Looking For Fred (Part 2)

I had posted on my blog, Carleta.org, about my search for Fred, when a nice gentleman wrote a comment instructing me where I could find it.

What a big help this was!

So with this new information Bessie (my dog) and I headed out to search for Fred once more.

We went back to the sign that said "Fred, I. T.", turned right, and (believe or not) missed it again. I had to turn around and come back to the sign.



The marker and pavilion for Fred and were on the right side of the road, partial hidden by bushes and wild climbing rose bushes.



Hurrah! I had found Fred.

At this site there was a marker that was inscribed:

Fred Indian Territory Trading Post Established By Col. Frank Fred In 1870 Crossroad of Chisholm Trail And The Fort Cobb Stage Road Post Office Established In 1884 Methodist Church Established In 1889

The pavilion located on this site and had seven articles posted on a glass enclosed bulletin board.

1. Fred, Indian Territory (called: Old Fred by most old timers)

   Old Fred was originally located on the north bank of the Washita River. The Washita River has a rocky bottom, about 5 miles east of Chickasha and was here that the cattle trail crossed the river, this rocky bottom made it easier for the cattle to cross. So it was at this crossing on the Washita that Fred was first located, Old Fred consisted of a trading post on the north bank of the river. It was established early in the 70's and named for Col. Frank Fred. The store was owned and operated by Walter S. Cook and his brother. In 1881 the store was moved back on the trail where the wagon road, coming up from Paul's Valley crossed. This was the new site of Fred.
   
   In 1884 a post office was established at Fred, naming the store-keeper Walter S. Cook as postmaster. Cook remained the Postmaster until 1893. The Post Office at Fred continued until Au. 7. 1894. Fred was the oldest post office in Grady County. (Chronicles of Oklahoma, Trading Post at the Crossing of the Chickasaw Trails)
   
   
   
   As Fred I.T. (the 2nd) was established prior to the drawing of the section lines. It did not set on the now normal demarcation section line. To locate it now, the searcher would need to go on the NE corner of the SE ? of section 5, township 6, and range 7 west. This is roughly 1/2 of a mile W of the present intersection of this section line and the present Oklahoma State Highway 9. It would be approx. 2/10 of a mile SW of the former Union Hill School and Community.
   
   With the relocation there, there were more travelers in and through Fred, I. T. than had been while on the Chisholm Trail.
   
   Fred township had the following building: Cook's Store with post office that was owned by the Cook Brothers, a one-room school, Carey Brothers Store, Cook's house, a blacksmith shop owned by Henry Frey, doctor's office and doctor's house, the Muncrief home and the Fred Cemetery (sometimes called the Muncrief Cemetery.).
   
   Doctors who practiced in Fred were: Dr. N. Murtny, Dr. Munsell and Dr. Hendricks.
   
   Immediately with the establishment of Chickasha, I.T. as the terminal on the railroad for this area, Fred began to deteriorate.
   
   All of the buildings comprising Fred, I.T. blew away in a tornado, dating circa 1900 - 1902. The only things remaining at Fred was a dug well near the Cook's home and it is believe that the old shack still standing was a store owned by Mr. Fletcher (An old store notebook, found by a family member, it had notes that dated on March 22, 1889 and April, 1889.) Another story tells that the old shack is the Cook's store.

2. Old Fred Indian Territory Centennial Committee 1992

   This picnic pavilion is a project of the Chickasha Centennial Committee of 1992. This pavilion site donated to Grady County for historical preservation by Harold and Peggy McCreery.
   
   
   
   Looking immediately to the west approximately 50 feet stood the Old Fred School. Where the shed is now believed to be the original site of Cook's Store
   
   The Chisholm Trail came between this site and the Muncrief Cemetery which is located. The trail crossed the Washita River at the Rock Crossing which is approx, 1 miles N.E. of this site.
   
   The pavilion constructed by Jim Mason, Bill Davis, and Harold McCreery, Wood was furnished by Mid-West Lumber and concrete work by Gator Concrete. Chickasha Centennial in April of 1992, the Centennial Committee hosted a free wiener roast and cowboy poets recited their poetry around the campfire.
   
   Please enjoy this spot. Take a moment and reminisce about the days of the cowboys on a trail drive. If you listen you may hear the sounds of cattle in the wind. Cowboys look forward to coming to Fred because this was the first stop for mail along the trail for drovers
   
   Help us keep this place clean for future young drovers to enjoy. For my information stop at the Chamber of Commerce at 221 Chickasha Ave. in Downtown Chickasha, OK

3. Map of Fred Indian Territory
   
   
   
   
   1. Map shows where Fred was originally located on the Washita River. Rocky Crossing
   2. New site of Fred
   3. School
   4. Cook's Store with post office
   5. Doctor's office
   6. Blacksmith shop
   7. Cook's house
   8. Store
   9. Doctor's house
   10. Muncrief house
   11. Muncrief (Fred) Cemetery
   12. Little Washita River
   13. Chisholm Trail
   14. Old Highway 81 (Present day location)
   15. Chickasha future site
   16. Highway 19 (Present day location)
   
   
   
4. Fred School

   Fred, a subscription school was started by J.H. (Bud) Gibbs from 1886 to 1888
   
   The School was a one-room cottonwood box house in Fred. The benches and tables used for desks were made of cottonwood. At one time about 25 students attend school. Lunches were usually biscuits and meat. Many of the students? rode to school on horseback. Bud Gibbs was a teacher there. School books were made by McGuffey and slates were used instead of paper and pencil. (via Grady County OK USGenWeb) Teacher who taught at Fred were: Mr. Bud Gibbs 1886-88, Cora Weller, David Short 1888, fall and spring 1889, A. H. Lacy, and Mary Williams.

5. Muncrief Cemetery

   Muncrief Cemetery 1862-1891
   Muncrief Cemetery is located outside of Ninnekah, Ok. Go East out of Ninnekah on Dell Road. Turn left on Chisholm Trail Rd. Go One mile and Turn right on Old Fred's Rd. It's at end of the road. This cemetery is located out in the country on private property and there are two locked gates.
   
   
   
   More on Muncrief Cemetery
   
   HISTORY UNFOLDS AS MUNCRIEF CEMETERY IS RESURRECTED?
   

   Walking back through time, the first person to be laid to rest in this now scenic and peaceful setting is ten year old Robert Muncrief, who died in 1862. Robert was the son of William Muncrief who donated the land for the cemetery site.

6. Battle, Fred Ranch

   Shoot out at the "96" Ranch in June, 1884 on the ranch belonging to Jim Fitzpatrick. Frank Murray and the crew who worked for Fitzpatrick and Wyatt Williams and cowboys from the W-M-W Ranch took part in the shoot out. During this fight two men were killed on the Williams? crew. One was shot through the leg on the Murray's group. Later, several men were arrested and tried at Fort Smith Arkansas, before ?Hanging? Judge Parker.
   
   Outlaws Dick Cavett and Dick Jones hired by Wyatt Williams, were killed in a shoot out at this ranch and are buried in the Muncrief Cemetery.
   
   More on Shootout

7. Fred Robbery 1890

   Wm. Carey Robbed and Then Shot by the Robber. On a Monday evening at Fred and about 8 o'clock in the evening in the store of J.H. Carey and Company were Messrs. J.H. and William Carey, who constituted the firm and Mr. A.W, McBride, a clerk in their employ. Two men came up and held up the store. And as the robbers were leaving, they thought Wm. Carey was going for his shotgun that is when the robber shot Wm. Carey in the chest and Carey died instantly, McBride then ran to the rear of the store and made his escape through a door. One robber followed and fired at him twice, but doing no injury. The two robbers then mounted their horses, which were fastened close by, and made their escape.
   
   Wm. Bill Carey, Head stone read "Robbed of $68 then shot to death by robber in J.H. Carey Gen. Store. Fred, I.T. Buried in Muncrief Cemetery 1890"
   
   More on Muncrief Cemetery

More Links and Information:
BlogOklahoma.us: Looking For Fred (Part 1)
BlogOklahoma.us: Finding Fred
BlogOklahoma.us Historic Place: Fred
My Fred I.T. Photo Set at Flickr
My Original Blog Post at Carleta.org

(To be continued ...)