Indian Territory Freedmen History Month-Jehovah Baptist Church

 JEHOVAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH & CEMETERY

“Established approximately 1869 in Milo, Oklahoma by Choctaw and Chickasaw freedmen under the leadership of Banks Stevenson, the church was commissioned by Rev. Sam Burns, a white preacher.”

Jehovah was a small ten foot by twelve foot one-room log house with a dirt floor, peg benches and kerosene light. The church began with a small congregation but continued to grow in membership which required relocation to a larger house of worship about one and one fourth mile east of the original location.

Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church became the spiritual home for many Indian Territory freedmen and their descendants. The congregation included many who would later be recognized as citizens by blood of the Chickasaw Nation.

When Jehovah was moved to its present day location it was led by Pastor Rev. R.J. Jackson, an “Indian preacher.” At the time of this final relocation there were three deacons who were original Dawes enrollees; David Stevenson, Caesar Stevenson and Mose Taylor. The church now owns the land on which the church stands, land given to the congregation by the Indians.

It is said one of the few schools in the Chickasaw Nation that allowed Indian children and Black children to attend school together was established at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church. Education during this period was intended to educate a child up to the eighth grade.

Many of the children living in the Milo area probably attended school in the little church “out in the country” and many of them were more than likely Chickasaw and Choctaw freedmen descendants. Fortunately there are some records that still exist listing the children who attended and received their first formal education under the roof of Jehovah Baptist Church.  

One of the earliest records for this school is a 1914 document that is a declaration the family does live in the school district. On the form the name of the guardian or parent is given and the township and post office where they reside. This form lists all of the children in that family that attends the school, their gender, age and date of birth. 

In the following example we see the family of A.C. Stephenson and his five children with ages ranging from six year old Virgle (sic) and sixteen year old Norater (sic) 

Eliza Stevenson was a student at the school located at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, her family like others in the community had a history that began before statehood. Her great grandmother and name sake Eliza Nero/Dyer came to Indian Territory from Mississippi as a slave of Nancy Smith. 

Eliza Stevenson was born in 1909 and was not an original Dawes enrollee like her mother and many of her other relatives that were active members of Jehovah Baptist Church. Years later, Eliza’s daughter Evelyn Brown would attend this same school and walk six miles just to catch the bus that would take her to the school at Jehovah. 

The church and school were a vital part of the community during the days of neighborhood schools. Although the school no longer exists, the memories remain from the few students who began their academic careers at Jehovah, like Evelyn Brown-Norwood. 

There have been many church ministers over the one hundred and forty-two year history of Jehovah Baptist Church and among them; several were formerly enslaved in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. Not all of the ministers survived to become enrolled as Freedmen of the Choctaw or Chickasaw nations but research has been able to identify those who did. 

Banks Stevenson who was the initial minister at the founding of the church did not survive to enroll in 1898. However it appears several other men were enrolled as children or young adults that later became ministers of Jehovah. Men such as Ed Shannon (Chickasaw Freedmen card # 500,) William McKinney (Chickasaw Freedman card # 510,) Levy Stevenson (Chickasaw Freedman card # 422,) George Roberts (Choctaw Freedman card # 1172) and Rev. Andrew Franklin all appear to be original Dawes enrollees.

It is evident the men and women who descended from former slaves had a sense of community and were determined to build institutions that educated their children, and provide a spiritual foundation for the population surrounding Jehovah Baptist Church. 

The list of “First Deacons and Trustee Board” is another example of how the former slaves in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations rose to the challenge of firmly establishing this institution in their community and is probably a good reason why it exists today. 

Among that first group that formed the deacons were Chickasaw Freedmen Eddie (Edward) Abram; card # 699, Lovard Abram; card # 478, Lyman Pickens; card # 496, Mose Taylor; card # 512 and Eli Stevenson; card # 583. The Choctaw Freedmen who were a part of that initial group of deacons included Caesar Stevenson; card # 34, and David Stevenson; card # 579. It must be noted, based on the names and the ages of these men, the Deacon and Trustee Boards may have been formed in the 20th century and not when the church was originally formed. 

For the Chickasaw and Choctaw Freedmen and their descendants it is evident how much the church had a role in their lives from the spiritual and education development of its members as well as the support of those in the community with their Missionary Society that “focused on helping the sick and providing for the needy. 

Again when you look at the names of the women who were active in the Missionary Society you will see many who were original Dawes enrollees and or their descendants. 

Jehovah Baptist Church has a rich history in the community of Milo and Newport Indian Territory. It is just as important a symbol of the community is the same grounds the church and school sit on is also the grounds where many of the leading women and men who were some of the original settlers in the area are interred in the Jehovah Cemetery. This church and cemetery the grounds that was the heart and soul of the Milo, Newport and Woodford Community is sacred ground and more than worthy of being recognized as part of Indian Territory Freedmen History.

Perhaps because they were just outside of the larger and commercial city of Ardmore these communities were not recognized as “All Black Towns” but they were communities that sustained their citizens especially those who lived among the Chickasaw Indians from the very first time they settled in this part of Indian Territory as participants in the Chickasaw Removal.

 Endnotes

1.        Photo of Jehovah Baptist Church (From the History of Jehovah Baptist Church Courtesy of the Evelyn Norwood Collection)

2.       Photo of Caesar Stevenson Chickasaw Freedman #34 (Courtesy of the Evelyn Norwood Collection)

3.       Black Dispatch July 29, 1921 p3c4 “Milo News”

4.      1914 Scholastic Census Report District #37, A.C. Stephenson

5.       Teachers Report to County superintendent of Annual Examinations for Common School Diplomas, Jehovah School April 15, 1926 Eliza Stevenson (Courtesy of the Evelyn Norwood Collection)

6.       Photo of Eliza Stevenson (Courtesy of the Evelyn Norwood Collection)

7.       Church Ministers (From the History of Jehovah Baptist Church Courtesy of the Evelyn Norwood Collection)

8.       List of Early Members of the Missionary Society (From the History of Jehovah Baptist Church Courtesy of the Evelyn Norwood Collection)