Dela, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dela
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Unincorporated
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Pushmataha |
| Named for | Dela M. Whitaker |
| GNIS feature ID | 1100348 |
Dela is a small, unincorporated community in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes or businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Dela is located about six miles southeast of a town called Antlers. This area is also part of the land overseen by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
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How Dela Got Its Name
Dela was named after a local schoolteacher named Dela M. Whitaker. A United States Post Office was opened here on May 12, 1920. It served the community for many years before closing on October 31, 1954.
The Original White Church
Before it was called Dela, this community had another name: White Church. The Choctaw people called it Itissa Busha. This name came from a Methodist church that was built by a white settler. This church was special because it was meant for use by Choctaw Indians.
We don't know exactly when the church was built. However, we know it was there before the nearby town of Antlers was settled in 1886. The oldest grave in the church's cemetery dates back to 1883. When it was first built, the church was located in what was then Cedar County. This was part of the Apukshunnubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.
A Special Church for the Choctaw
The logs used to build the Methodist church were brought all the way from Fort Towson. These logs were then whitewashed with lime, which is a white powder. This is why the Choctaw people called it Itissa Busha, or White Church.
Lockestown and Colonel Locke
In the early 1870s, a man named Colonel Victor M. Locke started several successful businesses at White Church. He had a store, a grist mill (which grinds grain into flour), and a cotton gin (which separates cotton fibers from their seeds). These businesses were located on White Creek.
The Choctaw National Council, which was the government of the Choctaw Nation, even named the settlement "Lockestown." This name was used to identify it as an official place for Choctaw people to vote. Colonel Locke later moved from White Church to Beaver in 1875. Beaver was the original name for what is now Antlers.
The Church's Legacy
By the late 1930s, historical records show that the Choctaw people who used to live nearby and worship at the White Church had passed away. The church was no longer in use. A white farmer bought the church property and took the building down. However, the cemetery from the church still exists today and is known as Dela Cemetery.
