Caddo History Books
Caddo, Oklahoma- Persevering on the Prairie is available from the Bryan County Genealogy Library and Archives. This book is a compilation of research, stories, newspaper articles, and obituaries that will help you understand Caddo’s fascinating past and give you names and dates to help with your family genealogy. The book is fully indexed.
To order your copies send a check or money order for $35 plus $3.50 postage and handling to Bryan County Genealogy Library and Archives, P.O. Box 153, Calera, Oklahoma 74730-0153. (If you order multiple copies just add $1postage for each additional book.)
Persevere: to persist in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement.
The early settlers of Caddo faced violence, fierce weather, isolation, and poverty yet managed to create a community that has lasted one hundred and thirty-eight years. Twice Caddo was nearly devastated by fire, but the community rebuilt. And it thrived! Caddo was once home to more than 2,000 people and had visitors from all over the world. You can read about the Corn Carnival, the Moon Mausoleum, the Jefferson Highway, and many more of Caddo’s famous attractions. Order your copy of Persevering on the Prairie today!
My New book is available!
Fat Men and Fabulous Ladies-
The Founding Families of Caddo, Oklahoma, Vol. 1
In 1972 a special edition of the Bryan County Star included a photo of some of the men who helped build Caddo. Since each was nearly as rotund as they were powerful, the group was dubbed “the fat men’s club”. These hefty leaders included A. E. Rutherford, D. B. Williams, Ed Walters, Barlow Roberts, Jim Hogan, Judge Rappolee, Harry Dunlap, R. A. Riddel, W. E. Theden, Bob Travis, C. A. Bilbo, Ira Smith, Amos Bass, J. W. Abney, Billy Smith, Bob Pace, Dr. Bowman, Joe House, A.B. McCoy. One doesn’t have to read many issues of the Caddo Herald to realize that these were the “movers and shakers” of their time.
However, there were at least a dozen other men and women who helped mold and shape Caddo from a wild railroad station into a civilized town that has drawn settlers and visitors from all over the nation. As I have researched Caddo’s history over the past five years I have noticed the same names appearing over and over again. And I’ve also noticed relationships and partnerships and friendships among those names. I began to create my own list of prominent Caddo citizens that I call the Fabulous Fifty.
Famous or infamous, the men and women who were members of these prominent families helped shape the history of Caddo from 1898 to 1948. November 27, 1898 was the date when Caddo was incorporated, and 1948 was the year of the Golden Jubilee to celebrate 50 years. I could have easily chosen another set of fifty families because there were so many people in Caddo’s history who were active in community service, local politics, education, and religion. If your family is not on the list it is not a reflection on them or their contribution to history. It is simply the result of honing a list of 200 people down to a manageable number.
The purpose of this book is to provide background information about specific families and to show their contributions to the development of Caddo. None of the biographies is “complete”. I doubt they ever will be completed. Genealogists spend a lifetime adding bits and pieces of information to their family stories. It is my hope that these items in my book will help fill in the gaps or knock down the brick walls that are perplexing some poor family historian who just needs one date, one location, or one name to solve a family mystery.
I hope you enjoy reading about Caddo’s Fat Men and Fabulous Ladies! ($35, see previous instructions for ordering)
