The area that is now Valliant, Oklahoma, had a star on the map even before the town’s existence.
The Oak Hill Industrial Academy was established near what is now Valliant, Oklahoma, to educate the children of freed black slaves in the area in 1869 by the Presbyterian church.
The Presbyterian School was a boarding school with Miss Eliza Hartford as a teacher in 1886.
Elliott Hall was dedicated in 1912 and the name changed to The Alice Lee Elliott Memorial Academy.The academy was instrumental in providing an education to black children in the Valliant, Oklahoma area for many years. The academy closed in 1936.
The history of Valliant, Oklahoma is rich and interwoven with the history of the Academy, the timber industry, and the early railroads of the late 1800's and early 1900's.
In the early 1900’s, as the Arkansas and Choctaw Railroad made it’s way across what is now Southeast Oklahoma, locations were chosen for towns and post offices.
Valliant (now Oklahoma 74764) was platted in 1902 and the name Valliant was chosen in honor of one of the railroad officials, Frank W. Valliant.
On June 23, 1902, Valliant (now Oklahoma) officially came into existence. It was still five years before Oklahoma would became a state.
It seems that Mr. Valliant even bought the first money order sold at the post off ice of Valliant by the first postmaster, Hosea Fowler according to the Valliant Chamber of Commerce.
The town grew and developed, becoming a center of progress for the area. Early businesses included a cotton gin, three hotels, a newspaper, two banks, cafes, doctor’s office, lawyer’s office, and other businesses and professional offices.
Even before Oklahoma became a state, the Dierks Brothers, Hans and Herman, established the Choctaw Lumber Company in what is now McCurtain County Oklahoma. They chose the Valliant area as their
mill location before 1910. Their mill was located about 7 miles to the northeast of Valliant and later became another town which was named Bismark, and eventually changed to Wright City in 1918.
Timber and logging has always been a major industry in the area ever since the Choctaws and Chickasaws arrived. After the Civil War, the industry grew tremendously in Southeast Oklahoma and remains a major employer in the area.
Valliant can be proud of it's heritage in early education of the children of freed black slaves, in its early development as an industrial center for the timber industry, and a place that many folks call home and proud to say so.
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Oklahoma's Giant Champion Water Oak Tree - Swink Oklahoma ...Looking for an area that GROWS THINGS? It's Southeast Oklahoma!
Thankful Thursday - Walking Trip 119 Miles with Five Children - Revisiting 1938 in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's Boomers - #3 in the Series on the History of My Southeast Oklahoma
McCurtain County Established and Idabel Chosen as the County Seat 1907.
Back in time.. This Would Be Purnell, Oklahoma 74745 (Idabel)
The Ninth Annual Valliant Oklahoma 74764 Watermelon Festival is about to begin.
Photo Documentation:
The Freedmen School is from the Library of Congress in the public domain. It is not a photo of the Elliott Academy since it seems that none exists. It is from approx the same time era.
The map of Oklahoma with Indian Nations is from the Library of Congress in the public domain.
The photo of the log trucks is courtesy of The U S National Archives
This blog post was originally posted at Integrity Real Estate Services Blog.
Looking for a home for sale in Idabel, Oklahoma? Let me Google that for you.
Judi Barrett, B.S. Edu.,
Broker, Integrity Real Estate Services, Office Address: RR 5 BOX 126, IDABEL, OK 74745 580-212-5946
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This is great Localism history stuff that I just love. Thanks for sharing here on AR.
Judi,
Woooww 1869 ? you transport us to the past ! :) thanks for sharing local history and keep sharing more and more :) I love them !
Hi Judi, love your historical background on the Valliant area! I am amazed that you still have a viable timber industry; someone in the past sure did a great job of managing the resources!
The story of churches educating youth continues in the world today. Many nations in Africa and Asia will only let missionaries into their country IF they will build an area school to educate the youth in the area. The good work continues today in the rest of the world.
I have a history trivia question for you Judi(I think I know the answer based on actions in a certain time period).
Why do you suppose the name of the town Bismark was changed to Wright City in 1918? ^_~
Trey,
Thank you. I have learned to love history.
Ray,
Yes 1869 was a looooong time ago!
Bruce,
Yes. They did change the name due to its assocation with the German chancellor.
:)
marker
There are many photos of the old Elliott Academy AND of the school when it was Oak Hill Academy. This was a school for former Choctaw Nation's African slaves.
The history of the school was told in a book written in 1914 by Robert Flickinger. Photos of the school can be found at: http://african-nativeamerican.blogspot.com/2011/02/remembering-oak-hill-academy-for.html
Also photos of the students at Oak Hill are presented on that site.