Atoka County, Oklahoma Deaths

Isabella Johnson , daughter of Philip Johnson near Bennington, I. T. passed away at midnight, Wednesday night the 29th . She had been under the care of the physician for several weeks, but in spite of his watchful care and all that friends could do for her, the deceptive disease proved fatal.
Isabella has been at the "Home" of the Academy during the year and she was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was a quiet, unassuming, earnest Christian girl. She as never corrected or reproved in her school work and was a bright and faithful student. during her long sickness she was always patient and was grateful for the smallest favor. If you asked her how she was, her reply was, invariably_"I am better." She was so young, only fifteen; and she wanted to live, but when told that she could not she said, "It is all right, I am ready." And so now instead of mourning for her, let us think of her in the "brighter, Better Land" where there is no more suffering or sorrow. Her remains were taken to the family burying ground near Bennington, I. T., for burial .  Printed April 6, 1899

 Elizabeth Thompson usually called Beth, came to the Academy early in September in company with her brother and two sisters. She was very shy at first, but soon came to be a favorite with all. But few have ever made more rapid progess in the mastery of the English language, or manifested a deeper thirst for knowledge. she received the same care as the others, and seemed to develop no alarming symptoms. On Thursday morning, March 30th , shortly after the physician had made his usual morning round and had said that she was doing well, she was taken with a spasm from which she never rallied. Her remains were kept until Friday at three o'clock in hopes that the gandfather might come to the funeral. Her body was laid away in the Atoka cemetery to await the great resurrection morning .  Printed April 6, 1899

Minnie Yota , about seven years of age, was brought to the school by her aunt, Mrs. Betesy Williams, from Tushkahoma, on Jan. 9. 1889. She was a strong and hearty a child as we had in the Home. Always happy and well until she took measles about March 4th. No alarming symptoms developed until pneumonia set in March 25th, and her condition did not seem critical until Wednesday. Every care was taken to give good attention, but death seemed to claim her for his own. She was conscious to the last, and those who saw her during the last hours of her sickness will remember her as a dear little heroine. Her aunt and brother reached her twelve hours before she passed away and she talked freely with them. She died at noon, April 1st and her remains were sent to Tuskahoma for burial . Printed April 6, 1899

Gensie Elizabeth Anderson died of consumption at the Baptist Academy Home, April 25th. She never regained her strength after having measles. She suffered much during the last few days of her life, but her patience and fortitude were remarkable. Elizabeth was of a singularly sweet and loving disposition. She was early taught to pray by her godly grandmother. This aged grandmother has buried all of a large family of children and grandchildren; except two of the latter. Elizabeth was laid to rest beside her mother in the yard of the old family homestead. her teacher and schoolmates miss her from her place in the home and school. May be meet her in Heaven.
Source: The Indian Citizen April 27, 1899

Father Olachetubbee, an old Choctaw man, died Monday, April 24, 1899, at his home near Kiowa. He is known to all as a most consecrated servant of God and a character altogether lovable and enviable. He has labored long and faithfully for the salvation of his Choctaw people. He has done all he could and gone to receive his reward in eternity.Source: The Indian Citizen April 27, 1899

McKee Robinson, a member of the Choctaw council and ex-county judge of Blue county, died suddenly at his home south of town on Sunday, May 22, 1899. He was a very popular man and had held the offices of county clerk and county judge of this county for several terms prior to last election when he was elected for the council by the largest vote of any candidate in the nation. Deceased was about 35 years of age, almost a full-blood Choctaw, and decidedly prosperous, owning a beautiful place where he died besides a number of houses in Caddo. He leaves a wife and several children; the funeral was conducted under the auspecies of the Odd Fellows and Masons Monday and was largely attended. Caddo News.
Source: The Indian Citizen printed May 25, 1899
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March 27, 1905
HEAD CUT OFF AS HE DRAWS TO HOP A TRAIN
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Young Boy Meets Terrible Death In Accident at Atoka
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Atoka, I.T.--March 26--Cleve Crawley, a boy between ten and eleven years of age was ran over and killed by a freight train about a mile from this place on the Oklahoma Division of the Katy railroad late last evening.  The boys head was severed from his body and his whole form was bruised and wounded.  Young Crawley was trying to "hop" a train while it was in motion.  He was standing upon an embankment above the train that had recently been thrown up.  The place gave way causing him to fall under the wheels of the moving train.
Source:  Daily Oklahoman Page 10

March 24, 1914
TRESSPASS QUARREL LEADS TO KILLING
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Atoka, OK -- March 23--(Special)--
During a quarrel Garnet Smier of Atoka shot and killed Isaac Rodgers, also a citizen of this county.  Both are young farmers.  It seems that they had trouble before this time and had come to blows.  Rogers claiming that Smiser was in company of his brother and his brother-in-law when Rogers approached them and told them they had been hunting on his lands.  A quarrel ensued and culminated in the death of Rogers.  Rogers body was found late last night.  His head was almost shot off and in his hand was found a stick which Smiser claims he used or was attempting to use when he shot.  Both young men belong to prominent families of the county.  The date of the preliminary has not yet been set.
Source: Daily Oklahoman Page 10


August 5, 1932

In the summer of 1932, Gene Moore had been a deputy sheriff in Atoka County for about a year. By one account, this 30-year-old man of part Chickasaw descent liked his job, carried out his duties efficiently and was considered popular by the citizens of Atoka. Hard-working and God-fearing, with a wife and three children, he appeared to be a model citizen with a bright future in law enforcement and possibly as a community leader. Born near Calera (south of Durant) in 1901, Eugene Capel Moore was one of twelve children born to Chickasaw citizen, Lemuel Capel Moore.  Sometime after 10 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, August 5, 1932, Gene Moore and Sheriff Charley Maxwell drove the eight miles from Atoka to Stringtown apparently to investigate a disturbing-the-peace complaint. Sheriff Maxwell may have called on Moore (and not another available deputy) to accompany him to Stringtown because he wanted to ride in Moore's new Chevrolet. Since the source of the noise was a country-and-western dance, both lawmen felt sure that some of the dancers would be violating local, state and federal prohibitions against consuming alcohol. They arrived just before 11 p.m.   The lawmen spotted some men who were apparently drinking in a nearby car and Maxwell went to investigate. According to Maxwell's other deputy sheriff, Oscar Folsom (who was not present), the two lawmen had in their custody a woman who had escaped from prison in McAlester. Moore stayed with her in his car. Evidently confirming the men's suspicious behavior, Sheriff Maxwell walked over to the car and told the men that they could consider themselves under arrest. Not suspecting trouble, he did not have his gun drawn. Pistol shots rang out. Maxwell was hit several times, but did not fall until he had taken seven bullets. Moore leaped from his car and ducked behind a Model T for cover. He drew his gun, raised up to see the assailants and immediately was dropped by a single bullet from a.30 caliber Stevens automatic rifle. Undersheriff Moore was killed instantly, while Sheriff Charles Maxwell was critically wounded.  When help reached the fallen lawmen, they found Moore dead but Maxwell still alive. Reportedly close to death, he was taken to a McAlester hospital, where following surgery, he recovered, though he was "crippled for life," according to the newspapers.  Gene Moore's funeral was held at the First Baptist Church of Atoka. On hand, according to the Atoka Indian Citizen, was "one of the largest crowds ever to attend a funeral in this section of the state to pay respects to a man who was admired and respected by all with whom he had come in contact."

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