I probably should write more often about Allen’s rich history in Oklahoma. Last week I mentioned Allen’s role in the Green Corn Rebellion back in 1917. This rebellion fizzled out before it really got started after action taken by Pontotoc County sheriff Bob Duncan and 10 deputies. They were first on the scene after these insurrectionists burned the big Francis railroad bridge and cut the phone lines out of Ada to areas north. Then the governor sent his big “posse” down and arrested 450 locals, loaded them up in box cars and took them to prison in McAlester. I made the comment that later the governor released all these malefactors but actually 150 of them were tried and went to prison for 10 years. But a point I wanted to make is that important history occurred here.

I think it is important that our school kids here in Allen know something of this history. I remember well when I was a student over at Stonewall how the history teacher Red Roberts took time to point out important historical facts about Ada, Frisco, Durant as well as those in early day Stonewall. Not much time was required, and it think it was important that this happened.

The only historical sign in Pontotoc County is located here, on SHW-1 near Allen. The sign notes that this was the site the famous (at least in 1834) U. S. Dragoons camped here in sight of a group of about 600 Osages who were busy slaughtering and dressing Buffalo. It was common for their assistant Chief, Black Dog, to bring large hunting parties down to this Allen area where buffalo were plentiful. Black Dog and his bunch were frequent visitors but were disdained by local settlers as well as the local Indians. Black Dog was an imposing figure as a 7 ft tall and sturdy built man who preferred to work naked in the heat of summer.

The historical sign (which I urge any and all to visit) is said to be near the Osage’s (and the Dragoons) campground. Years ago, I was told the actual campsites were nearer the cold springs about where the Francis Road peels off SH-1 just west of Allen. These springs are now mostly dry but artesian wells still flow out there and it hasn’t been too far back that I remember people hauling the cold drinking water home in gallon jugs. These springs caused the town of Allen to be named Cold Springs, but the name didn’t stick. There was already a Cold Springs in the State. The U. S. post office made a demand for a name change. The then postmaster, Mr. McCall, simply called it Allen after his little boy, Allen McCall.

The U. S. Dragoons that marched and camped here 163 years ago, in direct contrast to the tall Osage Chief (who was dressing out Buffalo while naked), were all dressed up. Not only were the solders made to wear and ride in their dress uniforms, but each battalion also rode matched horses. The expeditionary force were headed out west hoping to impress the Indian leadership. I suspect the working naked Osage Indians near Allen were not impressed.

These VIP visitors to early day Allen included such notables as Jefferson Davis (future president of the Confederacy), George Catlin, famed western artist, Gen. George Leavenworth, and Lt. George Cooke, who headed up the army engineers that built the famous Talimena road. This road and an accompanying railroad made possible the lumbering of the great forests east of McAlester and to Mena, Arkansas. A deed not gleefully remembered here in Oklahoma. Thankfully the denuded area has mostly recovered from that ecological disaster. The dragoons, not so much. The overdressed army suffered much from the heat and many died of typhus that dreadful summer. They failed to impress anyone. Caitlin is said to have made some nice drawings, however. Jefferson Davis? He went south.

Meanwhile, many of us still live here in this area and I urge us survivors to be sure and be in church Sunday. And I enjoyed hearing from readers last week.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com