Allen has a long and colorful history. The earlier Cold Springs name came long ago when settlers heading west passed through this area on their way to (where else?) further out west. Many stopped here because of the cold springs. Some simply stayed a bit, camping on the river. And yes, the great Canadian River was quite a stream then. No one had built dams, lakes or to impede its flow toward the Mississippi. Commercial steamboats even made their way up this river as far as Ft. Holmes.

Roads had been cut though parts of Oklahoma by the U.S. Army and those bound for Santa Fe chose this busy route. It was a busy enough road that a man named Edwards built his notable store on it, catering to local Indians, travelers and to whoever had the need for his services. It has been said he had the usual inventory meat, flour, ammo and probably whatever you needed, if you had the money. A monument to this man stands nearby Fort Holmes at the junction of Little River and the Canadian to mark the spot.

On the south side of the Canadian is the little settlement that became known as Cold Springs. Some stayed and wrote letters about it which attracted new residents from parts of the old Confederacy. Rich land and an abundance of water was its big selling point. In fact, it was not long before one of the early merchants in Cold Springs applied for a post office. That was when it was learned that there already was a “Cold Springs” in Oklahoma. Undeterred, the would be Sooner/ Postmaster, by the name of McCall named it after his little boy, Allen. Thus, Allen, I.T. was born.

Settlers continued to pour in. Some of them were doctors, preachers, and teachers. Merchants built stores on the town square (now called Old Town) and as the new stores popped up around the square and Lincoln School was built. Our first doctor in Allen was Dr. Gilmore. Other doctors came and went. An important doctor (to me) was Dr. Morris. He delivered me when my family lived on Cleveland Street in 1935. Dr. Bentley built the house I live in today in 1929. During my time practicing Pharmacy here in Allen I also have good memories of Dr. Lloyd Soper.

But the best memories I have of medicine and doctors is of Dr. John Oglesbee. “Dr. John” spent 31 years serving the people of the Allen area. And he was much more than what you would expect of a rural medical doctor. He was a crusader. He believed that the medical profession should make certain that people who chose to live in rural Oklahoma deserved a top -notch type of medical care and that the doctor should be its centerpiece. It was his crusade. Dr John practiced what he preached, moving his family (four kids and his nurse wife, Patsy) into Allen.

Dr. Oglesbee built a state-of-the-art clinic with a lab, X-ray and trained staff and made it work to serve our area. And it was appreciated by Allen folk and people in the surrounding communities. Doctor Oglesbee was a well-known, respected citizen who was an endless promoter of better rural medicine and care. In 1996 he was invited to testify before a U.S. Senate subcommittee about the problems and needs of rural medicine in America. I have no doubt he had an attentive audience as he was a compelling speaker whose skills received close attention on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Last Saturday a large crowd gathered at Non-Cemetery to pay their last respects to this man who at age 80 was still working hard to help sick COVID-19 patients at an ER. He contracted the dread virus himself and it took his life. Like the life the good doctor lived, the service was beautiful and tender. Music was provided with bags and pipes and violins as we all bade our best friend and doctor farewell.

Take care in these dangerous times.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com