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Cromwell
literally boomed into existence in October 1923 when oil was discovered on a farm about 15 miles northeast of Wewoka.
Within just a span of a few months the rural district became a city of eight to ten thousand people. There
was hundreds of tents, shacks, and temporary housing to care for the thousands of people. Restruants, hotels,
mercantile stores, dance halls, and many other businesses developed almost overnight. The post office was
opened May 17, 1924. A Baptist church was organized during the boom but it was poorly attended.
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time it became notorious as the "wickedest city in the world." There were also large numbers of
gamblers, prostitutes, hop peddlers, and swindlers. "On one occasion the sheriff of Seminole County
came to Cromwell to rid the wicked little city of all its women of easy virtue. He raided their establishments,
seized them, lined them up in the street, handcuffed and chained them together and then marched them to the county
jail in Wewoka fifteen miles away. Numerous liquor joints operated openly even though prohibition was the
law. Since there had been no town at all, the only officer that could police the place was the county sheriff.
The result was the town was wide open. Robbery, and hijacking were nightly offences. Soon
the town appealed to the Governor of Oklahoma, Martin E. Trapp, for assistance. They also contacted former
U.S. Marshal Bill TIlghman asking him to become chief of police in the newly organized town. He accepted
the challenge even though he was past seventy years of age. Wiley Lynn was the federal prohibition enforcement
officer for the area and Tilghman soon became aware that Lynn was probably on the take. Lynn left no doubt
about his hatred for Tilghman. On the night of October 30, 1926 Lynn became drunk and started shooting up
the town. Tilghman struggled with Lynn and took his gun away from him, however, Lynn had a second gun and
pulled it and shot Tilghman three times. Lynn fled Cromwell that night followed by most of the gamblers and
prostitutes out of fear of what might happen as a result of Tilghman's death. In the third year of the town's
exsistence the oil pool began to deplete and people started moving away. Population figues for the 1920's
show vividly the rise and decline of Cromwell beginning with 0 in 1920, 8,000-10,000 in 1925, then 249 in 1930.
Today all that remains is the school (Butner School), a few residents, and a couple of stores. |
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Sasakwa
Governor John Brown chose the Indian word meaning "Wild Goose" for the Post Office that was located
in his store.
"Home of Gov. John F. Brown, for 34 yrs. Principal Chief Seminole Nation, succeeding his father-in-law, Chief
John Jumper, Col. 1st Regt. Seminole Mtd. Vols. Confederate Army in Civil War. Young Brown was Lieut. 1st Regt.
Creek Mtd. Vols. C.S.A. Each in turn was pastor of Spring Church, near here, founded 1850 by Baptists."
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Tidmore, I.T.-1906 Class-Miss Lou Grisso, Teacher
Tidmore was
a settlement in the Seminole Nation in the early 1890's and was the service center for the Seminole Indians, Seminole
Freedmen, and whites living nearby. A few stores, a bank, and a lumber yard were the principal businesses.
A one-teacher school served the community. In 1891 the Mekasukey Academy was approved for construction by
the Seminole Nation about two miles from the village. The materials to be used were sent to a Mr. Tidmore
who lived in the village. As a result, the settlement became known as Tidmore. In 1895 the railroad
extended its tracks through the area but refused to build into Tidmore. The post office opened on May
17, 1902 and closed on February 6, 1907. Since the railroad had refused to come into Tidmore the business
sector began moving closer to Seminole that was two miles to the east. The Mekasukey Academy closed in 1930,
and later the building was completely torn down.
Nothing remains of the town of Tidmore.
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Wolf, Oklahoma
At one time it was a nice little town. As the folks there got to old to operate their businesses they would just
close them down. Before long there was not a single business open. There used to be 2 grocery stores, 2 service
stations, 2 churches, a school, a postoffice, a bus station, a laundry, a barber shop, Lawson Dozer Co. and more
that I don`t know about. The school house is private resident now and My grandmothers store still stands. I think
Dougs station is still standing, I`m not sure. The old Freewill Baptist building is still standing but not in use.
They have moved to the old Baptist church building. The Freewill baptist church still hold sevices there.
Submitted by: Judy Rogers-Mccaig |
