Whitaker Children's Home (Oklahoma State Orphans Home)

History

Founded in 1881 by Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Whitaker on 40 acres of land located (at that time) "one mile south-east of Pryor Creek, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory".

After the Civil War, the large influx of non-Indians into the Cherokee Nation created yet another problem. Frontier life being very harsh and primitive, as well as being without adequate medical care, cost many lives of these families. While there were facilities maintained by the Cherokee Nation for the care of the Indian orphans, the question arose as to what to do with the non-Indian children who survived their parents. One by one, many were taken into the household of the benevolently minded W. T. Whitaker family. As their "family" grew, so did the needs. This was the founding of Whitaker Children's Home.

There was also a lack of schools in Indian Territory for non-Indian children. The Whitakers provided for this with teachers, classrooms and training facilities.

The Home grew to include 590 acres, and thirty buildings. It was almost self-supporting in providing for their daily needs; a full dairy, raising their own beef, hogs and chickens, planting, raising and preserving food for both the residents and the livestock. As the children grew up they took on their share of the work-load and provided for their younger Whitaker brothers and sisters. There was a building where the older girls learned to sew by making not only their own clothes, but the children who were too young had other assigned duties. The boys did farm and animal work.

Cemetery

There is a small cemetery that is maintained for the children who died while residing at the home. The original tombstone has been maintained, but is weather worn. The people of Pryor copied the entries and have a new stone located nearby.