Depew Newspapers

• The Depew Messenger May 29, 1908
• The Depew Independent 1920 Index 
• The Depew Independent 1920 Birth, Marriage, and Death Index
• Depew 1920 Tax List
• Depew 1921 Tax List

Introduction by Barbara Bragg Gross from her book: Births, Marriages and Death in 1920 From The Depew Independent Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma

I am a former resident of the small town of Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma. While researching at the Oklahoma Newspaper Archives I found our local paper, The Depew Independent, had been microfilmed for the years 1909 through 1923. I enjoyed reading them so much that I decided to purchase the rolls of microfilm as a present to myself.

I learned that the town of Depew had its beginning on January 15, 1901 when Mr. W. F. Malley "took a walk down the railroad from Bristow to look at some land." It occurred to him that this was a good place for a country town. On January 30, 1901, he drew up a petition for a post office and had twelve friends sign it. He submitted three names for the post office and his first choice, Depew, was chosen. His commission arrived on May 17, 1909, and he opened the office that day.

After oil was found near Depew in 1911 the town grew rapidly. It was a "boom town" during the 1920s and 1930s, but population began to decline by the time my family moved there in 1938.

Mr. Fred Knapp, owner and editor of The Depew Independent in 1920 published his weekly newspaper every Friday.

I have extracted the complete text of each item concerning births, marriages and deaths in 1920 from microfilm of The Depew Independent.

It is my sincere hope that researchers may find something here about their family and friends.

Barbara Bragg Gross
Stillwater, Oklahoma

[email protected]

The Depew Independent was published from 1909 to 19?

Depew Messenger was published from 190? to 1908

Barbara and I have decided to try to get as much of all the Depew papers available transcribed and on this site for all to see. We sincerely hope, that this information will either help someone locate a lost relative, or just get some personnal information about an ancestor. This project will take a while, but we will get as much of it up as quick as we can. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy making it available for you.

Bobbi Dunn [email protected]