Koweta Mission Robert McGill Loughridge

koweta mission historical marker, in coweta, oklahoma

after few days of observation @ new home in indian territory, loughridge bought horse , saddle, , set out find appropriate place mission; @ suggestion of principal chief located in area of present-day coweta. loughridge bought vacant indian cabin 14x24 feet, dirt floor , covered clapboards. located on small unfenced field , had few fruit trees. paid owner ten dollars, , named koweta . mission situated 1 , one-half miles east of arkansas river, , twenty-four miles northhwest of fort gibson. larger cabin built school , church purposes, , people notified attend church, , send children school; fifteen or twenty children enrolled. wife, experienced , well-qualified teacher, commenced school; few of neighbors disposed attend preaching, while of indians devotedly attached old customs , religions.

the outlook discouraging, , literally day of small things; people friendly, shy, , seemed afraid attend preaching. during following year loughridge built large, hewed-log house, , @ urgent request of people living @ distance received 8 or ten children, boys , girls, live them attend school; beginning of system of manual labor boarding schools, proved effectual means of civilizing , christianizing indian youth. gradually, number of boarding scholars increased until mission had forty; , when people becoming more interested in religious exercises attended preaching more regularly , number of them became converted, , in 2 years loughridge had pleasure of organizing church.