Chickashanews.com

Community Living

June 29, 2009

Historic yoke finds home in Grady County museum

Editor’s Note: The following article is part of an on-going series about artifacts found in the Grady County Historical Museum.



By STEPHANI TOBIN

Staff Writer



The oldest artifact in the Grady County Historical Museum is an oxen yoke that was used in the War of 1812 and dates back almost 200 years.

The yoke is small, because it was used to train young oxen to pull two-wheel carts. The yoke was used by the youngest son of General Morgan during the War of 1812.

The yoke is made from cottonwood, and the ox bows are made from hickory wood. It is about three-feet long.

Because this artifact dates back nearly 200 years, museum director and curator Pat Cunningham says the yoke is a “treasure” for the Grady County Historical Society.

“I think if there were places that knew we had this ... they’d wish they did, too,” Cunningham said.

In the museum, the oxen yoke can be seen in the barn replica, surrounded by chicken figurines. The barn replica is made of wood brought in from the Verden area by Bill McVey, the chairman for the operating committee for the historical society. The insert for the barn was built by Brad Hamilton.

Other facts:

• The yoke was brought to Chickasha by Randolph H. Riley, Sr., from his birthplace near Philippi, W.V., in 1914. Riley, whose son was an optometrist in Chickasha, was a grandson on his mother’s side to a sister of General Morgan.

• Dr. Randolph Riley, son of the donator, has a long history of donating artifacts and various items to the historical society. His optometry diploma is currently on display in the museum.

• Cunningham said Dr. Riley was a big creator of junk art, and he created many replications out of various everyday items.

• Some of the items Riley donated include antique vision testing equipment, glasses, cowboy hats, a miniature brass oil derrick and a set of steer horns, among many others.

Text Only
Community Living