| City/Town: • Clearview |
| Location Class: • Church • Commercial • Disappearing Town • School |
| Built: • 1903 | Abandoned: • N/A |
| Historic Designation: • National Register of Historic Places (October 30, 2023) • African American Heritage Site |
| Status: • Disappearing Town |
| Photojournalist: • Michael Schwarz • Emily Cowan |
Larry O’Dell with the Oklahoma Historical Society said that when the federal government relocated the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole nations to present-day Oklahoma, the tribes brought along slaves. During the Civil War, many of the tribes sided with the Confederacy, and their treaties with the government were ultimately annulled. When they renegotiated, the slaves became freedmen and were compensated with land.
In Okfuskee County lies one of the fifty original all-Black towns, Clearview is one of only thirteen still existing. Clearview which was originally known as Abelincoln was founded in 1903 when the Fort Smith and Western Railroad was created to go through parts of what at the time was known as Indian Territory. Three men by the names of James A. Roper, Lemuel Jackson, and John Grayson were responsible for platting the townsite. Together the three formed the Lincoln Townsite Company in an attempt to attract more settlers. A post office was officially established in the town on February 20, 1904 as Lincoln Post Office but was swiftly changed to ‘Abelincoln Post Office’ with town founder John Grayson being the first postmaster. Just a month later changed the name reverted back to Lincoln Post Office noting that Abelincoln was too long. And shortly after that the town name morphed into Clearview, Doretha Waller, who grew up in the town says, “Someone stood on top of one of the mountains and when they looked down they said ‘There’s a clear view’. Thus the new name was born, shortly after the local paper that was named the Lincoln Tribune, evolved into the Clearview Patriarch. The town quickly rose in population in businesses including a milling company, a two-story hotel and a print shop. Around 1911 Roper and Jackson departed, and J. E. Thompson moved to Clearview. Also nearby just to the northeast was the Creek and Seminole Agricultural College.
The Great Depression was when the downfall of Clearview started. The town was fueled by surrounding cotton production and after the industry took a huge hit due to the Great Depression so did the town. People left to find work and never returned, today the town only has about fifty residents and the post office was removed in 1995. Clearview residents enjoyed a brick school building with a gymnasium built in 1939 as well as two churches back in its heyday. The old school serves as the town’s Community Center, and the baptist church included below was demolished.
When you drive into the historic town today you’ll see a welcome sign that cheerful declares: “Oh! What a Clear View”. A rodeo is held once a year that brings people back for a day or two, to keep alive the memories and history of black cowboys.
Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame, Inc
Located in Clearview is the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame. This museum is such a great learning experience and available to visit by appointment only! Contact them through Facebook, or call (918) 698-6037 or 918 260-8132 to schedule an appointment.
Abe Lincoln Trading Post
Built: 1903 Abandoned: ~1990s
Lincoln Townsite Co./Abe Lincoln Trading Co 1903-~1905
Allegedly built in 1903 as the Lincoln Townsite Company this small building is the oldest remaining structure in Clearview, Oklahoma.
The company was formed by three men and was established to try and create a trackside community to benefit from the planned line that would connect Guthrie Oklahoma to Fort Smith Arkansas.
Just a year later the Abe Lincoln Trading Co. opened up in the building. Together James Roper President, George Gregg Vice President and Storekeeper ran the trading post. Serving the small community they offered groceries and building materials including hardware, tinware and fixtures that residents would otherwise have to travel for. Shares of the company were sold for $25 a share, which today equates to about $886.70 in 2024.
The building still serving as the headquarters of the Lincoln Townsite Co., owner Lemuel Jackson, and subleaser James Roper both becoming ill and anticipating their end, sold off their lands and businesses. From 1905-1910 the building had a handful of new owners and are as follows. The Abe Lincoln Trading Co Building was first sold to James E. Thompson who assumed the role of townsite manager.
Following Thompson was Albert Talbert Combs to own the building. Noah H. Starks and Orange Starks proceeded him. These names are misspelled on the National Register nomination as “Sparks” which may be why they couldn’t be accounted for. Local merchant Sam Clark was next, given his family’s history in the grocery merchant one can assume that is the purpose the building continued to serve under their ownership. Alonzo and Nancy Talton also owned it for a short period of time.
Clearview Drug Co. 1911-~1914
By 1911 Dr. Major C. Alford, a local pharmacist, purchased the building and operated his Clearview Drug Company out of the building. Newspaper records show in 1913 Alford had debated making improvements to the aging building. One of those improvements included a soda fountain that the community loved.
Last Chance Bar/Juke Joint ~1950s-1980s
The building was purchased in 1954 by Joseph and Rebecca Marks purchased the building. The Marks couple were very prominent in their church community, often traveling to attend.
While it’s unclear what year exactly it started, sometime during their ownership it became the Last Chance Bar, otherwise known as the Juke Joint. Bernard Drake recalls his father renting the building at one time, “He ran it as a pool hall with two tables and a jukebox. We sold pop, candies, and peanuts. We were open on weekends because us boys had school and played sports on weekdays. It was a great place for all to gather and relax. It is one of a few businesses left standing in the town although it is and has been abandoned for over a decade.”
Townspeople recall Susie Golden Allen once running The Last Chance Bar some time ago. The picture given was provided by Denise Arnold and depicts the building when it was the Last Chance Bar.
To this day the building has passed down in the Marks Family and was just recently on October 30, 2023, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We can only hope that this new found access to funds at the state and federal level can provide for some restoration of this important piece of Oklahoma history.
First Baptist Church of Clearview
Status: Demolished
The cornerstone of the former First Baptist Church of Clearview reads “1904-1967 Clerk I.D. Combs and Rev. Wyatt Mose Mason”. There is a video of churchgoers walking out of the church in 1925 here which is a part of the Solomon S. Jones video collection. Sunday Service in the later years was held on the second and fourth Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday school at 9:45 am.
The last members of the church were two sisters that were Clearview locals. Around 2010 they sold the church to a man in Weleetka where it continued to sit empty. After decades of abandonment and the floor and ceiling completely caving in the historic church was slated for demolition. The church was demolished on March 20, 2021, the cornerstone was saved and transported to the Okfuskee County Museum in Okemah.
Gallery Below of Clearview, OK
https://www.oklahoman.com/article/877791/clearview
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606835133/?terms=lincoln%20history&match=1
http://genealogytrails.com/oka/postofficesac.html
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CL009
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606835219/?terms=%22clearview%22&match=1
https://beineckelibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1058/collection_resources/30490
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25952546/wyatt-m-mason/photo
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CL009
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/8/4/once-forgotten-oklahomas-historic-all-black-towns-find-renewed-interest.html
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/hall-of-fame-for-black-educators-breathes-new-life-into-town-of-clearview/article_02905b8d-5f67-5349-aacf-498a7b0e8acb.html
https://www.themarksfamilypreservationfoundation.org/abe-lincoln-trading-co
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606833306/?match=1&terms=%22alford%22
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606835724/?match=1&terms=%22alford%22
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I would love any additional information about the history of Clearview from any living relatives. Particularly the original family’s that settled during its inception. husband’s family history is traced back to Clearview were multiple generations were born and raised. Some buried in the Clearview cemetery. Sir name “Hicks”. We passed through town and it appeared completely abandoned aside from a war memorial and community center that appeared maintained, there was nothing or no one in town. We didn’t see a single vehicle on the road or anything. We took some pictures and found his Great Great grandmother’s headstone “Missouri Pettit… Read more »
The write about the history of Clearview and the original name of purpose of the Last Chance Bar is grotesquely incorrect.
Explain!
African peoples “brought along tribes” is not accurate reporting regardless of your source. Most people participated in the journey on the trail as their cultures were interconnected, and there were shared interests like honoring family, etc. This is a characteristic trait both the state of Oklahoma and the United States of America historians have yet to understand nor include in their historical reporting.
Perhaps you aren’t aware that there ARE historical records of humans owning other humans. I realize people today do not want to admit that their ancestors did anything of the sort, but our past does NOT determine our futures.
Native Americans did in fact enslave other humans. I am sorry you don’t wish to believe that, but it is a FACT. May not have been you great great granddaddy, but even if it were, you are not responsible for the sins of others.
Bright Blessings to you and yours Dr. Sherry.
It is also a FACT that Africans sold Africans in Africa and still are in some parts until this day!
Your point still doesn’t nullify what took place in America slave trade two wrongs doesn’t make right. America is know for equality, democracy, and a country founded on “ Christian Judeo beliefs” since when we follow others lead? Because Europeans knew they could take slavery to a whole new level. Removing a people’s rights to read, write, speak and feel less human and that caused generations to believe they were subservient to whites and if you read the atrocities it far supersedes any other nations so called slavery practice. It was a barbaric. Yes most all nations were involved directly… Read more »