Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory
Encyclopedia
Sulphur Springs was a Choctaw
Indian community formerly existing in the Choctaw Nation
of Indian Territory
. It was located at the approximate location of present-day Rattan
, in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
.
Prior to establishment of a United States Post Office in 1910 with the name “Rattan”, the area was called Sulphur Springs. Sulphur Springs, located slightly to the southwest of the present-day Rattan crossroads, was county seat of Cedar County
in the Choctaw Nation. It was established by the Choctaw’s Doaksville Constitution of 1860 and, in the manner of most Choctaw county seats, served a part-time role as legal and political center. It was never a sizeable settlement and boasted almost no mercantile or retail stores.
County court
met on the first Monday of each month and was called Probate Court, even though it was more similar to modern-day county court proceedings than a modern probate court. The court met in a large log house, constructed of long, straight logs, serving as both an Indian Methodist church and court house.
The Cedar County Court House was torn down by white settlers sometime after the dissolution of the Choctaw Nation as a sovereign entity upon Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907. A tree stump
said to be preserved from the tree used as a whipping post—the preferred form of punishment doled out by the Choctaw Nation judicial system—is now held by the Pushmataha County Historical Society in Antlers, Oklahoma
.
Sulphur Springs took its name from several sulphur springs
located in the vicinity. A number of Choctaw families living around the Cedar County Court House used them as well as visitors to county court and meetings of the Methodist congregation.
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Indian community formerly existing in the Choctaw Nation
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
of Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. It was located at the approximate location of present-day Rattan
Rattan, Oklahoma
Rattan is a town in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 241 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rattan is located at...
, in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
-Administrative History:* Ca. 1000-1500: Caddoan Mississippian civilization at Spiro Mounds* 1492-1718: Spain* 1718-1763: France* 1763-1800: Spain* 1800-1803: France* 1803–present: United States...
.
Prior to establishment of a United States Post Office in 1910 with the name “Rattan”, the area was called Sulphur Springs. Sulphur Springs, located slightly to the southwest of the present-day Rattan crossroads, was county seat of Cedar County
Cedar County, Choctaw Nation
Cedar County was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. The county formed part of the nation’s Apukshunnubbee District, or Second District, one of three administrative super-regions....
in the Choctaw Nation. It was established by the Choctaw’s Doaksville Constitution of 1860 and, in the manner of most Choctaw county seats, served a part-time role as legal and political center. It was never a sizeable settlement and boasted almost no mercantile or retail stores.
County court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
met on the first Monday of each month and was called Probate Court, even though it was more similar to modern-day county court proceedings than a modern probate court. The court met in a large log house, constructed of long, straight logs, serving as both an Indian Methodist church and court house.
The Cedar County Court House was torn down by white settlers sometime after the dissolution of the Choctaw Nation as a sovereign entity upon Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907. A tree stump
Tree stump
After a tree has been cut and felled, the stump or tree stump is usually a small remaining portion of the trunk with the roots still in the ground. Stumps may show the age-defining rings of a tree. The study of these rings is known as dendrochronology....
said to be preserved from the tree used as a whipping post—the preferred form of punishment doled out by the Choctaw Nation judicial system—is now held by the Pushmataha County Historical Society in Antlers, Oklahoma
Antlers, Oklahoma
Antlers is a city in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. The population was 2,552 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pushmataha County.-Geography:Antlers is located at...
.
Sulphur Springs took its name from several sulphur springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
located in the vicinity. A number of Choctaw families living around the Cedar County Court House used them as well as visitors to county court and meetings of the Methodist congregation.