We-Wo-Ka
| Named by the Seminoles after a small falls north of the town-site,
Wewoka means "Barking Waters." Founded in 1866, it is the capitol of the
Seminole Nation and is the County Seat of Seminole County. The first
residents were Seminole "Freedmen" who arrived in 1849 and were
assigned their own land. In 1855, the Florida Seminoles established
their capitol here after their removal to Indian Territory. In 1866, the
first trading post and a Post Office were established, making Wewoka the
business hub of the tri-city area.
Wewoka is one of the oldest cities in the state. Historical above all others except Ft. Gibson and Ft. Sill. The city itself was founded in 1866 by one Elijah J. Brown, a white man who was selected by the Federal Government to bring the refugee Seminoles back from LeRoy, Kansas where they had found refuge during the strife in the home land. |
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There is to be found in Wewoka, the first postmaster's commission ever issued to a post master at this place. The commission recites that on the 13th day of May 1867, Elijah J. Brown was appointed postmaster at WE-WO-KA, Seminole Nation, State of ARKANSAS. This ancient document was found hanging on the wall of the office of C. Guy Cutlip, local attorney.
The word Wewoka, means in the Seminole or Creek language, "Barking Waters", because of some tiny falls on the Wewoka Creek just north of the city.
In the days immediately subsequent to the Civil War, Wewoka became a remount station between Ft. Gibson and Ft. Sill. Soon afterwards a government agency was located at this place and troop headquarters established.
George Custer was stationed here during that time as was the intrepid Phil Sheridan. Washington Irving also stopped on his return to Ft. Gibson from his inspection of the "Prairie."
Soon after the Civil War, Wewoka was adopted by the Seminoles as their seat of Government. A capitol building and council house were erected. A town site was opened strictly for the benefit of the Indians and later this town site was opened to the whites. The title was perfected by an Act of Congress, and a drawing for town lots was held. Chances for the lots were sold all over the world: in China, England, South Africa and Canada.
The old Capitol building served as the United States Government Court House before statehood. It also served as a court house for the Seminoles, here they made their laws and enforced them. The trials took place before the Council and if found guilty, the convicted was either seated at the foot of the "Execution Tree" and shot to death or tied to the "Whipping Tree" and whipped according to the sentence. The culprit had his hands and feet tied together, the hands tied over the lower branch of the tree and between his feet was placed a pole. The whipping was done by a Lighthorseman, and the groans and cries could be heard for many blocks. The old execution tree now stands in a room of the State Historical Society located in the State Capitol Building in Oklahoma City, and the bullet marks may still be seen on it. The whipping tree still stands on the court house grounds at the southwest corner of Wewoka's present courthouse.
The treasury of the Seminoles was here in the old Wewoka Trading Company building until it burned in November 1925. The Federal government shipped gold, silver and paper money directly to A. J. Brown, Seminole National Treasurer at Wewoka and he paid the funds to the tribesmen. The Wewoka Trading Company was one of the pioneer business concerns of the Indian Territory. It was established, in the 1880's and rose in importance until it was rated one of the greatest commercial undertakings of the southwest. The big store carried everything from knitting needles to threshing machines. The company made it's own paper money, called "Choka Sodka." by the Seminoles. It was redeemable at the company store.
| In March 1923, oil was discovered a mile and a half southeast of Wewoka and a new era came to town. Drilling actually went back as far as 1901 and in July 1907, oil was discovered in a location that produced vast quantities, but no other wells were hit for some time. In December 1925, the Magnolia Petroleum Company discovered oil two miles south of town in the Wilcox sand. This gave rise to further exploration which resulted in the great Seminole Oil Fields, with its millions upon millions of flowing wealth. |  |
Compliments of ED TURK - 1999
For more information on WEWOKA
E-mail Chamber Director Dusti parks
Web Page by Computer Concepts
E-mail eneill@wewoka.com
Revised: March 31, 2006