Westville in Adair County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Baptist Mission

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, May 2024

1. Baptist Mission Marker

Inscription.
About 4 mi. N. and W. Established by Rev. Jesse Bushyhead in 1839, and known as Bread Town by the Cherokees. Rev. Evan Jones was missionary in charge. The Cherokee Messenger printed there beginning in August, 1844, was 1st. periodical in Oklahoma. Mission moved to Tahlequah, 1867. Bacone College at Muskogee, still in operation, is outgrowth of the school at Baptist and Tahlequah.

Erected 1949 by Oklahoma Historical Society and Stae Highway Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Education • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location. 36° 2.116′ N, 94° 35.033′ W. Marker is in Westville, Oklahoma, in Adair County. It is on Old Mission Mountain Road 0.7 miles south of Local Road 670, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 67864 Old Mission Mountain Rd, Westville OK 74965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Cherokee Nation

and in Northeast Oklahoma — Green Country.

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It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Ozarks,

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 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Robert Rogers (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Baptist Mission (a few steps from this marker); The End of the Journey (a few steps from this marker); Home in the West (a few steps from this marker); Fort Wayne (approx. 4.9 miles away); Pyeatte House (approx. 10½ miles away in Arkansas); Grand Army of the Republic Memorial (approx. 10½ miles away in Arkansas); Twin Springs Park (approx. 10½ miles away in Arkansas). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westville.

Baptist Mission Marker and Church Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marc Hayot, June 28, 2026

2. Baptist Mission Marker and Church Sign

Old Baptist Mission Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, May 2024

3. Old Baptist Mission Church and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 27 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on May 2, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. 2. submitted on June 28, 2026, by Marc Hayot of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. 3. submitted on May 2, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.