CHAPTER 6
NEW HOPE: 1873-1874
When classes resumed in September of 1873, the students were very slow in coming to the school. This was due to the fact that there had been a great deal of sickness within the bounds of the Choctaw Nation, and there was also a misunderstanding with regard to the date that the school would commence. Furthermore, one of the pupils died while at home over the summer. By October 20, 1873, there were only 32 students residing at the seminary, leaving 18 vacancies. Besides the school Matron Mrs. Jennie Shapard and the Principal Teacher Mrs. Esther Thompson, who was employed by the Mission Board; a seamstress, Mrs. S.E. Nickel, joined the faculty at New Hope to teach the children to sew, knit, spin and other things which were necessary to prepare their clothing. Mrs. Nickel began employment at the seminary in August of 1873, and would remain through the 1880s.
Rev. W.G. Davis, the Presiding Elder of the Choctaw District, informed the Nashville Christian Advocate that, “The school is under the supervision of E.R. Shapard, formally of the Tennessee Conference. I look on him as a high-toned Christian gentleman, and in every way well qualified to fill the position he is now occupying. He manages every part of the business of the business of the institution with wisdom and discretion; and every part of it so far has succeeded in his hands. The same may be said in truth of his most excellent wife. She has the love and confidence of every one. The institution is in a prosperous condition, with all the expenses of the same fairly met up to this time. The discipline exercised is of the very best grade – mild, but firm. The outside pressure at times is considerable, and attempts are occasionally made by young men to force their way through the restraints of the school-laws, and avail themselves of the company of the young ladies. These attempts have always been met promptly, and turned aside without any serious trouble. Consequently the morals of the young ladies are scrupulously guarded. Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Shapard’s principal teacher, is a lady of experience, and of a good reputation, both as to morals and management. She seems to know pretty well how to manage her own kind of folks, and consequently she has the confidence and love of the girls. Mrs. Nickel, who has charge of the Sewing Department, is a lady of some refinement and taste, is full of good works, and knows not only how to fit a garment, but where to put a kind word. And these, working together, as they do, to carry out the wise plans of the Principal, are accomplishing as much good as is likely done in any institution of learning of no greater advantages. Every part of the proper training of the girls is looked after with care. They cleanse their own linen, keep their own rooms, and, in turn, assist in every other duty pertaining to a household, both in and out of doors. The Bible is the daily companion of all, its sacred pages are frequently consulted, and prayer, morning and evening, is offered up for the good of all.”
Edwin spent all of his time that first year focused on getting the newly revived school operational. He had little connection to the other ministers of the Indian Mission Conference, except for a few of the preachers that visited the school, such as J.Y. Bryce, his Presiding Elder, and John Harrell, the Superintendent of Conference. In late October, 1873, Edwin attended his first Indian Mission Annual Conference in Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation. To reach the Conference, he joined the traveling party of Rev. S. P. Hicks, local preachers and laymen. In the cold, they traveled on the north side of the Arkansas River to the mouth of the Illinois, all on horseback, then across mountains. It was the roughest country he had ever traveled, but did so with a happy heart and buoyant spirit. They went up and down the mountains for about 35 miles, until upon
the summit of a mountain he beheld a beautiful prairie dotted here and there with evidence of
civilization and refinement. They traveled past the impressive and large buildings of the Insane Asylum of the Cherokees and the Cherokee Female Seminary. Tahlequah was a wonderful contrast to the wild mountain scenery. This Conference was the 28th Annual Indian Mission Conference which
was held at the Capital Building in Tahlequah, with Bishop George F. Pierce presiding. The Capital Building was a substantial brick structure which housed the Cherokee Senate Chamber, Council Room and Executive Department, among other offices. Edwin was assigned to quarter at the house of Mr. Reese and to room with Rev. John Harrell. During this time, Rev. Harrell was the leading spirit and one of the most respected elders of the Indian Mission Conference.
John Harrell was born in North Carolina on October 21st, 1806, and moved to Tennessee when still a child. He was licensed to preach in 1827, and joined the Tennessee Conference. In 1832, he married Miss Eliza Williams. Rev. Harrell transferred to the Indian Mission Conference in 1850, and was placed as the Superintendent of Fort Coffee Academy and New Hope Seminary. Over the years, he would be appointed as the Presiding Elder of the Choctaw and Cherokee Districts, as well as Superintendent of the Asbury Manuel Labor School in the Creek Nation. He was so respected by the the members of the Indian Mission Conference that they nominated him to represent them at the General Conferences of 1862, 1866, 1870 and 1874. He was more generally known and revered than any other man who had labored among the Indians. Almost every church within the bounds of Indian Territory had been visited by him. He loved everybody and everybody loved him. His judgment was almost law to the Conference. Rev Harrell died on December 8, 1876, and was buried in the Asbury School Cemetery and later reinterred at the Greenwood Cemetery of Eufaula, Oklahoma.
During the Conference, Rev. Harrell asked Edwin to act as Conference Recording Secretary; a duty which required him to record the accounts and activities occurring during the Annual Conference in the Minute Book of the Indian Mission Conference and send reports to the Mission Board. Edwin insisted upon his ignorance of the preachers, customs, etc., however, despite his hesitation, he was nominated that day. As a result, Edwin would be elected Conference Recording Secretary 15 times during the next 16 years. As secretary, Edwin, for the first time, became a participant in the Bishop’s “secret” Cabinet, whereby he was made privy to how the appointments for the ministers were made. His first year, Edwin was not favorably impressed with the business of the Conference, having been familiar with the ministers and customs of the Tennessee Conference.
At this meeting, Rev. Shapard made an acquaintance with two of the last surviving charter members of the Indian Mission Conference; Rev. Thomas B. Ruble and Rev. David B. Cummings. Rev. Ruble (1811 – 1876) was a well-read, good preacher and had the mannerisms of a polished gentleman. He was transferred to the Indian Mission Conference from the Missouri Conference in 1844. He founded the Asbury Manuel Labor School in North Fork, Creek Nation of which he was Superintendent from 1847-1858 and again in 1868-1869. He died on May 8, 1876, at Boonsboro, Arkansas, and was buried at the McClellan Cemetery in Washington County, Arkansas. He was greatly respected for his achievements in lieu of his frail stature. Rev. Shapard remarked that at the Conference of 1873, “Brother Ruble had nearly finished his course, his mind had lost its vigor, and he was tottering toward the grave. This was the only time I ever beheld that noble man, whose memory is sacred in all this Conference.”
Rev. David B. Cummings (1796 – 1880) was transferred to the Indian Mission Conference from the Arkansas Conference in 1844. He was very adaptable to every kind of missionary work and served successfully among the various tribes. For a number of years, he was the Presiding Elder of the Cherokee and Creek Districts. Later in life he was known as the “Father of the Indian Mission Conference,” as he was the last surviving charter member of the Conference. He died on August 25, 1880, at his home in Missouri and was buried in the Cummings Chapel Cemetery in Tiff City, Missouri. During the Conference of 1873, Rev. Cummings made the journey to attend, though with great difficulty, and only on account of the assistance of one of the brethren from his home. Rev. Shapard remarked that, “Once afterwards I met this brother at Conference [of 1876], though then too feeble to do anything but pronounce his benediction upon the Conference which he loved so well and so long. I consider myself fortunate in hearing the last blessings of these fathers.”
In 1870, the buildings of Fort Coffee were sold by the Choctaw Nation to Mr. George T. Lincoln for the sum of $1200. Mr. Lincoln was a white man who had married a Choctaw woman and purchased Fort Coffee to farm and raise livestock. It developed that over the years, Mr. Lincoln could not pay the Choctaw Nation the $1200 due for the purchase of Fort Coffee, yet continued to reside and farm on the premises. As a result, on October 22, 1873, the General Council of the Choctaw Nation transferred Fort Coffee to New Hope Seminary and gave Rev. E.R. Shapard, as Superintendent, authority to take possession of the premises and to use its buildings and farmland for the benefit of New Hope Seminary. Edwin was notified of the decision made by the Grand Council by T.J. Bond, the Superintendent of the Public Schools of Choctaw Nation, on December 8, 1873. Despite the order of transfer, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln refused to give possession of the premises to Rev. Shapard. On January 29, 1874, Mr. Bond wrote to Circuit Judge Jerry Ward that he had been contacted by Rev. Shapard and needed assistance in carrying out the resolution that had been passed in October 1873. Judge Ward, on Feb 20, 1874, replied to Mr. Bond that he should take up the case with the Attorney General or the District Attorney. The General Council, on October 28, 1876, ordered the Superintendent of the Public Schools to make a verbal or written demand for the premises. If Mr. Lincoln refused to vacate, he was instructed to have the trespasser served with a writ of ejectment by the Sheriff. If still in violation of the order after 20 days, the Sheriff was to take forcible possession of the premises, turning it over to Rev. Shapard as the Superintendent of New Hope. Evidently Mr. Lincoln resided at Fort Coffee until about 1880; however, from 1877 through 1880, he paid rent to Rev. Shapard, as the Superintendent of New Hope, for the use of the premises in the form of a percentage of his crop yield for each of these years. These extra crops were used to the benefit the school by feeding the students, faculty and livestock.
In January of 1874, Rev. Willis F. Folsom, who was a local Choctaw preacher and District Interpreter for the English-speaking ministers of the Choctaw Nation, became acquainted with Rev. Shapard. Willis Franklin Folsom was a Choctaw Indian born in Mississippi in 1826. His parents brought him to Indian Territory when he was a boy, during their tribes forced migration in the early 1830s. He was educated at the Spencer Academy where he also became a Christian. Rev. John Harrell took special notice of Mr. Folsom and encouraged him to work for the Lord, eventually placing him on a Circuit. Over the years, he served as an interpreter for the preachers in the Choctaw Nation and became a well respected local minister of the church. Though he was always poor and often destitute for the necessities of life, he was a spiritually strong and happy man. At the age of 17, he married a Chickasaw woman by the name of Sum E Cha Che, known as “Winnie.” Rev. Shapard preached at her funeral held at the Folsom Chapel on Sept 6, 1885. Rev. Folsom then married Mary E. Plaxco on December 12, 1886. In 1897, he died and was buried in the Folsom Cemetery in Pocola, Oklahoma. Rev. Folsom was favorably impressed with Rev. Shapard’s preaching from the first time he heard him, and would eventually become his Choctaw interpreter, traveling companion and life-long friend.
On April 17, 1874, a daughter of Edwin and Jennie Shapard was born at New Hope Seminary, and died later that same day. The following day a funeral for the baby was held at the cemetery on the grounds of the New Hope Seminary. Rev. Willis F. Folsom was in attendance at this somber event in the life of Edwin and Jennie.
As the school year ended at New Hope in late June of 1874, family members arrived on horseback or by wagon to take the students home for the summer. Prior to their departure, New Hope school held a public Annual Examination of the students attended by the families of the students, Choctaw authorities, and the clergy and laymen of the Indian Mission Conference. The examination was held outside and conducted by the teachers, whom tested the student’s knowledge in Arithmetic, Algebra, Geography, and other studies. Prizes were then awarded to the best students. A wonderful lunch, prepared by Mrs. Shapard for the students and guests, was enjoyed after the examinations. After the event, many of the students would then travel over 100 miles to return home.
The $5000 annual funds promised from the Choctaw Nation to help operate the school were not paid punctually the first couple of years. This first year, Edwin had to borrow, by authority of the Superintendent of Public Schools of the Nation, two thousand dollars. During the summer, Rev. Shapard used any remaining funds from the annual allotment to keep the existing school buildings in good repair, as well as construct new buildings on the premises. In the summer of 1874, he had approximately $400 remaining to use for improvements. He hired handymen to perform much of this labor, while the school was vacated during the summer, so not to disturb the students.
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