Splitlog Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Splitlog Church
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Splitlog Church, NE View
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Grove, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1893 |
| Built by | Splitlog, Mathias |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001061 |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1972 |
The Splitlog Church is a very old church building in Grove, Oklahoma. It is also known as the Cayuga Mission Church. This historic church was built in 1893. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
Contents
Building the Splitlog Church
The church building is about 50 feet (15 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) wide. It is made from local limestone rock. The church has a tall tower and a pointed steeple above the front door. There is also a smaller tower at the back. The roof is high and steeply slanted.
Stone steps lead up to the front entrance. The doors are made of plain wood. Above the doors, there is an arch decorated with fifteen Native American symbols. No one knows what these symbols mean today.
Inside, the church has beautiful wood that was brought from other places. Much of the wood is carved with fancy designs. All the windows are arched and have colorful stained glass. If you look closely, you can see the name "Splitlog" carved above the arched windows. The letters spell out the name as you walk around the inside of the church.
A Special Reason to Build
Matthias Splitlog started building this church in 1893. He was in a hurry because his wife, Eliza Barnett Splitlog, was very sick. He wanted the church to be finished so she could see his special gift to her. Sadly, Eliza died in 1894 before the church was done. Even though it was not finished, her funeral was held there.
Building work started again in 1895. The church was finally dedicated on November 25, 1896. This means it was officially opened for services.
Who Was Matthias Splitlog?
The Splitlog Church was built by Matthias Splitlog. He moved to Indian Territory (which is now Oklahoma) in 1874. He was about 62 years old at that time. Family stories say he was part Cayuga Native American and part French. He was born in New York in 1812.
When he was only three years old, Matthias moved to Ohio with most of the other Cayuga people. As a young man, he lived among the Wyandotte tribe in Ohio. He married a Wyandotte woman and became a member of her tribe.
Moving to Kansas
In 1843, about 700 to 800 Wyandotte people moved to Kansas Territory. They were given a large area of land. Matthias, even though he could not read or write, was very smart. He could speak seven different languages! He was also good at building things.
In Kansas, Matthias became a very successful businessman. He built the first gristmill (a mill for grinding grain) in Kansas. He even built his own steamboat to carry small loads on the river. He owned land in a place called Westport, which was a busy starting point for wagon trains heading west.
Matthias was very clever with his land. In 1857, some people wanted to buy his land. He waited for a better price and kept living there until 1860.
Matthias Moves to Indian Territory
In 1863, a railroad company wanted to build tracks and shops on Matthias's land. He later said he was paid a huge amount of money for it. Over time, more people wanted the land where Native Americans lived. In 1855, the Wyandottes decided to become U.S. citizens and sell their lands.
Years before, the Wyandottes had given some land to the Senecas. The Senecas promised to help the Wyandottes if they ever lost their home. In 1857, the Senecas kept their promise. They gave the Wyandottes 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares) of land in Indian Territory. The Wyandottes sold their Kansas land and moved southwest.
Matthias Splitlog stayed in Kansas for a while. He bought more land and built a new home in 1870. This area was first called Splitlog Hill, but now it is known as Strawberry Hill. By 1874, Matthias had sold most of his property and moved to Indian Territory. He found a good spot between the Grand River and the Cowskin River, near where Grove, Oklahoma is today. This land had a big spring, which he named Cayuga, after his first tribe.
Building a New Community
When Matthias arrived, he immediately started many building projects. First, he built a sawmill to cut wood. Then he built a gristmill and a large blacksmith shop. He also started a ferry service and a general store. His projects gave jobs to many local people. He paid them well and treated them kindly.
After building his own home, he built a factory. This factory made buggies (horse-drawn carriages), two-seated hacks, and coffins. He named the growing town Cayuga Springs. In 1884, a post office was set up in Cayuga, and Matthias's son, Joseph, became the postmaster. Since there were no public schools, Splitlog provided a building and started a school for the children in the community.
What Happened to Cayuga Springs?
A writer named John Wesley Morris wrote about Cayuga Springs and its church. He said that the village burned down in 1913. Only the church, the priest's house, and the carriage factory were left. Many buildings were destroyed, including a hotel, the general store, the post office, the blacksmith shop, and several homes.
After Matthias Splitlog died, the 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of land with the church and cemetery were given to the Catholic Church. However, fewer people lived in Cayuga over time. It became hard for the Church to send priests to serve this mission. So, the church parish was closed. Some items, like the confessional and the altar, were moved to other churches. The church bell was taken down and sent to St. Catherine's church in Nowata, Oklahoma.
In 1930, a person bought the church because it was important to them. They agreed to take care of the building and the cemetery.
