CHAPTER
13
NEW HOPE: 1880-1881
For the school term of September
1880, through June of 1881, New Hope was flourishing. The health of the
students had been good and there had been no death during the year. The wellbeing
of the school was attributed to the quality location, the excellent food and water,
a doctor in residence and the constant attention of a most excellent matron
with the favor of God. The Principal Teacher, Miss Julie Holmes, returned for
her third year of service; and the Assistant Teacher, Miss Virginia Wendell, returned
for her second year at New Hope. Their experience as seasoned missionary
educators allowed for a much more rapid and thorough advancement of the pupils than
had occurred during other years. This advancement was also attributed to having
a greater proportion of elder scholars at the school, which consequently
advanced the learning abilities of the less capable students. The deportment of
the pupils had been remarkably good due to the religious influence upon the
students. Fifteen pupils had united with the church during the year, and eight
others were applicants for membership at the close of the session.
The
financial condition of the school was the best it had been since the school
reopened in 1871. When the session closed on June 23, 1881, the money assets of
the school exceeded the liabilities about $1,500. Rev. Shapard invested this excess
money in the school by making repairs and improvements upon the place. Besides
a surplus of money, the thrift of the Superintendent also allowed a surplus of
bacon, beef, corn, etc., enough to supply the school for two months of the
following year.
The
pupils were very slow in coming to school at the beginning of the term;
however, they reached full student capacity. The good reputation of the school
had grown throughout the Choctaw Nation. There were many more children who
desired to come to the school, than the seminary could accommodate. Some of the
Choctaw families were willing to pay their own way just to gain admittance and
allow their daughters an education. However, the uncertainty of receiving
payment prevented Rev. Shapard from receiving them.
Thus
far, during the nine years that Rev. Shapard had been in charge of the school,
he had received $45,000 from the Choctaw treasury. He used this money and the
proceeds of Fort Coffee Farm to pay all the expenses of the school, except
tuition. Over the years, he had added to the school premises six additional
bedrooms and one recitation room, a laundry room, one kitchen, bathing room and
barn. A music department had been added and lessons were given upon the piano
or organ. All these improvements had been achieved through the careful economy
of the supplied funds throughout the year, not costing the Choctaw Nation or
the Indian Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, an extra dime. In
total, $5,000 had been invested on improvements, besides keeping the buildings
in repair. From the time that Rev. Shapard arrived in 1872, one hundred and
sixty-four different girls had been educated at the school. The average length
of time per pupil had been a little over three years.
The 35th Annual Indian Mission Conference was held at Fort
Gibson, Cherokee Nation, on October 6-10, 1880. Rev. Shapard traveled to
Conference in the company of Revs. Willis F. Folsom and W.B. Austin. They arrived at Fort Gibson on Wednesday,
October 6, 1880. E.R. Shapard was elected Conference Recording Secretary.
Bishop George Foster Pierce appointed E.R. Shapard and C.W. Myatt as the
Committee of First Year. This committee would examine the new preachers over
their first year of study and service in the ministry. On October 9, 1880, Rev.
Shapard, as Presiding Elder of the Choctaw District, surrendered the Deacon
Orders parchment for
On
April 2, 1881, Rev. Shapard secured a renewal of the contract for the school
for the next ten years, which was signed by the Board of Missions and by the
Superintendent and Trustees of Public Schools of the Choctaw Nation. The
contract set the school year as
beginning on the first Monday in September and closing on the third Wednesday
in June. The main change to the operation of the school was in regards
to Fort Coffee Farm. The authorities of the Choctaw Nation had interfered with
the management of the farm during the term, in such a way, that if they
persisted, would financially embarrass the school in the future. On account of
this disturbance, Rev. Shapard thought it best not to rent out Fort Coffee Farm
the following year.
At the
end of April and through the month of May in 1881, Mrs. Shapard took Lizzie,
Sumner and Edwin, Jr. to Madison, Tennessee to visit her family. Before leaving
on their trip, Rev. Shapard gave Lizzie and Sumner 50 cents to buy something
while they were there. Apparently, the kids wanted everything they saw and
couldn’t rest until they spent the money. Lizzie bought a book and Sumner
wanted one just like his sister’s.
Edwin, Jr. was old enough that he could sit alone, though he occasionally fell
over and bumped his head. Mrs. Shapard spent her time there visiting old
friends and catching up with her family. By the end of their vacation, she and
the kids were quite home sick and missed Rev. Shapard tremendously.
In June of 1881, Gov. Jackson F. McCurtain called out The
Choctaw Militia due to an influx of whites illegally settling within the
Choctaw Nation. This created a great uneasiness within the Choctaw Nation, and
many whites, without settlers permits, quickly left its borders. Gov. McCurtain
urged all the illegal settlers, who had not gone, to remain where they were and
gather their crops. In due time, he and his militia would visit them and make
some definite arrangements for them to remain, gaining the necessary permits, and
thus conform to the laws of the country. In addition, a portion of their crops
would be confiscated for back rent. The newspapers of the States began to
sensationalize the facts regarding the presence of the Choctaw Militia, and
Rev. Shapard was quick to rise to the defense of the Indians and rebuke the absurd
misstatements. On June 4, 1881, he wrote to the Daily American newspaper, “In the Weekly American, of June 30, I see several pieces concerning the
Indian Territory. The most of the assertions are rumors which have but little
foundation in fact. I live in the Choctaw Nation – have lived here for nine
years. There is no people in any country who are more quiet and harmless than
the Choctaw Indians, and especially in their intercourse with white people.
Your dispatches state that J.W. Sage, Sheriff for this (Skullyville) county was
killed in the discharge of duty. He has not been hurt, nor has any person
attempting to resist the execution of the law. The dispatches also state that
one man was killed by the Choctaw militia at McCurtain, Choctaw Nation. There
is no such a place, no such a man living in the country and no probability of
any white man ever being killed by Gov. McCurtain or his militia. The rumors,
such as you have published, were a source of amusement to the people of this
country until they came so fast that they are not noticed.” Rev. Shapard went
on to state, “We who are here have no fear of being hurt. The militia is camped
within eight miles of here, some of them may be seen almost any day in our
little town… Enough to say, no white man is in any personal danger. He may lose
part of his labor, will be invited to remain and conform to the laws of the
country. If he thinks that he cannot conform to the requirements he will be
requested to leave. If he does not leave he will be reported to the Interior
Department, and “Uncle Sam” can do what he thinks proper with him.”
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