Cherokee County Oklahoma, 
History of the Sequoyah Club, established 
in 1910 on the Illinois River in Cherokee County.   

Submitted by: Faye Gibson, e-mail: Faye@eufaula.lib.ok.us
Copyright Date: 12/31/2002
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cherokee/cherokee.html
Bill Cook, billcook44@aol.com, County Archivist
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In the spring of 1908 three Muskogee men pitched a tent on the banks of 
the Illinois River about six miles Southeast of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. 
These men were Homer Needles, W. T. Hutchings, and W. J. "Bill" Cook. 
This was near where the Frisco bridge crosses the Illinois River. 

At the time these men did their "Pioneering" the place was a rather scraggly 
cotton field. Several of their friends were invited to camp out at this 
place and in 1909 as they sat around a camp fire in the evening with 
their pipes, they discussed the prospect of organizing a fishing club. 
After finding the fishing good and becoming adventurous and very 
enthusiastic, they instructed Austin Murchison to "go the limit" and 
purchase ten acres which was to be the first ground owned.

Until June 11 1910 when a contract was signed to build a club house, 
the club proper consisted of a tent and a few "leantos" and was 
primarily a "man's" club, as it was before the years when the weaker sex 
had become imbued with the idea that they might fish and swim with the 
best of them. Sundays, to be sure, there would be family parties there, 
but the women lingered about the tent and were perfectly willing to 
"call it a day" at noon.

Besides the three men mentioned above, it is reported that a group of 
engineers surveying land of the Cherokees for the Dawes Commission also 
camped on this same ground.

By reviewing the minutes of the Club meetings and other available 
records, it is determined that the Sequoyah Club was as a corporation 
organized on April 30, 1910 under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, 
"not for profit or gain, but for education, benevolent and scientific 
purposes, to-wit: "for mental improvement, for mental and physical 
recreation, to study and read together, literary, education and 
scientific works of all kinds, to study, practice and promulgate 
physical science, to up-build the health and physical man, to maintain 
ponds for the study and propagation of fish and to otherwise preserve 
and progate fish."

The term for which the corporation is to exist is 21 years, having 200 
shares at $50.00 each, and incorporated for $10,000.00 Every member must 
own at least one share of stock, pay his $50.00 entrance fee and $12.00 
yearly dues.

The following names appear on the corporate papers, but no titles are 
given.

C.W. Dawson / Wm. J Cook / C. A. Looney

Wm. T. Hutchings / W. O. Beall / Geo. Walker

Homer Needles (became first Club President)

The Club is located about six miles South of Tahlequah on the Illinois 
River a free flowing stream of clear cool water. The records do not show 
clearly just how many acres were included in the original club grounds, 
but at one time the club owned over 306 acres. The first club house was 
constructed in 1910, as well as the caretaker's cottage and one by 
Chestnut Gibbons. According to 1968 paid taxes, the club owns 
approximately 67 acres, a large brick club house with a large kitchen 
and large dining room, and a small dining room and food storage space. 
The member cabins now total 33, a club swimming pool, a lighted tennis 
court, and a croquet court. The membership includes members living in 
Muskogee, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Dallas, and totals over 40 members.

It is in the heart of "The Green Country" and only two miles from 
Tsa-La-Gi, the name of an authentic recreation of a Cherokee village, 
and the Murrell Home, an early settlers home.

All of the club land was obtained from people of Indian blood who were 
allotted the land by the Federal Government.

The original clubhouse was erected on property described as follows: SW 
¬ of the SW ¬ of the SE ¬ Section 13 Township 16N Range 22E in Cherokee 
County. Plans and specifications were by C. W. Dawson, building contract 
dated June 11, 1910 between Isaac Smith, Contractor, Rounds and Porter 
Lumber Co. as sureties. Amount to be paid on completion of contract 
$2,485.00.

Although the club was incorporated on April 30, 1910, there is no record 
of any meetings until November 1, 1910. This being the first minutes 
available for this new club, you will find below an exact copy of these 
minutes.

MINUTES OF MEETING

Of

SEQUOYAH CLUB

The following stockholders of the Sequoyah Club met in the Commercial 
Club rooms, at 4 P.M., Thursday, November 1, 1910; pursuant to call of 
the President.

Geo. W. Walters / P.B. Bostic / Joe Dickman / Geo. Reece / Homer Needles /
C. W. Dawson / F. A. Ungles / C. L. Hough

President Needles in the Chair

Mr. Dawson moved that the $50.00 membership fee be left open to include 
100 members. Seconded by Mr. Walters. Motion was duly carried.

Mr. Reece moved that the Secretary be instructed to send a list of 
members to the present members of the Club, together with two 
application blanks, with the request that they endeavor to secure 
additional members. Motion being duly seconded and put to a vote, was 
adopted.

Mr. Bostic suggested that the President send a personal letter to each 
member of the club, urging them to visit the Club, also explaining to 
them the financial condition.

Mr. Needles moved that no stock shall be sold until all dues and 
assessments against said stock have been fully paid up, and such 
transfer of stock shall not be valid until approved by the Board of 
Directors.

Mr. Walters moved that the President appoint a Committee of three to 
draw up the By-Laws and Constitution. Motion being duly carried, the 
President appointed Messrs. Dawson, Walters and Hough, as such committee.

Upon motion, adjournment was taken.

Note: Mr. Charles Dickman is the only Charter Member that we know of 
that is living today (September 10, 1969).

You will note that the meeting is of the Sequoyah Club, but the body of 
the minutes state, "the following Stockholders of Sequoyah" were in 
attendance. To become a member you were required to buy at least one 
share of stock at $50.00, then a $50.00 membership fee. The minutes 
reveal that the new Club lost no time in going after new members, with a 
goal of one hundred members. In the year of 1910, sixty-five share s of 
stock were issued. The first ten shares were issued to:

1-Homer Needles

2-H.Y. Barnes

3-W.H. Stueve

4-H.P. Morton, Okmulgee

5-A.S. Seider, Okmulgee

6-G.W. Barnes

7-E.C. Bothwell

8-W.O. Beall

9-C.W. Dawson

10-Geo. E. Reese, Kansas City

Signing sixty-five members in approximately nine months for a new outing 
club shows good work by those interested. Others included in this group 
were H.K. Herbst (became my boss in 1917), D. H. Middleton, Eddie Watts, 
R.A. Patterson, C.A. Looney, Eugene Kerr, D.O. Scott, P.B. Bostic, W.J. 
Cook, Garfield Buell, W.E. Disney, Bill Cohenour, W.T. Hutchings, D.N. 
Fink, W.M. Eichotz, S.P. Mann, T.L. Pegram, J.A. Dickman, John L. 
Wisener, Theo Lispssscomb, Thomas P. Smith, W.C. Jackson, Note: Thomas 
P. Smith is the father of Mrs. Tom (Emily) McDermott, present members 
(August 18, 1969).

The year of 1911 was a busy year, at least for the Club Officers, as 
five meetings were held from April to July, inclusive. The records show 
that thirteen new members were accepted, including Fred English, W. T. 
Payne, H.A. Kroh, R.G. Emmert, Tucker Buckner, P.P. Nesbitt, Grant 
Pauley, J. Barry King. J. H. McDonald, N.A. Gibson, J.C. Culbertson, 
Fred Turner. Note: H.A. Kroh is the father of Mrs. Dr. (Betty) Weaver, 
present member (August 18, 1969).

It seems to have been the rule of the Club that should a club member 
wish to invite a guest, permission to do so must be obtained by a vote 
of members. On motions being duly seconded and carried. Mr. Geo. Reese 
of Kansas City did invite Father Hubert of Okmulgee: also a vistor's 
card was sent to Senator Robert L. Owen and James Davenport, good for 
one year. It was further brought out that "no resident of Oklahoma would 
be granted the privilege of the Club more than once, except on special 
occasions, and then only when authorized by the house committee.

The resignation of Mr. Louis Albright as steward of the Club was 
accepted, effective May 1, 1911.

The stockholder-members were holding their meetings in the Commercial 
Rooms June 14, 1911 with Mr. Homer Needles, President and C. L. Hough, 
Secretary. The House Committee was authorized to have constructed two 
screen porches, one on the North and one on the South side of the 
present Club House.

Club business was really picking up. It was moved, seconded, and 
carried, that a committee of three or more members be appointed to draft 
a set of By Laws to the membership for approval. The new committee on 
by-laws was Col. Toomer, Chairman, P.B. Bostic, P.B. Hopkins. Pending 
the adoption of the new by-laws, it was voted that privileges of the 
Club be restricted to the members and their families, and that none 
others, residents of the State of Oklahoma be permitted at the Club House.

The Club House Committee consisted of W.J. Cook, C.A. Looney, and P.B. 
Bostic.

Mr. F.A. Kilber of St. Louis presented the painting, "Sequoyah," to the 
Club. (Has anyone seen this painting, or know where it is?)

Mr. Chas. Dickman Suggested a committee be appointed to investigate the 
feasibility of building a dam across the Illinois River on the property 
of the Club and make some arrangement for the exchange of Club land for 
land up the river that might be overflowed
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Permission to use this material granted by:
Faye Gibson, Faye@eufaula.lib.ok.us, to the Cherokee Co. OKUSGenweb site
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