You’ll find Clarkson’s remains in Payne County, north of the Cimarron River, where Dunker settlers established their frontier community in 1890. For 13 years, this small town supported a post office, general store, and farming families until its closure in 1903 led to abandonment. Today, only the cemetery survives, its weathered gravestones telling tales of pioneer life, including the infamous 1894 Doolin Gang robbery that shook the settlement’s peaceful existence.
Key Takeaways
- Clarkson was founded by the Dunkers (Church of the Brethren) in Payne County, Oklahoma, near the Cimarron River.
- The town existed from 1890 to 1903, with a post office, store, and agricultural community centered around religious values.
- Only the cemetery remains today, preserving pioneer family names and serving as a historical landmark of the settlement.
- The town’s decline began after its post office closed in 1903, leading to complete abandonment of the settlement.
- The Doolin Gang robbery of 1894 remains one of the most notable historical events in Clarkson’s brief existence.
The Rise and Fall of a Frontier Settlement
While many frontier settlements emerged during Oklahoma Territory’s formation, Clarkson stood out as a unique community founded by the Dunkers, also known as the Church of the Brethren.
You’ll find the town’s roots north of the Cimarron River in what’s now Payne County, where the Dunker community established a settlement built on simplicity and strong communal values.
The town’s growth began promisingly with the opening of a post office in 1890, marking its place as an organized frontier community.
For 13 years, you’d have found a bustling small town with essential services, though it couldn’t sustain its early momentum.
Like resource exhaustion and other factors that doomed many Oklahoma settlements, Clarkson’s economy couldn’t support its population.
Similar to how government buyouts cleared Cardin of its residents, many settlers were forced to abandon Clarkson for better opportunities.
When the post office closed in 1903, it signaled Clarkson’s decline, joining thousands of other Oklahoma settlements that vanished into history.
Life During Clarkson’s Brief Existence
Despite its brief existence, daily life in Clarkson centered around the tight-knit Dunker community‘s religious values and agricultural pursuits.
You’d find daily routines revolving around farming, worship, and trading at the local store, which served as both post office and social hub from 1890 to 1903. Much like the oil boom towns that would later shape Oklahoma’s landscape, Clarkson’s fortunes rose and fell dramatically.
Community events reflected the Dunkers’ commitment to simplicity and mutual support, though the harsh frontier conditions tested their resilience. Like many settlements that experienced natural disasters and floods, the town struggled against environmental challenges.
Life on the frontier challenged the Dunkers, but their dedication to simple living and helping neighbors kept their community strong.
- The town’s store became your lifeline, providing essential supplies and money services while connecting you to the outside world.
- You’d face real security concerns, as evidenced by the Doolin Gang’s bold raid in 1894.
- Your survival depended on strong social bonds and self-sufficiency, especially given the limited access to broader markets and infrastructure.
What Remains Today: A Ghost Town’s Legacy
A solitary cemetery stands as Clarkson’s final tribute, marking what was once a vibrant Dunker settlement north of the Cimarron River in Payne County.
Today, you’ll find no original buildings, stores, or homes – just weathered gravestones preserving the names of pioneer families who once called this land home.
While the cemetery’s significance extends beyond its role as a burial ground, serving as a tangible link to Oklahoma’s territorial past, Clarkson’s legacy lives on primarily through historical records and local folklore.
Similar to towns like Cloud Chief that lost their charters, Clarkson’s decline marked the end of another pioneering Oklahoma community.
The famous 1894 Doolin Gang robbery at the town’s store remains a celebrated tale, and the cemetery continues drawing history enthusiasts and genealogists.
Like many ghost towns across Oklahoma, Clarkson’s story reflects the untamed spirit and transient nature of frontier settlements.
Much like the fate of Picher, where lead contamination forced residents to relocate, environmental factors often played a role in the abandonment of early Oklahoma settlements.
The Economic Forces Behind the Abandonment
Since Clarkson’s founding by the Dunkers in the late 19th century, the settlement’s economic framework rested precariously on agriculture and local trade without the essential railroad connections that sustained other Oklahoma Territory towns. At the time of settlement, the area had high ratios of land but lacked sufficient labor and capital for sustainable growth.
Limited to farming and local commerce, Clarkson struggled without the vital railroad infrastructure that helped other Oklahoma Territory settlements thrive.
You’ll find that Clarkson’s economic sustainability suffered from critical infrastructure gaps, particularly the closure of its post office in 1903 and the absence of rail transport. The town’s agricultural viability faced mounting challenges from drought conditions and changing farming practices, while neighboring communities with railroad access flourished. Similar to Boy City‘s experience, the surrounding region saw numerous communities struggle to maintain their populations.
- The lack of economic diversification left Clarkson vulnerable to agricultural market fluctuations.
- Without rail connections, the town couldn’t effectively reach broader markets or attract new investment.
- The loss of postal services accelerated the community’s isolation and hastened its economic decline.
Oklahoma’s Lost Communities: Placing Clarkson in Context
While Clarkson’s story mirrors many of Oklahoma Territory’s lost communities, you’ll find its brief 13-year existence uniquely shaped by the Dunker settlement’s religious identity and economic isolation.
Among Oklahoma’s estimated 2,000 ghost towns, you’ll discover diverse cultural dynamics at play. Some communities, like the liquor towns along territorial boundaries, thrived until statewide prohibition in 1907.
Others, such as Moral in Pottawatomie County, established strict codes banning saloons entirely. Community identity often determined a town’s fate, whether through religious foundations like Clarkson’s Dunkers or economic pursuits like the oil boom towns of Wolco and Carter Nine.
Today, like many of its counterparts, Clarkson’s only physical remnant is its cemetery – a silent symbol of Oklahoma’s complex tapestry of lost communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were There Any Notable Crimes or Lawlessness During Clarkson’s Existence?
Like a thunderbolt from the blue, you’ll find just one major crime report: the Doolin Gang’s 1894 raid on your local store and post office. Law enforcement records show no other significant lawlessness.
What Was the Closest Surviving Town to Clarkson’s Original Location?
You’ll find Perkins is the closest surviving town to where Clarkson once stood. Among nearby settlements, Perkins remains south of the Cimarron River, with historical landmarks like Clarkson Cemetery marking the original site.
Did Any Famous Historical Figures Ever Visit or Stay in Clarkson?
Like a wisp of prairie wind, no famous visitors left their mark on this place. You won’t find records of any historically significant figures staying in or passing through during its brief existence.
What Native American Tribes Originally Inhabited the Area Before Clarkson’s Establishment?
You’ll find that Wichita and affiliated tribes first controlled the region, followed by Cherokee heritage and Choctaw influence after the forced relocations of the 1830s through Indian Territory.
Were There Any Schools or Churches Built During Clarkson’s Short Existence?
You’ll find the historical record isn’t definitive about school buildings or church services in the settlement, though the Dunkers likely held religious meetings in simple structures during their 13-year stay.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Oklahoma
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d-wHDTIbb0
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Clarkson
- https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=GH002
- https://okmag.com/blog/a-ghostly-site/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZJc5Ivk2J4
- https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Clarkson
- https://kids.kiddle.co/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Oklahoma
- https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/mines-that-turned-picher-into-ghost-town-still-50-years-away-from-full-cleanup
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shkT_ZfvPe8
