Home > United States of America > Oklahoma > Atoka County > Bentley > Old Catholic Cemetery

Old Catholic Cemetery

Memorials	:	0
Location	:	Bentley, Atoka County, USA
Coordinate	:	34.2147752, -96.0534154
Description	:	In 1916, Father Soler recruited three lay women from Chicago while working with the Choctaw in Bentley, Oklahoma, and went on to found the convent of Camelite Sisters of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus which became the only Carmelite congregation organized in the United States sometime in 1917. The order focused on establishing a rudimentary education system in 1916, but their efforts were hampered as two of the three sisters returned to Chicago. Father Soler was able to recruit two more into the order from New England in April, 1917. The coal-mining town of Bentley, with a population of... Read More	In 1916, Father Soler recruited three lay women from Chicago while working with the Choctaw in Bentley, Oklahoma, and went on to found the convent of Camelite Sisters of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus which became the only Carmelite congregation organized in the United States sometime in 1917. The order focused on establishing a rudimentary education system in 1916, but their efforts were hampered as two of the three sisters returned to Chicago. Father Soler was able to recruit two more into the order from New England in April, 1917. The coal-mining town of Bentley, with a population of only 100, was a hostile environment that consisted of a post office, general store and a few log cabins. In addition to these hardships, bigotry and intolerance came from the locals who resented efforts to educate the Choctaw and European immigrants. The order took hold elsewhere in Oklahoma, but not in Bentley, and the site of the convent today is abandonned. Some graves are documented near the old Catholic school site, which is about 1 mile east of Bentley, on the south side of the road. At the time of a canvas on May 21, 1983, by Gwen Walker, the land was owned by Elgin Justus and leased by Tim Thomas, but today has a new owner from Texas who uses the land for deer hunting. In 1983, three stones were visible lying flat on the ground. There was also one grave enclosed by a decorative wire fence, but no marker. As of 2021, erosion may have revealed more stone markers, but the private property is posted with no trespassing signs and warnings of surveillance cameras. A community member who hunted on the property several years ago, prior to when the new owner took possession, claims there are considerably more than 3 gravestones visible. (Information here derived primarily from documents made available by Atoka County Museum, but also a visit to exterior of the gated site and discussion with 2 local community members in July of 2021)

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Old Catholic Cemetery is located at Bentley, Atoka County ,Oklahoma ,USA.
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Latitude: 34.2147752
Longitude: -96.0534154

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Nearby Cemetories:

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15. Cade Cemetery
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16. Jones Cemetery
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17. Stewart Gammon Cemetery
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18. Wilson Cemetery
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Coordinate: 34.0716300, -96.0455700

19. Belvin Cemetery
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Coordinate: 34.1540500, -95.8959400

20. Farris Cemetery
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21. Tushka Cemetery
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22. Folsom Cemetery
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23. McClure Cemetery
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Coordinate: 34.0640370, -96.0871120

24. Old Bennington Presbyterian Church Cemetery
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Old Catholic Cemetery

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