Near Atoka in Atoka County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Chief Allen Wright

Photographed by James Hulse, September 10, 2025

1. Chief Allen Wright Marker

Inscription.

Chief Allen Wright. . Chief Wright had many notable accomplishments. Cyrus Kingsbury, co-founder of Boggy Depot's church, sponsored Wright's education at Pine Ridge Mission School near Doaksville. He then entered Spencer Academy in 1844. He was one of five Choctaw boys to enter an eastern college. He attended Delaware College in Newark, Delaware, and later transferred to Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he graduated in 1849. In 1855, he then graduated from New York City's Union Theological Seminary., He became a Presbyterian minister, and he returned to Indian Territory to preach and teach after his graduation in 1855. He taught at Armstrong Academy, and then moved to Boggy Depot. His upright and reliable nature soon earned him a place in the affairs of the state. He served in the Choctaw House of Representatives and Senate, and was later appointed Treasurer of the Choctaw Nation. In 1866, after the Civil War, he traveled to Washington to negotiate a new treaty with the United States government and was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. He served in that role until 1870., Captions , (Photo #1) Chief Allen Wright's Bible Chief Allen Wright's handwritten sermon. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson , (Photo #2) Rev. Chief Allen Wright , Left Panel , Allen Wright'S Children , Eliphalet Nott (1858-1932) . Frank Hall (1860-1922) . Electa Kingsbury (1862-1862) . Mary (1863-1960) . Anna Ballantine (1865-1955) . Allen Jr. (1867-1955) . Clara Eddy (1870-1960) . Harriet (1870-1870) . Katherine (1872-1953) . James Brookes (1876-1963), Captions , (Photo #1) James Brookes, Anna Ballantine, Harriet Newell Mitchell Wright, Wife of Rev. Allen Wright , (Photo #2) John Michael O'Leary, Charles Jeremiah O'Leary, Jr., Harriet Allea (Wright) O'Leary, James Allen O'Leary. Images courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson , Right Panel , Captions , (Photo #1) Left to right: Lucia E. Wright, Anna Wright Ludlow, Clara Wright Richards, Allen Richards, Harriet A. Wright, Allen Wright, Newell E. Wright, James Brookes Wright , (Photo #2) Left to right: Lucia E. Wright, Anna Wright Ludlow, Clara Wright Richards, Allen Richards, Harriet A. Wright, Allen Wright, Newell E. Wright, James Brookes Wright. Images courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson , Reverse Side , One of Boggy Depot's most distinguished residents was Allen Wright. He was born in 1826 near the Yan-nuk-ni River in Attala County, Mississippi, and was named after the New England Missionary Rev. Alfred Wright, founder of Wheelock Mission in Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Wright's Choctaw name was Kilihote, which means to "go forward." He came to Indian Territory with his family in 1834 and became Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation in 1866. Chief Wright is credited with coining the name "Oklahoma," which was adopted at statehood in 1907., Captions , (Photo #1) Chief Allen Wright in Washington D.C. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson , (Photo #2) Wright Manson. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson , (Photo #3) Allen Wright and Family. Image courtesy: Oklahoma Historical Society , Left Panel , Captions , (Photo #1) Sitting on Old Butterfield Stage Route tree: Wright Family Friend, Harriet Allea and Newell E. Wright. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Great Grandson of Chief Allen Wright , Right Panel , Captions , (Photo #1) Left to right: Lucia Elizabeth Wright, Harriet Allea Wright and Newell Eliphalet Wright. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Great Grandson of Chief Allen Wright

Chief Wright had many notable accomplishments. Cyrus Kingsbury, co-founder of Boggy Depot's church, sponsored Wright's education at Pine Ridge Mission School near Doaksville. He then entered Spencer Academy in 1844. He was one of five Choctaw boys to enter an eastern college. He attended Delaware College in Newark, Delaware, and later transferred to Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he graduated in 1849. In 1855, he then graduated from New York City's Union Theological Seminary.

He became a Presbyterian minister, and he returned to Indian Territory to preach and teach after his graduation in 1855. He taught at Armstrong Academy, and then moved to Boggy Depot. His upright and reliable nature soon earned him a place in the affairs of the state. He served in the Choctaw House of Representatives and Senate, and was later appointed Treasurer of the Choctaw Nation. In 1866, after the Civil War, he traveled to Washington to negotiate a new treaty with the United States government and was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. He served in that role until 1870.

Captions
(Photo #1) Chief Allen Wright's Bible Chief Allen Wright's handwritten sermon. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson
(Photo #2) Rev. Chief Allen Wright

Left
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Panel
Allen Wright'S Children
Eliphalet Nott (1858-1932) • Frank Hall (1860-1922) • Electa Kingsbury (1862-1862) • Mary (1863-1960) • Anna Ballantine (1865-1955) • Allen Jr. (1867-1955) • Clara Eddy (1870-1960) • Harriet (1870-1870) • Katherine (1872-1953) • James Brookes (1876-1963)

Captions
(Photo #1) James Brookes, Anna Ballantine, Harriet Newell Mitchell Wright, Wife of Rev. Allen Wright
(Photo #2) John Michael O'Leary, Charles Jeremiah O'Leary, Jr., Harriet Allea (Wright) O'Leary, James Allen O'Leary. Images courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson

Right Panel
Captions
(Photo #1) Left to right: Lucia E. Wright, Anna Wright Ludlow, Clara Wright Richards, Allen Richards, Harriet A. Wright, Allen Wright, Newell E. Wright, James Brookes Wright
(Photo #2) Left to right: Lucia E. Wright, Anna Wright Ludlow, Clara Wright Richards, Allen Richards, Harriet A. Wright, Allen Wright, Newell E. Wright, James Brookes Wright. Images courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson

Reverse Side
One of Boggy Depot's most distinguished residents was Allen Wright. He was born in 1826 near the Yan-nuk-ni River in Attala County, Mississippi, and was named after the New

Chief Allen Wright Marker - Reverse Side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 10, 2025

2. Chief Allen Wright Marker - Reverse Side

England Missionary Rev. Alfred Wright, founder of Wheelock Mission in Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Wright's Choctaw name was Kilihote, which means to "go forward." He came to Indian Territory with his family in 1834 and became Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation in 1866. Chief Wright is credited with coining the name "Oklahoma," which was adopted at statehood in 1907.

Captions
(Photo #1) Chief Allen Wright in Washington D.C. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson
(Photo #2) Wright Manson. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Chief Allen Wright's Great Grandson
(Photo #3) Allen Wright and Family. Image courtesy: Oklahoma Historical Society

Left Panel
Captions
(Photo #1) Sitting on Old Butterfield Stage Route tree: Wright Family Friend, Harriet Allea and Newell E. Wright. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Great Grandson of Chief Allen Wright

Right Panel
Captions
(Photo #1) Left to right: Lucia Elizabeth Wright, Harriet Allea Wright and Newell Eliphalet Wright. Image courtesy: James Allen O'Leary, Great Grandson of Chief Allen Wright

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities

The view of the marker near the original Wright Home Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 10, 2025

3. The view of the marker near the original Wright Home Site

• Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 34° 19.208′ N, 96° 18.532′ W. Marker is near Atoka, Oklahoma, in Atoka County. It is on South Park Lane 1½ miles north of W Boggy Depot Rd, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on grounds of the Historic Boggy Depot State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4684 S Park Ln, Atoka OK 74525, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Choctaw Nation.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations during the Civil War (a few steps from this marker); Boggy Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Prairie Grassland (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Boggy Depot (approx. 3½ miles away); Oklahoma's First Catholic Church (approx. 9.8 miles away); Captain Atoka (approx. 11.3 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 11.3 miles away); 45th Infantry Division Memorial Highway (approx. 11.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atoka.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 13, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.