He especially took a liking to the Blue County area, which is now Bryan County, because of its abundant water supply and good grazing for cattle, therefore when the War ended he set out for this area stopping Hugo and then proceeding on to the Old Bennington area. There in conversation with the Rev. W.J.B. Lloyd, a Presbyterian Minister, he learned that a widow, Mary Abigail (Folsom) James was in need of assistance in operating her farming and ranching operations north of Old Bennington near Sugar Loaf Mountain. He located her home and applied for work. He was hired and later she became his wife. Their children were Albert, Susan, and Ora. Albert grew up and married Ida Freeny. They resided at Matoy where Albert was a commissioned cattle buyer and traveled extensively in his work. They had no children of their own but did raise May Robinson, never legally adopting her. Since Albert had no sons and he was the only son of William and Mary Abigail the family name of Matoy in this area lives only as a memory associated mainly with the establishment known as "Matoy". According to the book "Matoy" whose author, Albert Tidwell, grew up in the Matoy community and who is Albert Matoy's Namesake, the location of Matoy is described as being 12 miles east of Caddo, 10 miles north of Bennington and 13-1/2 miles northeaest of Bokchito. At one time there was a grocery store, postoffice, both a Presbyterian and Baptist Church, a high school, and a barber shop. It was a thriving farming/ranching community made up of both Caucasian and Indian people who learned to live in harmony and appreciate the qualities of one another. I especially like the expression used by one of the old-timers: "Nobody locked their doors at Matoy." ------------------------------------------- Written by Tommie Louise Robison