Volume 13 , Issue 6

Stella Friends Academy Class Roster

The photo on the left is a photo of Stella Friends Academy pupils and teachers of 1904. The photo on the right is a copy of the old Stella Friends Academy (1893-1976) photo of what it looked liked in the old days. I wish I had a better photo, but I do not.

Back in Vol. 3, Iss. 20, 2001-05-19, we talked about Oklahoma Territory school Updates. Especially, Stella Friends Academy. My grandparents had a "SFA 1904" photo that I found in their treasure chest of old memories. The Stella Friends academy was located 1.9 miles east of the US 64 & US 11 JCT., north of Cherokee, Oklahoma, in Alfalfa county, which was a part of M county during the pre-statehood days of Oklahoma Territory.

The Stella Academy set on the southside of hwy 11, where a mobile home and farm now reside. The historical marker reads, "Buildings near here from 1897 under auspices of Friends Church, the academy was noted for high moral, spiritual and scholastic standards. Closed 1922. Named for teacher of 1st school (1893) in this vicinity, a sod house near Stella Church in Cherokee Strip."

Mindy comments in Vol. 10, Iss. 9 - 2008-03=02 of The OkieLegacy Ezine, "My cousin's newbook, PHYLLIS MARIE, talks about The settlement near Alva, OK and the Friends school there. I'm still reading about the relative that was a Quaker preacher there. My cousin, the author, has done a lot of research and has lots of info. His name is Terry Row (rhymes with now), and his publishing company is Clifton Edwin Publishing (named after his grandfathers). The phone number is (805) 344-1431. Tell Terry his cousin, Mindy, saw your post."

Mindy also commented on the OkieLegacy feature, Pioneer Aunt Crosha - Oklahoma. Mindy says, Vol. 10, Iss. 9 - 2008/03/02 -- "Crosha is talked about in my cousin's new book, too (as are Stella and Hunter, OK). He's the author of brand new book, PHYLLIS MARIE (Crosha is in it). He's researched a lot about family history for it. His name is Terry Row, Clifton Edwin Publishing, phone (805) 344-1431."

Just to review about Aunt Crosha, she was born in REd River county Texas in 1863. Her father served in the confederate army during the Civil War. Crosha and Henry after their marriage lived in Arkansas and probably other places until 1896. They both made the Run for land. henry was on horseback and Aunt crosha was with a team and wagon going for town sites. They settled near Hunter, Oklahoma and had some town lots in Pond creek.

In late 1896 her brother was shot and killed in Rising Star Texas. He was a newspaper proprietor and editor and may have been shot because of some political disagreement. His wife died approximately 6 months later, 3 months after the birth of her 9th child.   |  View or Add Comments (2 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---