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Sapulpa Somebodies

That You've Never Heard Of. Probably.
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Do you ever say, "you know, that one person that one time.." or "so-and-so did this..." or "so-and-so did that..."? Well, this is the series that shares those stories of people in Sapulpa that had an impact on the community. These people may have lived here all their lives, or for a short while, or did something that impacted another community, but still called Sapulpa their home at one time.

​These are their stories.

Mabel Bassett

8/16/2022

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Mabel Bourne was born in Chicago on August 16, 1876. Mabel was the only child of Stephen Bourne and Martha Ellen Bourne. Stephen was a merchant in Chicago and had been a Civil War veteran. Martha, a suffragist, was one of the first women in the country to edit a newspaper.

Mabel found fame at an early age. At ten years old, she began giving beautiful readings, establishing her as a great child elocutionist or orator. With this, her family hoped she would have a stage career. However, she used her voice for another stage, as a public servant.

Mabel married her husband, Joseph Bassett, a railroad conductor, at the age of 16. She continued her schooling, and graduated in St. Louis from Missouri School of Social Economy*. They had three children Clara, Clyde, and Herbert.

*Note: Today, the program is named School of Social Work at the University of Missouri.

The family moved to Sapulpa, Indian Territory, in 1902. They lived at 318 S Linden. Joseph continued his work for Frisco. By 1910, Joseph became a night guard at the County Jail; he retired the following year.

Mabel, in 1910, organized the Creek County Humane Society, one of the first in the state. She also helped establish the first Children’s Home, at 408 S Walnut.

At the same time, she and her family were managers and editors of the local newspaper, the Sapulpa Daily Star. Herbert was the circulation manager and Mabel became the society editor*. 

*Note: Sapulpa Daily Star was owned and operated by Joseph and William Cathriner; this was located at 8 N Water. It was short-lived, until mid-to-late-1913, when it was sued for liable, and lost the case.

In August 1911, Mark Hillies, Commissioner of Public Safety, advised the town that he believed it would be in best interest to retain Mabel Bassett as Police Matron. “Since my incumbency of the office, Mrs. Bassett has rescued four young girls…she daily administers to the sick and poor, aiding those who are distressed…she saves her salary many times over by providing ways for the distressed, sick, and poor.” He further explained that she would not have the authority as a patrolman, with arrests, raids, etc. but to aid those in need.

The following winter, January 1912, the Katz Department Store owner, Lester Katz, wanted to donate from his inventory “proper winter clothing” for those in need. He teamed up with Mabel to donate the clothes to the ones coming to Mabel’s office: children, mothers, and even working men.

At the end of the next summer in 1913, townsfolk and Mabel were able to end the summer days before school started on a high note.

Mabel Bassett organized a group of citizens to help bring entertainment to about 150 children. These children piled into ten or so “big autos.”

In 1913, not many streets had a complete pavement, however, that didn’t stop the enjoyment of riding in the back of the car. “Piled into autos, the kids were thrilled over the paved streets of Sapulpa for two hours.”

Ten citizens helped along with Mabel to take the children to the big lake. They were able to spend another hour or so in the water. They sipped on ice cold lemonade that evening. “The ‘party’ lasted four hours and not a mishap occurred.”

That same week, Mabel Bassett put an ad in the paper pleading for old school books. She said she would gladly take in any book that pupils had finished, and give them to students in need.

The town praised Mabel for her service. “It is such things as these that helps a community, brings neighbors closer together, and teaches love for the better in the hearts of the rising generations. Mrs. Bassett is doing a splendid work.”​

In 1913, Mabel Bassett wanted to pursue more, outside of Sapulpa, to aid the state. In September 1913, she announced her plans to run for the State Office of Charities and Corrections*.

*Note: The office was established in 1907 to investigate the entire system of public charities and corrections in the State; such as jails, prisons, industrial schools, hospitals, dispensaries, orphanages, and many others were under the umbrella.

Ten years later, in 1923, she became Commissioner of the Charities and Corrections. She held this position until 1947. She had stayed in Sapulpa in those 10 years before gaining the position as the Police Matron and Humane Agent.

While in office, Bassett followed the footsteps of Kate Barnard, first woman to hold state office in Oklahoma*. During this time in office, the Legislature underfunded the office, but she managed to achieve many tasks.

*Note: Kate Barnard, elected in 1907, was a key player in educational laws, ban on child labor, and handled many acts of public service.

Mabel Bassett established a women’s unit of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. She also is credited to making wife-and-child-desertion a felony. Mabel also was among the first to promote a State Pardon and Parole Board in Oklahoma, and standards for state juvenile and state’s mental institutions. In 1925, also to her credit, she transferred African-American juvenile delinquents from the State Penitentiary to a Training School, or Industrial School, in Boley*.

*Note: This would become the John Lilley Correctional Center.

In 1932, she ran on the Democratic ticket for a seat in the House of Representatives. She lost to a Moore teacher, Will Rogers.

Mabel retired in 1947. When Mabel passed in 1953, Governor James Berry had ordered her body to lie in state at the State Capital’s Blue Room, so the public could mourn her passing.

Today, the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center is a prison for women located near McLoud, opened in 1974, was named in her honor for her civil duty. She was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1937 for her public service.
“As long as there’s breath left in me, I’m going to fight for the people who put me here,” Mabel Bassett.

(Information from: Mabel Bassett Correctional Center; Oklahoma Hall of Fame; Oklahoma Historical Center; Wikipedia)
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Frances Hutt (February 7, 1903-July 19, 1970)

2/7/2022

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Frances Hutt was born in Sherman, Texas to Mr. Orla Thomas Hutt and Mrs. Lee Davis Hutt. The Hutts moved to Sapulpa in 1910 when Frances was seven years old. O.T. Hutt worked as a railroad worker, a brakeman, for the Frisco in Sapulpa. Lee Davis Hutt is a descendent from the Jefferson Davis family of Mississippi (President of the Confederacy). The Hutts lived at 1018 East Line Street (the home still stands).

Frances graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1921 as Valedictorian. Unfortunately, the museum does not have a 1921 yearbook (nor any other of her years at Sapulpa), but a Freshman image of her and her class appears in the 1918 Sayonara yearbook for the high school.

While in Sapulpa, Frances performed in the arts. She often sang and performed for school plays and church groups. After graduation, Frances moved to Chicago and New York to pursue her opera career at Chicago Musical College and Stephens' New York Singing School. While attending the school in Chicago, she met Thomas Dewey. They moved to New York together and married in 1928.

"Thomas Dewey would eventually revolutionize the methods of a criminal prosecutor, but his first calling was as an opera singer." "Convinced that he could never 'set the opera world on fire,' Dewey ultimately turned to the law, and in 1925, graduated form the Columbia University School of Law in New York." "Possessor of a marvelous, deep, rich baritone voice that would also make him the second most effective radio speaker in politics after FDR." He fell in love with Frances Hutt "a five-foot-three-inch brown-haired beauty."

"Although she once sang professionally, the former Frances Eileen Hutt sought to avoid the spotlight after she was married to Mr. Dewey. She was able to do so with marked success while Mr. Dewey won fame as a prosecutor of racketeers, from 1931 to 1939, and while he was New York Governor, from 1942 to 1954, she managed to keep herself and the Dewey's two sons pretty much out of the public glare.

"However, after Mr. Dewey won the Republican party nomination to run against President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, she emerged as an indefatigable campaigner who quickly became accustomed to 'the gold fish bowl,' as she called it." Thomas Dewey would also run again in 1948, losing the Presidency against Harry S. Truman. But these two moments were not his only chances for presidency - he ran earlier in 1940, and aided in the 1952 campaign for General Dwight Eisenhower.

"Even so, a close friend said, 'facing a camera barrage, Frances looks as though she wished with all her heart that she were somewhere else.'

"In the five years preceding her marriage, she made many theatrical appearances under the stage name of Eileen Hoyt. She was a soloist in a variety show at the Paramount Theatre shortly after its opening in 1926 and she made two 20‐ week tours of the Paramount theaters circuit. She appeared in a touring John Murray Anderson 'Almanac' show, and was understudy for the principal soloist in a road company of George White's Scandals."

"The Deweys lived at 1148 Fifth Ave, in an eight-room apartment with two baths. If Dewey was inaugurated January 10, 1949, Mrs. Dewey would be the first ex-showgirl who has entered the White House as its mistress and easily its most decorative occupant since Dolly Madison. The apex of Frances Hutt Dewey's stage career was reached in 1927, when, after an apprentice in concert work, she had a singing role in a road company of George White's 'Scandals,' billed as Eileen Hoyt."

"Mr. Dewey was elected Governor in 1942, and as First Lady of the state, Mrs. Dewey commuted between Albany and the farm home in Pawling, which the Deweys acquired in 1939. She instilled in the Dewey sons, Thomas Jr., born in 1932, and John Martin, born in 1935, their parents' love of music, giving them their first piano lessons.

"Mrs. Dewey, wife of the former Governor of New York, died Sunday, July 19, 1970 in Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, after a long ill ness. Mrs. Dewey, who was 67 years old, lived at 141 East 72d Street and at the family's country home in Pawling, N. Y."
*Bonus* Below are videos of Frances Hutt and Thomas Dewey. Unfortunately, we were unable to find videos or sound bites of Hutt singing or speaking. Once we find a video or clip of her voice / singing, we will post an update.
The video above was filmed by Otis R. Rule, owner of Rule Furniture, of Sapulpa. It was donated by Wendell Evans, grandson of Rule.

The videos below were found on Youtube.
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Richard C. Nelson (C. 1885-November 28, 1921)

11/28/2021

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Richard C. Nelson, the first known black officer of Sapulpa. Patrolman Nelson’s first article praised him for working along with the Sheriff’s Department in 1913, stating “Officer Nelson Grabs a Party Wanted in Lincoln County for Stealing from Sheriff”. Within his first year as a patrolman, Officer Nelson’s first wound-on-duty would be from a drunken couple. Officer Nelson was (nearly) shot in the face, receiving a burn on his cheek from the gun powder. Little did he know, not even 10 years later, he would be inflicted with a  similar wound that would kill him.
 
By 1918, the City Directories began listing Nelson as Deputy Sheriff. Although his position was for the black community of Sapulpa, Officer Nelson had high marks and standings in the community. Mrs. Nelson owned a Meat Market for a short time within their household at 208 N Hickory from 1920-1924.
 
A respected citizen, and a former interpreter for the Native American agency, Legus Brown was in a car accident with his brother, Tom. The other car had the passengers of Officer Nelson, David Croston, and Floyd Conner. Legus stated that shortly after exiting his own vehicle to check on Nelson’s vehicle, gun shots rang out. Both Nelson and Croston were shot in the head and killed instantly. Legus claimed self-defense, and his brother, Tom Brown, and Floyd couldn’t describe the scene when police arrived.

The morning after the shooting the articles about the night stated:
"Nelson and Croston were found dead beside their car on the road, just east of the Pageant grounds...Floyd Conner came to the sheriff's office and was an eye witness to the shooting...
At the Glass undertaking parlors that Nelson had been shot twice. One shot was said to have entered at the left corner of the mouth, coming out at the back of the neck, and the other above and behind the right ear, emerging over the left eye. Both shots were pronounced fatal, the one through the mouth breaking his neck...
The bullet striking Croston is said to have entered the corner of the right eye, and to have emerged back of the right ear. Apparently all wounds were made by a steel bullet...
Conner stated they passed another car and accidently struck it, tearing loose the bumper. An argument started over the accident, and both Nelson and the [Native Americans] drew guns. Nelson put his gun up offered to pay for the damage saying he was a deputy sheriff, and started to take one man's name when the shooting started...
Brown has a good reputation as a law abiding citizen. He was one of the first men from here to volunteer for duty in the army during the war ([World War I]). He owns a farm near here...
Both Nelson and Croston also bore good reputations here. Nelson, who was 36, had a number of years experience as a deputy sheriff and policeman. He was married and had thirteen children. He owned a store in the addition. Croston was 24. Their bodies were taken to the Sapulpa Funeral Home undertaking parlors ([Glass Funeral Home])."
 
However, Legus Brown confessed to the shooting and killing of Officer Nelson and Croston. Little is known about the trial, however, the jury acquitted the Browns the following year*.
 
The Nelson family moved to Detroit, Michigan by 1931. In May 1990, The Michigan Chronicle wrote an article on the Nelson family. It stated: “William Nelson is proud that his father, Richard C. Nelson, was once considered the fastest gun in Oklahoma...members of his family were recognized as Creek County community leaders among White residents as well as Black ones.”

*In the Sapulpa, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City newspapers, states that Legus Brown was a known, wealthy Native American, and had killed (in self-defense, drunken brawls, and other cases) at least five people in the 1920s-1930s. All cases he was acquitted.
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Sapulpa (c. 1824-March 17, 1887)

3/17/2021

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Sapulpa (Ah ha Lovk Yalola*), a Creek Native American, from which our town is named after, has a gravestone that marked he's passing on March 17, 1887. The marker also states he was 75 years old (making his birthdate circa 1812). However, Sapulpa's Civil War discharge paperwork describes Sapulpa being 40 years old at five feet and eight inches tall, with black eyes, black hair (April 1, 1863). If the age is correct on the paper, Sapulpa would have been born closer to 1824. Although we do not know his birth date, on this day, we celebrate Sapulpa and the family history.

Sapulpa was born of full-blood, lower Creek parentage of the Kasihta Tribe in the area later known as Alabama. His father's name was Omiya (the Swimmer), and his mother's name is unknown.

Sapulpa was well-educated, well-traveled, and learned to speak English. Because of his education, Sapulpa began to trade and establish relationships with merchants and customers.

One account of Sapulpa's life states that Sapulpa and another Kasihta leader, Ispocogee, traveled to the Creek Nation, Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) circa 1840. They then left the council in Ocmulkee (now Okmulgee) and started council three miles south what would become the Sapulpa town. Sapulpa settled first overlooking the confluence of Polecat Creek and Rock Creek, calling the place Cone Hutchee (or Kunahutcha) Polecat.

It was unsure what happened to the marriage - or in the correct order - but Sapulpa married three times. Tenofe was (possibly) his first wife, but because they didn't have any children, they separated. Sapulpa's third wife was Chopok-sa.

Around this time, NaKitty, of the Fox Clan, moved to the area with her family. NaKitty and Sapulpa married, and had three children: James, Sarah, and Hannah. Soon the house was full with eight children at home (three girls and five boys) - it is unknown if the other children were born or adopted in the family.

NaKitty passed away in 1889 and is buried at the Sapulpa family cemetery**. The three children mentioned above are confirmed as their children, but the other children at home: John, Lucy, and unknown two children***. Chopok-sa died in 1890, and is also buried at the family cemetery. With Chopok-sa, Sapulpa had Moses, Yarna, Samuel, William, Rhoda, Rebecca, and Nicey****.

In 1850, Sapulpa opened a store in connection with his blacksmith shop at his home. They raised cattle, horses, and hogs. When the Civil War broke out, Sapulpa loaned $1,000 to the Confederacy. He joined the Creek Regiment of the Confederate Army, serving 3 years, and rose to first lieutenant rank.

After his discharge in 1864, Sapulpa moved his home, one-half mile up the hill from its former location, building a large long log house. In 1872, he established another store, larger than the last one, trading with Sac and Fox Agency.

Sapulpa devoted his later years in life to his ranch, lying ten miles of Sapulpa township. By 1883, the railroad line was extended to Sapulpa for freighting out the walnut logs found on the banks of Rock Creek. In 1886, the first passenger train came down and his son, William, took his father to Tulsa at the invitation of the Frisco officials, to ride on the first passenger train into Sapulpa. "Chief" Sapulpa - a given nickname from the Frisco workers - died on March 17, 1887 and is buried at the Sapulpa family cemetery.

​(Image from Merle Sapulpa, great-grandson of Sapulpa).

*Sapulpa's Creek Native American name may be misspelled.
**Sapulpa family cemetery is located on S Division St in Sapulpa, OK.
***James, 1847-1931 (buried at cemetery), married Elizabeth Barnett; Hannah, married Ahulah-Laso, died before 1899; John died before 1899, married Nellie Tiger (they had one child, Esther); Sarah, 1861-1940, married Shawnee Harjo/Hayes (they had Henry Hayes), she later married Timmy Fife and had Jessie, Bixby, and Dawes; Lucy died in 1900.
****Moses, 1856-1864, buried at Porter family cemetery, Leonard Cemetery (believed to have married into Porter family); Yarna died in 1898 or 99 married Marshall Macellius McCombs, having Joe and Mollie; William, 1861-1942, (buried in Sapulpa cemetery), married 3 times: Elizabeth Hardridge - had Harrison - then married Phoebe Perryman - had George - and  then married Susan Biggs -  had one child; Rhoda, 1865-1886, (buried at Sapulpa cemetery), married Archie Bruner, having Maggie, Bessie, and Mary; Rebecca died at 8 years old; Nicey died as a baby.

Click the link "Where Is Sapulpa Buried?" to learn more...
Where Is Sapulpa Buried?
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    Disclaimer

    The information found on this page has been researched through Sapulpa (and area) newspapers, Sapulpa Historical Society archives, books, and photographs, Sapulpa yearbooks, city directories, and other local authors. Any other sources will be labeled and named as the research continues. Any mistakes will be noted and adjusted as needed.

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