Wealaka, Indian Territory facts for kids

Wealaka was a small town started in 1880 in what was then called the Creek Nation, part of Indian Territory. It was famous for the Wealaka Mission, which ran a school from 1882 to 1907. Mostly, Muscogee Creek children went to this school for free. Other children could also attend, but their families had to pay a small fee. When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the land was sold to private people.

Wealaka was also the last home of Pleasant Porter, a very important leader of the Creek Nation. He called the area "Fairview." Today, Wealaka is still on maps in southern Tulsa County, Oklahoma, but it's not counted as a separate town in the U.S. census.

Wealaka: A Historic Community

Starting the Town

Wealaka began around 1880 near a small river that flowed into the Arkansas River. It was located in the Creek Nation, about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of where Leonard, Oklahoma is today. The name "Wealaka" comes from the Muscogee language and means "Rising Water."

A European-American merchant named W. L. Gilcrease planned the town and chose its name. He also owned part of a cotton gin, which was a machine that separated cotton fibers from their seeds. One of his sons, Thomas Gilcrease, later became a wealthy oilman in Oklahoma.

The Wealaka post office opened in 1880 inside W. T. Davis's store. It was one of the first post offices in the area near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The post office stayed open until 1892. The old Davis store building was taken down in 1942 to make space for an airfield for the Spartan School of Aeronautics.

The Wealaka Mission School

The Wealaka Creek Mission was founded in 1882 by Robert McGill Loughridge. He was a Presbyterian minister who had been working as a missionary in the Creek Nation since 1873. He had previously started the Koweta Mission in Coweta, Oklahoma.

The Wealaka Mission also ran a school for Muscogee children. These children could attend for free because the U.S. government helped pay for their education. European-American children living nearby could also go to the school, but their families had to pay a fee of $1.00 each month.

Life at the Mission School

Lilah Denton Lindsey, a Creek woman, was one of the first teachers at the mission. She later became known for her charity work. In an interview from 1937, she said the mission was on top of a hill. It was about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Muskogee, Oklahoma and half a mile (0.8 km) south of the Arkansas River.

The first school building was made of brick and was three stories tall. It measured 110 feet (33.5 m) long and 40 feet (12.2 m) wide. The principal and teachers lived on the first floor. The chapel and classrooms were on the second floor. The third floor was divided into separate dormitories (sleeping rooms) for boys and girls. Many children who lived far away stayed at the school as boarders.

Important People and the End of the Mission

Pleasant Porter (1840-1907), who was the last elected principal chief of the Creek Nation before Oklahoma became a state, lived near the mission. He was buried in the mission's cemetery.

After Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the mission property was sold to private owners. The school building sadly burned down in 1935. Today, only the basement of the building and the cemetery remain.