EDWIN RUTHVEN SHAPARD (Chapter 19) 1888-1889, Eufaula, Creek Nation

CHAPTER 19

EUFAULA, CREEK NATION

1888-1889

       

            After the Conference of 1888, the Shapard family moved from Savanna in the Choctaw Nation, to the parsonage at Eufaula in the Creek Nation. This would have been a familiar setting for them, since Eufaula was the same location where they had lived there during their appointment at the Asbury Manuel Labor School from 1886 to 1887. Sumner had already been living and working there since May of 1888, at Mr. Moore’s Drug Store. The community of Eufaula rejoiced at having their much-loved minister return to their charge, and their friends welcomed them back with open arms. Despite the fact that Rev. Shapard had become very ill during and after Conference, he commenced upon his work and began preaching at Eufaula and Fishertown.
            As Christmas approached, Lizzie returned from Texas where she was attending college. The Shapard family spent Christmas Eve at a celebration in the Methodist Church of Eufaula. “The Christmas tree at the church… attracted a crowded house. Artistic hands had preceded the audience and arrayed with dexterous skill the multitude of handsome presents which were to be distributed, one by one, among the expectant gathering. At an appropriate hour after the fall of night the church was illuminated, the many colored candles and Chinese lanterns which hung pendant from the branches of an elegant cedar were touched and the variegated decorations of the tree had flashed upon them in equal number of brilliant, scintillating colors which converted it into one magnificent scene of translucent beauty. While admiring eyes rested upon this exquisite grandeur, Rev. Mr. Shapard, in a brief manner and appropriate words, announced a short programme of sacred services. This completed, Santa Claus was searched for, found and presented to the audience. It was in his place to make a talk and then proceed with the distribution of presents. Everybody laughed at his grotesque appearance, and he tried to make the expected talk, but his voice trembled, his knees smote together, and he soon found himself handing out the gifts. This was a long task, for the presents were numerous and all had been remembered. Therefore the children all went away happy while the more advanced found no cause for complaint. It was a pleasant evening and one that will linger long in the memory of each auditor.” 
                During the winter, Rev. Shapard again became extremely ill; and on February 11, 1889, he drew up his Last Will and Testament at Eufaula, in the presence of Rev. W.B. Austin and T.F. Turner. The document was given to his long-time friend, Rev. T.F. Brewer, for safekeeping. His health was so afflicted that he was unable to do the work of a Methodist preacher and was forced to rest until his condition improved. In late February, Rev. Shapard sought rest and recovery in Madison, Tennessee, at “Neely Farm,” the homestead of his In-Laws, Mr. and Mrs. Hall.  Mrs. Shapard and the children, Edwin Jr. and David, went with him, while Sumner remained behind at Eufaula, with the mumps, to work and attend school. While in Tennessee, two year-old David contracted the chicken pox. Rev. Shapard regained his health and visited Springfield, Nashville and Shelbyville, Tennessee. At Nashville, Rev. Shapard was interviewed by a city journalist about his experience in the Territory among the Indians. The Shapard’s returned to Indian Territory in late April of 1889, and Rev. Shapard returned to his work, preaching at Eufaula and Fishertown. He received a visit from his older brother, Rev. William Shapard, of Austin, Texas, in mid-July.
  Sumner recovered from the mumps and resumed work at Mr. Moore’s Drug Store, as well as, planting a vegetable garden and attending school. He remarked that Eufaula was declining as a town and nearly depopulated. The town doctor, Dr. K.R. Cutler, and the town’s main businessman, Mr. Adams, both had plans to relocate to Muskogee which was on the boom. Fourteen year-old Sumner claimed that Eufaula was “as dull as a hole, nothing going on at all” and that the other young men of the town “were just thinking about having a car load of girls shipped in here to supply the country, as there were so few here, and probably some of these fellows will have a chance to get married.” 

       In the early months of 1889, Indian Territory was overwhelmed with people traveling across the Indian Nations to participate in the first land run for the unassigned lands west of the Nations. It was estimated that, at noon on April 22, 1889, over 50,000 people raced for their own claim of land of the two-million acres that became available for settlement through the Indian Appropriations Bill of 1889. The towns of Guthrie and Oklahoma City literally went from an unoccupied open prairie to a settlement of 10,000 people within the matter of one afternoon. Within the following weeks, roads were laid out, schools opened and numerous businesses were established. This vast influx of population held enormous potential for the Indian Mission Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. All these people were new souls for which the church to could shepherd. This event would forever change the nature of their work in the Territory. They had been thrust from a small missionary Conference with a hand-full of preachers into potentially one of the most important, productive Conferences of the church during this era in history. Rev. Shapard, who was on the frontline, remarked, of this event;
       “The Indian Mission is assuming such a shape and adopting itself to such modes as will cause it to be noticed as a Conference. Being a mission, we have heretofore submitted ourselves entirely to the direction of the General Mission Board. It has done our thinking, our acting and we have obeyed their commands without going any farther. Within the last few years, we have changed and today our Conference is conducted more like the Conferences of other states…In the development of any institution the time when some marked change is necessary in trying times, we realize that one such period is upon us now. Unoccupied ground a country which was suddenly burst forth from an uninhabited wilderness to a settled country, calling for preachers and organization is here. Are we ready or able to adapt ourselves to the demand? The Parent Board has manifest its readiness to help to do its part. This is evident from the fact that during the interim, when the necessity was upon us, she sent preachers to the work that was opened to us. It is probable that during the next year additional work will be opened, additional workmen will be needed. In fact we cannot anticipate the necessity of the case. The economy of the church is such that in sudden emergencies we meet the necessity through the bishop. We as a Conference may soon expect to be one of the great Conferences of the connection. Already with seven districts and some of these as large as some Annual Conferences. We have, when opened to settlement, room for half a dozen more districts. These new districts will need preachers to be among the first to occupy the ground and take care of the immigrants as they may establish their homes. To the neighboring Conferences, we would say we will need your help. We are a nucleus upon which the work may form and grow. How important is our position! May God help us to do our part well.”
         

         In August of 1889, Rev. Shapard was again in poor health yet still attempting to fulfill his duties. His friend, Rev. T.F. Brewer, visited him when he was preaching at Fishertown and observed a very memorable scene. The members of the congregation presented their pastor, Rev. E.R. Shapard, with six barrels of money as a donation to the church. And this was not all of it, the Steward, Mrs. Wm. Fisher, informed her pastor that there were yet to be heard from six barrels more. This money was raised by the young folks of the neighborhood. Mrs. Fisher offered a prize to the one whose barrel contained the most money. Miss Anna Fisher, who was a student of the Harrell Institute, received the prize. 
           The 44th Annual Indian Mission Conference was held in the Methodist Church at Atoka, in the Choctaw Nation, on October 2-6, 1889. E.R. Shapard was in attendance and was listed as a member of the Committee on Memoirs, along with J.F. Thompson and G.B. Hester. This year he

had requested to be placed on Superannuated status, which signified that he was physically worn out from performing the duties of an itinerant minister and was requesting to retire from active service. Rev. Shapard’s request was referred to the Committee on Conference Relations, who reviewed his record of service and found him to be blameless in life and blameless in the administration of his work.  On October 5, 1889, the Committee granted Rev. Shapard’s request of ‘Superannuate Relation’, thus ending his thirty-year career in the ministry. After Conference was over, The Shapard family returned to their old home in Fort Smith.