Rentiesville in McIntosh County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
All-Black Towns of Oklahoma / Rentiesville
Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 20, 2024
1. All-Black Towns of Oklahoma / Rentiesville Marker
Inscription.
All-Black Towns of Oklahoma, also, Rentiesville. .
All-Black Towns of Oklahoma. The All-Black towns of Oklahoma represent a unique chapter in American history. No where else, neither the Deep South nor the Far West, did so many African American men and women come together to live in and govern their own communities. By 1920, Oklahoma had more than 30 towns considered All-Black. All-Black towns grew after the Civil War when the former slaves of the Five Civilized Tribes settled together for mutual protection and economic security. When the lands of the tribes were allotted to individuals, most Indian "freedmen" chose land next to other African Americans. This created prosperous farming communities that could support towns. When the land run of 1889 opened yet more land to non-Indian settlement, African Americans from the Old South rushed to the new territory for free land. Edwin McCabe founded Langston and encouraged African Americans to settle in his All-Black town. He even had a vision for an All-Black state. Although his dream was never realized, many All-Black communities were established on the rich topsoil of the new territory and state. , The All-Black towns of Oklahoma prospered until the 1920s but gradually declined under the pressure of Jim Crow laws that denied African Americans the right to vote, the Great Depression, and population flight from farm to city after World War II. Today, a few Ail Black towns still survive, but all are remembered, a legacy of economic and political freedom. ,
Rentiesville . Rentiesville, founded in 1903, was developed on twenty acres owned by William Rentie and twenty acres owned by Phoebe McIntosh. Rev. N. A Robinson, I. J. Foster, W. D. Robinson, and Rentie organized the townsite company with Rev. Robinson elected president. J. J. Hudson opened the first mercantile business and became the first postmaster. By 1904, as a flag stop on the M. K. and T. Railway, the town had five businesses along Main street and eighty-one children were enrolled in the school. William Rentie, the town's only lawman, arrested a man for drunkenness. and disorderly conduct in 1908. An uncle of the man shot and killed William Rentie for revenge. By the late 1930s the population of Rentiesville dwindled to 154 and on the 1990 census there were 66 residents. A famous site in town today is the Down Home Blues Club of nationally famed Blues artist, D. C. Minner. Rentiesville is also the birthplace of Dr. John Hope Franklin, dean of African American history and the author of the award-winning book From Slavery to Freedom. , Some early business owners and leaders of the community included: J. P. Pointer (grocer): M. T. Williams; Mrs. M. L. Bryant (schoolteacher); J. D. Chambers (blacksmith); T. M. Fullbright (carpenter); H. Warren (carpenter); Rev. David Green (AME church); Prof. C. R. Ross (teacher); G. W. Cooksey (mercantile store): N T. Williams (mercantile store): Daniea Paul: Dr. J. J. Lowe, Danzy Pugh, Julius Morris; Dr. Durham, Charles Banks; William Hill (principal): HD Frederick (cotton gin); Jerry Alberta (depot agent); D. C. Martin: C. Roberts (carpenter).
All-Black Towns of Oklahoma
The All-Black towns of Oklahoma represent a unique chapter in
American history. No where else, neither the Deep South nor the Far
West, did so many African American men and women come together to
live in and govern their own communities. By 1920, Oklahoma had
more than 30 towns considered All-Black.
All-Black towns grew after the Civil War when the former slaves of
the Five Civilized Tribes settled together for mutual protection and
economic security. When the lands of the tribes were allotted to
individuals, most Indian "freedmen" chose land next to other African
Americans. This created prosperous farming communities that could
support towns.
When the land run of 1889 opened yet more land to non-Indian
settlement, African Americans from the Old South rushed to the new
territory for free land. Edwin McCabe founded Langston and
encouraged African Americans to settle in his All-Black town. He
even had a vision for an All-Black state. Although his dream was
never realized, many All-Black communities were established on the
rich topsoil of the new territory and state.
The All-Black towns of Oklahoma prospered until the 1920s but
gradually declined under the pressure of Jim Crow laws that denied African
Americans the right to vote, the Great Depression,
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and population flight
from farm to city after World War II. Today, a few Ail Black towns still
survive, but all are remembered, a legacy of economic and political freedom.
Rentiesville
Rentiesville, founded in 1903, was
developed on twenty acres owned by
William Rentie and twenty acres owned
by Phoebe McIntosh. Rev. N. A
Robinson, I. J. Foster, W. D. Robinson,
and Rentie organized the townsite
company with Rev. Robinson elected
president. J. J. Hudson opened the first
mercantile business and became the first
postmaster. By 1904, as a flag stop on
the M. K. & T. Railway, the town had
five businesses along Main street and
eighty-one children were enrolled in the
school. William Rentie, the town's only
lawman, arrested a man for drunkenness.
and disorderly conduct in 1908. An
uncle of the man shot and killed William
Rentie for revenge. By the late 1930s the
population of Rentiesville dwindled to
154 and on the 1990 census there were
66 residents. A famous site in town
today is the Down Home Blues Club of
nationally famed Blues artist, D. C.
Minner. Rentiesville is also the
birthplace of Dr. John Hope Franklin,
dean of African American history and
the author of the award-winning book
From Slavery to Freedom.
Some early business owners and leaders of the community included: J. P. Pointer (grocer):
Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 20, 2024
2. All-Black Towns of Oklahoma / Rentiesville Marker
M. T. Williams; Mrs. M. L. Bryant (schoolteacher); J. D. Chambers (blacksmith); T. M. Fullbright (carpenter); H. Warren (carpenter);
Rev. David Green (AME church); Prof. C. R. Ross (teacher); G. W. Cooksey (mercantile store): N T. Williams (mercantile store): Daniea Paul: Dr. J. J. Lowe, Danzy Pugh, Julius Morris; Dr. Durham, Charles Banks; William Hill (principal): HD Frederick (cotton gin); Jerry Alberta (depot agent); D. C. Martin: C. Roberts (carpenter).
Erected by the City of Town of Rentiesville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.
Location. 35° 31.368′ N, 95° 29.804′ W. Marker is in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, in McIntosh County. Marker is on North Intosh Street north of Gertrude Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Located in front of the Town Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 N Mc Intosh St, Rentiesville OK 74459, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regarding All-Black Towns of Oklahoma / Rentiesville. The M. K. & T. Railway is the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.
Additional commentary. 1. Rentiesville is one of 13 All-Black Towns that still survive. Rentiesville was one of 50 all-black towns in Oklahoma and one of 13 that still survives. The Honey Springs Civil War Battlefield of 1863 (aka the Affair at Elk Creek) is less than a mile north of town, off 11th Street.
— Submitted March 29, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 29, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
