Okfuskee Baptist Church ~ Eufaula, Oklahoma
The Missing Historical Links
It has previously been stated there were a few churches reestablished or started between 1865 and 1869, and both anniversary churches in this writing, Snake Creek #2 and OKFUSKEE have a Seminole origin. We do know the first Seminole church was established by Bro. Munday Durant,
an African American preacher in 1854. We also know the earliest convert to this church was James Factor, a prominent man, and good interpreter.
Factor was a good friend and great influence in the conversion of Chief John Jumper. Bro. John Jumper was one of the first to unite by baptism with the E-su-hut-che Church (Ash Creek) established in 1861.
We also know that both James Factor and Chief Jumper returned at the close of the war (apparently 1865) to rebuild homes, schools, and churches. While we have no written materials on what exact churches resulted from Factor’s and Jumper’s return, we might logically speculate that both of the churches claiming 1865 as their birth date, might, indeed,
have originated through these two men’s efforts. We do know, however, the original church established by Bro. John Jumper was Spring Church, located two miles west of Sasakwa. It was apparently established in 1865.
L. W. Marks in his “The Story of Oklahoma Baptists” states the Seminole work, just following the war, “prospered wonderfully” through the work of Factor and Jumper. The main church (unnamed in his text) was self-supporting with about three hundred members by 1867. By 1868, as stated previously, there were three churches among the lower Seminoles.
Okfuskee Baptist Church ~ Eufaula, Oklahoma
The Missing Historical Links
It has previously been stated there were a few churches reestablished or started between 1865 and 1869, and both anniversary churches in this writing, Snake Creek #2 and OKFUSKEE have a Seminole origin. We do know the first Seminole church was established by Bro. Munday Durant,
an African American preacher in 1854. We also know the earliest convert to this church was James Factor, a prominent man, and good interpreter.
Factor was a good friend and great influence in the conversion of Chief John Jumper. Bro. John Jumper was one of the first to unite by baptism with the E-su-hut-che Church (Ash Creek) established in 1861.
We also know that both James Factor and Chief Jumper returned at the close of the war (apparently 1865) to rebuild homes, schools, and churches. While we have no written materials on what exact churches resulted from Factor’s and Jumper’s return, we might logically speculate that both of the churches claiming 1865 as their birth date, might, indeed,
have originated through these two men’s efforts. We do know, however, the original church established by Bro. John Jumper was Spring Church, located two miles west of Sasakwa. It was apparently established in 1865.
L. W. Marks in his “The Story of Oklahoma Baptists” states the Seminole work, just following the war, “prospered wonderfully” through the work of Factor and Jumper. The main church (unnamed in his text) was self-supporting with about three hundred members by 1867. By 1868, as stated previously, there were three churches among the lower Seminoles.