Crawford House
a.k.a. Doane Farr Home
600 N. 13th St., Clinton, OKThe Crawford House in Clinton, Oklahoma is significant because it is the only extant structure associated with Isabel Crawford, one of the first women missionaries to the Kiowa Indians in Oklahoma. It is also one of the few restored plains cottage homes in Southwest Oklahoma, Isabel Crawford was born in 1865 to Irish parents in Cheltenhaw, Ontario, Canada. Crawford's parents had moved to Canada after her Presbyterian father converted to become a Baptist. At age eleven, Isabel was also converted and baptized. Crawford first encountered Indians after her family moved to St. Thomas, North Dakota in 1882.
Crawford's career as a missionary to the Kiowa Indians began in 1893, the year she graduated from the American Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago. She came to Oklahoma and founded the Saddle Mountain Mission near present day Hobart, Oklahoma. Crawford ran the mission from 1893 until 1906. She did not establish a school as there was one at the Presbyterian Mission at nearby Rainy Mountain, Oklahoma.
Crawford left the Kiowa Church work to do organization work, traveling, and writing in 1906, but continued for the American Baptist Home Mission Society until she retired in 1930. Her brother owned the Clinton house from 1908 to 1916. She bought the house from her brother, Hugh Crawford, in 1916. She kept the house until she sold it back to her brother, Hugh, in 1941. Crawford wrote three books about her missionary experiences: Joyful Journey, Highlights on the High Way: An Autobiography, Kiowa: The History of the Blanket Indian Mission, and Jolly Journey. Crawford retired to Grinsley, Ontario, Canada, where she lived until her death at age 97. She was buried at Saddle Mountain Mission in 1961.
The plains cottage style homes were very popular in southwest Oklahoma in rural areas and small town in the late 1800 and early 1900s, because they could be mail ordered and materials delivered by rail and they were easy to build. However, out migration in the 20s and 30s caused many to deteriorate beyond rehabilitation. Additional residents of the southwest area who did prosper abandoned the small plain cottages for larger more substantial residences. As a result few examples of this style remain in a restored condition.
Local significance of the building:
Crawford's career as a missionary to the Kiowa Indians began in 1893, the year she graduated from the American Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago. She came to Oklahoma and founded the Saddle Mountain Mission near present day Hobart, Oklahoma. Crawford ran the mission from 1893 until 1906. She did not establish a school as there was one at the Presbyterian Mission at nearby Rainy Mountain, Oklahoma.
Crawford left the Kiowa Church work to do organization work, traveling, and writing in 1906, but continued for the American Baptist Home Mission Society until she retired in 1930. Her brother owned the Clinton house from 1908 to 1916. She bought the house from her brother, Hugh Crawford, in 1916. She kept the house until she sold it back to her brother, Hugh, in 1941. Crawford wrote three books about her missionary experiences: Joyful Journey, Highlights on the High Way: An Autobiography, Kiowa: The History of the Blanket Indian Mission, and Jolly Journey. Crawford retired to Grinsley, Ontario, Canada, where she lived until her death at age 97. She was buried at Saddle Mountain Mission in 1961.
The plains cottage style homes were very popular in southwest Oklahoma in rural areas and small town in the late 1800 and early 1900s, because they could be mail ordered and materials delivered by rail and they were easy to build. However, out migration in the 20s and 30s caused many to deteriorate beyond rehabilitation. Additional residents of the southwest area who did prosper abandoned the small plain cottages for larger more substantial residences. As a result few examples of this style remain in a restored condition.
Architecture; Religion
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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Oklahoma was the site of the largest land run in U.S. history. On April 22, 1889, thousands of people rushed into the unassigned lands of the Oklahoma Territory in search of free land. The land run led to the creation of several new towns and cities, including Oklahoma City.
About Custer County
Custer County Timeline
Custer County, Oklahoma, has a rich and fascinating history that dates back to the early days of the American West. The area that is now Custer County was originally home to Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho. Europeans began to settle in the area in the late 1800s, drawn by the promise of fertile land and the opportunities offered by the expanding frontier.
The county was officially established in 1892, named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer, the controversial military figure who played a prominent role in the Indian Wars. In its early years, Custer County experienced a boom in agriculture, particularly wheat production. The introduction of railroads in the area further facilitated economic growth, as it allowed farmers to transport their goods to larger markets.
Over the years, Custer County faced its share of challenges. The Dust Bowl, a period of severe drought and soil erosion during the 1930s, devastated the region's agriculture. Many farmers were forced to abandon their land and seek employment elsewhere. The county also played a role in World War II, as the Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base was established in 1942 and served as a training facility for pilots.
In more recent years, Custer County has continued to diversify its economy. The discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the 1950s brought economic prosperity and new opportunities for the county. Today, Custer County thrives on a combination of agriculture, energy production, and a growing tourism industry. The county is known for its natural beauty, with the picturesque Red Rock Canyon and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site being popular attractions for visitors.
The county was officially established in 1892, named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer, the controversial military figure who played a prominent role in the Indian Wars. In its early years, Custer County experienced a boom in agriculture, particularly wheat production. The introduction of railroads in the area further facilitated economic growth, as it allowed farmers to transport their goods to larger markets.
Over the years, Custer County faced its share of challenges. The Dust Bowl, a period of severe drought and soil erosion during the 1930s, devastated the region's agriculture. Many farmers were forced to abandon their land and seek employment elsewhere. The county also played a role in World War II, as the Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base was established in 1942 and served as a training facility for pilots.
In more recent years, Custer County has continued to diversify its economy. The discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the 1950s brought economic prosperity and new opportunities for the county. Today, Custer County thrives on a combination of agriculture, energy production, and a growing tourism industry. The county is known for its natural beauty, with the picturesque Red Rock Canyon and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site being popular attractions for visitors.
Custer County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Custer County, Oklahoma.
- 1892 - Custer County is established.
- 1897 - The town of Arapaho is incorporated.
- 1901 - The town of Clinton is incorporated.
- 1916 - The Battle of Turkey Springs takes place in the county during the Mexican Border War.
- 1954 - The Foss Dam is completed, providing irrigation and flood control for the area.
- 1983 - The National Route 66 Museum is opened in Clinton.
- 1992 - Clinton becomes the county seat of Custer County.
- 2007 - The Stafford Air & Space Museum expands and reopens in Weatherford.